Enrichment Ideas - Dogs
We hear a great deal nowadays about self-care for ourselves and making time for our hobbies and interests. Dogs are similar in that respect, they need time and space to be themselves and enjoy just being a dog. By keeping them busy, they are also less likely to find their own fun with our possessions.
Not all dogs have the same interests, so among the following activities, experiment to find something your dog enjoys. Think about what your dog is interested in, what was their breed developed for? This might give you clues as to what games they will love the most, for example many terrier breeds were used to flush out game, so chasing games, tug-o-war, fetch and nosework games are perfect.
While many dogs will sleep a good 12-16 hours out of each day, if you come home tired, you may not be keen to engage in vigorous activities, at least not immediately! Food puzzles and games for your dog can be a great way to keep them busy and mentally stimulated. It doesn’t all need to be about physical activity, mental activity and doggy tasks like sniffing, foraging for food, digging and chewing allow your dog ways to just be a dog with minimal input from you.
Safe Chewing
For dogs who love to tear apart their toys, always make sure they are not accidentally (or on purpose) ingesting big pieces along the way. The surgery to remove a foreign body is costly and dangerous for your pooch and is easily avoided by ensuring you only give your determined chewer safe toys or supervise them closely. That being said, chewing is great for the mind and soul of a dog, releasing endorphins and helping to calm them. Allowing dogs to rip apart egg cartons, boxes or similar, is safer than giving toys like tennis balls.
Kongs
The Kong company makes so many fun toys for dogs, but the original, cone-shaped Kong is still a great option. You can batch freeze ingredients in ice cube trays so they can easily be filled when you are in a rush, or have several frozen Kongs in the freezer ready to go. Kongs can be filled with liquid if you place a square of bread and peanut butter at the bottom, or lined with cat food, sweet potato and liver treats (for a low-calorie snack) or chicken and rice for dogs prone to stomach upsets. For more Kong ideas visit here.
We hear a great deal nowadays about self-care for ourselves and making time for our hobbies and interests. Dogs are similar in that respect, they need time and space to be themselves and enjoy just being a dog. By keeping them busy, they are also less likely to find their own fun with our possessions.
Not all dogs have the same interests, so among the following activities, experiment to find something your dog enjoys. Think about what your dog is interested in, what was their breed developed for? This might give you clues as to what games they will love the most, for example many terrier breeds were used to flush out game, so chasing games, tug-o-war, fetch and nosework games are perfect.
While many dogs will sleep a good 12-16 hours out of each day, if you come home tired, you may not be keen to engage in vigorous activities, at least not immediately! Food puzzles and games for your dog can be a great way to keep them busy and mentally stimulated. It doesn’t all need to be about physical activity, mental activity and doggy tasks like sniffing, foraging for food, digging and chewing allow your dog ways to just be a dog with minimal input from you.
Safe Chewing
For dogs who love to tear apart their toys, always make sure they are not accidentally (or on purpose) ingesting big pieces along the way. The surgery to remove a foreign body is costly and dangerous for your pooch and is easily avoided by ensuring you only give your determined chewer safe toys or supervise them closely. That being said, chewing is great for the mind and soul of a dog, releasing endorphins and helping to calm them. Allowing dogs to rip apart egg cartons, boxes or similar, is safer than giving toys like tennis balls.
Kongs
The Kong company makes so many fun toys for dogs, but the original, cone-shaped Kong is still a great option. You can batch freeze ingredients in ice cube trays so they can easily be filled when you are in a rush, or have several frozen Kongs in the freezer ready to go. Kongs can be filled with liquid if you place a square of bread and peanut butter at the bottom, or lined with cat food, sweet potato and liver treats (for a low-calorie snack) or chicken and rice for dogs prone to stomach upsets. For more Kong ideas visit here.
Frozen Treats
On hot days you can make your dog an ice block using an old ice-cream container or plastic tub. Either freeze some broth or onion-free stock then leave it out for your dog to feast on, or hide chews, treats or toys within a block of ice so your dog can work at it during the day (see example below). Rope toys will also absorb broth very well for freezing.
Huxley also demonstrates an ice block made by placing a slow-feeder inside a plastic container, filled with frozen food.
On hot days you can make your dog an ice block using an old ice-cream container or plastic tub. Either freeze some broth or onion-free stock then leave it out for your dog to feast on, or hide chews, treats or toys within a block of ice so your dog can work at it during the day (see example below). Rope toys will also absorb broth very well for freezing.
Huxley also demonstrates an ice block made by placing a slow-feeder inside a plastic container, filled with frozen food.
Snuffle Mat
Another great invention is the snuffle mat, great for dogs that like to sniff. There are details here on how to make your own here using a rubber mat from Bunnings and fleece material strips.
You can also buy one to support ACT Pet Crisis here.
Another great invention is the snuffle mat, great for dogs that like to sniff. There are details here on how to make your own here using a rubber mat from Bunnings and fleece material strips.
You can also buy one to support ACT Pet Crisis here.
Recycling Toys
Many dogs love that crinkly, cracking sound of chewing on a plastic bottle. Remove the lid and plastic ring around the neck, then pop some treats or dry food inside and let your dog crunch away or roll the bottle to get the food out. Egg cartons, empty boxes and almost-empty plastic tubs (for example from the peanut butter) make great, free toys. You can use masking tape or rubber bands to cover boxes or containers with paper, then hide treats inside or punch holes in containers so they can be rolled around to get some treats out, gradually reducing the size of the holes to increase difficulty. There are more brain games for dogs using items in the recycling bin here featuring Dr Eloise, Ava and Tommy.
