Unleashing the Fun with DIY Canine Enrichment Ideas!
Got a pup with energy to burn? Or maybe one who needs a little extra oomph in their day? Enrichment is the answer, and it doesn’t need to cost a thing. Whether you're indoors on a rainy day or winding down after a trip to the dog park, these easy DIY ideas will help keep your dog busy, stimulated, and smiling.
No need to splash out on fancy puzzle toys; you just need a few household bits, a tasty treat, and your imagination.
What is Canine Enrichment?
Canine enrichment is all about giving your dog the chance to think, sniff, search, and solve. It's mental exercise as much as it is physical; think of it like brain training. It taps into natural behaviours like sniffing, chewing, digging, and foraging—the stuff they’d do if they were left to their own devices in the wild (minus the muddy paws on your sofa). It regulates them, helping them to feel calm and focused in their day-to-day.
And the best part? These activities are totally dog friendly, easy to set up, and can slot into your dog daily routine.
6 Easy DIY Dog Games to Try at Home
These games are perfect for everything from training sessions to rainy-day boredom busters. Just supervise your pup, adjust difficulty based on their ability, and most importantly, have fun together!
Muffin Tin Hide and Seek
Great for: nose work, puzzle solving, and snack motivation.
What you’ll need:
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A muffin tin
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Tennis balls or small toys (that would fit in said muffin tin)
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Dog treats
How to play: Pop a treat in each cup of the muffin tin, then cover them with tennis balls or toys. Your pup has to figure out how to move the balls to get to the goodies.
This is a fab intro to scent games and encourages problem-solving in snack form.
The Towel Roll Treat Dispenser
Great for: foraging instincts, low mess, and quick setup.
What you’ll need:
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An old towel or blanket
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Dog treats
How to play: Scatter treats across the towel, then roll or fold it up tightly. Let your dog sniff, nudge, and paw their way to the rewards.
Cardboard Tube Chew Challenge
Great for: mental stimulation, destructo-pups, and recycling!
What you’ll need:
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Empty loo roll or kitchen roll tubes
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Dog treats
How to play: Fold one end of the tube, drop in a few treats, then fold the other end shut, and watch your pup figure out how to break into it.
The Bottle Spinner
Great for: physical activity with a tasty payoff.
What you’ll need:
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Clean, dry plastic bottle
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Dog kibble or small treats
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Scissors (to create holes)
How to play: Make small holes in the bottle, add treats, and screw the lid on. Your dog will have to bat it around to get the treats to fall out. Keep an eye out for sharp edges or worn plastic and swap it out if needed.
Snuffle Mat (DIY Edition)
Great for: scent games, slow feeding, and extra foraging fun.
What you’ll need:
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A rubber mat with holes (like a sink mat)
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Fleece strips
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Treats or kibble
How to play: Tie the fleece strips through the mat until it’s covered. Then hide treats inside the folds. Your dog will use their nose to hunt for the snacks.
You can also scatter treats in grass or a towel if you’re short on materials: same idea, less prep!
The Dig Box
Great for: diggers, sniffers, and treasure hunters.
What you’ll need:
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A cardboard box
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Shredded paper, old packaging, or newspaper (Pro tip: save the packing paper from your G&W deliveries and put it to good use!)
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Dog toys and treats
How to play: Fill the box with scrunched-up paper and tuck treats or toys throughout. Let your pup rummage their way to the hidden treasure.
Why Variety Matters
Just like us, dogs can get a bit “meh” if they’re doing the same thing over and over, even if it started out as fun. That’s why switching things up now and then is key to keeping enrichment, well… enriching.
Try rotating your games each week or mixing them into your regular training sessions. One day it might be a towel roll puzzle, the next a dig box treasure hunt. Some pups go wild for scent work, while others prefer toys they can paw at or chew. It’s all about figuring out what gets your dog’s tail wagging.
And enrichment doesn’t always need a full set-up. You can hide treats or favourite toys around the house for a classic game of hide and seek, or let your dog take in new smells from herbs in the garden, freshly opened windows, or even a walk somewhere they haven’t sniffed before. You’d be surprised how much excitement a new route or scent trail can bring.
Different textures are also fun to explore. Soft fleece, sand under their paws, a paddle in water on a warm day... And for the more mellow pooches? Try playing a little music in the background. Some dogs love a chill playlist.
The more variety you build in, the more your dog will benefit mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Choosing the Right Treats for Enrichment Play
Enrichment games are a fab excuse to sneak in a healthy snack, and the best kind of treat is one that’s just as good for your dog as it is exciting to sniff out.
At Green & Wilds, we keep things simple: no fillers, no weird additives, just real ingredients and naturally tasty goodness. Whether you’re hiding little bits inside a towel roll or popping a chew in between scent games, our treats are designed to keep your dog engaged, energised, and well-fed, without tipping their diet off balance.
So, what should you look for in a treat for enrichment activities? Think high-protein, low-junk, and something delicious enough to keep your dog working for it. Bonus points if it’s soft enough to break up into smaller pieces or long-lasting enough to really stretch out playtime.
A few favourites we love for enrichment games:
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Sweet Potato Treats – soft, gentle on sensitive tums, and easy to hide in puzzles
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Fish Deli Cubes – Omega-3-packed cubes with our One Ingredient Award of Specialness
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Cornish Fishcakes – packed with omega-3 fatty acids for healthy coats and brains
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Wild Boar Bites or Venison Chews – tougher chews for tougher challenges and training sessions
And if your dog loves a lick more than a crunch? Try smearing a bit of wet food, mashed sweet potato, or dog-safe peanut butter inside a toy. Pop it in the freezer for a few hours, then hand it over for a longer-lasting challenge that also soothes gums and keeps minds busy.
Just be sure to account for those extra treats in your dog’s daily food allowance. Enrichment should be part of a balanced diet, not an all-you-can-eat buffet!
A Little Enrichment Goes a Long Way
Whether you’ve got a super smart spaniel or a laidback lab, adding a bit of enrichment into your dog's daily routine is one of the best things you can do for their wellbeing.
It’s a brilliant way to burn off energy, ease boredom, build your bond, and support positive behaviour (less barking, less chewing the sofa, more happy tail wags).
So go on: try one of the ideas above, get creative with your recycling pile, and give your pooch a puzzle they’ll love. It’s not just about keeping them busy; it’s about helping them live a happier, more enriched life.