Do enrichment toys teach our dogs to need constant stimulation?

Yes: Our dogs need to learn how to “do nothing”! But no: Providing our pets with outlets to express natural instincts does not automatically mean they won’t be able to self regulate.

This post was first published in November 2023 and last updated in July 2024.

Are enrichment puzzles and non-interactive toys (as in for self-guided play and problem solving rather than engaging with a handler) actually productive? Or do they just teach our dogs to constantly seek stimulation? This is a nuanced question for me.

(There have been a lot of these “it depends” answers lately. Can’t imagine why )

Yes: Our dogs need to learn how to “do nothing”! But no: Providing our pets with outlets to express natural instincts does not automatically mean they won’t be able to self regulate.

Here are my personal reflections on how we approach enrichment toys with Scout.