We could all use a little mental stimulation and work to get our meals like animals in the zoo. The truth is dogs stand to gain more through interaction with their human family members, than through being left alone with a treat puzzle like a captive specimen. The benefits of such interaction extend well beyond the initial mental stimulation and boredom relief. Taken as a whole, when the dog and his human family regularly interact by playing challenging games, the family develops a sense of common purpose and shared experiences. For most dogs, these memories and experiences form a long-lasting bond with fewer behavioral problems during non-play time.
Paraphrasing renown dog trainer, Clarissa von Reinhardt, there are three important benefits to treat training puzzles that include human interaction. They pay off in less obvious ways, such as when you're walking your dog or traveling. Take a look at these benefits from a dog's perspective:[3]
Footnotes [1]"An experimental study of the effects of play upon the dog–human relationship" by Nicola J Rooney, John W.S Bradshaw in Applied Animal Behaviour Science (3 Jan 2002, volume 75 issue 2 Pages 161-176) [2]Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney, p49 (Sep 2011) [3] Clarissa von Reinhardt, one of the foremost reward-based instructor/trainers in Europe. From her book "Chase!" Paraphrased and adapted from her "Sausage Tree" treat puzzle section, pp 41-44. [4]"Zoo Animal Enrichment" by Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute( http://nationalzoo.si.edu/SCBI/AnimalEnrichment/)
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