Providing mental stimulation for dogs is important. Just like humans, dogs get bored and need ways of keeping their brains active.
We explain the benefits of mental stimulation, ways to recognise if your dog is under-stimulated and how a trip to doggy day care could help.
Dog breeds of all ages and sizes need some form of mental stimulation in their daily routine.
This type of stimulation provides many benefits to their health and well-being including:
A bored dog can start to exhibit unwanted behaviours that you do not like. Bored dogs will find ways of entertaining themselves which may include chewing on your shoes, eating the post, emptying your bins or barking at everyone who walks past your house.
Even if you work from home and are with your dog all day, you may not be able to provide the stimulation that your dog needs to be fulfilled. Treats and toys can only go so far, especially with younger or more active dogs.
If your dog is bored there are some telltale signs to look out for.
If you are noticing any of the above behaviours in your dog it is time to try something new. Have you considered doggy day care?
Doggy Day Care is an ideal solution when looking to provide your dog with mental and physical enrichment.
Bruce’s doggy day care has 10 centres across the country whose expert staff are at hand to keep your dog entertained and happy. Across the variety of enrichment zones available dogs will be able to run, sniff, roll and do all the things dogs are supposed to do. Returning back to you happy and content and ready for a snooze.
Let us explain some of the activities your dog will get up to when sending them to doggy day care.
Doggy Day Care is a great space where your dog can socialise with a wide variety of friendly dogs. Not only will this help with their mental wellbeing but it will also help build their confidence and give them off-the-lead freedom all dogs love.
Our sniffing safari walks allow our dogs to put their curious minds to work. This enrichment zone is full of things to sniff and explore. Sniffing is a very fulfilling activity for dogs so it is the perfect place to get them using their brain power. It has been said that 10 minutes of sniffing can be compared to an hour’s worth of walking. That’s a whole lot of mental stimulation!!
Hide and treat games are a great way for dogs to have a bit of fun and challenge themselves to find a tasty treat. Based on the same ideal as the mental stimulation dog toys you use at home, we hide treats for the dogs to find. From scented obstacle courses to treasure treat hunts, we regularly play these games which are ideal for the more food orientated pups.
At Bruce’s we love interactive play and get our dogs involved in every celebration. From valentines day, summer festivals to halloween, our special interactive play sessions are something we are proud of. Not only do our dogs love it but our staff do too. Take a look at some of our fun doggy photos to see what we get up to.
Agility is another great way we keep dogs mentally and physically stimulated. Our doggy experts regularly set up agility zones in the fields. From tunnels and turns to obstacle courses. We found agility works for pretty much every dog, no matter the breed, size or age.
Doggy Day Care provides your dog with social interactions they may not have experienced while at home. It allows them to exercise in a safe and secure environment, keeping them healthy, happy and fulfilled.
By signing your dogs up to day care you can help enrich their days with new experiences and interactions they may have missed out on otherwise. Starting them young is also beneficial, which is why we have our Puppy Preschool dedicated to nurturing development and providing a safe and fun environment for puppies to prepare for the wider world. Puppy specific enrichment is provided as well as warm safe spaces for naptimes.
Regular dog training is a great way for you to bond with your dog as well as providing mental stimulation. This could be in the form of basic sit / stay commands or to make it more interesting you could try to teach your dog some new tricks. The more you practise, the more your dog will get out of it.
If you prefer a more formal training schedule Bruce’s also offers a variety of dog training workshops. These include:
One way to help keep your dogs entertained when they are alone indoors is to buy them some interactive dog toys.
At Bruce’s, providing mental and physical stimulation for your dog is key to our success.
Our personalised approach to day care means that we take the needs of your dog seriously and make sure they enjoy each and every day they spend with us. From cuddles with our expert carers to playtime with their doggy day care friends.
Our doggy day care centres offer a variety of services including puppy preschool, dog training and dog grooming too.
Subscribe to our newsletter or download our app to make finding out about new locations and offerings easy!
Find my local Bruce's
My Pawtal
0345 835 7000