What Is Enrichment? And Why Your Dogs & Cats Need It
There’s not a family dog or cat that doesn’t have at least one toy—our dogs love their chews and kitties relish in chasing strings and batting around little stuffed squeaking mice. And what energetic pup doesn’t like to go on a walk or have at some fetching?
All of these things are forms of enrichment. Put simply, enrichment is providing your animal ways to interact with her environment that allow her to express her natural behaviors and instincts. (For dogs, think retrieving and foraging; for cats, hunting and climbing.) This stimulation, in turn, can improve her physical, cognitive and mental health, give her confidence and reduce anxiety and behavioral issues, and even strengthen the bond between you and your beloved animal friend.
Keep in mind her personality and specific needs or limitations, too. Enrichment should never cause anxiety or stress. When choosing the proper enrichment, you might be surprised and delighted to see how your dear animal friend blossoms and excels at new and exciting experiences!
There are 3 main types of enrichment: physical, social, and cognitive/sensory. You’ll quickly notice that that most types of enrichment cross over one or more categories, so it’s quite easy to provide your furry family member a well-rounded and enriching life. Read on for ideas for both dogs and cats!
Enrichment for dogs
Walks. Walking your dog is one of the best activities to boost physical enrichment in his life. Occasionally varying your walking path and speed is an easy way to improve bump up the stimulation level. And don’t forget to let him sniffsniffsniff or explore off-leash where appropriate to bring in more sensory excitement! If your dog (and you!) are both go-getters, you might even consider checking out an agility course or class, or even just setting up a simple obstacle course in your yard.
Fetching. The act of fetching is many dogs’ favorite game! Herding/working breeds and retrievers especially excel at and love fetching, and giving them this “job” can help reduce unwanted destructive behaviors. Rotating your toy selection (unless your dog’s attached to his tennis ball!) can also provide extra physical and sensory enrichment. If he’s a swimmer, tossing a floating toy (or a plain old stick!) into the lake makes for a great, enriching workout. Try fetching from a different part of your yard, too, just to mix it up!
Puzzles, toys and games. The quintessential toys are for chewing and playing tug-of-war. Like with fetch toys, rotating your dog’s chew toy selection can help keep him interested and engaged.
Snuffle mats, treat/food puzzles, and games like “hide the treat” around your house or yard give your dog the opportunity to “forage” for his food and use his noggin to figure out how to retrieve it. These are an ingenious way to slow down a “snarfer”, too. Stuffed Kongs (frozen if you prefer) are always a winner, especially to keep him occupied for a while. All puzzles, toys and games provide excellent cognitive and sensory enrichment and stave off boredom.
Socialize! Dog parks, play dates, training/trick classes and visiting friends and family are all simple ways to give your dog the social time he needs. The earlier you start socializing, the better; however, take care to never force him into social situations and be mindful of his temperament and level of comfort.
Training. Especially with puppies but even for adult dogs, training will give them focus and improve mental acuity. And they will love the rewards (treats and praise, anyone?)! Training basic commands can help you maintain control of your dog during walks and in sticky situations, too. You can train at home, or engage in more social training in classes if your dog’s a good fit.
Enrichment for cats
Cat trees and catios. Cats LOVE to climb, as we know. So for your indoor kitty, indubitably the answer is cat trees! There are endless ways to “catify” your house with sisal-wrapped wall shelves and climbing boards, and all sorts of fun cat furniture—many of which are easily DIY. Providing safe, elevated spaces is key, especially ones near windows where she can enjoy her “Cat TV”!
If your cat is indoor/outdoor, or has access to a catio (outdoor cat enclosure), this gives her the freedom to climb, run and hunt in ways which will greatly contribute to her feline nature of interacting with her surroundings and boost her overall contentedness.
Engaging in play. Playing with your best meowy friend will provide her all forms of enrichment. Chasing, jumping, calculating, pouncing and bonding time spent with you all contribute to her well-being. Try different types of toys to see what she likes—does she prefer to chase (wand toys)? Or does she like to stalk hiding things (movement under a blanket, etc…)?
Puzzles. Just like with dogs, you can provide your kitty with food-related enrichment puzzles! You’ll be highly entertained…and may be surprised at her craftiness.
Simon & Clover (2020) during one of their daily shenanigans. 😊
Catnip and cat grass. If your cat loves catnip, it may boost her playtime activities and/or help her relax. Don’t worry, it isn’t addictive—feel free to rub it on their scratching posts and toys, or sprinkle some in their favorite puzzles.
Even though cats are obligate carnivores, they are known to chew on grass or plants, which is a natural habit to stimulate digestion. (It also helps control furballs and provides nutrients.) It’s easy to get a kit and grow your own, or pick a small pot of it up at your local pet store!
Multi-cat households. Oh, the shenanigans they will have! But the majority of human-owned cat households will tell you that multi-cat households are better socialized and happier overall. It will vary with each individual and household structure.
Grooming. If your kitty enjoys being brushed, a gentle grooming session is a highly effective enrichment strategy. The sensory boost she will receive and the benefit of healthier skin and coat—plus social time with you—are all reasons to spend a few minutes brushing her.
Watch them thrive
Again, enrichment should never cause anxiety in your pet. Always take into account his age, temperament, interests, breed and comfort level with other animals and people. Pick a few ideas and see how he responds, adjusting as necessary.
As our animals’ guardians, it is our goal to see them thrive and reach their full potential. With just a little effort, it’s simple and rewarding—for both them and us—to incorporate enrichment and enjoy a fulfilled lifetime together!
Our MISSION is to help pets live a long, healthy and happy life.
Our PASSION is to help owners become aware of what is in pet food and help them choose foods that are all natural and nutritionally complete, and to encourage them to be proactive about their pet’s health.
Please remember that us folks at End of the Leash are not veterinarians and no information on our website is intended to replace the indispensable and professional advice of your veterinarian.