How To Keep A Dog’s Brain In Good Condition

For some time, the research lines on animal behavior have reserved the right to demonstrate how the behavioral changes produced in dogs are the result of internal transformations in their brain structure. In this article you will find some tips to keep your dog’s brain in good condition.

According to research, the changes in the brain structure are due to complex changes in the activities that the dog carries out or in the environment around him. They favor the creation of new neural connections, in addition to the development of the cerebral cortex due to experience.

Recent evidence shows that it is even possible to stimulate the growth of new neuronal cells within important areas of the brain, associated with learning, memory and organization, all fundamental aspects of behavior.

Some of the processes of the animal experience, which cause these positive changes in their brain, involve exposure to a wide variety of stimuli, which are new and interesting for the dog, such as visiting places never seen before, coming into contact with elements. strangers and live exciting experiences.

The ideal is that these experiences combine with the opportunity to learn new things, solve problems and explore the surroundings freely, as well as manipulate and interact with objects and visit different types of environments.

The data unequivocally demonstrate how the specimens that have access to this type of stimuli not only tend to be more inquisitive, but also demonstrate greater learning skills, as well as being more inclined to carry out complex activities in less time. Likewise, they turned out to be less fearful and more independent.

However, the benefits of such experiences are not limited to growing puppies ; on the contrary, every dog, even adult ones, has the ability to learn new things, and can even compensate for the reduced mental efficiency caused by age.

So if you are interested in offering your dog the opportunity to take advantage of a more efficient brain, the trick is simply to keep his mind active, exposing him to experiences he has never experienced and providing him with ever new puzzles to solve.

Of course, it’s not about making him do something too difficult or sophisticated. A new experience can also consist only in visiting a new location, as well as in choosing a different road for the daily walk.

Below you will find some useful ideas for exercising your dog’s brain.

Stackable ring pyramid

If baby toys are designed to teach children eye-manual coordination, there are games designed to teach dogs the coordination between the eye and the paw and between the paw and the mouth.

An excellent alternative are stackable ring pyramids, already common as children’s toys. Remember to opt for wooden toys, painted with natural dyes and with different textures, rather than plastic ones, which the dog will destroy in a few minutes.

The game consists in teaching the dog little by little to perceive the different textures in contact with the mouth; you can also throw the rings to make the animal look for them. When you are comfortable with it, try throwing them in the air, so that they jump and grab them with your mouth. The size and weight of the toy should be calibrated according to your dog’s mouth.

The game of three cups

This game is somewhat reminiscent of betting games. It consists of placing three upside down cups on a surface, inserting a neutral-smelling sweet under one of them that your dog will like. Show the animal the cup containing the surprise and start mixing them; finally, give your dog the order to find it, and you will see how quickly it will locate the winning cup. Repeat the process until he gets used to it.

To increase the difficulty of the game, also hide another object: it can be a small ball or a rotating object; then resume turning the cups. If the dog guesses the cup containing the sweet, you can give it to him as a reward; if he does not guess, let him see it anyway, but without feeding him.

Gradually the dog will get used to the dynamics of the game, improving his memory and concentration skills.

Image courtesy of bernavazqueze.