DIY Enrichment: The "Pawzzle" Challenge
When we think about exercising our dogs, we often think of long walks or games of fetch.
But for a dog’s brain, sniffing and solving can be just as exhausting as a mile-long run - and at least as rewarding.
If you own a dog, there's a fair chance that you've heard the chatter about "enrichment." You maybe have encountered it online, heard about it from a friend, or had a dog trainer who suggested you add enrichment to your dog's daily routine. If you're an owner who has their thumb firmly on the pulse of "canine culture," the term "enrichment" probably summons to mind images of colorful dog toys with hidden cavities for holding treats, or of elaborate activity trays equipped with bevies of levers, buttons, and sliding hidden compartment doors. In common dog training parlance, "enrichment" tends to be used as a catch-all phrase for the range of brain game toys now available for the canine in your life. But what the heck is enrichment actually?
Enrichment is the practice of adding environmental challenges that encourage our dogs to express their natural behaviors, like foraging, problem-solving, and using their incredible sense of smell. The word "enrichment" refers to the idea of enriching the environment of an animal who lives in an environment where expressing their natural instincts is difficult, inappropriate, or even just not needed for their survival. And although instinct rarely truly enters the conversation around canine enrichment for pets - professionals tend to stick to positioning canine enrichment as a mental stimulator, perhaps believing that talking about wild and wolf-y things like "instincts" would be a turn-off for some dog owners - enrichment as a practice exists because of, and as a solution for, the persistence of natural instinct in animals who spend their lives around humans. In fact, the practice was first pioneered by zookeepers, as an antidote for the melancholy, distress, a self-destructive behavior that often befell zoo animals in the days before environmental enrichment's advent.
Why enrichment? As our understanding of domestic companion dogs continues to grow, so does our understanding of how their genetic heritage shapes their nature and behavior. Despite many generations of co-evolution making dogs better suited to being our companions than to living wild as their wolf cousins do, all dogs retain some degree of the wild instincts their ancestors relied on for survival. And although we humans may not approve of all instinctual canine behavior - like digging up the flower bed, chewing up furniture, or chasing the cat - the instincts themselves are non-negotiable. Your dog's instinct to find something hard to chew on is as important and compelling to him as your instinct to protect the things you value from harm is to you.
So, unfortunately you can't get rid of instinct. But fear not - there is a solution: your dog just needs you to provide mutually acceptable outlets for his natural drives. A set of release valves for his wild inclinations, if you like. And that is where enrichment comes in.
Instinct in Action
In this video, you’ll see my dog, Oden, working through a DIY "Pawzzle" I put together using nothing more than a towel, some cardboard tubes, and a little hidden peanut butter.
The beauty of DIY enrichment is that it’s completely customizable. By layering different textures, like the soft folds of a towel and the rigid challenge of a cardboard tube, we invite the dog to slow down and use their paws and snout in tandem. This doesn't just burn off physical energy; it builds confidence and provides a productive outlet for dogs who might otherwise find "hobbies" we don't like (like chewing on the furniture!).
So, next time you’re about to recycle that paper towel roll, try tucking a few treats inside and folding the ends instead - then challenge your dog to "unwrap" the goods. He will thank you for the job!
There are many ways to practice enrichment, including a virtual galaxy of quick, easy, no-spend options perfect for dipping your toes in if you're not sure where to start - in fact, I promise you that you have everything you need to get started already.
3 More Easy DIY Bain Games
- The Kibble Scatter: For a game that requires absolutely zero equipment or setup, try a "scatter feed." Instead of using a bowl, simply take a portion of your dog's regular kibble and toss it on the floor. To keep it "easy mode," use a hard, flat surface. To increase the challenge and promote calming, instinctual "rooting" behavior, scatter it on the grass (advanced mode). This encourages your dog to use their most powerful tool - their nose - to hunt for every last piece.
- The Muffin Tin Challenge: Turn a standard muffin tin right-side up and place a tennis ball over each "well" with a treat hidden underneath. Your dog will be motivated to use their snout and paws to "uncover" the rewards, providing great mental stimulation.
- The "Destruction" Box: For dogs who love to shred, take an empty cereal or delivery box, toss in some treats and a few crumpled pieces of packing paper, and tape it shut. This gives them a safe, appropriate outlet for their natural "dissecting" instincts.
