🎄Happy Howl-idays! Keeping Your Pup Calm & Merry with Enrichment🐶

The holiday season is a magical time, filled with sparkling lights, delicious smells, and the joy of togetherness. But for our beloved canine companions, it can be a confusing and even stressful period! Sudden changes in routine, new faces, loud noises, and tempting holiday treats can all lead to an increase in unwanted behaviors.

To help set your dog up for success, we're diving into the wonderful world of enrichment – a powerful tool to help your dog navigate the holiday hustle with more calm and confidence.

What is Enrichment & Why is it a Holiday Essential?

As I've shared before, enrichment is any activity that your dog finds naturally enjoyable and satisfying.

Think of the things most dogs love doing: sniffing, digging, shredding, chewing, chasing, licking, fetching, ripping, investigating, and scavenging. These are all natural to their species!

Having your dog engage in these activities will help prevent boredom, teach problem-solving skills, build confidence and curiosity, and overall help them feel more fulfilled. When dogs are stressed, bored, or over-stimulated, they often resort to unwanted behaviors like barking or jumping. Enrichment gives them an appropriate, healthy outlet for that energy!

You can find all my favorite dog enrichment products, including all the puzzles and toys mentioned below, on my Amazon Storefront!

The "No-Jump Zone": Using Enrichment for Guest Greetings

The doorbell rings. The excitement is palpable. You know your dog’s impulse is to rocket toward the door and jump on your guests. This is where your enrichment plan comes in!

The goal is simple: Shift your dog's focus from the excitement of the guest to the satisfying reward of their enrichment toy.

Here is your step-by-step strategy:

1. Preparation is Key: Have an enrichment activity ready to go before your guest arrives.

2. Location, Location, Location: Place the toy in a designated, comfortable spot away from the front door traffic - like a comfy bed or crate in a separate room, or a secure spot behind a gate. You can even put your dog on leash away from the door and put their toy down as you hold them on leash to keep them from rushing the door.

3. The High-Value Bait: For this important job, you need a toy that requires deep concentration. Use higher value things inside these toys like long-lasting chews and high value treats.

🛠️ Your Holiday Behavior Enrichment Toolkit

Tool Type	Examples (from my storefront!)	Why it Works for the Holidays
Food-Stuffed Toys	West Paw Toppl, Classic Rubber Kong, LickiMat	Requires intense, rhythmic licking and chewing - both are powerful decompression (calming) activities. When frozen, they can last 20-40 minutes!
Long-Lasting Chews	Bully Sticks, Yak Chews, or other safe, durable chews.	Taps into the natural instinct to chew and shred. It's a satisfying, stationary activity that keeps all four paws on the floor.
Food Dispensing Toys	Kong Wobbler, Snuffle Mat, Buster Cube	Encourages natural scavenging and foraging. You can toss a handful of kibble into a Snuffle Mat to keep them busy sniffing while guests settle in.
Hide-A-Way Toys	Zippy Paws Hide & Seek puzzles	Allows for natural investigating. A great option for dogs who are more toy-motivated.

Food-Stuffed Toy Pro-Tips:

For maximum distraction power, don't just put dry dog food in a Kong. You want to make it irresistible and long-lasting!

• Ingredients: Wet dog food, peanut butter (with no Xylitol!), plain yogurt, pumpkin puree, or blended/mashed dog-safe fruits and veggies.

• Ultimate Hack: FREEZE IT! Prep your stuffed KONGs or Toppls a few hours before. A frozen food puzzle provides a longer, more challenging distraction than an unfrozen one.

Other Non-Food Enrichment for the Holiday Rush

Don't forget to drain your dog's energy before the action begins with these active enrichment options:

• Flirt Pole: A great workout! This is a flexible pole with a lure on the end. It taps into the natural chase instinct and can burn a ton of energy in a small space. Use this in the yard for a few minutes before guests arrive.

• Decompression Walks: Instead of a brisk walk, take a "sniffy walk" where you let your dog fully investigate every smell. The more sniffing the better! This helps your dog decompress.

• DIY Scavenger Hunt: Toss your dog’s daily food or a handful of treats into the grass or across the living room floor for them to scavenge and search for. You can also hide larger treats or chews around the house for them to "find it."

🛍️ Ready to Build Your Holiday Toolkit?

You can find all my favorite dog enrichment products, including all the puzzles and toys mentioned above, on my Amazon Storefront! Stock up now so you’re ready for the holiday season.

What is your dog's favorite enrichment toy to chew on? Let me know in the comments!