It is essential to maintain. The mental health of your dog. This ensures your dog has a pleasant, fulfilling, and energetic life. Regular mentally stimulating exercises can ensure that your dog does not engage in unwanted acts like Barking, digging, eating garbage, chewing, etc.
Mental exercise for your canine is just as important as physical activity. Usually, dog owners tend to think that it’s sufficient if your pet only does physical exercise. Still, dogs who do not get enough mental stimulation typically get bored very quickly, and they release their pent-up energy in ways they probably wouldn’t wouldn’t want them to.
Puppies are energetic and curious, so you must engage them to channel their energy. If you engage in these mentally stimulating activities in the early years of your puppy, it will be easier for them to do new activities later in their life.
Below are a few ways in which you can mentally stimulate your dog to keep it agile and active:
Take Your Dog for a Walk or a Run:
Taking your dog for a walk is a great physical and mental energizer. To keep it exciting, take new paths. When dogs venture out, they observe their surroundings, smell new scents, and observe people, which mentally stimulates them. Dogs prefer to walk faster than us, so incorporate a jog or a brisk walk into your walking schedule.
Organising an Obstacle Run:
You can organize an obstacle run for your dog in your backyard or any park. You can use things readily available at home or buy from the many affordable online options. You can organize one at home using barrels, chairs, rods, etc. This can keep your dog agile, and you can enroll your dog in agility competitions.
Smell training your dog :
Dogs have a powerful sense of smell. Did you know their sense of smell is 100 times more powerful than humans? It’s incredible to think about the level of detail they can detect with their noses. The olfactory bulb in their brain is much larger. Introduce them to new smells and scents of new dogs by taking them to dog parks. Take them to new areas for a walk where they can explore new scents.
Teach your dog new tricks:
Sometimes, it is easy to teach your dog new tricks. Devoting a little time daily to learning tricks can mentally stimulate your dog. This also strengthens the bond between you and your pet.
Make them put extra effort into their food:
Did you know that wolves walk an average of 10 miles daily for food? Their wild counterparts have to work extra for food. It doesn’t come easy like our domestic dogs. We put food in their bowl even before they’re-they’re hungry. Give your dogs a challenge before you feed them. You can also buy a treat-dispensing toy for them. This can mentally stimulate your dog.
Get Some Dog toys:
You can buy some great puzzles for them. Solving puzzles can mentally stimulate and increase their problem-solving capabilities and keep them agile. Puzzles can also keep them engaged for 10 to 15 minutes.