Sniffing and problem-solving create a different kind of effort from walking.
Enrichment and outlet menu
| Type | Examples | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sniffing | Scatter feeding on grass, snuffle mat, food hidden in boxes, indoor treat search | About 5–15 minutes | Let the nose set the pace; easy searches should finish successfully. |
| Problem-solving | Treat ball, frozen stuffed toy, folded paper tube, food rolled in a towel | About 5–15 minutes | Begin easy enough to prevent frustration; frozen toys are especially useful during teething. |
| Shaping and tricks | Nose-to-hand touch, spin, weave through legs, toys into a box, switch a light on or off | Up to 10 minutes per session, with breaks | Use shaping and split the skill into tiny, winnable steps. |
| Ground-level hidden-food foraging | Hide measured food under paper cups, in grass or beneath loose paper in a tray. | 5–8 minutes, replacing part of a meal. | Supervise closely and remove loose material before it is swallowed. |
| Supervised destruction box | Place food in a small plain box nested loosely inside a larger open box. | One box for 5 minutes, then clean up. | Remove tape, staples and labels; stop if cardboard is eaten rather than torn and dropped. |
| Rule-governed shake-and-tug | Start on cue, allow a brief shake of a durable toy, then trade on “drop.” | Three 10-second turns with pauses between them. | Keep hands away from the bite zone and end if release fails or arousal keeps climbing. |
| Supervised endurance chewing | Offer a size-appropriate durable food toy on a settle mat. | 10–15 minutes, then remove and inspect the item. | Direct supervision only; replace damaged items and keep food within the daily allowance. |
| Chewing | Veterinarian-approved chew, a small amount of frozen carrot | Puppy-led and supervised | Ask your veterinarian which chews suit your puppy; remove damaged pieces. |
One-week enrichment rotation
| Day | Main block | Recovery block |
|---|---|---|
| Mon / Thu | Easy sniffing search, then one group outlet at the dog's current stage. | Quiet chew and protected sleep. |
| Tue / Fri | Food puzzle plus two minutes of shaping or cooperative handling. | Scatter feed or slow sniffing. |
| Wed / Sat | Signature protocol at easy criteria; stop while cues still work. | Mat settling and uninterrupted rest. |
| Sun | Recovery audit: repeat only an easy favourite if the dog is ready. | Plan the next week from recovery, not exhaustion. |
Teething
Prepare cold outlets before four to six months
Chewing demand rises sharply at about 4–6 months. Prepare frozen stuffed toys in advance; increased chewing at this age is a developmental need, not a training regression.
Independent ability
Let the dog solve ten minutes alone
Offer a safe puzzle or chew and let the dog work independently for ten minutes. Without opportunities to practise independent settling, some dogs may find alone time harder.