Festive Fun: Holiday Enrichment For your Dogs
Image description: yellow lab sits on a tan dog bed holding striped wrapping paper in her mouth. She sits in front of a decorated Christmas tree with the lights on and a cream colored wall.
Festive, Fun Holiday Enrichment for Your Pups!
The holidays are full of change for our dogs- change in environment with new decorations, new routines, guests, and smells! This can be overwhelming, for humans and dogs alike, but adding in some intentional enrichment for your dog will increase relaxation and help them stay fulfilled during the holiday chaos. Even better, you can make the enrichment festive!
Here are some easy, holiday enrichment ideas you can use this season- starting today:
#1: A Present Scavenger Hunt!
Take your pups toys or treats, current or new, and hide them around the house! Encourage your pup to go search for them. If they’ve never done this, start simple and in a small area. Use high value treats to encourage their searching and exploration!
#2: Gift Unwrapping!
Dogs love to shred, let’s give them an outlet in a safe, holiday filled way! Wrap a toy or treat for your dog in dog-safe wrapping paper (packing paper works well) and let your dog shred it. Not only do they get to enjoy shredding the paper, but there is a surprise inside for them. This one always brings some fun for humans and pups alike!
#3: Frozen Winter Treats
Utilize kongs, lickmats, woofsicles, and other frozen food toys to prepare a quick treat for your dog. Use dog safe treats such as their food, pumpkin, yogurt, etc. for a quick, frozen treat to keep them busy and satisfied
#4: Toy Bin Scent Snuffle!
Did your dog get a new toy bin or some new toys for the holidays? Try a toy bin scent snuffle. Take your dog’s toy bin, scatter kibble or treats into the filled basket. Allow your dog to search through the basket and their toys and find all the treats in it!
#5: Rotate the Toys!
As fun as it is to surprise your dog with new toys, rotating toys can keep them novel and exciting for them. Surprise them with one or two new toys for the holidays, then after a few days switch them out again.
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Holiday enrichment brings some much needed calm and fulfillment to our pups during the holiday season. It doesn’t need to be complicated to be effective! A few intentional activities will leave your dog more relaxed, fulfilled, and part of the holiday festivities in a safe, dog-appropriate way.
An enriched dog makes for a happier, more relaxed holiday!