Five low-fuss enrichment ideas using the food you already have

Enrichment is an outlet, not a performance

Good enrichment gives a dog a safe way to sniff, forage, chew, explore or solve a small problem. It should suit the individual dog and feel enjoyable—not become another test they can fail.

Using part of a normal meal can keep the activity simple and avoid quietly adding large numbers of calories. Begin easier than you think, supervise homemade activities and remove anything your dog tries to swallow.

Five places to start

Choose one idea, not all five. Watch what your dog actually enjoys and adjust the difficulty from there.

• Scatter a small handful across a clear patch of grass or a snuffle mat.
• Hide easy-to-find pieces around one safe room and say “find it”.
• Place food in several cups of a muffin tin; cover some cups with suitable toys.
• Roll dry food loosely in an old towel, supervised, and let your dog unroll it.
• Use a few pieces to reward a minute of simple, familiar cues or a new object-name game.

Keep food and materials safe

Count enrichment food as part of the day's diet. Ask your veterinarian about appropriate foods if your dog has allergies, digestive disease, weight concerns or a prescribed diet. Avoid improvised materials for a dog likely to swallow fabric, cardboard or toy parts.