DIY Enrichment

Olive working on a paper bag shred toy

In my last post, I shared all my favorite store-bought enrichment toys. For this post, I want to share my favorite type of enrichment. DIY!! There are so many ways to create an enrichment activity using stuff lying around our home. To prevent frustration, in the beginning, make treats easy to find and increase the difficulty as your pup gets the hang of the activity. Don't be afraid to get creative with how you play!

Disclaimers: supervision is required when you first introduce a DIY enrichment, and may be necessary every time one is given. If your pup is a heavy chewer or often eats things they shouldn't, some of these DIY enrichments may not be appropriate. When giving any frozen toy to a dog, please note that large chunks of ice can damage your dog's teeth.

• Cardboard

  • Paper towel rolls, TP rolls, egg cartons, or cereal boxes can be used to create little treat chests. Punch treat/kibble-sized holes in them, stuff crumpled paper and treats or kibble inside, then fold the ends and tape to seal.

  • Cardboard boxes can be used to make foraging boxes. Inside a large cardboard box, put smaller boxes filled with treats, crumpled paper, dog toys, etc.

• Empties

  • Empty water bottles or milk bottles are great crinkly toys! Simply wrap them in an old t-shirt, bag, or socks.

  • Give your pup empty peanut butter, cottage cheese, and yogurt containers to clean.

• Household objects

  • Snuffle mats/toys

    • Use a bunched-up bath towel or a shaggy bath mat to hide treats in.

    • Braid old socks together to create a rope toy.

  • Shell game

    • Hide treats upside down underneath any small bowl, pot, butter dish, or mug

    • Put treats in a muffin tin and set tennis balls on top.

  • Pupsicles

    • Using any freezer-safe, fillable object such as ice cubes or popsicle trays, drop treats and water or other dog-safe liquids, then freeze.

  • Bubbles

    • Combine 1 cup of water with 1 Tablespoon dawn dish soap.

• Games

  • Find it

    • Hide kibble treats or a stuffed food toy and send your puppy to search for it.

    • Take tarps, towels, crates, boxes, bags, bins, laundry hampers stuffed with paper balls and treats hidden underneath and throughout.

  • Scatter Feed

    • Take a handful of treats or kibble and scatter them around the floor, or a rug, or even the backyard grass to increase the sniffing challenge.

  • Obstacle/Agility course

    • Using furniture, cushions, or large boxes creates a maze for your pup to go through with a fun reward at the end. You can hide treats along the course for encouragement. Going around and over couch cushions and pillows is a great way to strengthen muscles and improve balance.

    • With two chairs or laundry bins with holes and a broomstick, you can make a jump.

    • Draping sheets over furniture can create tunnels

    • Tying a grocery bag or a thin cloth to the end of a rope can create a homemade lure course

  • Training Games

    • Round Robin- Have at least two people facing each other stand 10ft away. Take turns calling puppy. Reward generously once your puppy gets to you. Gradually increase the distance between people, but continue your encouragement and enthusiasm!

    • Name game- Call your puppy's name, and once they look at your reward.

    • Chase- Start moving away from your pup, enticing them to chase you by clapping or making a “smooching” sound. When the pup is within a few feet of you, turn and reinforce them with a treat, a toy, or the start of another chase. Be sure to stop the chase before they reach you.

    • Hide n Seek- Start by letting the pup see you hide behind the wall, door frame, or couch. Out of curiosity, most dogs will investigate. Reward your pup when they find you. Say your recall as your pup gets close to you. Slowly begin to add distance, then increase the complexity of hiding spots. Build on pup’s stay by using it when hiding.

    • Red Light/Green Light- Practice in the home with pup on leash. When they pull forward, wait for them to hit the end of the leash and then just stop “red light.” Don’t move. Wait for the dog to stop pulling forward and for a “J” to appear in the loosened leash. “Green light”, walk forward again. This game can take some time. To avoid frustration, practice with no distractions.

    • Check in- Throw a single kibble at a time across the room for your pup to chase. Let your pup come back and check in with you, and reward. Repeat for an entire meal.