Pet Brain Games to Beat the Winter Blahs

This oldie but goodie works brilliantly for both dogs and cats. Hide a treat under one of three cups, shuffle them around and let your pet use their nose to find the prize. Start slow with obvious movements, then level up to full carnival barker speed as they master it.

Turn mealtime into a mental marathon with puzzle feeders that make pets work for every kibble. These contraptions come in various difficulty levels, from "my pet is a genius" to "maybe we should start simpler." The bonus is that scarfing down food in 0.3 seconds becomes a 20-minute brain workout that's also easier on the digestive system.

Channel your inner Hansel and Gretel by hiding treats around the house for your pet to sniff out. Start with easy spots in plain view, then graduate to expert mode by tucking them in puzzle boxes or under lightweight objects. Your dog’s nose has up to 300 million scent receptors and you’ve got about 6 million on a good day, which means this game ends with your dog on a podium and you handing out medals.

Teach your dog the names of their toys, just like those border collies on YouTube who know 50 different stuffed animals. Start with two distinctly different toys, name them consistently and reward correct choices. Within a few weeks, you'll have a pet who fetches specific items on command, if you're really ambitious, you can start working toward that beer-from-the-fridge dream.

These fabric mats with countless hiding spots mimic the natural foraging behavior of both dogs and cats. Sprinkle kibble or treats throughout the folds and watch your pet go full detective mode. It's like their version of a Where's Waldo book and they take finding Waldo very seriously.

Use couch cushions, broomsticks and cardboard boxes to create an indoor agility course. Guide your pet through with treats and praise as they weave, jump, and tunnel their way to glory. Who needs a $3,000 agility set when your IKEA furniture was basically designed for destruction anyway?

Place treats in a muffin tin and cover each cup with tennis balls. Your dog has to remove the balls to access the treasure beneath, engaging both their problem-solving skills and their patience. Cats can play too, though they'll judge you harder for the simplicity of your setup.

Winter is the perfect time to expand your pet’s repertoire beyond “sit” and “stay" into advanced skills like “spin,” “play dead,” and “bring me the TV remote.” The mental exercise of learning new commands can be more tiring than a long walk and you'll emerge from winter with a pet who's ready for their own late-night talk show appearance.

Technology has come a long way since the Pet Rock. Battery-operated toys that move unpredictably or dispense treats on timers keep pets engaged even when you're busy. These range from automatic laser pointers for cats to treat-launching cameras you can control from your phone.