Enrichment

Eating is likely one of the highlights of your dog's day, from meals to snacks. That’s why a food game with an enrichment toy can be ideal and enjoyable for most dogs. You have several options to consider. For example, you could spread food on a textured LickiMat for your dog to savour calmly. Alternatively, a puzzle feeder could be a great choice, or you could pre-fill and chill a Kong to extend the fun.

If you prefer a DIY approach, use your recycling creatively (as long as it’s safe for dogs). A simple dig box can be made from newspaper and a cardboard box – scrunch the paper, place it in the box, and hide kibble inside. You could also place kibble inside a toilet roll. Another idea is to create a snuffle mat using a yoga mat or large beach towel for your dog to unroll and find hidden food.

If being crafty isn’t your thing, you can scatter food around the house or garden and let your dog sniff it out. You might also create a treat trail for your dog to follow with their nose, perhaps spelling out their name or forming a shape.

Remember to supervise your dog, especially with homemade enrichment activities, and use only their daily food allowance to prevent weight gain. Enjoyment comes not just from eating but also from scent, so your dog will appreciate using their nose to find those tasty treats.

Your dog’s most important sense is smell. Sniffing is a natural behaviour and an important way your dog gathers information about its environment.

On walks, allow your dog plenty of opportunity and time to sniff. Make sure you go to different places and mix up your route. This will give them new experiences and, of course, new smells to analyse.

The canine equivalent of a cerebral workout is sniffing a particular scent and then analysing the information that comes with it. Your dog might not be running miles or building muscles, but mental stimulation is just as crucial.

Sniffing is a high-energy activity that is pretty exhausting. It takes your dog time and effort to separate and identify distinct parts of an odour. It’s like you or me trying to solve a tricky math problem – the mental effort necessary is exhausting.

Back at home, you could buy dog-safe plants and herbs for them to smell. Some plants are toxic to dogs, so be very careful to avoid these.

You could also swap treats for toys and hide their favourite ones for them to sniff out. 

Playing with toys offers numerous benefits for your dog, both physically and mentally. It also boosts their confidence and strengthens the bond between you and your dog.

Here are some top tips for engaging in toy games:

1. Rotate your dog’s toys weekly to maintain their excitement and interest.
2. Allow your dog to win some games. Taking turns and letting each of you win occasionally adds to their enjoyment.
3. It’s normal for dogs to tear up soft toys but always supervise their play to prevent them from swallowing small parts. If a toy becomes damaged, swap the bits for a treat and replace it with a new one.
4. Dogs naturally hold, tug, and shake toys with their mouths. If their teeth come into contact with you, stay calm and still to end the game, then move away if needed. Take a short break and resume play to teach them that the fun continues when their teeth stay on the toy. 

Make sure your dog gets to visit and explore brand-new places. Most dogs will find experiencing a range of environments enjoyable and incredibly beneficial. That is because the different sights, sounds and smells will stimulate their senses.

Allow them to walk on different surfaces, smell and even taste new things (as long as they are safe and dog-friendly).

Consider the types of places your dog seems to enjoy the most. Perhaps it is the woods or a dog-friendly beach.

Top tip: Provide access to fresh water. You should also prevent your dog from drinking salt water, which can cause severe illness and sometimes even be fatal.

Speaking of the beach, water can be great fun for your dog – as long as it is safe and suitable for them, and they feel comfortable in it. You could always start with a shallow paddling pool in the garden. This will give them a new experience and is great for playtime. Plus, it’s the ideal way to cool off on a hot summer’s day.

Ensure your dog is always enjoying itself. If it shows any sign of becoming worried about something it sees, hears or smells, calmly lead it away. You should also ensure your dog is comfortable travelling in a car before heading off for an adventure in a new place.

While it’s important to take your dog on new routes and experience different places, you can also make the most of their regular walks by making them interactive.

As well as stretching their legs and having a sniff, you could incorporate the following activities while walking your dog:

• playing with toys
• throw or scatter their food/treats for them to search for
• practise tricks in the park
• lay a treat trail for them to follow
• encourage them to place their paws on safe objects
• get them to walk along fallen trees or playground equipment.

These are all exciting ways to liven up a walk, and they will leave both you and your dog feeling happily exhausted afterwards.

 Enrichment can also come from allowing your dog to choose its environment.

Some examples include:

• If your dog has a comfy, spacious bed but prefers to sleep on the rug, let them choose.
• Allow your dog to choose which toy to play with by providing a limited but rotating selection.
• When free-playing in the backyard or out and about, allow your dog to choose which games they want to play. Are they going to chase you, or will you chase them? Their body language will let you know.

Giving your dog some agency and the ability to decide for itself will enhance its well-being and boost its optimism and confidence.

Remember to always offer only safe and suitable choices. Don't hesitate to use rehearsal and management techniques and strategies as needed. 

Training can be as mentally exhausting for dogs as physical exercise. By teaching them new tricks with reward-based dog training, you'll help them acquire new skills, strengthen your bond, and enhance their confidence.

You could teach your dog to:

• give you their paw, one at a time (or high five)
• do a figure of eight
• tidy up their toys
• put their paws up
• run through a tunnel.

You can teach your dog tricks and other basic training, including life skills. This could be fun loose-lead walking with puppies before they can go outside. You can also teach them to settle and do recall training. In addition to providing enrichment, this will also help with future situations.

Remember: As important as providing enrichment for your dog is incorporating time for rest and sleep.