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Enrichment Ideas Without Food

16 replies

MonCoeur · 09/10/2024 10:15

So, I have a one (and a bit) year old terrier who is not particularly interested in food. She gets plenty of daily walks/games of fetch/garden time, but she still has tons of energy, and I work from home so I need to keep her occupied without my input for at least some of the day.

I've tried snuffle mats, filled Kongs, puzzle games and all of that stuff, but she gets bored of food very easily, and isn't especially motivated by food in the first place. Any ideas for enrichment that aren't based around food?

OP posts:
DataPup · 09/10/2024 11:19

Does she like destuffing type activities? I have some hollee roller balls which get stuffed with rags and mine enjoy pulling all the bits out and making a mess!

MonCoeur · 09/10/2024 11:25

DataPup · 09/10/2024 11:19

Does she like destuffing type activities? I have some hollee roller balls which get stuffed with rags and mine enjoy pulling all the bits out and making a mess!

Yes, she does. Making a mess is her favourite thing ever actually! That's a good idea, thanks.

OP posts:
spiderlight · 09/10/2024 11:28

Would she enjoy hide-and-seek type games where you hide a toy somewhere in the house for her to sniff out? Teach her the names of different toys and send her to find a specific one? Mine also loves emptying Amazon boxes and shredding the paper.

MonCoeur · 09/10/2024 11:31

spiderlight · 09/10/2024 11:28

Would she enjoy hide-and-seek type games where you hide a toy somewhere in the house for her to sniff out? Teach her the names of different toys and send her to find a specific one? Mine also loves emptying Amazon boxes and shredding the paper.

Yes, she might enjoy hide-and-seek. She already knows the names of her favourite toys. She loves shredding boxes too!

OP posts:
coffeesaveslives · 09/10/2024 11:32

Trick training
Home agility

TheFlis · 09/10/2024 11:32

Shredding egg boxes is my dogs favourite, a large one keeps him busy for about 20 minutes 😆

MonCoeur · 09/10/2024 11:37

@TheFlis Definitely going to try this!

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Newpeep · 09/10/2024 11:53

My terrier is level 10 at shredding toilet roll tubes - it is the only thing she will hunt out and destroy. So we make a game of it. The look of joy on her face when she finds one and dashes off with it to shred is priceless.

Newpeep · 09/10/2024 11:55

The absolute best thing to tire them mentally is a training class IME. Mine can walk or run all day. One training class (agility or Rally Obedience) and she's exhausted in a nice contented way.

MonCoeur · 09/10/2024 11:57

Newpeep · 09/10/2024 11:55

The absolute best thing to tire them mentally is a training class IME. Mine can walk or run all day. One training class (agility or Rally Obedience) and she's exhausted in a nice contented way.

I think I'm going to get her into agility. She's a Bedlington, so quite athletic. Just need to find a local class I can make.

OP posts:
spiderlight · 09/10/2024 12:15

Newpeep · 09/10/2024 11:53

My terrier is level 10 at shredding toilet roll tubes - it is the only thing she will hunt out and destroy. So we make a game of it. The look of joy on her face when she finds one and dashes off with it to shred is priceless.

Mine was in heaven for about half an hour yesterday, demolishing the longer, sturdier tube from a roll of baking foil. I would genuinely buy these in bulk if I could!

AnyoneRememberMooncat · 09/10/2024 12:17

I squeak a toy and get him interested, then I show him me putting it into a box (usually one a delivery has come in but cereal boxes work too) and then he goes nuts trying to get it out.

Also I know you said he is not food orientated but mine loves nothing more than if I put a high value treat into one of his large stuffed toys (show him you doing this) and say Oh what a naughty bear eating one of your treats and now it's in his tummy and then the dog goes mad ripping the toy apart to get the treat out.

I also have him giant stuffed bear type toys and he likes to hump it, throw it about and pull it's stuffing out. He will play with the giant toys on his own but not his smaller toys.

