Enrichment Opportunities

 

Nutritional Enrichment

  • Lick mats (fresh and frozen)
  • Puzzle feeders
  • Kongs
  • Frozen treats (summer only)

 

Benefits

Lick mats, puzzle feeders and Kong’s are a great tool for providing behavioural enrichment for dogs by offering mental stimulation, promoting calm behaviour, and aiding in slow feeding. The act of licking releases endorphins, which can have a calming effect and help reduce anxiety and boredom.

 

Mental Enrichment:

  • Combats boredom:

Lick mats, puzzle feeders and Kong’s provide a stimulating activity that can help prevent boredom and its associated behaviours.

  • Mental stimulation:

The act of licking a textured surface engages a dog’s mind, providing mental enrichment.

  • Reduces anxiety and stress:

The repetitive licking motion can be soothing and calming, helping dogs relax during stressful situations like thunderstorms or separation.

  • Promotes positive behaviour:

Lick mats, puzzle feeders and Kong’s can be used as a reward encouraging positive, desired behaviours.

 

Physical Benefits:

  • Slows down eating:

Lick mats, puzzle feeders and Kong’s make dogs work for their food, slowing down their eating pace and potentially reducing the risk of bloating and other digestive issues.

  • Promotes oral health:

Licking can increase saliva production, which helps clean the tongue, teeth, and gums, potentially freshening breath and aiding in digestion.

 

Types of Enrichment:

  • Sensory Stimulation: 

The different textures on lick mats, puzzle feeders and Kong’s provide sensory stimulation for dogs.

  • Calming Tool:

Lick mats, puzzle feeders and Kong’s can be used to distract and calm dogs during changing environments and stressful situations.

 

 

Physical & Sensory Enrichment

Enrichment play ground

  • Flying saucer swing
  • Tunnel
  • Weave poles
  • Jump ring
  • Sand dig pit
  • Ball pit
  • Tyre climbs
  • Agility see-saw
  • Frisbee play
  • Interactive games like fetch or tug-of-war
  • Water pond play (summer only)

 

Benefits

Our stimulating dog playground incorporates various enrichment activities to engage every dog’s mind and body, preventing boredom and promoting positive behaviours. These playgrounds offer opportunities for physical exercise, mental challenges, and sensory exploration, contributing to your dog’s overall well-being. 

 

Types of Enrichment:

  • Physical Enrichment:

Agility equipment (jumps, tunnels, weave poles), climbing structures, and open spaces for running and playing fetch provide opportunities for physical activity and exploration. 

  • Mental Enrichment:

Puzzle toys, food-dispensing toys, scent games, and training exercises (e.g., learning new tricks) challenge a dog’s problem-solving skills and keep them mentally engaged. 

  • Sensory Enrichment:

Introducing new smells (e.g., scented ball pit, scented toys), textures (e.g., different surfaces, sandboxes), and sounds (e.g., nature sounds, toys that make different noises) stimulate a dog’s senses and promote exploration. 

  • Social Enrichment:

Safe and supervised interactions with our team members, and opportunities for positive social play with humans, contribute to a dog’s social development and well-being.

 

Benefits of our enrichment dog playground:

  • Reduces Boredom and Destructive Behaviours:

By providing a variety of engaging activities, our playground helps prevent boredom and redirect a dog’s energy into positive outlets, reducing the likelihood of destructive behaviours. 

  • Improved Physical Health:

Regular physical activity through agility courses and free play contributes to a dog’s overall physical health and fitness. 

  • Enhanced Mental Stimulation:

Mental challenges like puzzle toys and scent games help prevent cognitive decline and keep a dog’s mind sharp. 

  • Reduced Anxiety and Stress:

Engaging activities, especially those that involve scent work or positive social interaction, can help reduce anxiety and stress in dogs. 

  • Improved Training and Obedience:

Training exercises in a stimulating environment can be more effective, as dogs are more engaged and motivated.