BORED DOG? FETCH ACTIVITIES TO BOOST YOUR PUP’S BRAIN POWER!

How Much Enrichment Do Dogs Need? The Experts Weigh In

Canine enrichment is the term we use for any kind of activity that adds a positive experience to your dog’s day-to-day life. While a weeklong adventure to the Canadian Rockies might be enriching for some dogs, we usually use the term “canine enrichment” to describe the kinds of activities you can easily add to average daily life with your dog.

As a certified canine enrichment specialist, I often get asked: how much enrichment do dogs need every day?

The truth is, it depends on your dog and what they enjoy. But as a basic guideline, doing something enriching with your dog for 15 minutes a day is a realistic goal.

I’m confident you can find a few minutes here and there in your daily routine to make life a little more interesting – more enriching – for your dog. In this blog post, we’ll look at how you can easily add 15 minutes of enrichment to your dog’s life every day!

I’ll get into that more later in this blog post. For now, let’s look at what quality canine enrichment means.

how much enrichment do dogs need

Go for Quality Over Quantity With Dog Enrichment

Before we get into how much enrichment your dog needs, I want to mention that more isn’t always better when it comes to canine enrichment.

Dogs who are constantly stimulated can develop anxiety or problem behaviors from being overly tired. It’s also hard for dogs to practice calm behaviors if they’re not given the chance to rest and relax.

Another thing I want to point out is that what’s enriching for one dog might not be enriching for another. There are actually 7 categories of canine enrichment. So when it comes to giving your unique pup an enriching experience, you want to figure out what they like and give them more of that.

Dog enrichment is all about adding something positive to your dog’s life. So it makes sense that we want it to be an activity they actually enjoy!

For example, my dog Lucy loves to sit in the park and watch other dogs, people, squirrels, leaves, etc. While she’s sitting there, she’s also sniffing and listening to sounds around us.

We call this activity “sit and watch the world go by” and Lucy actually asks me to do this on our walks. So I always make sure to leave 5-10 minutes per day for us to sit and watch the world go by.

15 minutes of enrichment for dogs

On the other hand… my other lab Burt does not like to sit and watch the world go by! He loves to sniff, investigate, and search for things. So I make sure to let him sniff when we go on a walk or if we’re outside in the backyard.

As you can imagine, walking with Burt and Lucy we don’t cover a lot of miles! We walk slowly so Burt can sniff everything. Then we sit on a bench for 5 or 10 minutes. But this is an example of how the quality of our walk is customized for my dogs and what’s enriching for them. We might only walk 1 mile, but they both get an enriching activity.

Figuring out what is enriching for your unique dog is so rewarding! It’s a great way to strengthen your human-animal bond because you’ll see that you’re communicating with each other. It’s pretty magical when we take the time to slow down and listen to our dogs!

Once you figure out what’s enriching for your own unique dog, we can talk about how much time you should dedicate to those enriching activities every day.

How Much Enrichment Do Dogs Need?

There’s a popular saying in the dog world that 15 minutes of a dog enrichment puzzle is equal to a 1-hour walk.

That is a catchy idea, but it is not true.

Doing a puzzle provides cognitive enrichment for your dog. But if they’ve done the same puzzle over and over again, it loses its luster.

The same thing can happen with a walk. You might go for a wonderful walk with your dog in a new place where there are a lot of great smells, sounds, and sights. Or you might do the same loop around your neighborhood over and over again, rushing your dog to get home so you can get on with your day.

See how quality over quantity really matters with canine enrichment? One activity – like a puzzle versus a walk – is not better than the other. But a really great puzzle might be better than a really boring walk. And an interesting walk might be better than a boring puzzle.

But one thing about that popular saying is true. 15-minutes per day is a great goal for dog enrichment activities. 

The amount of enrichment that’s right for your dog is going to vary a lot based on their age, energy level, breed, etc.

tight on time

For example, a healthy adult border collie might need more enrichment to keep them satisfied. While, if you have a puppy, literally everything in the world is new to them, so as long as you provide an enriching environment, they’re being engaged all day.

Something to keep in mind as you figure out how much enrichment your dog needs is that dogs require a lot of rest. Many of us are tempted to get dog mom guilt by thinking that if we’re not constantly doing something with our dog, we’re bad pet parents.

But that’s not true, either!

According to the American Kennel Club, “Dogs tend to spend as much as half of their days asleep, 30% awake but relaxing, and just 20% percent being active.”

