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Mental stimulation for puppy

8 replies

Doggywoofy · 05/05/2021 16:43

Hello everyone, Im looking for some advice and maybe reassurance.

I have a 4 month old cockapoo puppy who is so lovely and been like a dream. He has such a calm temperament and having expected the worst I feel like I must have got very lucky! Biting, over tiredness and hyperness don’t seem to be his thing. He really does feel like the perfect dog, so laid back.

But I am worried. Whilst he gets a good walk every day and again in the evening if he wants it, I’m really worried that I’m just not giving him enough stimulation when we’re at home. He tends to just lie down wherever and snooze or watch but I often worry that he might be bored or unhappy.

Ive done lots of obedience training with him in the first four weeks but that’s now tailed off as he got the hang of things really quickly but I feel that I must be letting him down now as I’m not sure what else to do with him whilst we’re at home.

He seems very content to just lie in a room or sometimes play with his toys. He’s stopped even following me around so unless I’m going to get food he just lies in whatever spot he’s chosen, even if no one else is there , and just sort of is.

OP posts:
Doggywoofy · 05/05/2021 16:45

Reading that back I realise I sound like I have no complaint and maybe I am just over thinking and over worrying. But I just wonder whether he’s incredibly bored and if I’m doing him a big disservice. It almost feels like I have a 12 year old dog and not a 4 month old puppy. I should add I live alone and my partner sometimes comes by but it’s not like there’s general hustle and bustle and kids to keep him occupied.

OP posts:
Motorina · 05/05/2021 19:04

If he were bored or unhappy he wouldn't by lying down and chilling. He would be barking or exploding things. So you're good.

If it helps, though, I've just started on luckydogtraining.co.uk/trickstar-puppy with my 10 week puppy. Lots of ideas of things to do, many with clear progression. And a rosette if you complete the course. I'm finding it fun so far, plus it's nice to have some structure/ideas on what to do, as it's a bit exhausting otherwise.

MrsSkrebensky · 06/05/2021 13:56

I asked a similar question a while ago and was directed to the Canine Enrichment Facebook group. It's brilliant and we've used lots of the ideas.

SunflowerOwl · 07/05/2021 20:15

My cocker spaniel is also pretty chilled out and didn't start needing too much mental stimulation until he was a bit older - maybe 6 months or so. When he was really little it was just nap eat play repeat!

Now hes older he does benefit from it a bit more or he gets into mischief - I do things like putting his dinner into a puzzle toy or snuffle mat, and he absolutely loves playing 'find it' either with food or one of us will go and hide. We also try to make his walks stimulating for him too so we mix up where we go, usually somewhere we can let him off the lead so he can have a good sniff, also getting him to find his ball or a treat in the long grass.

But he sounds perfectly content at the moment so I wouldn't worry!!

StrawberryFizz26 · 09/05/2021 12:42

Hey OP.

I've also got a "poo" x yorkie and he's really clever. We use the puppr app which has lots and lots of each to teach tricks which we both love to do.
Zak George is also good and you can find homemade mental stimulation games on YouTube.

Enjoy the time dpup is quiet now and keep on with the obedience training.

It sounds like you're doing everything right. I love dpup sooo much. He's the light of my life and I worship him 😂

Liliolla · 09/05/2021 13:03

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Doggywoofy · 09/05/2021 14:15

Oh! I’m curious what the post was that got deleted

OP posts:
StrawberryFizz26 · 09/05/2021 14:19

Me too, as the same user just posted on a different thread after me and that got deleted too.
doggywoofy

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