You already know that physical exercise is important to your dog’s health, but did you know that mental stimulation is just as important?
Australian Shepherds are highly intelligent dogs who need to keep their brains busy at all times. Just like it is important to take them for daily walks, it is equally important to give them something to think about.
Australian Shepherds are bred to be working dogs who are good at herding. Without mental stimulation, they will often develop annoying or destructive behaviors like barking, chewing, and nipping. You can give them mental stimulation through training, games, and puzzle toys stuffed with snacks.
If you want to learn more about how to keep your Aussie mentally stimulated, this guide will give you some great ideas to get started.
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Why Australian Shepherds Need Mental Stimulation
Many new Aussie owners are unaware of just how much attention their new pup really needs to function well. This breed is well known for being an active working dog which means they have plenty of extra energy to spare.
They are good at herding, an activity that requires them to use both mind and body to achieve the desired effect.
Australian Shepherds are also highly intelligent. Any owner who has had an intelligent dog before knows well just how troublesome this can be.
Smart animals tend to see opportunities around them and often find their way into mischief. They are constantly solving problems with their sharp minds which can sometimes get them into trouble.
An Australian Shepherd also thrives when spending one-on-one time with their owners. They enjoy being close to you and are sometimes seen as overly-attached to one person.
Without some solid attention from their owner, these dogs will find new and more creative ways to get your attention. Unfortunately, they may not be as positive as you would like.
If you want your dog to be well-behaved, you will need to find ways to exercise them in both mind and body. You cannot do one without the other.
Benefits of Mental Stimulation for Australian Shepherds
Many owners don’t see the point of mental stimulation for their canine companions. They argue that the only thing their dog needs is a long walk to get out their energy.
While this is certainly true and exercise is important, mental stimulation should be just as high on your priority list. There are several wonderful benefits of activating and engaging your dog’s mind in play.
First and foremost, your dog is likely to be bored without the proper mental stimulation. Some people may not mind that their dog is a bit underwhelmed at first.
However, they will quickly start to care when their dog develops unwanted habits like nuisance barking, nipping, or herding family members.
Many Australian Shepherds develop a destructive chewing habit if they are left unattended for too long. Unless you plan to replace many of the items in your home, you will probably want to prioritize giving your dog some exercise for his mind.
You may think that you are already close with your canine, but with some of these activities, you may find that your bond with him increases.
Your Australian Shepherd will view this extra attention as a positive thing. Chances are that you will come to love the extra time spent with your pup as well! It is a great way to create a more confident dog who has an unbreakable bond with you.
12 Mentally Stimulating Activities for Australian Shepherds
Mentally stimulating your Aussie is an absolute must. It curbs unwanted behaviors and leads to a happier dog and home. It can be an even bigger bonus if they are getting physical exercise at the same time. If you have been wondering just how you can keep your Australian Shepherd’s mind active, here are twelve fun games that you will both enjoy!
1. Agility Training
At first glance, many owners think that agility training is all about physical exercise. However, it requires a lot of thinking on your dog’s part to understand what is being asked of her at each obstacle. She must learn how to weave in and out of poles, travel through tunnels, and navigate the see-saw.
Once she gets the actions down, she needs to work on her speed through these fun obstacles. As the trainer, you can mix things up and always present her with a brand new course to keep her actively engaged.
This is a great activity for Australian Shepherds because it is about both their physical and mental stimulation. Spending an hour or two a day in the backyard running through the course will help build your bond with your dog as well.
They will learn to anticipate what you want from them, leading to a more obedient and well-behaved companion.
2. Flyball
If agility is not your thing, then perhaps your Aussie will love a good game of flyball. In this sport, they will wait patiently at your side before being released to run down a course filled with hurdles.
After they clear the final hurdle, they will press on a box that releases a tennis ball. They turn around and head back toward their owner who waits at the beginning of the course.
As an added bonus, flyball is typically played as a relay race. When one dog returns, the next is sent out until the entire team has completed their runs.
If you have more than one dog in the home, this might be a good way to get everyone involved in the fun. Again, this is another great activity that keeps your dog’s mind and body active.
3. Trick Training
Do you dream of having a dog who can perform cool tricks at your next party? Maybe you just want an obedient Australian Shepherd who listens when you issue a command.
Basic and advanced obedience are excellent ways to encourage your dog to use their noggin. You can work on basic commands such as sit, stay, and lie down.
Once those are mastered, you can start to work on more advanced options like sending them to their dog bed or playing dead.
