Brain Games for Dogs

Your dog has had the walk, the water and the nap, and is still staring at you with a look that says there is more to do. Physical exercise is only half of a tired dog. The other half is a brain with something good to chew on, and you do not need a closet of gear to provide it. Brain Games for Dogs is a games book, not a training manual or a behavior cure. It gives you about 55 step-by-step mental stimulation games sorted three ways: by difficulty (Starter, Builder, Thinker), by the household items you already own (towels, cardboard, muffin tins, kitchen containers), and by life stage, with gentler versions for puppies and senior dogs. Unlike books on leash manners, barking, reactivity or senior care, this one is about what to play with your dog on a rainy Tuesday. Inside, you'll learn: How to set up safe, short sessions and a treat budget that does not add up behind your back The few cues and one marker word every game builds on, taught step by step Starter, Builder and Thinker games, and how to tell when your dog is ready to move up Games made from towels, cardboard, paper, muffin tins, cups and freezer treats Scent and search games you can run in a living room or a yard Ready-made rainy-day plans for 20 minutes, 45 minutes or a whole day Gentle, low-impact versions for puppies and older dogs What to do when a game falls flat, and how to play in a multi-dog home Pick one game tonight, spend five minutes, and watch what your dog does with it. Your dog will tell you the rest.

Imad Muratspahic is an independent author of practical how-to guides, technical handbooks, history and fiction. The books aim to be clear, honest and useful from the first page.