Pro-Tips for Your DIY Puzzles
- Supervise the Shredding: While cardboard is generally safe to shred, some dogs get a little too enthusiastic and may try to swallow the pieces. Keep a close eye on your "shredder" to ensure they’re just after the treats, not the packaging!
- Layer Your Rewards: To keep your dog motivated, use a mix of "High-Value" and "Low-Value" treats. Tuck their regular kibble into the easier-to-reach folds, but hide a few "jackpot" rewards (like a smear of peanut butter or a smelly piece of freeze-dried liver) in the trickiest spots. This keeps the dopamine high and the focus sharp!
- Adjust the Difficulty:
- For Beginners: Keep the towel folds loose and leave some treats visible to help them understand the game.
- For "Pro" Puzzlers: Roll the towel tightly or even tie it in a loose knot! You can also "nest" the cardboard tubes inside larger boxes for a multi-layered challenge.
- Safety Check: Avoid using cardboard with heavy staples, excessive packing tape, or glossy coatings, as these can be harmful if chewed. Stick to plain, brown cardboard and clean, old towels.
Will you try enrichment with your dog?
Consent Testing:
When Your Dog Talks, Do You Know How to Listen?
Do you know what a "Consent Test" is?
If you've ever wished you could ask a dog what they're really thinking, you’re going to want this simple tool in your arsenal of dog skills.
A Consent Test isn't so much a test as a communication skill. It's a way of pausing and listening, so you can hear what the dog in front of you is "saying."
Who Should Use Consent Tests?
Consent Tests are for anyone and everyone who wants to have safe, mutually enjoyable interactions with dogs.
A Consent Test can be used when you are petting your own dog as a way to foster trust and mutual understanding, or with a dog you don't yet know well to ensure the interaction is safe, smooth, and mutually enjoyable. Consent Tests can be used during petting, play, and virtually any other type of recreational social interaction.
Note, that interactions such as necessary grooming or veterinary procedures do not fall under this umbrella of just-for-fun social interaction, and are not the appropriate setting for a Consent Test. This is because the purpose of a Consent Test is to tell you if the dog in front of you wants the interaction to continue. A dog who is receiving vaccine shots may not want their interaction with the vet to continue, but for their own good, they must be vaccinated. In the instance that we must do something to or with a dog that they do not like, the focus should be on making the experience as tolerable as possible for the dog, and as safe as possible for both dog and human.
In particular, make sure to use a Consent Test when you are not too familiar with this dog, or if they are shy.
Make extra sure to use this quick trick any time you interact with a dog who seems to have a short fuse. For example, if the dog displays a tendency to suddenly lose their patience and issue a snap or growl when you don't expect it, always take the time to perform a Consent Test.
How to Perform a Consent Test
Here are the steps to perform a Consent Test:
- Sit on the floor, couch, or anywhere else you'd usually settle down and interact with this dog. Start by petting or playing with them as you normally would.
- After no more than 15 seconds to start with, stop what you are doing. For example, if you were petting the dog, remove your hand from them and place it in your lap or rest it next to you.
- Be still, calm, and neutral, and say nothing. Watch what the dog does next. How do you see them respond to this pause?
From here, you will proceed based on the dog's behavioral response. Let's think about taking one or two diverging paths:
Path One
If the dog does nothing, or moves or looks away, do NOT re-engage the play or petting.
Wait for around 30-45 seconds to see if they are just needing time to make up their mind. If they provide no indications that they want more of your attention, this dog is indifferent at best. Stop the activity completely for now.
Path Two
On the other hand if the dog:
- Moves eagerly towards you or your hand
- Paws or nudges your hand
- Picks up and tries to present you with a toy you were using
- Stares pleadingly at you, perhaps with a whine or cry like they're saying, "Why'd you stop?"
- Or provides some other clear and obvious indication that they'd like to do more…
Then, congratulations! You have your dog's enthusiastic consent. Pet or play away!
Best practice is to perform a Consent Test with any dog you are interacting with at least every couple of minutes - even if you know them well. Like us, dogs have preferences that change with their current mood, and they'll appreciate little breaks to think about what they want right now.
