Ways to Keep Your Dog Mentally Sharp

Believe it or not, your canine companion gets just as bored as you do when stuck with the same old routine every day. Keeping Fido mentally stimulated is just as crucial for their health as physical stimulation. A bored pup can turn into a destructive one. So to help keep your canine mentally sharp, here are some tips you can start to implement into their schedule.

Teach Your Dog a New Trick

Dogs love to please, so successfully learning a new trick and seeing the approval on your face as well as hearing it in your voice is something they live for. Learning new skills is also a way to keep your pooch mentally active. By providing your dog with a challenge they can accomplish they become much less anxious and more relaxed

Give Your Pup Mentally Stimulating Toys

Doggy puzzles and toys are a great way to challenge your pup, especially when you need to be focused on other things. These toys typically consist of hidden treats that Fido has to uncover through problem-solving that ranges from simple to complicated, depending on the toy. With canine puzzles, you’ll be encouraging your pup to really work and strengthen their brain muscle.

Run Errands with Your Pooch

Even just a simple run to the mailbox or drive through the carwash are places you can take your pooch that will allow them to experience a variety of stimulants. During a regular car ride, your pup gets to take in dozens of unique as well as new to them visuals.

Give Your Canine a Job

If you look up the history of your furry friend’s breed, you’ll discover they were once designated with a specific job or task. Without regular duties or responsibilities to fulfill, your canine companion can become restless. Learn what jobs your pup was once bred to do and try to introduce them to activities that are in relation to them.

For example, Retrievers were (shocker) excellent at retrieving game during hunting trips. So activities like fetch can really pull on their natural instincts and abilities, allowing them to feel like they’re fulfilling their job.

Introduce Your Dog to New Faces

Having your pooch meet new people or dogs will also introduce them to new sights, sounds, and smells. A dog park is an ideal place for this type of stimulation, as long as they’re appropriately trained. Continuous healthy socialization is something that will keep your pooch mentally healthy.

When thinking of how to properly take care of a dog, the first thing that comes to mind usually falls in line with physical stimulation and exercise. But mental stimulation is just as important, so make sure you’re implementing some of these activities or ones similar to them to keep your furry friend mentally sharp.