Don’t worry if you don’t know where to start with training your dog. YouTube is full of free resources to teach your dog anything you could possibly want.
You could also sign up for an inexpensive group class at your local pet store to get you started and teach the foundational skills necessary for training.
Read this article next: 20 Effective Training Commands for Your Australian Shepherd
4. Biking or Skating
When the weather is nice outside, why not head out to your local park or take a quick spin around the neighborhood on your bike?
Australian Shepherds love a good run and can often go for quite some time before they need a break. Having to keep pace and anticipate direction changes while you ride or skate can also keep them mentally sharp.
Be sure to take them on new routes each time you go out so they never know exactly what to expect.
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5. Nosework
Many dogs love to use their powerful noses for good. Nosework is an activity that really makes your dog use their brain.
You can start by positioning your dog in one room and making them stay. Meanwhile, you go into the next room and hide some smelly, high-value rewards that your dog will love like boiled chicken, cooked liver, or some store-bought treats.
Release your dog from their stay and watch as they eagerly run to look for what you hid.
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6. Puzzle Toys
If you need to mentally stimulate your Australian Shepherd but don’t have time to do so, you can still get their brains working with a puzzle toy.
Many of these toys allow you to hide treats inside that your dog must work to claim. These are easy enough to find online or at your pet store.
One of the most popular options is a Kong ball. You can stuff it full of peanut butter, cream cheese, or spray cheese to give them a tasty incentive to play. If you place it in the freezer first, it can occupy your pup for even longer!
7. Hide and Seek
You can play this game in your backyard, around the house, or even at the park with a long leash attached. Wait until your dog is interested in something else.
Take advantage of their distraction and hide somewhere nearby. You can wait for them to come looking for you or give them a quick whistle to attract their attention. When they find your hiding spot, it’s time to celebrate!
8. Naming Toys
Australian Shepherds love to play with toys and chances are your dog has several. You can start to teach your dog to name all of their toys.
Once they associate a particular word with each toy, you can ask them to retrieve the toy by name. Each time you introduce a new toy to them, make sure to teach them a name for it.
You can even teach them to retrieve useful items for you such as your shoes, their leash, or their training pouch.
9. Clean Up Your Toys
Once your Aussie knows the names of all their toys, you can ask them to clean up. Direct them to fetch a specific toy that happens to be laying in the middle of the floor.
Encourage them to put it back in their toy bin or basket. When the toy is inside the basket, give them a high-value reward and direct them to do the same with the next toy.
You’ll have a cleaner house and your dog will get to use its brain!
10. Herding Balls
Australian Shepherds are naturals when it comes to herding, so why not put those skills to good use in a fun game?
Take an exercise ball or a Jolly Ball made for dogs and teach your Australian Shepherd to push it with their nose and shoulder.
Eventually, you will add multiple balls and aim for your dog to herd each individual ball into a goal that you set up in your yard or on the sports field of your local park. This type of game is known as Treibball.
Read next: 10 Goofy Australian Shepherd Quirks – Aussie Behaviors Explained
11. Frisbee
Many dog owners have exposed their pup to fetch with a traditional tennis ball, but a frisbee adds a new element of difficulty.
Your dog must use their brain to calculate when to jump, how high to jump, and how fast to run to get ahead of the frisbee toss.
Even a short game of frisbee is enough to activate their minds and get out some of that extra energy that can lead to annoying or destructive behaviors.
12. Asking for More on Walks
While there is certainly a time to stop and smell the roses, giving your dog a more structured walk can help to keep their brains busy.
If your dog does not yet know the heel command, this is the time to teach them. By forcing them to stay near your knee, they must constantly be thinking about what you want from them and where they are going.
At certain points during the walk, you can release them and allow them to sniff and enjoy their surroundings. Then, it is back to a heel for the remainder of the walk.
How to Entertain Your Australian Shepherd Effectively
A dog who tires itself out in both mind and body is often a canine with better behavior. Australian Shepherds can certainly benefit from physical exercise, but their mental health and stimulation are just as important.
Be sure to try out some of these games to make your life much easier with your Aussie!
Related Questions
How do I keep my Australian Shepherd entertained?
You can keep your Australian Shepherd entertained by activating her mind. You can play games like hide and seek, practice nosework by hiding treats, or get them involved in activities like agility or flyball. If you don’t have much time to spend with your Aussie, you can also give them puzzle toys that they can play with on their own.