Again, this will vary with your dog’s breed, age, health and size.

Let’s keep thinking about these 15 minutes of dog enrichment per day and talk about what kinds of activities you could do for those 15 minutes.

15-Minute Dog Enrichment Ideas that Strengthen Your Bond

I’m going to be repeating myself here, but remember: quality over quantity when it comes to dog enrichment!

If you’re going to dedicate 15 minutes per day to enrichment for your dog, I recommend that you make it an activity that strengthens the bond you share. Too many dog owners think of enrichment as a babysitter for their dog.

Some people reach for food enrichment like a stuffed kong as a way to get their dog to leave them alone.

While stuffed kongs are a great PART of enrichment, if that’s all you do, you’re missing out on one of the biggest benefits of enrichment: building a bond between you and your dog!

benefits of dog enrichment

That’s why I recommend that when you spend 15 minutes per day on dog enrichment you spend that time on an activity you do together.

Because this is so important – and often overlooked – I created a mental enrichment activity pack with 10 brain-boosting activities that are all about bonding with your dog.

Here are 15 examples of bonding dog enrichment activities:

  1. Play Hide and Seek*
  2. Teach your dog a new, fun trick (Puppr app is great for that!)*
  3. Play fetch. See if your dog will keep fetching if you rotate toys!*
  4. Play a scent game like a backyard scavenger hunt*
  5. Do a snuffle mat
  6. Go for a training walk and practice skills hand targeting. Reward them well!*
  7. Take a leisure sniffari walk to explore a new area
  8. Play the “which hand” game with yummy treats*
  9. Play in the water together – find a lake, creek or puppy pool to play in
  10. Set up a living room surface circus and guide your dog through it
  11. Make a DIY Busy Box and supervise as they solve it to find food*
  12. Introduce your dog to a new scent using tea
  13. Have dinner in the park (your dog may enjoy a picnic dinner, too!)
  14. Create a towel burrito by rolling treats up in a towel, repeat a few times
  15. Make your own puzzle toys with tennis balls, a muffin tin and some treats.

The activities with a star are demonstrated by me and my dog Lucy in our mental enrichment activity pack.

As you can see, most of the enrichment ideas I listed can be done with items you already have at home. You don’t need to buy new enrichment toys to stimulate your dog. Some of these ideas just require your dog’s favorite treats and a little bit of time. Ideally, about 15 minutes 😉

You might notice that a lot of these activities involve your dog’s nose. That’s because scent work is a big part of enrichment. But you don’t want to overdo it.

“10 minutes of searching is actually a lot of work,” says DogNostics faculty member and dog trainer Louise Stapleton-Frappell. “Quit before your dog gets exhausted. You can slowly build up duration, distance, and distractions like with any other training.”

sensory enrichment for dogs

What does this look like in real life? Let me tell you about my dogs Burt and Lucy and their daily routine:

  • Morning walk that’s about 45 minutes, usually around our neighborhood.
  • 1 meal per day will be in a slow feeder bowl, a snuffle mat or a DIY busy box.
  • Afternoon 10-minute play session (like fetch, trick training, or hide and seek)
  • Evening walk to a nearby park where they get to see dog friends or sit and watch the world go by.
  • A few times a week when I leave the house, I turn on music for them (look on YouTube for relaxing dog music)

This routine is just as enriching for me as it is for the dogs! I love to sit and watch the world go by with Lucy. I love to play fetch with Burt, even if he’s still figuring it out. And one of my favorite things in the world is building them a busy box and watching them tear it apart.

The 15-minute suggestion isn’t a hard rule. Any added enrichment that you can provide your dog with is better than nothing! And keep in mind, that there is such a thing as too much. Dogs need rest and time to passively relax.

Fit Quality Canine Enrichment Time into Your Daily Routine

In summary, quality canine enrichment is all about engaging sensory activities that are tailored to your dog’s unique preferences, age, breed, etc. Remember my tips about quality over quantity. There are a ton of great ideas in this blog post to get you started!

Aim for at least 15 minutes of added dog enrichment activities each day. This can be in 3 small sessions spread out throughout the day. Or maybe it’s better for your lifestyle to do a longer bonding enrichment session after work each day. Remember, dogs need rest as much as they need stimulation, so balance is key.

The DogSmith Founder & President Niki Tudge, recommends to, “keep all your training sessions short and fun. Stop on a high note, before fatigue or boredom kicks in!”

