Time-Crunched? Easy Ways to Enrich Your Dog’s Life
October 14, 2024
As a busy pet parent, you’ll know how challenging it can be to balance your hectic schedule with your dog’s enrichment needs. But don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many pet owners in Derbyshire face similar struggles. In this article, we’ll explore practical tips to help you make the most of your time with your dog and keep them engaged and happy.
We’re here to help with more advice and tailored recommendations. Just get in touch with our friendly team at STAR Vets.
Practical enrichment tips for dogs
Here are STAR Vets’ tips to help you juggle dog enrichment with your busy schedule:
1. Revamp dog walks
When you’ve only got time for one walk, or maybe a few short walks in the day, you can always make them more engaging. Try varying the route, adding in agility (to move quickly, easily, and nimbly) and mobility (to practice range of motion in their joints) moves like weaves around posts and step-ups on curbs or other objects in your environment. You can also practice dog training and play hide & seek with a toy or treats on route!
2. Mealtime hidden gems
Mealtimes are an untapped gem that many pet owners overlook. Your pet will likely be very attentive and eager to please, so our vets in Appleby Magna recommend:
- Before putting their food down, refresh your dog’s training using some of their daily kibble allowance as rewards. Practice “sit”, “stay”, “down”, “touch” and “paw”.
- Swap their regular bowl for a puzzle feeder – check these examples out on Amazon. This will engage their brain more and slow their eating down, which is great for digestion.
- Scatter feed or play hide & seek with some of your dog’s meal to slow things down and engage them more.
3. Playtime wins!
The beauty of the below dog enrichment activities is that you can give them as little or as much time as you have available by refilling, re-setting, and re-doing things. Our vets in Appleby Magna recommend trying:
- Puzzle Toys: Boredom busting toys like soft hide & seek toys and other interactive puzzles are great as you can set these up and then take some time to relax (or tidy up if you absolutely have to) whilst watching your dog have fun.
- Circuits: Set up a circuits course in your garden or indoors using everyday objects. Stations could involve going around, under, through, or over something, weaving in and out, ‘switcharoo’ (hide treats under cups and switch them around), and fetching. If you can’t leave it set up, write down the activities and items you need for quick setup next time.
4. #EndofDayRelaxationGoals
Even busy people need time to unwind and relax. If you can carve out 15-30 minutes at the end of the day, our dog-loving team at STAR Vets suggest joining up with your dog. Whether your idea of relaxing involves a yoga mat, TV time, or listening to music or a podcast, try combining it with gently brushing, stroking, and massaging your dog – it’s a great way to reduce your stress and they’ll love it too!
We hope you found STAR Vets’ dog enrichment tips helpful and are ready to try them out with your canine companion. Let us know how you get on – share your experiences and videos on our Facebook page!
Remember to,
- Cool your dog down after vigorous exercise with a short stroll.
- Listen to your dog – if they seem tired or uncomfortable, stop.
- Avoid vigorous exercise 1 hour before feeding your dog and 2 hours after.
- Talk to our vets about exercise first if your dog is young, old, or has health issues.
- Have fun together!
For tailored recommendations and more advice, get in touch with our friendly team.
