The power of Enrichment

Written By Nuzzles & Co Staff

Are you wanting to boost your dog’s confidence, make them happy, provide healthy outlets for their instincts, or want to prevent behavioral problems? Then I know the perfect thing for you: enrichment!

Enrichment is how we can provide our dogs with positive and healthy outlets for their instincts. Daily enrichment stimulates your dog’s mind, brings them joy, engages their senses, and provides an appropriate channel for natural behaviors like foraging, digging, chewing, ripping, etc. Without outlets for these instincts, our dogs can become frustrated, depressed, anxious, and can develop unwanted behaviors in an attempt to find an outlet for their instincts. 

 There are six main areas of canine enrichment: physical, environmental, cognitive, social, sensory, and nutritional. 

1. Physical Enrichment 

 Includes how your dog can move their body in a variety of ways to support healthy weight, joints, muscles, coordination, and cardiovascular health. 

  • Hiking

  • Walking

  • Running

  • Swimming

  • Obstacle courses

  • Flirt pole

  • Urban herding

  • Bikejoring 

  • Dig box

  • Shred a box or iceberg lettuce 

  • Chasing an RC car or lure to chase

2. Environmental Enrichment 

Includes areas in which you are altering the quality and complexity of your dog’s living space. 

  • Having multiple water sources (vary location, type of bowl, etc)

  • Have an area where your dog can “den up” 

  • Using a raised feeding station 

  • Using rugs or yoga mats so your dog can avoid slippery floors

  • Provide your dog with an elevated bed (can include couch) and a bed on floor level

  • Have a variety of toys (textures, shapes, sizes) and rotate which toys are available 

  • Dog door (if possible and appropriate)

  • A bird feeder by the window so your dog can watch the birds

  • Dig Box 

  • Having dog friendly landscaping - for example a path containing different textures (small rocks, big rocks, sand and mulch) surrounding the perimeter of your yard for when they wanna patrol)

  • Scattering high value food items in your yard before a snowstorm for your dog to find

Environmental Enrichment also includes removing things from our dog’s environment that can infringe upon them or cause them stress. Some of these include: 

  • Limiting use of candles, strong perfumes, or fragrances that can overwhelm our dog’s sensitive olfactory system. 

  • Limiting Volume of TV/music 

  • Utilize preventative measures if needed to limit unwanted behaviors (blocking off kitchen or garbage) 

3. Cognitive (Occupational)

Give your dog a job! Our dogs thrive on having a purpose. This area of enrichment focuses on mental stimulation. 

  • Positive Reinforcement Training

  • Feeding Puzzles (and other enrichment feeding methods)

  • Nose Work

  • Urban obedience skills

  • Barn hunt

  • Sniffaris 

  • Retrieval games

  • Having a job in the home (Helping with laundry, shutting cupboards, bringing you items (like their leash when it’s time for a walk, opening doors, turning off lights, etc.)

  • Providing outlets for what your dog was bred to do (urban herding, herding, sandbox for digging, tug rope, pulling, nose work, barn hunts, hunting games, foraging activities and etc.) 

  • Agility

  • Fly ball

  • Dock diving

There are so many other examples in these categories, this is just the tip of the iceberg! Stay tuned for next month’s newsletter where we will discuss the last three areas of enrichment (Social, Sensory, and Nutritional). I will also share with you my favorite books on enrichment if you’re wanting to learn more. 

-Melissa 

Nuzzles & Co Staff
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