Dog training shouldn’t only be about teaching your pet to follow commands. It should also be a positive experiences for them. With that in mind, you will want to integrate enrichment activities into your dog or puppy’s routine.
Enrichment activities are also designed to teach your pets, but they are meant to do so differently. These activities expose your pet to new stimuli and they need to learn how to react positively to them. Take this opportunity to find out more about enrichment activities so you can better understand how they can be good for your pet.
What Are Enrichment Activities?
What are the activities that your dog or puppy engages in daily? In all likelihood, that list includes feeding, going for a walk, playing, and perhaps interacting with people and other animals. Those activities already engage your pet to some degree, but they may do so at a very low level.
Enrichment activities are meant to make those elements of your pet’s routine more stimulating. For example, instead of just giving your dog some food in their bowl, you can introduce a puzzle feeder. The puzzle feeder will encourage your pet to figure out the mechanism if they want to get to the tasty treats. This particular enrichment element also teaches your pet to take their time while eating, thus lowering the chances of them choking on their food.
If you’re taking your pet outside for a walk, you can visit a park they haven’t been to before. Expose them to new surroundings and allow them to explore. They will also likely get plenty of exercise from discovering the new park.
You can also integrate enrichment into playtime. In lieu of giving your pet a simple chew toy, consider heading out to the yard for a game of fetch. Gradually speed up the timing of your throws to get your pet moving and improve their speed and endurance in the process.
Enrichment activities are all about improving your pet’s physical, mental, and emotional condition. They also happen to be great teaching tools that are especially effective for teaching your pet to how to behave properly.
The Importance of Them
There’s one aspect of enrichment training we haven’t discussed yet and it’s all about socialization. Most dogs love being around people and other dogs. As a pet owner, you should prioritize introducing your puppy to those environments.
According to WebMD, puppies can handle socialization by the time they are seven weeks old. It’s good to start socialization at that point because you want your puppy to be comfortable around people and other animals.
The benefits of socialization are remarkably valuable. A puppy that has been socialized properly can be confident around others. They can also stay calm and composed even when strangers who mean no harm are nearby.
You’ll also be glad that you socialized your pet because it will make future vet and grooming visits more pleasant. A dog that has been socialized will feel more at ease in these situations. The veterinarian and groomer can also work more efficiently because they don’t have to deal with disruptive behavior.
Train your pet while simultaneously improving their quality of life by giving them the opportunity to engage in enrichment activities. Focus especially on social enrichment because it is crucial to the development of a well-adjusted dog.
Need enrichment activity ideas? Schedule a complimentary call with our dog trainer Cathy today: https://app.10to8.com/book/zxznlfrciytyebkoug/. To learn more about her dog training approach, watch the short video on our dog training page.
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