3 DIY Dog Enrichment Ideas To Combat Dog Cabin Fever
You know when you’re stuck inside from bad weather like rain for multiple days or heavy snow with temperatures too cold to venture out in? You want to go outside but you’re like nah, I’m good, ha! When you get stuck inside for that long you tend to develop cabin fever, and the same thing can happen to our pups.
When you can’t go outside, there are many indoor enrichment activities for dogs that can combat dog cabin fever and provide both mental and cognitive enrichment for dogs which can equal up to 30+ minutes of physical activity!
In this post I’m sharing three dog enrichment ideas that your pups will love! If you’ve never done any dog enrichment activities before, these are perfect for beginners while also being great for more advanced dogs to sprinkle in throughout the day!
Dog Enrichment Idea 1: Towel/Blanket Roll
The first DIY dog enrichment idea to combat dog cabin fever is called the Towel Roll. This is also known as the blanket roll, depending on which item you use, I prefer a towel!
To make this DIY dog enrichment game, all you need is a regular bath towel and some kibble or treats.
Pro Tip: You can feed your dog’s entire meal in this dog enrichment game! If you use any supplements for joint care or fish oil, if they can have them all together, put them in one meal and save this dog enrichment idea for their second meal with food only!
How To Make Towel Roll Dog Enrichment Game:
To make the towel roll dog enrichment game, follow the 4 easy steps below and see the step by step photo guide too!
Step 1: Completely unroll your towel.
Step 2: Spread your dog’s kibble all across the towel.
Step 3: Tightly roll up the towel, ensuring that all of the kibble is wrapped inside.
Step 4: Give to your pup and watch them solve!
Dog Enrichment Idea 2: Muffin Tray
The second enrichment activity for dogs is called the Muffin Tray! If you’ve ever made cupcakes or muffins in your house, you already have everything you need for this canine enrichment idea!
For this, all you need is 1-2 muffin pans (1-2 per dog), a mix of your dog’s toys (think tennis balls, bones, and other smaller toys that can cover the holes in the pan) and your dog’s kibble!
Pro Tip: I have a large muffin pan that fits 12 and two smaller ones that each fit six. This DIY dog enrichment game works good no matter what size you have, and like the towel roll, you can also feed your pups entire meal with this DIY dog enrichment game!
How To Make Muffin Tray Dog Enrichment Game:
To make the Muffin Tray dog enrichment game, follow the 3 easy steps below and see the step by step photo guide too!
Step 1: Start by filling your muffin pan(s) with your dog’s kibble.
Step 2: Once filled, cover all of the empty holes with your dog’s toys. In my photo examples below, you can see how you can mix it up with bones that cross over diagonally in combination with toys that actually fit in the holes. Make it fun!
Step 3: Give to your pup and watch them solve!
Dog Enrichment Idea 3: Snake Towel/Blanket
The last dog enrichment idea to combat dog cabin fever is called the Snake Towel. This dog enrichment game is really fun!
To create this DIY dog enrichment game, you will need: 5-6 toilet paper rolls, one kitchen towel and your dog’s kibble!
Note: You can technically use a towel for this too, but I find that kitchen towels just have a little bit more flexibility and are thinner than bath towels, making them easier to work with!
How To Make Snake Towel Dog Enrichment Game:
To make the Muffin Tray dog enrichment game, follow the 4 easy steps below and see the step by step photo guide too!
Step 1: Start by sliding one of your toilet paper rolls all the way to end until just a little of the towel is hanging out.
Step 2: Repeat step 1 with the remainder of your toilet paper rolls until your towel is completely covered.
Step 3: Insert treats into the towel and toilet paper rolls.
Step 4. Once filled, give to your pup and watch them solve!
Out of these three enrichment activities for dogs, which one was your favorite? My girl Annie loves the snake towel dog enrichment game and Diesel loves the muffin tray dog enrichment game! Incorporating dog enrichment activities a few times a week is such a great way to prevent destructive behaviors, prevent boredom, and just add some fun to your pups day!
If you loved these DIY dog enrichment games, make sure to check out my other posts below featuring more canine enrichment ideas like my favorite dog puzzles and snuffle mats for dogs:
- How To Use A Snuffle Mat For Dogs
- 3 Snuffle Toys For Dogs
- Nina Ottosson Dog Puzzles Level 1: Beginner Puzzles For Dogs
- Nina Ottosson Dog Puzzles Level 2: Intermediate Dog Treat Puzzles
- 3 Ingredient Yogurt Dog Treat Recipe With Lickimat Soother
P.S. Don’t forget check out some of my most recent posts below:
Photography: Kate Kelley Collection
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