Dogs are a human’s best friend; since they came around, they’ve thrived off of doing things by our side. There are working breeds, hunting breeds, and even service dogs that are task-trained. While these dogs may have their needs met, the average household dog is not mentally stimulated enough; it’s not just about giving your dog enough walks and ‘tuckering them out.’
Canine wellness depends significantly on both mental and physical stimulation. Enrichment is any activity that engages a dog’s mind to meet their natural needs, usually involving searching, problem-solving skills and new sensory stimulation. These sorts of activities stimulate dogs in a way that can reduce stress and dog anxiety, boredom and the destructive behavior that comes from it by improving cognitive function. It can even provide a confidence boost and, depending on the nature of the activity, strengthen the relationship building you have with your furry friend.
Enrichment is vital for your dog’s overall well-being and, by extension, making your life better too – because when your dog’s happy, you’re happy.
Benefits for Your Dog
Mental Stimulation – The Boredom Buster
Many enrichment activities, by their nature, fulfill a dog’s natural instincts – sniffing, hunting, chewing, foraging, etc. Things like snuffle mats and KONG toys that hide treats appeal to these instincts, which keeps their brain active and healthy by doing what they were originally intended to do. When problem solving skills, like finding a treat, it releases dopamine – the “reward hormone” that makes you happy, and your dog, too!
If you have a fast eater, there’s also the added benefit of slow feeding and preventing serious conditions like bloat by using a snuffle mat, slow feeder or other foraging toys.
Behavioral Improvement
Scratching, chewing, digging, barking – these behaviors are all just natural expressions of energy that has nowhere to go. Physical exercise is wonderful for a dog, but enrichment can manage your dog’s energy output in a way that exercise alone can’t. "Physical exercise is wonderful for a dog, but enrichment provides a safe and healthy outlet for these natural behaviors that exercise alone can't."
Physical Exercise
Physical exercise, as stated before, is wonderful for your dog. Enrichment is a great way of motivating your dog to get some movement in, especially if he’s an apartment dog or if he otherwise is unenthusiastic about exercise (a feeling some of us might be familiar with). Movement of all kinds supports a healthy weight and sustains mobility and longevity. Activities like exploration walks, hiking a new trail, or interactive play like tug-of-war can provide various levels of physical activity.
Benefits for You
A Calmer, Happier Home
A well-exercised and enriched dog is easier to live with because their needs are met through a healthy balance of physical activity and mental stimulation. No more property damage and fewer cleanups = both you and your dog are Happy Campers™!
Deeper Bond and Understanding
Shared enrichment activities that involve training or interactive/cooperative play – like obedience training, scent walks or even fetch – can improve your relationship with your dog. Your dog will learn to associate positive, successful enrichment activities with you, especially as you learn about which activities specifically resonate with your dog.
You will learn about how your dog understands the world and their natural behaviors, fostering better communication and understanding of your dog’s needs.
Peace of Mind
Enrichment, in all of its forms, is something that you can incorporate into your dog’s routine for the better. It can help lessen separation stress and encourage restful and productive alone time after proper mental stimulation – for you, and your dog, too. Your dog will be calmer and more regulated as a result.
Types of Enrichment Activities
Enrichment doesn’t have to be complicated or involved. Here are some examples for you to try, covering all budgets, rewards and strategies:
Food/Treat Puzzles:
KONGs: Toys that involve placing treat(s) inside for your dog to get the treat out via problem solving skills and physical interaction.
Lick mats: Silicon mats that stick to the floor with lots of grooves and texture to spread wet food across for your dog to lick off with effort.
Slow feeders: Bowls with maze-like grooves inside, similar to the effect of a snuffle mat, to slow down a dog’s meal time. They have to think about how to get to their food, which engages their minds and also eases digestion.
Sensory/Exploration:
Scent games: Hide a treat in a specific cup or component of a toy or even just your fists, so your dog has to guess where the treat is (sometimes even having to get it out themselves), rewarding them with it if they guess correctly.
Exploring new environments on a walk: Try to change up your walk route from time to time, and expose your dog to new scents. This alone is mentally enriching for your pup.
Cognitive/Training:
Learning new tricks/obedience training: This alone is mentally engaging – for both parties! There are always new tricks to learn, and spending a few minutes on this a day can scratch the itch that your dog might feel for mental stimulation – and you get some cool party tricks and a better trained dog out of it.
Puzzle toys: These take all sorts of forms, usually involving activating certain switches, buttons, pulls or other components that a dog has to nose through or paw at in order to get to a treat.
Physical
Fetch: Tried and true, this beloved pastime is a great activity, especially when you’re throwing the ball far distances and into diverse terrain like tall grass, shrubbery, uneven terrain (so long as it’s safe) or even bodies of water, if your dog is a confident swimmer.
Flirt poles: These are fishing pole-like toys with a toy at the end of the line that easily engage your dog into chasing and catching - lots of fun and low effort!
Agility activities: Agility courses aren’t just for canine athletes; navigating different obstacles engages your dog’s mind. Studies show that such activities can enhance problem-solving skills and brain plasticity. Agility training is available for any pet and pet parent to get into; just look into dog agility training facilities in your area.
Enrichment can benefit any dog, and there are lots of different forms for you to find what works best for both you and your dog. If you don’t know where to start, Camp Bow Wow offers enrichment activities for your dog to enjoy. A Certified Camp Counselor will get to know your dog and spend quality 1:1 time with them during the activity!
Any and all steps are worth taking for your dog’s well-being and happiness. This is an investment into a healthy and harmonious life for both you and your Happy Camper™.
Get started today by visiting your local Camp Bow Wow – and most of all, have fun!
