Bernese Mountain Dog Enrichment: Games and Activities
The AKC rates the Bernese Mountain Dog 3/5 for mental stimulation needs: a mix of easy games and the odd harder puzzle works well.
It scores 4/5 for energy, so active games like tug, hide and seek and sniff walks help burn it off.
With a playfulness score of 4/5, games with you tend to go down well.
Activities to try with your Bernese Mountain Dog
Tug with rules
Short rounds of tug that end on a "drop it", so your dog gets a burst of play and a lesson in self-control at the same time.
Hide and seek with you
Your dog waits in one room while you hide, then finds you when you call. No food or equipment needed.
Digging pit with buried toys
A kiddie pool or sandbox of clean sand where digging is allowed, with toys buried for your dog to find.
Living-room obstacle course
A mini agility course from things you already have: chairs to weave round, a box to go through, books to step over.
Sniff walk
A slow walk where your dog chooses the direction and the pace and gets to sniff as long as they like. Twenty to thirty minutes can tire a dog as much as a longer, faster walk.
Towel knot treat puzzle
A tea towel rolled around a few treats and tied in a loose knot: a free, five-minute snuffle mat.
Build a 7-day plan from what you have →
Is a Bernese Mountain Dog right for you? · Bernese Mountain Dog breed guide