Dog Enrichment Tools

Enrichment tools are tools- usually toys, but sometimes appliances, treats, exercises, activities, or even sounds- that help to socialise, enrich, and fulfill your dogs' lives. Anyone can use enrichment tools or follow an enrichment program for their pets (and not just dogs), but enrichment is especially important for those of us that own a lot of pets- such as rescues or breeders, for those of us that are at work or busy for most of the day, and those of us that have high-energy pups. I always recommend using some sort of enrichment for your dog, as it makes their life more enjoyable and can help with getting their energy out. Enriching your dogs' lives can be very easy and cheap, even if you have a lot of them!

Some basic, easy, and cheap forms of enrichment can simply include:

-Going on daily walks

-Letting your dog sniff new things

-Letting your dog pee on things

-Letting your dog roll in smelly things sometimes

-Allowing your dog time to bark or howl

-Giving chewies, chewy bones, or occasional treats

-Lick mats/pads

-Hiding treats in toys

-Dog puzzles, homemade or store-bought

-Spending time with your dog through grooming or brushing them

-Basic training for about 5 minutes a day (Sit, Come, Lay Down)

-Nature TV or TV programs made for dogs

-Listening to music, podcasts, or TV regularly

-Car rides

-Park visits (although not necessarily dog parks!)

-Taking your ADULT dog to public areas, hiking trails, or stores

-Tug of war, tag, playfighting, game of chase, fetch, etc

-Kiddie pool, sprinkler, or hose play

-Trying new snacks or toys, such as giving them frozen peanut butter, baked peanut butter, ice chunks, treats hidden in ice chunks, raw pumpkins, raw bones or boiled meat (NEVER cooked bones), deer antlers/sheds, animal hides, etc.

Be careful when trying new treats, foods, chewies or toys! Not everything is safe for dogs, and dogs need to be monitored when playing with most toys or hard chewies so that they do not choke.

For more costly forms of enrichment, some breeders and rescues will:

-Install a 'play yard' in which dogs can play outside of the kennel every day

-Create agility courses for more active dogs

-Put lots of big toys, kiddie playgrounds, slides, or ramps in their kennel for the dogs to have everyday access to

-Use tools such as flirt poles, tug of war ropes, or even manual (dog-run) treadmills for working dogs

-Participate in sports such as sniff work, bite work, weight or sled pulling, agility, water diving, retrieving, or even hunting/tracking

-Participate in AKC training courses or conformation showing

-Professional training for activities such as search and rescue, police work, or therapy dog

Even these 'costlier' forms of enrichment can be simplified and made cheap. For example, a simple game of tug and war can mimic a flirt pole decently well, a splash in the local creek or in a kiddie pool can be an alternative to water sports, and a trip to the park or run in the backyard can simulate a play yard. 

Just remember that every dog is different. Dachshunds, for example, may not like water or snow/ice much, but they love to chase and play tag or tug of war. Many dachshunds also enjoy digging, crawling through fabric tunnels, and sniff work! It is up to you as a dog owner to know what your dog needs and what they enjoy most, and to encourage them to be active, happy, and fulfilled by providing a stimulating and rewarding environment. Don't be afraid to try new things or mix things up, especially for puppies. By providing an array of new- but not overwhelming- experiences for your puppy, you are helping to socialise them, which aides in training and development, and can prevent issues such as separation anxiety down the road.

I would also recommend doing further research if you decide to pursue an enrichment program!