Make a Dog Enrichment Box from Wag Theory Packaging

What is an enrichment activity?

Games and toys that provide opportunities for thinking and problem solving are called cognitive enrichment. Dogs are meant to live active lives, and both mental stimulation and physical exercise contribute to the overall well-being of your pet. 

How do I make an enrichment box, or "busy box", from my Wag Theory packaging?

Enrichment boxes are simple to make and can easily be made using a few treats and things you have lying around the house! Here is how you do it:

Step 1: After you’ve opened your Wag Theory box and unwrapped your goodies, you’ll want to make sure you remove any plastic, such as the bag that the dog treat came in and the sticker on the kraft paper packaging.

Step 2: Gather the items you want to include in the box along with the crumpled kraft paper. Here are some ideas:

• A ball
• A small toy 
• Kong or Toppl filled with a yummy treat such as peanut butter or cream cheese
• Toilet paper roll with treats inside (just bend the ends inward to keep the treats from falling out)
• Clean wash cloth rolled up with a few treats inside
• Loose treats to sprinkle in the box 

Step 3: Now it’s time to assemble the box contents. You can make the activity as easy or as hard as you’d like for your pup. The goal is to make it stimulating enough to keep him engaged (but not so hard that he just gives up). 

Toss the items you’ve gather above into the box along with the crumpled up kraft paper. For added difficulty, you can put treats inside of the crumpled up paper, or for a simpler option, you can just leave the treats loose in the box.

Step 4: If your pup is just starting out with enrichment activities, leave the box open and let them go to town! If your dog is an enrichment pro, tape the box lightly shut for an added level of difficulty, and poke a few holes in the outside of the box so that they’ll be able to smell the treats inside.

Note: Please be sure to supervise your pup during this activity (especially if it is new to him!) to make sure he does not ingest any of the paper while going for the treats! 

Can the paper padded mailer be used for an enrichment box as well?

I chose a paper padded mailer that is 100% paper so yes, it can be used as well, though it does have little shreds of paper within the layers so keep an eye on your pup with this one or it may make a mess :-)

My pup loves games! What are some other enrichment ideas? 

I hope your pup has fun with this activity! Last fall I wrote a blog post about other enrichment toys and games, so if you are looking for more fun entertainment to keep your pup’s mind stimulated, head over to this blog post for more info: 

 Keeping your active dog busy while you work

And if you've got a favorite toy or activity that your pup loves, I'd love to hear about it! Just drop a note in the comments!

Also in Journal