Engaging Your Dog's 5 Senses: Taste

A few months ago, I took on a new position working at the Humane Society of Sonoma County as the Canine Enrichment Coordinator. So what does enrichment mean? Enrichment is anything we can add to the dog's habitat or daily routine that can improve their overall experience, engage their mind, and decrease stress. Creating enrichment for dogs means getting creative and trying to think like a dog, and the more time I spend at this job, the more inspired I get to enrich the lives of my own dogs, too! There are so many simple little ways we can enrich our dogs' lives - these next few blogs will be a mini series on how to engage each of your dog's senses. Today let's talk about taste:

Taste

So many dogs are served the same food day after day, and while providing a consistent diet is beneficial, most dogs would also benefit from a little variety!

A cored apple filled with some canned food makes for a tasty snack!

*Try adding tasty toppers to your dogs' food like drizzle of coconut oil or salmon oil.
*Mix up your training treats instead of offering the same things over and over again.
*Try offering them some dog-safe human foods like apples, carrots, or plain yogurt.
*Get creative and mix some dog-safe foods with a little low-sodium broth and water, and freeze it overnight! "Pupsicles" are a great treat for a warm day and will keep your dog busy licking.