Easy Enrichment Activities For Your Dog

Enrichment activities are a super fun way to let your pup engage in their innate behaviors in a fun and safe way. By giving them an outlet for all the doggy things they want to do you will allow them to be more physically, emotionally, and mentally satisfied. Behaviors such as playing, smelling, chewing, chasing, and scavenging are all things that dogs are naturally inclined to do. Not being able to engage in these behaviors can lead to boredom, frustration, and behaviors that do not bode well with existing in a human world. The following are super great ways to engage your dog’s body and mind with minimal effort from the human side of things.

1. Snuffle Mats

Snuffle mats engage your dog’s nose and need to forage. Dogs have incredible noses and their sense of smell is how they communicate with the world. Letting your pup use their nose to sniff store. Hide your pup’s dinner or their favorite treat in the fabric and let your dog do the rest! out their dinner means that dinnertime can turn into a mental workout. Snuffle mats are usually small squares of rubber with tufts of fleece covering the surface. Almost like a fleece shag carpet. They are super easy to make but can also be found at your local pet Snuffle mats require supervision and should be taken away once your pup has found all their snacks

2. Muffin Tin Puzzle

This activity is super simple! All you need is a muffin tin and some tennis balls. This activity engages your dog’s brain by challenging them to sniff out which slot the food is in. Simple put a few treats in a few of the holes and cover each hole with a ball.

3. Box Puzzle

This puzzle involves boxes and super smelly treats. You will need three (or more) cardboard boxes of different sizes. Place your smelly treats inside the smallest box, fold up the top, and place that box into the next box, and the next box, and the next box. To start out you can help your dog understand the fundamentals by letting them find the treats in just one open box and increasing the difficulty with each box.

4. Water Bottle Madness

A super simple game for your pup involves only a water bottle and some kibble or yummy treats. Simply put your pup’s snacks in an empty water bottle and let them push, paw, and sniff the treats out of the bottle. This is a speedy alternative to toys like Kongs and Tricky Treat Balls. If your dog has a passion for destruction or is a heavy chewer you may want to consider another enrichment option.

5. Sniff and Stroll

Finally, the tried and true method of walking your dog is of course an excellent way to engage all their senses. There are so many ways you can spice things up and make your walk even more exciting for you and your dog. Lose the structure on your walks and let your dog lead the way by letting them sniff all the smells you encounter. Finding a safe area to let your dog roam off-leash or on a long line allows your dog to engage in all the things they want to do (including rolling in various types of unidentified feces). Of course, we at MegWalks *live* for a good hike!

Alternatively, if your walks are typically off-leash and more casual take a stroll downtown so your pup can have a chance to engage with new sights, sounds, and smells.

There are so many ways to not only enrich your dog’s life and help them use their brain but also help to strengthen the bond between you and your dog. The MegWalks team loves to help enrich your pup’s life and we aim to create experiences beyond the scope of the typical dog walk or doggy daycare program. Click here to fill out our screening form to sign your dog up for MegWalks.!