February Read

What do we mean by enrichment?

Enrichment refers to activities and experiences that stimulate dogs minds, engage their senses, and encourage natural behaviours like sniffing, problem-solving, and exploring. 

Why is it important?

Enrichment is essential for a dog’s mental and physical wellbeing, helping to prevent boredom, reduce anxiety, and encourage natural behaviours thus improving their overall wellbeing.

What can help?

Scent work- hiding toys and go find, scattering food in different places to sniff out, easy to use with scrunched up paper and cardboard in a box and break up a few treats in the box and shake

Puzzle toys- learning how to access a treats from pushing a lever or moving the object a certain way

Interactive play- such as tug of war, fetch, training exercises, agility work

Changing up daily walks- different places and terrains are so interesting due to different smells, surfaces, things to explore etc

How do these help?

Such activities keep dogs engaged and stimulated. Without proper enrichment, some dogs may develop behavioural issues such as excessive barking, chewing, or restlessness.

Providing a mix of physical exercise and mental challenges strengthens the bond between you and your dog while ensuring they lead a happy, fulfilled life. Whether it’s a new toy, a training session, or a change of scenery, even small enrichment activities make a big difference to your dog’s overall happiness.