Dogs are social, intelligent and active animals. So, it’s important to provide them with safe and suitable opportunities to exercise their bodies and minds, during every stage of life. This is where enrichment comes in...
What is enrichment for dogs?
Enrichment enables dogs to explore and use their natural instincts like sniffing and chewing in an appropriate way that helps to prevent boredom, build confidence and burn off energy which can in turn encourage calmer behaviour and learning good habits.
How often does my dog need enrichment?
Dogs should be provided with enrichment opportunities daily. As humans, we get to be social at work and leisure, go shopping, have hobbies, scroll social media, watch TV shows, etc which all help us to engage our brains as well as find interest and enjoyment. Therefore, if we need stimulus daily to be healthy and content, we shouldn't expect our dogs to sit inside the same 4 walls all day long and be content! This is why making enrichment part of their every day lives is so very important to keep their minds and bodies happy and healthy.
What is the best enrichment for my dog?
When planning and choosing the best enrichment for your dog, it is important to:
Ensure any enrichment is safe and suitable (non-toxic and appropriately sized and no foreign body hazards which could result in trauma to the mouth, throat or gastrointestinal tract)
Consider the individual dog, including their health, abilities and dietary needs
Watch how they interact with the enrichment. Ask yourself; Are they engaged? Do they seem to be enjoying it? Do they seem confused or frustrated? What can I change next time? If it’s too difficult or I see signs of frustration, how can I make it easier?
6 Easy enrichment ideas for dogs
Here are some easy enrichment ideas for dogs. While you may find their favourite, don't forget it's good to mix it up and offer them a variety of activities to keep them interesting and stimulating!
Use a lick mat Spread food on the textured surface of a ‘lick mat’ for your dog to enjoy; as well as keeping them occupied, licking stimulates the release of endorphins (happy hormones) which are believed to have a calming effect. Rubber lick mats can also be pre-filled and frozen to make the activity last longer and is a great way to aid cooling, whilst still providing mental stimulation in hotter months. Or, if you don’t want to buy a lick mat, you can make the most of your recycling (providing it is safe for dogs to use) and get creative making your own!
Treasure hunt for food Make treat and meals times more engaging by encouraging your dog to hunt for and find their food. A dig box is a simple but effective way to create enrichment from newspaper and a cardboard box - simply scrunch the paper up, pop it inside the box and hide food within it. To mix this activity up, put food inside a toilet roll or use a puzzle feeder. If you want something even faster, you can simply scatter food in the garden or a room inside the house and let your dog hunt for it. Or swap treats for toys and hide their favourite one for them to sniff out.
Play with toys Playing games with toys is beneficial to your dog physically and mentally, helps to build their confidence and strengthen the bond between the two of you. But the same toys can become boring, so rotate your dog’s toys weekly to help keep them excited and interested. Let your dog win some of the games to make it enjoyable for them. Your dog may rip soft toys up, which is natural behaviour, so just make sure you always supervise when they are playing with these toys to avoid swallowing of any small parts. If you do need to take away a part of the toy, swap this for a treat or a different toy.
Go exploring Before you set off for an adventure in a new place by car, make sure that your pooch is comfortable travelling (see tips on how to do this here). By including exploration of new places in your dog's day to day, the different sights, sounds and smells will stimulate their senses. Give them the opportunity to walk on different surfaces and plenty of opportunity and time to sniff as this is a natural behaviour that is key to our dogs gathering information about their environment. Wherever you go to explore, just make sure your dog is enjoying the experience and look out for signs of signs of becoming worried and calmly lead them away, if needed.
Jazz up a familiar walk While it’s important to take dog on new routes and to experience different places, you can still make the most of their regular walks and help them feel happily exhausted by making them interactive by doing any of these suggestions: > play with toys > practise tricks > lay a treat trail for them to follow > encourage them to place their paws on objects or hop over obstacles (provided it’s safe for them to do so)
Training The mental exercise of training can be just as tiring as physical exercise for our dogs. So, teach your dog new tricks using reward-based training. Not only will they learn new skills, but it will also help improve your relationship and boost their confidence. As well as teaching your dog tricks, you can also do other basic training including teaching them useful life skills. For puppies, this could be fun loose-lead walking with puppies before they can go outside or teach them to settle and do recall training. As well as providing enrichment this will also help prepare them for future situations.
Don't forget to let them rest
Although it is important to provide enrichment for your dog, it is equally important to incorporate time to rest into their daily routine!
Get Help & Support
If you would like enrich your dog's life with training or fun activities, All Positive Dog Services offer a variety of options to suit different life stages and abilities.
Comments