I'm looking for brain games for my dogs for the time they are alone in their kennel and might be bored.

The kong helps as long as they are interested in chewing. I also put a few treats into it, but this exercise is much too easy and for this reason too short. Almost the same with a fillable rubber ball, which has three holes and the dogs simply had to learn to roll it a bit. It seems to me to be like a non-stop reward dispenser. Nothing with random rewards, Bob!

I made an online search and found so many brain games that I'm completely confused. Lots of them seem to keep a dog occupied for quite a time, on the other hand it is difficult to know, which ones are too easy or perhaps too difficult.

Has anyone of you experience with such things and can give me a suggestion?

Hiding things for the dog to find is a good thinking game and can actually be a good workout.

With games I see no reason NOT to reward for every success.

It's not like your going into any competition with it.

It's strictly for fun and enjoyment with our dogs.

How about THAT for no random reward!! :wink:

Games like retrieving things or seeking me I play very often. They love this immensely. They prefer such relationship games without doubt.

Though for me it is just a question of finding something reasonable, they can occupy themselves when I'm not with them. As i have 4 dogs which I have to train, walk, and play with, it becomes often a question of time.

It is clear that with games they can be rewarded whenever they have success. The problem is with the ones they have they have ALWAYS succcess and always the same success, always one piece which slips through those bloody holes. Absolutely predictable. That's no random reward. I know someone who regularly reminded me and i know he's at least as right as you.

Just for fun? Everything we do with our dogs should be primarily for fun. But I'd like that at the same time they'd learn to use their brain. The items I have are no challenge at all any more and without a certain challenge also the fun is gone. I want to save them from boredom, make them think, stimulated by RANDOM REWARDS!

I've done the home made bottle treat toy and the dogs loved it. It's somewhat random because the bottle has to spin a certain way for the treat to come out.

I made it with 2 liter bottles and put holes in the caps rather than leaving the caps off - Toni figured out pretty quick to just hold the bottle upside down and all the treats would come out. By cutting a hole in the cap, it made it harder for the treats to come out. You can weight the bottom too, to make it harder to spin.

Here's a link to one version and a a few other ideas that you may want to try. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blORWOIO02Q

If you do the balls in the muffin tin one, don't use tennis balls as the glue in them can break down the enamel on dog's teeth, so use a different type of ball for that one if you do it - personally, my dogs would just flip the muffin tin and snarf up all the treats in about 3 seconds

Cool stuff Kelly!

Wow! No boredom any more! This is brilhant, Kelly! What ideas , so simples and promising a lot of fun. I'll start even today. I loved also the videos, watched them varios times and nearly died with laughter. I guess I'll use most of them over time, but of course start first with one. I'm so curious how they will tackle the challenges and then will make an intelligence-test between the four. Thanks so much!!!!!!!

Kelly, it worked. Greatest spectacle! At first they were a bit unsure about that new gadget. But soon they began to nudge the bottle with their noses. It took some time until they could make it deliver treats. And then, you can't imagine! Slippie, who is the most cautiouos one of all stepped somewhat akwardly on one end and thumped the other on her snout. You should have seen this. She looked so undescribably bloated, didn't even notice the treat which had fallen out, Pity I had the Cell not with me. She was so stunned, i would have had enough time to take a snapshot.