It could either be internal (through contemplations and brainstorming) or external (mind games, puzzles, study).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
That man sitting at the airport with a crossword puzzle and a pencil is stimulating his mind.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
For dogs, the same definition applies. Mental stimulation is meant to work on the mind much as physical activities work on the muscles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
This contributes to the dog’s welfare in many ways.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
As the American Kennel Club<\/a> puts it, behavioral problems are easily curbed with enough mental stimulation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Drawing from the previous section, mental stimulation is a good preventive measure\u2014and a cure\u2014for behavioral problems.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Many pet parents have to deal with their pet dogs chewing through furniture, digging holes in the yard, barking<\/a> till neighbors come ringing, and some other habits that are common amongst canines.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Sometimes, we assume these habits are normal and natural.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n While they do stem out of instinct, they are usually developed, <\/em>often because the dogs are not being stimulated enough.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Boredom and restlessness make these dogs resort to keeping themselves busy in the only ways they know.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When you provide more interesting alternatives, your pooch is more likely to abandon those other habits. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Overall, it is important to mentally stimulate your dog because:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Bear in mind that dogs are intelligent, just as much as a toddler is.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n According to a study<\/a> done on dogs’ intelligence, it was discovered that they are as smart as a 2-year-old child. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Some others place the age at 3 to 5, but the consensus seems to be 2. It possibly depends on the breed as some are more intelligent than others. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Having said that, any dog breed can benefit from mental stimulation. We’ll be providing clarity with some surefire tips to get you started. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n An obstacle course involves placing a series of physical obstacles that the player must move through to get to the finish line.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It is usually timed and can be a great way to work on both your dog’s agility and problem-solving skills. You get to shoot two birds with one stone. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Many owners opt to construct an obstacle course in their backyard. It requires being crafty.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Or, you can improvise by using objects at home like blankets, hazard cones, broomsticks, and toys.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you would rather make yours, there are different DIY<\/a> steps you can take. As we said, it requires craft, so ensure you have some handyman skills.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n With the obstacle course in place, start training your pet dog to navigate through it with simple commands it can understand. That is where the mental work begins. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Scent games, also known as nose work games, works just as it sounds. It involves getting your dog to use its nose to locate something, a treat, or even a toy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Dogs have a stronger sense of smell than humans, the reason they are employed to sniff out drugs, cadavers, and even bombs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Scent games get dogs to use their natural nose skills rather than just depend on the eyes. This is quality training.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It also stimulates their minds as they have to concentrate on the task, and it offers extra physical activities. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This game is best done indoors to avoid distractions. Use an easy command that it can associate with the game, such as Find It<\/em> or something more specific.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Place the treat or toy at a place where your dog can see, then repeat the command till it knows what you want it to do.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Slowly make the game more challenging by shifting the “treasure” further away. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Do you fancy entertaining visitors with some doggy tricks? Then you can add this to your mental stimulation routine.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Tricks are fun to teach, interesting for the dog to learn, and awesome when mastered.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Tricks are especially helpful for timid dogs as they can help them gain their confidence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Other than that, it strengthens the bond between you and your dog, helps it focus, and also curb bad behaviors but replace them with good ones.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Other than the basic commands of Sit<\/em>, Lie Down<\/em>, Stay<\/em>, Come<\/em>, dogs can learn many other fanciful ones.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can train your dog to wink<\/a>, give a handshake, leap, and even dance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Tricks shouldn’t be solely for fun, though. Some of them can be used to pull your dog out of a dangerous situation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Teaching your dog to respond to its name is one essential trick. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Using treats, a clicker, and enough positive reinforcements will help you succeed in this. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Like kids, many dogs love their toys. They might end up choosing some as their favorites.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You’d know which one is your dog’s favorite by determining which one it plays more with. Territorial breeds also tend to protect their favorites.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This mental game can be done together with scent games to make it more fun. Don’t try to go fast on this as that may get a dog confused.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Pick a particular toy that is your dog’s favorite, for instance ‘Brown Teddy’. Put the toy in front of the dog and repeat the name till it touches the toy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Once it succeeds, reward it with a treat or praise. Keep repeating the game with the Brown Teddy till your dog recognizes the toy with ease.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Then, add another toy. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Dogs are natural scavengers and know how to instinctively search for a meal as they used to do that in older times.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Modern household arrangements have made this instinct obsolete as owners simply hand over the bowl to the dog and let it have at the meal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n However, you can challenge your dog’s mind\u2014and make feeding time more fun\u2014by inventing an indoor scavenger game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Just as it sounds, you get your dog to locate its meal.\u00a0You can also opt for food dispensing toys for a different challenge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You place the meal in the toy and get your dog to roll it around for the meal to be dispensed from the hole.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This would surely hold your dog’s interest for long. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This goes beyond taking the dog outside for physical activities like walking and jogging.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You should also let your dog use its senses to observe and explore its surroundings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A good place to do this is at a secured dog park. You can let your dog go off-leash and relate with its environment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n During a normal walk, it is more advisable to keep your dog on a leash as that would stop curious ones from darting off in an opposite direction. Recall training helps too. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Besides walking, jogging, and a visit to the park, an activity that gives your dog a chance to connect to nature is hiking<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This isn’t suitable for all dog breeds, but energetic ones will appreciate the long trek.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhy is Mental Stimulation Important for Dogs?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Dog](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dog-Playing-Mind-Stimulating-Sniffing-Game-Searching-Food.jpg\")
How to Provide Mental Stimulation for Dogs (10 Proven Ways)<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
1. Challenge your dog with an obstacle course<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Dog](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dog-Climbing-at-an-Obstacle-Course.jpg\")
2. Get your dog’s nose working with some scent games<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
3. How about some tricks?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
4. Let your dog know the names of its favorite toys<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Dog](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dog-with-Favorite-Pet-Toys.jpg\")
5. Don’t make it easy for them to get their food<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
6. Let your dog explore outdoors<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n