Mental stimulation is just as important for pets as physical exercise. Engaging your pet’s mind helps to reduce stress, anxiety, and boredom, which can lead to behavioural issues such as excessive barking, separation anxiety, destructive behaviours, house soiling, overgrooming, and certain types of aggression.

There are many ways to keep your dog or cat’s mind engaged and enriched.

Interactive puzzle toys encourage problem-solving and can include puzzle feeders, treat cubes, cat ball tracks, snuffle mats, and soundboards. You can also create your own brain games. Try hiding treats around the house for a fun game of hide-and-seek, or engage your cat’s hunting instinct with “treat hockey”, where they chase a piece of moving kibble. Scattering a handful of kibble in the backyard is another great way to curb boredom for a fenced-in dog.

Positive and fun training sessions that teach new commands also engage the mind. Shorter sessions are preferred to maintain focus and can include 1 to 2 new commands per month.

Teach your dog a new sport like dock diving, soccer, or frisbee, or try agility and rally obedience classes to engage their mind and body through problem-solving and physical activity. Change your walking route to give your dog new experiences, smells and sights or check out apps such as Sniffspot that connect you with private dog exercising grounds.

Place a bird feeder near or on the window of your cat’s favourite perch to give them something exciting to watch. Cats love climbing and perching in places off the ground.  Consider adding a sturdy wall shelf roost or climbing tower to give them an outlet for that natural instinct.

Spending even 10 minutes per day on brain games will keep their minds active, reduce the incidence of behavioural issues, enhance their quality of life and deepen the connection you share with them.

*This article was originally featured in The Ilderton Villager in October 2024.