Environment Enrichment
What is Environment Enrichment?
Environment Enrichment is providing any item of interest, an activity or a change in your dog’s
environment which will enhance their day! It is giving your dog something to do before they
find something to do themselves... We can actively provide them with a multitude of things to
happily do and keep them entertained. This not only enhances their minds, but it can stop
undesirable behaviours like barking, digging, escaping, and destroying items and things that
we like!
What's a dog to do? Enriching a dog’s environment can be done in so many ways; deciding
which one you're going to do first is usually the problem. There is a phenomenal amount of
toys, games and paraphernalia on the market these days which caters to enriching our dogs
lives - but don't be fooled, environment enrichment doesn't need to be expensive; you just
need an imagination, a desire to help your dog and a smile.
Strangely enough, one of the easiest and most rewarding things we can do with our dog is the
one thing that gets put to the side... and that is actually playing with our dogs. You are by far
your dog’s most favourite toy! Our dogs love to play throughout their entire lives. Over time
their games and desired interactions change but they generally still like to play with their
human family. You can play tug with rope toys, chase and catch, retrieving balls and items,
Frisbee, football, even a training session with you should be fun!
Environment enrichment is the foundation of many behaviour modification programs as it
encourages and shows your dog how to display acceptable behaviours rather than those that
are deemed unacceptable. If your dog has been left alone for hours on end over and over
again, with nothing to do with all of its energy, your dog has had many opportunities to practice
being destructive and the longer you let it go on the harder it will be to change the undesirable
destructive behaviours.
Provide three different enrichment items a day - ensure that everything you leave for your dog
is safe for your dog. Some dogs are happy to destroy and spit things out - others are
swallowers and some like to bury things for later. Choose appropriate items for chewing and if
unsure always supervise your dog with the item.
Below is a list of activities that your dog will benefit from and be stimulated by:
Walking/jogging/running - When out walking allow your dog to sniff things! They love to use
their amazing noses to see what’s been happening outside the house. Allowing them to sniff
activates the brain on so many levels and will actually tire them out mentally. If your dog is an
excessive sniffer try to vary it up by letting them sniff for the first half of the walk but on the way
home they have to pick up the pace and walk with you and not dilly-dally off in to smelly la-laland. If you are unable to do much walking due to your busy schedules then consider the
services of a dog walker. Coming home to a dog that has already been on a walk that day will
change the urgency of a rushed walk at the end of the day.
Take them for a drive - short trips to pick up people or the kids or gathering parcels from the
post office provides a fun change of scenery and another aspect of their local suburb. Always
secure your dog safely in a vehicle and never leave your dog in a hot car regardless of how
quick you think you’ll be.
A few hours at the beach - with the fun of digging in the sand, running up and down the sand
dunes and diving into the sea - if you’ve got a dog that thrives from this sort of activities then
find your closest dog friendly beach and get to it - be mindful if your dog has exposed pale skin
or white ears or nose; ensure you apply dog friendly sunblock, dogs get sunburnt too!
Watching the world go by - if your dog is interested in seeing what’s going on (but doesn’t get
overly excited by movement) then you could provide a viewing station at the front window or a
peek hole in the fence.
Super Training - getting involved in sports and activities such as agility, flyball, trieball or
trialling and obedience sports can be very enriching. There are sports for all dogs of all sizes
and ages. If high activity is not for you or your dog you could focus on nose/scent and trail
work.
Digging and wading in an appropriate backyard fashion - supply the right places to dig and
wade! If your dog loves digging then allocate them a sensible digging spot in the backyard
(not an area that you’ll be upset by if left untidy) and give them a sand pit. Kids clam shell
pools are perfect because they also come with a lid so you can cover it from the local cats
using it as a toilet stop and also from the rain. A paddling pool (another great use for a kids
clam shell pool) is refreshing and enjoyable. Float things in there like carrots and toys so they
can bob about. Make it a safe shallow depth and ensure that your dog can easily get in and
out without any trouble.
Hide and seek - if you hide their breakfast I’m sure they’ll find it! Scatter your dog’s dry kibble
across the lawn and let them have fun hunting around for every morsel. Hide treats around
the yard for them to find. Spray random scents or old perfumes in certain areas of the yard,
even a new smell can change their environment and be enriching. Alternatively plant a herb
garden for new smells to fill the garden.
Play dates - these days there are opportunities for dogs to go to day care whilst you are at
work. They get a full day of running around with other dogs in a supervised area. Be prepared
for them to be exhausted when you pick them up. Or even dropping them off at another
compatible dog-mates place for the day can be very fulfilling for both dogs.
Here is a list of things you might want to invest in:
The Kong - the infamous Kong lives up to its name. You’ll start by buying one, and end up
with a collection. These sturdy rubber hollow toys are great for stuffing with anything you
want. Check out www.kongcompany.com for more info and great recipes. I could go on about
this toy forever. Get one or three!
Doggy Door - allowing your dog to snooze inside when it’s too cold or too hot or allowing them
access to outside can vary their environment in one little swoosh, flap, flap, flap...
The Buster Cube, treat ball, Pyramid or Kong Wobbler - there are great toys that you can fill
with dry kibble and treats and your dog will roll these around shaking our every last biscuit
from the small hole until it’s empty, a great way to get them to work for their dinner.
A bundle of Toys - change what toys you put out for your dog every couple of days - yes - they
can get bored of the same old ones but if you rotate them a toy they found boring two weeks
ago may all of a sudden be the best thing ever! Know what your dog likes. If your dog likes
squeaky toys, plush toys, rubber toys or rope toys then make sure you’re spending your
money where it will be appreciated. If your dog destroys toys in a matter of moments - don’t
lose heart - just think about how much fun those moments were, this is where you need your
smile as you collect the arms, tails and disembowelled remains of what looked like a teddy.
Food treats - ears, snouts, trotters, tails, necks, wings, jerky - the list can go on. Your local pet
supplies store will have an array of dried, smokes or raw food treats to entertain your dog in a
good old chew off! You’ll even find vegetarian options!
Now here is a list of things that are great because they are basically free:
Paper towel/toilet cardboard rolls, egg cartons, milk cartons, cardboard boxes, cereal boxes,
pizza boxes - fill with treats and twist the end or smear the inside with peanut butter. Another
smile is needed - the shredded cardboard may add another thing to clean up but can’t you just
tell by the mess how enjoyable it was for your dog!
Put the recycling out! - plastic bottles make great noisy chew toys, remove the labels, lids and
plastic rings. Fill with mild beef stock flavoured water and make some small holes in it or put
kibble inside and make the holes big enough for the biscuits to fall through.
Ice blocks - imagination required here! You do something as simple as freezing some mild
beef or chicken stock into cubes or you could half fill an ice cream tub, freeze it and then add a
layer of goodness like a stuffed Kong, a sardine, a chicken neck, cheese cubes - anything
really! Watching them try to get through the ice is entertaining enough and when it’s perfectly
melted they’ll be rewarded with the treats you’ve left them inside! Good for a hot day and a
great slow release treat toy.
Which way do you swing? - A swinging tire or milk bottle hung from tree with kibble and treats
inside. Have holes in the milk bottle so the treats can fall out when knocked around.
The limit to the ways in which you can enrich your dogs environment is only limited by your
imagination. Of course at all times make sure you are thinking about your dog’s best interests
and that the treats, activities and changes that you are making to their day are 100%
appropriate for their individual needs. I.e. supplying a swinging game for a dog that has
arthritis is not appropriate nor is leaving the yodelling radio station on if your dog sings along.
Enjoy!
Image references:
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