Mental enrichment types for your dog

Enriching your dogs life helps alleviate boredom and can assist with managing and channeling inappropriate behaviours into ones that are more fulfilling and positive for both you and your dog. Such as introducing a digging pit, or allowing them to destroy their pass the parcel game. Your garden and couch will thank you for it!  

Enrichment falls into 5 main categories (some of them can cross over): 

1. Social – This includes socialising with other dogs and humans in a safe environment such as their own home, a dedicated dog park or signing them up for a class. 

  • Puppy Kinder is a great way for your dog to have social interaction with other dogs. 
  • Inviting visitors into you house and allowing your dog to investigate as well as learn how to interact with new people appropriately can be a fantastic basis for proofing your training (say hello politely, leaving items, playing appropriately, being settled at home) 

2. Nutrition – This can be providing food puzzles, lickimats or positive reinforcement training. Ideas are endless, to name a few:  

  • Treat puzzles  
  • Lickimat with peanut butter, bone broth or mushed veggies / yoghurt  
  • Snuffle mat  
  • Pass the parcel (a cardboard box filled with different sized boxes and treats  

3. Sensory – This refers to tasks that stimulate any of the 5 senses; sight, sound, taste, touch or smell. Ideas could include things from other areas as well as  

  • Sniffari (a sniffing walk) 
  • Scent balls or scent work around the house (you can collect different things like seaweed, sticks, sand from other areas and bring home if you cannot take your dog out) 
  • Introducing different surfaces  – plastic, wood, concrete, grids etc 
  • Hanging Toys  
  • Squeaky toys or balls that make different noises  
  • Different food temperatures – Frozen, warmed up or different textures – crunchy, smooth 

4. Occupational – this area combines mental and physical things such as 

  • Playing Fetch 
  • Positive reinforcement training while they learn something new (Tricks are awesome for this!) 

5. Physical – This is about expending physical energy  

  • Changing your normal walking route  
  • Visiting the beach  
  • Rotating their toys  
  • Hang toys  
  • Have a mix of toys they can do with you and by themselves  
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