As a dog owner you probably already know how important physical activity is for your pup - it tires them out, keeps them in shape and more importantly keeps them happy.
What I loved learning during my pawrent journey is that mental stimulation is just as important! So here I want to share 3 reasons why and a few of Luna's favorite toys and activities for you to try!
Boredom: Even tho in this new normal a lot of us work from home, we might not have time to entertain our pups as much as we would like - it's one thing being bored when mom and dad are not home but I dare you be home and ignore me. In this situation some self suiting could help our fur babies entertain themselves while tiring out. The right activity not only will keep them busy, but will also keep them away from destructive behavior. Before figuring this out, Luna kept chewing on a window seal - she would only do it while I was home but not available to her - once I found a way to make her feel included in my day by setting up some solo activities, the destruction stopped.
Injury recovery: When Luna had her TPLO surgery her activities were very limited, being on medication also kept her very groggy and sleepy for most of the day - doing puzzles and other games like the shell game, helped her through the frustration of being in pain and the annoyance of having limited mobility
Old Age: older dogs might not be able to run around, or go on long walks as much as they used to, but like with humans, keeping their mind sharp will help exercise their brain and avoid premature aging. This means that mentally stimulating exercises should be included before the aging process is too far advanced.
Ok, so what are these exercises you ask? Great question! These are some on Luna's (and mine) favorites:
Puzzles : Luna really enjoys figuring out how to get her treats out of this toy - the one in the video is a Level 2 intermediate and didn't take her long to figure it out so we ended up upgrading to a Level 2 advanced to make it a little more challenging - and last longer.
Note: you should always be around to supervise your pup while playing with this game to ensure safety.
Shell Game: After being fixed as a pup, Luna was not allowed to do too much moving to avoid ripping her stitches and as a 5month that was a VERY hard task - the shell game seemed to do the trick - and the best part, all you need is 3 plastic cups and a treat which you probably have all thats needed at home.
Toy Pick Up: this is another free of charge way to keep them busy. Take all of their toys out of their toy box and have them put them back in one by one, the nap that Luna took after this exercise was glorious!
Honorable mentions go to:
The Lick mat - its more of a suiting experience (think pacifier for babies) - add some peanut butter, plain yogurt or mashed bananas, freeze them and let your pup lick away!
The Sniff mat - hide their favorite smelly treats in the mat and let them work on their senses to find them
Hide and seek - hide treats around the house then ask your pup to go find them - this will keep them busy for a good while (it helps remembering where you place them so that you can make sure there aren't any left around to rot!)
What are some ways you like to entertain your pup when going on a walk is not possible?
Happy pawrenting!
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