As dog owners we control all aspects of our dog’s lives. If you think about it, we choose the time to get up and go to bed, take them out for toilet breaks, groom them, feed them, play with them and decide everything about their daily routines. We take away a lot of our dogs’ choices in life and for a large majority, their main highlight might be a walk in the morning for half an hour and the same in the evening. Maybe a bit of play with a favourite toy might happen during the day and two meals served up in a bowl at regular times. Now you may well ask what is wrong with that.
Nothing at all in that dogs do need routine and they need to feel safe, warm, know they are being fed and have company, but dogs are highly intelligent and need mental stimulation. In order for our dogs to live happy, healthy lives they need a combination of physical and mental exercise. So let’s talk about ‘enrichment’ for your dog. What I mean by that is ‘allowing the dog to engage in behaviours that are canine specific, for example, searching/scavenging for food, and most importantly sniffing.
A dog’s sense of smell is quite frankly incredible- they have (depending on breed) up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their nose compared to a humans’ five million.
So how about we consider enriching our dogs’ lives by allowing them to engage in fun activities which use their noses and improve our relationship with them. Canine Enrichment activities can also prevent boredom, as well as helping to prevent destructive behaviours.
One way to add enrichment to your dog’s day is using his usual food or treats
Enrichment Ideas
Rather than just feed your dog from a bowl, try the following:
- Using the dogs’ food (kibble) to play ‘find it’ games in the garden or house
- A food scatter in the garden (that the dog doesn’t see) then ask them to ‘find it’ and search for their food.
- Food filled Kong toys or a Kong wobbler.
- Fill a mind toy with food and encourage your dog to work out how to get the reward. There are numerous mind toys available online now, for example, Kong’s, Busy Buddy, Nina Ottosson puzzles, Treat balls, Food Cubes and the newest on the market Buster Activity mats.
- Fill an empty box with newspaper and place a couple of treats at the bottom, let your dog work out how to get the treats.
- Use a muffin tin and fill each hole with a treat and cover with a tennis balls and let your dog work out how to get the treats.
- Buy or make a Snuffle mat that you can hide treats in for your dog to find.
- Use small cones or flower pots to hide treats under.
Of course any training session with your dog, even 5 minutes a day, will enrich their life and enhance your relationship with them, as well as exercising their brain and helping them to be great companions. If you have already undertaken a basic training course with them how about taking it further and embarking on the Kennel Club Bronze, Silver and Gold Good Citizen Awards? I run regular Kennel Club Award classes locally.
You can also take nose games a step further and introduce your dog to Scentwork activities- this is fun, engaging and extremely rewarding for both the dog and owner. Scentwork can increase confidence, reduce stress and create focus. Scentwork Wales offer workshops and courses locally,
And if you are really keen you could try Mantrailing, this teaches the dog to search for a human in different locations and is huge fun and good exercise for both you and your dog. My colleague Lyn Caldicott of Let’s Play Dog Training offers sessions locally.
I hope this has given you some ideas around enriching your dog’s lives!
You can contact me on 07735401076 for further ideas or any questions. www.canineconnections.co.uk
Tracey Prall
