4 ways to boost your dogs brain power

The old adage ‘use it or lose it’ seems to be as true for our dogs as it is for us, and while our dogs can’t do online puzzles or Wordle, we can make sure we continue to train them within the limits of their physical abilities, teach them new skills and give them problem-solving exercises to keep them thinking and exercising their grey matter.

Forget that ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ – in fact a dog who has had a lifetime full of learning opportunities will be just as adept at mastering a new skill as a younger one with fewer learned behaviours to call on.

Brain games for older dogs enrich their lives, prevent boredom, and give us a way to interact with our veteran canine companion in a fun and stimulating way.

Games in the house

Engage your dog’s brain with interactive games. Many of these don’t involve leaving the house and so you can give your dog mental puzzles to solve without tiring their body. These can be as simple as hiding treats inside an old toilet roll for them to shake out or even shred, to more advanced search and sniff games.

Interactive toys

There are many interactive toys on the market – from Kongs that your dog can chew to remove treats (although these may be too tough for older teeth) to treat dispensing balls that can be easily rolled, or snufflemats or lickimats that can be used to hide treats and even meals.

Make sure all toys can be played with lying down so your dog isn’t standing for long periods which can strain aging joints and muscles, or for when your dog needs to rest.

Games on a walk

While you should restrict games that involve chasing, sudden turns or stops, and more active pursuits, you can play hide and seek games or lay scent trails with treats for your dog to follow. This gives them plenty of enrichment and games to play with you but isn’t as tiring or potentially painful or damaging.

Do be aware that you may need to keep them on a lead so they don't wander off, especially if their eyesight or hearing isn’t as good as it was.

Use your nose

While sight and hearing can fade in older dogs, their sense of smell seems to be more robust – and nearly every older dog seems to be able to sniff out a smelly treat.

Watch the video below to find out about Cindy, the rescue senior Jack Russel, in our Age Amnesty video.

Last reviewed by Carolyn Menteith on 21/08/2024

About the Author

Carolyn is an accredited behaviourist and trainer with over 20 years experience working with dogs and other companion animals. She has written books, over 800 published articles and trains owners and professionals alike, both nationally and internationally. She is currently the Chair of the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter. Carolyn is also an experienced broadcaster and presenter, has appeared in five TV series’ and countless radio shows. Her passion is for helping owners build a strong and positive relationship with the companion animals who share their lives, and fully develop the potential of the bond between them.