Canine Enrichment Ideas - July 2023

Friends of the Cornell Riney Canine Health Center,

Summer is in full swing, and here in Ithaca, we take advantage of every good weather day we can get to make the most of it. My dog Mishka, the high energy, one-and-a-half-year-old Pomeranian that she is, does not mind any type weather — sun, rain, clouds or cold. While I wouldn’t describe myself as an “all-weather” person, my “all-weather” dog encourages us to head out on trails, even on the dreariest days. Yet this is one of the many enrichment activities I love providing for Mishka.

What exactly is enrichment? All dogs have natural behaviors they want to express — some more than others — including chewing, running, chasing, shredding, digging, fetching, sniffing, barking, playing and more. Enrichment means giving your dog opportunities to express these natural behaviors, which is crucial to their physical and emotional welfare. Best of all, enrichment strengthens the bond between you and your dog.

From puppies to senior pups, all dogs need and benefit from enrichment. The activities they enjoy will look different based on their age, breed, play style and any underlying medical conditions. For aging dogs, providing routine enrichment can help keep their brain stimulated and slow the progression of conditions like Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, aka doggy dementia.

There are many ways we can incorporate enrichment into our dogs' everyday lives in ways that don’t have to be fancy or expensive. I think of enrichment in several categories: sniffing, foraging, exploring, chewing, learning, problem-solving and more.

Sniffing
A great outlet to encourage our dogs to sniff are long leash walks in nature (separate from their relief walks). One of my (and Mishka’s) favorite enrichment activities is to go hiking with a long 30-foot lead. Mishka can choose which way to go, what to smell, when to run and when to walk. We use a long-lead for her protection and respect for others potentially sharing the space. Even for a dog with excellent recall like Mishka’s, using a long lead can help keep you in control and your dog out of trouble.

Regular leash walks can be just as enriching for dogs that cannot physically participate in long walks. You can increase the enjoyment your dog gets out of each walk by allowing them to sniff uninterrupted without rushing them along, allowing them (when safe) to choose which way to go, and walking in new or varied locations. Senior dogs or those with arthritis may have difficulty walking, so be mindful of how they handle a walk (stopping, not walking, laying down or otherwise). When my senior Pomeranian, Java, was still around, she became less interested in walks but loved uninterrupted time to sniff and meander outside.

Foraging
You can use your dog's portioned meals for the day to make mealtime more interesting. Research has shown that dogs prefer food rewards that they earn as an achievement from problem-solving more than freely accessible food. Alternatively, you can use low-calorie treats.

Some ideas for foraging and sniffing include:

• Snuffle mats, which are like extra shaggy rugs to hide food or treats.
• Scatter feeding, or the “find it” game — hiding food around the house or yard and letting your dog hunt and sniff for each piece. When I first introduced this game to Mishka, I made it easy by letting her watch where I put the treats. Then I added the cue word, “find it,” to communicate when she could start her search. As your dog learns the game, you can progressively make the game more challenging to increase their mental stimulation.
• Interactive food dispensing toys or puzzle feeders can be purchased or made. Easy homemade puzzle feeders include scattering the food in a cardboard box filled with crumpled paper or your dog's toys. Muffin tins can be used to spread out their food, and you can add a layer of difficulty by putting tennis balls on top. Other options include putting kibble in a plastic bottle without the lid, or using empty paper towel tubes and putting kibble inside with the ends folded. You can get pretty creative with these foraging toys!

But remember, always monitor your dog when they’re using their enrichment toy, especially if they have a history of eating inappropriate objects.

Chewing and licking

Chewing and licking can be self-soothing for dogs. You can give them more rewarding options with food-stuffed kongs, long-lasting chews and LickiMats. You can use anything from canned wet food or yogurt, to peanut butter or pumpkin puree. Freezing these treats before giving them to your dog will keep them occupied for even longer.

If your dog has dietary restrictions, you can consult with your veterinarian for appropriate substitutes.

Learning

Training through positive reinforcement is a form of enrichment suitable for dogs of any age that provides your dog with mental stimulation through learning. It also improves your communication and bond with your dog. The saying is true that you can still teach your old dog new tricks since most learning does not require much physical exertion.

You can teach valuable behaviors such as “sit,” “down,” and “stay,” or other fun trick behaviors. Whether it's basic manners or tricks, training can help your dog hone their skill of attention and problem-solving.

All these different forms of enrichment will help enhance your pet’s quality of life and strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Keep in mind that sometimes when our dogs display “unwanted” behaviors (chewing things they shouldn’t, among others), this might partly be due to a lack of enrichment.

We hope you have a blast trying some of these ideas, and we look forward to catching up with you next month!

Dr. Aly Cohen
Extension Associate
Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center