Most dog owners know how important it is to provide their dog with daily exercise; a walk provides a structured routine and an opportunity to bond with their best friend. For many dogs however, a daily walk does not provide enough stimulation and excess energy can sometimes lead to unwanted behavior when they are left to their own devices. This is often the case with puppies and dogs left unattended at home when their owners go to work. A bored dog can be a naughty dog; if we don't provide enough ways to release some pent up energy and entertain our pups, some find unique and destructive ways to occupy their spare time. Like people, dogs thrive on being challenged and learning new things. Daily focused play sessions channel energy and create a happier pooch, and decrease the likelihood that you will return home to find Fluffy has ingested one of your favorite shoes or has selflessly freed the stuffing trapped in the confines of your couch.    

While obedience classes or agility training can provide a great outlet for your pup, there are several less formal ways you can engage his or her intellect and release some excess energy. Cesar Milan suggests several different fun ways of stimulating your dog mentally during play:

Play 'free the treat': Try putting treats into an empty water bottle. Let your dog have a sniff at the open end and then let him go at it. Don't show him how to get his snack out - let him work on the problem himself until he gets it.

Create an obstacle course in your living room or yard with furniture, sturdy boxes, and portable stairs; rub the scent of a snack in various places then hide it (the better he gets at the game, the more difficult the hiding place should be). Your pooch will love the excitement of trying to figure out where his treat is hiding and then devouring it when he discovers its location.

Play 'catch the creeping toy': Tie a string to a stick and then attach a toy to the end of the string. Rub the toy with the scent of a treat to get your pup's attention, then slowly dangle it above his nose as you walk, stopping and starting. Don't do this quickly; quick movements promote excitement and that's not what we're going for here. Exciting activities drain a dog's physical energy, but the goal is to work with their intellectual side. According to Cesar this activity nurtures a dog's instinctual prey drive in a focused, disciplined way, and it's fun for both of you.

Play hide and seek. This game is not just for kids, dogs love it too! Start by having your dog sit and stay while you hide behind a nearby object; give the 'Come' command and let him find you. As he learns the point of the game, hide further and further away, and in other areas of the house. Only give the 'Come' command once, then let him figure it out.

Invest in a dog puzzle. Wag Zone now carries a full line of interactive puzzles and toys to stimulating the minds of our canine friends. Check out the exciting new arrivals below in the Wag Gear section! Incorporating games like these into daily play with your dog will build a deeper bond between you and will give him/her something to look forward to each day, lessening the likelihood that you will come home to the chaos created by a bored pup. 

Hide some treats in the depressions under the rotating discs. Let your dog (or cat for that matter) turn the disc with her paw or nose in order to find the hidden goodies through the hole in the rotating disc.

Difficulty Level = Easy

Dog Magic

Hide treats under the hollow white plastic blocks. Let your dog look for the treats by trying to lift or push away one block after the other with its nose or paw, in order to find the hidden treats. A very fun and activating game for you and your dog/cat.
Difficulty Level = Easy

Tornado

Dog Tornado has four layers of rotating discs. In three layers there are compartments where treats can be hidden. The dog/cat has to learn to rotate the different layers in different directions with its nose or paw in order to find the hidden goodies.
Difficulty Level = Moderate

Finder

The dog looks for treats by moving blocks in four different directions. The block can only be lifted at the end of each track once the dog has nosed it into position. Under each block there is a depression where treats can be hidden. 
Difficulty Level = Moderate

Brick

Hide treats in the depressions under the sliding discs, let your dog look for the goodies by trying to pull the discs to the side with its paw or nose.
Difficulty Level = Moderate to Challenging

Twister 

The dog looks for treats by moving one block after another in a circle in different directions; the blocks can also be locked in position by a bone-shaped peg on the up-side of the game. There are depressions under the blocks where treats can be hidden. 

Difficulty Level = Challenging

Casino 

The dog looks for treats by pulling out the flaps. In each flap there is a compartment where the treat can be hidden. Increase the degree of difficulty by locking the flaps using the bone-shaped pegs on top.
Difficulty Level = Challenging