02/03/2021
7 Simple Ways to Work Your Dog's Brain
One of the most common issues dog owners have is that
they don't keep their dogs busy enough. When a dog gets
bored, they get destructive and when a dog gets
destructive, its owners get mad.
But, most of the time, the cycle is avoidable if you
just spend some time exercising your dog's mind and body.
Here are seven tips I feel will help you keep your furry
friend active and happy, and hopefully stop him from
chewing up your rug.
1. Test Them - Google "canine iq" test and you'll find
a series of tests that you can give your dog that will
test how smart they are. The actual results are less
important than the testing process. The tests themselves
make fantastic exercises that work your dog's mind.
They also provide you a fantastic way to assert yourself
as the alpha member of the pack and to spend some
quality time bonding with your dog. Most dogs will do well
at these exercises, but even if they do not, they are
working their brain - a very good thing.
2. Problem Solving Skills - Give your dog a few small
problems to solve throughout the day, along the same lines
as the exercises above. You can hide peanut butter inside
a toy, or put treats into stuffed animals, or dig bones in
the yard.
It doesn't need to be a MENSA test, but small puzzles
are not only fun to watch them work out, but fantastically
effective in working their doggie brains.
3. Obedience Training - Basic obedience training is
extremely engaging and highly effective in working your
dog's problem solving skills. It takes a lot of mental
energy to follow your commands, perform tricks and
recognize commands.
4. Teach them New Tricks - Basic commands are one
thing, but advanced tricks are highly engaging. Some dogs
may be better suited to this than others, but if your dog
is particular intelligent, challenge them with tricks that
they wouldn't otherwise perform.
You can teach them to identify different toys between
multiple options, have them dig up different toys, or have
them track down certain scents in your backyard, all great
dog tricks.
5. Work for Everything - A dog should never get anything
for free. As animals, dogs not only expect but enjoy having
to work for things like their meals, food, and attention.
Whenever you feed your dog, give him water, or sit to pet
him, make him sit, stay, lay down, or whatever other tricks
you'd have him do.
6. Performing their "Job" - Most breeds are bred for a
particular job. To really work their brains, put their
breeding to the test. Have sled dogs pull, sheep dog herd,
and hunting dogs track. This will satisfy a deep desire to
work while also working their brains.
You'll be shocked how effective these working tasks can
be in burning through the excess energy your dog has.
7. Exercise and Agility - Basic exercise is not
necessarily effective in working your dog's brain, but it
has a similar effect, putting their entire body to the
test and making sure they wear themselves out a bit.
Almost every breed of dog has been worked and reworked
over the centuries to complete a job. They like to be
challenged and they like to think. As dog owners, it is
our duty to constantly challenge our pups and give them
specific tasks to complete.
Not only does a dog's brain start to deteriorate when
it isn't worked properly, they grow restless and often
times destructive. These seven tasks won't just keep your
pup happy. They'll keep you and the rest of your family
very happy.
Once you've got your dog in the habit of learning, you
may wish to teach them some cool tricks like fetching the
newspaper, or climbing ladders.
Do that and you'll be well on your way to a happy,
obedient and healthy dog.
