Hands-off mental stimulation and enrichment.

[snowbunny]

With the pitter-patter of medium-sized feet imminent, I thought I'd start a thread about ideas for enrichment for the two new arrivals.
For the sake of posterity and anyone else reading (because you regulars obviously already know the situation), this is for two dogs that have lived for over a decade in a Spanish shelter, and who are very fearful of people. Even volunteers they've known for a long time in the shelter cannot touch them. When they come to us, they will be living in our kennel facility, as being in the house would be far too overwhelming for them.

So hit me with your ideas for hands-off mental stimulation and enrichment activities.

Here's a list I have so far.

1. Licky mats
Spread something tasty on them, leave the dogs be.

2. Kongs
We'll have to build up slowly, but as with a puppy, start with something easy to manage and work towards frozen.

3. Scatter feeding
Kibble in the grass.

4. Snuffle mats

5. Sausage tree
There's a big gnarly olive tree in the middle of the grassy area which would be perfect for this.

6. Hiding food in egg cartons, boxes etc

7. Licky mat game
This is something Chirag Patel uses with nervous dogs. Basically, you lay a few licky mats out to start off with, then put a bit of food on one, then you move away to the next mat. Once the dog has finished the food on the first one, you put food on the second, and move to the third, and so on. This way, the dog starts to "follow" you without any pressure, as she can predict that you're moving away.

8. Distance target training
For down the road a bit! I thought introducing a clicker and a large target (eg a rug) and throwing food behind as the reinforcer, to ease the pressure. Another way of having the dog approach and retreat.

9. Treat & Train
Again for a long way down the road, introducing the T&T so that I can teach more skills at a distance.


Any other ideas?

 

[Natalie]

I like the kong wobbler, maybe that will take a bit of time too build up to.
Also really simple, hiding treats in a rolled up / folded up old dog towel for them to sniff out. There's also the plaited tea towels that you can push bits of kibble into but I find those a faff

 

[Candy]

At times when Joy has been on limited exercise (like now) I have found Shay Kelly's book on canine enrichment useful. It's not rocket science or anything that you might not think up for yourself and it's not aimed specifically at anxious dogs but there are ideas for simple activities and these have helped me to keep Joy from getting too bored.
One of the things I do regularly with her even if she's having her normal walks is pieces of raw vegetables in an old towel. Just off cuts of whatever vegetables I happen to be preparing, carrot, peppers, broccoli stalks chopped small, put a row along the edge of a towel, fold over and repeat until you run out of veg, then twist towel up and put on floor for investigation. Joy loves it when the towel comes out! Having said this she is very food motivated and I don't know if your two new additions are.

 

[Candy]

Oops, Natalie got there before me! Joy also loves her Kong Wobbler but I did have to teach her what to do with it, which might not be so easy with an anxious dog.

 

[HAH]

@Candy ’s post has made me think of all the foods and textures they may not be familiar with in their previous world, and may not have come across for a long time. So maybe two games/activities:
1. ‘New’ foods - maybe only 2 or 3 to begin with, and tiny amounts (you’ll be fully alert to any dietary issues and risks, plus how good their teeth are), but give them in stations well spread out around the yard/wherever their ’safe’ area will be on flat cleanish surfaces e.g. a little slice of watermelon, and a tiny handful of cheese, bits of carrot. It will hopefully be interesting for them to sample different flavours and textures at their own pace, and will start to give you some info on their individual preferences.
2. Sensory exploring - similar to above but with non edibles, so maybe a bell suspended somewhere, a box with rustly paper in, and a little pool of water maybe with a ball floating in it; sounds quite basic, but again thinking of things they may not have had much exposure to that they can explore safely at their own speed. I guess the important thing is keeping it small and non-alarming where possible.

 

[Cath]

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[Candy]

This is from the Shay Kelly book

 

[Boogie]

Mine both love their buster cubes.