I think we all know the old saying that goes something like “Idle minds cause trouble.” This saying can be especially true when it comes to our dogs. When a dog is bored, it can lead him down a path to trouble as he starts to find things he shouldn’t be doing or chewing on things we disapprove of like shoes, furniture, garbage… you know what I mean. 

 

Keeping your dog engaged when you’re with him stimulates his brain and tires him out so that he stays out of trouble when you’re not around. The stimulating activities we will discuss here can help develop his natural instincts and provide him an acceptable way to unleash those instincts instead of a destructive one- like digging up your flower beds! 

 

Ways to keep your dog engaged

 

Physical activity is a fantastic way to keep your dog engaged. 

 

Taking your dog for a walk or a hike works both his mind and body. It also makes for a happy and healthy dog. As a general rule of thumb, a dog should have 30 mins to 2 hours of physical activity every day. 

 

Finding a physical activity that engages your dog’s natural instincts to retrieve, hunt, or dig, is a great way to fulfill these basic instincts in a controlled manner. By providing him a controlled outlet for these behaviors, both you and your dog will be happier (and your house will have less destruction!). 

 

Work on a new trick

 

Training your dog will keep his mind stimulated as he tries to figure out what you want him to do (and what will get him his reward!). You can utilize Google and YouTube to find new and exciting tricks to teach your dog if you’ve already mastered the basics like sit, stay, down, rollover..etc. 

 

At Sit Means Sit, we like to find creative ways to implement these basic commands to continually challenge our dogs. One of the commands we teach in our program is “place”- indicating to a dog that he needs to go to a specific area and stay there until released. One of the fun places we taught some of our dogs to “place” is on a fire hydrant! It was a challenge for our dogs to figure out how to get on and balance on the hydrant. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can do the same with your dog by trying to get him to “place,” “sit,” or “down” on new objects or areas around your house for added challenge and stimulation.

 

Play interactive games 

 

If you’ve been in a pet store lately or perhaps perusing the pet section of Amazon, then you know that there are a ton of different toys out there to play with your dog.  

 

But you don’t have to spend tons of money on Kongs and puzzle toys to play games with your dog. You can use plastic cups or containers to hide treats for him to sniff out, like the old “which cup is the ball under trick.” 

 

You can hide a favorite toy or treat around your house or yard as a scavenger hunt for your dog to use his nose to search out the item. 

 

The options for this idea are endless if you just use your imagination and a little creativity. 

 

Take your dog for a car ride. 

 

Most dogs LOVE the chance to get in the car and go for a ride. A road trip provides a variety of sights and smells for them to take in and try to identify as they stick their head out the window for some high-speed input. Not only is the car ride stimulating to their senses, but it also allows them to spend more time with you. 

 

Take your dog to new places. 

 

Who doesn’t love an adventure now and then? Taking your dog somewhere new and exciting like a friend or relative’s house, a different park, or a store like Lowes or Home Depot (most are pet friendly but make sure to check first), can all increase mental and sensory stimulation. 

 

These are also fantastic situations for working on greeting manners and basic obedience. Training in different circumstances also helps enforce that your dog must listen to you no matter what is happening around him. 

 

Rotate their toys

 

I think most people have a toy box or bin for their dog’s toys for them to play with at will. However, this can lead to boredom as he always has these toys at his disposal.

 

Instead, rotate their toys! Giving your dog only 2 or 3 toys at a time can keep them fresh and exciting, reducing boredom (and giving you a chance to wash some of those really stinky ones!). 

 

We hope that these ideas have sparked a few in you to try out with your dog. And now that those creative juices are flowing, get off your phone or computer and go play with your dog!

Call us to up your training game – mental exhaustion is just as important as physical!