Enrichment toys are NOT enough

This does not replace this…

Ditching the bowl, cutting out walks and choosing enrichment over high-arousal training is often recommended nowadays. Although it is a breath of fresh air compared to the “a tired dog is a happy dog” mantra that used to see exhausted dogs chasing balls for hours every day, cruciates snapping left right and centre, overweight dogs being dragged on four walks a day or dogs with six-packs from all the exercise, with no off-switch… it still isn’t ideal.

Enrichment in the form of kongs, lickimats and puzzles can be good fun, and are a great training and management tool, but they aren’t a replacement for actually engaging with your dog.

Some dogs don’t need to be walked every day, in fact, for some dogs daily walks are detrimental for their mental or physical health. Sometimes, giving them a stuffed kong can be enough enrichment for a day. But day in, day out, just feeding a dog in enrichment toys isn’t enough stimulation. It won’t satiate their mental and physical requirements.

They are totally fantastic for helping dogs that suffer with separation anxiety, they are brilliant for keeping a crated dog occupied for a little while, they are excellent for helping an over-tired puppy get off to sleep.

But when used daily as a sole source of entertainment?

They. Are. Not. Enough.

A couple of years ago I found myself looking after between five and eight dogs, pretty much on my own. It was not at all ideal, especially because most of the dogs couldn’t be in the same room together. This is why I have so many Kongs, because it was impossible to work full time and give each of those dogs enough attention. Those dogs survived happily enough, but it was so far from perfect, especially during lockdown when I could only leave the house once a day, so walks were rationed.

Rest days are good, some days my dogs will do next to nothing, but this is balanced with days that have plenty of exercise and training. If I just chucked a kong at my dogs every day, instead of actually giving them the attention they desire and require, they would definitely take it upon themselves to create their own entertainment.

TLDR: an enrichment toy should add to their lives, not replace crucial engagement.