Enrichment

1. Work-to-Eat Toys and Bowls: Work-to-eat toys make your dog think while they eat, turning mealtime into mental exercise. These include puzzle feeders, treat balls, and food-dispensing toys, all of which help provide both physical and mental stimulation.

• Offer a mix of puzzle feeders and treat-dispensing toys.
• Rotate toys to keep things interesting.
• Supervise at first to make sure your dog understands how to use them.

2. Scent Games: Engaging your dog’s nose taps into their natural hunting instinct and provides excellent mental enrichment.

• Hide small treats around the house or yard for your dog to sniff out.
• Start with easy hiding spots, then gradually make it more challenging.
• Use toys with hidden compartments to extend playtime.

3. Training Exercises: Teaching your dog new cues and tricks keeps their mind active while strengthening your bond.

• Practice short, 5–10 minute sessions daily.
• Mix in both new behaviors and refreshers of cues your dog already knows.
• Reward with praise, treats, or play to keep training fun and positive.

4. Social Interactions: Socialization helps your dog build confidence and learn appropriate play and manners.

• Schedule supervised playdates with 1–2 friendly dogs, if your dog is comfortable.
• Invite trusted friends or family to interact calmly with your dog.
• Watch for signs of stress and always end on a positive note.

5. Tug-of-War and Fetch: Games like tug-of-war and fetch allow your dog to release energy and engage in natural play behaviors.

• Use sturdy toys designed for safe tugging.
• Keep tug-of-war structured by teaching a reliable “drop it.”
• Play fetch in a safe, enclosed space or on a long leash.

6. Off-Leash or Long-Leash Exploration: Exploration time lets your dog sniff, wander, and discover the world at their own pace.

• Use a secure, fenced area for off-leash time, or a long leash in open spaces.
• Allow your dog to lead with their nose and choose where to explore.
• Avoid over-structured walks—sniffing is enrichment too!

1. Toys that Encourage Stalking and Hunting: Prey-like toys—such as wand toys, plush mice, and kickers—encourage natural stalking and hunting behaviors. Laser pointers can also be engaging for short sessions. Since cats are most active in the morning and evening, aim for 5–10 minutes of play during these times.

• Rotate different prey-like toys to keep play interesting.
• Keep sessions short (5–10 minutes) and end on a “catch” for satisfaction.

2. Work-to-Eat Toys: Work-to-eat toys are designed to require your cat to use their brain to access their food. Puzzle feeders, treat balls, and food-dispensing toys can all be effective options for providing mental stimulation and encouraging your cat to work for their food.

• Introduce puzzle feeders and treat-dispensing balls.
• Rotate food toys to keep your cat engaged.
• Supervise at first until your cat learns how to use them.

3. Vertical Spaces: Cats are natural climbers, and providing vertical spaces for them to explore can be very enriching. Cat trees, shelves, and perches can all be great options for enabling cats to live vertically and engage in natural behaviors such as jumping and climbing.

• Place cat trees or towers near windows for entertainment.
• Install shelves or perches at different heights.
• Encourage climbing to support exercise and exploration.

4. Scratching Posts: Scratching posts and pads protect your furniture while giving your cat a healthy outlet for stretching and claw care. Scratching posts or pads that allow your cat to stretch and exercise their claws can be effective options.

• Offer scratching posts in multiple textures (carpet, sisal, cardboard).
• Place posts in areas your cat naturally wants to scratch.
• Use toys or catnip to encourage use of the scratching post.