Mental stimulation games for mini pups!!

[Archie_N]

Hi everyone!

We are the proud owners of a 12 week old white miniature schnauzer puppy Archie.

He is doing really well with training and getting used to our family routine!! He sleeps really well and has a good routine for naps etc. He’s a loving and affectionate little pup but we are noticing he’s getting a bit nippier (which I think is normal behaviour with teething etc) but I think it goes beyond that a little and it feels that it might be a bit of boredom. I think he’s getting tired of our games and we might need to up our game a bit!!!

We’ve been doing the usual tug of war, chew toys, some chasing and fetch all mixed in with a bit of training and starting to introduce some little tricks, a snuffle mat and lick matt for his food and these along with exploring the house and garden have been enough until now!

I’ve seen on some of the other boards people mentioning more mental stimulation for schnauzers and I just wondered if anyone had any favourite games they use with their minis for increasing that mental stimulation?? Thank you all in advance Lauren

[zeta1454]

Welcome to the Forum

It sounds as though Archie is doing really well and I am sure he will grow out of the bitey phase in time. As you say nipping is normal with puppies who are teething and it is nothing to worry about but the more you can do to distract him will help as well as plenty of appropriate chew toys to help relieve the discomfort of teething.

Mentally stimulating activities for young puppies can be as simple as treat hunts or kibble trails or you can buy specifically designed challenge toys which are more demanding of mental skills. With the latter you may need to bear in mind that Archie is still young and you need the challenge to be rewarding and not too difficult initially which could lead to him losing interest although this can depend on temperament too as some dogs are far more focused and determined than others regarding overcoming challenges.

With our pups and older dogs we have regular treat hunts (usually in the garden) where small pieces of dried sprats are hidden in cardboard tubes, small empty flower pots; old egg cartons; boxes etc. and scattered round the garden before letting the dogs out to search for them. You can make the treats harder or easier to access depending on how much of a challenge Archie is finding this kind of game. A kibble trail is a similar idea but less challenging as it just involves leaving tiny pieces of kibble scattered around a safe area of the garden for the puppy /dog to sniff out and eat. Although these may not seem that difficult, the treat hunt does stimulate their hunting / scent work instincts and the kibble trail is an enjoyable way of using scent to search and find rewards. Either of these activities can be done indoors as you have been doing with the snuffle mat. If Archie is motivated by any particular toy, you could try hiding that instead of food but with a food reward when he finds it

Are you taking Archie out and about? Visiting new places (even being carried or riding in a pet buggy or in a sling) is vital for socialisation but is another mentally stimulating activity for young puppies. Rides on public transport, visiting shops that are dog friendly, as many different places as possible are a great way to give your puppy plenty to process mentally. Even a regular walk in your locality can introduce Archie to people and scents /sounds that will interest him.

As with all activities do keep them short in duration (although you can repeat them often) as puppies tire easily and a tired puppy is much more likely to nip and be fractious so make sure that Archie is getting plenty of rest breaks too

There is a link here to some challenge toys we have found useful with our dogs from puppyhood onwards:

https://outwardhound.com/brands/nina-ottosson/

[Archie_N]

Hi Zeta

Thank you so much that is all so helpful. I’ve already tried a kibble trail and he absolutely loved it, so definitely going to do these often and introduce the more challenging hunts in the garden, we’ll also check out the challenge toys!!

We have plenty of chewy toys around and he’s definitely got his favourites already and he does respond really well to diversion when he’s feeling particularly chewy!!!

We’ve also been taking him out about carrying him and today he was able to have his first walk which was great (after he got used to it obviously!!)

Thank you so much again for your thoughtful response I feel more confident that we’ve got a few more tools in our arsenal now to keep him happy and entertained!!

[Dawnspell]

Toys that you dont have to pay for
Empty plastic bottles you can put pieces of kibble in and they have to knock it about to get the kibble. Size and shape of bottle varies the difficulty.
Kibble in closed empty eggs boxes. You can put a few hole in for kibble to drop out.
Amazon is your friend. Pile up empty card board boxes and packaging and throw bits of food in. Large boxes are great for building confidence getting them to explore inside where its dark and things sound different. Also you can add plastic bottles, yoghurt pots etc to make a noise so he gets used to noises.
Cardboard tubes like kitchen roll or from aluminium foil. Put treats in and bend over the ends so kibble still comes out when knocked about.

Can you tell I also had a nippy white puppy I found anything where he had to use his nose tired him more than physical exercise, still does

[Rambuddy]

It sounds like Archie is doing great so far! For more mental stimulation, you can try puzzle toys that require him to figure out how to get treats out. Hide-and-seek games where you hide a toy or treat and let him find it are also excellent. Teaching new tricks or even simple obedience exercises in different environments can keep his mind engaged. You can also start using food-dispensing toys that make him work for his meals. Nose work games, where you hide treats around the house for him to sniff out, are particularly good for Schnauzers, as they love using their noses. Keep things varied to keep his interest!