11 Ways to increase your dog’s enrichment for busy dog parents

I’m obsessed with my dog River and Rosie’s enrichment. They get two walks a day but they also need other types of enrichment. Rosie likes to weave in and out of my legs for treats and River likes to chew on toys that Rosie’s already chewed – she copies Rosie. I’m always on the lookout for new ways to stimulate their senses and get them thinking and learning new things.

What Are the Best Dog Enrichment Ideas?

Enrichment activities are essential for keeping dogs mentally and physically stimulated, promoting their overall well-being.

Here are some of my favorite dog enrichment ideas: 

1. Puzzle Toys

Puzzle toys are so fun for dogs.  Try interactive puzzle toys that require dogs to figure out how to access treats or toys you hide inside. Puzzle toys help dogs try and figure out where the treats are, which in turn helps them move the puzzle parts to get access to them.  They quickly develop their problem-solving skills and puzzle toys instantly provide  mental stimulation.  It’s also adorable watching them try to find the puzzle toys.  

2. Food Dispensing Toys

Use food-dispensing toys or treat balls that require the dog to roll or manipulate the toy to release food. This encourages physical activity and mental engagement.

3.Snuffle Mats 

Snuffle mats are mats with long fibers or fabric strips where you can hide treats or kibble. Dogs have to sniff and search through the mat to find their rewards, which stimulates their natural foraging instincts.

4. Dog enrichment bowls 

Obviously dogs love to eat. Similar to puzzle toys, enrichment bowls engage their senses and can be done for hours.  Here’s my favourite recipe for dog encirhment bowls – use a metal dog bowl, add layers of your dog’s favourite foods.  Add a layer of the following:  peanut butter,sliced bananas, kibble, pumpkin puree, then add some water then freeze overnight in a ziploc bag.  When you feed it to your pup, they’ll lick and try to get at the food for, some some cases, hours providing mental stimulation along the way.  It’s also high in nutrients, keeping your pup happy and healthy.  

5.  Interactive Play

Engage in interactive play sessions with your dog using toys such as flirt poles or tugging toys. This not only provides physical exercise but also strengthens the bond between you and your dog.

6. Scent Work

Teach your dog to search for specific scents using their nose. You can start with simple hide-and-seek games using treats or toys, and gradually introduce scent detection activities or even enroll in nose work classes.

7. Obedience Training

Engage your dog in regular training sessions to improve their obedience and teach them new commands or tricks. Mental challenges and learning new skills can be stimulating and rewarding for dogs.  It doesn’t have to be for hours on end, in fact, dogs only need short quick bursts of mental stimulation that equates to an hour long walks.

8. Agility Training

Sign up for agility classes or, if you have a backyard, set up an agility course. Agility teaches dogs to navigate obstacles and build foundation skills.  Agility courses can consist of anything from ‘go to your mat’, sitting pretty on platforms, jumps, tunnels, and weave poles. It provides physical exercise and mental stimulation and doesn’t necessarily need to use equipment.  

9. Nature Walks and Hiking

Take your dog for regular walks in different environments, like beaches, parks or nature trails. Let your dogs sniff, even if it makes your walk longer, to expose them to new scents and sights.  It keeps their senses active and provides mental stimulation.

10. Socialization and Playdates

Your dog needs friends!  Organize playdates with other friendly, well-mannered dogs to provide social interaction and mental stimulation. Dogs observe and learn from one another so engaging in appropriate play is a great way to keep them occupied, and helps their own behavior by burning off extra energy and is a fundamental piece of their social development.  It’s important to ensure that you match your dog’s playdates with similar play styles.  Some dogs like to wrestle, others like to be chased or do the chasing. PRo tip: learn your dog’s play style early on and never leave them alone with another dog even if you know their play style, so it doesn’t escalate into aggression or even a fight.

Don’t forget to tailor your dog’s enrichment activities to their dog’s age, breed, and individual preferences. Monitoring your dog’s safety and providing supervision during these activities is crucial.

11. Digging Pits 

Dogs love to dig! They do it out of frustration, for stress relief, even genetics, or to escape and it’s even part of their past as wild animals when they dug to create dens, known as denning, to seek shelter.

But intentional digging can also be a great way for dogs’ enrichment.  By creating an area for digging out of sand or dirt, inside a box with walls so it doesn’t create a huge mess, dogs can dig to their heart’s content and burn off that extra steam. Digging can take a log out of dogs, and in turn tire them out quickly.  It’s fun and a great way to pass the time as an enrichment option.  

How Can Dog Enrichment Benefit Help You?

No matter where you get your dog from a breeder or a shelter, they need exercise. they don’t just need physical exercise they need mental stimulation as well that’s where enrichment exercises come in. Thousands of dogs get returned to breeders and shelters every single year because people simply don’t know how to keep their bodies and brains stimulated. By

Wrapping Up

I’m obsessed with my dog’s stimulation and physical health. They get bored just like humans do and so, I’m always looking for ways to entertain them when they need it. you don’t have to do it all the time which is a rookie mistake for a lot of dog owners. Dogs sleep for the majority of the day but when they do need that extra help to stimulate their senses and of course move their bodies enrichment exercises are an effective alternative.