7 DIY Dog Brain Puzzles: Engage Your Dog Without Breaking the Bank
Brain games are a great way to test and engage your dog. However, store bought brain games can often cost a small fortune. That’s why we scoured the web for some of the best ways to create brain games for your dogs from things you probably already have laying around the house. What other ways have you created brain puzzles for your pups? Tell us below!
1. A tennis ball treat-ball.
Take your pup’s favorite toys and make them even better by introducing treats inside of them. The felt will keep the rubber from splitting, but the rubber is mailable enough that your pup will be able to work the opening enough to get a treat out. There are several different ways that you can cut the balls to increase or decrease the difficulty.
2. A taped box with treats inside.
This one is obviously going to be a one-time use, but it’s fun to watch your dog figure out how to get into the box to find the treats. Plus, this can help channel a pup’s chewing energy onto something you don’t mind him destroying. However, word of caution, keep an eye on your pup. You don’t want him swallowing any cardboard or tape pieces
3. A muffin tin treat-hiding game.
Make your own brain game using some tennis balls and a muffin tin. Hide a couple treats in just some of the spaces underneath, and see how long it takes your dog to find them.
4. A PVC Pipe Treat Puzzle
Most treat puzzles will cost your around 20+ bucks to buy. But with just a little PVC pipe you can entertain your pup for hours. Plus, when you make your own treat puzzle you can customize the holes to be the perfect size for your pups favorite treats, and also adjust how many holes there are to increase or decrease the puzzle’s difficulty.
5. Plastic Container Treat Puzzle
Similar to the PVC treat puzzle mentioned about, you can use an old plastic container, such as a butter container or a cool whip container, and cut a treat-sized hole in it as well. Make sure to cut some holes in the top and bottom, as well as the sides, so that your pup can knock the container around all directions. Old plastic jars, such as a peanut butter container, also work well. Pro tip: use a match or lighter to dull any sharp plastic edges that may appear when cutting the holes.
6. DIY Spinner Puzzle Game
With this unique toy your dog will learn how to turn and tip the bottles in order to get some treats. While a bit harder to make than the previous dog puzzles, this is a great choice for the dog that has figured all the other puzzles out.
7. Hide and Seek
You can teach your pup this game by first hiding treats in boxes and teach him to search or find. Then you make the game harder by only leaving small holes in the boxes for the treats to come our and by hiding treats among the everyday items of the room. Once your dog gets good at this game, you can hide treats around your home every morning before you leave for work, and your pup can spend some time searching for the goodies. This is a great trick for dogs who get bored easily when you’re gone.
