🐾🧠 Why Enrichment is So Important for Your Dog (Plus Behaviourist-Approved Ideas to Try!)
As an animal carer with years of experience looking after dogs of all ages and personalities, one thing I see time and time again is the transformative power of enrichment.
Many owners focus on physical exercise – which is vital – but forget that dogs need mental stimulation too. Just like us, dogs can become bored and frustrated if their minds aren’t engaged, which can lead to stress or unwanted behaviours.
🌟 What is enrichment and why does it matter?
Enrichment is about providing activities that allow your dog to express their natural behaviours in a safe and positive way. Dogs are intelligent, curious animals with instincts to sniff, search, chew, problem-solve, and interact with their environment.
When these needs aren’t met, you might notice:
Excessive barking
Chewing inappropriate items
Digging
Hyperactivity or reactivity on walks
General restlessness or anxiety
On the other hand, when dogs receive regular enrichment, they become:
✅ Calmer and more content
✅ Less reactive to triggers
✅ Better at settling and relaxing at home
✅ More confident and resilient
In behaviour work, we often say, “A mentally tired dog is a happy dog.”
🐶 Easy enrichment ideas to try today
Here are some simple, behaviourist-approved activities to build into your dog’s routine:
🦴 1. Stuffed Kongs or LickiMats
Using food toys not only keeps your dog busy but also helps soothe and calm them through licking and chewing. Fill a Kong with soaked kibble, natural peanut butter (xylitol-free), or mashed banana, and freeze it for a long-lasting challenge. LickiMats spread with dog-safe yoghurt or pate are ideal for anxious dogs, as licking releases calming endorphins.
🐾 2. Scatter feeding and snuffle mats
Ditch the food bowl and scatter their kibble across the garden or in the house for them to sniff out. This taps into their natural foraging instincts and encourages them to use their nose, which is incredibly mentally tiring. Snuffle mats are perfect for rainy days or slower-paced enrichment for senior dogs.
Hide treats under cups, rolled-up towels, or inside cardboard boxes filled with scrunched paper. Problem-solving games like these build confidence and resilience, especially in nervous or under-stimulated dogs.
🚶♀️ 4. Scent walks and decompression walks
Instead of focusing purely on structured walking, allow your dog time to sniff and explore at their own pace. Sniffing is a natural stress reliever and provides sensory enrichment that no toy can replicate. These are called decompression walks in behaviour work because they help dogs reset emotionally.
🥰 5. Short training sessions
Training isn’t just about obedience – it’s mental stimulation and bonding time. Teaching fun tricks like paw, spin, or touch, or practicing calm behaviours like settle, provides a sense of achievement for your dog and strengthens your relationship.
Try to think of enrichment as a daily essential, not an extra treat. Rotate activities to keep them interesting, and always supervise to ensure safety, especially with new toys or puzzles.
❤️ How I use enrichment in my care
Whether your dog is here for boarding, pop-ins, or walks, I always build in enrichment to suit their individual needs. From puzzle feeders to scent work games and calm relaxation time, it’s all part of creating a balanced, happy dog.
📞 Want to know how enrichment can help your dog?
If you’d like to learn more about building enrichment into your dog’s daily routine, or want your dog to benefit from enrichment during their time with me, get in touch for a chat.
Call or WhatsApp: 07896 002211
Email: allcreaturescarepets@gmail.com
