Brain Games for Dogs: Fun Ways to Build a Strong Bond with Your Dog and Provide it with Vital Mental Stimulation - Softcover

Claire Arrowsmith is a zoologist and applied animal behaviorist. She has conducted research in dog aggression, animal rescue, behavioral consultations and the training of hearing dogs for the deaf. She is the principal practitioner for the Pet Behavior Centre, which offers consultations in 10 regional clinics, including Queen's Veterinary School at Cambridge University, England.

Introducing Brain Games

The fact that you are reading about Brain Games for your dog means that you have an interest in keeping him or her active and happy. Some people will be looking for ways to encourage their dog to be more active, some will want suggestions to occupy their dog while they are away, while others may just want some ideas to put the fun back into playing with their pet. Even with the best of intentions we often get stuck in a rut playing the same old games with our dogs. And even these may diminish over time as we lose interest in following the same old routine.

Many owners will claim that their dog does enjoy playing but, when pressed, they can only list one or two games that he plays. One favorite game may be useful for training or for keeping the dog occupied, but generally it is not sufficient and the dog is left under-stimulated or over-focused on one activity which in itself can lead to problems.

We love our dogs deeply and view them, quite rightly, as highly intelligent animals. The truly wonderful thing is that dogs actually do love learning and discovering new ways to fill their days, to use up their abundant energy and to interact with the humans in their pack. This gives us lots of scope to work and play with our dogs. In fact, our imagination is the only limiting factor regarding the number of things that we can do together.

Keep Topping Up Your Training

Many people will teach their dog the basic commands and then declare him "trained". Whatever the owner may say, the dog's learning and development will continue whether his owner is making time for him or not. He will still require stimulation, activity and fun. When I meet owners of young dogs who declare after a short puppy training course that their dog has finished its training, I often think how frustrating it would be for us if our education ended when we were still in childhood. If we had to keep on repeating the same lessons over and over again, we would all soon get bored and lack enthusiasm. Think about how many limitations that would put on your lifestyle and your ability to interact appropriately and cope in this world.

It is just as important that a dog's education continues, especially since an untrained or frustrated dog can be dangerous. This is why it is critical that all dog owners think carefully about their dog's routine and lifestyle and take the time to make provision for new games. The benefits are enormous as a contented, stimulated dog is less likely to develop many of the more common behavioral problems. This makes pet ownership much easier overall.

The more time you spend having fun training and playing with your pet, the stronger the bond between you will be. Friendship grows from the fun you have together and vital trust can then form. A strong relationship between a dog and his owner is special and highly rewarding.

Many dogs lack sufficient stimulation during their normal daily life because their days are spent completely within their home environment. This can become very predictable and, to put a human term to the emotion, boring. This means that these dogs are not living a fulfilled existence. Dogs that have not had the chance to use up their energy are likely to become over-excitable and difficult to handle, making any sort of obedience training difficult. Even periods of play with these dogs dwindle because they become too excited when you do try to play and can't learn the concept of even simple games like "Fetch." Lack of stimulation is thus a contributing factor to many behavioral complaints. These can vary from behaviors that are inconvenient and annoying; such as some destructive habits or barking, to problems which are much more distressing and dangerous, such as self-mutilation or frustration related aggression.

What Is A Brain Game?

A brain game is any activity that provides your dog with mental stimulation. It fulfills your dog's needs for entertainment and provides a challenge, which is stimulating and exciting. Some brain games also provide physical stimulation, which is equally as important for the overall wellbeing of your dog. Some activities require you to spend time training your dog, while others will provide your dog with an activity to enjoy while you are out or will be pursued just for the fun of it.