Budget-Friendly Enrichment Ideas for Your Dog 🐾
Keeping your pup mentally stimulated doesn’t have to mean spending lots of money on fancy toys — in fact, some of the best enrichment activities can be made at home using things you already have! Not only are these ideas fun and engaging for your dog, they’re also eco-friendly and easy to set up.
Here are a few of our favourite DIY enrichment toys that are sure to get tails wagging:
🧻 Toilet Roll Tube Puzzle
Before you toss that empty toilet roll tube in the recycling bin, turn it into a fun little puzzle!
How to do it:
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Pop a few treats inside the tube
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Fold both ends over to seal it
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Hand it to your pup and let them figure it out!
It’s a great way to encourage problem-solving and satisfy natural chewing instincts.
🐾 Towel Treat Roll
This one’s as simple as it is effective.
How to do it:
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Lay out an old towel
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Sprinkle a few treats or bits of kibble across it
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Roll or fold the towel up — you can even tie it loosely for more of a challenge
This activity encourages sniffing, pawing, and unrolling — all things dogs love to do!
📦 Cardboard Box Adventure
Have a cardboard box lying around? Perfect.
How to do it:
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Fill the box with shredded paper or safe packing material
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Hide a few treats or favourite toys inside
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Close the box loosely and let your dog dig in!
If your dog is more scent-driven or food isn’t an option, try tossing in some novel natural scents like fresh grass clippings or herbs to create a sensory experience.
Why Enrichment Matters
These easy enrichment ideas support your dog’s natural behaviours like sniffing, shredding, and problem-solving — which can help reduce boredom, anxiety, and even unwanted behaviours. Plus, they’re a fun way to bond with your pup!
🛍️ Need Treats?
If you’re low on treats to fill your DIY puzzles, we’ve got you covered!
Our Wade Street Animal Centre Shop (and online store) stocks a wide range of tasty, affordable pet treats — perfect for enrichment games or just a little daily spoil. 🐶💙
👉 www.rspcahalifaxhuddersfieldbradford.org.uk/shop/