Much like people, our pets have layered needs, with physical activity and mental stimulation being strongly correlated to their expressed behavior and overall quality of life. Both needs can be fulfilled by allowing our pets to engage in instinctual behavior and activities. To provide “enrichment” in your pet’s life is to provide them with environmental stimuli that will satisfy natural instincts, promoting overall physical and psychological health (which leads to a happier pet!). Enriching your pet’s life can be fun and rewarding, but if you’re not sure where to start, we have a few ideas for the pets in your life to get you inspired!
Enrichment ideas for dogs
Physical enrichment
-Go for a walk or play in the yard together. Not only does this give you both the chance to get some steps in for the day, but it also gives your dog the satisfying opportunity to sniff and explore the world around them.
-Challenge your dog to a round of tug-of-war. What dog doesn’t love to bond with their owner over a classic tugging competition?
-Try a new activity together. Simple activities to try at home might include frisbee, fetch, or even a DIY obstacle course to practice agility!
Mental enrichment
-Try a puzzle toy. Many puzzle toys have hidden compartments for treats, encouraging your dog to use their senses to retrieve the treat. You can either make one yourself or find one that will work to your dog’s ability. Be sure to make it a challenge, but not too difficult to the point where your dog will lose interest!
–Play hide-and-go-seek or find-it games. Encourage your dog to sniff out their favorite treats around the home, or try toys like a Kong to encourage problem-solving habits!
-Training. Mental enrichment can be as simple as teaching your dog a new trick or encouraging behavioral cues such as “sit”. Of course, reward them throughout your training session with plenty of their favorite treats! Even just 10 minutes of training a day can lead to a happier and more well-behaved pooch.
Enrichment ideas for cats
Physical enrichment
-Bring out the toys that will satisfy natural instincts. Wand toys, mice, balls, springs, oh my! There are so many toys that bring out a cat’s instinct to hunt. Meg Yohn, ARL’s Feline Behavior and Enrichment Supervisor, suggests taking at least 15 minutes a day to play with your cat, especially using interactive toys such as a wand toy.
-Provide adequate space for climbing. Cats may spend up to 18 hours a day sleeping, but in between naps, they climb, hunt, and explore! Climbing is not only great exercise, but the higher up a cat can get, the more confident they feel. Try providing ample space for climbing around the home, including a cat tree, shelves, or other furniture with varied levels to climb across.
Mental enrichment
-Train with your cat (yes, you heard us right!). Have you ever seen a cat high-five? How about sitting and spinning? Cats love to train and learn new skills just as much as dogs do! Here at the ARL, many of our cats train through our Cat Pawsitive Pro program not only to enrich their lives but also to increase their confidence around their caregivers.
Yohn recommends Cat School Clicker Training on Youtube to get started with clicker training for your cat.
-Give space to scratch. Scratching can be seen as an undesirable behavior, and while it is true we do not want certain surfaces around the home to get scratched, we can help our cats fulfill this natural instinct in healthy and safe ways. You can make your own scratching board at home or find one at the store, and chances are, your cat will be eager to play on it every day.
-Try a puzzle toy. Just like the puzzle toys we mentioned above for our canine friends, you can try treat dispensing toys, flip boards, and more.
Enrichment ideas for small animals
Physical enrichment
-Make time for your small animal to get out of the cage. Getting your rabbit, guinea pig, or hamster out to play is one of the best ways to improve their happiness and quality of life. Bonus points if you can score some snuggles!
-Give them toys! Small animals love to play with toys just like any other pet. There are plenty of toys you can quickly put together at home using just cardboard tubes and hay. Check out our toy guide at the end of the blog for some ideas!
Mental enrichment
-Give your pet something to chew or shred on. If you have a small animal at home, you might not love that they chew on anything and everything. However, chewing is a soothing and natural instinct for small animals, so try offering something (safe) to chew on such as a toy or chew stick.
-Give them a hideaway shelter to explore. A hideaway shelter can be an enjoyable space for your small animal to explore and get cozy!
-Try scatter feeding. Scatter their next meal around safe easy-access spaces outside of their cage, and enjoy watching them go on the hunt for their food!
There is no better feeling than watching your pet thrive, so now that you have some ideas to inspire you, it’s time to have fun enriching your pet’s life! Begin by committing to one enrichment activity every day, and you will be sure to create fun and healthy habits for you and your pet for life.
Looking for DIY enrichment toy ideas? Check out our free downloadable guide!
Looking for some ideas on how to make some of these enrichment toys and puzzles at home? Even if you don’t consider yourself to be crafty, these toys are easy to make and are sure to enhance playtime for you and your beloved furry friend. Click here to check out our downloadable DIY toy guide and get started!
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