It’s no secret that puppies have buckets of energy. If they’re not hunting for socks in your bedroom, they’re probably under your feet in the kitchen, waiting for something tasty to drop. It’s important to find ways to keep them stimulated and entertained (or risk destructive behaviour!) and the best way to do this is with canine enrichment.

What is canine enrichment?

Canine enrichment means making your puppy’s living space more interesting and stimulating. It decreases the chance of pesky behaviours associated with puppy boredom.

The 10 signs of puppy boredom:

  • Lack of appetite
  • Howling
  • Barking
  • Naughty behaviour
  • Mood swings
  • Excessive licking
  • Changes in sleeping habits
  • Jumping
  • Tail chasing
  • Pacing

Of course, some of these are also normal behaviours for a puppy, so it’s important to consider your puppy’s personality type too.

Nine boredom busting canine enrichment activities

These fun activities can help keep your puppy stimulated and happy. They can also help strengthen your bond and boost their confidence!

1. Provide socialisation and interaction

 Socialising your pup, no matter their age, is extremely important. Introducing new and exciting things/people/dogs to a puppy will provide great stimulation. Some puppies aren’t so keen on making canine friends – so it’s important to find something your pet is comfortable doing.

2. Take time to let them sniff!

Your puppy’s senses will be heightened by their new surroundings and sniffing out new smells provides perfect stimulation both mentally and physically. Make sure you give them time to use their sniffers when they’re out walking with you.

3. Introduce toys

Ensure your puppy has plenty of toys to keep them entertained. Some puppies like soft toys, others like to have a good chew on a durable rubber bone. Try hiding toys around the house and encourage your puppy to go on a treasure hunt.

4. Scatter feeding

Puppies don’t have to be fed from a bowl. Make mealtimes stimulating by scattering normal dry kibble in various places around the house. Your puppy is a natural scavenger – they’ll lead with their nose to find the food and get a great mental boost.

Top tip: intensify their search by moving the activity outdoors.

5. Snuffle mats

Snuffle mats are a growing trend and it’s easy to see why. They’re simple to use and they provide great entertainment. Simply ruffle up the mat, add in some food and watch as your puppy snuffles through to find some hidden treats. Feeling crafty? You can make your own – there are lots of online tutorials.

6. Hide and seek

Hide small portions of your puppy’s daily food in various places around the house and encourage them to search. Hiding small portions in bowls behind doors and under tables will provide your pooch with plenty of enrichment. Why not take the game a step further? Roll some food in a tea towel and let your pooch figure out how to get to the food inside.

7. Lickimats

 Lickimats are perfect for enhancing your puppy’s environment, The clue is in the name – these mats are designed to be licked! Try smoothing some Burns healthy and hypoallergenic Chicken & Brown Rice Wet Food over the mat for a fun game with lots of health benefits!

Fun fact: Lickimats can also help calm your puppy – the repetitive act of licking is a soothing behaviour.

8. Puzzle toys

There are lots of puzzle toys on the market and plenty of variety to suit different budgets and ability levels. If your puppy is new to enrichment toys then start off with something simple. Once your pup is a puzzle expert, you can go ahead and give them something more challenging.  

9. Kongs

Stuffing a Kong with your puppy’s daily kibble (or even a bit of Burns wet food) is a great way to make mealtimes more fun. Dry kibble can be soaked to make stuffing easier. Increase the level of difficulty for your puppy by freezing the Kong overnight – this is also a great way to cool them down in the summer.