Dog Puzzle Games
Puzzles
No matter big or small, all dogs need some form of mental activity. We sometimes forget that mental stimulation is as important as the physical! Maybe you don’t have as much time as you used to or perhaps you don’t really know how to mentally stimulate your dog? Don’t worry! Keep reading to learn more about how these dog puzzle games can help you.
What are dog puzzle games?
These interactive dog puzzle games are designed to stimulate your dog’s brain which requires both mental and some physical dexterity. It can also help reinforce the relationship between dog and handler as you work through the challenges of the puzzles together. Perfect for reactive or nervous dogs who needs to build confidence!
How do they work?
The games are quite straightforward for us humans, maybe less so for your dog. Most dogs love problem–solving in some way and this is exactly what these games give your dog, a problem to solve. The dog has to figure out how to get the treats by lifting blocks, spin discs, push blocks etc. The games usually have different difficulty levels so that every dog can find a game that suits them, even puppies!
How do I use them?
Find a game that fits your dog’s size and difficulty level, if you and your dog are beginners it’s best to start with the lowest level to make sure that your dog succeeds! After you feel like you’ve mastered the level you’re on you can always step it up and get a more difficult game.
Once you’ve found a game it’s time to decide what you want to treat your dog with. You can hide your dog’s food, treats, peanut butter or anything that your dog likes as long as they are motivated enough to work for it. Depending on the game you have they might look a little different, but usually, you hide the treats (or whatever you decided for) under something like blocks or sliding discs and your dog has to figure out how to get them.
As the levels increase it gets harder for your dog to get these treats, instead of just moving one block to get them, they might have to slide a disc in order to then move the block.
Always play the games with your dog the first few times to make sure that they understand what to do and if they don’t, make sure to guide them! Never leave them to play these games unattended!
What are the benefits?
There are a lot of benefits to letting your dog play these games! It exercises your dog mentally, but also physically as they have to grab and lift blocks, maybe push slides with their paws and so on.
It can help reduce or prevent behavior problems, boost their confidence and it can also strengthen the bond between dog and human as you guide and help them with their problem. Plus, it’s so much fun! Not just for your dog, but also for you. Seeing them trying to figure out how to solve the puzzle and see how creative they become when they want the treat is so much fun to see!
Another plus is that they take up very little space (usually) and can be done pretty much anywhere. Is the weather bad and your dog doesn’t want to go out? No problem! Give them a game to work on to make sure that they don’t get bored. Obviously, these games are not a substitute for walks or other types of training that your dog might need. Always make sure to check up any underlying problems or health issues that your dog might have.