Enrichment Ideas

Bells21

I've used treat dispensers etc since we've had our dogs, but have recently looked at other ideas for enrichment as one of ours was confined after an op and I wanted to keep her from becoming bored.
I wonder would others contribute their ideas for enrichment in this thread to give others new/novel ideas for their own pets?
Recently we started using a snuffle/rummage mat. This has worked wonders for our dog who is on limited exercise as it gives her a chance to use her nose while remaining pretty much in the one spot.
I also got a puzzle toy where you hide a treat/food and the dog has to slide pieces across or use a lever in order to release the treats.
Another favourite is using egg cartons for them to rummage through and they also enjoy shredding these after.

Dawney

the cardboard tubes from toilet roll or kitchen roll make a nice quick puzzle. Just twist one end closed, throw in some treats, or a small portion of your dog's daily food, then twist the open end closed! My guy has great fun with this, and loves to tear the tubes apart even after he's got all the food.
Another use for empty rolls is saving quite a few, then filling a Tupperware box, or a cardboard box, with the rolls placed vertically so the box is full... then some food put down the tubes... takes a little longer for my guy to get all the treats as he has to pull out the rolls... you can make it harder by really packing the box tight with rolls.

People think I'm weird collecting loo rolls! But so cheap and easy to do!

I also do a lot of scent work with my guy.. I hide treats or toys around the house while he's waiting patiently in another room.. then tell him 'go find it' and off he goes! When using toys I sometimes hide other toys as well.. not just the one that he's meant to be looking for, as a decoy! He loves this, my couch cushions not so much

Bells21

Dawney wrote:

I also do a lot of scent work with my guy.. I hide treats or toys around the house while he's waiting patiently in another room.. then tell him 'go find it' and off he goes! When using toys I sometimes hide other toys as well.. not just the one that he's meant to be looking for, as a decoy! He loves this, my couch cushions not so much

That's a great foodless idea, have been looking for more of those as I don't want to over do it with treats etc!
Today I tried a muffin tin, bits of food underneath their tennis balls. One of the dogs thought the ball was the prize and left the food in the tin lol.

Dawney

i usually hold back about 30% of his feed to use for training/games ... he's a massive foodie! The toy hiding though is great, and we have a little play once he's found it.
My guy would do exactly the same as yours though with this he tennis ball! He loves em!

aonb

Our dog just loves the interaction of a game. Doesnt matter what it is.
We keep small empty cardboard boxes to let him rip apart - put a little toy or bit of kibble in it.
We too hide toys around the house
I buy ratty old stuffed toys from charity shops 20c-50c - a couple of the shops keep them for me now! (no beans! take off the eyes/hard bits first)
Tie a knot in an old sock, for tug-o-war
Put his leg in a loo roll, and he pulls it off - do all 4 legs, then his tail :cool:
Hes a chewer, under supervision, put a bit of kibble in a plastic vitamin bottle, he enjoys chewing the bottle - funnily, never eats the pieces
Sheets of newspaper layered and held with tape, to wrap his stuffed toy, incredible mess, but he loves it
An icecube with a treat frozen in it. An icecube made of probiotic yohurt. A kong stuffed with treats and peanut butter, frozen. Kitchen tiles treat only!
My daughter used to set up an agility course down our long hallway with the dogs on rainy days. Entertained her for hours - hockey sticks balanced on boxes for jumps, her old tent tunnel thing to wriggle through, a clothes horse to get around etc - she'd line the dogs up at one end of the hall, sit/wait mode, go to the other end, and call one dog.
Teach him a new trick every week! Im working on getting my dog to CLOSE the door - any door, my friends dog will put small items of clothes - socks/undies/etc into the washer from his personal laundry basket!!!!! My dream trick is to teach him to fetch whatever it is Im pointing at - slippers, etc!

This link has some cool ideas - I particularly like #6!

https://www.puppyleaks.com/easy-ways-to-keep-your-dog-busy-indoors/

whatever you do with your dog, I think its the interaction/time with his human that is the ultimate reward

Bells21

We have been learning new tricks too, one can now ring a service bell on command...... although I did leave it on the ground one night and the following morning while I was getting their food sorted he was hopping off the bell!!
They absolutely love the interaction and it's great to see the different personalities- One is extremely food motivated while the other enjoys a reward of a toy or game of tug more than food. I think it's great to have lots of different ideas or activities especially with the bad weather coming in as ours are allergic to getting wet lol.

tk123

Bells21 wrote: »

We have been learning new tricks too, one can now ring a service bell on command...... although I did leave it on the ground one night and the following morning while I was getting their food sorted he was hopping off the bell!!
.

We have that manners minder thing where they press a button and treats come out - well Bailey just stood on the button one day so they'd keep coming :pac: