As the kids immerse themselves in back-to-school activities, don’t let your pets feel left out of the lessons. While your pets may not need to worry about grades, mental enrichment is a great way to improve your pet’s life and protect their health. From playtime to extra walks, providing your pet with mental enrichment is one of the richest ways to show your pet you care.
What Value Does Mental Enrichment Have for Pets?
Keeping your pet’s mind stimulated does more than just remind them of their puppyhood or kittenhood–it is a proactive measure that protects their health. Dogs and cats both benefits from mental enrichment in the following ways:
- Reduced stress, anxiety, and depression
- A positive outlet for excess energy
- Increased feelings of confidence
- Better focus during training
- Weight loss is a frequent secondary benefit of mental enrichment
How to Enrich Your Dog’s Life
Mental enrichment comes in several forms: sensory, nutritional, physical, social, and occupational enrichment.
Occupational enrichment gives your pet a job to accomplish.
Nutritional enrichment uses food and treats to motivate play and problem-solving.
Play is the most common form of physical enrichment.
Sensory enrichment engages your pet’s senses such as smell as a way to ignite through and curiosity.
Social enrichment is play and interaction with other pets.
Most pets benefit from a combination of all forms of enrichment for a full, fun, and interesting life. While you don’t have to provide your pet with each form of enrichment every day, we recommend aiming to incorporate each form of enrichment into your pet’s weekly schedule (with the exception of social enrichment for many pets).
How Can You Provide Your Pet with Well-Rounded Enrichment?
1. Social Enrichment
This form of mental engagement requires a spare pet or two–if you have a multi-pet household, this is much easier. All you have to do is encourage your pets to play with one another. For dogs, this is as easy as tug-o-war or keep away. Many cats will happily play alongside their feline friends as they all chase the same toy or string.
For dogs without canine siblings, you can always schedule a playdate. Proper dog-dog interaction should be done with familiar dogs only or in a controlled environment such as doggy daycare, training or boarding facility, etc. Just be sure their vaccines are all up-to-date.
2. Nutritional Enrichment
Very few pets are willing to turn their noses up to treats or a fun way to enjoy their dinner. You can DIY your pet’s nutritional enrichment or invest in a few treat puzzles.
Some simple DIY ideas include:
- Hide treats throughout a room. For more of a challenge, include a box with tissue paper
- Hide treats beneath bell balls (for cats) or tennis balls (for dogs) in a muffin tin
- Freeze a rubber chew toy filled with peanut for dogs or tuna fish for cats
- For pocket pets, hide treats in a toilet paper roll with its ends folded in
3. Physical Enrichment
Play, play, and more play! Physical enrichment is one of the most instinctual for most pet owners. Physical enrichment provides your pet with mental stimulation and cognitive engagement. To get your pet physically active, thinking about any games that will get their heart rate raised. Fetch, keep away, tug, and chase are all physically engaging.
If your pet has a lot of energy, amp up the fun with ramps, stairs, and jumps.
4. Sensory Enrichment
Stimulating your pet’s senses creates the opportunity for unique games and interactions with your pet. Squeak toys, hide-n-seek with treats, and visually stimulating toys are all great options to alight your pet’s senses. You can even find aromatherapy for your pet.
5. Occupational Enrichment
Occupational enrichment doesn’t mean your pet needs to fill out job applications– but it does take work. Occupational training is one of the most stimulating and challenging for both dogs and cats. The most advanced occupational enrichment includes agility training while the simplest is just working on basic commands like “sit,” “shake,” and “stay.”
Puzzle toys are also often considered occupational enrichment since they give your pet a task or “job” to do.
As for cats, you can work on training with them, too. Encourage your cat to leap onto a chair to earn a treat, or teach them to “sit” by holding a treat slightly above their head.
Make the Most of Mental Enrichment & Improve Your Pet’s Quality of Life
Whether you have a puppy, kitten, adult dog, or senior pet, keeping them mentally and physically stimulated is a no-brainer. While your pay may no know the words, “thank you,” they will repay your kindness by sleeping soundly, not expressing nervous energy, and reducing the number of times they need to come to see us in their later years.
If you have questions regarding your pet’s behavioral health, please contact us today.
Image credit: Pexels
