Part 2, Mini & Toy Australian Shepherd Mental Stimulation: 10 Daily Training Games for a Calmer Aussie
- Jill
- Jul 14
- 11 min read
If your Mini or Toy Australian Shepherd still has that “wild child with a full battery” look after a walk, here’s the truth:
They may not need more exercise.
They may need a better brain job.
(Spoiler Alert- #9 is my FAVORITE one!!)
Mini and Toy Australian Shepherds are smart, observant, quick-learning little dogs. That is one of the reasons we love them so much! But that same intelligence can turn into barking, herding, chewing, jumping, leash-biting, and general “all gas, no brakes” behavior when their brains have nothing productive to do.
In Part 1, (you can read it HERE) we talked about puzzle toys, scent games, trick training, and simple enrichment ideas. In Part 2, we’re going one step deeper.
These are simple, training-based brain games you can incorporate into your daily life with your Aussie. No fancy setup. No hour-long training session. No need to turn your house into a dog gym.
Just practical little games that teach your Aussie to think, focus, wait, choose, and settle.
And honestly? That is where the magic happens.
Why Mental Stimulation Matters for Mini & Toy Australian Shepherds
Australian Shepherds were bred to think, watch, move, and respond. Even in a smaller package, Mini and Toy Aussies still carry that busy-brain working dog instinct.
That means they are not usually satisfied with just running around the yard.
Running may tire their body.
Training tires their brain.
And for an Aussie, that brain workout is often what helps them become calmer, more confident, and easier to live with.
Mental stimulation can help your Aussie:
Build focus
Learn self-control
Reduce boredom behaviors
Gain confidence
Strengthen your bond
Settle better in the house
Learn to look to you for direction
The goal is not to create a dog who knows 47 tricks but still cannot calm down.
The goal is to create a dog who knows how to use their brain in everyday life.
Before You Start: Load Your Marker Word
Before jumping into the games, take a minute to teach your Aussie what your marker word means. It takes 5 minutes.
A marker word is a simple word that tells your dog, “Yes! That exact thing you just did is what I wanted.”
Most people use:
“Yes!”
“Good!”
“Nice!”
The word itself does not matter as much as making it clear and consistent.
Think of it like taking a tiny snapshot of the behavior you want to reward.
How to Load Your Marker Word
This part is simple.
Say your marker word: “Yes!”
Then immediately give your dog a treat.
That is it.
You are not asking for sit, down, stay, or anything fancy yet. You are just teaching your dog that the word “yes” means a reward is coming.
Do this 10 to 15 times in a row:
“Yes!” → treat
“Yes!” → treat
“Yes!” → treat
After a few short sessions, your dog will start to hear that word and think, “Oh! I did something right!”
1. The “Look at Me” Game
This is one of the simplest brain games for Mini & Toy Australian Shepherd Mental Stimulation, but do not underestimate it.
Aussies notice everything. The leaf blowing across the driveway. The kid running through the yard. The delivery truck. The neighbor’s dog. The invisible ghost in the corner that only they can see.
The “look at me” game teaches your puppy or adult Aussie that checking in with you is valuable.
How to Play:
Start in a quiet room.
Say your dog’s name once.
The moment they look at you, mark it with “yes!” and reward.
Do this a few times, then slowly make it harder:
Practice in different rooms
Practice near toys
Practice outside
Practice around mild distractions
Practice before opening doors or starting a walk
This builds the habit of your Aussie thinking, “When something happens, I should check in with my person.”
That is a huge skill.
Not just cute.
Huge.
WHY? Because when I am in the real world, I want my Aussie to pick ME over the gum on the sidewalk, the bird poop on the car bumper, or the food my toddler grandbaby dropped. It creates FOCUS.
2. The Permission Game
This is one of our favorite real-life training games because it teaches your Aussie that they do not have to grab, rush, jump, or snatch everything they want.
They can wait.
They can think.
They can ask permission.
Personally, I do this at mealtime with my dogs. Then it is nothing "extra" for me to remember, but part of our routine!!
How to Play:
Use something your dog wants, like food/meal, a toy, or access to outside.
Ask for a simple behavior first:
Sit
Wait (I hold out a fisted hand at my dogs, and say "wait")
Eye contact
Calm feet on the floor
Then release them with a word like “okay!”
Then they can eat their food, or get the toy.
**NOTE: When using it at meal time, I start by giving them only 1/2 of their food. Then to get the other half, they must "wait" again. Works like a charm!!!
You can use this before:
Meals
Going outside
Coming out of the crate
Greeting people
Getting a toy
Jumping into the car
Starting a walk
This teaches your Aussie that calm behavior makes good things happen.
That is mental stimulation and manners all rolled into one.
