For dogs who need more to do at home
Give Your Bored Dog’s Brain a Workout in 5–10 Minutes, With Games Made From Things You Already Own
18 short video lessons of sniffing, foraging, puzzle and play games using towels, boxes and a muffin tin.
- 18 short video lessons, and most games take 5–10 minutes18 lessons, most games take 5–10 minutes
- Sniffing, foraging and puzzle games made from towels, boxes and a muffin tinGames from towels, boxes and a muffin tin
- Gentle, choice-based exploring where your dog decides how close to goExploring where your dog decides how close
- Printable workbook and four-week enrichment tracker includedPrintable four-week enrichment tracker
One-time payment · No subscription · 30-day refund policy
- 30-day refund policy
- Instant access
- Lifetime access
The problem
Sound familiar?
- Your dog seems restless or bored in the evenings, even after a walk.
- Rainy days, busy work weeks or a small apartment limit how much exercise you can offer.
- Your dog wolfs down dinner in seconds and then looks for something to do.
- You've bought puzzle toys that your dog solved once and ignored.
- Your dog is a little hesitant with new surfaces or objects, and you'd like to let them explore at their own pace.
None of that means your dog is bad, or that you've failed. Your dog has learned a routine, and routines can be re-learned.
The key insight
Why sniffing and foraging matter to dogs
Dogs naturally sniff, search, chew, forage and play. Enrichment gives those behaviors safe outlets, and Purdue University's canine welfare team sums up the rule: enrichment must be safe, interesting and never scary. Many of the best games use your dog's nose. In one small study, pet dogs who did two weeks of nosework responded more 'optimistically' on a judgment test, while dogs who practiced heelwork didn't change. That's one study, not a promise, but it fits what welfare organizations say: sniffing matters to dogs. When games are safe, matched to your dog, and always voluntary, they can become a satisfying part of daily life.
How it works
The 3-part Enrichment Games method
- 1
Start safe
Three habits behind every game: supervise, use safe right-sized items, and take game food out of the daily food. Plus a scope check before any exploring.
- 2
Put the nose and brain to work
'Find it', scatter feeding, box searches and household puzzles that start easy and get harder slowly, plus lick and chew outlets.
- 3
Make it a routine
Two short games a day across six categories, a calm-down after active games, and a weekly rotation so the games stay interesting.
The goal
The routine you'll build
Two short games a day, chosen from sniffing, foraging, lick and chew, play, thinking and exploring, with a wind-down and a settle on the mat after active games. You log what your dog enjoys, then do more of the favorites and fewer of the duds.
- Dozens of game ideas using things you already have at home
- Healthy outlets for sniffing, chewing and foraging
- Rainy-day and small-space options
- Choice-based activities that let an everyday dog explore at their own pace
One-time payment · No subscription · 30-day refund policy
Everything included
What you get today
18 video lessons
Short, narrated lessons with clear on-screen steps
Printable workbook
22 sections: safety checks, game logs, puzzle ladder, troubleshooting
Four-week enrichment tracker
Tick off and rate two games a day, then review every Sunday
4-page quick start
Today's checklist, the three safety habits and your first week
Dog Enrichment & Confidence Games
$39one-time
- 18 video lessons across 6 modules
- Printable workbook, quick start and four-week enrichment tracker
- Lifetime access on any device
- 30-day refund policy
One-time payment · No subscription · 30-day refund policy
Inside the program
6 modules, 18 short lessons
1Enrichment Basics3 lessons
- ▸ What Enrichment Is (and Isn't) · 4 min
- ▸ Safety First: Choosing Items and Supervising · 4 min
- ▸ Everyday Hesitation or Real Fear? A Scope Check · 4 min
2Sniffing & Searching Games3 lessons
- ▸ Find It: Your First Scent Game · 4 min
- ▸ Snuffle and Scatter Feeding · 3 min
- ▸ Beginner Nose Work Boxes · 3 min
3Food Puzzles & Foraging3 lessons
- ▸ DIY Puzzle Feeders · 4 min
- ▸ Adjusting Difficulty · 3 min
- ▸ Licking and Chewing Outlets · 4 min
4Exploring Through Choice3 lessons
- ▸ New Surfaces at Your Dog's Pace · 4 min
- ▸ The New-Object Game · 4 min
- ▸ Hand-Target Games · 3 min
5Play & Thinking Games3 lessons
- ▸ Tug With Rules · 3 min
- ▸ Simple Trick Training · 3 min
- ▸ Calm-Down Games · 3 min
6Your Weekly Enrichment Plan3 lessons
- ▸ Rotating Activities · 3 min
- ▸ Matching Games to Age, Energy and Health · 4 min
- ▸ When to Get Help · 4 min
Your options
How it compares
| Enrichment Games | Store-bought puzzle toys | YouTube videos | Trainer or behavior pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uses things you already have at home | Varies | Varies | ||
| Adjusts difficulty as your dog gets better | Varies | |||
| Safety checks for food, chews and DIY items | Varies | Varies | ||
| A weekly plan you follow at home | ||||
| Play on your own schedule | ||||
| Best for fear, anxiety or guarding | ||||
| Cost | $39 one-time | Varies | Free | Usually much more per session |
If your dog panics, freezes, hides, trembles or guards food or toys, a vet and a qualified behavior professional are the right choice. The program's scope check lesson helps you tell everyday hesitation from real fear.
