Enrichment! Know It. Do It.
Jul 30, 2026
Now that we’ve established why dog enrichment is so important, let’s discuss in greater details what dog enrichment looks like. To quote from researchers directly:
“Purdue University’s Canine Welfare Science program defines five categories of environmental enrichment, and the best programs incorporate all of them rather than relying on just one or two.
- Social: Time spent with other dogs and with humans. This includes playdates, group walks, or simply being in the same room while you work.
- Nutritional: Activities that encourage natural feeding behaviours, like working for food through puzzle feeders, snuffle mats, or scatter feeding in the yard.
- Occupational: Tasks that give a dog a ‘job’, providing both physical and mental stimulation. Scent work, trick training, and backyard agility all fall here.
- Sensory: Experiences that engage smell, sight, sound, or touch. A new walking route, calming music, or novel textures to explore all count.
- Physical: Changes to the environment itself that increase engagement, such as rearranging furniture, adding platforms to climb on, or providing new toys to interact with.”
At the most basic level, when approaching what enrichment is best for your dog, you have to look at it from two distinct categories:
1) The wants of the specific dog breed.
2) The wants of the individual dog.
Different breeds have different needs – it’s easy to remember because it rhymes! But it also just makes sense. Throughout human history, the relationships between people and canines has evolved dramatically in accordance with human needs; characteristics in dogs which proved useful for human civilisation - such as the ability to herd livestock - were deliberately sought out and those dogs bred to continue the prevalence of these abilities. In other words: we chose what dog traits we wanted and made sure dogs with those traits had puppies to pass on those genes. Over millennia this has resulted in modern day breeds of dogs with distinct looks and behaviours which have been tailored to specific roles in human history…the issue is…many of these roles for dogs are no longer in high demand, leading to the current situation where we have these breeds with ingrained wants and desires but who have no natural outlet to fulfill and express them. This is why all dog owners should be aware of the needs and behaviours of their dog’s breed. That way you can still meet these needs with simple, but deliberate, enrichment activities! I plan on doing some dedicated blogs for the wants of each breed group in greater detail at a later stage but, for now, let’s look at some general wants/needs for the different canine breeds and their associated enrichment activities before we continue:
- Herding Dogs such as Border Collies, German Shepherds and Corgis were bred for herding livestock. As such, they require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. Taking them for long walks is a good first step but their brains are geared towards problem solving. Therefore, the best enrichment for them is to keep them physically and mentally active by introducing new puzzles and activities for them.
- Gun Dogs such as Golden Retrievers and Cocker Spaniels were bred for hunting purposes and to actively ‘retrieve’ live prey. They need plenty of exercise and, with their extreme intellect, thrive with games of fetch or treat hunting activities.
- Hounds such as Greyhounds, Bloodhounds and Whippets were bred for their sight or sense of smell which they would use to great effect in hunting down escaping prey. Therefore, they thrive on long walks in the countryside and with their high prey drive, require a strong grip on their leash and can be fulfilled by games involving foraging, treasure hunting, chasing them or being chased by them with a choice treat as a reward.
- Terriers such as Border Terriers and Jack Russells were bred for pest control. Ranging from rats to foxes and badgers, if it’s a pest to a farm or factory these dogs will hunt it down. As such, they have a high prey drive like Hounds but will take it a step further by enjoying a good dig. The best enrichment here is to bury treats in the ground or on the beach and encourage them to dig them up!
- Toy Breeds such as Chihuahuas and Pugs were bred almost exclusively as companion dogs! Their original name was ‘Lap Dogs’ because of their preferred relaxation point. Enrich them with close physical bonding and, because they are a highly social breed, shower them with positive verbal affirmations and make them feel extra close. But, don’t make the mistake of assuming that just because they love being on your lap that they don’t need more stimulating activities - they’re highly intelligent little guys! And they need mental stimulation to feel fulfilled.
- Natural Dogs such as Huskies, Chow Chows and Shiba Inus are among the world’s oldest breeds and have grown with human civilisations over thousands of years as capable hunting and guardian dogs. They were bred for a physically demanding and important job! Therefore, they require a large amount of physical exercise to stay sufficiently enriched. Plenty of open space like a large back garden or yard is essential for them to express their natural instincts and embrace the natural world around them - they’ll thrive by sniffing extensively and feeling the wind on their coats.
- Bull Dogs such as American Bull Dogs, English Bull Dogs and Boxers were bred for brutal blood sports like bull and bear baiting in medieval England! As disturbing as that fact is, it does mean that they are extremely well adapted to living and working closely with humans making them versatile companions. However, it also means they can become intensely focused and hyper fixate onto certain objects or tasks. Make sure to give them safe outlets for these impulses such as shredding and tugging, physical activity, as well as special attention paid to decompression routines and plenty of toys!
- Guardian Dogs such as St Bernards, Mastiffs and Great Danes were bred for exactly what their name suggests: to guard people and their homes, as well as livestock! Their instincts to protect means they are the epitome of ‘stranger danger’ and may loudly bark at visitors to your door or perceived threats. As a result, they need the right amount of freedom to patrol and fulfill these instincts in a controlled environment. Enrich them by giving them lots of outdoor time and acknowledging their guard dog tendencies while also teaching them when it is time to decompress.
- World Dogs make up over 80% of all species of dogs and have not been bred by humans for any specific roles. This includes street dogs and reservation dogs. They are the most adaptive dogs due to the natural selection of their behaviours and instincts. Choice is a big thing when it comes to World Dogs as their interest can shift to other things quickly. Be sure to enrich them with different games and figure out what activities they enjoy more than others. A good idea would be to learn what mix of breeds make up your dog through DNA tests and consulting with us at What Dogs Want!
This brings us fittingly onto our second category: the wants of individual dogs. Put simply, all dogs require their emotional, physical and social needs to be met. Many of these traits can be inferred by breed…but, in truth, these are only guidelines for your dog (especially if they are a mixed breed!) To fully provide the right kind of enrichment for your pup, you need to get to know them as a unique individual. Pay attention to them and pick up on things they like and dislike. You’ll soon be balancing out their emotional, physical and social wants. Figure out what makes their tail wag, what games they like best (emotional). Determine what food they like and whether they prefer their own bed or a cuddle with you at night (physical). And, finally, assess how they feel around people – do they prefer adults or children? Do they get scared by either? How are they with other dogs? (social) By figuring out, through trial and error, how your individual companion feels about the world they live in, you can ensure that not only their needs are met, but also that their wants as individual dogs are catered to by their best friend: YOU!
Written by C.W. Swan
Sources:
What Is Enrichment for Dogs and Why Does It Matter? - ScienceInsights
Dog Enrichment: What It Is, Benefits, and Activity Ideas | PetSuites
Bored Dogs: How to Recognize and Solve Doggy Boredom
Utility Dog Group – Complete Info and List of Utility Dogs | UKPets
Meet Your Dog by Kim Brophey