3. Find Your Place
Teaching “place” is one of those skills that looks simple on the outside, but it does a lot of work behind the scenes. For years, I have learned from Susan Garret at Dogs That. She teaches her dogs "Hop it up" (instead of place). Then she uses it EVERYWHERE. A park bench, a chair, a dog bed, ....whatever you want them to "hop it up" on. Then they stay (but you don't need to say "stay"; it is just built into this game. (I will add that where I first learned the most about Mini & Toy Australian Shepherd Mental Stimulation was from Susan Garret. She is a front runner in the dog training world in this category)
Your Aussie learns:
Where to go
How to stay there
How to settle
How to watch without joining every activity
How to relax while life happens around them
This is especially helpful when you want to cook in the kitchen and don't want your mini aussie all over your feet. (speaking from experience!!)
How to Play:
Use a dog bed, mat, or blanket.
Stand next to the bed/blanket with treats in your hands.
Your dog will naturally approach you and step on the mat
The minute they step on the mat, say YES and give a treat.
Then, toss a treat out on the floor and say "get it".
They will go get it.
Then stand and wait by the mat still.
The dog will return to the mat and you looking for a treat. (trust me this does work!!)
The minute they step on the mat, say YES and reward.
After a few reps, your dog will make a Beeline for the mat!!
Now, how to add the word "PLACE"
KEY- you want to say the word BEFORE they come back to the mat.
So when you toss the treat and say Get it. They will run out, snatch the treat off the floor, and turn. IMMEDIATELY say "PLACE" (because you know they are going to come running back to the mat).
When they land on the mat, say YES and reward!!!
Repeat.
When your dog steps onto it, praise and reward.
You can slowly build:
Two paws on the mat
All four paws on the mat
Sit on the mat
Down on the mat
Stay for a few seconds
Stay while you take one step away
Stay while normal life happens
Keep it easy at first. You are not trying to trap your dog on a mat for 30 minutes on day one.
Be sure to RELEASE them from their place with "okay".
You are teaching their brain, “This is where I go when I need to settle.”
Game changer!!!!!!
4. The Toy Switch Game
Aussies can get very intense about toys.
Just ask my Oakley, who would live and die for his tennis ball. If you have been here, you know how true that is.
The toy switch game teaches flexibility. It also helps prevent possessiveness and teaches your dog that giving something up does not mean the fun is over.
How to Play:
Start with two toys.
Give your Aussie one toy.
Make the second toy exciting.
When they drop the first toy, say “yes!” and give them the second toy.
Then repeat.
Once you get a rhythm of toy switching, you can add the word "drop" or "give me".
KEY- they keep getting an awesome toy in exchange for the other awesome toy.
This way they are WILLING to play the game and listen. If you just make them drop and then end the game, you are the fun-police and ruiner of all good things. LOL.
You can also play this with safe chews or low-value objects before moving to higher-value items.
This teaches:
Drop it
Trade
Trust
Impulse control
The big lesson is this: letting go of one thing can lead to something else good.
That lesson matters far beyond toys.
5. The “Go Around” Game
This is a great one for Aussies because it gives them movement and thinking at the same time.
It also builds body awareness, direction-following, and confidence.
How to Play: (see pic for visual cue)
Use a chair, bucket, or coffee table. (something you can reach over)
You will stand in the same spot, and your dog will be the one moving in a semi-circle pattern.
Lure your dog around the object with a treat.
As they start to understand the pattern, add a cue like “go around.”
Reward when they complete the semi-circle.
REPEAT
When they get the hang of it, drop the luring and just cue them with the words. When they "go around", mark YES and reward.
REPEAT
Level Up by changing objects they travel around.
This is a great brain game for rainy days, small spaces, and dogs who need movement without becoming totally wound up.
6. The Calm Greeting Game
This one is not flashy.
But your future self will THANK YOU!!!! Especially if you have little kids or elderly relatives.
Aussies can be enthusiastic greeters. They love big. They feel big. Their feelings arrive with feet.
The calm greeting game teaches your Aussie that people approaching does not mean they should launch themselves into the air like a tiny rodeo rocket.
How to Play:
Practice before guests come over.
Walk toward your dog calmly.
If they keep four feet on the floor, praise and reward.
If they jump, quietly pause and turn your back to them.
Try again.
The reward is attention, petting, food, or greeting.
NOTE- when I play this game, I don't give them a verbal cue; I let my body actions teach them.
I also use this game at the baby gate that divides my dining room. GOAL: no jumping on the gate to say hi. Sitting calmly= you get attention
The lesson is simple:
Calm gets you closer to what you want.
If you jump, we don't socialize with you.
This is a brain game because your dog has to make a choice. They have to think through their excitement instead of just exploding into it.
7. The “Wait While I Move” Game
This is a great next step after basic sit and stay, because Aussies love to be IN YOUR FACE and IN YOUR PERSONAL SPACE.
Aussies are very tuned in to motion. If you move, they often move. If the kids run, they want to follow. If you bend down, they want to investigate. If a door opens, they think surely it is their moment.
This game teaches them that your movement does not always mean they need to move too.
