BRAIN BUFFET | November 2025 Challenge
This month’s SMART Challenge turns everyday enrichment into a science-backed way to build impulse control — from sniffing and chewing to problem-solving and exploring something new.
Week-by-Week Challenge
How to Join Social Option: Share a photo or short video each week, tag @smartpuppyco, and use #SmartPuppyChallenge.
Email Option: Not on social? Send a photo and a quick note of what you tried. Each week shared = one entry.
PRIZE:
A goodie bag featuring:
- A gift card from Bad Dog Frida
- One SMART-selected enrichment toy
- A SMART Puppy Co. long sleeve t-shirt + bandana combo
*Participation via email or socials is required for entry into the prize drawing at the end of the month.
Week 1: Scent & Foraging Enrichment Scatter-feed in the yard, roll kibble in a towel, or use a snuffle mat.
Why it matters: Scent work activates the olfactory cortex — a part of the brain directly linked to the parasympathetic nervous system. This “sniffing switch” helps lower heart rate and cortisol, teaching the body that calm focus pays off. The more your dog practices nose-driven problem-solving, the more often they default to a thinking state over a reactive one.
Week 2: Chewing & Oral Enrichment Offer long-lasting chews, frozen Kongs, or DIY licky mats.
Why it matters: Repetitive licking and chewing release endorphins and dopamine — the same neurotransmitters that regulate stress and pleasure. These slow, rhythmic motions help dogs self-soothe and transition from arousal to rest. Teaching this self-regulation skill through enrichment helps your dog recover faster from moments of excitement (like the doorbell or dinner prep).
Week 3: Cognitive / Problem-Solving Enrichment Try puzzle feeders, hide-and-seek games, or cardboard “unboxing” challenges.
Why it matters: Cognitive puzzles engage the prefrontal cortex — the brain’s decision-making center. Repeated problem-solving practice strengthens neural pathways for persistence, frustration tolerance, and delayed gratification. When your dog learns that thinking, not reacting, leads to success, those same neural circuits apply to real-life impulse control moments.
Week 4: Sensory & Social Enrichment Introduce novelty: a new texture, sound, or walking route. Pair it with calm, positive reinforcement.
Why it matters: New experiences activate the amygdala (emotion processing) and limbic system. Pairing novelty with safety and reward rewires the brain’s threat response, teaching emotional flexibility. This helps dogs handle unpredictable environments — like a noisy kitchen or a full house — without tipping into reactivity.