Paw-sitively Engaging: 6 easy ways to enrich your dog’s life

Enrichment goes beyond meeting your dog’s basic needs of shelter, food, water and exercise. Enrichment is the concept of allowing them to engage in activities that fulfill their natural instincts, as well as stimulate their mind and senses, which may help reduce boredom, stress, and problematic behaviors. Realistically this is a massive topic, encompassing all of the aspects that add up to giving your dog the best quality of life you can. Sometimes, in our busy lifestyle one aspect of enrichment can be neglected; that of mental stimulation. Certain behaviours are not ideal in your home, such as shredding a couch cushion or chewing a shoe, but these behaviours are also natural and important canine behaviours. Allowing your dog to explore these in an acceptable way is key to producing a well rounded and happy pooch. Enrichment has been shown to have a number of positive benefits; increasing relaxation, reducing stress, improving owner-pet bonds, and preventing or resolving undesirable behaviours such as barking, destruction or aggression. 

I can’t write about every aspect of canine enrichment without it becoming a thesis, and no one wants that, but here’s a few easy things to do to keep your dog mentally stimulated. Remember: enriched dog = happy, trainable, relaxed dog!

Enrichment through training

Training your dog in a new skill can not only be helpful from a management point of view, but the process of teaching this skill simulates your dog’s brain and adds cognitive enrichment to their routine. Whether it’s teaching them to sit on command, give paw, stay, fetch… It doesn't really matter what it is, but the act of them having to learn something new will not only increase your bond with your pet, it will also burn mental energy and improve their mood via the release of dopamine! We acknowledge some dogs are much easier to train than others- a dog that will work for a treat or a pat is always a bonus. And, don’t worry, you can definitely teach an old dog new tricks! It doesn’t even matter too much if it’s not a “new” trick exactly. Giving your dog a clear command, and then rewarding them when they respond correctly, is all you need to do. Research shows that dogs prefer to work for their food, rather than just having it plonked in front of them, so let’s utilise that and get them to do some tricks (or maybe some exercises), making them happier, stronger and more obedient. 

Sniffing

When we take our dogs for a walk, we tend to be on an exercising mission, and there’s not anything wrong with that as movement and raising their heart rate is important. However, that can limit their time spent sniffing and exploring with their nose. Sniffing is a natural behaviour for a dog, they use their nose to interpret their environment, so allowing time for sensory stimulation is incredibly important. Perhaps once a week, or for the first 10 minutes of each walk, give yourself time to go on a dog-led walk and allow your pup to stop, sniff and explore whatever they would like (as long as its safe of course!) - you’ll be amazed how tired they get even without the extra miles.

 Another easy way to encourage some nose work and keep your dog thinking and entertained is the use of a snuffle mat. A snuffle mat is simply a mat covered in different pieces of fabric where food can be tucked away or hidden under. Taking some of your dog’s daily kibble, or perhaps a few treats, and sprinkling them over a snuffle mat can encourage your dog to use his nose for a reward. One glance at the tail of any dog using a snuffle mat and it’s clear to see how much they love it!

Buy JDP recommended snuffle mat here

Kongs 

What do a dog named Fritz and a Volkswagen bus have in common? Well it was between the two of them that the concept of the kong was born, when Fritz found the cone-shaped rubber part of the bus that his owner was fixing was way more entertaining than the sticks and rocks he was used to chewing on. The kong is reusable, almost indestructible, and stimulates your dog’s brain in a few different ways. Fill the kong with your dog's favourite treats, seal with some peanut butter and freeze and you have an entertainment toy for hours, encouraging your dog to lick, chew and problem solve. The shape of the kong also means it bounces erratically, so if your dog is toy motivated this can be an extra stimulus, and even increase activity levels. Studies have even suggested that using a kong can help with reducing barking. So save yourself a headache, and start utilising a kong!

Licking

At JDP, we are a big fan of a licky mat as a means to encourage engagement, stimulation, and yes, sometimes distraction! Smearing peanut butter, pet-safe pastes, or soft cheese over a lick mat means that the treat lasts longer (less calories), as well as encouraging the natural behaviour of licking. These can be useful distractions during unfavourable activities, such as during bath time, during grooming or the dressed nail clipping. This is a way to get out all that licking energy and hopefully turn a normally traumatic experience into a more positive experience. Alternatively, as the weather starts to warm up here in HK, you can freeze chicken stock into a block and create a yummy cool treat to get that tail wagging.

Buy JDP recommended Licky Mats here.

Shredding 

Now I think most dog owners will have a story or two about a prized possession that fell victim to a puppy and was destroyed in a spectacular manner that can sometimes resemble a crime scene. How many of us have bought the cutest soft toy for our pet only to have it’s guts strewn across the floor a few minutes later with the empty shell cruelly discarded? Hopefully your eyes haven’t misted up in memory and you can read on. We obviously don’t want to encourage your dog to destroy your property, but having an outlet for that energy can be helpful. You can purchase toys that are specifically designed to encourage pulling and shredding, or you can DIY with a homemade destruction box! Simply grab a cardboard box, fill it with scrunched or shredded paper, or even smaller boxes and hide treats throughout. Please note- if your dog is at risk of eating paper this one isn’t for them! However, giving them a nice crunchy lettuce or some celery also encourages some shredding while keeping their snacks nice and low cal!

So, next time you’re thinking about the ways in which you manage your four-legged best friend’s life, consider implementing some enrichment activities into their weekly routine. Not only will you be increasing their quality of life, but you can be left with a calmer, happier pooch- and we all know that can lead to a calmer, happier owner! 

References:

Amaya, V., Paterson, M.B.A. and Phillips, C.J.C. (2020) ‘Effects of Olfactory and Auditory Enrichment on the Behaviour of Shelter Dogs’, Animals, 10(4), p. 581. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10040581.

Fernandez, E. (2022) ‘Training as enrichment: A critical review’, Animal Welfare, 31(1), pp. 1–12. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.31.1.001.

Hubrecht, R.C. (1993) ‘A comparison of social and environmental enrichment methods for laboratory housed dogs’, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 37(4), pp. 345–361. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(93)90123-7.