Before you start: heat safety
Short-nosed dogs such as British Bulldogs, Aussie Bulldogs, Frenchies and pugs overheat more easily than most breeds. Play indoors in the coolest room you have, keep each session to a few minutes, and offer water between games.
Stop straight away if your dog pants heavily, breathing becomes noisy or laboured, or they slow down or lie down. If you have any concerns about your dog's breathing or heat tolerance, see your vet.
Use part of your dog's normal daily food for these games so treats don't add up, use xylitol-free spreads only, and supervise with chews and food toys until you know how your dog uses them.
1. Lick mat freeze
Spread a thin layer across the mat and press it into the grooves. Freeze for an hour so it lasts longer.
Put the mat down on a cool floor and let your dog work at it while you stay nearby. Pick it up when it's clean.
2. Hide & seek plush
Tuck the small plush pieces into the main toy while your dog watches the first time, so they understand the game.
Let them sniff and pull each piece out. Collect the pieces afterwards and check the toy for damage before putting it away.
3. Treat tumbler round
Drop a few pieces of kibble into the tumbler and set it down on a rug or carpet, where it moves more slowly.
Let your dog nudge it until the food falls out. Finish while they're still keen rather than when they're tired.
4. The cup game
Place a treat under one cup while your dog watches, then say "find it". Reward them when they nose or paw the right cup.
Once they've got it, slowly slide the cups around before they choose. Use plastic, not glass.
5. Find-it kibble trail
Ask your dog to wait, or pop them behind a door, and lay a short trail of kibble pieces across one room.
Release them with "find it". Make the trail longer or hide pieces behind furniture as they improve. Sniffing is steady, low-effort work.
6. Tug in short bursts
Tug gently at your dog's height for 20–30 seconds, then ask for a "drop" and pause for a rest.
Keep pulls side to side, not upwards, and finish after a few rounds. Tug is more physical than the other games, so watch their breathing closely.
7. Slow-feeder dinner
Serve one of today's meals in the slow feeder so dinner becomes a short puzzle instead of a few seconds of gulping.
Check that your dog can reach the food comfortably with their short muzzle, and supervise the first few meals.
Want the gear in one go?
The Starter Brain Bundle brings together a treat-dispensing tyre, a slow-feed bowl and beef treat sticks. The Bored Bulldog Brain Bundle adds a hide-and-seek plush, a treat-dispensing dumbbell and an indoor fetch slider.
For more ideas, see our Mental Stimulation page and the toy and indoor games guide. We are not vets and make no veterinary claims.