By Natalie Pons, Office Manager at Pawsitivity Pet Services
Just like us, dogs need mental and physical enrichment to stay happy and healthy. If you're looking to spice up your pup's routine, you've come to the right place! In this blog, we'll dive into a variety of fun and inventive enrichment ideas designed to keep your dog’s tail wagging and brain buzzing. Get ready to add some pawsitively fun ideas into your pup's routine!
Getting Started: Top 5 “Free” Enrichment Activities to Stimulate Your Dog’s Mind and Body
You do not need to buy all the latest dog puzzles to keep your dog enriched (although we do love puzzles). There are many enrichment activities you can do with your dog that either require no materials or include things you likely have laying around the house. As always, supervise your dog the entire time and monitor they are completing the activities correctly and safely! Let’s dive into our top 5 “free” ideas:
Number 1. The Treat Towel.
That’s right - it’s just as it sounds! First, make sure your dog is in a place where he/she cannot get to the towel at this point because we are about to break out the treats! Now, let’s set up the treat towel.
Grab any old bath, pool, hand, or kitchen towel and lay it out flat on the ground (make sure it’s one you don’t care about getting treat crumbs and slobber on).
Use any treats of your choice (preferably small training treats) and scatter them along the towel.
Start at one end of the towel and roll it up (the tighter you roll it, the more difficulty your dog will have).
Optional: for more of a challenge, tie the two ends together in a knot.
Now, you can give it to your dog to sniff out the treats and work out how to get them out. If you did step 4, your dog will then first need to figure out how to undo the knot. Then, sniff out and eat the treats.
Number 2. Treats in a Box.
Have a shoe box from your most recent shoe purchase? Then this one's for you! It’s as simple as it sounds. Here we go:
Grab some of your dog's favorite treats (ones with a strong scent work well here), put them in a show box and close it.
Now, let your dog figure out how to get it open!
Note: this one can be challenging if your dog is new to enrichment games - if so, you can demonstrate to them how to open it or crack it open a little bit for them.
Number 3. The Trusty Egg Carton.
If you eat eggs, you likely have an egg carton laying around! Here’s how to make an egg carton into an enrichment game:
Go ahead and grab the carton and open it up!
Drop your dog's treats (or food) into each of the spots.
Cover each spot with your dog's toys and have them pick up each toy to move them out of the way to find the treats OR for more of a challenge, close the egg carton and have your dog work out how to get the treats out.
Number 4. Muffin Tin Game.
Pull out a muffin tin (maybe one you don’t want to use again for baking…) and get some of your dogs treats or food out. Here’s what you will need to do:
Fill each spot of the muffin tin up with as many treats or food as you would like.
Put a tennis ball (or other toy) over each of the muffin spots and allow your dog to work out how to get to the treats or food.
Easy as that! Pro tip: use this to feed your dog his/her breakfast or dinner as a simple way to get in some enrichment!
Number 5. Treat hide and seek.
All you need for this one are some treats (or food) and your dog! Here is how it works:
Have your dog get into “place” or “sit and stay” while they watch you scatter treats around the room (the more hidden, the more scent work they will need to do!).
Once you have all the treats (or food) out, have your dog “break” or “find it” and use their scent skills to smell out the treats.
You can increase the difficulty as your dog gets better and better at it.
Tools to Have: 5 Items to Purchase on Your Enrichment Journey
Of course, you can always stick to the “free” ideas above if you’d like. But, if you want some tools to purchase and re-use again and again, see some of our suggestions below. You can purchase these at any of your favorite stores! They are all relatively inexpensive as well!
Number 1. Snuffle Mat.
First, let me say you can DIY a snuffle mat (or use the towel method above of course), however, after using the towel method for a while, I found that having a snuffle mat is super convenient and made to be machine washable despite all the treat crumbs being left behind.
What is a snuffle mat? “Snuffle mats are floor mats with two main components: a bottom that grips the floor, and a top that’s covered with soft (usually fleece) strips and folds. Treats or feed are then placed into the folds (Pupford 2023).
