Make your dog smarter

  Stanley Coren, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and the author of several excellent books on dogs.

In a recent article in Psychology Today, he states

It may be hard to believe but you can actually change the physiology of your dog's brain. You can make it larger and more efficient simply by providing certain experiences for your pet. The same process will make your dog more intelligent and give his personality an added degree of stress resistance.

You can even make an older dog smarter.

Recent evidence demonstrates that it is even possible to grow new neural cells in important areas of the brain that are associated with learning, memory and the organization of behavior.

So you CAN "teach an old dog new tricks" if you keep their brains active and don’t allow them to get bored.

 Here are some of his suggestions:

• Give the dogs new challenges and puzzles to work out.
• Take them on different routes for their walks Include them in day trips and errands (when they won’t be left in a car too long)
• Put them in new situations where they have to work, or think, for food rewards.
• Put food inside empty toilet paper rolls and have the dog get it out.
• Hide food in various parts of the house and have the dog search for it.
• Play hide and seek with the dog. This works well with children and grandchildren.
• Hang tires and put boxes in the backyard for the dog to explore.
• Toys that create new challenges, ranging from a few dollars to a few hundred, are available in pet stores and on the internet.

Do you have another way of stimulating your dog’s brain?

Comments

[Khyra]

So THAT'S how Goldens get so smart...they attend skhhool!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

[Chris]

Funny, as I was reading the beginning of your post I was thinking "so you can teach an old dog new tricks" and then that was the next paragraph of your post. Great minds think alike! Very interesting post.

[Tom and Icy]

I have noticed that since we got the cat and our old dog, Icy, has had to learn how to relate with it, she seems more active and attentive, and even more contented.

[Jan]

Excellent point. Having two or more pets is a great way to keep both from being bored.

[Tony]

To heck with the dogs. If any of these tricks will get my brain working again, I'll try them myself!

[cube]

I don't know about all of the other items on this list, but I do play hide and seek with my dogs. Always have. And all of them have been very adept at finding me. It's a fun game.

[Laurie]

How do you teach your dog to play hide and seek?

My golden is glued to me everytime I move from room to room.

[martina]

My standard poodles are always challenging my intelligence..and I should give them brain exercises?

[the three dog blogger]

Food in toilet rolls? Hmmm.

It may slow Jet the puppy down a bit. She eats way too fast.

I just wonder if she would wolf that down as well though!

[Jimmy]

My dogs are watching the inauguration as I type, and I was wondering how to teach them to vote Republican next time?

[Lynn Sinclair]

I wonder if the same theory applies to cats?

[Jackiesue]

wonder if that works for men?

[Anne Good]

I think it is so true that a mental workout has as many benefits to a dog as a physical workout.

[George Roach]

It should make them smarter getting in the school duds, posing for the photo, and then getting undressed. Now to get them really smart, lets teach them to frame the shot and push the "take photo" button. But, then we had better watch out or we may be seeing photos of ourselves on dogtube. Not number one, but interesting any way.