If it helps, you can think of it like I do, as a conversation. In a conversation, one person should not be yelling every statement while the other only whispers. Nor should one person suck all the air out of the room with frequent, long monologues. In a good conversation, each conversant is mutually responsible for maintaining the back-and-forth rhythm that keeps the conversation interesting to both parties. If one conversational partner disrespected the needs of the other by waxing long and poetic about their favorite interest of making model trains, or tennis, or dog training, the other partner would rightfully begin looking for the closest conversational off-ramp.
Why Consent Testing?
Pausing intermittently to check in is actually natural behavior in canines. If you watch carefully, you may see dogs consent test each other during play. It's how dogs make sure they have everyone's buy-in when engaging in simulated danger, like play fights or high-speed chases.
There's another advantage to these check-ins. Imagine being on a rollercoaster, or playing a competitive sport. These are examples human-made fun that is enjoyable because of, and not in spite of, the feelings of risk or conflict they bring.
To understand this, we must consider that social play serves an important function: it lets animals, including dogs and humans, practice handling conflict and danger in a safe setting. Almost like a fire drill, but way more fun. For example, wolf pups practice fighting off predators through play, and so do their descendants, our dogs. These simulated survival scenarios build skills and confidence for real-life danger.
But simulated danger can still feel, well… dangerous. When the nervous system is highly active, excitement can turn into overwhelm in a matter of seconds. And despite their absolute mastery of communication through body language, even skilled canine communicators can sometimes lose their connection in the shuffle of high-energy play. Missteps are common. A nip that’s too firm can turn a fun game nasty in seconds. Without regular check-ins, these small tensions can quickly escalate into real conflict. To complicate matters further, dogs, like young children, often struggle to recognize when they're getting overwhelmed. At a certain point, the nervous system can’t take anymore. Lashing out often follows, as the organism attempts to rapidly gain control of their environment and re-establish equilibrium.
And so, dog-kind has arrived at a simple and elegant means of co-regulation; the periodic, mutual pause.
Habitual brief pauses give every participant a moment to reset. These micro-breaks show mutual respect between playmates, open space for the dogs to observe and analyze each other’s body language, and allow the each dog’s nervous system to relax and re-balance. Crucially, it’s a moment for one dog to turn and walk away, should they need to. This way, everyone stays emotionally regulated and engaged by choice.
Pups have been passing this social skill down via social learning for generations, and now it’s your turn to learn! Once you master this non-verbal check-in, you will be able to tell your dog in their “native tongue” that you're ready to be a respectful, trustworthy playmate who will listen to their needs. What a beautiful gift for your best friend.
Final Thoughts
Consent Testing is for all dogs - shy dogs, bold dogs, irritable dogs, playful dogs…
At the conclusion of this piece, I find myself thinking especially about overly friendly dogs; you know the type. They love everyone, and everyone loves them. But, they’re at serious risk of knocking grandma down. That’s usually when I get a phone call from their owner.
Occasionally, my clients have noticed that their typically frantically social dog approaches interaction with me with uncharacteristic patience. There’s no magic instant transformation here; we are still looking at an excited dog. But in the vacuum of silent space once filled with the steady patter of, "Stop, Sit! That’s enough! Get down!” we often see new behavior emerge in the pup. She slows down. You can see her thinking.
These moments can be hard to spot if you aren’t used to looking for them. In these situations, sometimes owners will feel inclined to conclude that their dog simply doesn’t respect them. Or, they may want to attribute the difference to some circumstantial factor: the trainer smells like another dog. The trainer is a new person, it’s just different. The trainer gave the dog treats last time and she’s hoping to impress them enough to earn more… etc.
Upon observing such a display, owners will often ask the natural question, “How can I make her do that with me?”
We humans have a tendency to focus on action steps - “Give me something to do. I know I can make things change if you tell me what I need to do.” But when it comes to behaviors which originate from an over-taxed, over-active nervous system, the most effective response is often much simpler than we assume. A commanding approach, “Dominance”, or repeating our orders with more authority have little bearing on the issue in most cases, and will barely move the dial, if they have an effect at all. We are not going to improve an overstimulated pup’s performance by pumping more anxious human energy into the situation.
A surprising amount of the time, getting better behavior is about what we don’t do. It’s about the silent pauses we leave to let a dog think, and so that she can have her say.
Luckily, Consent Testing presents a species-appropriate, socially elegant method that even us clueless humans can understand. And it’s so easy!
