Running for half an hour next to the bike, accompanying people when jogging and playing with other dogs - that's good physical exercise for dogs. But for a fulfilled, needs-based dog life, they need more. This is not about obedience exercises, because they quickly become a habit. The four-legged friends need a sense of achievement, challenges that they master. Just ten minutes of brain teasers will deeply satisfy any dog and also promote bonding with their humans. Very important: Don't ask too much of your dog, that demotivates him.
role playing
Place a piece of cheese or turkey wieners in a pair of kitchen rolls or toilet paper, let the dog sniff it, and tie both ends with cloth or paper. Then put the roll in front of the dog. Just let him work for a few minutes. Clever guys quickly get the hang of it, beginners have to try it for a long time. Before the dog loses interest in the fragrant bite, open one side of the roll.
hats off
You will need three cups or cones and a sealable bag or feed bag that fits under these hats. Space the cups upside down and place under a sachet or pouch containing a treat. The dog's task is to find the right cone, knock it over and run to you with the tasty cone, otherwise there is no reward.
Read books
Before it ends up in the paper bin, a disused book can strengthen the dog's ability to think: put small pieces of food between a few pages and close the book again. The exercise becomes more complicated if there are other empty books lying on the floor. Or you weigh down the reading material with a cutting board. Let your four-legged friend tinker away.
teddy bear or doll
This is a challenging exercise that you need to build up slowly. Get two of the dog's favorite toys - a ball, a stuffed animal, a tether...things your dog likes to bring. Give the two a name, i.e. ball , rabbit, rope. Put one of the pieces in front of the dog and have it handed to you. Say the name clearly. Then switch to the other part and repeat the fetch exercise. Only when the dog responds to "Bring the ball!" or "Bring the rabbit!" reacts enthusiastically (of course he gets a treat for bringing it back!), lay out both parts next to each other. Now he has to be careful what you ask for. If he brings the wrong item, take it without reward and send him again. Don't lose patience and praise profusely when it works.
Search and bring
The easiest way to do this is with a filled food bag: the dog can sniff it and must remain seated while you remove yourself with the bag. Lay it out of the dog's sight, walk back, and ask him to find and retrieve. As an aid, you can set the direction with your outstretched arm. Most dogs love this game, which can be made as difficult as you like: sometimes the bag is hanging on the doorknob, sometimes it's lying on a chair or in a fork in a branch outside. It is important that the dog does not search with its eyes but with its nose.
