Figuring out what to do with one dog can be challenging, but trying to come up with enrichment opportunities for multiple dogs can end up being exhausting. Let’s talk about how to provide enrichment for multiple dogs in the same household without it feeling like a second job.
Acknowledgment
Providing enrichment opportunities for multiple dogs at the same time can be tough, especially if you have dogs with any combination of resource guarding behaviors, health issues, different dietary restrictions–the list goes on and on. There are so many reasons that it can be difficult to provide enrichment opportunities for multiple dogs in the same household! So if you’re feeling overwhelmed and maybe even burned out, that’s valid. You are not alone.
Keep It Simple
One of the trickiest things about enrichment is what we see on social media. It may look like we need to spend hours making beautifully decorated foraging toys like Toppls and Kongs, complete with individualized cookies spelling each dog’s name, maybe a seasonal decorative flourish…and I’m going to stop right there and say: Don’t.
I mean, do it if you can and you want to, but don’t feel like you need to. I’d argue that oftentimes what dogs find enriching doesn’t look super fancy (Exhibit A: cat poop). One of my dogs’ favorite games is to eat their food, then go see what the other dog had in their bowl (it was the exact same thing). They literally tap dance waiting for me to open the gate so each can go check out the other’s feeding area. Another favorite activity we have at my house is grocery inspection. The girls take turns thoroughly checking out each item from the grocery bag, which can take quite a while, depending on the haul. Nightly cuddle sessions on the couch are another favorite. Use what you have, and use what works. Although novelty can be a really useful component of enrichment, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel every day with our enrichment strategies.
Things Can Change
Even if your dogs have always been perfectly friendly and casual around resources, that may not always be the case. My dog Tammy recently had her second ACL surgery and has started showing some mild guarding behaviors that told me, among other things, that she needed to be separated from my other dog Brownie when food was around. If one of your dogs has had a stressful event, you may need to reconfigure your enrichment setup so everyone stays happy, even if there’s never been an issue with resources in the past.
Now What?
Keep in mind that as will all things in pet care, management is the key to success. It may seem like a pain to separate the dogs so they can enjoy toys or edible items, but it’s much easier than dealing with the fallout from a negative interaction. It also might be annoying to do a sweep after an enrichment session to make sure that there aren’t any bits of bully stick or treats to scrap over later, but it’s much better than leaving things to chance. What are some other strategies that you use for enrichment opportunities for multiple dogs? Tell us in the comments. If you’re not sure about the best way to provide enrichment for multiple dogs, we’re here to help!
Happy Training!
Lesley Gurule, CPDT-KSA