Using only everyday items – mainly from your recycling!
By Animal Trainer and Behaviourist Rachel Rodgers MSc.
1) Towel & Treats – Lie your dog’s towel or blanket out flat. Sprinkle a few of their normal dog biscuits on top. Then roll up like a giant Swiss roll. Watch as they sniff around and try and unroll the towel to get their food out.
2) Toilet Roll & Treats – Get that left over cardboard tube from the middle of your toilet roll. Fold one end over to make an open pocket. Pop in some treats and close the other end. Let your dog dig, chew and scratch to get their food out.
3) Biscuits & Balls – If you have a muffin tray and some tennis balls, this is a doubly fun activity for your dog. Pop their biscuits in the indents where the cake mixture would go. Hide some tennis balls on top. Your dog will have to use their snout or paw to move the balls and access their food.
Maisy the Jug with a muffin tray and tennis balls
4) Presents! Have you or your dog got a birthday during lock down? Even if they don’t why not have a party. Dogs love unwrapping presents. You could hide their toys or treats in some used wrapping paper and wrap it up just like a present.
Maisy the Jug unwrapping presents
5) Bottle & Biscuits – Raid that recycling bin again. Grab a plastic bottle from the recycling and carefully make some holes in the bottle just big enough for your dog’s food to fit through. Stand the bottle upright. Fill with treats and then let your dog knock it around in the garden to get their food out through the holes.
Maisy the jug playing with a plastic bottle to get her dinner
6) Boredom Box – Been doing that online shopping? Get those cardboard boxes and packaging and hide some treats in there. Make it easy to begin with to help build your dog’s confidence by leaving a few treats on top or the lid open. When they understand the game make it harder each time.
Rico the Kokoni with an enrichment toy made of cardboard boxes
7) Licki Lunch – An empty ice cube tray can be the perfect substitute to a branded product. Smear your dog’s wet food into the dents. If it is a warm day you could even freeze it! Then watch as your dog has to lick their food out of the holes. This should take them a bit longer than just out of their bowl.
8) Spin the Bottle – Remember the plastic bottle from earlier? Why not make a second. Put some holes on each side and thread with some string. You can then tie between two chairs or trees in the garden at a height your dog can reach with their nose. Watch as they learn to nudge and knock the bottles to make them spin round and empty out.
9) Egg-citing times! Finished your eggs? Egg boxes are a great treat dispenser. Fill with treats and close the lid. Will your dog open the catch or just shred the box to get their favourite treats?
10) Scatter Feed – Worn out from all the above? The easiest and quickest way to entertain your dog and make their food last longer is a scatter feed. Simply grab their biscuits and instead of putting them in the bowl scatter them around the garden or living room for them to find. They will have to use their nose to sniff out every last biscuit. Great for sniffing something they may well be missing with their shorter/less frequent walks.
Enjoyed these? There’s more free and easy ideas over on Nose To Trail’s website and social media pages.
@nosetotrailuk on Instagram
And @nosetotrailpetservices on Facebook.