Canine Enrichment: How to Keep Your Dogs Busy When You Go Back to Work

A tired dog is a good dog. Keeping your dogs stimulated is vital for their brain development and keeping them busy while you’re at work! Canine enrichment is the key to a happy, healthy dog. Canine enrichment isn’t just for puppies. All dogs of all ages need stimulation. Regular enrichment allows your dog to engage in their innate behaviors, such as playing, chasing, smelling, chewing, and scavenging, allowing them to be physically, emotionally, and mentally satisfied.

If you are looking for ways to keep your dogs enriched, especially when it’s time to go back to work, then look no further than this blog! We will break down five different ways to enhance your canine’s enrichment and keep your dog busy when you go back to work.

Canine Enrichment Puzzles/Brain Games

Your dogs love to use their brains to sniff around and look for food and treats. You can give them this much-needed mental stimulation by providing them with games and puzzles to enjoy. You can get your pup a snuffle mat, which is essentially a mat with many fleece flaps and folds in which you can hide your pup’s favorite goodies or food in. These mats give your dog a chance to use their highly sensitive noses to find the treats within the mat. This is a fun game for your furry friend and can keep them distracted while you’re gone at work during the day. 

Stuffed Kongs

Kongs can keep your fur kids mentally stimulated and entertained with minimal effort. You can fill it up with yummy treats and let it freeze overnight. 

The next day you will have an interactive toy that should keep your dog busy for at least 20 minutes. Depending on how full the kong is and how much you fill it up, it can take longer. You can stuff your dog’s kong with things like peanut butter or store-bought kong stuffing. Be sure to keep the kong challenging, as your dog will find plenty of clever ways to get the contents out. 

Food-Dispensing Toys

Another fun dog enrichment activity for dogs is using food dispensing toys. These toys contain holes and spaces where you can hide food and treat. Your dog will have to move it around and interact with it to get the treats out! 

These fun toys give your dog a chance to use some of its natural scavenging abilities in a fun and challenging way.

 If the treats coming out aren’t enough to keep your dog’s interest, then praise him as he gets each one out! This encouragement will keep them interested in using it. 

One popular food-dispensing toy is the well-known Furbo. This little gadget comes with the ability to dispense food by interacting with it through an app on your smartphone! They even come equipped with cameras so that you can keep a close eye on your dog and even talk to them while you’re out of the house! Keep them distracted during the day by randomly dispensing its contents. Your dog will happily stay focused on it, especially if there is something he likes coming out. 

Enroll Your Dog in Daycare

If your dog is well-socialized and enjoys being around other dogs, you can bring them to your local doggie daycare facility. Pet care facilities with a good reputation with have highly trained staff who know how to keep your pup safe and active. Find one in the Los Angeles area that fits your schedule. You can schedule a tour and interview the staff. If you know any local pet parents who have brought their dogs to daycare, talk to them and ask about their experience.

Hire a Dog Walker

Many reputable pet care facilities in Los Angeles include a dog walking service. Usually, the dog walkers they employ are bonded, insured, and belong to many pet care organizations. They send an experienced person to your home to walk your dog on regularly scheduled visits. For those pet parents whose workdays run long, a dog walker may be the only way your pup can get some much-needed exercise. We highly recommend Animal Magnetism for your dog walking needs. 

Another way to give your dog enrichment is by having regular dog training sessions with them. We can help you fulfill your dog’s need to be challenged by reviewing our training services! Contact us today to speak with a dog trainer about what we can do for you and your pup!