My high-energy dog loves sniffing. What nose work games can we play?

Yes, I do! I love the Nina Ottosson puzzle toys for dogs. The dog has to solve a puzzle to get a treat, and there are varying levels of difficulty. Something like this would be great for Conan. I hope this helps.

Some dogs enjoy playing the dog equivalent of "hide and seek" where you show them a high value treat or toy while they are inside, hide it outside when they aren't watching, then let them search for it. It can take some training to learn this game, but this is both mentally and physically stimulating for dogs. You mention fetch, but this is always a popular standby. To vary the routine, you can try throwing frisbees, soft toys, or balls. Depending on Mike's attention span, you could also try teaching him some agility activities (i.e. jumping through hoops, going through tunnels, etc.). Take a look at the Dr. Sophia Yin website for some other training ideas that can also be turned into outdoor playtime: https://drsophiayin.com/resources/dog_behavior/#Toys

This question is a little difficult to answer since every pet is different but yes, you may want to try one of the more advanced puzzles. Keep in mind that any puzzle you purchase he will likely figure out and then learn the pattern quickly. You may try finding a group of other dog lovers and ask about rotating puzzles which will help stimulation. You may also try using a kibble dispensing ball which will keep him busy moving it around to get the kibble to come out. If you haven't tried stuffing the Kong with kibble, then smear peanut butter (xylitol free) to seal the end and then freeze it, try that. It will last a little longer. Smart dogs often benefit from daily exercise and advanced training. Here is a link with some helpful ideas to fight boredom: https://www.petcoach.co/article/10-ways-to-stimulate-your-dog-s-brain/ I hope this helps.

I certainly understand and sympathize with your situation. I have a young dog as well who is always bored. One of my cats will play with him occasionally, but it has not helped his overall energy, so I doubt adding a kitten will help you. I have a few suggestions for you that have helped me. One thing that people think of first is treats that keep them busy for a longer period of time. This does seem to help. You can use long lasting treats like a Kong filled with peanut butter, yogurt, treats, etc and frozen so it takes longer for him to eat. My dog also really like Bully Sticks which I also freeze to make them last a little longer. Keep him mentally and physically busy during meal times. I love using a feeding balls like a Buster Cube or Tricky Treat ball to feed meals in. It keeps him busy for at least 5-10 minutes at each meal and requires him to work. And speaking of working. I have found that my dog is the most tired after we have done a good round of training. Even if you have done a basic obedience class, I would consider trying an advanced class, a nose work class, a tricks class, etc. And if taking a class isn't an option right now, work on training at home. When he goes on walks, make him sit at each corner before he crosses the street. It sounds simple, but additional mental stimulation can go a long way. Playing with other dogs is a great outlet for energy. If you haven't tried it yet, look into your local dog park or doggy daycare center. Sending my youngest dog to daycare once a week has made a huge difference. There are a number of interactive dog games and toys available now. Outward Hound makes a number of toys that your dog has to figure out a puzzle of some type before they get a treats. Here are some ideas for those. https://www.petco.com/category/dog/dog-toys/interactive-dog-toys/dog-puzzle-toys-and-games I have not tried the Clever Pet yet, but it is an electronic interactive toy that am intrigued about. https://clever.pet So, I think the key is to vary his activities daily and include a wide range of physical and mental stimulation. Be sure to be creative to tire him out on a regular basis and help everyone keep their sanity. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Great question! Many dogs of any age enjoy enrichment toys that are either balls that bounce unpredictably or puzzle toys that release small treats. Peanut and his friend are still pretty agile, a good game of fetch or playing "hide and seek" with a toy can be a lot fun for everyone. These websites have some good examples of enrichment toys, but plenty of puzzle toys can also be found on Amazon or in pet stores: https://www.ottoenvironmental.com/toys-3?pagenumber=5 https://www.czs.org/custom.czs/media/CenterAnimalWelfare/Orangutan-Husbandry-Manual/Enrichment/Enrichment-manufacturers-suppliers.pdf Have fun playing! :-)

Personally, I love interactive toys. I recently had a trainer work with my dog who focuses on brain games vs. physical activity, and he's done very well with that! One thing you can easily do, is when you get home, take handful of kibbles or small treats and just toss them into the back yard. Then he has to go and find them. This is very easy to do, and will tire him out of sure. Toys that I like are the kong wobbler, feeder balls or treat dispensing balls, the pickle pocket, the everlasting treat, and even a good old kong toy stuffed with some frozen fresh ground peanut butter (avoid any peanut butter with xylitol of course), greek yogurt, or pumpkin. My one dog doesn't really like the kong wobbler or the treat dispensing toy because he gets frustrated very easily. You'll just have to do a trial and error with Leny. My puppy really likes the treat ball and the kongs, as does my older guy. The older, more frustrated guy, really likes the everlasting treat ball as well. I order a lot of things from chewy.com because the prices are great, and if the dogs don't like the toys, it's not a huge waste of money, and I can just give them away. There is also something called a "snuffle mat" that you can purchase or make, that I think is a great idea for dogs after they've finished teething and don't chew things up anymore. (Of course if Leny winds up just being a chewer, I'd be careful with this too so he doesn't ingest any pieces). The snuffle mat is basically a mat with pieces of long fabric that you toss the food on. Then brush the pieces back and forth to hide the food, and let Leny sniff around and look for the food. I actually have this on my 2019 bucket list to make for my dogs. Of course, just to mention, there's always a huge benefit to working with a trainer, to help you streamline Leny's daily routine, so that he gets rid of the most energy and is calm and content. I hope you find this answer helpful! Best of luck!

Dogs love new experiences, much like humans. If your older dog Chacha isn't up for big walks, into toys or games anymore I would try some of the following; Dog parks Outdoor adventures that don't require much walking Trick or Obedience training for fun Dog play dates Some dogs even like to watch tv! Here is a great article that highlights more options! https://www.petcoach.co/article/10-ways-to-stimulate-your-dog-s-brain