Mental stimulation for dogs

Dogs evolved to work for their food and to explore with their noses. A life of bowl meals and the same walk leaves that brain with little to do. AKC says mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise, that puzzle toys can improve a dog’s memory and focus, and that solving a problem is a confidence booster for puppies and older dogs alike. (AKC)

The ASPCA puts it plainly: some dogs simply do not get enough physical and mental stimulation, and bored dogs look for ways to entertain themselves, with chewing as one option. Giving that drive a better outlet is the whole point of enrichment. (ASPCA)

There is research behind it. In a study reported by Fear Free, dogs that did nose work for two weeks approached an ambiguous bowl faster afterwards, a sign of a more optimistic outlook, while dogs that practised heelwork did not change. In a two-year study of older beagles, behavioural enrichment significantly improved learning. (Fear Free, Milgram et al.)

AKC’s list of signs that a dog needs more to do:

• Chewing furniture and shoes, shredding cushions or unrolling the toilet paper. (AKC)
• Digging in the garden and tipping over bins. (AKC)
• Restless attention-seeking, and jumping on you and your guests. (AKC)
• Excessive barking. Our barking cause finder separates boredom barking from other kinds. (AKC)

Boredom or separation anxiety? Dogs that chew because of separation anxiety usually chew only when left alone, and show other signs such as whining, barking, pacing or restlessness. AKC also flags destruction plus clinginess as possible distress about being left. If that sounds like your dog, read our guide to separation anxiety in dogs before adding more puzzles. (ASPCA, AKC)

With a little longer, turn a meal into the activity. AKC notes that a mealtime can go from a two-minute gobble to a half-hour game with a food-releasing toy, a slow feeder or kibble scattered to find. (AKC)

• Living-room agility: weave between dining chairs and step over a broom laid on the floor; your dog follows your cues without realising it is training. (AKC)
• A new trick: such as “under the bridge”, luring your dog under your bent knees with a treat. (AKC)
• A digging box: a shallow box of sand or soil with toys buried in it gives a digger a job in one corner of the garden. (AKC)
• A sniff walk: take a new route, slow down, and let your dog choose where to go for about 20 or 30 percent of the walk. (Fear Free, AKC)
• Tug or fetch: vigorous games before you leave for work burn energy; use a toy the right size for your dog. (AKC, AKC)

Every training session is a puzzle for your dog. AVSAB, the veterinary behaviour society, says evidence supports reward-based methods for all dog training, that training works best when it teaches a dog what to do, and that dogs trained with rewards were more attentive to their owners. (AVSAB)

AKC suggests marker-based training, such as a clicker, for tricks and basic manners, and classes such as rally, agility or trick training for more. Keep sessions short and stop while your dog still wants to play. Puppy owners can fold this into the daily plan on our puppy training schedule. (AKC, AVSAB)

You need both. AKC’s view is that physical exercise alone is not always enough, and it suggests asking your breeder or vet how much exercise your dog needs. The ASPCA treats exercise and mental stimulation together as the cure for boredom chewing. Our guide to how much exercise a dog needs covers the physical side. (AKC, ASPCA)

A good day mixes them: a walk with time to sniff, a meal from a puzzle, and a short training game. If you also share your home with a cat, our cat enrichment ideas work on the same principle of hunting, sniffing and problem solving. (Fear Free, AKC)

• My dog gives up on puzzles. Make it easier: leave cups uncovered or the lid open, then add difficulty one step at a time. Success builds confidence. (AKC)
• My dog eats the puzzle. Switch to sniffing games with nothing to chew, such as scatter feeding, and supervise every cardboard or plastic toy. (AKC, AKC)
• My dog gets over-excited. End with something calm, like a sniff walk or a scatter feed, rather than tug or fetch. (Fear Free, AKC)
• My dog is bored of the toys. Put most away and rotate them every couple of days. (ASPCA)
• My dog guards the puzzle. Give each dog its own game in a separate room, and get help if your dog stiffens or growls over food. (AVSAB)

Every figure and threshold on this page comes from the veterinary sources below, and each one is linked where it is used. Where no source gives a cut-off, we say call your vet rather than invent one.