Not every owner devotes enough time to his four-legged friend. The reasons for this may be different: one does not have enough free time to play with the dog, while the other is disturbed by banal laziness. Any imbalance is not good, because of the lack of entertainment in life, the animal can experience severe stress. Moreover, dogs have a need not only for physical exertion, but also for intellectual. What brain toys can be purchased for your dog, and what are their features, will be described in this article.
What are they for?
In order for the dog to be in good shape and feel fine, it needs to be walked at least twice a day - everyone knows about this rule, and if possible they try to follow it. Of course, during the walk, the dog has many diverse impressions, which is why its brain receives a kind of "food". However, for the harmonious development of the animal, intellectual training is also recommended.
They help maintain the mental state of your pet’s health in balance with the physical, which has a very positive effect on the overall development of the pet.
According to scientists, 15 minutes of mental load is equivalent to a 1.5-hour active walk.
Of course, it is impossible to fully compensate for physical activity through games of intelligence. It is very important for the dog to splash out the accumulated energy, communicate with other animals and people, sniff and examine everything. Nonetheless, Mind games are an important addition to the dog’s daily entertainment program and also help to correct its behavior.
Experts say that thanks to them you can get rid of increased dog aggression or depression caused by constant separation from the owner when he leaves for work.They also serve as a prophylaxis of apathy, which many pets, leading a home lifestyle, fall into.
About a quarter of a century ago, Nina Ottoson, an amateur dog breeder from Sweden, noticed this. The woman saw a similarity in the behavior of children and dogs, since the latter also have a craving for intellectual activity. She founded a company for the production of intellectual entertainment for puppies and adult dogs, after which other companies took up her idea.
How to do it yourself?
Among the dog toys "for the mind" there are several popular and simple models that are easy to make yourself. We will discuss them further.
Surprise box
Such a game can be easily made independently. To do this, take your dog’s favorite treat, wrap it in paper and put it in a box. The dog smells the aroma of delicious food and tries to get it. Further, this game can be complicated by adding various "obstacles" in the form of additional wrappers, etc.
In order for the dog to enthusiastically solve puzzles, the reward must be truly welcome.
Put in the toy food that he loves the most. Dry snacks are preferable since they do not stain the toy. In pet stores and hypermarkets you can always find unusual treats that are created specifically for dogs.
Ball
If you have unnecessary tennis balls, you can please your pet with the following game: cut them and put pieces of dry food inside. The dog will sniff the toy for a long time, think about where the food is in it, and enthusiastically get it.
Snuff rug
The purpose of this puzzle is to find a yummy in the "thickets" of fleece ribbons. It was developed in the Netherlands to develop a dog's sense of smell.
The rug can be made independently, if you attach a fleece tape to the usual antisplash rug.
The dog will be happy to look for goodies hidden under the layers of fabric. To begin with, hide them superficially, and then you can complicate the task and bury the delicacy deeper.
Candy
Take a few candy wrappers, preferably rustling and shiny, and wrap them in pieces of dry food. Lay them out around the room and let the dog think of a way to take the treat out. Some dogs prefer to unfold the resulting “candy” with their paws and teeth, while others open it directly in their mouth, spitting out a candy wrapper.
Such a mental load will distract the pet if he no longer knows where to put his energy, and it takes on destructive forms: the dog gnaws furniture, breaks objects.
Toys from the pet store
The developers have already come up with many interesting models of toys, so you just have to visit the store and choose the right one.
Dispenser ball with holes
Such a ball refers to simple toys. When the dog rolls it, a crispy food spills out of the ball. The dog understands: to get a yummy one needs to roll the ball, and tries to deploy it in a certain way.
Stand Dispenser
This device consists of several containers that are fixed at a distance from the ground, and can rotate. The animal needs to make mental efforts to understand how to get food from these bottles.
Button Dispenser
Such a toy will make the dog seriously think, and by trial and error find the right buttons that will open him access to food.
Luminous balls
These interactive toys glow in the dark. By playing in a safe place at dusk, you will allow your pet to turn on search abilities.
Developing platforms
They are equipped with drawers, platforms, holes and other things that make the dog "move his brain." For example, to get a reward, the dog must pull the rope or open the door.
Kong
Developers of this company can have different models. Usually they are equipped with a vertical cylinder, which, when rotated, throws out goodies. For it to work, the dog must push it gently.Since the movements of the dog can have different intensities, then impact force must be selected. This takes the dog for a long time and distracts it from the "hooligan" thoughts.
Puller
This entertainment is suitable for walking and will make them more energetic and fun. Puller consists of two ring shells, training time is about 20 minutes per day. Entertainment is equally liked by both large and small breeds, moreover, the rings are made of harmless materials that do not have a sharp repelling odor. The mini version is intended for Pekingese, pugs and other small breeds, the standard is for labradors, shepherd dogs and other large individuals, and the maxi is suitable for the same breeds as the standard, but it is made with thickened walls.
The toy develops dexterity and helps the dog hone its teeth without harm to the gums. It will also help to keep the furniture in good condition, because your four-legged friend already has something to chew on.
A dog is a smart animal that loves not only to frolic in the fresh air, but also to show its intellectual abilities. You can realize its potential with the help of educational toys. Buy them at a pet store or make them yourself, and then your pet will get a lot of pleasant emotions. In addition, his psychological state will be stable, and you will get a balanced and harmoniously developed dog.
In the next video, see the review of a brilliant toy for dogs, which you can make yourself.
