Enrichment has become a hot topic in recent years, largely fuelled by social media. It’s encouraging to see companion animal guardians discussing this more, as enrichment is a crucial aspect of providing a fulfilling life for our pets. Enrichment can strengthen our bond with our dogs, reduce behavioural challenges, and improve overall well-being for both them and us.
However, as with many social media trends, the broader purpose of enrichment has been overshadowed by a narrow focus on food-based enrichment, and specifically "enrichment feeding". This has led to a distorted understanding of what enrichment feeding truly is, often reducing it to an aesthetic trend rather than a meaningful way to engage our dogs in natural behaviours, and risks ignoring all other forms of enrichment which are just as important.
The True Purpose of Enrichment Feeding
Enrichment feeding is the adaptation of food presentation or delivery methods to encourage natural behaviours, providing mental stimulation as well as physical activity. It has its origins in zoos and can be used as a way of providing outlets for foraging and scavenging behaviours (among others) that captive animals would otherwise exhibit in their natural environment when searching or hunting for food.
Overconsumption, Social Media and Aesthetics
Rampant consumerism with the rise of online shopping and an on-demand culture have also had an impact on enrichment feeding, and dog guardians now have more choice than ever as to what products they can buy to support their companion's wellbeing. "For less than the price of a pizza" I can "run not walk" to buy the latest influencer-marketed snuffle toy on TikTok shop, with carefully curated images and videos telling me this is the product that will "transform" my reactive / bored / destructive companion. On Instagram I can browse highly filtered and edited pictures showing me beautiful slow feeder bowls and Toppls stuffed to the gills with food in rainbow shades, with beautiful hand-iced themed biscuits (and also a very wound-up dog in the background being perpetually teased with the food until the "perfect" picture is taken 😬). On Facebook, I can search in the different enrichment groups and find plenty of "inspirational" "Sunday reset" posts from people about their fully-stocked freezer with their "enrichment prep for the week" of stuffed food toys. It is frustrating in some ways to see what enrichment has been reduced to!
The Problem with the Aesthetic, Human-Centric Approach
While enrichment feeding has value for our dogs, the obsession with making it visually appealing to the exclusion of everything else often detracts from its true purpose—meeting the needs of the dog and supporting them to perform their species-specific behaviours. Here’s why, in my view, this focus on aesthetics can be problematic:
Neglecting Other Forms of Enrichment: Enrichment is not just about food. If the only enrichment your dog receives is eating from the latest trending slow feeder or stuffed Toppl, their needs are not being fully met. Mental stimulation, physical exercise, social engagement, and environmental enrichment are all essential.
Overcomplicating the Process: Many online trends emphasize making enrichment feeding last as long as possible, often through freezing food or creating complex puzzles. Facebook groups are flooded with requests from owners that "need" an enrichment activity or toy that lasts an hour or more. In many cases, these types of activities lead to frustration rather than engagement for the dog—hardly the goal of enrichment. When was the last time you were absorbed single-mindedly in trying to eat a meal for more than an hour?
Ignoring Individual Needs: The aesthetic approach rarely considers the specific dog. Some dogs may find it stressful to struggle for food they can’t access easily, while others may not enjoy frozen meals. Just because an enrichment method looks appealing on Instagram doesn’t mean it’s suitable for every dog. If you were hungry, how would you feel about having a frozen dinner plopped in front of you?
Potential Health Risks: If food intake isn’t carefully monitored, enrichment feeding can contribute to weight gain or health issues such as pancreatitis. Ideally, enrichment feeding should use a portion of the dog’s regular meals rather than additional treats, and there are lots of options for raw, cooked, wet or kibble fed dogs.
Environmental Impact: Overconsumption is a big issue currently, and this extends also to enrichment products. You don't need a Toppl in every colour, and you don't need to buy every new product that appears on TikTok shop! You can give dogs a great enriching experience by reusing enrichment products over and over again - dogs don't get bored of them, we do!
Finding Balance
So, should we stop enrichment feeding altogether? Of course not! Instead, we should take a balanced approach:
Variety is Key: Incorporate different forms of enrichment beyond just the aesthetic enrichment feeding—exploration, social interaction, scent work, and problem-solving activities, but vary your enrichment feeding too. Try a snuffle mat, snuffle box, foraging caterpillar or rolled towel, or toilet roll tubes with food.
Keep it Simple: Not all enrichment needs to be complicated or time-consuming. Little and often works well. You could try feeding your dog the majority of their meal in their bowl so they aren't ravenous but keep some food aside for training rewards, play kibble toss or "find it" games with the remainder.
Prioritize Your Dog’s Needs: Focus on what benefits your dog, not what looks good online. Monitor their responses and adjust accordingly.
Ultimately, enrichment should be about enhancing our dogs’ lives in a way that is practical, enjoyable, and meaningful. A little creativity and variety go a long way in ensuring our companions thrive!