The plan
Your first 3 weeks
- Days 1–3
Safety and a scope check
What enrichment is, the three safety habits, a scope check, and your first round of 'Find it'.
- Days 4–7
Sniffing games
Scatter feeding, the towel game and beginner box searches.
- Week 2
Puzzles and exploring
Household puzzles that start easy, lick and chew outlets, and choice-based exploring if your scope check allows.
- Week 3
Play and a weekly plan
Tug with rules, simple tricks and calm-down games, then a weekly plan with two short games a day.
A framework, not a deadline. Your dog sets the pace, and you can drop any game your dog doesn't enjoy.
Honest fit check
Is this right for your dog?
A great fit if…
- Owners of everyday, generally comfortable dogs who want more ways to keep them engaged
- Apartment dwellers and busy owners looking for indoor activities
- Owners of puppies, adults or seniors who want age-appropriate options (with vet input on physical limits)
- Owners of mildly hesitant dogs who want gentle, voluntary ways to explore new things
Not the right fit if…
- Dogs who panic, hide, tremble, freeze or try to flee, or whose fear is getting worse. Please talk to your vet and a qualified behavior professional.
- Dogs who guard food or toys with stiffening, growling or snapping, unless guided by a professional.
- Dogs on restricted diets or with medical conditions, unless your vet has approved food-based games.
- Anyone looking for a fix for anxiety or a guaranteed result.
Try it for 30 days
30-day refund policy: if the course isn't right for you, contact support within 30 days of purchase.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Will this help my fearful or anxious dog?
This program isn't a treatment for fear or anxiety. If your dog panics, freezes, hides, trembles, tries to flee or shows aggression, please talk to your vet and a qualified reward-based behavior professional; PDSA advises getting help early because fears tend to get worse. The exploring games are for everyday dogs with mild hesitation, and they're always voluntary. A fearful dog can still enjoy the sniffing, food and calm-down games, but those games aren't a substitute for professional help.
What do you mean by 'confidence'?
Something modest: an otherwise comfortable dog getting gentle, choice-based chances to explore a new surface or everyday object at their own pace, with good things happening when they do. Your dog decides how close to go and can always walk away. There's no luring, pushing or flooding, and it isn't a way of treating fear.
Do I need to buy special toys?
No. Most games use household items like towels, cardboard boxes, paper tubes and a muffin tin. Puzzle toys, lick mats and stuffable rubber toys are optional extras.
Won't all these food games make my dog gain weight?
Not if you use part of your dog's regular daily food for games rather than adding extra, as Battersea suggests. PDSA suggests keeping treats to no more than 10% of the daily food allowance. If your dog has a special diet, allergies or a health condition, or you're unsure about their weight, check with your vet.
My dog chews up cardboard. Can we still do this?
Yes, with care. Shredding under close supervision can be fine, but swallowing isn't. The ASPCA advises removing any DIY item your dog tries to swallow. If your dog eats cardboard or paper, stick to sturdy, non-edible puzzles like a muffin tin, and talk to your vet if your dog regularly eats non-food items.
Can I do this with multiple dogs?
Yes, but run food and chew games in separate spaces (different rooms, a gate or a crate) so each dog can enjoy theirs undisturbed. If any dog stiffens, growls, snaps or gulps food when another dog is near, pause those games and consult a professional. The ASPCA warns that punishing guarding can make it worse.
