We all understand the importance of daily exercise and the positive effects it has on our lovable companions, but what about their mental stimulation? Exercising our pet’s mind is one of the most effective ways of enriching their lives and alleviating any behavioural issues they may be displaying. Not only does it give them something to focus on, but it keeps their instincts sharp which contributes to their overall health and wellbeing. Studies suggest mental stimulation reduces cognitive decline and helps prevent memory loss! Creating an environment that allows cats and dogs to use both their brains and muscles often will only improve your pet’s happiness! There are an abundance of toys, games, and activities designed to help fellow pet owners stimulate their pets in a safe and fun way. Check out how Pet Boutique can help here.

Training

Training and teaching new tricks are a great and easy way to create a mentally stimulating environment. This is a fun and exciting way to get your cats and dogs exercising their brain as well as their muscles. There are tons of online resources to help you teach your pet new tricks or improve on current ones! Not only is this a great bonding activity between pet and human, but the time spent learning tricks will keep those boredom levels away – which is always a plus! Try shaking things up by teaching your fur baby a new or challenging trick, this will motivate them to learn as it differs from routines they’re used to, and keeps things interesting for them. Training doesn’t have to be costly either, research how you can make the most of your training exercises using the items you have lying around at home!

Enrichment Toys

Enrichment toys are designed to cater to your pet’s mental health and provide fun but challenging activities. These come in all shapes and sizes but one of the most popular designs are the Snuffle Mats. These mats encourage pets to use their sniffing senses by hiding yummy treats in between the layers of fleece – it’s like a fun game of hide and seek for your pet! If snuffle mats aren’t enough to interact your pet, try checking out toys made specifically for your pet’s breed and species. We’re all different and require various things to make us happy, our pets are the same and catering to these needs will allow them to thrive in a positive, comfortable environment. For cat owners, try a cat wand, they engage your cat’s hunting senses and encourages them to think and move quicky. For dog owners, try puzzle balls that motivate your furry friend to work for their reward.

Homemade Agility Course

Most pets love to move, even if its for a few minutes a day, so why not make the most of that energy and design an agility course for them to try at home! We recommend only incorporating this activity if your pet is healthy and fit enough to do so. Injured and/or elderly pets may not respond positively to physical exercise in their condition so keep that in mind! DIY agility courses are an exciting way to try something new with your pet and get them activating their mind and body all at once. The athletic challenge keeps your pet fit while exercising their mind through solving problems and learning opportunities. While agility courses are associated with dogs, cats can benefit tremendously from this as well so don’t shy away if you’re a cat owner! Agility courses don’t have to be costly either, simple courses are often made with items and materials you already own. Use cardboard to create tunnels and obstacles and get creative with containers and laundry baskets for that extra twist. Make sure to treat your furry friend with a yummy reward at the end – hard work must be rewarded! Our trusted product tester Leo loves burning off his extra energy in a DIY agility course!

Mental stimulation is important!

The key takeaway here is that mental stimulation can only enrich and benefit your pet’s life and it’s easier than you think to make changes! A healthy pet is one that has a balance of mental and physical activity and maintaining that balance will ensure your pet is happy and thriving. Making a few changes to create an enriching environment for your lovable companion will contribute to their overall health and make a world of difference to their lifestyle!