Enrichment: Ways to Keep Your Dog Busy When You are Busy

Original Post May 13, 2022

Is your arm tired from playing fetch? Have you walked until your feet are barking? Is your dog getting plenty of exercise and still not settling down?

While physical exercise is vital, don't underestimate the importance of mental stimulation to satisfy your dog's natural needs and tire them out. You can take advantage of your dog’s natural instincts to hunt, forage and use their nose by providing them with food toys, food puzzles, and safe chewing items. In our experience dogs who get this kind of enrichment show fewer unwanted behaviors in the home. Many of these options require physical and mental dexterity for your dog to access the food or treats. That means your dog will expend mental energy which is tiring in a different way than physical exercise. These kinds of activities will be fun for your dog and entertain them when you can't.

There are many options on the market, but you can also get creative and make your own DIY food puzzles! Here are two articles from the Whole Dog Journal with some additional tips and suggestions for how to provide critical enrichment with food toys and puzzles.

5 Tips for Food-Stuffed Dog Toys - Five ways to use food-stuffed toys to make your dog's meals last longer, relieve his boredom, keep him busy while you're busy, and provide challenge and enrichment, by Stephanie Coleman. Published: August 24th, 2021 in the Whole Dog Journal

Inventive Alternatives to a Dog Bowl - by Lisa Lyle Waggoner. Published September 15th, 2015, in the Whole Dog Journal