The Nose Knows..how to use your dog’s senses

Did You Know?

• A dog’s brain burns more calories thinking than running! Mental work is more tiring than physical activity.
• The part of a dog’s brain dedicated to scent is 40x larger than ours. Depending on the breed, dogs can smell 1,000 to 10,000 times better than humans!
• Dogs need a healthy balance of mental stimulation, physical activity, and relaxation to thrive—and to prevent behavior                         problems.

So… looking to keep your dog healthy, happy, and mentally fulfilled? Here are some fun and simple ideas to get you started with enrichment at home.

FOOD & TOY ENRICHMENT GAMES

Plastic Bottle Toys
Repurpose sturdy plastic bottles by drilling holes and turning them into kibble-dispensing toys.

Container Snacks
Don’t toss those almost-empty peanut butter or cream cheese containers—let your dog lick them clean.

Path to a Prize
Create a trail of small treats leading to a bigger reward, like a stuffed Kong. Make it more challenging by spacing the treats out over time.

Frozen Kongs
Fill a Kong with peanut butter, canned food, or leftovers. Add kibble, then freeze for a longer-lasting reward.

Kong Hide & Seek
Once your dog loves frozen Kongs, start hiding them around the house. Challenge their nose!

Kong in a Box
Step it up by placing the frozen Kong inside a cardboard box—and then hide the box! Start easy to build confidence and fun before increasing the challenge.

Dogsicle
Use a plastic cup: layer canned food, broth, treats or kibble and freeze. Pop it out for a delicious frozen treat.

Bucket of Fun
Great for outdoors! Fill a bucket with water, toys, treats, and a stuffed Kong. Freeze it solid, then let your dog lick and dig their way through.

Busy Bucket
No freezer? No problem. Fill a bucket with toys, chews, and treats—no water—just let your dog dig in and enjoy.

Doggie Lasagna
In a large container (like a dishpan), layer treats, towels, and toys. Your dog will peel back the layers to uncover hidden treasures.

SNIFFY GAMES & NOSE WORK

Pick a Hand
Hide a treat in one hand, and let your dog sniff or paw to choose. Say “Yes!” and reward for the correct guess.

Cup Game
Place a treat under one of three cups. Encourage your dog to sniff and nudge the correct one. Start easy!

Hide & Seek
Hide somewhere in the house with a treat and call your dog. Reward them when they find you! Great for building focus outdoors too.

In the Dark
Try hide-and-seek or hiding treats with the lights off for an extra sensory challenge.

Hunt
Hide 10–15 tiny treats throughout a room. Have your dog “wait” or stay, then release them to go “hunt!”

Blanket Bonus
Toss treats or kibble in a pile of towels or under a blanket and let your dog use their nose to dig them out.

Egg Carton Surprise
Place treats or kibble in an empty egg carton and loosely close it. Let your dog rip it open to discover what’s inside.

Grass Goodies
Toss kibble or treats into the grass and let your dog sniff them out. What seems boring to us is a treasure hunt for them!

Why It Matters

Dogs LOVE these games—it’s called enrichment or mental stimulation. Whether your dog is 5 lbs or 105 lbs, they were born to sniff, scavenge, and explore. Dogs are natural problem solvers and scavengers. When given the chance, they often prefer to work for their food!

A dog who eats all meals from a bowl may be missing out on one of the most enriching parts of life—and boredom can quickly lead to problem behaviors.

Try rotating these activities into your dog’s routine, and watch their confidence, calmness, and happiness grow.

Note for Multi-Dog Households:
To avoid conflict or competition, do these activities with dogs one-on-one when food is involved. Safety first!

Want to learn more? Schedule an enrichment training session today for your dog!