It’s as easy as remembering to stop once in a while, so that both you and your dog can take a deep breath.
It doesn’t get much simpler than that.
Student Appreciation: Gibbs
Object Lessons in Trauma, Habit, and Recovery from a Reactive Dog
Gibbs is a driven, whip-smart German Shepherd who adores his human mom. Responsible by nature, stalwart Gibbs appointed himself as his owner's loyal bodyguard in the early days of their relationship, a duty he has carried out with solemn dedication ever since. As a casual observer, you would be forgiven for describing Gibbs as a serious dog. But it was the goofy, puppy-ish side he revealed in private that most endeared his owner to him. The pair would go on to form an incredible bond.
Gibbs has had some very frightening experiences in the past, and he still grapples with anxiety and hypervigilance in the present. He struggles to understand that he's safe now - that there are no threats to drive away anymore.
True to his breed, Gibbs has always had strong instincts for herding and guarding. But when trauma kicked Gibbs's nervous system into overdrive, his normal instincts accelerated, boiling over into explosive bouts of reactivity.
Gibbs needs help learning to keep his mouth to himself when something startles him or triggers his herding instincts. Gibbs's reactivity and difficulty managing everyday occurrences such as receiving visitors had long been a concern to his owner, but she knew he wasn't looking for a fight.
However, a nip to her 8-year old sister during an animated family Game Night left Gibbs's owner not only distraught over her loyal and affectionate pup's alarming behavior, but scared that it could happen again.
Dogs like Gibbs feel like they need to watch their back 24/7, constantly on high alert for the next threat. Any small noise - a bird chirp, distant bark, passing car - signals potential disaster. A stranger walking by the window? Better issue the sternest warning until he leaves, just to be safe.
So he reacts. And reacts. And reacts again. Ten strangers pass the window, ten warnings - even though his nerves are shot and he's exhausted from springing up from his bed.
And barking at passersby is normal dog behavior, so it doesn't seem that bad. Just a dog doing what dogs do.
Until one day, some mundane event presses too hard on an already stressed dog's natural instincts.
It's a normal, sunny afternoon. A dog is tucked cozily into one of his usual spots, and his favorite small human is playing innocently nearby. He watches her with intent interest, her frequent mad dashes and wild movements tickling some deep part of his canine brain.
Suddenly, she's dashing past his spot. With the response-readiness so characteristic of his breed, the dog's drive shifts instantly into high gear. Thousands of years of breeding to create the perfect herding dog - ever-ready to pursue and control wayward sheep - coalesce into a single instinct: Stop that small creature! Enforce order! Act now!
He nips before he even has time to think.
This is what happened to Gibbs.
Sometimes, it's tempting to condemn the dog who bit. We reach for labels, a means of totalizing a scary and confusing occurrence; we say that this is simply a "bad dog" or that they are "mean."
Luckily, Gibbs has a loving, determined mom who never forgot how capable he truly is. Giving up on him wasn't an option - she decided they would try training.
The right training approach for Gibbs had to be as unique as he is. Early efforts to help him settle by teaching him to still his constantly moving body proved ineffective. Our message of "Don't worry, just rest!" was not well received. Gibbs's bright, eager eyes and the steady twitch of his tail seemed to say, "But I'm ready to work! What am I laying here for?"
Re-analysis soon yielded a more helpful direction. We quickly learned that action, pattern, and predictability - and not encouragement to still his body - is what Gibbs needs right now.
After just a couple months of diligent work, Gibbs is learning to lower his defenses. He's finding his confidence, and learning that not everything demands an instant response.
Gibbs's training story started at the intersection of trauma and instinct. So, it's fitting that this is where we return as we near this chapter's close.
Trauma turned Gibbs's instincts against him, warping them into dangerous impulses which threatened his family and security. But love, training, and his owner's belief in him have made those same instincts into his greatest assets. Gibbs's incredible drive and focus can work for him, helping him engage with the right things and stay grounded when the world feels chaotic.
Best of all, Gibbs still lives at home with his mom and family. We think Gibbs is just as happy as Mom is that he gets to stay.
Gibbs has achieved so much in the face of significant challenges. But Gibbs isn't done. There's still so much more he can learn.
And Gibbs is always up for a challenge.
