Dog Enrichment Secrets Part 1: Using Your Dog's Natural Instincts To Build Variety And Engagement #314
Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett
DogsThat
4.8 • 679 Ratings
🗓️ 24 October 2025
⏱️ 17 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Visit us at shapedbydog.com
If you've ever thought a stuffed Kong was enough to keep your dog enriched, you might be in for a surprise. Enrichment is about more than keeping our dogs busy. It's about creating experiences that meet their emotional, mental, social, physical, and instinctive needs in ways that truly matter to them. In this episode, you'll discover how everyday activities can turn into meaningful experiences that build your dog's confidence and connection with you while giving them a happier, more enriched life.
In this episode, you'll hear:
• What enrichment really means and why it's essential for every dog.
• How true enrichment goes beyond keeping dogs busy.
• The difference between meaningful enrichment and passive distraction.
• Why variety, choice, and balance matter for your dog's wellbeing.
• Common misconceptions about enrichment, including TV, laser pointers, and dog parks.
• How to recognize when enrichment becomes monotonous or overwhelming.
• The eight stages of the canine predatory sequence and how each relates to enrichment.
• Examples of enrichment activities for every stage, from orienting and locating to chasing and consuming.
• Safety tips for enrichment toys, puzzles, and play.
• How to meet your dog's instinctive needs through simple, creative ideas at home.
• A simple homework exercise to help you create your dog's personal enrichment list.
Resources:
1. *West Paw Zogoflex Toppl Treat Dispensing Dog Toy Puzzle - https://geni.us/toppl
2. *KONG Classic Stuffable Dog Toy - https://geni.us/kong-toy
3. YouTube Playlist: Stop Barking Dogs! Why Dogs Bark And Anti-Bark Action Plan With Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy0bpnsTRDCxIC7NrkOuWYsU&si=jN8_e1S-t18bR_Nw
4. Podcast Episode 215: What Your Destructive, Lunging, Nipping Or Hyper Dog Or Puppy Is Trying To Teach You - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/215/
5. Podcast Episode 85: Understanding Your Dog's Sit: LWT - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/85/
6. Podcast Episode 232: Canine Predatory Motor Sequence: Understand Your Dog's Prey Drive To Enrich Your Life Together - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/232/
7. Podcast Episode 71: Pro Dog Trainer's Secret to Help Your Naughty Dog - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/71/
8. Nina Ottosson Food Puzzles - https://www.nina-ottosson.com/products/all-products/
9. Podcast Episode 272: 10 Engaging Chase Games To Increase Your Picky Eater Dog's Food Drive - https://dogsthat.com/transcript/episode-272/
10. Podcast Episode 264: Shaping Tips For Timid, Shy, Softer Or Fearful Dogs To Create Enthusiastic Learners - https://dogsthat.com/transcript/episode-264/
11. Podcast Episode 89: Why Dogs Should Not Tug: The Truth Revealed - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/89/
12. YouTube Video: DIY Puppy Bombs: Easy & Affordable Enrichment Toy for Puppies - https://youtu.be/UBveJe2C2dA
13. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/fJUvfrU_zP4
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | If you've ever filled a topple or a con for your dog and thought that you were filling their quota |
| 0:07.3 | of enrichment for the day, I think both you and your dog are going to be happy that you |
| 0:13.2 | happened on today's episode Welcome to Shape by Dog. I have been wanting to do this episode for a very |
| 0:32.5 | long time, so much so that now I've got so much to share. I think it's going to be a two-part episode. |
| 0:40.6 | Today I'm going to go over what really is enrichment, why it's so important for our dogs, |
| 0:46.1 | what it is not, and how you can start compiling a list of things that will be ideal for |
| 0:53.9 | your own particular dog because, let's face |
| 0:56.6 | it, no two dogs are alike, kind of like people. I happen to be a real sports and music fanatic. |
| 1:03.1 | I have friends who would never step foot inside of an arena to watch a game. We're all different. |
| 1:10.1 | Doesn't make one better or worse, just like our dogs. We're all different. Doesn't make one better or worse, just |
| 1:12.0 | like our dogs. They're all different. So after today's episode, you will be getting a little |
| 1:17.5 | bit of homework that will allow you to really dig deep into the needs that your particular dog |
| 1:24.0 | or dogs may have. But first, let's talk about what is enrichment. Really, it's |
| 1:29.9 | simple as just creating a variety of experiences for your dog to meet their needs, meet their |
| 1:37.6 | emotional needs, their social needs, their instinctive needs, their mental needs, and sometimes their physical needs. |
| 1:46.0 | Now, not one activity is going to meet all of those needs, which is why variety is important. |
| 1:52.1 | More on that later. We want to meet their needs in a really meaningful way, a way that they will |
| 1:57.5 | find value in, a way that they will feel enriched. Because dogs aren't like |
| 2:04.7 | furniture. They're not meant to be sitting around like some dogs that unfortunately, you still |
| 2:11.0 | see chain to a dog house in a backyard for 99% of their entire day. That is a dog who is not living an enriched life. Dogs have |
| 2:20.8 | curious minds. They have instinctive drives. And when those needs of the curious mind and the |
| 2:26.1 | instinctive drives are not met, you will see anxiety get expressed in the form of sometimes |
... |
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