Ahhh, my favorite topic: enrichment.

I didn’t even know the term enrichment in relation to animals until I got my dog, Remi, and I had no idea how to entertain her when it was too cold—or too hot—to play outside. That’s when I found a Facebook group dedicated entirely to dog enrichment ideas. It opened my eyes to all the activities I could do to challenge my dog and enhance her life.

Dog enrichment is the intentional use of activities, environments, and experiences that engage a dog’s mind, body, and natural instincts to support their overall well-being. It goes beyond basic exercise by encouraging problem-solving, exploration, and choice—helping prevent boredom, reduce stress, and promote confident, balanced behavior.

Below are some of my favorite dog enrichment activities!

Let Your Dog Sniff on Walks

This may sound simple (and not very “enrichy”), but it’s one of the most important forms of mental stimulation for dogs. A dog’s nose is at least 100,000 times more sensitive than a human’s, and sniffing is how they gather information about their environment.

Think of the ground as your dog’s version of an Instagram feed—they need to scroll to see what’s happening. Sniffing is how they scroll to get more information. Instead of rushing through your walk to hit your steps or mileage goal, slow down and let your dog take that extra-long sniff. Sniffing is enrichment in its purest form.

Food Enrichment: Lick Mats, Kongs, and Snuffle Mats

Food-based enrichment activities are a favorite in our house. You can find basic Kongs at most pet stores, while lick mats and snuffle mats are easy to order online.

I like stuffing Kongs and spreading lick mats with non-fat Greek yogurt, peanut butter, fruits, veggies, and my dogs’ favorite treats. I freeze them for at least an hour, which keeps my dogs occupied for 15–20 minutes and helps mentally tire them out.

Snuffle mats are perfect for dry food and kibble. Instead of eating from a bowl, dogs have to search for their food, which activates their nose and slows mealtime by 5–10 minutes. Just supervise to make sure your dog isn’t shredding the mat—you don’t want to deal with that aftermath later.

An alternative to a snuffle mat is just using your basic towel. Sprinkle kibble on a towel, roll it up, and let your dog figure out how to unroll it. For an added challenge, tie the towel before giving it to them.

Enrichment Games

Find the Treat

This is my dogs’ favorite enrichment game. I place them in a room with the door closed, hide treats around the house, then release them to search. After two rounds, they’re tired enough to relax for the rest of the night! This game also works great outside in the yard.

Hide and Seek

Have your dog sit, then hide somewhere in the house. If you’re solo, just call out to them—they’ll use their nose to track you down. My house is small, so I’m usually found in under a minute, but the excitement never gets old!

Training as Mental Enrichment

Training is one of the easiest ways to provide mental enrichment for dogs, and it doesn’t have to be intense. Short 10-minute training sessions can be just as effective as longer ones.

Practice old tricks, introduce new behaviors, or simply reinforce the basics. Watching your dog figure out what you’re asking—and seeing that “aha” moment—is incredibly rewarding for both of you.