Nosework to stimulate the brain - Play hide and seek with your dog.

Watch the video explanation or read the below text:

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The core of this game is Nosework, which incorporates the sense of smell into learning activities. One eighth of a dog’s brain is dedicated to the sense of smell, and it’s why they are incredibly good at it. Dogs get information about the whole world around them through their nose – it’s a little like their radar. Nosework stimulates the brain, and that’s what makes this game so enjoyable for them. It’s fun for them because they get to use their main skill, which is by itself rewarding because smelling is connected to the limbic system – the emotional part of the brain – and it produces endorphins. It’s about going after the smell of a treat, which the dog gets to eat when they find it.

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1. To start the game, you’ll have your dog sit and stay, and praise him for that.
2. Then, because you want to set up your dog for success, have him see where you are putting the first treats in a relatively small area nearby.
3. Then, quite quickly, release him to go find these treats.

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He’s already engaging (working) by using his sense of smell more than his sense of sight while going for the treats. As you and your dog play this game longer, you can begin to make it a little more difficult for him by gradually extending the area where you place the treats, before releasing him to search for them.

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• Remember to encourage your dog while searching and praise using “Bravo”, “Good Dog” or “Yeah”.
• Also, you may help to guide him by pointing in the direction to some treats when he may be struggling to find them.
• The more they play, the better they get. You’ll see. The point is to play together, spend some nice time together, have fun and repeat.

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This is hide and seek, using treats. This game is more tiring, more educational, and more interesting for dogs than just running back and forth fetching a ball. Playing fetch is fun, and physical, but it also increases the level of adrenaline, while nosework teaches concentration, auto-control, and also results in increasing the dog’s self-confidence.

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So there it is, a simple idea of a game you can play that consists of some light physical exercise and good nosework to stimulate the brain, while having fun and enhancing the relationship that you have with your dog.

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• What do you think of this game?
• If you play it, then please reply with how it went for you and your dog :)

submitted by /u/JulieKleinPPA
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/bkynxg/nosework_to_stimulate_the_brain_play_hide_and/