top of page
đĄ 100 Enrichment Ideas
Use the dropdowns to search through the full list of enrichment ideas.
#IDEA 85. Place scented items and treats inside a tunnel made for dogs, cats or children to play with. Your dog will explore the tunnel using their nose and paws to find the hidden goodies and feel more confident going through it.
#IDEA 86. Got an old pillowcase? Place toys and treats inside it, twist the top to seal it and let your dog figure out how to get the treats by moving and manipulating the pillowcase around. Guide them along if they only resort to shredding or trying to chew through it.
#IDEA 87. Before putting your dirty laundry in for a wash, create a pile on your bed, or inside a cardboard box (having the size be relative to your dogâs size) and hide in it a few of your dogâs kibble or treats, for them to have to snuffle through your clothes and your scent, to get to their reward.
#IDEA 88. Put containers or boxes inside a few different reusable bags and step out with them, before hiding a smelly treat inside one of the containers and walking back inside. After walking in, time your dog to see how long it takes them to figure out which bag brought a treat in.
#IDEA 89. Take 3 or more of the same treat dispenser toys or tennis balls with holes in them with you on your next walk, to an open field or quiet area where you will place one treat inside one of the toys or balls, for your dog to find.
#IDEA 90. Toss your dogâs favourite small ball or small squeaky toy for them to fetch. As they bring it, be prepared with a solo party cup, and encourage your dog to drop their toy inside the cup! This is great practice for a game like the iFetch.
#IDEA 91. Play a bark, a doorbell or any other sound that your dog might feel a little iffy about on the TV or your phone, on a very low volume that wonât cause more than a head tilt. As your dog reacts minimally, encourage them to either play a game and/or search for a yummy treat youâve hidden. That will start to form a new feeling and association with the sounds you play.
#IDEA 92. Try any of the ideas on this list in an environment only a little bit more distracting than your dogâs home.
#IDEA 93. Hide your dogâs food puzzle or snuffle mat under a few layers of fabric or your laundry, but place only one smelly piece of treat inside them and time your dog to see how long it takes them to get to their reward.
#IDEA 94. Dust off the olâ Easter plastic eggs, especially if you have different sizes you can nest inside one another, hiding small treats in between each egg. Whatâs great about the plastic easter eggs is they open easily enough, with minimal pressure.
#IDEA 95. Invite a dog friend over, to help your dog with any of these enrichment games. Just be mindful, if thereâs a risk of resource guarding (common among dogs), in which case youâll want to guide and set each dog up with their own game at the same time.
#IDEA 96. Trust your dog with your house plants? Plants have their own odour, making it for a perfect scent-obstacle course if you hide some of your dogâs treats on the floor, in between the different pots if you line them up.
bottom of page
