Hello all, and welcome back to The Dog Trainer’s Den! Today, I wanted to talk a bit about mental enrichments and games, their benefits, and how to incorporate them into your furry friend’s routine. As professionals and pet owners learn more about our dogs and their needs, and as the standards of care change, mental enrichment and stimulation has been a topic on the tongues of professionals and pet parents alike.
But, why?
Just like their human counterparts, dogs can become anxious, bored, frustrated, or even depressed due to lack of mental enrichment and stimulation. Think about the pandemic, and the long lasting effects that have resulted from the uncertainty and isolation. Staying home every day and interacting with the same people created a sense of monotony in daily life that lead to anxiety, frustration, and depression for many.
When lacking socialization opportunities, new experiences, and the ability to engage in behaviors aligned with their species, our dogs can begin to suffer from the same struggles of anxiety, depression, and more. Many behaviors which prompt owners to seek professional training are be caused by or greatly exacerbated by boredom or lack of enrichment.
Research has extensively shown that an increase in mental enrichment and engagement results in an improvement in cognitive function as well as overall mental health in canines. It gives them an outlet which builds their confidence, releases stress, and ultimately deepens the owner-pet relationship.
One of my two fur babies, Lincoln, is a high energy dog. He is a roughly 2-3 year old Vizsla-Pit Bull mix who spent quite a bit of his life in a kennel, so now that he is free, he is wreaking havoc. Enrichments, DIY, store bought, and frozen have been my greatest tool in managing his behavior and energy.
I am not ashamed to admit that my dogs suffer from many of the behavioral issues and quirks that many non-professional owners deal with, because man, would I be lying if I said he was a well behaved dog. Lincoln has broken out of his crate and destroyed my apartment, he has chewed up his fair share of important things. We have had some pretty rough days since he came home 6 months ago. I tried quite a few things to tucker him out prior to the addition of enrichments. Treadmill, multiple walks, playtime, park trips, but it was never enough. Like a toddler in his terrible-two’s, he takes a nap and his power is fully restored.
The incorporation of a licky mat or occasional frozen Kong changed things for him. In addition to the exercise, the enrichments gave him the last bit of stimulation he needed to mellow out.
But, how do you incorporate something like that? Where do you start?
A great way to start is by adding variety to your dog’s walks. Dogs are curious by nature and have a sense of smell 10,000 to 100,000 times more acute than a human’s. Instead of strolling around your street for the 3rd time this week, try switching things up and taking your furry friend to a new park. Take a new route to the same places, take your pup to a local downtown area. While the physical exercise your dog receives is important, be sure to give him/her plenty of time to sniff and explore. This is their way of learning and engaging with the world.
One thing I have seen that tends to turn pet owners off of pre-made or store bought enrichment toys/games is the pricing. Some activities can cost you quite a bit, just for your dog to ultimately destroy it. This is where DIY enrichments such as the Muffin Tin game come in handy.
For the Muffin Tin game, you will need:
A muffin tin, kibble/training treats, and tennis/Chuckit/Kong balls/other similar toys
To set up the Muffin Tin game, allow your dog to watch you distribute several pieces of kibble/training treats into the muffin tin. Then, place each tennis ball/toy over the treats in the muffin tin. The idea is for your canine companion to have to use their brain to get to the food. This can be repeated several times for dogs with higher drive or energy levels.
Another fantastic and simple DIY enrichment is the Tennis Ball Treat Dispenser.
For the Tennis Ball Treat Dispenser you will need:
A tennis ball, a high value/smelly treat or kibble, and a craft blade/box cutter
Begin by cutting the tennis ball. This can be done along the seam of the ball, or in an “X” shape. After an opening is made, insert several of the treats/kibble. Give the ball to your canine companion, and the rest is up to them! This option is great for pups who are not particularly destructive, and are patient enough to roll the ball around as opposed to shredding it.
There are also several store-bought options available to pet parents on platforms like Amazon or Chewy. One of my personal favorites is the IBEEM Snuffle Mat. This snuffle mat has long, thick fibers which are placed very close to one another to provide a true challenge for your canine champion.
And of course last, but certainly not least, we have good old fashioned frozen enrichments. Frozen enrichments can offer an array of benefits, from adequate mental exercise to dietary enrichment.
Using old ice cube trays or cupcake/muffin tins, you can create an easy but effective frozen enrichment. Begin by pureeing a blend canine-safe ingredients such as kefir, plain yogurt, carrots, pumpkin, green beans, spinach, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, or blackberries. From there, pour the mixture into your tray/tin. Pop that puppy (the tin, not your actual puppy,) in the freezer and let freeze. After they are fully frozen, give to your furry friend in moderation.
All in all, the importance of mental stimulation and enrichment is not specific to humans. Our dogs need new experiences, new smells, new things to learn about, and the enrichments laid out in this post are a fantastic start for any pet parent looking to change things up.
As always, thank you all for joining me for this discussion. Have a great morning, day, or night… oh, and pet your dog for me.
The Dog Trainer's Den 
Leave a comment