Mental Enrichment
Enrichment activities help keep your dog mentally stimulated and engaged. By providing them with fun and engaging ways to work their brains they get tired, pester you less and stay out of mischief because they are not bored. Many behavior problems are rooted in a lack of mental enrichment and physical activity. When you leave your dog alone, ideally you are leaving them after they have had some activity so they are happy to take a nap in addition to leaving them with something to do. Just like you would not want to be left alone without a good book or movie!
Food Dispensing Toys
From stuffable kongs to puzzle toys there are hundreds of toys that dispense food and treats at various levels of difficulty. Start easy so that treats fall out easily and your dog stays engaged - you may even have to show your dog how to work the toy at first but this will help get him hooked. *Be sure to supervise your dog when you first give them their toy to make sure they are not ingesting the wrong thing!*
If you google “stuffable dog toys” or “dog puzzle toys” you will come up with plenty but here are some great ones to get you started:
Kongs - have several of these to stuff and have on hand so you can grab and when you need.. Freezing canned pumpkin or peanut butter into them, make them last even longer. See our kong recipes hand out. Kong wobblers are also great for dispensing a meal in an entertaining way.
Tricky Treat Balls, Orbee Tough, Mammoth Tire Biter I or Tug a jug can also be stuffed well with loose treats or sticky substrates like cream cheese or peanut butter (some are more easily washed than others). West Paw and Spunky Pup also make great stuffable toys.
Bowls that slow down eating are great for dogs that wolf down their food. You can also use a muffin tin with a baking rack on top that they have to stick their tongues through or move!
Have dogs forage for their meals or treats in a snuffle mat , by scattering their kibble in your lawn or around your house so they have to hunt for it.
Once your dog is familiar with how to use these toys you can make the game harder by hiding them around the house and telling them “go find it!’ You may have to show your dog the way at first, but he will quickly catch on.
Chew Toys
Nylabones/ Benebones
Bully sticks
Pigs ears
Stuffed toys -with or without squeakies.
Rawhide
Various strong foam toys (monitor for damage).
Other Ideas
You can roll or tie up treats or kibble in a towel so they have to snuffle around and unroll or untie the towel to get them out. Get creative with your towel origami!
Use old cardboard boxes or egg cartons and put treats inside them either when they are in box form or collapsed. To make it harder you can tie them closed with a bandana, cloth or rope or tape them shut. Let your dog have a field day destroying this legal item to get to the snacks!
The facebook page Canine Enrichment is a great place for ideas and inspiration too.
Take them on a “sniffari,” a walk where they can have all the time in the world to sniff. This is hugely enriching for a dog, and way more metally stimulating that just walking down the street.
