Brain Games For Puppies
Puppies aren’t just little balls of energy—they’re sponges for learning. If you don’t challenge their brains, they’ll find their own entertainment, and trust me, you won’t like it. Chewed-up furniture? Shredded toilet paper? Digging up your yard? That’s what happens when a puppy gets bored.
As a veterinarian with ten years of experience and someone who runs a sanctuary for stray dogs and cats, I’ve seen what happens when puppies don’t get enough mental stimulation. They get restless, anxious, and destructive. You need to work their brains just as much as their bodies to keep them well-behaved and happy.
1. The Cup Game – Build Focus and Problem-Solving Skills
Puppies love a challenge, and this game forces them to use their nose and brain instead of just reacting on impulse.
How to Play:
🥤 Place three identical cups in front of your puppy.
🐶 Let them watch you hide a treat under one cup.
🔄 Shuffle the cups around.
🐾 Let them choose the right cup.
🎉 If they get it right, reward them with the treat and lots of praise.
💡 Pro Tip: If your puppy tries knocking over all the cups at once, slow things down. This is about thinking, not just reacting.
2. Hide and Seek – Reinforce Recall and Build Confidence
This classic game teaches problem-solving while reinforcing recall commands—which, trust me, will come in handy when your puppy decides to bolt across the park.
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 treats or playtime.
📍 Start with easy hiding spots, then make it harder.
💡 Pro Tip: If your puppy gets distracted, use their favorite toy or high-value treat to get them back on track.
3. Puzzle Toys – Keep That Brain Busy
Puppies love to chew, dig, and figure things out, so puzzle toys that make them work for rewards are perfect.
Best Puzzle Toys for Puppies:
🦴 KONG Puppy – Stuff it with peanut butter or freeze wet food inside.
🧩 Nina Ottosson Puzzle Toys – Your pup 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 puppy gets better. If they get frustrated, help them out to keep them interested.
4. Name That Toy – Teach Vocabulary Early
Dogs can learn over 100 words, so start teaching them names of toys early. This game makes them think and listen carefully.
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.
5. The “Find It” Game – Use Their Nose and Brain
Puppies have a strong sense of smell, so scent-based games keep them engaged and thinking.
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. Tug-of-War with Rules – Teach Self-Control
Puppies love to play, but they need to learn boundaries. Tug-of-war is a great way to burn energy and reinforce commands, but you need to set rules.
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.
7. Red Light, Green Light – Build Impulse Control
Puppies get hyper and impulsive, and this game teaches them to listen and control their excitement.
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
Puppies love food, so why not turn mealtime into a puzzle?
How to Make Mealtime Fun:
🐾 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 Puppy’s Brain Busy
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 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
