Using cardboard, cushions, chairs and any objects you have in your home, create an obstacle course for your dog to have to navigate, in order to get to a toy, food or prize that they’re motivated by.

Take several small plastic containers or cups, and stack them inside one another, in a Russian doll-like manner. Place treats or kibble between the layers. Your dog will need to figure out how to separate the containers to get to the treats.

Take an empty cereal box, fill it with treats or kibble, and fold the top closed. Let your dog tear through the box to get the treats out. You can add a few layers of paper or fabric inside for extra challenge.

Out of a few empty toilet paper rolls, fill one with smelly treats and leave the others empty. Place them around the room and encourage your dog to use their nose to find the one that has the treat. Each time you do this (with more rolls the better) count how many points your dog loses by checking out empty rolls, instead of going only for the scented one..

Create a sensory bin using a large plastic container filled with a mix of materials like sand, shredded paper, or fabric scraps, as well as your dog’s toys, and even snuffle mats/stuffed toys. Hide treats throughout the bin and let your dog dig through to find them.

Don’t throw that Amazon box out just yet. Put some treats in it and crumple up the box to make it a bit of a challenge. Your dog will have to figure out how to get to the treats out of it. Bonus points if they do so with minimal shredding.

Safely secure a clean and empty plastic bottle to a board using a screw or bolt, leaving enough space for it to spin around. Put treats or kibble inside the bottle and let your dog figure out how to get them out.

Place various textures (fabric, rubber mats, bubble wrap, cardboard) on the floor and hide treats underneath or within them. Your dog will smell around, explore and find the hidden rewards, potentially starting first with textures they feel the most confident with.

Fill a shallow container with water and float some treats on the water, on top of plastic container lids. Your dog will need to figure out how to get the treats from the water.

Cut holes in a cardboard box and insert small paper cups with treats in each. Seal the cups in place with tape. Your dog will need to figure out how to get to the treats through the box and cup system.

Place a few drops of essential oil on cotton balls, put them in small boxes, and close the lids. Your dog will use their nose to identify and choose the boxes with different scents. Alternatively, you can use smelly treats and leave some boxes odourless/empty.

Before throwing out an old pair of shoes, scrub them and wedge a few pieces of kibble in between the laces and inside. Put the shoes inside their show box and let your dog find their food by going through your old shoes.