Clean Run - February 2018 - 12
Brain
Games
FOR DOGS
By Rachelle Huismans-Lardenoye, photos by author
The first "brain games" for dogs emerged
in the nineties and have been growing
fast ever since. "Canine enrichment"
in general has been flourishing the last
couple of years. Our dogs were originally
bred with a purpose; for example, they
were bred to be fantastic hunting dogs
or to work together with their owners
keeping a flock of sheep together and
safe. Nowadays a lot of dogs don't have
a task other than being our companion
and watching our favorite TV show with
us. So mental stimulation for your dog
is as important as exercising him on a
regular basis, and not only for working
dogs-elderly dogs and puppies need
mental stimulation to enrich their lives.
Mental stimulation keeps dogs occupied
to prevent boredom and behavior problems. It stimulates their senses, develops
confidence and new skills, and helps
them learn to focus and work with you.
It is also a way to keep injured sporting
dogs happy. I could go on and on, but I
think it's clear that brain games are more
than just puzzle toys.
Pfaff picking
up a piece
while playing
My Intelligent
Dogs Big
Mandala and
Star game.
12
Dogs are very smart. Some dogs like
brachycephalic breeds or the mini breeds
may need some alterations to be able to
access all parts of a game, but all dogs
can solve brain games. Unfortunately,
however, brain games are often offered or
used in a way that causes frustration for
dogs. To avoid frustration, it is important
to teach your dog how to play a particular game no matter how smart he is.
Breaking Down the Game
Every game consists of one or more techniques-dogs have to pick up pieces,
shove pieces, turn pieces, open drawers,
roll pieces, etc. Each of those techniques
has a learning curve. If a dog hasn't already learned to pick up an object with
his mouth, for example, when presented
with a game where that skill is required,
he will often bite the game and scratch
at it in the hope that will work to get
the treat. If it doesn't work, he may try
scratching harder or he may begin demolishing the game or just give up. These
are both signs of frustration. If the frus-
trated dog does happen to succeed in
solving the game by scratching, he will
immediately start scratching and playing
rough the next time he's presented with
the game. Most games cannot withstand
a frustrated biting or scratching dog and
will not survive. "Waste of money" is often heard in those cases.
But it can be done differently; almost every brain game can be built up in small
steps. It often requires a bit of creative
thinking, but your dog will thank you for
that. Every dog, even dogs that have already learned to play rough because the
game was too hard for them to handle,
can learn to play in a calm and thoughtful way without getting frustrated.
We teach each technique separately, starting with only one game piece. When the
dog can do one piece in a controlled manner, then we add another piece, and so on.
Once the dog knows that technique, we
start teaching a second technique, again
working with only one piece at a time.
When the dog knows each technique
Latte shoving
a game piece
while playing
My Intelligent
Dogs Sodoku
Rainbow
game.
Clean Run | February 18
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - February 2018
Contents
Clean Run - February 2018 - Cover1
Clean Run - February 2018 - Cover2
Clean Run - February 2018 - Contents
Clean Run - February 2018 - 4
Clean Run - February 2018 - 5
Clean Run - February 2018 - 6
Clean Run - February 2018 - 7
Clean Run - February 2018 - 8
Clean Run - February 2018 - 9
Clean Run - February 2018 - 10
Clean Run - February 2018 - 11
Clean Run - February 2018 - 12
Clean Run - February 2018 - 13
Clean Run - February 2018 - 14
Clean Run - February 2018 - 15
Clean Run - February 2018 - 16
Clean Run - February 2018 - 17
Clean Run - February 2018 - 18
Clean Run - February 2018 - 19
Clean Run - February 2018 - 20
Clean Run - February 2018 - 21
Clean Run - February 2018 - 22
Clean Run - February 2018 - 23
Clean Run - February 2018 - 24
Clean Run - February 2018 - 25
Clean Run - February 2018 - 26
Clean Run - February 2018 - 27
Clean Run - February 2018 - 28
Clean Run - February 2018 - 29
Clean Run - February 2018 - 30
Clean Run - February 2018 - 31
Clean Run - February 2018 - 32
Clean Run - February 2018 - 33
Clean Run - February 2018 - 34
Clean Run - February 2018 - 35
Clean Run - February 2018 - 36
Clean Run - February 2018 - 37
Clean Run - February 2018 - 38
Clean Run - February 2018 - 39
Clean Run - February 2018 - 40
Clean Run - February 2018 - 41
Clean Run - February 2018 - 42
Clean Run - February 2018 - 43
Clean Run - February 2018 - 44
Clean Run - February 2018 - 45
Clean Run - February 2018 - 46
Clean Run - February 2018 - 47
Clean Run - February 2018 - 48
Clean Run - February 2018 - 49
Clean Run - February 2018 - 50
Clean Run - February 2018 - 51
Clean Run - February 2018 - 52
Clean Run - February 2018 - 53
Clean Run - February 2018 - 54
Clean Run - February 2018 - 55
Clean Run - February 2018 - 56
Clean Run - February 2018 - 57
Clean Run - February 2018 - 58
Clean Run - February 2018 - 59
Clean Run - February 2018 - 60
Clean Run - February 2018 - 61
Clean Run - February 2018 - 62
Clean Run - February 2018 - 63
Clean Run - February 2018 - 64
Clean Run - February 2018 - 65
Clean Run - February 2018 - 66
Clean Run - February 2018 - Cover3
Clean Run - February 2018 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1120
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0920
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0820
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0720
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0620
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0520
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0420
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0320
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0120
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1119
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0919
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0819
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0719
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0619
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0519
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0419
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0319
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0119
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1118
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0918
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0818
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0718
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0618
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0518
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0418
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0318
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0118
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0917
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0817
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0717
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0617
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0517
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0417
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0317
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0916
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0816
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0716
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0616
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0516
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0416
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0316
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0915
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0815
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0715
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0615
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0515
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0415
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0315
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/comp-demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0106
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com