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Brain game, easy to medium, 10 min

The Box of Boxes: A DIY Dog Puzzle From Recycling

Pulling things apart to find food is deeply satisfying for dogs, and much better aimed at a box than your sofa.

You need

How to play

  1. Put a few treats in the big box with no lid. Let your dog find them.
  2. Next, scrunch paper over the treats.
  3. Then add a small box with treats inside.
  4. Close the flaps loosely so your dog has to open them.
  5. Stay nearby and clean up the shreds afterwards.

Make it harder

Safety

Supervise: shredding is fine, eating cardboard isn't. Remove tape, staples and plastic first. Skip this game if your dog swallows paper.

This game works well alongside this 7-day plan.

Take it further

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Want a full program?

Our plans cover one problem at a time. If you'd like a complete step-by-step course built around brain games, Brain Training for Dogs by certified trainer Adrienne Farricelli is the one we point people to. Read our honest take first, including who it's not for.

See Brain Training for Dogs