A quick sniff!

This post dives into why mental stimulation is crucial year-round – it tires them out more effectively than endless physical exercise and prevents boredom-related "bad" behaviours. The best part? You can create engaging, brain-boosting toys and activities using everyday household items. Learn how a short burst of mind games can equal a long walk, and get ready to whip up fun DIY ideas like the Muffin Tin Game, Treat Hide and Seek, and the clever Cup Game, all designed to keep your furry friend's brain buzzing and their tail wagging, even when it's too hot to trot!

(click to go straight to that section):

• Intro

• Importance of mental enrichment

• DIY toys and activities

  • Ice Bowl

  • Snuffle Blanket

  • Frozen Treats

  • Reuse Marrow Bones

  • Treat Hide and Seek

  • Sensory Fun

  • Destructive Box

  • Bottle Spinner

  • Cake Tin Ball Game

  • The Cup Game

  
  

Phew, is anyone else feeling the heat? With these endless heat waves rolling in, it's tempting to flop on the sofa with your furry best friend and crank up the fan. But while physical exercise might be taking a temporary backseat, besides the morning walks or river visits, our pups still need to keep those brilliant brains busy! That's right, mental stimulation is just as, if not more, crucial than physical activity for a happy, well-adjusted dog, and it's something they need all year round, not just when the sun's scorching.

The good news? Keeping your dog's mind engaged doesn't have to break the bank or require a trip to a speciality pet store. Some of the most enriching and fun activities can be whipped up with things you likely already have lying around the house, plus a few inexpensive bits and bobs. So, let's ditch the boredom and get those canine cogs turning with some fantastic DIY dog toys and activities!

Why is mental enrichment so important?

It's easy to assume that two daily walks are enough to keep our dogs happy and healthy, but that's simply not the case.

Our canine companions need so much more!

Many dog breeds descend from a long line of working dogs, specifically bred for jobs like herding or guarding. (Want to learn more about different dog breeds? Check out this informative post!) This means their DNA was fine-tuned to give them the skills and attributes needed for these roles, and for most, that includes a smart, active brain. Yeah, okay, many dogs don't work any more, but that doesn't mean their DNA has changed.

While toy breeds might seem like the exception, even they benefit hugely from mental stimulation.

You can physically tire out a dog every single day, yet if their brains aren't engaged, they're likely to become destructive, reactive, aggressive, or hyperactive. The more physically exercised a dog is, the higher its endurance will be, making it even harder to tire them out! It's an endless loop that far too many dog owners find themselves in – I know a few people stuck in it myself!

Finding the right balance between physical and mental work can be tricky, but once you strike it, you'll notice a huge difference in your dog's behaviour. Many "bad" behaviours can be reduced, or even eliminated, with just a change of routine and the addition of some brilliant brain-based games.

They say that 15 - 20 minutes of mind games can be equivalent to an hour-long walk.

For more enrichment ideas for your dog, head to this blog post!

DIY Dog Toys and Activities

When introducing activities to your dog, it's important to remember that all dogs are different. Your dog might not enjoy scent-based games but may love destructive ones or vice versa. You know your dog better than anyone, so go for the activities you think your dog is most likely to enjoy!

1 . Ice Bowl

A great activity for warm days. This needs a bit of time to freeze, though, so you could always prep it the night before and freeze overnight.

What you'll need:

• 2 sturdy, freezer-safe bowls (like stainless steel dog bowls)

• Water or low-sodium broth (homemade is best)

• Dog-safe treats, kibble, and chopped fruit and veggies (like carrots, cucumber, berries, broccoli etc. )

How to make it:

1. Scatter a few treats or some kibble at the bottom of the bowl.

2. Carefully pour water or low-sodium broth over the contents, filling the bowl about 1/4 of the way.

3. Put the second bowl inside to push the liquid and treats into a bowl shape. You can tape the bowls together if needed.

4. Pop it in the freezer until completely solid.

5. Once frozen, run a little warm water around the outside and inside of the bowls to help loosen the ice block, then tip it out onto a towel or tray for your dog to enjoy. They'll have to lick, melt, and nudge the ice to get to the goodies inside!

2 . Snuffle Blanket

Snuffle mats are easily available online and in pet stores, but you can DIY a similar activity without buying anything at all.

What you'll need:

• An old blanket or towel.

• Dry kibble or small, strong-smelling treats

How to make it:

1. Lay your blanket or towel flat.

2. Scatter a handful of kibble or treats across the surface.

3. Roll, fold, and scrunch the blanket into a loose pile or a series of folds.

4. Add more treats and fold again.

5. Present it to your dog and let them use their nose and paws to sniff out and extract every last morsel. You can encourage your dog by showing them what to do, but it's more fun to let them figure it out.

