Types of enrichment

 There are lots of different types of enrichment, however they tend to fall into three main groups:

Sniffing/snuffling activities
These activities focus on harbouring the dog's natural desire to sniff and can be done in lots of different environments.

• Snuffle/sniffy mats - these are mats made from a holey base with fleece, felt or old t-shirts pieces threaded through the holes and tied.  They be homemade or commercially bought.  The idea is that you hide treats/kibble/meat/cheese, anything edible really, inbetween the strands of fabric and the dog sniffs them out.  The activity can be made as easy or challenging as your dog needs it and is a great way to slow fast feeders down.
  
  
  
  
  
• Snuffle balls - these can come in several different forms, and can be home made or commercially bought.  Rather than static snuffling, as the dog nudges and snuffles, the ball moves, releasing the hidden treats.
  
  
  
  
• Scatter feeding - this is a really easy enrichment but great for aroused dogs.  Simply throw their kibble across the floor, lawn, patio.  As the food is scattered across a greater surface it takes longer for the dog to eat it (great for those greedy guts!), means the dog has to work to find its food (engages the brain) and provides a great alternative form of exercise.  It can also reduce arousal levels and help increase calmness - an added bonus!
  
• Sniffy walks - I love a sniffy walk, its such a relaxing affair!  So many walks are focused on moving forward, doing a route, getting back home, and so your dog goes at your pace, sniffing may be cut short or not even happen.  So instead of taking your dog for a walk, let him/her wander on or off the lead, just following their nose, go where they want to, linger as long as they want to at a smell. I allow some pulling if they stay on a lead during these types of walk but my dogs can distinguish between these walks and other types of walk.  If they are off lead I stop when they do, they take the initaitive, I just follow.
  
  

• Scent walk - not to be confused with scent work, this does need some preparation.  You lay a smelly trail of treats and the dog sniffs his or her way along the trail from one smelly, tasty treat to the next. 

Problem solving activities 

 

• Puzzle Mats - I make my own puzzle mats, but there are alot of commerically made ones on the market. The idea is that your pooch works out how to get the treats by nuzzling, sniffing and using their front paws to find the hidden treats.
• Hide and seek - great to play in the house, in the garden, out and about.  Simply hide and call your dog, can they find you?  Masses of praise when they do and repeat!
• Find your toy - show them their favourite toy and then hide it - encourage them to find it, and repeat.  My boy brings his moose when he wants to play this game!
• ' In a box' activities - I love these activities, so many varied activities to do with a box and food ... you can put small balls in (the ones you put in children's ball pools), recycled materials, cardboard tubes stood up  ... anything that your dog will need to move around to find his/her food.  Once you have sorted your box just add kibble and shake, or hide in tubes.  I will be doing a post about box activities and the benefits of this type of enrichment so watch this space.
• Commercially bought activities - I have not got any bought sniffy/seek activities, but there are lots around, either in pet shops or on the internet.

 Chewing/licking activities
These are activities that encourage a reduction in stress and/or arousal, encourage calmness and peacefulness.  They don't need much explanation - you prepare them and your pooch enjoys licking at them and whilst doing so relaxes, destresses and calms down to the point of sleepiness. I use kongs, raw marrow bones, lickimats ... the list is endless.  I either stuff and chill or freeze.  Just be aware if your pooch has low frustration levels do not pack the stuffed toy too much, or freeze it. They need to experience success so loose packing lets them build confidence and restfulness.  As they get more experienced you can make it more challenging.

So types of chewing/licking activiites include:

• stuffed kongs
• lickimats
• raw marrow bones
• pizzles/yakkers
• frozen chicken or duck necks/feet