Different Types of Enrichment For Your Dog

Chew Toys  

• Take’s focus & Determination.

• Help's improve dental health. 

• Help's reduce stress and anxiety. 

• Help's reduce destructive chewing.

• Help's provide a positive outlet. 

Recommended brands - West Paw, Goughnuts, Dura Fussed, Kong, Bento Ball.

( Do not pick a chew toy that is super hard because it can break your pup's teeth.)

Treat Dispensing Toys 

• Engaging their problem-solving skills

• Builds the dog's skills with their nose and paws.

• Encourages engagement. 

• Helps reduce stress

Recommended brands - West Paw, Kong, Snoop

Puzzle Games

• Teaches the dog how to work through frustration.

• Engaging their problem-solving skills.

• Builds a dog's skills with their nose and paws

• Encourage engagement.

• Helps reduce stress

• Builds confidence. 

Recommended brands - Chewy, Amazon 

Slow Feeders

•  Slows the dog down if they are fast eaters.

•  Healthier for their stomachs.

•  Engaging their problem-solving skills

• Teaches the dog how to work through frustration.

• Teaches the dog determination

Recommended brands - Soda pup 

Auditory Enrichment 

• Helps Build Confidence with noises

• Start of proper socialization

• Builds Trust between the dog and the human 

How to start auditory enrichment 

• Play different noises on a speaker or TV when the dog is playing with an enrichment toy or eating. Always start with easy sounds then gradually move on to different sound 

  ( Easy ex. Waterfalls, Music, People Talking ). ( Hard ex. Sirens, fireworks, airplanes ).             Start with sounds at a low volume and gradually build the volume. The dog should be comfortable the whole time.

Body Awareness Enrichment

• Dogs rely on their body awareness in a naturalistic setting where multiple solutions exist simultaneously. Dogs make decisions without lengthy trial and error and choose between options based on their body awareness.

• Builds Confidence

• Teaches the dog how to work through frustration.

• Teaches the dog determination

• Good physical exercise

Exercises to do - 

• Back up command 

• Oil pan drill ( front two feet on the oil pan and have then spin around it ) 

• Wobble Board

Sniffy Walks-

• Sniffing is a natural behavior for a dog. 20 min of sniffing is equivalent  to a 1 hr of walking. 

• Helps reduce stress.

• Gives the dog a outlet

Enrichment is so important in our dogs' everyday lives. A family dog should get at least 30 minutes of enrichment a day and a service dogs should get at least 1 hr of enrichment a day. 

*Dogs need to be supervised during any of these activities*

Comment your favorite enrichmnet toy below !!!

K9 Service Companions