Just like humans, dogs get bored sometimes! Keep your pup happy and healthy by enriching their lives with activities and toys. Look for activities that mimic natural behaviors and exercise their cognitive and physical strengths. Enrichment is extremely beneficial when it comes to promoting overall wellbeing, discouraging problematic behaviors, and preventing boredom. And best of all, these toys can easily be made with household items.
Picking Your DIY Enrichment Toy
Before you choose a DIY project, consider which type of enrichment is best suited for your dog. Dogs are different, so it’s important to supplement their well-being based on their specific needs. For example, if your dog bites things around the house, pick a toy they can chew on. (Just make sure there are no small pieces that could be swallowed!). Or if they’re prone to zoomies, choose an activity that allows them to release that pent-up energy in a safe and healthy way. We’ve got you covered with all kinds of DIY dog toys!
Additionally, your dog’s breed and age can play a role in choosing a toy or activity. For example, a senior dog may not be best suited for a more physically demanding activity; and a flat-nosed breed may do best with a specific type of food puzzle.
Environmental dog enrichment
What does environmental enrichment mean? Think of activity-based enrichments that engage your dog’s five senses and improve both cognitive and physical well-being. These activities will play off of your pup’s innate instincts (for example, sniffing and digging) to keep them occupied, happy, and healthy.
Homemade Agility Course
Create a small agility course using things from your living room or even configure a complete obstacle course in the backyard. For example, make weaves and jumps out of cones or PVC pipes, or tunnels out of cardboard boxes. Alternatively, try an even simpler version of a maze made out of plastic bottles, or a jump ring using a hula hoop. The possibilities are endless and no matter what you create, your dog’s physical and cognitive abilities benefit.
Tip: Guide your dog through the obstacles slowly and reward them each time the complete one part. This way, your dog will learn the expectations and understand the game more quickly. If you’re finding it difficult to get your dog into the activity, try an easier version and then work your way up to challenging courses after they’ve gained confidence.
Scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts are a great way to exercise your dog’s innate desire to hunt and track scents. These kinds of behaviors are instinctual to your dog, so they’re a perfect and simple enriching activity.
What You’ll Need
- Dog treats (try different kinds of treats for extra enrichment)
- Hiding spots!
How To
- Ask for “Sit” & show your dog the treats they should find
- Hide the treats around the house (start with hiding spots close by)
- Let them hunt!
Tip: Start out small! Have your dog “find” easily hidden treats to get them familiar with the task & goal. When you’re ready for a challenge, turn the scavenger hunt into a game of hide and seek. Swap out the treats and have your dog search for you! Essentially, this is a great way to sharpen your dog’s focus and exercises their listening skills and ability to follow commands when called.
Create A Digging Area
Have you ever caught your dog digging in your backyard (or maybe your neighbors…)? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, many dog parents can relate. Although sometimes frustrating, digging is natural behavior for dogs. Consider a designated area where your dog is allowed to dig. This way your dog can do what they love without consequence and will benefit their overall well-being, but it’ll also save your garden.
What You’ll Need:
- Safe sand or dirt
- Kiddie pool or sandbox
- Alternatively, designate a specific area of your yard as safe to dig in
How To:
- Once the area is built, teach your dog it’s okay to dig in that specific spot by reinforcing their behavior with treats
- To make the activity more exciting, try burying toys in the area and having your dog search for them
Food DIYs
It’s a pretty well-known fact: Dogs. Love. Food. So naturally, food-related activities are accessible and effective dog enrichment. These activities activate innate behaviors like sniffing or searching for food and keep them occupied, ultimately nurturing their cognitive abilities as well.
Feed using a lick mat
Lick mats can be purchased at your local pet store, but you can also make one out of things you already have in the kitchen! The behavior of repetitive licking can actually calm your dog down in potentially stressful situations, while also keeping your dog busy and encouraging slower eating.
What You’ll Need:
- Choose from: silicone trivet, ice cube tray, baking sheet, etc. Anything non-abrasive and easy for your pup to lick will work.
- Peanut butter, wet dog food, plain yogurt, or any other soft (and safe) food your dog loves
How To:
- Spread chosen food over the surface, making sure to fill in the grooves if there are any
- Place on the floor and give to your pup
Tip: If your dog would rather chew on or play with their mat, try placing it inside of a baking tin or tray to discourage this behavior and keep the activity focused on eating.
Muffin Tin Puzzle
The muffin tin puzzle is an easy and accessible way for your dog to practice their problem-solving skills. To make the activity more challenging, only put food in some of the holes so they can figure out which ones contain the food!
What You’ll Need:
- Muffin tin
- Small pieces of food and/or dog treats
- TOYS: tennis balls, squeaky toys, kongs, etc.
How To:
- Scatter the food throughout the muffin tin
- Cover each hole with balls or toys
Rolled Up Towel Puzzle
This DIY takes inspiration from snuffle mats, a food enrichment toy made from strips of fabric for dog food. These kinds of puzzle toys are very effective in engaging your dog’s problem-solving skills and sniffing abilities. However, a DIY snuffle mat requires materials that can’t be found in every household. Instead, this easy take on the snuffle mat accomplishes all the same results and requires only a towel!
What You’ll Need:
- Towel
- Dog treats
How To:
- Lay the towel flat on the ground and scatter treats on top
- Roll the towel and allow your dog to find the treats
Feeling inspired? Get creative, take a trip to the hardware or grocery store, and give one of these DIY enrichment activities a go! Not only will your pup love them but they’ll benefit both mentally and physically, too. If you try one of these or have any other DIY ideas please send them our way at whatthepup@spotandtango.com – we’d love to see them!
