Easy DIY Enrichment Games and Puzzles!

Written by Aliza Eduljee

Enrichment puzzles for dogs are interactive toys or devices that provide mental stimulation and engage their natural instincts. These puzzles can help keep dogs entertained, prevent boredom, and provide a challenge.

Here are a few types of enrichment puzzles for dogs:

1. Treat-dispensing toys: These toys have compartments or openings where you can hide treats or kibble. Dogs have to figure out how to manipulate the toy to access the treats, keeping them engaged and mentally stimulated. Examples include Kong toys, puzzle balls, or treat-dispensing cubes.

2. Interactive feeding toys: Instead of using a regular food bowl, you can use interactive feeding toys that require dogs to work for their food. These toys may have compartments or obstacles that dogs have to navigate to access their meal. Examples include slow feeder bowls, snuffle mats, or food-dispensing puzzles.

3. Puzzle toys: These toys require dogs to solve a puzzle or manipulate different parts to access treats or toys. They often involve sliding, flipping, or lifting components to reveal hidden compartments. Examples include sliding puzzles, puzzle boxes, or puzzle boards.

4. Scent-based puzzles: Dogs have a keen sense of smell, and scent-based puzzles can tap into this natural ability. These puzzles involve hiding treats or toys in different locations or using scent-detection games to engage dogs’ noses. Examples include scent puzzles, scent trails, or scent boxes.

5. DIY options: You can also create your own enrichment puzzles using household items. For example, you can hide treats in empty cardboard boxes, create a muffin tin puzzle by placing treats in some of the cups and covering them with tennis balls, or freeze treats in ice cubes for a cool and challenging activity.

When introducing enrichment puzzles, start with easier ones and gradually increase the difficulty as your dog becomes more experienced. Always supervise your dog during playtime and choose puzzles that are appropriate for their size, age, and skill level.

Some Easy Options for DIY Enrichment Games! 

Dog-Safe Bubbles

Cardboard Tube Puzzle (fold one end of a toilet paper or paper towel roll inwards and fill with treats, fold the other side to hide the treats inside)

Bottles in a Box or Newspaper (fill an empty box with crumpled newspaper or plastic water bottles and hide treats in the mix)

Egg Carton Puzzles (fill each compartment of an egg carton with treats or toys) 

Twisted Towel Treat Puzzle (use an old towel to disperse treats into then roll up or twist the towel into your dog’s very own snuffle mat) 

Muffin Tin Treat Puzzle (put delicious treats in each of the muffin tin compartments and cover with a ball or toy) 

Wading Pool Games (fill a small pool with balls, toys, or crumpled newspaper and mix their favorite treats in)

Safety Tips for Enrichment Toys: 

Always supervise your dog while playing with enrichment games, especially homemade ones. 

Don’t leave the game out! You want your dog to get excited when he sees the game! 

Throw out any scraps or small pieces that come off in the process. 

Account for your dog’s size! Small toys that can be swallowed or ingested should not be given to bigger dogs, and extra large toys should not be given to small dogs in the case that they get stuck in the dog’s mouth. 

Remove any parts that are not dog-safe prior to giving them to your dog, such as ribbons, strings, googly eyes, etc. 

Know your dog’s chewing habits prior to leaving him alone with anything. Some dogs can carry around a plush toy for years, while others may demolish it within 2 minutes.