At every stage of life, your dog or cat needs to have some daily activity to keep their minds active. With appropriate enrichment activities, your pet can avoid boredom. Boredom will only lead to your pup taking matters into their own paws to entertain themselves. They will do things like bark excessively, dig into your yard, or destroy your shoes and furniture. Your pets need around 15-20 minutes of daily enrichment and activities. So, what should you do to provide your dog with canine enrichment? Keep reading this blog to find out!
What Is Canine Enrichment?
Enrichment activities go beyond regular walks, food and shelter. Those are your dog’s basic needs that get fulfilled every day. Enrichment provides your dog with mental stimulation, which can enhance their overall life and well-being. Imagine if you sat at home all day and did absolutely nothing. That would get boring. Well, your dog feels the same way! Mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise. We will go over some ways you can provide your dog with the necessary mental stimulation below.
Kongs
Kongs are a surefire way to keep your dogs’ minds and stomachs happy! Kongs are a great way to keep your dog entertained during all stages of life. Kongs are rubber toys with an opening to insert treats like peanut butter or small bite-sized treats your dog loves. The idea is to get your dog to get the contents out of the kong, which can be a challenge, but they love it! This will keep your dog busy for a while. Pet parents use this as a positive reinforcer when trying to crate-train their puppies.
Puzzle Toys
Have a working breed that loves to problem solve? Well, puzzle toys would be an excellent option for them! Puzzles can come in many shapes and sizes. They come with flaps and folds where you can hide treats for your dog to sniff out. You can make your own by placing treats into a muffin tin and covering them with tennis balls! Wrapping up treats in a towel or an old t-shirt works great too. The act of searching and retrieving is something your dogs love to do. You can also purchase a snuffle matt from your local pet supply store or even amazon. Puzzle toys are great for days when you can’t get outside much due to weather conditions. Ten minutes of playing with a snuffle mat equal one hour of walking!
Games
Games act as a wonderful canine enrichment activity because you can get involved. No dog in the world doesn’t like to play games. Our pups love to play with us, which is a bonding opportunity! A game of fetch at the park will keep your dog happy for the rest of the afternoon. You can also play hide-and-seek within your home, play chase or tag, or even create obstacle courses for them to get through. Just be sure the obstacles are possible for them to get through and are appropriate for their size.
Work On Training Skills
Whether you are teaching your dog a new skill or trying to reinforce old tricks, training sessions will surely get your pup’s mind working! Quick training sessions at home are all your dog needs to get that mental stimulation. If you want to step it up, enroll them in group classes or sign them up for other classes like nose work and tricks. Classes typically have different levels of difficulty to them. Once your dog graduates from the easier level, advance them to the next class for an extra challenge!
Other Ways To Provide Enrichment
There are other simple ways to enrich your dogs’ life that don’t involve buying a whole new set of toys. Simply taking a different route on your daily walks will give your pup an adventure they weren’t expecting. Allow them to sniff and explore the new area too. You can also set up a playdate with another doggie pal.
Visiting a new place will also shake things up for your pup in an exciting way! This could be going to the dog park or bringing them to a friend’s house that they have never visited before.
Bones, antlers and bully sticks are also excellent ways to keep your dog busy. Some pups tend to get carried away! Be sure to take it away from them when the piece gets too small, so they don’t choke on it accidentally.
Canine enrichment has many benefits. Mental stimulation gives your dog an outlet for their energy, so they don’t get into trouble. Behaviour problems can also be solved by increasing the level of enrichment you provide to your dog. Always be cautious when choosing new toys and activities. For example, ensure a kong is a suitable size for your dog, so you don’t create a choking hazard. Always supervise your pet with a new toy to ensure they can interact with it safely.
Daily dog walks are an essential part of your dog’s daily routine. If you need help with getting your pup outside, York Professional Pet Sitting is here to help! Contact us today to set up a schedule that works for you and your pet.
Morag is the owner and founder of York Regions most trusted premier in-home pet care and dog walking companies. In 2000 she saw a need for an alternative to kennels, catteries for family pets in the area and has always believed that pets are much happier and less stressed staying in their own familiar environment. Morag and her team are all certified in Pet 1st Aid and CPR, she also offers continuous training to her team members through online and hands on pet care and pet behaviour and care courses. Morag has earned her certificate in Professional Pet Sitting, Professional Dog Walking and Canine Attendant training. She has lived in the Newmarket/Aurora area since 1991 is a wife, a mother of 2 adult children and a grandmother of 2 delightful little balls of energy. She has also been owned by fish, birds, mice, rats, cats, dogs, gerbils and guinea pigs and is an advocate for all living creatures. In her spare time she likes to be involved in her community and events travelling, reading and cooking.
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