As dogs linger longer and longer at shelters, enrichment becomes a critical lifesaving necessity. In the state of North Carolina, for instance, regulations require enrichment for any dog or cat who stays in the shelter over 30 days, but every shelter, rescue, and in my opinion, pet owner should be incorporating enrichment into every dogās life.
We saw regular daily enrichment happening at each of the rescues we visited on our recent northern tour. One thing that struck me was that many were utilizing enrichment ideas that didnāt cost very much.
Take, for example, Animal Friends in Pittsburgh which has an enrichment specialist, Suzanne, on staff. There were piles of homemade snuffle mats made out of T-shirts torn into strips and a plastic dish drainer mat in her office.
Empty cereal boxes, which you could ask supporters to donate for free, turned into another enrichment tool. Toss kibble or treats inside the box and let dogs sniff them out, figure out how to reach them, and then usually rip up the box. Cardboard egg cartons were used for the same purpose.
We also always share our homemade lick mats everywhere we go. Plastic cutting boards ($4 at Walmart) are smeared with peanut butter and affixed to the outside of the kennels. Suzanne has also created enrichment bingo boards and hung them outside kennels so that volunteers can choose an activity from the ideas on the board, which were tailored for the dog in that kennel.
Enrichment ideas abound on the internet, too. There are lots on Pinterest, but you can also follow #dogenrichment on TikTok and Instagram, or search for Facebook groups/pages focused on enrichment.
Itās worth noting, though, that enrichment looks different for each dog, according to Suzanne. For some, a slow, sniff walk is engaging, but for others, time spent snuggling on a couch might be just what they need. Animal Friends has an āenrichment real-life roomā with couches and a TV.
Whether in a shelter or at home alone while their people work, all dogs need to have their minds engaged. Mind work tires them out much faster than exercise. Dogs are intelligent, sensitive beings, and we all need to find ways to keep their minds happy and healthy
Training shelter dogs doesnāt only provide enrichment, it also improves the chances of those dogs finding forever homes. Following are some organizations that specialize in offering training and behavior modification methods to staff and volunteers at shelters and rescues:
From Kennels to Homes actively seeks sponsors, enabling it to offer low-cost training assistance to shelters and rescues.
Visit the website for more information on how to partner with GoodPup.
The Shelter Playgroup Alliance Core Educational Program combines online and in-person programming. The alliance seeks donations from supporters to help it continue offering affordable programs to shelters. Visit the Program Registration page to review or sign up for a workshop.
In addition to training opportunities, the WWLDO Resource Guide/Shelter Programs and Enrichment Ideas page offers information on a wide variety of programs and activities that can help improve the lives of shelter dogs.
What the Science Says about Enrichment
ā[Environmental enrichment] could reduce the display of some undesirable behaviors, such as barking and jumping when visitors are present at the shelter (Herron et al., 2014), reduce the frequency of fights and abnormal behaviors (Mertens and Unshelm, 1996a, Hunt et al., 2022), and can decrease the intensity and frequency of depressive behavior (Sampaio et al., 2019, Cuglovici, 2023), thereby improving dog-human and dog-dog interactions.ā ā Journal of Veterinary Behavior, July-August 2025
Petco Love is accepting applications through September 30 for its Access to Care grants. Spay and neuter clinics, full service low-cost providers and TNR are invited to applyĀ here.ĀPetco Love Grant Deadline
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