Hoe belangrijk is hersenwerk voor jouw hond?

How important is mental stimulation for your dog?

Alongside physical activity (such as walking, swimming or playing sports), a dog also needs mental stimulation. By engaging your dog’s brain, you stimulate various senses, resulting in a content and relaxed dog. A fun way to mentally challenge your dog is through brain games. In this blog, you’ll learn what brain games involve and discover how you can go on a sniffing adventure together with your dog.

What are brain games?

Brain games involve searching for a reward hidden among different types of materials and objects. They mentally challenge dogs and encourage them to use their noses. Dogs have to think creatively to get their reward. Various senses are stimulated in the process; after all, your dog needs to look, feel and smell carefully. While searching for its reward, your dog can use its paws and mouth as well as its nose to move, lift or push something, for example. This gives your dog new insights and can even boost its confidence through brain games, as it learns to overcome obstacles.

How can you and your dog get started with brain games?

There are all kinds of ways to play brain games with your dog. It’s important to remember that the difficulty level of the game should match your dog’s ability. Would you and your dog like to get started with brain games? Begin with simple games, guide your dog and reward it generously when it finds the treat or object. This keeps brain games fun for your dog and prevents it from becoming frustrated or giving up too soon.

Supplies for brain work

Brain work is suitable for every dog, regardless of your four-legged friend's breed or age. It is also suitable for every budget, because brain work can simply be done at home with materials you probably already have. Nothing is too crazy for brain work; you can make a puzzle from almost any material. For example, think of egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, plastic containers, or cardboard boxes where you can hide the reward. Old clothes or a towel are also suitable for brain work. Put the reward inside, roll it up, and you have a great puzzle for your dog!

In addition to materials you probably already have at home, there are also special durable puzzles for sale. These puzzles often have multiple levels, so you can easily start and increase the difficulty. This way, you and your dog can enjoy it for a while and have long-lasting fun with a puzzle.

There are also so-called 'snuffle mats.' These mats consist of strips of fabric where you can hide the reward. You can make a snuffle mat yourself or buy one.

Other alternatives include a Kong Classic or a Lickimat. Both items can be filled with a treat or some canned food, making your dog work to get the reward.

The Mono Protein cans from Riverwood are ideal for this. View the wet food assortment. Want to let your dog snack responsibly? Then check out the snack assortment from Riverwood.

In short, it doesn't matter whether you choose a ready-made puzzle or get creative yourself to make a fun brain game for your dog; there are endless possibilities to mentally challenge your dog.

Brain work is done together

Besides being good for your dog's mental state, brain work also helps improve the bond between you and your four-legged friend. Brain work is always done together: you come up with the puzzle, your dog solves it, and you reward him. Make sure to keep brain work safe and never leave your dog alone. Also, be careful that your dog cannot eat loose objects, such as pieces of plastic or paper. If you notice your dog finds the puzzle too difficult, take a step back, help him where needed, and make sure the game isn't too long. By keeping sessions short, your dog maintains concentration. Enjoy lots of sniffing fun!

Many dogs already enjoy Riverwood every day. Would you also like your dog to savor our delicious foods and are you curious which variant would suit your dog best? Answer here a few questions and order a budget-friendly trial pack right away.