Canine Enrichment: Unlocking Fun Activities for Your Dog
Discover non-food canine enrichment activities that enhance mental stimulation, behavior, and strengthen the bond with your furry companion.
Lori Hamilton / Hi Everybody! It’s Me, Barkley!
Last year, I stumbled upon one of the best dog books I’ve ever encountered – “Canine Enrichment” by Shay Kelly. This incredible book opened a whole new world of enrichment activities for my furry companion, Barkley. Today, I’m excited to share my experiences and insights into canine enrichment. As you will find when reading the book, it covers a lot of different ways you can practice canine enrichment, but in August, I decided to focus on non-food enrichment activities with our foster dog Chato.
Let’s kick things off by defining what canine enrichment is. According to Kelly, “Canine enrichment is all about providing your dog with exciting, low-risk activities that they eagerly participate in.” These activities offer your dog the mental stimulation they need and can even help address certain behavioral issues. That’s exactly what it did for us with Barkley. Remember, a tired dog is a happy dog – or in our case, fewer behavioral issues 😊.
Now, let’s dive into the exciting world of canine enrichment and explore some non-food activities that can keep your dog engaged and build a stronger bond between you and your four-legged friend. I’ll share some of the activities Chato and I have been experimenting with.
Chato’s Non-Food Enrichment Activities:
A Sniffari: Imagine taking your dog on a walk, but instead of focusing on distance, you focus on letting them explore the world through their extraordinary sense of smell. That’s the essence of a “sniffari.” It might be challenging for us humans, but for your dog, it’s pure enrichment.
Shredding: Shredding isn’t just for disposing of old documents; it can also be a fantastic enrichment activity. Shredding turned into an exciting game for Chato. Hand him an empty, crumpled-up paper bag, and watch him tear into it with gusto. It’s not just play; it’s mental stimulation.
Car Rides with the Window Down: Some dogs adore car rides, and Chato is no exception. He loves the wind in his fur and the opportunity to observe the world outside. Taking the scenic route on quiet streets with the window down is a sensory adventure that keeps Chato engaged and entertained.
People-Watching at the Local Park: Chato’s fascination with people-watching has become a regular pastime at our local park. He doesn’t join in the activities; he prefers to sit and observe as people go about their day. It’s like a canine version of people-watching at a café, and it leaves Chato happily exhausted. It also gives us an opportunity to share Chato’s story and talk about the benefits of foster and adoption.
A Bowl of Ice Cubes: Who knew that a simple bowl of ice cubes could provide endless entertainment? Chato loves to chase these slippery, chilly treats around. It’s a refreshing way to beat the heat and keep him engaged.
A trip to the local pet store: Chato enjoys a visit to the local pet store, where he can explore enticing smells, browse the toy aisle, receive pets from friendly workers and shoppers, and indulge in a sniffari up the food aisle.
These activities are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to canine enrichment. If you’re eager to discover more ways to stimulate your dog’s mind and strengthen your bond, I highly recommend diving into Shay Kelly’s book. It’s a treasure trove of insights and ideas that can turn every day into an adventure for you and your beloved furry companion.
Sources:
Kelly, Shay. 2019. Canine Enrichment: The Book Your Dog Needs You to Read.
Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn money from qualifying purchases when you purchase Shay Kelly’s “Canine Enrichment” book through the provided link. Your support helps me continue to explore and share exciting activities for our canine friends!
