The Mind Matters – Keeping dogs happy through enrichment

No matter the breed, dogs love to use their noses. Dog’s noses are 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive to smell than ours, with the part of the dog’s brain devoted to interpreting smell being 40 times bigger than our own! Therefore, it makes sense to incorporate scents and nose-work into your dog’s day.

Food smells great! Food-based enrichment can be as simple as throwing a handful of treats around the garden or room and allowing your dog to sniff them out and snuffle them up. If you have small cardboard boxes or rolls, you can put treats inside and then hide them around the room or garden for an added challenge. If your dog likes to shred things, and if you don’t mind cleaning up the carnage, hiding treats in scrunched up newspaper inside boxes can lead to even more fun! A similar concept for use inside is the ‘snuffle-mat’, which has tags of material you can scatter kibble through, and the dogs have to use their noses to find it.

Puzzle-feeders and games are also great things to try. Your mate can smell the goodies inside, but they have to use their brains and try different things to get to them. There are a lot of different types of puzzle feeders and games you can buy, which range in difficulty from easy to hard. You can also make puzzle feeders or games yourself – plastic bottles, muffin tins, or old towels can all be used to make cheap DIY dog puzzles.
Note: It’s always important to supervise your dog and remove any chewed plastic or bits that may be harmful if ingested – check out our enrichment safety tips here.

Lick mats, ‘Kong’ toys or other rubber items you can stuff with food are also great options for keeping your dog engaged. Lick mats are textured surfaces on which you can spread different edible things such as peanut butter, natural yoghurt, tinned dog meat or any other dog-safe spreadable food. Similarly, Kong’s and other toys can be stuffed with any number of dog-friendly foods. You don’t have to freeze them, but it will make the task last longer and is a great option in summer to help keep your pup cool as well as occupied! As with the puzzle games, you can make do with items from around your home – icrecream containers, small tubs, yoghurt pottles or silicone bakeware can all be used to create your frozen masterpieces! Check out the SPCA article on food enrichment here, for more easy ideas.

If you are giving a lot of food-based enrichment, be careful not to over-feed. You can always split your dog’s daily amount of food into portions, and provide some of that allowance through puzzles, games, and frozen treats. Also be mindful of high calorie foods such as cheese – it all quickly adds up, so take care when planning out your food-based enrichments for the week.

Enrichment doesn’t have to centre around food. Sensory gardens can also be stimulating for dogs. These are areas where there are a range of different scents, textures, sounds, and sights for dogs to explore. Planting chamomile, lavender, rosemary, clary sage, and mint are dog-safe plants which give off great scents. You might have room for a textured path, a paddling pool, or a designated digging area. You might have logs or structures for climbing on, or tunnels to go through (particularly stimulating for terrier breeds). Wind chimes or calming music can also add to the sensory enrichment, along with bright moving objects.

Most dogs love to please their guardians and spending time training dogs gives them a great brain workout while strengthening your bond. Training your dog is beneficial to both parties and highly enriching, provided you are using low-stress, force-free techniques. Training can include your ‘basic manners’ like sit, lie down, and stay, or it can be for dog sports such as Rally-O, agility, or scent sports. Try out different things and see what your dog is naturally drawn to, then build on that in fun, short sessions.

Like us, enrichment can come simply through spending time with our friends. Many dogs will get great enjoyment from playing with other dogs that are of a similar energy level and play-style. Monitoring these play dates for fair play (taking turns), mutual engagement, and relaxed, comfortable body language for all involved will ensure this remains an enriching activity. And let’s not forget that we are ‘friends’ too! Sitting down for quiet time with your dog, a belly scratch, a head rub, a cuddle, are all enriching as well.

Many people choose to send their dog to a doggy day care facility to provide them with enrichment during the day when they are away. When checking out your local options, remember to ask them about the enrichment they provide. Enrichment objects and activities need to be changed regularly, to maintain their enriching quality. Food enrichment should be safe and well-managed to avoid resource guarding. Dogs should be matched to groups with similar play-styles and energy, and constantly monitored by staff highly adept at reading dog body language. There should also be quiet rest time, cuddle time, and dogs should be able to choose their level of engagement.

SPCA Certified has developed standards for Doggy Daycares which cover all this and more, based on the latest animal welfare science and international best practice. Look out for the SPCA Certified blue badge when considering a doggy day care facility, for peace of mind your best friend will be looked after in a safe, stimulating environment.