Mental activity can tire a dog just as much as physical exercise and keeping their minds busy will prevent boredom and the unwanted behaviors that go along with it. Fill an old piece of clothing like a sock with mint, cinnamon, grass clippings, or anything (non-toxic) you can imagine. I am bookmarking this 🙂 It’s been feeling like -22 degrees here even without snow, so needless to say walks and running around in the backyard isn’t happening. Visiting hospitals and senior centers – This is not an option for all dogs but if your dog has good manners, is well socialized, and listens to you it could be a great way to brighten people’s days and bring enrichment to your dog’s world. Giving your dog a massage reduces anxiety, relieves stress, improves circulation, and creates a great bond between you and your dog.

You can combine this extremely powerful sense of smell and a dog’s natural desire to hunt with their love of toys, food, and exercise to play many games. I love using my friend Tori’s method of layering to add an extra layer mental challenge for your dog. Snow – Not always viable but when there’s snow, it is great entertainment for a dog to play in the snow. This game explores the intense bonds we develop with our dogs, which are far from only skin, or even fur, deep. It can be anything — maybe you notice your keys on the floor and you want your dog to go pick them up and bring them to you.Going to the office – If your dog is well-trained and will stay calm with you while out, taking your dog to work is a great option. Impawtant Note: If your dog’s teeth get close to your hand while playing tug-of-war, stop playing immediately. Remote control toys – If you’re looking for a fun way to get your dog running around, lead them with a remote control car.

You can make them feel even more useful by teaching them the names of some items you wouldn’t mind having retrieved. Scientist estimate that the dog’s brain can identify smells 1000 to 10,000 times better than humans.Many of the puzzle games listed above are good options for mature pooches, including the Muffin Tin Puzzle, Treat Burrito, Cardboard Tube Treats and Snuffle Mat. Once your dog knows a bunch of tricks you can step it up a notch and combine their learned behaviors into brand new tricks. This is a great confidence building activity and one that is brilliant for building trust as you work as a team. Not only does play increase the bond between pet and owner, but mental and physical exercise also relieves one of the biggest causes of problem behaviors in dogs-boredom. The objective is to start off simple so your dog is successful from the start and do not try to advance too quickly or your dog may become frustrated.

Be very aware though, that vigorous play with a flirt pole can be quite high impact on your dog’s joints.An example scent work game is putting a piece of fabric with oil in a ball with a hole (like the chuckit ball).