Many dogs love that crinkly, cracking sound of chewing on a plastic bottle. Remove the lid and plastic ring around the neck, then pop some treats or dry food inside and let your dog crunch away or roll the bottle to get the food out. Egg cartons, empty boxes and almost-empty plastic tubs (for example from the peanut butter) make great, free toys. You can use masking tape or rubber bands to cover boxes or containers with paper, then hide treats inside or punch holes in containers so they can be rolled around to get some treats out, gradually reducing the size of the holes to increase difficulty. There are more brain games for dogs using items in the recycling bin here featuring Dr Eloise, Ava and Tommy.
Tennis Ball Puzzles
Using an old muffin tin, place some treats under the tennis balls and allow your dog to push them out of the way to find the treats. You can also use a sharp knife to cut a long slit in a tennis ball and put a treat inside. Just remember that tennis balls when chewed excessively can sand the teeth down, due to the rough, outer coating, so rubber handballs are a cheap option or Kong balls for heavy chewers.
Using an old muffin tin, place some treats under the tennis balls and allow your dog to push them out of the way to find the treats. You can also use a sharp knife to cut a long slit in a tennis ball and put a treat inside. Just remember that tennis balls when chewed excessively can sand the teeth down, due to the rough, outer coating, so rubber handballs are a cheap option or Kong balls for heavy chewers.
Nosework
The idea behind Nosework or Scent Work is to tap into your dog’s natural instinct to sniff and find food. John Sam does a great introduction course, which is great for dogs of all shapes, sizes and temperaments. Or simply get out some cardboard boxes and hide treats inside around the home, or use cones to hide treats underneath, as pictured below. As your dog becomes more accomplished, you can increase the difficulty by hiding the boxes or cones further apart and reducing the number of treats hidden.
The idea behind Nosework or Scent Work is to tap into your dog’s natural instinct to sniff and find food. John Sam does a great introduction course, which is great for dogs of all shapes, sizes and temperaments. Or simply get out some cardboard boxes and hide treats inside around the home, or use cones to hide treats underneath, as pictured below. As your dog becomes more accomplished, you can increase the difficulty by hiding the boxes or cones further apart and reducing the number of treats hidden.
Digging/Swimming
If you have an outdoor area (or you don’t mind sand all over the place), you can set up a digging spot or use a children’s clam-shell pool filled with sand. Hide some toys in there and Voila! a fun place to play. You can also fill it with water if your dog loves splashing or set up a plastic ball pit, with toys or treats hidden inside.
If you have an outdoor area (or you don’t mind sand all over the place), you can set up a digging spot or use a children’s clam-shell pool filled with sand. Hide some toys in there and Voila! a fun place to play. You can also fill it with water if your dog loves splashing or set up a plastic ball pit, with toys or treats hidden inside.
Hollow Ball with Fleece
This hollow, rubber ball is easily obtained from Woolworths or a pet shop. The most well-known name is the Hol-ee Roller. To make it even more fun, roll treats in strips of material and stuff them inside; you can create a great puzzle for terrier-types that love to rip things apart.
This hollow, rubber ball is easily obtained from Woolworths or a pet shop. The most well-known name is the Hol-ee Roller. To make it even more fun, roll treats in strips of material and stuff them inside; you can create a great puzzle for terrier-types that love to rip things apart.
Toys you can Buy
Some great puzzle toys are available to buy, particularly those by Nina Ottosson. You can also buy local at Manneke’s Toys for some excellent working dog-friendly options. Huxley is also pictured below here with some of his many toys suitable for stuffing with treats, peanut butter or soft foods.
Also experiment with hiding your dog’s food around the house or using a timed feeder device to spread out mealtimes a little. Anything that makes food last a little longer and makes it into a game. Scatter feeding is another great way to tap into your dog’s need to forage for food and makes mealtimes last longer. You can also get app-connected feeders that allow you to remotely train and reward your dog via your phone such as the Petzi, Furbo, Owlet and Petcube.
Some great puzzle toys are available to buy, particularly those by Nina Ottosson. You can also buy local at Manneke’s Toys for some excellent working dog-friendly options. Huxley is also pictured below here with some of his many toys suitable for stuffing with treats, peanut butter or soft foods.
Also experiment with hiding your dog’s food around the house or using a timed feeder device to spread out mealtimes a little. Anything that makes food last a little longer and makes it into a game. Scatter feeding is another great way to tap into your dog’s need to forage for food and makes mealtimes last longer. You can also get app-connected feeders that allow you to remotely train and reward your dog via your phone such as the Petzi, Furbo, Owlet and Petcube.
Lickimat
Another commercial option is a rubber mat you can either suction to a hard surface like the side of the bath or a kitchen cupboard, or place on the floor. You can spread soft food onto it for some extended licking time. This can be useful as a distraction while grooming or trimming nails.
Another commercial option is a rubber mat you can either suction to a hard surface like the side of the bath or a kitchen cupboard, or place on the floor. You can spread soft food onto it for some extended licking time. This can be useful as a distraction while grooming or trimming nails.
Variety is Key
For many dogs, rotating toys and variety will increase the novelty and fun. You may need to start out easy and gradually increase the difficulty. There is also no need to feed your dog from a boring old bowl, use all your dog’s daily food ration in training and enrichment tasks. You can even take the super-lazy feeding option of throwing food on the ground, or wrapping food inside a tea towel. Anything that makes the fun and mealtimes last longer is a win for your dog.
For many dogs, rotating toys and variety will increase the novelty and fun. You may need to start out easy and gradually increase the difficulty. There is also no need to feed your dog from a boring old bowl, use all your dog’s daily food ration in training and enrichment tasks. You can even take the super-lazy feeding option of throwing food on the ground, or wrapping food inside a tea towel. Anything that makes the fun and mealtimes last longer is a win for your dog.