Brain Games For Labrador Puppies
Labrador puppies are playful, energetic, and incredibly smart, which means they need more than just physical exercise—they need mental challenges, too. A bored Lab puppy is a destructive Lab puppy. If you don’t give them something productive to do, they’ll find their own entertainment—chewing furniture, digging holes, barking, or getting into trouble.
As a veterinarian with ten years of experience and someone who runs a sanctuary for stray dogs and cats, I’ve worked with plenty of Labs. Trust me, if you want a well-behaved, calm, and focused puppy, you need to keep their brain engaged.
Here are the best brain games to keep your Labrador puppy learning, thinking, and out of trouble.
1. The Cup Game – Teach Focus and Patience
Labrador puppies are enthusiastic—sometimes too enthusiastic. They see food, they go for it. The Cup Game forces them to slow down, focus, and problem-solve.
How to Play:
🥤 Place three identical cups in front of your puppy.
🐶 Let them watch you hide a treat under one of the cups.
🔄 Shuffle the cups around.
🐾 Let your puppy choose the right cup.
🎉 If they get it right, reward them with a treat and praise.
💡 Pro Tip: If they start pawing at everything wildly, reset the game. This is about thinking, not reacting.
2. Puzzle Toys – Keep Their Brain Working
Labs love food, so puzzle toys that make them work for treats are perfect for keeping them mentally engaged.
Best Puzzle Toys for Labrador Puppies:
🦴 KONG Puppy – Fill it with peanut butter or freeze wet food inside for a real challenge.
🧩 Nina Ottosson Puppy Puzzles – Your puppy has to move, slide, or lift pieces to find treats.
🔄 Treat-Dispensing Balls – These keep them busy rolling the ball to get kibble out.
💡 Pro Tip: Start with easy puzzles and increase difficulty as your pup gets better. If they get frustrated, help them out so they stay interested.
3. Hide and Seek – Improve Recall and Problem-Solving
Labradors are retrievers, which means they love to track and find things. Hide and Seek taps into their natural instincts while also strengthening recall skills.
How to Play:
👤 Have someone hold your puppy while you go hide.
🗣 Call their name or say “Come find me!”
🐶 When they find you, reward them with a treat or praise.
📍 Start with easy hiding spots, then make it harder over time.
💡 Pro Tip: If they get distracted, use their favorite toy or treat to keep them focused.
4. Tug-of-War with Rules – Teach Self-Control
Labrador puppies love a good tug-of-war match, but you need to play it with rules, or they’ll get pushy and stubborn. This game teaches impulse control and obedience.
How to Play:
🦴 Use a strong rope toy.
🛑 Teach “Take It” and “Drop It” commands—only let them tug when you say so.
🚫 If they get too rough, stop the game immediately.
💡 Pro Tip: Always let your puppy win sometimes—this builds confidence and keeps them engaged.
5. The “Find It” Game – Use Their Nose
Labradors have an excellent sense of smell, so scent-based games keep them engaged and stimulated.
How to Play:
🍗 Take a strong-smelling treat (cheese, chicken, or liver).
🔍 Let them sniff the treat so they know what to search for.
🛋 Hide the treat somewhere easy at first (under a towel, behind a chair).
🗣 Say “Find it!” and let them track it down.
🏆 Gradually make it harder by hiding treats around the house or even outside.
💡 Pro Tip: You can also play this with their favorite toy instead of treats.
6. Name That Toy – Teach Vocabulary
Labs are one of the smartest breeds, and they can learn over 100 words. This game helps them understand and respond to names of objects.
How to Play:
🧸 Pick one toy and give it a name (e.g., “Ball” or “Bunny”).
🗣 Say the name every time you play with it.
🎯 After a few days, place two toys in front of them and say the name of the one you want.
🐶 If they pick the right one, reward them.
💡 Pro Tip: Start with one toy, then slowly add more as they get better.
7. Red Light, Green Light – Build Impulse Control
Labrador puppies are excitable and energetic, which can lead to jumping, pulling on the leash, and not listening. This game teaches them to control their impulses and follow commands.
How to Play:
🚦 Start walking with your puppy on a leash.
🛑 Say “Red Light!” and stop—your puppy must stop and sit.
✅ Say “Green Light!” and start walking again.
🎉 Reward them for stopping and waiting for your command.
💡 Pro Tip: If they don’t listen, use a treat to help them understand the game.
8. DIY Food Puzzles – Make Mealtime a Game
Labrador puppies love food, and if you make them work for their meals, they’ll be more satisfied and less likely to develop bad habits.
How to Make Mealtime a Game:
🐾 Scatter kibble around the room and let them search for it.
🔄 Use a slow feeder bowl or puzzle feeder.
🎭 Stuff food inside a toilet paper roll and let them figure out how to get it out.
💡 Pro Tip: The more effort they put into eating, the more mentally satisfied they’ll be—which means fewer behavior problems.
Final Thoughts: Keep Your Labrador Puppy’s Brain Busy
Labrador puppies need mental stimulation just as much as physical exercise. Without brain games, they’ll become restless, stubborn, and destructive.
✅ Use brain games daily—mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise.
✅ Make training fun—if it’s boring, your puppy won’t stay interested.
✅ Keep sessions short and exciting—puppies have short attention spans.
✅ Encourage problem-solving—let them figure things out instead of always giving the answer.
A mentally stimulated Labrador puppy is a well-behaved, happy puppy. Play these games every day, and you’ll have an obedient, focused, and calmer dog in the future.
