Brain Games for Dogs: 14 Enrichment Activities You Can Do Today

Why mental exercise matters

A walk works your dog's legs. A brain game works their nose and their head. Both count, and on rainy days, busy evenings or after surgery, mental exercise is often the one you can actually fit in.

Three studies help explain why it's worth doing:

• Sniffing seems to lift mood. Pet dogs that did two weeks of nosework (searching for food by scent) became more "optimistic" in a judgment test: they approached an ambiguous bowl faster than before. Dogs that practiced heelwork instead showed no change (Duranton & Horowitz, 2019).
• Solving the problem is part of the fun. In a study on beagles, dogs that earned their reward by working out a task showed more excitement, such as tail wagging, than dogs that got the same reward without doing anything (McGowan et al., 2014). The researchers called it a possible "Eureka effect."
• It helps older dogs keep learning. In a two-year study of aged beagles, dogs that got an enriched routine (regular exercise, play with other dogs, a variety of toys) together with an antioxidant-rich diet kept their learning skills best (Milgram et al., 2005). The combination worked better than either change on its own. Note that one of the authors worked for the pet food company that made the diet.

None of this means a puzzle toy replaces walks, play and company. It means a few minutes of thinking a day is a cheap, easy way to make your dog's life richer.

The enrichment menu

Here are all 14 games in this guide at a glance. "Difficulty" is for a dog trying the game for the first time; every game can be made easier or harder.

Game picker: 3 games for your dog

Choose your dog's age, how much time you have and where you are. You'll get three games of different kinds, with the steps.

Nose games

Sniffing is the easiest way into brain games because your dog already knows how to do it. Their job is simply to find things.

1. Find it

The classic, and the one to teach first. Say "Find it!" in a cheerful voice and drop a treat at your feet. Repeat a few times, then toss it a little farther. Once your dog races to search as soon as they hear the words, start hiding treats. Follow the four levels below and move up only when the current one is easy.

2. Which hand?

Close a treat in one fist and hold both fists out at nose height. When your dog sniffs or nudges the right hand, open it. If they pick the wrong one, show them where the treat was and try again. It takes 30 seconds and works anywhere, including at the vet's waiting room.

3. Scatter in the grass

Instead of pouring breakfast in a bowl, toss a handful of kibble over a patch of clean grass. A bowl takes seconds; a lawn can keep your dog busy for several minutes, and it's a calm activity. Skip lawns treated with chemicals and areas where other dogs go to the toilet.

4. Sniff walk

For one walk a week, let your dog choose the route on a long leash and stop whenever they want to sniff. You're not going anywhere in particular. It's an easy way to get some of the benefits of nosework, and a good option for older, anxious or recovering dogs.

Food and puzzle games

These turn part of a meal into a small problem to solve. You don't need to buy puzzle toys to start: most of these use things you already have.

5. Muffin tin puzzle

Put a few pieces of kibble in some of the cups of a muffin tin, then cover every cup with a tennis ball. Your dog has to work out that the balls move. To make it harder, cover the empty cups too so they have to sniff out which ones are worth it.

6. Towel roll

Spread an old towel flat, sprinkle kibble over it and roll it up loosely. Your dog unrolls it with their nose and paws. For a harder version, fold the towel in half before rolling, or tie it in a loose knot.

7. Cup game

Put three plastic cups upside down in a row. Let your dog watch you put a treat under one, then let them choose. When they get it right every time, slowly slide the cups around before letting them pick. It works best for dogs that already enjoy Find it.

8. Frozen stuffed toy

Fill a hollow rubber toy with wet food or kibble soaked in water, then freeze it. Licking and chewing are calming, so this is a good one for when you need your dog to settle, for example while you work. Use only plain, dog-safe food and never anything containing xylitol (a sweetener found in some peanut butters), grapes, raisins, chocolate or onion.

Games you play together

These need you, which is part of the point: they build attention and your bond as well as brain power.

9. Hide and seek

Ask your dog to wait (or have someone gently hold them), then hide in another room and call once. When they find you, throw a small party. It doubles as recall practice. If "come" still needs work, our guide to how to train a dog covers it step by step.

10. Teach a new trick

Learning something new is one of the best mental workouts there is. Start with an easy one like shake, then try roll over or fetch. Our list of tricks to teach your dog orders them from easiest to hardest. Many owners find a clicker makes tricks faster to teach.

11. Learn toy names

Play with one toy and say its name each time ("Ball!"). After a few sessions, put it next to a second toy and ask for it by name. Reward the right choice with a game. Some dogs learn many names; others never get past two, and that's fine. It's the trying that counts.

12. Tug with rules

Tug is a great energy outlet, and adding rules makes it a self-control game. Invite your dog to tug, then say "Drop it" and offer a treat. When they let go, restart the game as the reward. Stop the game for a few seconds if teeth touch skin.

13. Mini obstacle course

Lay a broomstick across two books, add a cushion to climb on and a chair to walk around. Lure your dog through with a treat, one obstacle at a time. Keep everything low: no high jumps for puppies, whose joints are still growing, or for older dogs.

DIY snuffle box and snuffle mat

A snuffle mat is a mat covered in fabric strips. You hide kibble in it and your dog sniffs it out. You can buy one, but a homemade version works just as well to start.

14. The 5-minute snuffle box

1. Take a sturdy cardboard box with no staples or tape inside.
2. Fill it with scrunched-up paper, egg cartons or clean old T-shirts.
3. Sprinkle in a portion of your dog's meal, letting some fall to the bottom.
4. Put it on the floor and say "Find it!"

For a reusable mat, cut fleece into strips about 1 inch wide and 6 inches long, and tie them through the holes of a rubber sink mat until it's thick. Wash it regularly. With either version, stay nearby: if your dog starts shredding and swallowing paper, cardboard or fabric, take it away and go back to a game like the towel roll.

Another way to work your dog's mind

The games here need nothing but a few treats. If you'd also like a structured path, HeyFido has step-by-step video lessons: all the basics first, then tricks, using positive reinforcement, with a daily streak to help you stay consistent.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

7-day free trial · cancel anytime.

Adapting games to your dog

How often? A short game once or twice a day is plenty for most dogs. If you'd like to fit games into a broader routine, the free 4-week plan in our dog training guide includes a tricks track.

Safety checklist

• Count the calories. Use kibble from the daily meal and keep treats small.
• Supervise anything chewable. Paper, cardboard, fabric and tennis balls aren't food.
• Know the toxic foods. Never use xylitol, grapes, raisins, chocolate, onion or garlic in fillings.
• Separate multiple dogs for food games if there's any guarding of food or toys.
• Mind the joints. No high jumps for puppies or seniors; ask your vet if your dog has pain.
• Watch for frustration. If a game ends in barking or destruction, make it easier next time.

FAQ

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