Dog Enrichment

Dog enrichment is talked about a lot these days, what is it and why does it matter?

The idea of enrichment of an animal's life started in the review of zoo animal welfare for captive animals. Dogs also used to live in the wild, and were not always the captives of humans.

Think of enrichment as "More like in nature" and letting your pet explore the natural behaviors and instincts that they have inside them.

Types of dog and pet enrichment

Physical Enrichment: This includes activities that encourage dogs to use their bodies, such as walking, running, playing fetch, and agility training. This type of enrichment is important for maintaining physical fitness and preventing obesity.

Social Enrichment: This includes providing dogs with opportunities to interact with other dogs, animals, and people. This can include playdates, obedience classes, and training classes.

Cognitive Enrichment: This includes providing dogs with mentally stimulating activities, such as training, puzzle toys, and interactive toys. This type of enrichment can help to prevent boredom and reduce destructive behavior.

Sensory Enrichment: This includes providing a stimulating environment for dogs with varied textures, sights, sounds and smells. Sniffing is an incredibly important part of a dog's life, and it can be a great form of enrichment! Dogs use their sense of smell to explore and understand the world around them, and providing opportunities for sniffing can be both mentally and physically stimulating for them. One way to provide sniffing enrichment is through scent work training. This can involve hiding treats or toys and having the dog search for them using their sense of smell. This can be a lot of fun for dogs, and it also helps to build their focus and concentration.

Plan out a "sniffari" or "snuffle mat" activity. These involve hiding treats or kibble in a mat or other object and allowing the dog to use their sense of smell to find and extract the food. Try tossing treats in a large grassy area in your yard. This can be a lot of fun for dogs and keeps them mentally stimulated.

Incorporate sniffing in daily walks, allowing the dog to (pause and stop) to explore and sniff around the neighborhood, this way the dog not only gets exercise but also uses its sense of smell to explore the surroundings.

Here are a few examples of cognitive enrichment activities for dogs:

Puzzle toys: These are toys that require a dog to use their problem-solving skills to figure out how to access the treat or toy inside. Examples include treat-dispensing balls, interactive puzzles, and "brain games" that require the dog to move levers or press buttons.

Training: Engaging in training sessions with your dog can be a great way to provide cognitive enrichment. This can include basic obedience training, advanced tricks, or even agility training, which requires a dog to think and problem-solve as they navigate obstacles.

Hide and seek: Hiding treats, toys (or yourself) around the house and encouraging your dog to find can be a fun and mentally stimulating activity.

Scavenger hunt in the house Similar to hide and seek, but you can use different clues or puzzle to lead the dog to the treat or toy.

Scavenger hunt in the yard: Hide some treats in the grass outside, you could toss some dried fish minnows for them to go pretend fishing

Additional fun dog activities to try with your dog:

• Place some of their food or treats in a Kong toy, freeze it to make more interesting

• Give them some ice cubes, alone, or in a bowl of water, watch them chase down the slippery ice cubes

• Freeze some fresh fruit or meat in a small container with water, they will have to spend time licking the ice to get to the food

• Put some peanut butter on a licki mat (or other dog-safe soft food). It will take them a while to lick between all the crevices

• Go at your dog’s pace when out on a walk, allow the dog to stop and sniff

• Bury some toys in a cardboard box filled up with packing paper

• Try different sounding and textured toys, such as crackling vs squeaking

• Make or purchase a flirt pole for chasing

• Play tug-o-war with a long rope with knots, or make your own with rope or tied fleece

• Designate a digging area in your yard, or use a wood raised garden with sand. Hide toys so they can dig up buried treasure

If your dog is a herding breed it may enjoy herding a large exercise ball, to substitute for livestock, or a home-made agility course and reward with treats