DIY Dog Enrichment Ideas

Enriching your dog’s life doesn’t have to be expensive; it can be budget-friendly, easy, and fulfilling. Providing daily mental stimulation improves your dog’s well-being and reduces destructive or other unwanted behaviours. 

Instead of letting them fulfil their needs on their own, you can create brilliant, budget-friendly enrichment activities that keep their needs met.

These activities encourage sniffing, problem-solving, shredding, and foraging, all natural behaviours that help reduce stress and boredom in our dogs.

Snuffle Box

Saves your recycling! Grab a cardboard box and fill it with smaller boxes, toilet roll tubes, scrunched-up paper from parcels, egg cartons, or packaging. Sprinkle treats or kibble throughout and let your dog use their nose to hunt them out. You can make it as straightforward or as challenging as you like by layering or closing some of the containers.

Tip: You can also invest in a snuffle mat, which is a reusable version designed especially for dogs who love scent games.

Muffin Tin Puzzle

Place a few treats in the holes of a muffin tin, then cover some of them with tennis balls. Your dog has to figure out which ones hide the goodies; it’s a simple yet surprisingly satisfying puzzle. A great game for puppies!

Tea Towel Treat Roll

Lay a tea towel flat, place a treat at one end, roll it a little, add another treat, and keep rolling until you reach the end. Tie a loose knot in the middle to give your dog the satisfaction of dissecting and problem-solving. Your dog will have a great time unrolling and sniffing out the snacks.

Variation: Try using a small blanket for larger dogs, or freeze damp towels in summer for a cooling challenge.

Bobbing for Balls

Balls, sliced apples or large treats - use what your dog loves! Fill a shallow bucket, paddling pool, or bath with water, and drop in your dog’s favourite snack or balls. For a fun twist, add some treats that sink or freeze them into ice cubes first. Perfect for hot days and water-loving dogs.

Plastic Bottle Shaker

Pop a few small treats or bits of kibble into an empty plastic bottle (lid off for safety). Let your dog nudge, roll, and shake it to release the treats. 

Variation: You can make it harder by adding a handful of dried beans or scrunched paper to slow the rate at which the treats fall out.

Rag-Stuffed Football

Got an old football lying around? Cut a hole in it, stuff it with strips of old fabric or towels, and then tuck a few treats inside. Your dog will love pulling everything out and finding the hidden snacks.

Hide and Seek (Treat Edition)

Use your home or outdoor space to play hide-and-seek. Hide under plant pots, high and low, on the floor or on furniture, tuck under cushions or along skirting boards. This taps into your dog’s foraging instincts and is great for nose work.

Variation: Take your dog’s kibble or treats on a walk and scatter feed on various surfaces to vary the difficulty - e.g. pavement, short grass, long grass, forest floors.

Lick Mat

Licking helps dogs relax and release endorphins. Spread your dog’s favourite toppings, such as Xylitol-free peanut butter or mashed dog-safe fruit or veg purees, over a baking sheet, in a muffin tin, or in cake moulds. Freeze to make them last longer or for a cooling summer treat - pull them out of the freezer 5 minutes before they enjoy. Here are 12 lick mat topper ideas.

Variation: Not keen on using your home equipment? Use a lick mat designed for dogs; they’re reusable and have ridges to clean your dog’s tongue whilst increasing the duration of licking.

Dig Pit

If you’ve got a digger, save your lawn and create your own dig pit. An old hard plastic paddling pool, an old tyre, or their own plant pot - paint blue or yellow so your dog can see the colours - and fill with sand or bark.

Tip: add toys or treats to the bottom to encourage and add fun. Put ‘Dig’ on cue to have more control of when and where they can dig. 

DIY enrichment is a brilliant way to keep your dog engaged, relaxed, and content, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. But if you’d like to mix things up or add a few ready-made options to your routine, we’ve got you covered.

Our enrichment toys are perfect for pairing with these activities: durable chew toys, puzzle feeders, and lick mats designed to keep your dog busy for longer. And don’t forget to stock up on natural treats, ideal for hiding, stuffing, and scattering through all your enrichment setups.