Playing brain games with your dog is a great way to prevent boredom, strengthen your bond, and teach you to work as a team. Physical exercise is important and can build your dog's stamina and energy levels over time, similar to training for a marathon. 15 minutes of mental can tire your dog's brain out in a similar way that a long walk might. Activities that require your full undivided attention like learning a new skill or driving in bad weather are things that make you really tired. The same goes for dogs learning a new skill, concentrating on obedience, or figuring out a puzzle. Certain games are better for certain breeds when they cater towards their genetic skillsets, like hunting games, herding, or scent work!
Puzzle Toys
Treat dispensing toys are an easy puzzle to occupy your dog's time. Start with an easy one so they don't lose hope when they don't get the treat. As they master that toy, upgrade the difficulty.
Topple, Lickimats, or Kongs are easy to clean enrichment toys. You can soak kibble and freeze it inside (great for teething puppies). You can also use frozen raw food or peanut butter.
Nina Ottosson's Dog Puzzle Toys can be great for dogs that enjoy sniffing out treats and solving puzzles.
Find it - Mental Stimulation Using Food
Dogs have a powerful sense of smell. Start easy and toss food forward into a room while holding them back or having them out of sight, and then tell them to "find it" and encourage them to find the treats. This is a great way to get your dog to eat slower or tire them out when you're stuck inside with bad weather.
Progressively make it more difficult by hiding it:
In the grass
On top of objects they have to climb to find it (on things they're allowed to climb on, maybe not on the counters or dinner table...)
Under leaves and branches
Inside containers or cardboard boxes
Under rugs or towels
Hide and Seek
For dogs that enjoy hunting, get two people and your dog. While one person distracts or holds the dog, the other one hides. After a few minutes, the first person asks the dog to go find the second person and when they find them you can throw a party. If you don't have a second person, you can try hiding a toy and getting the dog to find it.
Obedience Training
This is an underestimated way to exercise your dog's brain. You can tire them out and improve their behaviour at the same time.
Practice obedience behaviours like "sit" or "down" and stay
Teach or practice a place command to teach them to settle in a designated spot (Research the Karen Overall's Relaxation Protocol)
Take them to a busy location once they're able to handle a high level of distraction such as outside of a dog park (where they won't be bothered or interact with other dogs) or in a hardware or pet store
Take them for a 20 minute structured loose leash walk
Go to a fenced area with a long line and treats and work on your recall
DIY Brain Games to Try:
Snuffle mats are fun to make and use at dinner time
Have a muffin tin with food in it under objects like tennis balls
Fill an empty egg carton with treats and tape it shut with masking tape
The shell game: hide a treat under one of three cups and rotate them. Let your dog find which one it's under
Teach them a cute pose for a picture or a new trick. Youtube is full of fun tricks to teach and there are plenty of books for dog tricks.
Roll up a towel with food inside and let them unroll it for their dinner.
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