Beat Boredom! 5 Simple Mental Exercises for Your Golden Retriever!

Mental Exercises for Dogs

Brain games aren’t just beneficial for humans. Dogs appreciate mental stimulation. In fact, mental exercises are crucial for your dog’s well-being. Scientists estimate that 15 minutes of mental exercise is the equivalent of one hour of walking for a dog. Boredom in dogs leads to destructive behaviors and undesirable habits. What are some signs that your dog is bored? Chewing, digging, excessive licking/barking, running away, harassing other pets, begging for attention are all indications your dog may be bored. There are many different creative ways that you can facilitate constructive problem solving, concentration, and memory building in your golden. Let’s explore some of these simple easily implemented activities.

1. Play Hide and Seek

All that this straightforward game requires is that your dog be able to stay on command and use her nose. If you have a helper, it is even easier. One person can remain with the dog and the other can hide. Be sure to celebrate/reward/praise your dog when it finds you. Hide and Seek not only increases problem solving abilities but it builds strong bonds between you and your dog.

2. Go on a Treasure Hunt

Similar to hide and seek, find it challenges your dog to locate a “favorite” toy. Start with a small area that has a limited number of hiding places and distractions. Show the favorite toy to your dog, allow them to sniff it, and make the connection that you have it. You can have them stay on command, stay in a crate, or with a partner. Hide the object. Gradually increase the size of the area or change the environment to provide a more difficult test. The more enthusiastic you are, the more your dog will engage.

3. Set a Scent Trail

Still yet another variation of hide and seek/find it, this activity prompts even more nose work. Fill an old sock with a food item that has a strong odor (like cheese or sausage). Knot up the sock so the food won’t come out. Drag the sock across the ground to create a scent trail. Immediately after creating the scent trail, allow your dog to track the “sock”. Upon successfully completion, you can reward your dog with the food in the sock or with treats. Use a start cue like “search” and an end cue like “all done” so they know when the game’s over.

4. Solve the Shell Game

This carnival game can be readily adapted for canines. Get three identical plastic cups (don’t use something breakable) and place them on a smooth level floor surface. At first, use only two cups. Deliberately place a treat under one cup while your dog is watching. Then slowly shuffle the cups as your dog looks on. Direct your dog to guess which cup has the treat. Even if your dog doesn’t guess correctly, make sure to praise them. When your dog guesses the right cup, reward them with the treat. Gradually increase the complexity of the game challenge by shuffling faster and then adding in the third cup.

5. Construct a Muffin Tin Challenge

You will need a normal-sized muffin tin, tennis balls, and small dog treats. Place the treats in the muffin tin cups. Pop/push in a tennis ball over each treat. Set the tin on the floor and encourage your dog to explore and figure out how to get the treats. This activity promotes nose work and problem solving. It can easily be altered to increase difficulty. Treats can be added to only some of the tins, the tennis balls can be replaced with objects that have different textures and shapes, or the treats can be frozen into the muffin tin.

Keep Your Dog Sharp With Regular Mental Exercises

All of these simple activities promote problem solving, mental concentration, and constructive physical exercise for your dog. Obedience training, tricks, and any other challenges that engage your golden retriever are also very beneficial. Please let us know what are some of the ways that you provide mental engagement for your dog. We love to play and work smarter with our goldens. To see our new and upcoming litters, please check here or visit us soon. Windy Knoll Goldens is only 4 hours north of Boston in central Maine.