To give you both a fun exercise which will mentally stimulate but won’t over stimulate your dog is a search game.

 

The toy to use can either be just reserved for them to find and have a play with, or it can conceal a treat for them to discover. Whichever they responds to the best really.

 

Exercise: 

 

• Using a soft toy, pop it down close to him, let them see it, say “Search” and then let him run and grab it.

 

• Build the distance up from them to find the toy. Continue to point towards the toy to help them out and give them the general direction if they need.

 

• Let them watch you as you move round the garden planting the search toy. This will fulfill some stalking instinct. Also you can dummy drop, so pretend to place it down in a few place. They will then check all the places to stopped at.

 

• Keep them behind the kitchen door looking out into the garden and let them look whilst you plant toy. Then open the door and say ‘Search’