Just like you, your dog needs a variety of activities to keep him happy and healthy.
To keep your dog stimulated and engaged, you must find the right balance between physical and mental exercise. Here are some canine enrichment ideas to try out with your pup. These DIY activities are great ways to spend quality time together while keeping your dog entertained and engaged. They're also fun for you because it gives you something to do.
Environmental Enrichment
Environmental enrichment methods like indoor agility courses are great for keeping dogs active and stimulating. They also help train your dog to focus on you during playtime.
Make sure your dog has plenty of daily exercise every day. Try getting him out for a walk, run, or hike for at least 20 to 30 minutes, once or twice a day.
Scent games are fun ways to teach your dog how to behave around different scents. You can use scent games to train your dog to be calm around certain people or places.
Dogs love finding new smells. This is why it's essential to ensure that your house doesn't smell like anything too intense. If you notice that your house smells funny, try cleaning up any lingering odours before adding any new items to your home.
If you prefer a more temporary solution, try putting some toys, empty plastic bottles, and crumpled paper tennis balls into a large cardboard box. Then, put a few smelly treats inside.
Cognitive enrichment
Cognitive enrichment is the latest buzzword in pet care.
The term "cognitive enrichment" is often used in pet care circles. This refers to activities designed to stimulate pets' mental activity/ mental enrichment. Add fun canine enrichment games and activities to your dog's everyday routine. These include puzzles, hide-and-seek games, and training exercises.
A study published earlier this month suggests that cognitive enrichment can improve dogs' memory and problem-solving. Researchers at the University of California San Diego found that dogs given access to toys requiring puzzle-like thinking performed better in spatial awareness and problem-solving tests than those without such toys.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, cognitive stimulation improves socialisation in dogs. Dogs that are kept active and engaged tend to be less aggressive towards people and animals around them. They're also more likely to enjoy spending time outside and exploring their environment.
Researchers say cognitive enrichment is significant for dogs that spend most of their lives indoors. In addition to improving behaviour, it can also increase the lifespan of indoor-only dogs. A 2013 study found that dogs that spent at least one hour per day playing fetch lived longer than sedentary dogs.
Physical enrichment
Digging holes, blankets, and tents are ways to ensure your pet stays warm and cozy this winter. You can do many things to keep your furry friend happy and healthy during the cold winter.
Sensory enrichment
Sensory enrichment refers to activities that stimulate the senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, and movement. These activities include toys, games, puzzles, and objects that appeal to each sense. For example, bubbles might appeal to the sense of vision, while balls might appeal to the sense of olfaction.
Sensory enrichment activity is a form of animal welfare because it helps animals feel good about themselves and increases their chances of surviving in captivity. In addition, it improves the quality of life of people who care for them.
Training games like Settle Down vs. Go Crazy, TUG-O-WAR while practising Take It vs. Drop It all provide training and enrichment. Offering your dog a wide variety of sounds and smells, as well as textures, is excellent for his well-being and confidence building!
Social enrichment
Social enrichment refers to providing contact with other dogs and animals. Providing social enrichment for your dog by hiring a pet sitter or a dog walker is an excellent way to give him company when you cannot be there.
Walking provides social enrichment, either with short on-leash greetings (five seconds or less) or supervised play in dog parks.
Feeding enrichment
Enrichment is a key component of dog training. Food-based enrichment like feeding dry food treats is one way to encourage learning behaviours like fetching, playing tug games, and sitting. But feeding treats every day can become boring very quickly. So how do you ensure your dog gets enough enrichment without overdoing it?
Here are some tips.
Treats should be hidden behind barriers to prevent dogs from getting too many. You don't want to give your dog too much food accidentally. This could lead to overeating and obesity problems down the road. Instead, hide treats inside toys or use treat dispensers.
A puzzle feeder or food puzzle can help train dogs to wait for their meals. These devices usually consist of a tray filled with small pieces of food or yummy treats. When the dog grabs the piece he wants, the device drops another piece into his mouth. Puzzle bowls work best when used several times a week. If you're looking for something simpler, try hiding treats in plastic bags or boxes.
Frozen treats and ice cubes – freezing food or toys in ice-cube trays or plastic containers helps keep dogs occupied for hours.
Toy enrichment
Enrichment toys are helping dogs learn how to interact appropriately with humans, which allows them to form stronger bonds later in life. While socialised, dogs that play with puzzle toys tend to bond more strongly with their owners. This makes it easier for them to become well-adjusted adults.
The benefits of toy enrichment go beyond improving your dog's natural behaviour. Toys allow dogs to exercise their brains and bodies, improving their overall health. They also serve as a source of mental stimulation and entertainment. Toy enrichment is especially important for puppies because it teaches them how to behave around humans.
The bottom line
Enrichment is good for dogs—and people too.
Regular exercise and enriching your dog's life go hand in hand. Dogs who aren't stimulated tend to find ways to satisfy their needs, leading to various destructive behaviour. These are some ways you can enrich your dog's life today.
Physical activity is wonderful, but it's not the only kind of exercise that dogs enjoy. They need mental exercise too. Good luck, and let the enrichment games begin!
The Ultimate, Versatile 4-in-1 Slow Feeder & Reversible Lick Mat
Super Feedy, the ultimate, versatile 4-in-1 Slow Feeder, naturally slows your dog down at chow time. It includes everything you need to give your pup a healthy, happy mealtime - no matter where you are.
You can help your dog eat 10x slower with this product, which features a specially designed patterned surface that naturally slows down your pet during mealtime. It also includes a reversible lick mat to keep your dog interested and stimulated. In addition this dishwasher safe bowl is made of food-safe materials, such as food-safe silicone, recyclable plastic, and is BPA, PVC, and Phthalate-free. Best of all, it reduces indigestion in dogs, so you can confidently correct their eating habits without worry.
The food you put into your dog's bowl is incredibly important that's why we designed this feeder to accommodate ANY kind of food, from purees to stews to dry food. And since it comes with a stay-put suction base and a huge 10 cup bowl capacity, there'll be plenty of room for your dog to forage for food while they eat.
Plus, you can take it with you wherever adventure takes you! It's a mealtime game changer.
