Non-Food Related Canine Enrichment

We’ve previously tackled food related enrichment in our blog post “What is Canine Enrichment” and we’ve also given you some ideas on how to keep your pups active during quarantine with your blog post “Top eight ways to keep your dog busy during quarantine”. But how can we create enrichment without using food?

What is non-food related enrichment?

As we’ve previously discussed enrichment is any sort of activity that is designed to create mental stimulation and enhances your dog’s mental state. Enrichment makes your dog use their brain to problem solve and pick up new skills. It could mean taking your dog out to a field on a long line to let them sniff or it could be it can also be letting your dogs shred cardboard boxes.

Why is non-food related enrichment so important?

It’s so important because letting your dog express natural behaviors can not only help them build confidence it can also help them relax. Local dog trainer Jenny Efimova of Dogminded wrote an excellent article on the power of non-food related decompression walks.

Ball Pit Amazon.com

Okay, so what can I do to create enrichment for my dog?

There are TONS of different things you can do for your dog. You can take them out for a decompression walk where they’re on a really long line or off leash and have freedom to move around and sniff as much as they want. You can make them a sand pit with a kiddie pool for dogs who like to dig. The sand pit is a really great way to encourage dogs natural foraging and digging abilities.

Okay, but my dog doesn’t like to dig or sniff.

First, I find it hard to believe you have a dog who doesn’t like to sniff. Dogs literally have 200 million olfactory cells and sniffing is the most natural thing dogs know how to do. My own dog absolutely LOVES to sniff. We call it reading peemail. I jokingly tell people she’s like your grandma who is just learning how to use email and hits reply all instead of just reply because she also leaves her own peemail behind all the time. You can also get flavored bubbles and blow bubbles for your dogs.

Okay, but this seems like too much effort, what can i do that’s easy?

If none of the above are of interest to your dog you could try a flirt pole. These are great for when you can’t get outside to do a lot of exercise. BTB member Gimli loves his flirt pole so much his parents have to keep it hidden. You don’t even have to make your own you can buy one on Amazon. You can even take your dog on a long car rides which are perfect for dogs who love the car. Or maybe your pup would like a ball pit instead? These are all really great ways to create enrichment for your pups.

Some words of wisdom

If your pup gives up and doesn’t want to continue because it’s too hard for them, you should bring it back to an easier point where they are having fun. You don’t want to make it difficult for them. Enrichment should be fun and exciting for your pups, not hard and challenging. Also if you have a dog trainer who is not actively talking about enrichment ideas with you and your pups, it may be time to find a new one. Enrichment is a huge part of training these days and a trainer who isn’t talking about it probably isn’t up to date with their training credentials. We’d also like to mention that laser pointers are NOT considered enrichment. They’re actually really bad for dogs and can cause behavioral issues.

Some places for inspiration:

As you can see here Johnny and Bodhi’s mom is always doing fun enrichment for them.

The Facebook group Canine Enrichment is an excellent source of inspiration. This is where I learned of Bindisbucketlist this woman takes enrichment to a whole different level. She is so creative and it truly amazes me. You don’t have to be as creative as her that’s totally okay. It’s just great to get some ideas when you’re running low. I also get really great ideas from our friends from down under Johnny and Bodhi. Their mom is always doing some fun enrichment. As a matter of fact if it weren’t for Johnny and Bodhi I wouldn’t have known about the Likimats that my dog loves so much.

Show us how you do enrichment:

On Instagram or on Facebook. Also check out our YouTube Channel for more DIY ideas. We’ve created an Enrichment playlist with a bunch of different videos for inspiration.

What is Canine Enrichment

You may have heard this term before but maybe you aren’t sure what exactly it is. We even talked about it in the beginning of quarantine with our blog post “Top eight ways to keep your dog busy during quarantine”. But what exactly is enrichment? For this post we’re going to explore ways to use food for enrichment.

What is enrichment?

Enrichment is any sort of activity that is designed to create mental stimulation and enhances your dog’s mental state. Enrichment makes your dog use their brain to problem solve and pick up new skills. It could be different ways of feeding your dogs, and it could also be taking your dog out for a sniff walk. With enrichment you want you give your dog an opportunity to engage in activities that come natural to them like sniffing, scavenging, shredding, licking and chewing. There are many different types of enrichment.

Why is enrichment so important?

Enrichment is important because it helps keep your dog’s brain active by creating new and exciting ways for them to do new things. Enrichment gives your dog the chance to engage all their natural senses like sniffing, or scavenging.

West Paw Toppl Photo Amazon.com

Okay, so what can I do to create enrichment for my dog?

There are TONS of different toys out there that can be used for food enrichment. We gave you some awesome ideas here but there are even more you can use. Some of our favorites include the Westpaw Toppl, the Holee Roller ball, a snuffle mat, the Nina Ottosson toys for Outward Hound, the SodaPup toys, and the PetSafe Chilly Penguin.