What is the point of a snuffle mat? A snuffle mat is designed very intentionally. “The small individual strips mimic grass or other terrains that dogs would forage through, while creating flaps and folds to hide food and treats. Since it’s a soft material, your dog can easily sniff around and smell anything hidden within the mat. [They] encourage dogs to use their nose and problem-solving skills to navigate the fabric and find the goodies” (Pupford 2023).
What’s so great about snuffle mats? Snuffle mats tap into your dog's natural foraging instincts! This is great for their brain and overall well being.
Number 2. Kong and Others.
A KONG Classic (or similar) can be great enrichment for your dog. Stuff your KONG with any dog-safe food items and let your dog work to lick all of it out of the toy. Pro tip: for a challenge, fill the KONG then stick it in the freezer. Once frozen, give it to your dog for a bigger challenge (Kong). There are lots of creative ways to fill your Kong, look on Instagram, Pinterest, or specific toy websites.
Number 3. Food Bowl Mazes.
Food bowl mazes, or slow feeders have multiple benefits to them! First, slow feeders do what they say they will do: cause your dog to be a slow feeder… This can help with digestion and reduces the chance of your dog choking on his/her food (Dogster 2024). Additionally (and why you are reading this right now), food mazes can be a source of mental stimulation during an otherwise very mindless time for your pup. These bowls have a bunch of obstructions built into them for your dog to figure out in order to get to the food (Dogster 2024). The obstacles can help keep your dog engaged and thinking about how to get their food out.
Slow feeders are a win-win!
Number 4. Puzzles.
Dog puzzles are another great tool to have. They can range from beginner to more challenging to meet your dog’s needs. “Puzzle toys not only keep your dog...mentally occupied, but they are also intentionally constructed to keep pets moving, active, and physically engaged. Many toys are designed to be pushed, rolled, chased, batted, picked up, bounced, or flung around. When these actions occur, food is dispensed” (24Petwatch). These can be really rewarding to your dog as they work hard to get the food or treat out!
Number 5. Flirt Pole.
Now, this one may not be your classic enrichment tool. However, it is an awesome tool that engages your dog both physically and mentally. It is also my (and my dog’s) personal favorite. And, this is an amazing tool if you have a smaller yard or, if you dare, a big living room or basement area (that you don’t mind getting roughed up).
You may be thinking - what is a flirt pole? Well, “a flirt pole is a pole that you hold in your hand, that is attached to a string, that has a toy secured to the end. You use your arm to move the pole around in a way that entices your dog to catch the toy at the end” (Leash and Learn 2024). Think of it like a giant cat toy.
Here is how you use a flirt pole:
Drag the end of the flirt pole in front of your dog to entice them to chase it.
As they begin chasing, move the toy away from your dog (you can move it back and forth several times)
Let your dog catch it before they become frustrated and give up (this is them reaching their goal!)
When your dog has caught it, let them have fun with the toy for a little then exchange some treats (if needed) so they easily let go of the flirt pole.
You can repeat this process several times before putting the toy away.
(Leash and Learn 2024)
Enrichment for Dogs: An Important Part of Keeping Your Dog Healthy & Happy
I hope these have given you a great starting point for adding in enrichment activities for your dog! Trust me, your dog will thank you for trying some of these out! As always, watch your dog closely while doing these activities and consult with an animal specialist or veterinarian should you have any issues.
All the best on your dog enrichment journey!
Sources:
Copeland, K. (2024, July 24). Slow feeder dog bowls: Benefits & risks explained. Dogster.
Dog games: Scavenger towel game: Dog enrichment. Home with Hounds. (n.d.).
Kong. (2023, December 13). About kong toys. The KONG Company.
Leash and Learn. (2024, May 28). But, what’s a flirt pole?
Pupford. (2023, November 13). Guide to snuffle mats for dogs & puppies: benefits, how to use, cleaning and more. Pupford. https://pupford.com/guide-snuffle-mats-dogs/
Sung, Dr. W. (n.d.). Cat and dog puzzle toys to bust boredom. 24Petwatch.
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