Canine Enrichment: Games and Puzzles for Dogs

Dogs can’t talk, for better or worse, but they can still communicate their boredom in ways that are impossible to ignore. They may bark, dig, chew, or get too excited. These unwanted behaviors indicate that the dog is yearning for some sort of stimulation, often stemming from instinctual behaviors they’d like to act out.

To reduce unwanted behaviors, while improving your dog’s well-being, consider adding enrichment to their routine. 

“Dogs are incredibly smart, and they need mental exercise just like they need physical exercise,” observes the American Kennel Club. “Boredom in dogs leads to frustration and destructive behavior. But giving your dog a cognitive workout burns off excess energy, provides entertainment, and prevents problem behavior.”

Adding enrichment to a dog’s life can be just as important as walks, then, and other activities meant to get them “off the couch.” Get their brains off the couch, too, with these ideas for canine enrichment games and other stimulating activities.

What Is Canine Enrichment?

“Enrichment” is a general term that is, admittedly, hard to pin down.

A pilot study published in the journal Animals defines enrichment as “a technique designed to enhance the quality of life in captive and domestic animals by providing additional and temporary environmental stimuli to promote psychological and physiological well-being.”

That’s a bit of a wordy way to say that enrichment means “fun things for your dog to do that make them happy.”

The concept of enrichment got a major push from animal wellness theories developed in the 1960s, helped along in part by psychologists Marian and Keller Breland. Their studies observed that captive animals showed signs of stress even when they had easy access to food and other physical needs. What these animals were missing was a combination of environmental and mental stimulation — things they would normally get when searching for food and performing other activities in their natural habitats. 

For example, elephants evolved behaviors that encourage them to forage among tree branches for food. Simply giving them food in easy-to-access bowls takes something away from their dining experience. Hanging the food in a high place, however, gives the elephant a reason to probe with their snout, which fulfills their natural instincts.

Similarly, enrichment activities for dogs in Mechanicsburg can replace things that can be missing, despite their cozy life.

“Enrichment activities tap into a dog’s natural instincts, such as foraging, exploring, and problem-solving,” says Paw Prints Animal Hospital. 

Satisfying their need for these types of activities can make everyone in the house feel happier, relaxed, and more content.

Using those instinctual canine pursuits as a jumping-off point, here are some ways to add enrichment to your dog’s life.

Snack Hunt

Modern dog breeds were developed for many different purposes, from working tasks to guard duty to companionship. One thing that all breeds share in common, though, is that their ancestors had to work for their food.

While some dog breeds are excellent hunters or trackers, all dogs are great foragers. If you’ve ever found a torn open bag of snacks on the floor or a trash can that mysteriously “erupted,” you’re simply discovering irrefutable evidence of these foraging capabilities in action.

To satisfy your dog’s love of hunting and foraging in healthier ways, start hiding their treats in various parts of your house or yard. Once you’re done, it’s off to the races!

Introduce this activity with some smelly, easy-to-find treats that the dog loves — what trainers call a “high value” treat. You can gradually move down to less-stinky treats, like dog biscuits, and eventually start using their regular kibble. 

To motivate them to work even harder for their meal, you can even cut back on their diet portions and divvy the rest out through an engaging scavenger hunt throughout the day.

Great Dog Puzzles and Toys for Enrichment

If you’d prefer to limit your dog’s foraging to a single area of the floor, you can purchase or make many different kinds of food puzzles for their enjoyment.

Dog food puzzles are often sturdy, with hidden compartments or other ways to make them work for their snack. Many are made of plastic, but some have softer rubber or fabric components.

No matter what type of food puzzle or toy you buy, remember that any leftover saliva and food residue can quickly attract bacteria — not to mention pests. As such, make sure to thoroughly clean and wash any device you give them on a regular basis. 

Also, don’t hesitate to throw them out if they start to get stinky or your dog starts to destroy them. Many dog puzzle toys contain small plastic parts or bits of fabric that can be swallowed. Accordingly, you should watch your dog closely when they use a food toy. Remove it promptly once they have gotten most of the food or start to show signs of boredom, like chewing.

Sliding Dog Treat Puzzles

These types of puzzles usually have upside-down, cup-shaped compartments locked into tracks. The dog can’t get at the treats until the cup is removed from the track, revealing their prize.

Compartment Dog Puzzles

These dog food puzzles are similar to sliders, except the dog usually has to pry open a lid or dig out different, smaller containers before they can reach the food.

Wobblers and Rollers

These are a form of dog treat dispenser that has to be nudged a certain way for the food to come out. They can provide long-term fun and become the standard way your dog gets their treats — or even some of their regular kibble — throughout the day.

