A dog enrichment toy I would buy over and over again
A small white dog biting off a chunk of cardboard from an egg carton.
tl;dr: Stuff treats into your recycling to give your dog endless enrichment options. .
Hey friends,
A dog enrichment toy I would buy over and over again is eggs (for the cartons).
I put treats inside the empty cardboard egg carton and close it.
Or I invite our 4-year-old to stuff the egg carton. Then we give it to Trixie.
And watch while Trixie tears it apart to get the treats.
Like all dogs, Trixie’s ancestors were scavengers. She’s a pretty skilled scavenger too. Ripping stuff apart to get at the good stuff — that is normal dog behavior.
Dogs can tear up stuff we care about like kiddo toys (so we put those away). In my experience, giving Trixie allowed options to tear up results in less tearing up of stuff we want in one piece.
It doesn’t have to be treats: sometimes we stuff an egg carton with Trixie’s regular food.
Here are my top 3 tips for using egg cartons (or any recycling) for enrichment:
1. Make it easy for the dog and you
The point of enrichment is for your dog to have fun and win.
Start with what your dog can do now (as Jean Donaldson would say):
First, offer your dog an open egg carton with a treat (or a few) inside and see if your dog takes the treat. As soon as your dog takes the treat, add another. If you get 5 wins in a row, where your dog gets the treat while looking relaxed, then make it a tiny bit harder:
Egg carton mostly closed (not fully latched). If the dog sniffs at it, open the egg carton for the dog to take the treat. Toss a treat a couple feet away for your dog to give you a chance to reset the egg carton. Get 5 wins in a row? Make it a tiny bit harder:
Egg carton mostly closed and your dog noses it open to get the treat. Get 5 wins in a row? Make it a tiny bit harder:
Egg carton closed.
If your dog looks worried, hesitates, or wanders off, that means it’s too hard. Make it easier.
Want this to be easier for you? Use more treats each time you set up the egg carton and see if that keeps your dog engaged longer.
Get stuck or your dog needs more challenge? Want Reach out for help.
2. Try stuffing treats into different kinds of recycling
Egg cartons are fun AND these also work great:
Empty cardboard box
Paper Mailer
Empty toilet paper roll
Nearly empty plastic peanut butter jar
Enrichment toys don’t need to cost anything.
You and your dog are saving the planet. Reuse your recycling for dog enrichment and THEN recycle.
3. Supervise for safety
Watch to make sure your dog isn’t actually consuming any bits of paper from the egg carton. If your dog is one to eat non-food, experiment with different materials. For example, you could try:
twisting treats in a cloth towel
tossing treats into an open box with toys and towels
If you try enrichment with an egg carton or other recycling, I’d love to hear how it goes!
I’m Ilya — dad to both a kid and a dog. I started Compassionate Dude Dog Training because I’ve lived the challenge of meeting the needs of a kid AND a dog. If you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to meet everyone’s needs, you’re not alone. I’d love to help.
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