Top Tip: Make it harder by rolling it more tightly or tying loose knots in sections of the blanket.

3 . Frozen Treats

Great for cooling snacks, you can even get your dog involved in the making process if you want!

What you'll need:

• Lick Mat, Stuffed Kong (or other stuffable puzzle toy), or an ice cube tray.

• Fillings: Xylitol-free peanut butter, plain natural yoghurt, pureed pumpkin, mashed banana, wet dog food, low-salt broth, or even just wet kibble.

• Optional mix-ins: Chopped carrots, blueberries, apple pieces (no seeds!), or a few kibble pieces.

How to make it:

1. Lick Mat: Spread your chosen filling thinly over the textured surface of the lick mat.

2. Stuffed Kong: Block the small hole at the bottom of the Kong with a smear of peanut butter, then layer your chosen fillings inside. Pack it in tightly.

3. Fill ice cube trays with your chosen treat.

4. Pop either into the freezer for a few hours until solid.

5. It's recommended to add larger treats (like a chicken stick or gravy bone) into the Kong or ice cube trays so that your dog is less likely to get their tongue stuck!

6. Hand it over to your dog for a long-lasting, calming activity that burns mental energy.

Top Tip: For Kongs, mix some of their regular kibble with a little water or broth and stuff it in for a healthier, lower-calorie option.

4 . Reuse Marrow Bones

Got some empty or discarded marrow bones lying around? Reuse them to give your dog a fun activity!

What you'll need:

• An empty, cleaned-out marrow bone (ensure no splinters or sharp edges).

• Dog-safe fillings: Leftover wet dog food, xylitol-free peanut butter, plain yoghurt, pureed pumpkin, or even a mix of their kibble softened with a bit of water.

How to make it:

1. Rinse the bone thoroughly.

2. Stuff the hollow centre of the bone with your chosen filling.

3. You can then give it to your dog as is, or for a longer-lasting challenge, freeze it first.

Top Tip: These are fantastic for keeping strong chewers busy! Always supervise when your dog is chomping on a marrow bone to ensure safety!

5 . Treat Hide and Seek

Anayah (my dog) loves this game. It's perfect for dogs who have strong noses and enjoy scent work!

What you'll need:

• Your dog's favourite treats or kibble - the stronger smelling the better.

How to play:

1. Start easy: Let your dog watch you hide treats in obvious places (e.g., on the floor behind a chair leg).

2. As they get the hang of it, make it harder: Hide treats under a cushion, behind a curtain, under a rug, or even on a low shelf.

3. Once hidden, give your dog a "find it!" command and encourage them to sniff them out.

4. You can even hide treats around different rooms in the house for a bigger challenge.

Top Tip: Teach them a "stay" command while you hide the treats to add to the fun and self-control.

6 . Sensory Fun

This is a perfect rainy/hot day activity as it can be done lazily. This is more about building your dog's confidence and exposing them to new textures. It can improve their trust in you, too.

What you'll need:

• A shallow tray or box (the more you can set up, the better. Use a box per textured material if you can.)

• Various safe, interesting materials: Scrunched-up newspaper, crinkly paper, cardboard tubes, fabric scraps, safe leaves/twigs from the garden, a handful of clean, dry pebbles or plastic balls.

• Treats or kibble

How to make it:

1. Fill the tray(s) or box(es) with a mix of different textures.

2. Scatter treats or kibble amongst the materials.

3. Let your dog explore, sniff, and dig to find the hidden goodies.

4. Be involved with them. Point to the boxes, and use your hand to move the materials around.

Top Tip: Introduce new scents by adding a drop of dog-safe essential oil (like lavender or chamomile, heavily diluted!) to a cotton ball hidden in the box.

7 . Destruction Box

This is a fantastic outlet for natural shredding and tearing instincts, and it's super cheap! They can destroy it as much as they want, which reduces the chances of them doing it on things like your slippers!

What you'll need:

• A cardboard box (cereal box, tissue box, delivery box, clean milk cartons (not the plastic ones) - remove all tape/labels)

• Scrunched-up newspaper, empty toilet roll tubes, or other safe paper/cardboard items

• Treats or a favourite toy

How to make it:

1. Place treats or a small toy inside the box.

2. Fill the box with scrunched-up newspaper or other light cardboard items.

3. Close the box (you can loosely tuck the flaps in, no need to seal tightly) or to make it harder, you can fold the box as many times as you can.

4. Present it to your dog and let them rip, tear, and shred to get to the reward.

Top Tip: This is a supervised activity! Ensure your dog isn't ingesting large pieces of cardboard. Take it away once the treats are found or if they start to eat the box rather than shredding it.

8 . Bottle Spinner

No, I don't mean the game where you spin the bottle on the table to decide who takes the next shot!