Snuffle Mat

Just like the name implies, these devices are designed for your dog to “snuffle” around and find all the bits of food within them. They can be homemade using a high-pile rub or bits of fabric sewn into ruffles, which act like compartments that hide the food.

There are also now commercially available snuffle mats, some with elaborate designs and themes like a cute vegetable garden.

Snuffle mats can get dirty more quickly than other types of dog puzzles, though, especially when they’re made of absorbent materials like fabric. Accordingly, make sure to shake out any remaining food after use, wash the entire apparatus with water and detergent, and allow it to dry.

DIY Muffin Tin Puzzle

Some dog puzzles can be made at home with materials you have on hand! One fun option is to use an old muffin tin (or one bought used at a thrift store in Mechanicsburg) and fill each space with treats. Then, cover up the spaces with tennis balls or other toys. Your dog then has to nudge or paw at the toys to get their prize.

Frozen Treats

You can take any treat your dog loves and freeze it in ice to make snack time an “extended-release” affair. Your dog may even like finding healthier options in the ice, thanks to the novelty, so consider using cucumbers, carrots, watermelon, bananas, or pureed pumpkin to make your homemade “pupsicles.”

Three Cup “Shell” Game

The same game that costs unlucky tourists hundreds of dollars on Atlantic City sidewalks can be enjoyed right at home with your dog! 

Simply take three cups or other sturdy containers and place a treat under one. You can then mix them around while letting your dog watch. They can pick the one they think has the treat in it. Spoilers: with their savvy hearing and smell, they’re bound to be a bit better at it than the average vacationer.

Safe Chew Toys

Chewing can provide hours of mental stimulation, especially for puppies. Make sure to pick sturdy materials that aren’t hard on your dog’s teeth. Also, just like with food puzzles, watch them during use, wash them often, and don’t hesitate to toss them when pieces or bits start to break off.

Dog Bubble Machines

Bubble machines can provide hours of entertainment and exercise for dogs and toddlers alike. For dogs, make sure to only use non-toxic bubble solutions. Some even come in dog-friendly flavors, like bacon or peanut butter.

Surprisingly, the study published in Animals found that bubble machines had some of the best results for making animals more calm and relaxed.

Agility Courses

Some working breeds have lots of energy combined with a need to complete tasks. Agility taps into both traits, giving the dog ample exercise while challenging them both mentally and physically.

You can start training with a few visits to your local dog park near Mechanicsburg since many offer free access to agility equipment. If you decide to get more serious about it, you can then rent space in facilities that have the equipment or purchase/build your own for home use.

Scent Hunts

Similar to a treat hunt, you can have your dog track down specific smells — and earn an award when they find the source. Dogs have hundreds of millions of scent receptors, after all, so they may be itching to put them to good use. Some breeds, like bloodhounds, even combine their need for work with their need to sniff.

You can alternatively take your dog on a “sniffari” by bringing them to new places or on alternate routes during your usual walk around Mechanicsburg.

Playsets and Play Dates Make Great Settings for High-Energy Games for Dogs

The aforementioned study published in Animals observed that the activities that invited high-energy play scored the highest in terms of positive effects.

In one tested method, dogs were given access to a new canine-sized playset, complete with tunnels, slides, and other features. Another method simply featured play with another dog they already knew.

Both activities exhibited the highest levels, including reduced stress, decreases in anxiety-related tics, increased relaxation, improved cognitive abilities, and reduced barking.

By comparison, activities involving foods scored the lowest. In a review of other studies, the authors concluded that food puzzles and games tended to produce the best results for dogs that were usually confined for most of their day.

Based on both observations, it seems like the more the dog is able to physically break out of their regular activities while still being mentally engaged, the more positive the end results will be.

Help Your Dog Find New Play Friends and Enjoy New Activities at Greenlin West in Mechanicsburg

Dogs can slay their boredom at dog daycare at Greenlin West in Mechanicsburg. There, they can plenty of mental stimulation while exercising and meeting new friends. We have four acres of outdoor play space, all protected by tall fencing. There are also in-ground, dog-sized swimming pools for nice weather and an indoor play gym for days when the weather is less pleasant.

If you’re interested in learning new games with your dogs or building up their skills to make enrichment more fun, we also offer Mechanicsburg dog training programs. Our play and train option combines engaging lessons with socialization and play at dog daycare. This one-two enrichment knockout can ensure that your pup has gotten all of their physical and mental energy out by the time you come to pick them up.

Learn more and schedule a free tour of our facilities when you call Greenlin West in Mechanicsburg today at 717-766-8622, visit our location at 710 Eppley Rd., or contact us online.