As dog owners, we all want the best for our four legged friends right? Enrichment is a key part of keeping our doggo's happy and healthy, and this is includes their mental health.
So let's look at the importance of enrichment and some examples of enrichment you can do at home!
Brain Power
One of the key goals of enrichment is to provide dogs with mental stimulation. This means giving them the opportunity to problem solve, learn something new and engage their brains!
Physical Health
Enrichment should also promote their physical health. A puzzle toy is great for brain exercise, but isn't enough on it's own. Dogs need to move their bodies, explore their environment, and be able to engage in natural behaviours such as sniffing, digging, and running.
Why Is Enrichment Important?
Dogs are smart, social creatures who are always up for an adventure. They love a good mental and physical challenge, and if they don't get it, they can get bored or anxious, which might lead to some behaviour issues. That's why it's super important to provide them with plenty of activities to keep them happy and emotionally healthy.
Enrichment is super important for helping dogs relax and feel less stressed. Letting them do their thing and act on their natural instincts can really help. Activities like sniffing, chewing, and licking can totally help lower their stress levels.
Enrichment Toys
Natural chews provide a healthy and natural way to provide your dog with a good supervised chewing session! Natural chews like Yak Snacks, Cows Ears or filled Hooves help with keeping their teeth clean whilst giving them an outlet for natural, stress relieving, chewing behaviour!
Lickmats are rubber mats with grooves that are designed to hold soft treats. These mats provide great mental stimulation and can be frozen to make them last longer. Licking also helps reduce anxiety!
Interactive toys like treat balls are a great way to challenge your dog's brain and keep them engaged. These toys sometimes have hidden compartments, puzzles, or require the dog to move the toy to get to the treat.
Stuffable toys like Kongs are a classic enrichment toy. These strong rubber toys can be filled with fave treats or dog friendly peanut butter, providing a fun and challenging activity for the dog. They can also be frozen for longer lasting entertainment.
Enrichment Games
Tug of war is a fun game! It's a great way for your pup to get some exercise and tap into their natural instincts. Plus, it's awesome for teaching them impulse control and giving them a super fun activity. It also helps strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend.
Dogs have an amazing sense of smell, and playing sniffing games is a great way to keep them active. A fun game can be hiding treats or toys around the house or outside and getting your pup to sniff them out. You can try spreading treats on a snuffle mat or in the grass in the garden for some extra fun!
Puzzle toys are another great way to provide mental stimulation for your dog. These require your dog to work out how to get the treats out, providing a fun and challenging activity.
So, to sum it up, making sure your dog has plenty of fun activities is super important. It keeps them sharp, happy, and less stressed, plus it helps you two get even closer. So, don't forget to add some enrichment to your pup's day-to-day life for a wagging good time!
Vicky & Marv
xx
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