Long, lovely walks and play sessions keep your four-legged friend in top shape. But in addition to challenging your pup physically, it’s just as important to care for their mental health. Just like people, adult dogs can experience cognitive decline. At every age, your dog must be challenged both physically and mentally.
One of the most fun ways to give your dog a mental workout is to play new brain games together. These games don’t just challenge your pup’s mind – they also strengthen your bond. There are countless brain games you can play together, both at home and on a relaxing walk outside.
12 nieuwe denkspelletjes voor honden.
Benefits of brain games for dogs
Support your puppy’s development – brain games for puppies
- Leer een nieuw trucje
- Laat je hond helpen met klusjes
- Leer je hond opruimen
- Leer je hond tellen
- Honden houden van verstoppertje spelen…
- Vind het speelgoed
- Het namenspel
- De “Shell game”
- KONG
- Snuffel- en activiteitenmat
- Doe een speurtocht in of om het huis
- Ontdek nieuwe plekken
Benefits of brain games for dogs
Cognitive decline in dogs usually starts from around 8 years of age. Signs that your dog may be slowing down mentally include disorientation, changes in sleep–wake cycles, accidents in the house, increased anxiety, and less interest in physical activities and social interactions. Older dogs with memory loss may even forget routine cues like “sit” and “stay”.
Of course, some medications can help slow down this decline. But a 2018 study shows that mental stimulation can also improve brain health. The research indicates that these kinds of brain games help activate brain areas that have been inactive and challenge your dog to think.
By using brain games with your own dog, you can do something wonderful for your best friend’s mental well-being. So don’t wait until your dog shows signs of doggie dementia to introduce brain games. Mental challenge is good for all dogs, regardless of age, but it’s especially important for seniors.
Foto: Julia Christe
Make your dog tired
There are days when you don’t have time for a long walk, or the weather is just too miserable to go outside. On those days, it’s smart to find an indoor activity so your dog still gets enough stimulation. Especially for high-energy dogs, a fun game is a great way to help them burn off steam.
At times like this, a brain game is the perfect alternative. Research shows that just 10 minutes of a brain game can equal 45 minutes of active play. The key is that your dog is truly challenged so their brain has to work.
Every dog needs a different amount of mental stimulation, but a good guideline is 15–30 minutes of brain games per day. A fun way to build this into your routine is to let your dog work for their food. You can do this by hiding their kibble or wet food in puzzle toys or sniffle games.
Help your dog sleep better.
Playing a brain game together helps bring your dog’s energy level back into balance. Because your pup is mentally challenged, they are really working hard, which is surprisingly tiring. Your dog can release their energy in a focused way – and in the end, this will help them sleep better.
Support your puppy’s development – brain games for puppies
Brain games are also great for puppies. They help your pup develop and stimulate their ability to think and learn. And as a lovely bonus, they are a wonderful way to strengthen the bond between you and your puppy.
12 new brain games for dogs
There are so many brain games you can play with your dog at home or during a walk. The most important thing is that these games are interactive, that they get your dog’s brain working – and of course that there’s a tasty reward waiting at the end.
Even on a simple walk, your dog can enjoy using their nose and discovering new sights and sounds. That, too, is mentally stimulating. To inspire you with new ideas, we’ve listed 12 fun brain games for you and your dog.
1. Teach a new trick
Every dog can learn new tricks – even older ones. You can sign up for a dog training class or teach your dog at home. Any trick that puts your dog into “working mode” will help stimulate their thinking. Think of tricks like shaking paws, high-fives, sit, down, roll over, paws up, and many more.
Keep training sessions to about 15 minutes so your pup doesn’t get bored and stays focused. Just like with people, variety keeps things interesting. Build up each trick step by step and reward your dog generously with treats or other tasty snacks.
2. Let your dog help with chores
Your dog might just be the perfect little helper around the house. Let them join in! Just like for humans, tasks that require some brainpower can be very satisfying. It’s no different for dogs.
Get creative and give your dog a job, such as closing a door or turning a light on or off. Your pup will feel useful, and it’s a wonderful way to involve them in everyday life at home.
3. Teach your dog to tidy up
Chances are your dog has an impressive toy collection. Over the course of the day, more and more toys appear. So it’s nice if everything ends up back in the toy basket at the end of the day.
Teach your dog to put their toys away. This behaviour is a mix of good manners and an impressive skill. It taps into your dog’s natural desire to fetch and carry. It’s worth noting that this trick is easiest to teach to dogs that are very toy-motivated – the ones who love to fetch or play tug.
4. Teach your dog to count
This game is next level and really stretches your dog’s intellectual limits – it will truly challenge them. You might be surprised to discover that your dog can probably count, and maybe even do simple calculations. It sounds strange, but scientific studies suggest that dogs can, in fact, count.
If you decide to try this with your dog, make sure the exercises are set up so they don’t constantly “fail”. Learning to count is complex. Think carefully about how you introduce the concept of numbers, and, above all, focus on having fun as you explore your dog’s mental abilities.
If your dog does start giving the right answers, be extra proud of them and reward them with plenty of treats. But also keep in mind that it may not work out – not every dog is a natural at number games. The most important thing is that you both enjoy the process; the outcome is just a bonus.
