Brain training for dogs

[Dopeydapple]

Does anyone have any recommendations for books or you tube channels that have ideas for brain games for dogs? Thinking ahead with Tala that as she gets fitter it's probably a good idea to start introducing some training that will mentally tire her out a bit too. Thanks x

 

[I'm Dun]

I use Nina Ottosen toys and games. We do enrichment boxes with things hidden inside smaller boxes and toilet roll tubes etc. Takes mine 20mins to demolish an enrichment box and it seems to be on par with an hours walk off lead.

 

[Dopeydapple]

Well I tried a nina game, she didn't try to work it out she just ripped it apart, bloody malamutes and their "braun over brain" logic

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Well I tried a nina game, she didn't try to work it out she just ripped it apart, bloody malamutes and their "braun over brain" logic

Was it a Tornado you tried? If you don't use the little plastic bones which needs to be removed at the start, every layer on the Tornado just spins. I'm thinking that while trying to break it to get to the treats, she might just realise that it's just as easy to just make the layers spin?

Or why not a Qulan/Treat Tumble? It's not that difficult, but it still keeps the dog's brain + nose busy for a little while, and even if she tries to solve it by brute force, I doubt that will help her much with this toy.

In a way I think that most brain training both games, and toys, is also partly about us finding a way to make them stay focused enough to realise that it's worth it for them to use their brain, instead of trying to use brute force to speedily get what they want.
Some other simple beginner brain training can be to simply hide treats under some sofa pillows, or fold up a blanket, and hide treats in some layers. But it still requires that you make it easy enough in the start for her, so that she doesn't just demolish your sofa + pillows to get to her treats/rips your blanket to pieces to hurriedly get to her treats.

All the latest dog books I've bought is in Swedish, and haven't been translated to English, so I sadly don't have any book recommendations.

 

[Dopeydapple]

No, I got her this one, I think I went too advanced for her, unlocking AND sliding is a step too far lol. I did get her the treat ball too but that winds her up chasing it around and the door frames etc take a battering lol.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Could you perhaps try using the treat ball on a fluffy mat/carpet, or outdoors in grass, so that she ideally realise that she needs to focus more on getting hold of what comes out, and less on making it roll?

It's not always easy to find exactly what works for each dog. And your door frames.
If she have a Kong, you could try stuffing it with something like carrot puree, put it in the freezer, and give it to her when frozen.
Hide gnaw bones around the home so that she first have to find them to gnaw on them.


By the way, one of the last books I bought about mentally activating your dog, had suggestions like teaching your dog to open drawers. When I came home with the book, and had a better look at it, all I thought was *I don't want my dogs to be able to open my drawers, that's where I put stuff I don't want them to get hold of!* But it was one of those offers with buy 3 books, get 1 for free.

 

[HopOnTrot]

I used to chuck their kibble all over the lawn so they could snuffle it out. Or save loo rolls and block the end with old newspaper and kibble in the middle, also kibble in an old plastic bottle.

 

[Jinx94]

No, I got her this one, I think I went too advanced for her, unlocking AND sliding is a step too far lol. I did get her the treat ball too but that winds her up chasing it around and the door frames etc take a battering lol.

Oh gosh, my sister gave me one of these for Z as her dog just ignored it.. took Z all of ten minutes to figure out that if she picked it up and tossed it, it broke and all the food fell out I did leave all of the 'keys' out so that the pieces would just push, but she didn't want to make time for that!

 

[Dopeydapple]

Oh gosh, my sister gave me one of these for Z as her dog just ignored it.. took Z all of ten minutes to figure out that if she picked it up and tossed it, it broke and all the food fell out I did leave all of the 'keys' out so that the pieces would just push, but she didn't want to make time for that!

Yep same I started simpler with the keys out too, but she's too impatient and just decides "hulk smash" is quicker

 

[skinnydipper]

You have started her on a level 3 toy. Why not start with level 1 and work your way up.

If she is struggling, show her how it works.

Eta just read @FinnishLapphund’s excellent post