Interactive Intelligence Games for Dogs

Although dogs seem content with daily walks and occasional affection, they also require some form of mental stimulation. Dogs that chew household items or dig holes in the garden often do so because they are bored. Interactive dog games encourage dogs to think, while using not only their sense of smell, but their sight as well.

  1. Nina Ottosson: "Dog Spinny"

    • Nina Ottosson's "Dog Spinny" game has an easy skill level and requires the dog to rotate the spinnable disk in order to reveal the hidden treats. There is a single removable part that can used if the dog's skill level allows, followed by a rotating disk, covering a few compartments in which treats can be hidden. For younger dogs or dogs that have not played with interactive toys before, it is recommended to fill each compartment to encourage a further search. As the dog's skill progresses, treats can be limited to only one compartment at a time.

    Nina Ottosson: "Dog Brick"

    • Nina Ottosson's "Dog Brick" game has a medium skill level and requires the dog to complete a series of stages to receive a treat. First the dog has to dislodge a removable item from the board. Then, the dog needs to slide a slideable part to reveal the treat hidden beneath it. The board consists of four sections, each with three treat holders and two slideable parts for increased difficulty. The treats can be hidden in any of the 12 compartments, or all at the same time, depending on the dog's skill level. One slideable part only reveals one hiding compartment.

    Nina Ottosson: "Dog Tornado"

    • Nina Ottosson's "Dog Tornado" game has an advanced skill level and also requires the dog to complete a series of difficult stages to receive a treat. The game consists of four parts, stacked one on top of the other, three of which can be rotated. Each of the four parts or layers has four compartments in which treats can be hidden. The dog has to first dislodge the top layer and then rotate the top layer and the next two layers, in order to reveal the hidden treats. Treats can be hidden to accommodate the dog's skill level.

    Premier: Linkable Treat-Dispensing Toy

    • Premier's linkable treat-dispensing toy is a challenging toy that encourages dogs to use smell, hearing and coordination to find and obtain the treat contained within the toy. The difficulty can be set by the dog's skill level, adapting the toy to the developing dog. Ideally, this should be started while still in pup stage, extending the toy as the dog ages and becomes smarter. The toy consists of three different parts, each of which can be used more than once in one link. All parts can be purchased separately. The three parts are all different shapes and can be connected to each other in different ways to create variety and prevent familiarity. The dog has to flip and rotate the entire toy in order to lead the treats through the maze of fittings towards the exit. The treat container is a ball shaped toy with one narrow opening, which as a starter on its own will teach the dog to move and rotate the toy until the treats fall out.