5. Dogs love hide-and-seek…
…and not just dogs, right? How much fun is it to play hide-and-seek with your pup? While your dog is busy sniffing around or playing, quickly hide behind a tree or bush. At some point they’ll realise you’re gone.
Your dog will instinctively start searching for you, carefully checking every spot until they find you – and then greet you with pure joy.
6. Find the toy
Just like hide-and-seek, the “find the toy” game uses your dog’s incredible sense of smell. Let your pup use their nose to track down a favourite toy. This game is quick and easy to play indoors. And after only a few rounds, it can be a great way to challenge and tire out your dog mentally.
Foto: TinyWoody
Build the game up gradually and start by placing the toy somewhere obvious. Play together and cheer your dog on as they search, so they get excited about finding it. After you’ve repeated the word “find” a few times, they’ll start to understand what it means.
Once your dog has mastered the game, you can hide the toy in more difficult spots, such as another room. Make sure they don’t see where you put it, then let them search again so they can really put their nose to work.
When they finally find the toy, they get to play with it as a well-earned reward.
7. The name game
Another really fun brain game is the name game. The easiest way to start is by using your dog’s toys. To teach this game, you give each toy its own name.
Begin with one specific toy – your dog’s favourite. Play together with that toy and repeat its name during play. After a while, your clever pup will start to link the name to that toy. Encourage and reward them each time they get it right.
When you think your dog knows the name, see if they can pick the right toy out from a pile of others. Once they’ve nailed one name, you can slowly add more toys with their own names.
Dogs can learn an average of around 165 different words. That’s why it’s absolutely possible to teach your dog the names of their toys. It’s a fantastic way to support your puppy’s development and keep challenging them with new things to learn.
8. The shell game
You can also challenge your dog’s brain with the classic shell game. The principle is simple – you’ve probably seen it before. Take three cups, hide a treat under one of them, and then shuffle the cups around.
When the cups are lined up again, your dog has to “point out” which cup is hiding the snack. The shell game provides your pup with plenty of mental stimulation, letting them work on their problem-solving skills.
9. KONG
A KONG is perfect as a sniff-and-think game. It’s almost indestructible and made from natural rubber. Let your dog work for their food by swapping their bowl for a KONG now and then.
Fill the KONG with treats or their regular food. Because they have to figure out how to get everything out, their brain really has to work. A KONG is also ideal for dogs that tend to gulp their food.
Foto: KONG company
10. Snuffle mat and activity mat
An activity mat, such as a Dog Brick or Buster Activity Mat, is great for turning mealtimes into a game. The mat has press studs where you can attach different fabric puzzles, like an envelope to hide snacks in or a “handkerchief” full of treats that you tuck under elastic straps.
As your dog sniffs and searches for all these goodies, their brain is hard at work. The beauty of this mat is that you can expand it with new puzzles at different levels.
It’s important that your dog doesn’t get frustrated, so always supervise and guide them while they’re using the mat.
11. Create an indoor or garden treasure hunt.
Your dog’s daily meals are probably not very exciting: the same food, at the same time, in the same place. But you can easily turn this into a game.
Divide their meal into smaller portions and hide them around the house or in the garden. Let your dog go on the ultimate treasure hunt for their dinner. Make sure your dog watches you hide the food the first few times so they understand what the game is about.
12. Discover new places
Just like us, dogs are intelligent beings who need new experiences to stay stimulated. That’s why it’s so important to go on little adventures together and visit new places.
Walking the same route every day can become boring – not only for you, but also for your dog. Exploring somewhere new keeps your dog’s mind active: all the new smells, sights, and sounds help keep them sharp.
So go in search of a different (dog) park, try a new route in your neighbourhood, or hop in the car and drive to a new area. Take your dog on holiday to one of the many dog-friendly parks or hotels, rent a campervan, and head off on a road trip together. Let yourself be surprised by new adventures and enjoy them side by side with your best friend.
The power of new brain games for dogs
The benefits of new brain games for dogs are huge. By playing these games with your four-legged friend, you’re not only supporting their mental health but also deepening your bond.
Your dog loves nothing more than spending time with you, learning new things, and collecting new experiences. Just as you make sure your dog stays physically fit, it’s just as important to keep them mentally fit. Supporting your puppy’s development and challenging your dog throughout their life is essential.
Brain games also help keep your dog’s energy level in balance. These little “brain workouts” will tire your dog out and help them sleep better, because they require real effort – just in a different way than a run around the park.
With this list, we hope to inspire you to play more with your dog and enjoy some extra pawlity time together.
Bronnen “12 nieuwe denkspelletjes voor honden”:
– Onderzoek van het Messerli Research Institute
– Victoria Schade
– Susan Dorling
– Petcentral
Ik ben Denise, oprichter van Pawness. Ontstaan vanuit de liefde voor mijn hond Bo en de zoektocht naar eerlijke, mooie producten voor honden. Ik geloof dat elke keuze telt: voor je hond, voor de planeet en voor de mensen erachter. Met deze blogs help ik puppyouders bewuster te kiezen, zonder dat het ingewikkeld hoeft te zijn.
