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Enrichment!

Mental stimulation is just as important for dogs as physical exercise. It can also be a lot easier of a job on the human’s end. Mental stimulation is a great way to tire out your dog on a rainy day, when they are recovering from an injury or surgery, and just great to do in general. It can  alleviate boredom and the behavioral issues that can come with boredom (ex: barking and chewing up our stuff). Below are some options for adding some mental stimulation to your dog’s daily routine.

Food toys: snuffle mats, kongs, puzzles, wobblers, etc.

Instead of just tossing your dog’s food in their bowl, enrich their lives with creative feeding. Snuffle mats are a great way to allow dogs the opportunity to sniff and search for the food (these are a quick google search). Stuff your dog’s Kong with Kibble and wet food, cream cheese and kibble, etc. (check out https://www.kongcompany.com/learn/stuffing-recipes for some fun recipes). Puzzle toys allow your dog to practice their problem solving abilities and keep them engaged while they search for treats. You can also toss your dog’s food on the floor or in the backyard, put food in boxes for your dog to search for, or put food in a muffin tin covered with tennis balls. The options are endless and don’t have to be expensive!

Tricks
Practicing tricks with your dog can be a great way to enhance your relationship and allows dogs to use their brains. Tricks are a great way to build your dog’s confidence if they are fearful or shy and can increase your dog’s impulse control and focus.

Nose Work
Dogs view their world with their noses, encouraging them to use it with nose work is a simple way to provide them with the opportunity to practice their natural skills. You can take a nose work class or you can simply hide some treats around the house and teach your dog to “find it.” When they find the treat, praise them and keep the game exciting! Start off by hiding the treats in easy to find places and gradually begin to hide them in more difficult spots around the house.

Obstacle Course/Agility
You can either take your dog to a training facility for this or you can make your own inside/outside your home. Use things like traffic cones, blankets, toys, broomsticks, etc. Have your dog weave through the traffic cones or jump over your broomstick.

These are a couple of ideas to help get you started! What are some additional ways you all provide enrichment for your dogs?

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