Also still food but mine loves these activity books you get. Look on etsy at the Pet London shop and they have these activity books where each page has places to hide treats. I found these work well to keep my dog busy for up to 20 mins. It seems to work better than the activity games. The Happy Birthday book is good and so is the Laundry one.

Anyway I feel your pain. My dog is only small but I am constantly trying to keep him busy.

We have just had 'find the treat' when I break up a large treat and hide it under cushions, rugs, etc and he has to go round and find them. He loves doing that.

Finally make sure he can see out of a window so he look at passing dogs, people, squirrels, cats etc. Mine used to spend hours doing this although we live somewhere not with less passing traffic so not so interesting.

It's weird but the more difficult I make it to get the treat, the more interested he is in having it. Handing him the treat is far less interesting.

P.S. My dog loves the 'cats and dogs' movie so I sometimes put it on for him and he will watch it for about 20 mins before he gets bored.

Newpeep · 09/10/2024 12:34

MonCoeur · 09/10/2024 11:57

I think I'm going to get her into agility. She's a Bedlington, so quite athletic. Just need to find a local class I can make.

Terriers get bored very easily. They are very clever and once they’ve done something then pah! Next! So variety is key. They’re not like handler focused breeds like spaniels, collies or labs who will do it again and again just to please us. Mixing things up helps anf when I train which I do most days I do something different and keep it very short.

Most terriers are piglets. So I suspect that it’s just getting boring as it’s going on too long rather than she doesn’t like the treats. I also mix up treats which keeps things fresh.

MonCoeur · 09/10/2024 12:42

Newpeep · 09/10/2024 12:34

Terriers get bored very easily. They are very clever and once they’ve done something then pah! Next! So variety is key. They’re not like handler focused breeds like spaniels, collies or labs who will do it again and again just to please us. Mixing things up helps anf when I train which I do most days I do something different and keep it very short.

Most terriers are piglets. So I suspect that it’s just getting boring as it’s going on too long rather than she doesn’t like the treats. I also mix up treats which keeps things fresh.

I do try to mix her treats up, but she really does just turn her nose up at even things like steak or smelly cheese! I'll keep persevering though. I've had a few terriers and they would all eat anything and everything, not her though!

OP posts:
MonCoeur · 09/10/2024 12:43

AnyoneRememberMooncat · 09/10/2024 12:17

I squeak a toy and get him interested, then I show him me putting it into a box (usually one a delivery has come in but cereal boxes work too) and then he goes nuts trying to get it out.

Also I know you said he is not food orientated but mine loves nothing more than if I put a high value treat into one of his large stuffed toys (show him you doing this) and say Oh what a naughty bear eating one of your treats and now it's in his tummy and then the dog goes mad ripping the toy apart to get the treat out.

I also have him giant stuffed bear type toys and he likes to hump it, throw it about and pull it's stuffing out. He will play with the giant toys on his own but not his smaller toys.

Also still food but mine loves these activity books you get. Look on etsy at the Pet London shop and they have these activity books where each page has places to hide treats. I found these work well to keep my dog busy for up to 20 mins. It seems to work better than the activity games. The Happy Birthday book is good and so is the Laundry one.

Anyway I feel your pain. My dog is only small but I am constantly trying to keep him busy.

We have just had 'find the treat' when I break up a large treat and hide it under cushions, rugs, etc and he has to go round and find them. He loves doing that.

Finally make sure he can see out of a window so he look at passing dogs, people, squirrels, cats etc. Mine used to spend hours doing this although we live somewhere not with less passing traffic so not so interesting.

It's weird but the more difficult I make it to get the treat, the more interested he is in having it. Handing him the treat is far less interesting.

P.S. My dog loves the 'cats and dogs' movie so I sometimes put it on for him and he will watch it for about 20 mins before he gets bored.

I'll try a movie day! Never thought of that.

OP posts:
EdithStourton · 09/10/2024 14:09

As PP have said, training.
Heelwork requires mental focus and is tiring for a dog (until they get good at it).
A long sit-stay can really wear a dog out. And you can do those indoors.

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