Our favourite enrichment ideas for dogs

If you’ve ever left a dog at home alone, you’ll know that sometimes when you come back, there can be a trail of destruction. Chewed up shoes, knocked over rubbish bins and a scatter of cushions are just some of the many things our dogs will do if they are bored.

The best way to stop your dog from being bored, is to give them something enriching to do!

Here are our 5 favourite enrichment ideas for your dog.

1.     Scatter game

Did you know that sniffing helps keeps dogs mentally and physically enriched? It’s great for their general wellbeing, but also helps reduce the chances of problem behaviours that arise out of boredom or frustration.

Dogs are natural foragers, so rather than giving your dog their food in a bowl, scatter their dry food throughout the garden and let them find it with their nose!

2.     Toilet rolls

An inexpensive way to create dog enrichment toys is with old toilet rolls. Simply fold one end, add some dry dog treats, and fold the other end. The dogs will have to use their paws, teeth and tongue to get the treats out. This is an especially good way to keep puppies entertained.

3.     Kongs

Similarly like the toilet rolls, a Kong can be stuffed with treats like peanut butter (make sure it doesn’t contain Xylitol) or wet food. Kongs are super strong and can withstand even the sharpest of teeth! We sell Kongs at our vet clinic so next time you’re in for an appointment, ask one of our friendly vet nurses to show them to you.

 4.     Puzzle toys

Puzzle toys stimulate your dog’s brain and helps keep them occupied, making them a great option when you need to leave them alone. One of our favourites is the IQ Treat Star Pet Toy from Kmart. Simply put some treats into the toy and watch as your dog learns how to move the arms of the star to get to the yummy treat inside. It’s only $9 too!

5.     Lick mat

This is what we use to keep dogs occupied when they get their injections. You can put doggy mince, peanut butter, or your dog’s wet food on the mat and your dog will spend a long time licking them off. 

This is a great way to distract your dog if you need to clip their nails or give them a bath.

If you think your dog’s destructive behaviour is more than just boredom, they could have separation anxiety. Give us a call to discuss the signs of separation anxiety with one of our friendly vets today.