10 DIY Dog Enrichment Games Using Things You Already Own

At a glance

• Enrichment means giving your dog chances to sniff, think, chew, forage and play. Purdue’s welfare researchers describe five types: physical, sensory, social, nutritional and cognitive ².
• Training and problem-solving can help dogs feel calmer, and novel scents can increase engagement and reduce stress-related behaviors, according to the RSPCA’s summary of the research ¹. Much of that research comes from kennels and shelters, so how well it carries over to pet dogs at home is less certain.
• Enrichment is not a replacement for rest, training or veterinary care ¹. Always supervise new games.

Nutritional games (using meals)

1. Scatter feeding

Instead of a bowl, scatter part of your dog’s daily kibble across the lawn or a clean floor. Sniffing out each piece slows eating and keeps the nose busy.

2. Towel snuffle mat

Lay a towel flat, scatter a few treats, roll it up loosely and let your dog unroll it. Use a thin towel, and stop if your dog starts chewing the fabric.

3. Muffin-tin puzzle

Put a treat in some cups of a muffin tin and cover each cup with a ball too big to swallow. Your dog has to work out how to move the balls.

4. Lick mat or stuffed toy

Spread a small amount of dog-safe food on a lick mat or inside a stuffable toy. Count it toward the daily total, and ask your vet which foods are safe for your dog.

Sensory and scent games

5. Find it

Show a treat, then toss it a short distance and say “find it”. Gradually hide it behind furniture or in another room. Scent games are among the easiest ways to give your dog’s nose a job.

6. Hide and seek

Ask your dog to stay, hide, and call. Reward generously when it finds you. It doubles as recall practice (see our training handbook).

7. Scent boxes

Put a treat in one of several open cardboard boxes and let your dog find the right one. Take away any box your dog starts shredding and eating.

Cognitive games

8. The cup game

Hide a treat under one of three cups and let your dog choose. Start easy: use one cup and add more as your dog learns.

9. Learn a trick

Short training sessions are among the best mental exercise. Teach a spin, a “touch” or a “back up” using rewards. Reward-based methods only, as recommended by veterinary behaviorists.

10. Toy names

Teach the name of one toy at a time. Hold up two toys, say the name of one, and reward when your dog picks the right one. A famous Border Collie named Chaser learned over a thousand object names, but she was an exceptional, intensively trained dog, so go at your own dog’s pace (see our Border Collie facts).

Keep it fresh and safe

• Rotate games and toys so they stay interesting.
• Match the game to the dog. Puppies, seniors and dogs with health problems may need easier or shorter versions.
• Watch for stress. If your dog gives up, walks away or seems anxious, make the game easier or stop.
• Never use enrichment as a substitute for exercise, rest, training or a vet visit for unusual behavior.

For the bigger picture, see our guide to how much exercise and mental stimulation your dog needs.