Top 18 'Puzzle-and-Praise' Brain Games to train your dog at home for beating rainy-day restlessness - Goh Ling Yong
The rain is drumming against the window panes, and the world outside is a soggy mess. Your daily walk is officially cancelled. You look over at your furry best friend, who is staring back at you with a look that says, "So... what are we doing now?" That pent-up energy is starting to bubble, and you can practically see the zoomies brewing.
We’ve all been there. A restless dog cooped up indoors can quickly lead to boredom, frustration, and maybe even a bit of mischief (goodbye, new pair of shoes!). But what if I told you that a cancelled walk is actually a golden opportunity? An opportunity to engage your dog's most powerful muscle: their brain. Here on the Goh Ling Yong blog, we believe that mental exercise can be just as tiring—if not more so—than physical exercise.
That's where "Puzzle-and-Praise" brain games come in. These indoor dog games are designed to challenge your dog's mind, sharpen their problem-solving skills, and combat boredom, all while strengthening the bond you share. So, brew yourself a cup of tea, grab a handful of your dog's favorite treats, and get ready to transform a dreary, rainy day into an exciting training adventure.
1. The Muffin Tin Challenge
This is a classic DIY puzzle that’s incredibly easy to set up. It encourages your dog to use their nose and paws to solve a simple problem. All you need is a standard muffin tin, some tasty, high-value treats, and a few tennis balls or other toys that can cover the cups.
Simply place a treat in a few of the muffin cups, then cover all the cups with the balls or toys. Place the tin on the floor and let your dog get to work! They'll have to sniff out which cups hold the treasure and then figure out how to remove the obstacle to get their reward. It’s a fantastic introduction to puzzle feeders.
Pro Tip: To increase the difficulty, start by only covering the cups with treats. Once your dog masters that, introduce the empty cups with covers, forcing them to rely more on their sense of smell.
2. The Shell Game
You've seen magicians do it, and now it's your dog's turn to play! This game, also known as "Which Hand?" or "Three-Cup Monte," is a brilliant way to work on your dog's concentration and scent-detection skills. You'll need three identical, opaque cups and a small, smelly treat.
Let your dog see you place the treat under one of the cups. Then, slowly slide the cups around to mix them up. Give the cue, "Find it!" and encourage your dog to indicate the correct cup by pawing or booping it with their nose. When they get it right, lift the cup and give them an enthusiastic "Yes!" followed by the treat.
Pro Tip: Start with just two cups and move them very slowly. As your dog gets better, you can increase the speed and add the third cup to make this brain game a real challenge.
3. Indoor Hide-and-Seek
This isn't just a game for kids; it's one of the best rainy-day dog activities you can do. It engages your dog’s natural instincts to seek and find, using their incredible sense of smell and hearing. Plus, it's a wonderful way to reinforce their "come" and "stay" commands.
Have your dog stay in one room while you go hide in another. Once you're settled (behind a door, under a blanket, or in the bathtub), call their name excitedly. The moment they find you, shower them with praise, pets, and a jackpot treat. This game turns recall training from a chore into the most exciting game in the world.
Pro Tip: If your dog doesn't have a solid "stay," ask a family member to hold them while you hide. Start with easy hiding spots and gradually make them more challenging as your dog gets the hang of it.
4. The DIY Snuffle Mat
A snuffle mat is a fabric mat designed for dogs to bury their noses in and sniff out hidden treats. It's a fantastic tool for mental stimulation for dogs, as it mimics natural foraging behavior. While you can buy them, they're surprisingly easy to make at home with a rubber sink mat and some fleece strips.
To make one, simply cut fleece into strips and tie them through the holes of the mat until you have a dense, shaggy surface. To use it, sprinkle some dry kibble or small treats into the fleece and let your dog sniff their way to a meal. This is a great way to slow down fast eaters and provide a calming enrichment activity.
Pro Tip: Always supervise your dog with a snuffle mat to ensure they don't chew or ingest the fleece fabric.
5. The "Find It" Game
This is a step up from the Shell Game and teaches your dog to use their nose to find a hidden item in a larger area. It's a foundational skill for any kind of scent work and is one of the most satisfying indoor dog games to watch.
Start by having your dog watch you place a treat under a blanket or behind a pillow a few feet away. Give the cue "Find it!" and praise them when they retrieve it. Gradually increase the distance and difficulty, hiding treats in different rooms while your dog is in a "stay." This game really builds their confidence and focus.
Pro Tip: Once your dog masters finding treats, you can teach them to find specific objects, like your keys or the TV remote!
