If your dog has had a surgical procedure with us, it’s likely that we have recommended that they be kept calm and restricted to lead walks only. We know how difficult it can be to keep an energetic dog entertained post-operatively so here are some great enrichment ideas to keep them mentally stimulated. It’s important when looking at these suggestions to assess their suitability for your pet based on the type of surgery they have had (if you’re not sure, then do ask our team!) Make sure to assess toys and chews for their suitability for your pet – we don’t want them ingesting anything they shouldn’t while engaging in these activities – and make sure to supervise them at all times while they are undertaking any of these activities to make sure they’re not getting themselves into any trouble.
If you are using food or treats as a reward or distraction during any games, remember to either use some of their daily allowance of food or reduce their normal meals so that they are not overfed. Try to keep treats small and healthy, like chunks of cooked chicken or raw carrot.
Food based enrichment
With any toy or treat feeder, always supervise your dog and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Puzzle feeders
Puzzle feeders are great for extending meal times and mentally stimulating your dog as they try to work out how to get to their dinner. We really like the Kong Gyro and Kong Tipsy, but there are lots of different feeders on the market with varying levels of difficulty. Keep an eye on your dog to check the toy isn’t too hard (or too easy!) for them so you can adjust accordingly. These are great if your dog is fed kibble, you can pop a handful or even their whole meal into the feeder.
LickiMats and Classic Kongs
You can use wet dog food, pet safe peanut butter, mashed banana, plain Greek yoghurt and basically anything healthy and sticky that your dog would love to lick on these sorts of feeders. LickiMats are a great way to distract dogs too, so if you need to check on their would or give them a clean up, popping a peanut butter covered LickiMat by their nose will keep them busy. The Kong Classic is good for stuffing with any type of treat, wet or dry, and can be frozen to extend treat time. They come in a variety of sizes for different ages and chew strengths so you can choose a toy that is appropriate for your dog’s age and chewing ability. Kong Classics should not be so small they could be swallowed but not so big that they can’t be played with, and make sure to choose a size that is slightly bigger than their tongue to avoid them getting it stuck on their tongue.
Snuffle mats and sprinkle feeding
If the weather is good, try sprinkling your dog’s kibble in the garden, they’ll enjoy sniffing and snuffling out the biscuits. This will also get them gently moving whilst testing their brain to find all the food. We advise keeping them on a lead even in the garden to avoid any surprise zoomies or jumping! Snuffle mats are soft play mats which you can hide food in, there are lots of different versions on the market with varying degrees of difficulty, or if you enjoy crafting, you can even make your own.
Homemade feeders
You don’t have to use shop bought feeders, homemade ones are just as good! One of our favourites is the “Towel Twister”! Simply lay out an old towel, sprinkle on some treats or kibble and roll it up, adding knots to make it more difficult for clever pups. Your dog will love snuffling out the food as they work out how to undo the puzzle.
Scent work
Find it!
Take a treat in your hand (or their favourite toy if they aren’t food oriented) and show it to your dog. Say ‘Find it!’ and throw the treat a short distance. Make a BIG fuss when they find it so they know they’ve done the right thing. You can then start throwing the treats further, allowing them some gentle exercise without too much bouncing. If they are enjoying sniffing out the treats you can try hiding a few around the room and seeing how many they can find.
Have a go at a truffle hunt!
Test your dog’s nose with some at home truffle hunting! You will need a small plastic container, kitchen towel and a small bottle of truffle oil. Pour a little truffle oil on a folded piece of kitchen towel and place it in the plastic container. Truffle oil has quite a strong smell and your dog will be able to smell it even through the container. Hold out the container to your dog and give the command ‘truffle!’. When your dog touches their nose to the container give them lots of praise and reward with a treat. Repeat this a few times, moving the container a little further away and into the other hand, until they understand the game. Next try placing the container on the floor about a metre away, give the command and reward when your dog sniffs the container and paws at it. Repeat this a few times, placing the container further away or hiding it under a blanket. Eventually you can try hiding the container in another room (or in the garden if it’s dry) and commanding your dog to try to find the container. This sort of game really tests your dog’s nose and challenges them mentally; remember if they are struggling to find the container, scale things back until they are more confident with what they are being asked. Keep training sessions short as this kind of training can being really tiring for your pup. Who knows, maybe they’ll be able to find a real truffle someday!
Chew Toys
There are lots of different chew toys, sticks and treats on the market and it really depends on the type of chewer your dog is as to which one will keep them entertained. Light chewers may appreciate a dental chew toy or stick and will take time to nibble it down, whilst heavy chewers will destroy it in seconds! We recommend always opting for a health chew, such as Pet Munchies Buffalo Chews, which are low fat and long lasting. Remember to adjust your dog’s daily food intake to account for extra calories from any chewy treats. Always supervise your dogs whilst they have a chew and be ready to remove it if it becomes too small and could be swallowed.
Training
This is the perfect time to teach your dog some basic commands such as sit, paw, down and stay. Training is a great way to mentally stimulate your dog and strengthen your bond with them. Once they’ve mastered the basics you can move onto some easy trick training, we like this video from the American Kennel Club showing you how to teach your dog to roll over, there are lots of videos on YouTube showing how to train your dog to do lots of different commands.
Some important things to remember while your pet recovers
- Lead walks and supervised garden strolls are okay, just keep them away from muddy or wet areas.
- Running up and down the stairs may be too much and does count as ‘jumping’, consider a stair gate if they usually have full access.
- If your pet is able to reach their wound or is stressed or bothered by their wound protection (T-shirt or cone), please call and speak to our nursing team, we are here to help!
Call us on 01435 864422 if you have any concerns about your pet after their procedure.
