Did you know that mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise for your pup’s overall well-being?
This stimulation can be achieved in many ways, including training, sniffing their way through walks, and our focus for today: enrichment toys! But first, what does enrichment mean? Enrichment refers to adding something to your dog’s care that’ll improve their health and meet their needs, both mentally and physically. They encourage natural behaviors like foraging, encourage your dog to problem-solve, and can be great for tuckering out high energy pups!
Enrichment toys come in many forms, some of which you may already be familiar with or even use!
Kongs, Toppls
Made of sturdy rubber with a hollow area inside, these toys can be filled with a tasty treat such as peanut butter, pumpkin puree, or wet food. Their funky shape gives your dog a bit of a challenge to hold it still, and puts their tongue to work to get all that good stuff out of the toy and into their belly! These can also be frozen after filling for an extra exercise in patience.
Snuffle Mats
Snuffle mats are great to use with dry treats or kibble! By hiding food throughout them, you can make snuffle mats a true test for your dog’s nose. They get to sniff out all the yummy morsels, and use that cute snout to uncover them. These are generally made of fleece or other fabric for easy washing, so careful if your fur baby likes to shred stuff!
Puzzle Feeders
For the brainiest of dogs! These come in a variety of forms and difficulties, with challenges like flaps, sliders, rotating parts and more. Simply put dry treats in the compartments, sit back, and watch the gears turn in your dog’s mind as they figure out how to get to their reward.
Paper and Cardboard
Enrichment toys don’t have to be expensive! They can easily be made at home with paper and cardboard that you might otherwise throw away, like paper towel rolls and boxes. These are especially useful for dogs that enjoy tearing things up, and gives them an opportunity to shred something that’s “approved” instead of your shoes!
The importance of enrichment for dogs is the reason it's the "E" in Barking with the Bradley's PEACE Philosophy. We partner with our subscription holders to develop a care plan that helps meet your dog's needs on a more holistic level. Your care provider can incorporate an enrichment activity in your dog's visits so that they are happy, healthy, and hopefully a little tuckered out when you return.
Which enrichment activities has your dog most enjoyed?
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