Okay, but I don’t want to give my dog lots of treats.

That’s okay you don’t have to use treats for everything. You can use your dog’s daily food for almost anything. You can also add in some dog safe fruits and veggies for something extra. There’s all sorts of ways to mix things up with your dog’s food instead of just feeding them out of a boring bowl. You need to look beyond the bowl and be creative with how you feed.

Okay, but I don’t want to spend a ton of money on new toys!

Honestly you don’t even have to spend a cent with enrichment. You can use lots of household items for these activities.

• What are you doing with those toilet paper rolls? Nothing? Hide food in those and then hide them around the house. I’ve even seen people make advent calendars with toilet paper rolls.

• Have some spare towels? Throw some food in there and roll it up.

• Empty Amazon boxes? Throw some paper in there with food and let them forage for their food.

• Have some empty plastic bottles going in the recycling? String a rope through them and hang it in a doorway for your pup to try and get their food out.

• Have a muffin tin hanging around? You can use that too for enrichment.

Some words of wisdom

If your pup gives up and doesn’t want to continue because it’s too hard for them, you should bring it back to an easier point where they are having fun. You don’t want to make it difficult for them. Enrichment should be fun and exciting for your pups, not hard and challenging. Like when I feed my dog in her Toppl, if she can’t get to the stuff at the bottom and gives up I happily loosen it for her so that she can easily access it. Also if you have a dog trainer who is not actively talking about enrichment ideas with you and your pups, it may be time to find a new one. Enrichment is a huge part of training these days and a trainer who isn’t talking about it probably isn’t up to date with their training credentials. In an effort to make things last longer we’re a big fan of freezing things. It makes the enrichment activity last longer without upping the difficulty. It’s not necessary to use a freezer I just happen to like this option for my own dog.

Some places for inspiration:

As you can see here Johnny and Bodhi’s mom is always doing fun enrichment for them. What pup wouldn’t love a shark fin?

The Facebook group Canine Enrichment is an excellent source of inspiration. This is where I learned of Bindisbucketlist this woman takes enrichment to a whole different level. She is so creative and it truly amazes me. You don’t have to be as creative as her that’s totally okay. It’s just great to get some ideas when you’re running low. I also get really great ideas from our friends from down under Johnny and Bodhi. Their mom is always doing some fun enrichment. As a matter of fact if it weren’t for Johnny and Bodhi I wouldn’t have known about the Likimats that my dog loves so much. Not only does their mom do some really awesome enrichment but their account in general his absolutely hilarious.

Show us how you do enrichment:

On Instagram or on Facebook. Also check out our YouTube Channel for more DIY ideas. We’ve created an Enrichment playlist with a bunch of different videos for inspiration.

it’s Kennel Cough season

It’s kennel cough season and we’re here to help you recognize the signs and symptoms of kennel cough.

what is kennel cough?

Kennel cough (canine infections tracheobronchitis) is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Kennel cough is most commonly contracted at dog parks, shelter environments, doggie daycare and boarding facilities.  Much like the common cold in humans, kennel cough can be spread from one dog to another through airborne transmission, nose to nose contact, or sharing water/food bowls. Good news is that kennel cough is super treatable although it is harsher for young and immunocompromised dogs.

How to Tell if your pup has it?

You’ll know, trust me! My dog Shyla has had it twice and it’s a sound unlike anything else I’ve heard come out of her.  Other than that here are some symptoms to watch out for:

• cough (it will sound like a your pup has something stuck in their throat or like a honking sound)

• sneezing

• runny nose

• loss of appetite

• lethargy

• low fever

HOW IS IT TREATED?

There is a vaccine for it, but much like the flu vaccination there are different strains that the vaccination does not protect against, so a trip to the vet to confirm the diagnosis is needed. Depending on the severity of symptoms, your vet will either let the virus run its course or will prescribe antibiotics. There are also some natural ways to help your pup through this with honey and coconut oil. Whole Dog Journal has laid out some really great ways to help clear up kennel cough naturally.

ways to prevent kennel cough

It is so important to pay attention to our pups. While kennel cough is usually very treatable it can sometimes develop into more serious conditions like pneumonia. Kennel cough can be prevented by limiting exposure to infected dogs and staying away from areas like the dog park when an outbreak has occurred.

what if symptoms persist?

If symptoms persist for more than two weeks it could be a sign of something more serious like pneumonia or congestive heart failure. Another trip to the vet will be needed to rule out anything more serious.

Top eight ways to keep your dog busy during quarantine

During this challenging time of shelter in place and stay at home orders, we're all looking for ways to help our dogs stay engaged and active, not to mention ourselves. A sudden new routine can be hard on everyone, especially our dogs. We need to make sure there's enough stimulation to help them deal with boredom and anxiety because our being home is simply not enough. To help you find fun ways of making the most out of quarantine with your pup, we’ve put together a list of the best dog toys and enrichment games that they’ll love.

