We know that human children require support, encouragement, brain-stimulating activities, and exposure to new objects regularly to learn, grow, and develop. From early childhood socialization to learning the ABCs, we put a tremendous amount of time into ensuring that our kids are mentally and physically fit as they age.
As it turns out, that mindset just might be
what’s needed for your dog to be healthy, happy, and fit, too.
Researchers now believe that most dogs carry an average intelligence
on par with that of a two-year-old child. It’s vital that we support and encourage our dogs in ways that ensure they, too, remain mentally and physically fit all throughout their lives.
That said, dogs aren’t the same as children; inspiring your dog to stay fit in all ways isn’t as easy as popping on a
Baby Einstein DVD or giving them crayons. Instead, we turn to brain-stimulating activities, specialized puzzle and game toys, doggy daycares, and fun activities that encourage relaxation and creativity.
Brain-Stimulating Activities
Your dog’s brain is his best tool against both physical and mental illness. Just like a muscle, he must exercise it to keep it sharp from the day he’s born until well into seniorhood. Intellectual games that force your dog to think, make decisions, or problem-solve force him to exercise his brain while reducing stress and distracting him from depression, anxiety, or apathy, especially when he’s confined out of necessity to a crate or the living room.
Hide & Seek
Hide and seek is especially fun for rambunctious dogs with a deep love for their owners. It encourages your dog to exercise both his brain and his physical body as he searches you out.
Playing hide and seek is fun when kids get involved, but it’s just as healthy for dog if it’s just the two of you,too. Have a child (or fun-loving adult) hide somewhere in the house or yard, and then encourage your dog to track them down.
Not sure where to hide? If you’re playing for the first time, try hiding under a blanket or pile of cushions. Step this up as time goes on, making the hiding places more difficult to discover.
Treasure Hunt
Have a big yard? Use it to encourage your dog to problem-solve with brain-boosting treasure hunts. Hide favorite toys and treats in safe locations all around the yard. As he searches for and finds each one, he’ll begin to catch on and will sniff, review, and search through each area carefully.
Step the difficulty up by placing treats into baskets with easy-to-remove lids, dog-safe trees, or other locations that require him to come up with solutions. If he struggles, don’t immediately rush in to fix it for him. He’s smart; chances are he’ll find a way to retrieve it.
Cup Game
The cup game is a twist on an old carnival and fair game: place a treat under one of three cups, then swish them around without revealing which has the treat. See if your dog can identify the correct one when you stop by scent or tracking alone.
Don’t want to use treats? Use a treasured ball or toy instead.
For larger dogs, this game works best with not cups, but small stainless steel bowls. For smaller dogs, use plastic mugs.
If your dog struggles to identify the right cup, try changing the texture or pattern of the cup itself. Changing color is also an option, but be mindful that dogs don’t see the same spectrum of color as you or I, and may not recognize all shades. By changing the texture, you give your dog an extra point of reference to help him track the treasure.
Puzzles & Games
Sure, your dog may never sit down and enjoy a round of Mario Kart or Flappy Bird with you. That doesn’t mean that she can’t or shouldn’t enjoy games that meet her at her level. Puzzle and game toys for dogs are designed by
animal behavior specialists to challenge your pup in ways that stimulate her mind and keep her sharp.
Treat Toys
Too many treats can result in an
overweight pup, and that’s neither healthy or desired. Instead of simply handing over the calories at every whine, challenge your dog each time you give her a treat.
Try hiding peanut butter in a Kong toy or use other hide-the-treat toys that make her work for her snack. Not only will she burn off a few of the calories ingested, but she’ll also challenge her brain to problem-solve just to get the treat out in the first place.
Treat toys can also provide your dog with an easy way to cool off or warm up after coming indoors. Dashing in from winter play in the snow? Warm the peanut butter slightly before you fill the Kong. Chilling out in the summer heat? Make
dogsicles by freezing fresh fruit into a block of ice.
