The Smart Cookie
- Trains you, rather than the other way around
- Gets bored easily and expresses his ennui in destructive ways, such as chewing
- May come from a breed that was used to perform a job, such as herding livestock
Top activities:
- Agility games exercise his brain as well as body.
- Obedience training, whether it’s in your living room or at a competition, is the canine brain workout he craves.
- Herding allows your dog to pit his wits against a flock of sheep. No, you don’t need your own farm; trainers offer group classes and private lessons.
Other fun stuff:
- Read up on training and teach your dog to do a job, any job: retrieving the paper, putting away his toys, playing messenger in the house (he can carry notes in his collar) — anything that makes him feel useful.
- Play hide and seek with treats, a favorite toy, or you. Ask for a sit-stay and hide behind the couch or stash the goodies (start off by letting your dog see where), then release your dog. Make it more of a challenge by hiding the items when he’s not there.
- Stock up on interactive toys that make your dog use his brain to find the treats inside.
Examples of smart dogs: Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherd
