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Creative Dog Enrichment Ideas Dogs have the wonderful quality of being generally game for anything, no matter what. For instance, there are numerous simple dog enrichment activities to keep you both occupied if you’re ever trapped up indoors without access to a yard or park.

Whether you’re using your imagination to build a pillow fort for your dog to play in or whether it’s traditional dog games of fetch or hide-the-treat, you can go on playing for hours. Such activities, therefore, in case you are searching for some canine enrichment ideas, will definitely keep them interested.

Creative Dog Enrichment Ideas 

Designated Together Time

Many people’s everyday life now include working from home, but dogs may find it difficult to adjust to a new schedule.For this reason, establishing a new schedule that includes time set out for each other is a terrific idea.

“Try dedicating fifteen minutes daily to the same activity for a week.” Purina dog enrichment specialist Alex Johnson, MS advises finding a peaceful place and spending the entire fifteen minutes petting your dog while giving them your whole attention. You can also try telling them a tale or giving them extra praise.

Observe your dog’s behavior on the first day and compare it to how they behave a week later. When it’s time to play, they might start looking for you. Johnson continues, “continue as a daily activity, or change things up by keeping the same time but adding a new activity” if you both loved your time together.

Car Rides

Need to spend some time outside? Perhaps it’s time to leave. You can often get some much-needed mental clarity from a car ride, and chances are your dog will want to go too.

Take a moment to relax and take a quick drive in the neighborhood. Roll down the windows and let them take in all the sights and noises if the weather permits.

Dog Puzzle Games 

A do-it-yourself project for canine enrichment ideas is to make puzzle games out of cardboard boxes for your dog.

You can also purchase more than a few of the puzzle toys that are professionally in the market on sale.

Place the small pieces of treats or even dog food in the box with their toys. Let them sniff and dig to get the treats out, which they will do naturally using their digging abilities and keen sense of smell.

 Dog puzzle games boost your dog’s confidence and cerebral stimulation.

Couch Potato Play 

Spending hours watching television together with your dog is a great way to spend quality time together. However, you may keep them occupied on the couch by giving them something to do during this time.

Johnson advises having a drawer or basket filled with toys nearby, such pull-alongs or cuddly animals.For dogs, verbal encouragement suffices when they engage with a toy independently. Give them compliments; this will make them more eager to participate in the activity and prolong their playtime, the expert adds.  

Time to Explore

One of the enrichment ideas for dogs is creating new ways for them to discover familiar places. While as much as our dogs rely on us to provide them with exciting and new experiences, you can do so right here at home.

To keep things fresh, don’t forget to rotate your toys. Dogs can become bored, but most of them will become interested again when a toy disappears and then reappears.

Dog Forts and Box Tunnels

The traditional pillow and blanket fort is beloved by all.

Have your kids build an impromptu fort with whatever you have around, and pique their interest. Children could “hide some tasty snacks or favorite toys in the fort and allow the dog to search for it on his own and in his own time,” Johnson said.

The author still cautions parents to remind them that “it’s important for pets to investigate new spaces on their own time and in their own time.”

You can use boxes to make cities, towers and tunnels for small dogs to sniff their way through if you have had a lot of items delivered lately.

Pet Picnic

You can have this picnic outside in your backyard or on the floor of your living room. Picnics are always enjoyable. Arrange a comfortable area filled with your dog’s preferred toys and a few boxes or containers with their favorite snacks, meals, and playthings.

He says to set up boxes for them to discover and to consider giving them a little “unboxing” moment. “Enjoy this moment together in a new location with some unique, thrilling, and fulfilling experiences.”

Also Read : How to Read Dog Body Language

Treasure Hunt 

One of the enjoyable dog enrichment activities dogs do to flex their problem-solving muscle is foraging for food.

Just get your dog to search for goodies or toys by concealing those things in different boxes.

Johnson suggests you let your dog watch you do this first. Let them outside the room while you hide the “treasure” until they get the idea.

The idea is to start off easy so they can really get the game, and then you can progress,” she says.

You can also hide your dog’s food in small boxes, wrappings or toilet paper rolls and put them inside a bigger box that he can shred into, or you can just allow him to forage for some of his food in the yard.

If you don’t have boxes or packing on hand, try folding a towel in half lengthwise and putting some snacks inside as you roll it up. Then let your dog take some time to figure out how to open it up to get the treats.

Classic Games

Of course, there’s always the traditional dog games like fetch or hide and seek.

You might need to give your dog vocal signals to assist him discover you when you’re playing hide and seek. You might be able to contact him once and have him locate you using his sense of smell once he gets the swing of things.