Puzzle Toys
Most puzzle toys also deliver treats, but instead of being simple, they’re complex. Puzzle toys take the idea of a treat toy one step further with more moving parts and pieces that challenge your dog to really think in order to achieve a goal.
Some options, like the
Seek-A-Treat puzzle board, will only release treats if your dog slides or otherwise moves certain parts of the puzzle. Others, like electronic ball throwers, only activate after your dog presses a lever. Still others, like these
toys from Bark Post, offer a more advanced challenge that’s best suited to very smart dogs.
Combine simple and complex treat and puzzle toys to keep your dog thinking and problem-solving while exercising all day long.
Training
One of the very best ways to keep your dog’s mind sharp is through training sessions. Early in his life, training sessions with a qualified trainer are best, but even one-on-one training sessions with a pet parent help.
Teach your dog the basics, like sit, stay, come, and fetch, first. Then, move on to more complex tricks or commands like lay down, speak, high five, and roll over. As you work with your dog, he must use his brain to determine both what you’re asking of him and how he can achieve it.
If you’ve ever watched a puppy finally achieve a trick only to burst into joyous popcorning and running over your praise, you’ve seen the positive benefits of training on mental health first-hand!
Socialization
Humans are social creatures. Without friends, family members, and loved ones, we wither up and can even become somewhat neurotic if we spend too much time alone. Much like you, your dog needs an even balance of social time and play with friends to maintain psychological health.
Studies show that even
15 minutes of social play with other dogs and humans per week provides an excellent mental break, relaxation, fun, stimulation, and exercise.
Not sure about your dog’s socialization level? Start early and small whenever possible. Have your puppy meet the neighbors, then learn to handle walks around the neighborhood. Expand this to eventually include longer walks, sleepovers, or playdates at the local park.
Too busy for frequent outings? An afternoon or two a week at a doggy daycare does wonders for dogs with busy pet parents.
Most importantly, don’t forget to spend one-on-one time with your dog yourself. It’s easy for us to get caught up with our daily lives and forgo playtime, but interactions with you are one of the best ways to stimulate your dog’s mind and encourage improved psychological health. Your dog loves you; be sure to let him show it often.
Encourage Your Dog’s Creative Mind
A dog that spends all day, everyday indoors staring at a wall is an uninspired, bored, and slightly
neurotic dog. Even the best behaved dogs can start to act out when placed in environments where they aren’t stimulated, so be sure to create an environment that boosts their curiosity and creativity. Every now and again, let them just be a dog in whatever way is safe.
One of the best ways to do this within the home is to ensure that at least one window gives him a good view of the garden, wildlife, people passing by, or even just the dog next door. He’ll keep his mind sharp by “standing guard” over your home during the day, letting him rest without being bored in the process.
We spend a significant amount of time trying to train our dogs not to follow their natural instincts (including the instinct to dig). Once in a while, let this go and let your dog be, well, a dog --- just be sure to keep her safe. The best way to do this is to prepare a small
section of sand or earth where your dog can dig, roll, and generally get messy somewhere in the backyard.
Sure, the inevitable bath afterwards isn’t always fun, but much like a child, sometimes it’s beneficial for your pup to just give in to natural instinctive play, too.
Also consider providing your dog with safe materials to carry around and stash when he’s playing outside. Even simple toys, rope knots, or pre-inspected pieces of wood are fine if you pre-inspect them for dangers. What’s important is that your dog knows they’re his to play with in whatever way he sees fit.
If he brings you a toy, he’s sharing with you. Praise him for it. When he makes a pile, praise him for his hard work. It might not always make sense to us, but it does to your dog. Your support matters.
If you’re finding it difficult to address your dog’s needs because he balks at brain-boosting games and activities, try another game or strategy. Not every dog takes to every strategy or activity right away (or even at all). Your pup has his own personality, likes, dislikes, and preferences, and it can take a bit of trial and error to find the right balance. Encouraging excellent canine physical and mental health isn’t just an option; it’s the most important gift you can ever give your dog as a pet parent.
