Hot Weather Enrichment

Keeping Your Dog Happy Without a Walk!

When temperatures rise, many dog owners automatically worry about how they are going to exercise their dog. The good news is that physical exercise is only one part of keeping our dogs happy and fulfilled. Mental enrichment can be just as valuable and, during hot weather, it is often the safer option.

Dogs are natural problem-solvers, hunters, scavengers, diggers, shredders and explorers. By providing opportunities to fulfil these natural behaviours, we can help them stay content while avoiding the risks that come with walking in excessive heat.

Scatter Feeding

One of the easiest enrichment activities is scatter feeding. Instead of serving breakfast or dinner in a bowl, scatter kibble or dry treats around the garden or house and encourage your dog to find them.

Spread the food out rather than dropping it in one pile. This encourages your dog to use their nose to search for each piece individually.

Using their sense of smell activates the seeking system in the brain and allows them to engage in natural hunting behaviours. They are solving a puzzle, searching for food and using skills they were designed to use.

For many dogs, ten minutes of sniffing and searching can be more satisfying than a much longer walk.

Snuffle Mats, Licky Mats and Food Toys

Food enrichment is a fantastic way to keep dogs occupied.

Try:

• Snuffle mats

• Licky mats

• Stuffed Kongs

• Food puzzles

• Slow feeders

These can be used with kibble, wet food, raw food, natural yoghurt or other dog-safe foods.

To make them last even longer, freeze them.

Ideas for frozen licky mats and Kongs include:

• Natural yoghurt

• Bone broth

• Dog-safe peanut butter

• Fruit

• Vegetables

• Organic fruit and vegetable baby pouches

• Or their favourite food

Freezing adds an extra challenge and can provide a cooling activity on warm days.

Destruction Boxes

Many dogs enjoy shredding and ripping things apart. Rather than trying to stop this behaviour completely, provide an appropriate outlet.

Take an old delivery box and fill it with:

• Scrunched-up paper

• Toilet roll tubes

• Cardboard packaging

• Hidden treats

• Part of your dog's daily food allowance

• A stuffed Kong

• A licky mat

Your dog can dig, shred, search and investigate.

You can even create several boxes around the house or garden for your dog to discover.

For dogs that love tearing things apart, destruction boxes can be incredibly satisfying and provide an appropriate outlet for natural behaviours.

Digging Opportunities

Digging is another normal canine behaviour that many dogs never get a chance to express.

Create a designated digging area using:

• Plastic storage boxes

• Children's sand pits

• A section of the garden

• Containers filled with sand

Hide treats, toys or chews for your dog to uncover.

Giving dogs a suitable place to dig can help fulfil a natural need while protecting your flower beds.

Scent Work Games

Scent work is one of the best forms of mental enrichment available.

Hide your dog's favourite toy or ball around the house or garden and encourage them to find it.

Rather than repeatedly throwing a ball, allow your dog to use their nose to locate it.

The reward for finding the item could be:

• A game with the toy

• Food rewards

• Praise and interaction

Searching is often more mentally tiring and satisfying than chasing.

Water-Based Enrichment

Many dogs enjoy cooling off with water activities.

A shallow paddling pool can provide a safe and fun option.

You can make it even more interesting by adding floating treats such as:

• Apple pieces

• Strawberries

• Blueberries

Allow your dog to bob for the food in shallow water. Always supervise and ensure the water remains shallow enough for your dog to feel comfortable.

Toy Rotation and Toy Swaps

Sometimes enrichment is as simple as making old things feel new again.

Many of us have toy boxes full of forgotten treasures.

Try:

• Rotating toys every few weeks

• Putting some toys away and reintroducing them later

• Swapping toys with trusted friends or family members

Novelty often increases engagement and excitement.

Bring the Outdoors Home

If you decide to go for a walk without your dog, collect some safe items from the environment and bring them back for them to investigate.

You could collect:

• Leaves

• Grass

• Twigs

• Shells

• Pebbles

Place them in boxes or containers and allow your dog to sniff and explore.

The scents carried on these items provide valuable information about the world outside and can create a fascinating sensory experience.

ACE Free Work and Exploration Areas

ACE Free Work involves creating an environment full of interesting objects for dogs to investigate at their own pace.

You might include:

• Cardboard boxes

• Plant pots

• Old shoes

• Bubble wrap

• Tin foil

• Different surfaces

• Low platforms

Hide treats throughout the area and allow your dog to explore freely.

You can create different heights, textures and movement. For example, placing bubble wrap over a cushion creates a slightly unstable surface that encourages careful movement and exploration.

Activities like this can help build confidence, encourage problem-solving and support independent decision-making.

Teach a New Trick

Hot weather is the perfect time to work on training skills indoors.

You could teach:

• Hand targets

• Middle position

• Spins

• Paws up

• Retrieve behaviours

• Tricks using household items

Learning new skills provides mental stimulation, strengthens your relationship and builds confidence.

Relaxation Activities Matter Too

Not all enrichment needs to involve activity.

Many dogs enjoy:

• Grooming sessions

• Massage

• Cooperative care exercises

• A cool bath

• Quiet time with their favourite person

These activities can help dogs relax and unwind while still providing valuable interaction.

A Walk Isn't the Only Way to Meet Your Dog's Needs

When the weather is hot, it can be tempting to worry that your dog is missing out if they skip a walk.

In reality, there are countless ways to enrich your dog's day without stepping outside for a traditional walk.

By providing opportunities to sniff, search, shred, dig, explore, lick, learn and relax, we can meet many of our dogs' natural behavioural needs while keeping them safe and comfortable during warmer weather.

Sometimes the most enriching days aren't the ones where we walk the furthest. They're the ones where our dogs get the chance to be dogs.

All of these activities can be done anytime of the year not just because it’s hot and it can really enrich your dogs life!