How to Play:
Ask your dog to sit or lie down.
Take one tiny step.
Reward if they stay.
Then build slowly:
Step to the side
Step backward
Turn around
Bend down
Pick something up
Walk around them
Open a cabinet
Touch the doorknob
KEY: Keep it easy and reward often.
This is a very practical self-control game. It helps with door manners, kid movement, meal prep, leash manners, and daily household calm.
8. The Texture Confidence Game
Mental stimulation is not always about commands.
Sometimes it is about confidence.
Mini and Toy Aussies benefit from learning that new surfaces, sounds, and textures are not scary or weird. This is especially helpful for puppies, but adult dogs can benefit too.
Here at Sunset Hill, my kids and my part-time helper, Denise, regularly set up Obstacle Courses that are made out of textures. It is such a fun way to learn!
How to Play:
Lay out a few safe surfaces:
Towel
Cardboard and/or cardboard boxes
Packing paper found in Amazon boxes
Rubber mat
Shammy towel, one dry + one wet
Faux grass entry mat (our Dollar store sells these cheap)
Crinkly paper
Lid to a large Rubbermaid Bin
Yoga mat
Cookie sheet with sides, shallow water in it
Couch cushion
Foil- halfway scrunched up
Bubble wrap
Let your dog explore at their own pace.
Reward curiosity.
Do not force them.
KEY: The goal is not “get over it.”
The goal is “I can investigate new things and feel brave.”
This builds confidence, problem-solving, and resilience.
And for a smart Aussie, confidence is a big deal.
9. The Chore Game
Aussies love to feel useful.
So give them a job.
Plus, this one actually IS A COOL party trick!!
True Story- I hosted a few dog shows here in my county. And as the dog breeders arrive, they have to register. Many say "thanks" for hosting. A few may give a gift. At one show, a fellow dog breeder arrived at the registration table, dog on leash at her side. Her dog was carrying a small paper gift bag with chocolate bars in it. He carried it over to me, and she told him to sit. I WAS FLOORED!!!! BEST. GIFT. EVER.
Nothing impresses the relatives more at Thanksgiving than your Aussie cleaning up toys or carrying a gift bag for them!!! (I highly recommend teaching the "CARRY" trick with a small paper gift bag!!!!)
Easy Chores to Teach:
Put toys in a basket
Carry a small gift bag
Bring a leash
Close a cabinet
Push a button
Find a family member
Bring a named toy
Start small. Reward heavily. Keep it fun.
Aussies thrive when they feel like they are part of the team.
This is one of the reasons training matters so much for this breed. You are not just teaching commands. You are giving that smart brain a purpose.
10. The Five-Minute Training Circuit
This is my favorite way to make mental stimulation realistic for busy families. Trust me, I get it. At the time of writing this blog post, I have 6 teens at home !!!
You do not need a perfect schedule.
You need five focused minutes.
Pick three to five skills your dog already knows and turn them into a little circuit.
KEY: Save the reward/treat for the END of the circuit!
Example Circuit:
Sit
Down
Touch
Spin
Place
Wait
Release
Find it
Stop before your dog gets frustrated or bored.
The goal is to make thinking fun.
A few minutes of focused training can do more for your Aussie’s behavior than letting them run around the yard until they are even more overstimulated.
How Often Should You Do Brain Games With Your Aussie?
For most Mini and Toy Australian Shepherds, short sessions work best.
Think:
3 to 5 minutes for young puppies
5 to 10 minutes for older puppies
10 to 15 minutes for adult dogs
A few short sessions throughout the day instead of one long session
Aussies usually do better with little brain jobs sprinkled into daily life.
Before meals.
Before walks.
Before going outside.
During play.
While guests arrive.
While the kids are moving around.
While you are doing normal family life.
That is where training becomes useful.
Signs Your Aussie Needs More Mental Stimulation
Your Aussie may need more brain work if you are seeing:
Barking at every tiny sound
Chewing things they know they should not chew
Herding kids or other pets
Jumping and scratching
Leash biting
Pacing
Digging
Constant demand barking
Trouble settling
Acting wild even after exercise
Of course, puppies will still be puppies. They are learning. They are growing. They are going to have big feelings and busy moments.
But if your Aussie seems physically tired and mentally restless, that is your clue.
Do not just add more running.
Add thinking.
Final Thoughts: A Calm Aussie Is Usually a Well-Directed Aussie
Mini and Toy Australian Shepherds are just going to be more fulfilled when you teach them things. Plain and simple.
Mental stimulation does not have to be complicated. It can be as simple as asking your Aussie to wait before dinner, find their place while the kids run through the house, trade a toy, follow a direction, or solve a tiny problem with you.
That is the sweet spot.
Not just a tired dog.
A fulfilled dog.
And when you give your Aussie a daily job for their brain, you are not just preventing bad habits.
You are building a better relationship.
One little training game at a time.
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