Sensory enrichment for dogs

For humans, the world largely revolves around what we see. We look, read faces, pay attention to details in colors and shapes. But for your dog, it is very different. His experience of the world is guided by smell. Sight, sound, touch and taste come only afterwards. And precisely because his senses work so differently, it is incredibly valuable to consciously pay attention to this in the form of sensory enrichment.

What exactly is Sensory Enrichment?

Sensory enrichment simply means that you stimulate your dog’s senses and give them space to be discovered. Not with the aim of ‘training’ your dog, but to keep him mentally occupied in a natural way. Sniffing, listening, feeling, tasting: these are all ways in which dogs process information and regulate themselves. By actively offering them this, you not only give your dog pleasure, but also peace and self-confidence.

Olfactory enrichment: tracking and sniffing

Your dog’s nose is his most important tool. With it, he picks up information about who has been nearby, what is happening behind that wall or who walked along the path this morning. Sniffing is not only a way to explore the world, it is also a form of relaxation. Many dogs are quite tired after ten minutes of intensive sniffing, so don’t underestimate how much it can demand of your dog!

You can play with this in all sorts of ways. For example, hide chunks or treats in a snuffle mat, in rolled up towels or in a box with crumpled paper. You can also hide food outside in the grass or between leaves. Your dog will have to use his nose to find his snack. With olfactory enrichment there is a lot of overlap with food enrichment, you can read more about that in this blog.

Some dogs also enjoy scent games with herbs like chamomile or parsley, or following a scent trail that you leave for them. Just make sure that anything you offer is safe to sniff or lick!

Hearing enrichment: soothing or interesting sounds

Where we often live through sounds, dogs can be very sensitive to the smallest vibrations in the air. Music, nature sounds or the rustling of leaves; it does something to them. You can also use sound to enrich. Quiet music can help with relaxation, especially during thunderstorms or fireworks (note: if your dog is afraid of thunderstorms or fireworks, get started with a certified Canine Behavior Therapist to tackle that fear). But also carefully introducing new sounds at a low intensity (think of bells, a cracking bag, a soft whistle) can be a nice enrichment. Look carefully at your dog’s reaction: curiosity is fine, but tension or withdrawal are a sign that it is too much.

Visual enrichment: something to look at

Although vision is less important to dogs than it is to us, they can certainly appreciate visual stimuli. A spot by the window to look outside, birds fluttering in the garden, or dogs playing in the distance: they can all be fascinating. Objects that move (such as a softly dangling cloth in the wind) can also be interesting attention grabbers. It is not about spectacle, but about small discoveries.
What is usually not visual enrichment: laser lights. Although it may seem like your dog enjoys chasing a point of light, laser lights can actually cause a lot of frustration. Your dog can never really catch the light, and that can lead to compulsive searching behavior: even at times when the light is no longer there. Instead, choose visual stimuli where your dog can experience success, such as moving toys or observing the outside world.

Taste enrichment: discovering new flavours

Tastes differ, even with dogs. But just like with people, a new taste can be an experience in itself. You can introduce your dog to different safe tastes, such as carrot, apple, banana, yoghurt or a lick of peanut butter (note: always without xylitol!). A lick mat is ideal for this: you smear different structures and tastes on it and let your dog discover for himself what he likes best. The licking itself also has a calming effect.

Tactile enrichment: feeling and discovering with body and paws

Finally, there is the sense of touch: feeling with the soles of the feet, the snout, the body. Let your dog get to know different surfaces regularly. Grass, tiles, gravel, a rubber mat, a cardboard box full of soft cloths – these are all ways to physically explore the world. Some dogs also love to dig or to rummage through loose materials with their noses. A digging box with sand or shredded paper in which you hide a treat can be a great success.

Sensory enrichment in balance

As with all forms of enrichment, it is important to look closely at your dog. Not everything is suitable for every dog, and that is perfectly okay. A calm, somewhat reserved dog may have less need for intense stimuli, while a curious detective will be excited by new experiences. Give your dog time to get used to it, build up slowly and vary to keep it interesting.

Sensory enrichment doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With a little creativity and attention, you can do a lot to stimulate your dog’s senses in a pleasant, safe way. And the best part is: you often get to know your dog even better.

Have you found any fun ways to enrich your dog’s senses? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to read them!