Dogs don't just need physical exercise to feel good. It is also important to stimulate your mind and, for this, the best instrument is your sense of smell. It is the most powerful and developed sense in dogs and they use it to explore the world in a much deeper way than their sight. That is why it is common for them to want to stop to sniff everything they find during a walk or when they arrive at a place unknown to them.
The cognitive enrichment of the dog has many benefits. It serves to make you feel stimulated, as well as sharpen your sense of smell. It also offers you entertainment and fun. At the same time, they expend energy, since an olfactory exercise exhausts them as much or more than a good walk. As if this were not enough, it combats boredom and helps them deal with stress, which is often the cause of their behavior problems. And it is an excellent way to strengthen your bond.
Cognitive stimulation of the dog is simpler than it seems. You don't have to be a dog training expert or spend a lot of money on interactive pet toys like scent mats. With a series of everyday objects that we all have at home, you can make your best four-legged friend very happy.
This simple pastime is perfect for introducing your dog to olfactory games. He picks up a trinket and shows it to you. Then behind your back hide it in one of your hands. Show him your clenched fists and let him sniff to find out where the succulent prize is.
Set up a candy-hunting circuit for your dog. First put a few in a row showing him the way and then hide them in different corners of the house so that he can find them by smell.
You can also spread them in a grassy area, as this will entertain them sniffing until they find their sweets.
Your dog probably likes to destroy things when he's bored or over-energy. To prevent him from picking on your shoes or your drapes, give him something he can break without retaliation. Take a roll of toilet paper or a small cardboard box. Put a few trinkets inside and either close the box or fold the scroll so you have to break it to get the reward.
Stretch out a towel and scatter various prizes on it. Then she wraps it around herself several times. She do it so that the dog has to work to unwind it and access the trinkets.
Dogs really like to search for objects and chase them, see playing ball. But another game that conquers them is hide-and-seek. Throw something at him so he can go look for it and when he has lost sight of you, hide. Then, call him to find you and when he does, give him a treat.
