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Recycled Enrichment
Making food dispensing toys at home

Just like people parents, not all critter parents can afford or want to purchase their loved ones the best, fanciest or most promoted toys.
 
But, that doesn’t matter.  Your pets don’t have to miss out.  In fact, all pets can enjoy these games no matter what the status is.
 
Mine enjoy the benefits of quality enrichment toys, and also that of recycled enrichment.
 
So here are some ideas for you:
 
Kiddies Pool
 
The good old clam shell can serve multiple purposes.
 
Consider it for food dunking, ball pit (with dry food sprinkled in), sand pit (be cautious using sticky foods in here as we don’t want your dog to eat the sand), or on a hot summers day a nice cool ice pit.


Muffin Tin

Spread your pets food over a muffin tin.  Make it more of a challenge by hiding the food under balls.


Empty Bottles
 
Use old empty plastic bottles (well washed) to dispense dry food/treats.  For your pets safety remove the lid, ring and label as well as supervise.  Some pets will chew the bottle and could ingest the plastic or cut their gums.


Cardboard Tubes and Toilet Rolls
 
Use these singularly and fold over the ends to make a challenge for your pet to empty.  My cats, dogs, rats and birds are all capable of using these toys.
 
Or, collect several tubes and put in a box (ends facing out).  Use the box on its side for cats with biscuits tossed in, or facing upwards and have a challenge for your pet to work out. 
 
Poco is the thinker in my house, he removes 2 tubes to allow room for them to move when he jams his head in and hunts down his reward.

Whole Toilet Rolls
 
For special occasions (birthdays and Christmas) my dogs get a whole toilet roll.  These are cheap to use, great fun for the dogs when they rip and tear it apart. 
 
I hide dry treats in between the layers of the toilet paper.
 
Yes this does result in a mess.  The mess is recyclable.
 
Some may argue that this will likely result in your dog stealing the toilet paper from the loo and destroying it. 
 
In my household it doesn’t and I think this is for two reasons.
#1 the toilet paper in the loo doesn’t smell like dried meat
#2 the flavoured toilet paper is handed to them, this is different from an inanimate object minding its own business hanging on a wall.

Snuffle Matt
 
The snuffle matt is a great tool for indoor use.  It allows the natural foraging behaviours of your pet and is made using a rubber mat with holes and several ties of fleece.  For further instructions click here

Milk Bottle Bungee
 
Use an empty clean 2 L milk bottle, attached to a bungee cord.  Cut some holes in the bottle just bigger than the food item you want to dispense.  Tie another pull cord to the bottle.

Using the bungee cord, hang the bottle at an appropriate height for your dog (I suggest not using the clothes line).  Fill the bottle with food.  Show your dog how to use it.
 


Plastic Bottle Spinner
 
Build a stable stand, and attach bottles using a dowel that the bottles can spin around.  The higher up the bottle (toward the lid end) you put the dowel, the harder it will be for your pet. 
Make sure the bottles are clean, dry and free of their lids and rings.
 
Fill with food – enjoy.
Cardboard Boxes
 
Using cardboard boxes is also cheap and easy.  Scrunch some paper to make it hard for your pet to find the reward. 
When giving these initially supervise to ensure your pet remains safe.

 
Build a Box City with only a reward in 1 or 2 of the boxes and get your pet searching and using its natural instincts to hunt out and find the reward.

Or why not build your dog a surprise box. 
Using multiple boxes with only 1 reward in each box.  Stuff with paper and put boxes inside boxes inside boxes. 

I also use empty plastic screw top containers to make a variation of a treat ball at home.  These plastic containers such as ovaltine etc as solid, easily washable and easy to fill.  Cut or drill holes just larger than the food you wish to dispense.

For more ideas check out the boredom buster page or follow the hashtag  #dogbowlsareout

All Material Copyright All Pets Education and Training 2024
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I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where I work and live. I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging. I celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.