Trixie Windmill Activity Strategy Game Dog Toy

Credit Petco.com

If you’re looking for ways to keep your pup entertained while you’re trying to work from home, look no further than this windmill activity toy from Trixie. With four tubes and two different sets of tube covers for different levels of difficulty, it really keeps your dog entertained. My dog loves this game! They have to figure out how to move the windmill blades in order to get the treats to fall out, whether it be using their paws or their mouths. The more the blades move the more treats fall out, so they’re rewarded for creating a winning strategy.

Shyla loving her likimat, credit BTB

Hyper Pet LickiMat Boredem Buster Slow Feeder Dog & Cat Mat

Two likimats are better than one, credit BTB

These likimats area huge hit in our house. Designed with different ridges likimats engage your pup’s senses when they lick the tasty treats off of them. Repetitive licking has been shown to produce a calming hormone therefore reducing your pup’s stress. My dog loves to lick things and the more she licks the more tired and relaxed she gets. You can spread peanut butter, yogurt or even some bananas on these mats to give your pup something to do while you’re taking that work conference call on Zoom. Throw these in the freezer to make them last even longer. If your dog is a chewer or a puppy who is still teething then you’ll want to get the Likimat Solmo. The Solomo is virtually indestructible and can be cleaned in the dishwasher after use.

Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Dog

There are a variety of different toys by Nina Ottosson for Outward Hound Dog that can keep your pup busy while also giving them the mental exercise they need. Each toy has varying degrees of difficulty from level 1 to level 3. You can start at level 1 and if you find it too easy for your pup then you can up the level of difficulty by locking certain features of the toys. Here are a few of our favorites.

Credit Outwardhound.com

Dog Brick: You can hide treats inside and the dogs have to use their paws or nose to slide the bricks in order to reveal the treat. You can also make this activity even more difficult by adding white blocks in the middle therefore making the ability to slide the bricks even harder. This a great intermediate level toy.

Credit Outwardhound.com

Twister Interactive Dog Toy: This interactive toy is challenging and fun for your dog. Your pup will have to find the hidden treats by moving the blocks in different circles. As with most of these toys by Nina Ottosson you can increase the difficulty by locking the blocks with bone-shaped blocks, which are placed in the hollows of the game. Dogs have to learn to unplug the blocks by lifting the pegs one by one in order to be able to move the blocks and then find the treats.

BTB Member Luna trying to figure out how to get the treats out of her Dog Casino

Dog Casino: The Dog Casino is a great game for you and your dog. Hide treats in the appropriate slots and watch your dog look for treats using their nose or paws pulling out the flaps. Like most of the Nina Ottosson toys you can increase the level of difficulty by locking the flaps using the bone-shaped pegs on top. Even BTB member Luna can’t figure out how to unlock the pegs on this toy.

Trixie Activity Poker Box Interactive Dog Toy, Level 2

Credit Trixie.de

Your pup will have to use all their smarts to get the treats out of this toy. With four different boxes you can hide kibble or treats inside them. Your pups will really have to challenge themselves as the activity uses lids, flaps, knobs, ropes, and drawers. Your pup will have a blast trying to figure out how to pull the ropes in order to gain access to the hidden treats. They’ll challenge themselves trying to work the knobs and flaps. If your dog is anything like mine, they’ll do just about anything to get at the hidden food.

Towel Treats and Nose work

If you're thinking, ”ok but I have plenty of toys already,” then give towel treats a try. Towel treats are a great way to keep your dog active and having fun. Did you know that dogs have 200 million olfactory cells? It’s true! This is the reason why dogs are used to sniff out contraband at airports and work with police. Nose work is really great for dogs it helps bring out their natural ability to hunt. Putting treats in a towel and rolling it up for your pup to uncover the treats is a great way of intellectually stimulating your dog and tiring them out in a good way. If you want to know more, Whole Dog Journal offers a great step-by-step for nose work and scent games.

Scavenger Hunt

From our Halloween meetup, credit Brendon Curtis msitphoto.com

Who doesn't love a scavenger hunt? This is fun for dogs, kids and even adults too. The first step is to have your dog stay in place while you hide treats around the house. If your dog is like mine and won’t stay that’s okay too, you can have someone hold your dog while you hide the treats. The second step is to bring your dog out to where you have hidden the treats let them try to find the treats on their own. Don’t worry if they don’t find them all right away that’s totally normal even with a hyper food motivated dog. You can bring the dog around to the different places where you’ve hidden treats so that they get them all. This is a great way to bond with your dog. They’ll look to you for guidance and to show them where the food is hidden.

show us how you’re keeping busy

On Instagram and on Facebook.