Exercise and Enrichment

Just like us, our pets need to be stimulated. They, too, get bored or feel unmotivated and sluggish because their bodies need exercise. You ever find yourself in a crappy mood, and you’re not sure why until you go for a walk and take in some sunlight and realize that’s what’s been missing? Let’s talk about exercise and enrichment. 

A few types of enrichment for pets include:

  • Cognitive – provide mental stimulation for your pet

  • Social – getting them acquainted with other animals or people. 

  • Sensory – Helps kickstart your pet’s senses: hearing, sight, smell, and touch. 

Enrichment and exercise go hand in hand and are a must for your pet to thrive. Without these things, your pet can become sad, develop stress/anxiety, and even develop health complications. Imagine being stuck in one environment with no creative outlet or control over how you spend your time. Providing activities for your pets gives them various ways to express their emotions and improves their communication ability. 

Let’s look at some great exercise/enrichment activities and tools. 

  1. Snuffle Mats (for dogs)  – These small mats can be purchased or crafted (DIY) with flaps all over them to hide treats or kibble. Your pet will work to figure out how to get their desired snack from the flaps. 

  2. Games (fetch, tug of war, hide and seek) – Simple games like these keep your pet excited and double as an exercise for you both.

  3. Box Forts – An easy DIY craft like this can keep your cat entertained for hours. 

  4. Hide and Seek Sniffle Dog Ball – Think fetch, but make it more adventurous. Hide small treats inside the ball (rolled in the ribbon). When your dog fetches the ball, they will enjoy the adventure of finding the hidden surprise. 

  5. Dog Parks and People Watching. – This is an excellent way for your dog to exercise and get used to interacting with other dogs and people. 

Investing in your pet’s mental, physical, and emotional stimulation can also be an avenue for you to bond with your animals. We hope that these details help if you notice signs of boredom. TLDOM is also here to help! We understand that scheduling conflicts can limit the amount of time you have to keep your pet entertained. Our top-notch dog walking has got you covered. 


Tina Clark