Which chews are safe?
It depends on your dog. The ASPCA suggests choosing a chew sized for your dog's size and chewing style, watching your dog while they chew, and replacing chews before they get excessively worn. This course doesn't use cooked bones; the FDA warns cooked chicken and turkey bones are too brittle. If your dog swallows a chunk of chew, contact your vet immediately. Ask your vet if you're unsure what suits your dog's teeth and health.
Can I use peanut butter?
Only if you've checked the label. The FDA warns some peanut and nut butters contain xylitol (also listed as birch sugar or wood sugar), which can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar in dogs. Many owners simply use their dog's usual wet food instead. Count any spread toward the daily food budget.
Doesn't letting my dog win at tug make them dominant?
One study tested this: Rooney and Bradshaw (2002) had 14 Golden Retrievers play tug they either won or lost, and winning or losing didn't change the measures most related to dominance. It's a small study, but it doesn't support the myth. What matters more is playing with clear, consistent rules: you start, 'leave' means the toy goes still, teeth stay on the toy, and games stay short.
Is enrichment a replacement for walks?
No. Enrichment complements exercise, social time, training and veterinary care. It's especially useful on rainy days, busy days or in small spaces, but your dog still needs the basics.
How much time does it take?
Many games take 5–10 minutes, and some, like scatter feeding, are just a different way of serving food you'd give anyway. The weekly plan suggests two short games a day.
Is it suitable for seniors or puppies?
Many games can be adapted for any age; Purdue's guidance notes dogs of all ages need enrichment. Puppies need short games and lots of rest, and many seniors enjoy low-impact nose games. Ask your vet before physical games for puppies, seniors and dogs with joint, back or mobility problems.
Is this course reviewed by a vet or a credentialed behavior professional?
No. It's an educational course researched and written with AI assistance from published veterinary and animal-welfare guidance, which is cited on every lesson. It hasn't been reviewed by a veterinarian or credentialed behavior professional, and it isn't a substitute for advice from your vet.
What's your refund policy?
We offer a 30-day refund policy. If the course isn't right for you, contact support within 30 days of purchase.
Give that energy somewhere to go, starting tonight.
Start with lesson 1 and your first round of 'Find it'. If the program isn't right for you, contact support within 30 days for a refund.
One-time payment · No subscription · 30-day refund policy
Where the methods come from
- Built from published guidance by veterinary and animal-welfare sources, including Purdue University's Canine Welfare Science team, VCA, ASPCA, FDA, Dogs Trust, Battersea, Blue Cross, PDSA, San Francisco SPCA and Fear Free Happy Homes. None of these organizations has reviewed or endorsed this course.
- Reward-based methods, in line with the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's Humane Dog Training position statement (no endorsement implied).
- Research is described cautiously: the nosework study (Duranton & Horowitz, 2019) is one small study, and we say so.
- Every lesson lists its sources, and fear, guarding, compulsive behaviors and health warning signs are referred to your vet and qualified professionals.
- Environmental Enrichment (Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine)
- Let me sniff! Nosework induces positive judgment bias in pet dogs (Applied Animal Behaviour Science 211: 61–66)
- Allowing Dogs to Sniff Helps Them Think Positively (Psychology Today (Animal Emotions blog))
- Position Statement on Humane Dog Training (AVSAB)
- How to Choose a Trainer (AVSAB)
- A Guide to Using Food Puzzle Toys with Your Dog (AVSAB (originally Companion Animal Psychology))
- The five forms of enrichment (Dogs Trust (Ireland))
- Enrichment activities to keep your dog entertained (Dogs Trust)
- Canine DIY Enrichment (ASPCA)
- Enriching Your Pet's Environment with Their Food (VCA Animal Hospitals)
Honest limits
- This program is not a treatment for fear, anxiety, phobias, separation distress, aggression, guarding or compulsive behaviors. Those need a vet and a qualified behavior professional.
- Enrichment complements, and doesn't replace, exercise, social time, training and veterinary care.
- Some games involve food. Use part of your dog's daily food, and check with your vet about diets, allergies or health conditions.
- Some DIY items can be chewed or swallowed; supervision is required for every game.
- Every dog has different preferences, and not every game will suit every dog.
- Educational content only. It has not been reviewed by a veterinarian or credentialed behavior professional and isn't veterinary advice.
- No results are guaranteed.
Results vary with practice and with each dog.