Episode #155 - Try It: Engaging Indoor Games for Pets

Simple at-home enrichment ideas using household items.

February 23, 2026

TLDL (Too Long, Didn’t Listen):

1️⃣ Think in Categories, Not Products – When you understand the function of snuffle, scatter, and puzzle games, you can use what you already have instead of relying on specific (often expensive) toys. Concepts create flexibility.

2️⃣ Match the Challenge to the Learner – Adjust difficulty through texture, layering, obstacles, lighting, or containment so the activity fits your pet’s current skill level.

3️⃣ Sustainable Beats Elaborate – The best enrichment plan is the one you can repeat consistently. Small, low-effort setups done regularly are more effective than occasional Pinterest-worthy productions.

Episode Overview:

Do you ever feel like enrichment has turned into a second full-time job?

Hours of prep. Fancy toys. Amazon carts. Storage bins. Guilt.

In this episode, Emily walks you through three simple, adaptable foraging game categories that take under 10 minutes to set up and leverage things you already have (yes, including trash).

Because enrichment doesn’t have to be aesthetic to be effective.

Links & Resources from the Episode

🧾 For full episode transcripts: Arial l OpenDyslexic
Episode #112 – Try It: Teach Your Dog “Find It” From Scratch
📚 A Behavior Consultant, A Montessori Teacher, and a Case Manager All Walk Into a Bar…
📚 5 DIY Dog Puzzle Ideas for Cheap Canine Enrichment

More from Pet Harmony

We've got a lot more to share -- join the conversation!

Follow us on social media:
Instagram: @petharmonytraining
Facebook: @petharmonytraining

For professionals dedicated to enriching the lives of pets and people alike:
Instagram: @petharmonypro
TikTok: @petharmonypro
Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/

Subscribe & Review
If this episode resonated with you, we’d love for you to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us connect with others who are ready to create positive change in their pets’ lives and their own.

Meet the Hosts

Allie Bender, CDBC, CPDT-KA, SBA

Allie Bender is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assessed, and a Shelter Behavior Affiliate. She has been in the animal welfare industry since 2006 and professionally training since 2012. She is the founder and co-owner of Pet Harmony, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and a national speaker.

While in the animal sheltering industry, Allie realized that her passion lied in helping pets with maladaptive behaviors. Specifically, she wanted to help prevent animals with rehabilitatable problems from being euthanized. She loves working with dogs and cats displaying stranger danger, resource guarding, and leash reactivity. Her favorite thing about working with pets and their people is seeing relationships grow and seeing harmonious households develop.

EMIly strong

Emily Strong is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Shelter Behavior Affiliate. She has been in the animal welfare industry since 1990 and has been a behavior consultant since 2008. She is the co-owner of Pet Harmony, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and a national speaker.

Emily started working with animals at a young age and struggled with the notion that you have to hurt, scare, or intimidate animals to help them. When she discovered the behavior sciences and learned that it wasn’t necessary to do so– that we can care for emotional, mental, and physical health simultaneously– she plunged headfirst into animal behavior. Emily loves helping current and prospective behavior professionals and working with pet parents through our in-depth services. She enjoys working with all species.

Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy

Results are not guaranteed because behavior, human, canine, or otherwise, are not guaranteeable.

Episode #155 - Try It: Engaging Indoor Games for Pets

Simple at-home enrichment ideas using household items.

February 23, 2026

TLDL (Too Long, Didn’t Listen):

Episode Overview: