14/12/2023
🤗🧠 Let's Talk Enrichment! Perfect for a rainy day (or weekend), lazy Wednesdays
and high-energy Tuesdays. Enrichment is important and beneficial for all animals, it's easy, free, calming and can even build the human-animal bond.
So what is enrichment? There's no one answer, enrichment is different for everyone.
🔑 The key to enrichment success is knowing your pet and what motivates them.
🤤 If food is a motivator:
Make their 👃 sniffer work by hiding a few of their favourite treats around the house for them to find.
Or, grab an old toilet roll, egg carton or box from the recycling pour some of their food in and fill the item with some ripped up paper or cardboard recycling to make it extra difficult for them to rip open their prize - warning, mess is guaranteed with this one!
🧸 If toys are a motivator:
Just like with food, make a game of hide and seek featuring their favourite toy! Start small and simple hiding it in clear view in the same room as you both, before eventually ramping up that difficulty with the whole house as their open field.
Got a basket full of toys available 24/7? Rotate their toys weekly to keep things fresh and fun.
🥰 If your praise and affection is a motivator:
No surprises here, the hide and seek game works with you too! Have your pooch sit and stay while you go hide before releasing them from their position to find you. Once they sniff you out be prepared for plenty of cuddles and joy!
Or, spend 5-10 minutes on training! Their brain is working hard to follow a new cue and your praise is a motivating reward. Tricks don't always need to be practical, if they've got the basics down have them learn something quick and adorable like 'sit pretty', 'spin' or 'bang!'
Enrichment isn't just for dogs, from cats to birds, mice and fish enrichment is for everyone.
