Dr. Christy's Pet Information
  • Home
  • Wellness Care
    • Puppy Vaccinations
    • Kitten Vaccinations
    • Understanding Your Pet's Bloodwork
    • Dental Care
    • Heartworms
    • Intestinal Parasites
    • Fleas & Ticks
  • Medical Concerns
    • Skin & Ears >
      • Itchy Dogs
      • Ear Infections
      • Hypoallergenic Diets
    • Metabolic Conditions >
      • Diabetes Mellitus
      • Thyroid Conditions
      • Kidney Disease
    • Dental Disease >
      • DOGS
      • CATS
    • Musculoskeletal >
      • Arthritis & Joint Pain
      • Weight Loss & Nutrition >
        • Canine Weight Loss
        • Feline Weight Loss
        • Recommended Diets
    • Digestive & Urinary >
      • Inappropriate Urination
  • Behavior
    • Puppy Training
    • Dog Training
    • Dog Enrichment Ideas
    • Cat Enrichment Ideas
    • Separation Anxiety
  • Exotics
    • Parrot Behavior
    • Reptile Care
    • Rabbits
    • GUINEA PIGS
  • Links
    • Links - Pet Care
    • Links - Vet Clinics

DOG ENRICHMENT IDEAS

1.  Make a D.I.Y. "Snuffle Mat"
2.  Stuffed Kongs
  • Foods to Stuff in a Kong Toy
3.  Take a "Sniff Break"   
​Let your dog's nose lead the way on your walk rather than going for exercise...stop and sniff everything!
4.  Make a D.I.Y. Obstacle Course
You can teach your dog to jump over a stick, jump through a hula hoop, weave through cones and more.
Picture
5.  Food Puzzle Toys
An amazing number of food puzzle toys are available online!  These are a few that we have tried or ones that look good to us!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
6.  Nose Work Games
  • Go Find It - Start out by hiding a few treats throughout the room so your dog can easily locate them.  Introduce a cue to your dog like "Go Find It" or "Go Seek" and praise your dog lavishly for finding each treat.  You can gradually increase the difficulty by hiding the treats in another room while your dog waits, and hiding them in harder spots like under the corner of a rug.  You'll be surprised at how quickly your dog gets good at this game.  Even something like a carrot has enough odor for your dog to find it.
  • The Shell Game - Practice hiding a treat under one of three plastic cups.
  • Nosework Classes are widely available to teach your dog to pair the odor of food with essential oils, then be able to search for birch, anise, and clove in a variety of circumstances and even in competitions.  This is a dog-directed sport that any dog can do and is lots of fun!
7.  Flirt Pole
8.  Frozen Dog Treats
9.  Make a Digging Box
​

10.  Teach Your Dog A New Trick