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What are some easy fun games that will mentally and physically stimulate my puppy?

she enjoys following smells and digging (but I'm not sure it's a good thing to encourage). She has a short attention span and doesn't seem to excited when I try playing hide and seek. She likes to play independently but at the same time she enjoys playing with someone.


Asked by Member 999477 on Aug 5th 2010 Tagged games, fun, play, mental, exercise, happy, exciting, outside, inside in Exercise & Play
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Brooklyn

If you look at your local pet store there are a lot of toys offered that are mentally stimulating for your pup. Kongs are a great toy that require your puppy to work to get treats out!


Brooklyn answered on 8/5/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Red

I go to this site from time to time; www.dogplay.com

They have lots of cool ideas. Right now I'm reading about "nose work." It's all for play for us, we're not really "working."

I read about (with the puppy not seeing you) take little bits of hot dogs, smashing them into the ground, just for the scent, and making a sort of trail, for the dog to follow, than a treat at the end. Maybe you could bury the treat, to get a little digging enjoyment in too! And you could pick where your pup digs.

Good luck and Have Fun!


Red answered on 8/5/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Dieta

I have rubber kongs available, kiddie pools are great, I allow digging until a certain age.
I roll balls in the grass for them to chase.
I basically allow a puppy to do as many things naturally as possible like digging and running around the yard investigating bugs and things.
I take them also to the petstores and around ppl to a certain age also.


Dieta answered on 8/5/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Seth


What breed of dog do you have? This may have alot to do with what they think is play. My sighthounds could care less about toys or kongs. Their play is to run and chase. I know alot of scent hounds think tracking is fun. Maybe a game that she can use the scence of smell is something you can try also. See if she can follow a scent.


Seth answered on 8/5/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Guest

Putting a treat under a cup and letting her figure out how to get to it is pretty stimulating.
Hiding treats around the house.
Catch/fetch/rolling balls to her/backyard soccer
Different types of chasey including kisschasey and freeze tag is awesome fun with a dog.


Member 1023363 answered on 3/18/11. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Jaxi

How about you let her dig in one corner of the yard, maybe 5ft by 5ft. Hide some treats under a centimeter of ground and let her try to get them, with some help if she doesn't understand.


Jaxi answered on 4/25/11. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Boss Hog

Training is about most rigorous and mentally and physically stimulating game or activity you can do with your dog, not only does it benefit the dog, it benefits you as well.

This may be a little harder for a dog with a short attention span but no dog is untrainable. What I'd do is get something that interests her like a treat or "special toy" that keeps her focused. If that doesn't work I'd get her to do tricks that tie into to what she does daily.

If this doesn't work you can always get your excited pooch into "agility" or sports. Agility can be done independently but she'll learn quickly if she's energetic and loves to have fun and overcome obstacles.

If she likes to play independently from time to time but also with a companion, I'd leave her to play at a dog park, she can either choose to play with others, or find something to do herself, but remember to always supervise in a park and keep your dog vaccinated.

If agility interests you, remember to research first.


Boss Hog answered on 1/16/12. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Roady

I find using a clicker and shaping different types of behavior mentally stimulating for the dog. Bring a new object into a room with your dog and try to get him/her interested in it. You basically wait--click and reward with treat for eyes looking at it....then pawing at it....then putting two paws on it etc....I have taught my young acd pup to bow on little targets that i can toss around on the floor and he will run over and bow looking for a reward..Good Luck.


Roady answered on 2/24/12. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Raylan

We put a cookie in a clear plastic soda bottle - one liter size is the fun size at our house! Put the cap back on the bottle (tightly) so that it won't crush too soon, then scoot it across the carpet or the lawn. WATCH the puppy! When the interest is gone, or the bottle starts to crush, shake the cookie out and do the puppy victory dance! Watch the puppy at all times - that lid can be pryed off by an industrious chewer - and this game is for chasing, not chewing!


Raylan answered on 3/13/12. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Guest

There are a variety of Toys and Games that are easy and fun for your Puppy. If you have a backyard and you do NOT want digging, I suggest you train her not to dig. I have a game that most Puppies like to play with humans. Wiggle your fingers into the air and see if she'll like it. Also, try to buy Tennis Balls, Kongs, Doggie Ropes, etc. And I see she likes smelling so, here's another easy smelling game. Taake a handful of Puppy Chow, Dog Food, or Treats and burry them ina sock. Hide the sock somewhere and let her find it.


Note: I'm sure your Puppy is all grown up now! You posted the Question in 2010 :)


Member 1093784 answered on 4/4/12. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


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