Dog Enrichment Ideas: 7 Boredom Busters for Dogs

Shell & Katy Pretty Fluffy Editors

Katy and Shell are two style-savvy dog mums celebrating the best in pet-friendly living. A professional pet photographer and dog lifestyle writer, together they share dog-friendly inspiration, pet product reviews, dog treat recipes, expert pet advice and on-trend dog brands with discerning pet parents around the world.

Need dog enrichment ideas that are easy, inexpensive and sure to keep your pup stimulated? Then you’re going to LOVE these fun boredom busters for dogs!

The truth is, no matter how much we all love our fur babies, we can’t be by their side 24/7. And for all the times the real world calls, whether it’s work, the supermarket, or attending a humans-only event (gasp!) dog enrichment toys are an excellent way to keep your pup happy and content.

Having puzzle toys and dog boredom busters on hand is a great idea all year round. Especially during the holiday season when many of us go on vacation (if pet-friendly travel isn’t an option), or when guests visit and you need to keep your best friend occupied.

From homemade kongs to tasty peanut butter toys, DIY dog enrichment games and more, check out these great boredom-busting ideas you and your pup will love!

RELATED: 15 Fun & Easy Ways to Mentally Stimulate Your Dog

Dog Enrichment Ideas: 7 Boredom Busters for Dogs

But first, a disclaimer! We could rave about the benefits of dog enrichment activities all day long, but making sure your dog gets enough exercise is crucial to keeping them happy and stimulated.

The amount of exercise your dog needs depends on their breed, age and physical condition. But generally speaking, experts recommend dogs should be physically active between 30 minutes and two hours every day.

Checked exercise off the list? Now let’s take a look at a few of our favourite dog enrichment ideas and products to keep your pup’s boredom at bay!

DIY Kong Toy: Apple Kong with Peanut Butter Filling

What if you could make a fun homemade kong for dogs AND healthy dog treat out of an everyday apple?

Say hello to this clever DIY kong toy that combines two kitchen staples – apples and peanut butter.

This homemade kong toy is completely edible, delicious, and healthy. Not to mention easy on your wallet! Which is a HUGE perk, because we all know how expensive it can be to look after our fur babies.

DIY Dog Peanut Butter Toy: Dog Bone Filling Recipe 

This homemade dog peanut butter toy would have to be one of the easiest (and tastiest!) DIY dog enrichment activities you could whip up for your pup.

We are that confident, that we’d challenge you to find something cheaper and easier that does the trick!

The idea is simple: easily make your own healthy peanut butter filling, and place it inside your dog’s bone. Genius. 

DIY Dog Enrichment Puzzle (with a kitchen towel!)

We just love this fun and simple DIY dog puzzle idea that appears in the fabulous book My Dog Eats Better Than Me by dog nutrition expert Fiona Rigg and Jacqui Melville.

Again, the idea is simple: select a handful of dog treats (try mixing them up to give your pup a range of tastes, smells and textures to sniff out) place them on a mat, then place a tea towel on top of the treats.

Tuck the treats under the towel, folding them in sections so your pup has to do a little sniff work to find them!

Not only is My Dog Eats Better Than Me packed with healthy meals and dog treat recipes, it has a handy section on dog enrichment ideas and simple DIY dog puzzles you can make using items you already have at home.

Nina Ottosson Dog Puzzle Treat Toys

Nina Ottosson is the name in dog puzzle treat toys. 

The Nina Ottosson dog puzzles range features durable interactive games, each with a unique mechanism that requires mental as well as physical dexterity to work through the challenges and reveal hidden food rewards.

By challenging your pup to think, act and problem solve, these fun and innovative dog puzzles literally make your dog smarter (even though you already know your dog is the smartest pup in the world!) as well as give them a feeling of satisfaction at the end. 

MiaCara Volpe Enrichment Dog Toy

Stylish for the humans and stimulating for the pups, the Volpe dog enrichment toy ticks all the boxes. It’s a go-to in our home and our boys love it! 

Not only does the minimalist fox shape compliment any modern home, its unique corners and curves – which can be filled with wet or dry dog food and small treats galore – offer a smorgasbord of challenges for your best friend to lick and explore.

Barkolino Snuffle Mat 

Hide and go treat! We simply couldn’t talk about boredom busters for dogs without featuring these amazing snuffle mats by Australian dog brand Barkolino.

Made from soft polar fleece, these stylish and lightweight snuffle mats are the perfect enrichment puzzle for your pup. Simply hide a handful of dog treats amongst the rippled layers of the mat, then let your four-legged detective put their noses to work to uncover the hidden rewards.

Stuffed Carrot Plush Feeding Snuffle Mat 

Is this not the CUTEST dog treat puzzle toy you’ve seen?

Your best friend will instantly forget you’re busy or away while sniffing out all the snacks that can be hidden both in the carrots and their holders. 

Soft and stimulating for your pup, this  dog treat toy encourages interactive play and also includes hidden squeakers for extra entertainment.

We hope this list of dog enrichment ideas and doggie boredom busters helps keep your pup as happy and content as can be!