6. Learn a New Trick (or Polish an Old One)
A rainy day is the perfect time for a focused training session. Teaching a new trick fires up new neural pathways in your dog's brain, making it one of the most effective boredom busters. Whether it's "roll over," "play dead," "spin," or "wave," the process is mentally taxing and rewarding.
Break the trick down into tiny, manageable steps. Use a clicker or a marker word like "Yes!" to pinpoint the exact moment your dog does the right thing, and follow it immediately with a reward. Keep sessions short and fun—5-10 minutes is perfect to keep them engaged without getting frustrated.
Pro Tip: Try "chaining" tricks together. For example, ask for a "sit," then a "shake," then a "down" in sequence before giving the reward. This challenges their memory and listening skills.
7. The Toy Tidy-Up Game
Tired of picking up dog toys all day? Turn it into a game! Teaching your dog to put their own toys away is a multi-step trick that combines object recognition, retrieving, and targeting. It’s a perfect example of practical and fun dog training at home.
Start by rewarding your dog for simply picking up a toy. Then, reward them for holding it over the toy basket. Gradually shape the behavior until they are dropping the toy into the basket on cue. Use a command like "Tidy up!" It's an impressive trick that provides fantastic mental stimulation.
Pro Tip: Use a low, wide basket to start, making it easier for your dog to succeed. You can switch to a taller bin once they've mastered the concept.
8. Cardboard Box Foraging Fun
Unleash your dog's inner treasure hunter with a simple cardboard box. This is a cheap, easy, and incredibly effective way to engage their senses. Grab an empty delivery box and fill it with dog-safe materials like crumpled packing paper, old t-shirts, or even just more cardboard.
Scatter some of your dog's kibble or favorite treats among the filler material. Place the box on the floor and let your dog explore. They’ll have a blast digging, sniffing, and shredding their way to the tasty rewards. It’s a sensory experience that provides a healthy outlet for destructive tendencies.
Pro Tip: Always supervise this activity to make sure your dog isn't eating the cardboard or paper. Remove any staples or tape from the box beforehand.
9. The Rolled Towel Burrito
This is another simple DIY puzzle that requires zero special equipment. All you need is an old bath or beach towel and some treats. It encourages your dog to use their nose and paws in a coordinated way to solve the puzzle.
Lay the towel flat on the floor. Sprinkle a few treats at one end, then roll it up a few inches. Add more treats, roll a bit more, and repeat until the entire towel is a treat-filled burrito. Give it to your dog and watch them figure out how to unroll it to reveal the goodies inside.
Pro Tip: To make it harder, you can tie the towel in a loose knot after rolling it up. Just make sure it's not too tight for them to undo.
10. Name That Toy
This advanced game is incredible for building your dog’s vocabulary and cognitive skills. As I, Goh Ling Yong, have found, it’s particularly effective for sharp breeds like Border Collies and Poodles, but any dog can learn it with patience.
Start with one toy. Give it a specific name (e.g., "Blue Ball"). Play with your dog and the toy, repeating its name over and over. Then, place it next to a different, unnamed toy. Ask your dog to "Get Blue Ball." When they pick the correct one, celebrate! Once they've mastered one name, introduce a second toy with its own unique name.
Pro Tip: Practice this for just a few minutes each day. Over time, you can build up an impressive library of named toys your dog can retrieve on command.
11. Stuffed Kongs and Lick Mats
These are classic enrichment tools for a reason—they work! But you can move beyond just smearing some peanut butter inside. A well-prepared Kong or lick mat can keep a dog busy for a long, satisfying time, making it a perfect rainy-day activity.
Try layering different textures and flavors. Start with some kibble at the bottom, add a layer of plain yogurt or pumpkin puree, toss in some blueberries or pieces of carrot, and top it all off with a smear of dog-safe peanut butter. For a longer-lasting challenge, pop the prepared toy in the freezer for a few hours. Licking is a self-soothing behavior for dogs, so this is a great way to help an anxious pup relax.
Pro Tip: Use a lick mat to make bath time or nail trims less stressful. Smear it with something delicious and stick it to the wall of the tub to keep your dog happily distracted.
12. Puzzle Feeder Power-Up
If your dog is a puzzle toy pro, it might be time to level up. Instead of just giving them one puzzle, try creating a "puzzle trail." Place several different puzzle toys in a sequence around a room.
Your dog has to solve the first one to get a clue or a small reward, which leads them to the next puzzle, and so on. This not only works their brain with each individual puzzle but also challenges them to stay focused on a longer task. It’s a great way to make mealtime an engaging and mentally stimulating event.
