Why should dog owners care about enrichment?
From puzzles to new experiences, canine enrichment can be just about anything that mentally or physically stimulates your dog in a positive way! Providing pets with mental and physical outlets is not only necessary for your pet’s well being but can be a fun bonding experience for the whole family!
Keeping your dog's needs met both mentally and physically is the solution when it comes to problem behaviors resulting from boredom and under-stimulation.
Instead of simply giving our dogs their meals in a bowl each day, play a game with their food. Dogs are hardwired with the ability to forage – a wide search over an area in order to obtain something, especially food or provisions.
Many owners can attest to seeing this drive in the form of dogs counter-surfing or mooching underneath the dinner table waiting for food to fall. We can meet their instinctual needs as foragers by making them work a bit for the food instead of providing a daily free buffet. Putting their meals in objects that requires them to put in effort, stimulates their mind while they are working for their food.
Benefits of a snuffle mat
Help stimulate their senses (sight, smell, touch)
Great indoor activity for rainy days
Use to slow down a fast eater
Inexpensive
A great DIY project