This one is great for problem-solving and paw-eye coordination.

What you'll need:

• A sturdy, empty plastic bottle (e.g., a 2-litre fizzy drink bottle), washed and dried, with label and lid removed.

• A wooden dowel, broom handle, or strong metal rod that can fit through the bottle's neck (to make sure it's not too thick)

• Two sturdy chairs, bricks, or something similar to create a "stand" for the rod.

• Scissors or a small drill.

• Kibble or small, dry treats

How to make it:

1. Carefully make a hole on either side of the plastic bottle, roughly in the middle, just large enough for your dowel/rod to pass through. You want the bottle to be able to spin freely on the rod.

2. Place your two chairs (or other supports) facing each other, far enough apart for the rod to rest securely across them.

3. Thread the bottle onto the dowel/rod, ensuring it hangs freely and can spin.

4. Rest the ends of the dowel/rod on the chair backs.

5. Fill the bottle with kibble or treats through the neck of the bottle.

6. Encourage your dog to nose or paw the bottle to make it spin, causing treats to fall out of the open top.

Top Tip: Start with the bottle hanging low to the ground and full of treats. As your dog gets better, you can raise the height of the rod or put fewer treats in for a bigger challenge.

9 . The Cake-Tin Ball Game

This is an excellent brain teaser that gets your dog using their nose and paws to solve a puzzle. It's super simple to set up and can be adapted for different levels of difficulty.

What you'll need:

• A muffin tin (or a "cake tin" with multiple individual cups – any size will work, but smaller cups are better for small dogs, and larger ones for bigger dogs).

• Tennis balls or other similar-sized small toys (enough to cover each muffin cup). You could use rubber dog balls, balled-up socks, or even scrunched-up paper if they're heavy enough not to blow away easily.

• Treats or kibble (small, dry ones work best, like their regular kibble or little training treats).

How to make it:

1. Prepare the tin: Place the muffin tin on the floor or a stable surface.

2. Hide the goodies: Pop a treat or a few pieces of kibble into some or all of the muffin cups.

3. Place a tennis ball (or your chosen cover) over each muffin cup that has a treat in it. You can also place balls over empty cups to make them sniff more!

4. Let the games begin! Encourage your dog to "find it!" or "get the treats!" They'll need to use their nose to sniff out where the treats are and then figure out how to nudge, paw, or lift the balls to get to their reward.

10 . The Cup Game

This classic parlour trick is surprisingly brilliant for dogs, teaching them observation, impulse control, and using their nose.

What you'll need:

• Three sturdy, opaque cups (e.g., plastic cups, non-breakable mugs, or small plant pots – just make sure they're identical and won't tip over too easily).

• High-value treats (small enough to fit under the cup).

How to make it / play it:

1. Start simple (no shuffling yet!): Place one cup upside down in front of your dog. Let them watch you place a treat directly under it. Encourage them to knock it over to get the treat. Praise them when they succeed. Repeat a few times until they understand the basic concept of "treat under the cup."

2. Introduce two cups: Place two cups upside down. Let your dog watch you place a treat under one of them. Encourage them to choose the correct cup. If they choose correctly, lift the cup and give them the treat and praise. If not, calmly show them where it was but do not reward.

3. The "game" begins: Once they're good with two cups, introduce the third.

   • Let your dog watch you place the treat under one cup.

   • Then, slowly and deliberately, slide the cups around, switching their positions. Start with just two or three slow movements.

   • Once you stop, encourage your dog to "find it!" or "which one?".

   • When they indicate a cup (by nudging, pawing, or nosing), lift it up. If they're right, big praise and the treat! If they're wrong, simply show them where it was, but don't give the treat from that round.

   Top Tip: Always end on a successful note! If your dog is struggling, go back to an easier version until they succeed, then finish the session there. This keeps it positive and fun.

So, What Are You Waiting For? Let's Get Brainy!

There you have it! From simple sniff-outs to engaging puzzles, it's clear that keeping your dog's mind active is just as vital as those daily walkies, perhaps even more so when these never-ending heatwaves hit! By incorporating just a few minutes of mental games into your dog's routine, you're not only preventing boredom and potential "bad" behaviours but also strengthening your bond and boosting their overall happiness and confidence.

The best part? You don't need fancy, expensive gadgets. As we've seen, some of the most effective and enriching activities can be whipped up with bits and bobs you've likely got stashed away in your recycling bin or cupboards.

So, next time you're wondering how to tire out your tenacious terrier or settle your busy border collie, skip the extra lap around the park and reach for that empty toilet roll, a spare muffin tin, or even just an old towel.

Your dog's brilliant brain is just waiting for a challenge. So, pick an idea, gather your bits, and get ready to see a calmer, happier, and more content canine companion.

Happy brain-gaming!