Mental Burn-Easy Enrichment Ideas for Colder Months
The colllllllder months are coming but, just because it’s chilly outside, doesn’t mean the fun has to end! Walks are a great way to get dogs sniffing but, here are some ways to work their brains inside!
1.) Hide and Seek: Putting your dog in a sit/stay, hiding and then calling your dog is a great way to tap into their hunting drive. You could also do this with treats or toys and turn it into a scavenger hunt.
2.) Obedience and Trick Training: Training is a great way to not only build skills but it’s also one of the best ways to bond with them, too!
Teach your pet a new trick. Impress your family and friends by teaching your pet to roll over, stand on their hind legs or shake paws.
3.) K9 Nose Work (K9NW™), an enrichment game that allows a dog to use his nose to find scents that have been placed beforehand. You can find more information on this sport here.
There are plenty of games online to get you started. If you are the competitive type, there are nationwide trials as well. You can find out more here.
4.) Prepare a snuffle mat as a way to feed your dog their meals. Bonus points if you hide the mat, too!
You can put their kibble, pieces of cheese, freeze dried chicken or liver, fruit, and/or veggies inside to keep things interesting!
5.) If you an empty room or a wide, open space, a flirt pole is a great enrichment activity. It does require some obedience training, though. (Leave it, Drop it, Sit, and Stay are all helpful).
All of these ideas are (hopefully) easy and fun ways to entertain your dog. At first, make the activities easy to achieve, then harder as time goes on. Try to plan activities throughout the day for 30-45 minutes each. Keep in mind, your dog also needs to run and socialize but, if you are consistent with mental enrichment, you’ll see a change in their overall demeanor. As they say, a tired dog is a happy one!
For more ideas and/or or to sign up for training, please contact me.