Environmental Enrichment for your Dogs

During the difficult times that we face at the moment many people are concerned about how this will affect their dogs. Under government guidelines dogs are currently restricted to one walk a day. To help to tire your dog out, mental stimulation in the form of environmental enrichment is the answer. Keeping your dog mentally stimulated as well as keeping them physically stimulated is essential and can help prevent behaviour problems developing as well as be bond building and fun.

Different breeds are predisposed to enjoy different types of enrichment. For example generally collies are driven by movement, cockers scent, Newfoundland’s water. Adapting your enrichment to cater to what your dog already enjoys doing.

Types of enrichment

Food dispensing toys-requires your dog to engage with it to obtain food. There is lots on the market from kongs, treat balls, board games, buster cube, snuffle matts, licki matts. Or if you want some ideas on how to make your own feel free to ask. You can use treats or even just the dog’s kibble.

Scent Games
Great for scent driven dogs like cockers. This can be using food or another scent.

Retrieve Work
This can be a ball, dummy or other object. After the dog gets the hang of it you can start hiding the item to make it harder.

Digging Games
Lots of terriers love to dig instead of them digging up your garden, fill a sand pit and hide various items within and watch the fun.

Water Games
Filling up tubs of water with objects and allowing them to splash about or if it’s a warm day try a paddling pool.

A few agility games
You can make an agility course using items that you can find in your garden, jumping over a broomstick or weaving through some bean sticks. (This is not advised for dogs under 12 months)

Tricks and obedience commands- whether it’s a new trick roll over, shake a paw, army crawl, and high five or working on loose lead work, recall all will be mentally stimulating.