Encourage your dog’s mental and physical health by experimenting with different enrichment activities and figuring out what works best for them. Doing this kind of dog enrichment consistently will strengthen your bond and improve your dog’s well-being.

the right amount of enrichment for dogs

Bonus Questions about How Much Enrichment Your Dog Needs

Q: What are some quick and effective dog enrichment activities for busy pet parents?

A: For the best bang for your buck, time-wise, I love to play hide and seek around the house with my dogs. This is more cognitively challenging for your dog than you think!

First, they need to concentrate to stay in their “place” while you hide, then they need to find you! If you have multiple floors in your home, you can hide upstairs and then your dog will need to go up and down the stairs, providing physical enrichment. That’s one of our favorite activities when I want something really good but only have about 10 minutes. 

More quick enrichment activities are things like a towel burrito with treats, a muffin tin tennis ball puzzle with some treats, a short trick training session, or introducing your dog to a novel smell.

Q: How can I tell if my dog is getting enough mental stimulation?

A: If you’re asking this question and reading this post, I believe you care enough about your dog that you’re giving them a great life! But, you may still want to be on the lookout for your dog exhibiting signs of extreme boredom.

A bored dog, lacking appropriate mental and physical stimulation may get themselves into trouble by looking for ways to entertain themselves. This usually leads to problematic behaviors such as digging and shredding, incessant barking, and inappropriate destructive chewing. Those are some common ways that we see dogs trying to alleviate their own boredom and ease anxiety.

Q: Is there such a thing as too much enrichment for my dog?

A: Yes! You don’t want to constantly expose your dog to stimulation. They need plenty of time each day to rest and relax. In addition to healthy meals and daily exercise, about 15 minutes of a bonding enrichment activity would be healthy for most dogs. Of course, your dog might enjoy more time!

But keep in mind that it’s your responsibility as your dog’s guardian to know when it’s time for them to take a break and relax.  Too much stimulation can lead to anxiety and even aggression. 

Q: How does the time we dedicate to canine enrichment change as my dog ages?

A: What’s enriching for an active, healthy young dog, or even an adult dog is going to be different from what’s enriching to a senior. As my two labradors get older, we do lower-impact enrichment activities like lots of scent games or working on tricks that help their mobility (like spin, twist, and shake).

As dogs get older, their world often shrinks because they’re not going on as many adventures. So make sure that you adjust your enrichment routine as your dog ages so their life still has variety and stimulation. 

Q: Can dog enrichment help with behavioral issues?

A: Enrichment activities can be a great way to build confidence in your dog. It’s also a great way to bond together and help your dog feel safe. Doing positive activities and giving your dog a lot of praise and rewards is also a way to build new neural pathways in their brain so they associate new things with positive feelings rather than fearful feelings. My friend and dog trainer Ruth Hegarty has a blog post about neuroplasticity in dogs if you want to learn more!

Did you enjoy this post? Here are some quick links to more dog enrichment ideas:
Brain Games for Dogs
Do you know the 7 categories of enrichment for dogs?
9 Best All Natural Dog Chews for Aggressive Chewers
What is Barn Hunt? A Scent Work Sport for Dogs!
Mental Enrichment for Dogs Activity Pack: The $19 online course

Tori Mistick

Tori Mistick

Tori Mistick is the founder of Wear Wag Repeat and a professor of multimedia at Point Park University. With over 15 years of digital marketing experience, she transformed her passion for pets into a thriving platform, helping over 450 petpreneurs grow their businesses. Her advice reaches millions of pet lovers through features in the Wall Street Journal, Good Morning America, and more. Tori's popular podcast has nearly 200,000 downloads featuring the most successful women in the pet industry. A devoted Labrador enthusiast for over 20 years and certified Canine Enrichment Specialist, Tori is a trusted expert in the pet world.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Tori Mistick Labrador Dog Mom Blog

Get To Know Tori

Pack Leader

Tori Mistick is a blogger, podcaster and certified Canine Enrichment Specialist. You might call her a professional dog mom! Tori has a soft spot for senior dogs and loves the color pink. Based in Pittsburgh, PA.

LEARN MORE

Lucy and Burt Wear Wag Repeat

The Pups

Lead Lab Techs

Lucy + Burt are the chocolate labrador duo in charge of testing toys, recipes and activities.

Get to Know the Dogs

CAUSES WE SUPPORT

Action for Animals