Brain Games For Beagle Puppies
If you’ve got a Beagle puppy, you already know they’re smart, stubborn, and always sniffing out trouble. These little scent hounds were bred to follow their noses, and if you don’t give them something to do, they’ll find their own “job”—which usually means digging through the trash, chewing your shoes, or escaping the yard.
As a veterinarian with ten years of experience and someone who runs a sanctuary for stray dogs and cats, I’ve seen way too many Beagles end up in shelters because their owners didn’t know how to handle their energy. The secret? Mental stimulation. A tired Beagle is a happy Beagle, and brain games are one of the best ways to keep them focused, calm, and out of trouble.
So, if you want a well-behaved Beagle pup, let’s talk about the best brain games to keep their mind sharp and their nose working.
1. The “Find It” Game – Perfect for Beagles’ Super Sniffer
Beagles have one of the best noses in the dog world—so let’s put it to work. The “Find It” game taps into their natural scent-tracking instincts, making it a great way to burn mental energy indoors.
How to Play:
1️⃣ Grab some strong-smelling treats (cheese, hot dogs, or freeze-dried liver work best).
2️⃣ Let your puppy sniff one in your hand so they know what they’re looking for.
3️⃣ Hide the treats around the room—start easy, then make it harder as they get better.
4️⃣ Say “Find it!” and let them track down the treats.
5️⃣ Celebrate every success—praise and reward!
💡 Pro Tip: If your Beagle loves this, take it outside and hide treats in the grass for a tougher challenge.
2. Puzzle Toys – Because a Beagle Loves a Challenge
Puzzle toys force your puppy to think and problem-solve, which keeps their mind engaged and helps prevent destructive behavior.
Best Puzzle Toys for Beagle Puppies:
🧩 KONG Classic – Stuff it with peanut butter or kibble and freeze it for a long-lasting challenge.
🧠 Nina Ottosson Puzzle Games – These have sliding pieces that make your pup work for treats.
🔄 Snuffle Mats – Scatter kibble in the fabric layers and let your Beagle sniff it out.
💡 Pro Tip: Rotate puzzle toys so your pup doesn’t get bored of the same one.
3. The Cup Game – Teach Them to Think Before Acting
Beagles can be impulsive, so they need games that teach patience and focus. The Cup Game does exactly that.
How to Play:
1️⃣ Take three identical cups and one treat.
2️⃣ Let your pup see you hide the treat under one cup.
3️⃣ Mix up the cups, then let them choose the right one.
4️⃣ If they pick the right cup, they get the treat!
5️⃣ Repeat, making it harder by increasing the speed.
💡 Pro Tip: Beagles will try to cheat with their nose, so make sure they don’t just knock the cups over!
4. Name That Toy – Build Their Vocabulary
Did you know dogs can learn over 100 words? Beagles are smart enough to differentiate between objects, so teaching them toy names is a great brain exercise.
How to Play:
1️⃣ Pick one toy and give it a name (“Ball” or “Bunny,” for example).
2️⃣ Say the name every time you play with it.
3️⃣ After a few days, place two toys in front of your puppy and say the name of the one you want.
4️⃣ If they pick the right one, reward them.
💡 Pro Tip: As they get better, add more toys to the mix and keep testing their memory.
5. Hide and Seek – Build Focus & Recall
Beagles are notorious for ignoring recall commands, especially when they find an interesting scent. Hide and Seek teaches them to pay attention to you, even when distracted.
How to Play:
1️⃣ Have someone hold your puppy while you go hide in another room.
2️⃣ Call their name or say “Come!”
3️⃣ When they find you, reward them with a treat and lots of praise.
4️⃣ Repeat in different locations to keep it exciting.
💡 Pro Tip: Play this outside in a safe area to train them for real-world distractions.
6. Tug-of-War with Rules – Teach Impulse Control
Beagles have a strong prey drive, which means they love to chase and tug. Tug-of-War can be a great mental and physical workout, but it needs rules so your puppy doesn’t get too wild.
How to Play:
🦴 Use a strong rope toy.
🛑 Only start the game when your Beagle is calm.
⚖️ If they start getting too rough, stop the game immediately.
✅ Teach the “Drop It” command—reward them for letting go on cue.
💡 Pro Tip: Tug-of-War helps burn off excess energy before bedtime, making for a calmer puppy.
7. Obedience Training – Turn Training Into a Game
Most people think of obedience training as boring, but for Beagles, it should be a fun challenge. Turning commands into a game helps them stay engaged while reinforcing good behavior.
Fun Training Games for Beagle Puppies:
🎾 Fetch + Drop It – Throw a toy and only reward them when they bring it back AND drop it.
🛑 Red Light, Green Light – Walk around with your pup, saying “Go!” to move and “Stop!” to make them sit.
🎯 Target Training – Teach them to touch a target (like your hand or a stick) for a reward.
💡 Pro Tip: Short, fun training sessions prevent boredom—5-10 minutes at a time is perfect.
8. DIY Scent Work – Make Them Work for Their Food
Beagles love to use their nose, so feeding time should be a challenge, not just a boring bowl of kibble.
How to Make Mealtime a Game:
🐾 Hide kibble around the house and let them sniff it out.
🔄 Use a puzzle feeder instead of a regular bowl.
🎭 Put treats in toilet paper rolls and let them figure out how to get them out.
💡 Pro Tip: The more they work for food, the less likely they are to become destructive out of boredom.
Final Thoughts: A Mentally Stimulated Beagle is a Well-Behaved Beagle
A Beagle puppy with too much pent-up energy is a disaster waiting to happen. If you don’t challenge their brain, they’ll chew your furniture, dig through your trash, and ignore every command.
✅ Use their nose—scent games are the best mental workouts.
✅ Puzzle toys keep them engaged—rotate them often.
✅ Teach impulse control—Tug-of-War, Hide & Seek, and Obedience Games help.
✅ Make mealtime fun—ditch the boring bowl.
A tired Beagle is a happy, well-behaved Beagle. Give them the right brain games, and you’ll have a focused, obedient, and fun-loving pup instead of a stubborn troublemaker.
