When most dog owners hear the word enrichment, they think of puzzle feeders, snuffle mats, or a stuffed Kong.
These tools are great, but here’s the truth: enrichment isn’t the toy or the activity itself – it’s the positive change that activity creates in your dog’s welfare.
A dog doesn’t experience enrichment because we buy them a new chew. They experience enrichment when that chew reduces frustration, provides an outlet for natural chewing behavior, or helps them relax afterward.
In other words, enrichment is not defined by what we give, but by what the dog gains.
This is a subtle but critical shift in mindset.
Enrichment is only enrichment if there’s an observable improvement in your dog’s wellbeing, and the one who decides whether that happens is your dog, not you.
Why Most Dog Enrichment Misses the Point
The concept of enrichment comes from the field of applied ethology, the scientific study of animal behavior, often in captive settings.
The aim of enrichment is to introduce an activity or object to reduce stress, encourage species-typical behaviors, or improve health outcomes (source).
In more recent years, more of these same enrichment concepts are being applied to our pet dogs, but I feel like we’re often missing the mark.
Pet owners are focused on “doing things” or using products, but most are not following up to make sure that the goal has been achieved successfully.
Well-designed enrichment:
Reduces stress behaviors
In one shelter study, dogs given food toys and positive training were calmer and jumped on visitors far less than dogs without enrichment. Desirable behaviors like sitting quietly increased to 65%, compared with 22% in the control group (source).
Supports emotional regulation
During stressful times like kennel cleaning, dogs exposed to calming enrichment (lavender scent, tactile items) showed more relaxed body postures, while arousing toys (balls) cut down on barking and whining. Both reduced stress compared with no enrichment at all (source).
Encourages rest and recovery
Sound enrichment, such as playing nature sounds or pink noise, increased the amount of time shelter dogs spent lying down – a signal of rest and reduced anxiety (source).
Encourages Species-Typical Behaviors
That’s a fancy way of saying enrichment gives your dog the opportunity to do things he or she would do instinctually (due to the nature of being a dog) if they had endless choices and were left to make their own decisions.
Put yet another way, it encourages them to “be a dog”… offering them the ultimate form of life fulfillment.
It bridges the gap between the domestic world they live in and the evolutionary drives they were born with.
These studies highlight the core truth: enrichment must be evaluated not by the presence of a toy, but by the change in the dog’s behavior and state of mind.
The chew, puzzle, sniffari, or training game is simply the method. Enrichment is the result. We shouldn’t ask “What enrichment activity should I do today?” We should ask, “What outcome does my dog need today?”
Why “Measured by the Dog” Matters
It’s easy for us to assume that because we enjoyed buying something, or because it looks mentally stimulating, it must be enriching for our dog, but this is human-centered thinking.
Dogs tell us in real time whether an activity enriches them through their body language, willingness to engage, and changes in stress or calmness.
Applied ethologists now emphasize agency – a dog’s ability to make choices and have some control over their environment – as a key indicator of positive welfare (source).
When enrichment gives dogs opportunities to choose, problem-solve, and succeed, it’s more likely to improve welfare than something they’re forced into or ignore.
As Dr. Karolina Westlund, an applied ethologist, explains: dogs are essentially captive animals in our homes (a shocking truth that I admit is difficult to accept).
Enrichment should not try to mimic the wild in detail, but rather provide meaningful outlets for safety, play, foraging, and social interaction – areas where dogs can exercise agency and competence (source).
Beyond Toys: How to Recognize True Enrichment
So how do you know when something is truly enriching your dog? Look at the before and after.
Signs of successful enrichment include:
Reduced stress signals – less daily barking, pacing, whining, or destructive chewing.
Relaxed body language – loose posture, lying down calmly, soft eyes.
Positive engagement – your dog chooses to participate, shows enthusiasm, and often returns to the activity.
Behavioral balance – your dog is calm and relaxed after activity.
By contrast, signs of unsuccessful enrichment include:
Frustration – frantic barking at the item, scratching frantically at the equipment, or flipping it over.
Overstimulation – frantic pacing or spinning, looking tense, trembling or shaking, mouthing or biting.
Indifference – walking away, sniffing elsewhere, or otherwise showing disinterest.
Note: “unsuccessful” signs don’t necessarily mean it’s the wrong enrichment activity, it could mean it’s too difficult for your dog at this time so you need to provide an easier activity.
If enrichment is about the outcome, then the role of the human is to observe closely to see how your dog responds, take notes if needed, tailor activities to your specific dog and their breed(s) and adapt your enrichment plan to meet their needs based on that information.
Maximum Benefit With the Least Amount of Work
I know this reframing of enrichment is a new concept for a lot of Dachshund owners.
It may take coaching by an enrichment specialist to truly gauge whether something is enriching for your dog, draw a clear connection between the activity and the outcome, and adjust your plan to maximize the benefit.
I am passionate about helping Dachshund owners cut through the endless stream of enrichment products and advice online so they can focus on what their individual dog truly needs based on their behavior, personality, and welfare.
Most importantly, I know how challenging it can be to fit meaningful enrichment for our pets into our busy, hectic lives.
Personally, I need “trigger events” that help me remember when to do what when.
I need to find natural ways to fit enrichment into my routine that feels easy or I won’t do it.
If you would like an analysis of your current enrichment strategy, or need someone to analyze your dog’s needs and tell you what to do, sign up for one of my custom enrichment plans.
You can also learn more by joining my membership Facebook group.
Final Thoughts
When we stop asking, “What toy should I buy next?” and start asking, “What does my dog need from this experience?”, we stop collecting enrichment products and start creating a more fulfilling life for our dogs.
A chew toy is just rubber until your dog uses it in a way that reduces stress, fulfills an instinct, or builds confidence.
A snuffle mat is just fabric until your dog uses it to forage, relax, and feel competent.
By shifting our mindset from toys to transformations, we respect dogs not as passive recipients of our purchases, but as individuals whose welfare must be measured on their terms.
