Brain Games to do at home

[Doodledangle]

What do your dogs enjoy that keep them stimulated but don't necessarily need hours on end and could be done at home in between work meetings! DDog gets 1 long & 2 shorter walks a day (1 shorter one is loose lead work) plus I usually do a mix of the following but feel like we're both getting a bit bored with the same thing and need something fun and different to add to the mix

Scent work around the house/under blankets or in box/scrunched up paper etc
Hide & seek - me or a toy
1 session working on commands (sit/lie down/front & middle plus place at the moment)
He has kongs and lick mats - usually peanut butter plus training treats but any other suggestions welcome

I chuck treats around the garden for my beagle - he loves it. On a rainy day, I shut him in the kitchen and do it indoors instead.

To add, I think the most important piece of training I did with him was to teach him to switch off and settle down!

My two high-drive lunatics are currently asleep. Sometimes we play retrieve games around the house or do a bit of basic obedience, or have a quick came of chase and tug with some fur on a string, but mostly they chill out indoors.

@fieldsofbutterflies be interested to hear how you mastered settle down. I have a young lively poodle who does settle but only really when he's knackered, well fed & happy! He's mastered place and will wait whilst I leave the room for short periods but it's waiting for the next command rather than settled.

Honestly, OP, I would simply enesure he was safe and comfortable and then leave him be. At a young age that seems tricky but presumably you will always have to WFH and it's better for you all if you are allowed to focus on your work for that time.

He will learn that when you are working, nothing exciting is going to happen and will - as he ages - settle to it.

By all means get him a bone (ostrich bones are great) or other chew. Ensure he has toys. But otherwise, set off as you need to go on.

We basically made sure he'd been to the toilet and had had a proper walk, then tethered him to us with a chew and let him get

He did whine and bark at first but we just ignored it and quietly praised him for being calm. Nothing too exciting or noisy as it just winds them up again and defeats the whole object.

He's six now and I can say "come on, settle" and he'll either curl up next to me or take himself off under his blanket for a nap - I'd say it's been like that since he was about two, though nowadays I'm using the command less and less as he just does it naturally anyway.

Mine basically do very little when at home or chilling.

I have active breeds wcs collies and a working lab.

They get their exercise and in that we do breed specific activities. Then back home to chill.

They get a training session most days.

For me mine have to have settle time or else they will be manic and demanding attention all the time

It sounds like you are doing plenty, don't make the mistake of constantly trying to entertain him/her.

Agree with PPs about letting them learn to settle. Our v active lab understands 'I'm working' if she approaches with a toy / wanting fuss. If I do have a couple of minutes I will engage with her / fuss / play, but if I'm busy she is expected to settle down.

That being said, for a bit of variety to switch activities, ours loves the following:

Recycling box full of cardboard / safe plastic stuff with treats seeded in so she can have a good dig through

Large towel rolled and folded with small (mostly healthy) treats in each fold / roll. We use little slices of carrot / pepper / cucumber / apple etc but also a bit of ham / cheese / treat biscuit.

The giant wobbly Kong with the little hole in the side that you can't knock down as it has a weighted base - fill with frozen peas or sweetcorn (unless it's a v warm day)

We only tend to do the above twice a week or so (she does do other enrichment every day), she gets v excited and it's more of a novelty.

10 mins of brain games is as good as a 40 min walk... so they say :-)

I love to make up games to play. Keeps it fresh and exciting. Here are some of my ideas from many years ago but still valid. Enjoy :-)

www.dfordog.co.uk/blog/homemade-cheap-dog-toys-games.html