Fun & Brain Games
Puzzles are our favourite games for dogs – really getting their brain-power working and challenging them is important to keep dogs happy and healthy.
Use your Training Mix for these puzzles but you can also use higher value treats if you set a great challenge – better pay, for harder work!
Build the challenge slowly to avoid frustration and the dog losing interest.
Before using any home-made puzzles check out this clip for some of our favourite puzzle ideas plus please read the safety guidelines at the start:
I know, I know… but some important considerations to be aware of plus ideas for our favourite puzzles 🙂
Today’s Games
Time Allowance:
Each game will take you 2-10 minutes to set up – depending on the puzzles your choose.
Try a couple of these puzzles today.
Family Participation:
Fun for all the family – children will love constructing puzzles for dogs.
Always supervise child-dog interactions and make sure children learn to leave the dog alone while he works on his puzzle.
Top Tip for Today’s Games:
Give your dog a puzzle in a confined or smaller area. Things could get messy so it’s easier to clean up if the mess is restricted.
Remember, encourage your dog to move away from the puzzle before you start clean up!
Stuffed Puzzles
You will need:
- cardboard tube from e.g. toilet roll
- crumpled paper e.g. newspaper, kitchen paper
- paper e.g. newspaper, old wrapping paper
- Training Mix
Beginner Level ideas:
- add a treat to a cardboard tube and squeeze the ends
- set up as above and wrap loosely in old wrapping paper
Advanced Level ideas:
- Add a treat to a cardboard tube, stuff the tube with crumpled kitchen roll or even newspaper. Wrap the tube in paper to make a Christmas Cracker.
Rolled Puzzles
You will need:
- stiff cardboard, like a flap from a box
- old tea towel
- Training Mix
Beginner Level ideas:
- remove the flap from a box and spread it out flat; sprinkle some food on it and then roll it up
Advanced Level ideas:
- sprinkle a tea towel with food and roll it up
- for an extra challenge, slightly dampen the towel, roll up with food and freeze
Precision Puzzles
You will need:
- cardboard eggboxes
- butter, yoghurt or cream cheese tubs with lids
- crumpled paper
- old wrapping paper
- Training Mix
Beginner Level ideas:
- add some food to an eggbox and close over the lid, without fastening
- add some food to a tub and place the lid on top, without pressing it down too hard
Advanced Level ideas:
- add some food to an eggbox and close the lid – for an extra challenge wrap the eggbox in old wrapping paper
- fill the tub with food and crumpled paper, close the lid tightly
Teasers
You will need:
- muffin tin
- cardboard tubes, tennis balls, disposable cups
- tray, basket, box
- Training Mix
Beginner Level ideas:
- place a food reward in each gap of an eggbox or muffin tin; cover each treat with a tennis ball, toilet roll tube or disposable cup
Advanced Level ideas:
- sprinkle food on the base of the tray/basket/box and then fill the entire container with cardboard tubes standing up – pack it tightly to really challenge your dog
Snuffle Puzzles
Use a soft ball with holes to make a snuffle ball. Check out our clip and listen for the snuffling:
Really getting into puzzling your dog? Make him a snuffle mat!
Thread lengths of t-shirt or fleece fabric through the gaps in a rubber doormat and distribute your dog’s meal throughout.
Busy Box
Fill a box with crumpled paper, add treats and close up the box. To make an even busier box, you can add that box to another box too.
Scent Puzzles
You will need:
- towel, mat or blanket
- some disposable cups or plastic tubs with or without lids (all the same)
- Training Mix
Beginner Level ideas:
- sprinkle some food on the floor and cover with a towel/mat/blanket – let your dog see you
- to advance this puzzle, hide the food under a mat when the dog isn’t present and then release him to search
Advanced Level ideas:
- line up three upturned cups or tubs with food underneath one; release your dog to search
Bobbing for Kibble
You will need:
- a bowl, basin or kiddies paddling pool
- water
- Training Mix
Beginner Level idea:
- toss some food in a bowl of very shallow water when your dog is watching – to increase the challenge remove the dog from the room before submerging the food
Advanced Level idea:
- toss some food in a container with deeper water – to increase the challenge remove the dog from the room before submerging the food
Wohoo!
Another day over – well done!
Remember, you are only limited by your imagination so show off some of the puzzles you have made – we would love to see your ideas!
AniEd Ireland 