In addition to physical exercise, dogs need mental stimulation to keep them happy, healthy, and engaged. Although it’s good to establish a routine with your pooch, he also needs exposure to new people and activities to avoid becoming bored. At Oakland Park Animal Hospital, Oakland Park, FL, we’re firmly committed to improving the health and happiness of pets in our care. We highly recommend mental stimulation for your pet to keep him at his best.
Importance of Mental Stimulation for Dogs
Mental stimulation can keep your pooch from getting bored and lethargic. Bored senior dogs may sleep more than they should and grow lazy and fat. Bored younger dogs may develop troublesome behaviors like chewing on shoes or jumping all over furniture to get rid of excess energy.
By providing new experiences for your dog, you can avoid problems with boredom. New experiences can sharpen your pup’s senses and challenge his mental abilities. He’ll feel more enthusiastic about life knowing there are new and interesting things to explore. Mental stimulation can put the pep back into your older dog and give your frisky young dog opportunities to learn and grow.
Ways to Mentally Stimulate Your Dog
Here are just a few of the many ways you can mentally stimulate your dog:
Teach Him a New Trick – Teach your dog new tricks or expand his training beyond basic commands. By researching books or looking online, you can glean ideas of new tricks to teach your dog. You can also enroll your dog in obedience school to expand his training as a means of mental stimulation.
Engage in Interactive Play – Take time to engage in interactive games with your dog such as hide and seek games, memory games, etc. Games force your pet to think and explore ways to resolve puzzles to receive a reward.
Take Your Pet with You on Errands – Take your pet with you when going to the post office, putting gas in your car, visiting a friend, or doing other errands. This exposes him to new sights and sounds to stimulate his senses.
Introduce your Pup to New People – Most dogs enjoy meeting and playing with new people. New friends (dogs and human) can provide a lot of mental stimulation for your pet.
Talk to Your Veterinarian about Mental Stimulation for Dogs
If you need help, talk to our veterinarian in Oakland Park, FL about ways to stimulate your dog. Mental stimulation goes hand in hand with physical exercise in enhancing your pup’s overall health. For quality pet care services to help keep your pup in optimal health, contact Oakland Park Animal Hospital in Oakland Park, FL at (954) 731-4228. We’re here to meet all your pet care needs.
