What's better than handing your pet a snack and it's all over once they give a quick gulp? Helping them savor the moment, while providing some healthy mental stimulation as well.
By adding food puzzles and games to their snack routine, your pup can use several of their five senses simultaneously – making for a more enriching and well-rounded experience. Think crossword puzzles and/or Candy Crush for canines!
Scent work allows your dog to do what they love best – sniffing! This gives the opportunity for your dog to use their strongest natural sense in a fun way that also helps alleviate boredom.
Place some strong scents on a washcloth and tuck under an upside down plastic cup/container in the house or yard for your dog to find. Some popular essential oil scents (even just one drop) are peppermint oil, lavender oil, chamomile, cinnamon, and lemon.
You can also try some strong scents from a hunting store such as deer scent, fox scent, rabbit scent, etc. Place one drop on a washcloth, then rub back and forth to spread it around. Hide the washcloth and see how finding this surely brightens your dog's day!
You can purchase a multitude of treat puzzles, snuffle mats, and other food-motivated games online or at your neighborhood pet shop, or make some cost effective DIY options as well.