Pro Tip: Rotate the puzzle toys you use regularly to keep things fresh and challenging. A puzzle they’ve solved a dozen times won’t offer the same mental workout.
13. Indoor Obedience Relay
This game turns a standard training session into a dynamic and fast-paced activity. It’s perfect for reinforcing known cues and improving your dog’s ability to transition quickly between different behaviors.
Set up "stations" around your living room. At each station, you'll ask for a different command. For example, Station 1 (by the couch) is "sit." Station 2 (on the rug) is "down." Station 3 (by the door) is "stay for 3 seconds." Guide your dog from one station to the next, rewarding them for completing the behavior at each stop.
Pro Tip: Add a fun obstacle between stations, like a pillow to step over or a chair to go under, to incorporate some body awareness work.
14. The "Go to Your Mat" Challenge
Teaching your dog to go to a specific mat or bed is a fantastic skill for impulse control and settling. You can easily turn this training exercise into a fun game that challenges their brain.
Once your dog knows the basic "Go to your mat" cue, start making it more difficult. Ask them to go to it from different rooms. Toss a treat onto the mat from a distance to reward them. See how long they can hold a "stay" on the mat while you do jumping jacks or walk around the room. This game builds incredible focus and self-control.
Pro Tip: Use a distinct mat or bed just for this training game. This helps your dog clearly understand the objective.
15. Canine Spin the Bottle
Here's a fun twist on a party classic that adds an element of surprise to your training session. You'll need an empty plastic bottle and some paper or sticky notes with different trick commands written on them.
Arrange the papers in a circle on the floor and place the bottle in the center. Give your dog the cue to spin the bottle (you can teach this by rewarding them for touching it with their nose or paw). Whichever command the bottle points to is the trick they have to perform to earn a treat!
Pro Tip: Include a "Jackpot" or "Free Treat" paper in the circle for an extra fun surprise.
16. DIY Living Room Agility
You don't need professional equipment to give your dog a taste of agility. A rainy day is a perfect opportunity to build your dog's confidence and body awareness with a safe, homemade course.
Use pillows as low hurdles to jump over, a line of dining chairs to create a tunnel to crawl through, and a sturdy ottoman to use as a "pause table." Teach your dog to weave through your legs or around cones (or water bottles). Guide them through the course with treats and praise, keeping it low-impact and safe for your home environment.
Pro Tip: Safety first! Make sure surfaces aren't slippery and that any "jumps" are very low to the ground to protect your dog's joints.
17. The Eye Contact Game ("Watch Me")
This simple game is one of the most powerful focus-building exercises you can do with your dog. Teaching your dog to offer and hold eye contact builds your connection and makes them more attentive to you in distracting environments.
Hold a treat in a closed fist. Your dog will likely sniff, lick, and paw at your hand. Ignore this. The very second they look away from your hand and up at your face, mark the behavior with "Yes!" and give them the treat. Repeat this until they learn that looking at your face is what gets them the reward. You can then add the cue "Watch me."
Pro Tip: Practice this in different rooms of the house to help generalize the behavior. The goal is for your dog to be able to offer you focus even when there are other things going on.
18. The Figure-Eight Weave
This is a great little exercise for improving your dog's flexibility, coordination, and ability to follow your body language. All you need are two objects to act as cones—a pair of shoes, two chairs, or even two pillows will work.
Set the objects a few feet apart. Using a treat as a lure, guide your dog in a figure-eight pattern around the two objects. Keep the lure right at their nose to start. As they get the hang of it, you can start to fade the lure and guide them with just a hand signal. It's a fun, rhythmic activity that really gets their body and brain working together.
Pro Tip: Try going in both directions! Your dog might find one direction easier than the other, and practicing both ways ensures balanced muscle development.
Your Rainy-Day Rescue Plan
A rainy day doesn't have to mean a boring day. By incorporating a few of these "Puzzle-and-Praise" brain games into your routine, you can provide the mental stimulation your dog craves, prevent restlessness, and strengthen your relationship in a fun and rewarding way. Remember, a tired dog is a happy dog, and a mentally tired dog is a truly fulfilled companion.
Don't wait for the next downpour to get started. Pick one or two of these indoor dog games and give them a try this week. You might be surprised at how quickly your dog catches on and how much fun you both have in the process.
Which of these brain games are you most excited to try with your dog? Do you have any other favorite rainy-day activities? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below—we'd love to hear from you!
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
Stay updated with the latest posts and insights by following on your favorite platform!