The ancestors of our domestic dogs were adaptable, agile and successful scavengers who lived on the edge of human settlements. They excelled at problem solving and adapting to changing environments. 

This means our pet dogs – living in our safe and comfortable homes, with their meals provided – have a very easy life! Their intelligent, busy brains can easily become bored if we don’t give them opportunities to stretch their minds a little. 

Mix up your walks

Most dogs need and appreciate two walks a day, but sometimes this isn't enough. Not all walks are created equal either. Is your dog off their lead running around? Are they obsessed with chasing a ball, or spending ages sniffing? 

Mixing up your walks is a great way of keeping them interesting and stimulating for your dog. If you mostly walk in the country, why not take your dog to a nearby town for a different experience? It may also give you a chance to train them and practise your lead-walking skills! 

Choose the right activities

When humans domesticated dogs, we chose different jobs for each breed. For example, guarding, controlling livestock or vermin, and being a companion. What their breed was bred for can affect the things your dog enjoys. Here are some examples:

• Terriers generally enjoy hunting and tearing activities. Putting their food in a cardboard box for them to rip up is an excellent activity for them.
• Gun dogs and Hounds enjoy sniffing things out. So hiding toys and food around the garden or giving them a snuffle mat will be fun for them.
• Collies and herding dogs respond well to movement, so food dispensing balls may be a good choice.

Kongs and other toys you can stuff with food provide good chewing enrichment for nearly all dogs. Chewing and licking can relieve boredom, as well as help a worried dog relax. 

With all enrichment puzzles, you need to start with the less challenging ones. Dogs will soon decide it’s not fun if they can’t work out how to get the food! As your dog gets better and more invested in the puzzles, you can make them harder. 

Get training!

Another way to reduce your dog's boredom is training. All dogs benefit from basic training. But if your dog particularly enjoys learning, or you have a high-energy breed, you could try training them for dog sports like:

• agility
• hoopers (navigating courses of obstacles)
• flyball (hurdle races)
• barn hunt (searching for rodent smells in straw bales).

Exercise their mind!

All breeds can enjoy dog sports, but some need more entertainment. And mental exercise is just as important as physical activity. 

Here are a few ideas to spark your imagination: 

• A digging pit – your dog’s very own spot in the garden to dig away!
• Hiding food in a ball pool – great for dogs who enjoy hunting and searching (if they don’t chew up all the balls!)
• A scent activity wall – this could be different foods hidden in boxes for the dog to fetch. Or even scents from other animals for them to sniff out (like sheep wool or feathers).
• A play date with a canine buddy.

You know your dog best, so pick things you think they’ll love. Plus, trying new fun activities together can be a great way to improve your relationship!