30-Day Dog Enrichment Calendar
What is dog enrichment? Giving your dog chances to sniff, forage, chew, solve problems and learn. VCA describes food-based enrichment such as foraging, puzzle feeders and new ways to feed, and counts training as enrichment too. Using part of your dog’s daily food keeps it from adding calories, and the Merck Veterinary Manual suggests keeping all treats under 10% of daily calories. This one-page calendar gives you a different idea for each of 30 days, four safety rules, and a log of the activities your dog loved.
Fillable · bilingual EN/ES · vet-sourced, not a scanned template.
Got the free sheet? The full version → Dog Enrichment Activity Pack $3.73 What's inside
- 30 daily ideas: scatter feeding, snuffle mats, find-it games, sniff walks, tricks
- Four safety rules: food, chews, spreads and supervision
- A fillable log of your dog’s favorites
- Why sniffing matters, from a 2019 nosework study
How to use it
- Do one idea a day; most take 5–15 minutes.
- Take the food from your dog’s regular daily amount.
- Tick each day and rate it, then repeat the favorites in month two.
- Supervise new toys and puzzles until you know how your dog uses them.
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- How much enrichment does a dog need?
- There is no single number, but a few minutes of sniffing, foraging or training every day adds up. VCA suggests rotating toys and activities so they stay interesting.
- Will enrichment make my dog gain weight?
- Not if you use part of the daily food. VCA recommends using part of the daily food allowance, and the Merck Veterinary Manual suggests keeping all treats under 10% of daily calories.
- Are bones and antlers good chews?
- VCA warns that hard plastic and bones can injure teeth, and advises removing toys that break. Choose chews that suit your dog’s size and chewing style, and supervise.
- Does sniffing really help?
- A 2019 study by Duranton and Horowitz found that dogs given two weeks of nosework became more “optimistic” in a judgment test than dogs given heelwork training.
Free educational printable. Not veterinary advice, and not a substitute for your vet's official records or an emergency call. Full disclaimer → · Leer en español →