At-Home Enrichment Ideas For Dogs

Mental enrichment is just as important for your dog as physical exercise. Without mental stimulation, dogs can become bored and sometimes destructive around the house trying to entertain themselves. We want to share some easy, cheap enrichment ideas you can try with your dog to help keep that boredom at bay. 

Frozen Stuffed Kongs or Peppers

Most dogs go crazy for peanut butter or spray cheese. Stuffing a Kong toy with either of these and small treats (such as mini milk bones or a different favorite) is a great interactive toy for them. Freezing the stuffed Kong helps make it last longer, especially for super chewers. If your dog is known to shred “indestructible” toys or you want to give them even more of a treat, you can stuff a hollowed-out bell pepper with these items and freeze that as well. 

Scatter feeding

This is the lowest-effort option that still is super fun for your dogs! Simply throw their breakfast or dinner on the ground (instead of in a bowl) and let them walk around finding all the kibble pieces. 

Treasure Hunts

Hide treats or toys in a box stuffed with crumpled newspaper or empty water bottles. The dog will have to dig and search around the box to find the treats. If your dog is easily scared, crumpled newspaper is recommended instead of water bottles. 

Puzzle Toys

DIY- Muffin Tin Puzzle: There are many options you can buy at pet stores but they are just as easy to make yourself! Take an old muffin tin you don’t use anymore and fill the bottom of each cup with a few treats. Then place a cover on top (could be a ball or crumpled paper) to hide the treats underneath. The dog will then move around the covers to get to the treats beneath. 

If you have a multi-dog household, it’s best to do these individually with each dog. This helps avoid any resource-guarding situations. Plus, it allows you to bond with each dog separately and give them your undivided attention.