Dog Training |Education
3 Ways to Challenge Your Dog's Brain at Mealtime!
Because everyone needs mental stimulation, Fido included!
Everyone experiences boredom at some time or another, including your pup! Many people make the mistake of only exercising their dogs physically, but dogs need both physical and mental stimulation daily. I have been training dogs for five years and have picked up quite a few enrichment ideas over the years! Adding a couple of these ideas into your pup's daily mealtime routine is sure to challenge them and make them a more well-rounded canine.
Enrichment can be as easy as mealtime! Most dogs eat two times a day. You can use mealtime as an opportunity to challenge Fido.
One really easy way to spice up feeding time is splitting your dog's kibble into portions within a muffin tin (I purchased one for a dollar from our local thrift store just for this purpose.) Evenly divide the meal between all the muffin cups, and this will increase the time it takes for your dog to eat. To add to the challenge, you can place a tennis ball on top of each muffin cup. This requires your dog to pick up and move/nudge off each ball before eating the contents of the muffin tin. You can also flip the muffin tin over so the cups are pointing upward and pour the food into the gaps. This causes your dog to navigate their nose between each nook and cranny and slows down their eating as well.
Another option is food puzzles. There are many varieties of food puzzles sold online and in pet stores. One of my favorite options is a Kong Wobble. This is a two-piece toy that you unscrew, pour the kibble in, replace the top, and place on the ground. It is weighted on the bottom, so the dog will then have to nudge and paw the toy for food to be dispensed a few pieces at a time. This is a very easy food puzzle and is great if you are introducing dogs to enrichment for the first time. There are a variety of food puzzles online and in pet stores of varying difficulties as your dog gets accustomed to enrichment.
The last method is a snuffle mat. These are mats designed to hide your dog's food and make them sniff it out. If you do not want to purchase one, you can use a large towel. I have older towels I have ruined with the hair dye I use for my dogs. All you have to do is fold the towel in half longways and then sprinkle the food down the length of the towel. Roll the towel up like a burrito and offer it to your dog by placing it on the floor. They will have to use their nose and paws to unroll the towel and eat the food a bit at a time. Sniffing releases endorphins that relax dogs, an excellent option for high-stress dogs!
Never leave your dog unattended with any of these methods; Dogs should be supervised with food and treats at all times. Start challenging your dog mentally a little bit every day, and you will be surprised by the difference it will make in their behavior.
