Boredom Busters: Snuffle Games
Snuffle games are a great enrichment activity which encourage your dog’s natural instincts for foraging. Providing dogs with games that tap into their brain’s desire to seek and search is also a great use of their powerful sense of smell. Fulfilling their innate desires with an appropriate outlet is an excellent and easy way to mentally satisfy and stimulate our very intelligent canine companions.
Our usual go to for some easy foraging enrichment is snuffle mats or balls. We LOVE our snuffle toys and use them constantly, but occasionally they are in the wash *gasp* and we need other options. Since Nova enjoys foraging activities so much, we came up with four snuffle games to share with you. Each game requires just a couple of common household items to play and your dog will have a great time using their nose (and maybe their paws) to find the hidden treats. Check out the video below to get started, or for those of you who prefer written instructions, scroll on down!
Snuffle Box
What you’ll need:
Box or bin small enough that your dog can easily reach their head in (Does not need to be large enough to fit the entire dog, Nova just likes boxes!)
Newspaper
Kibble or hard treats
How to Play:
Scrunch up newspaper and place it in the box or bin until full
Sprinkle kibble or treats into the newspaper
Supervise your dog while they search for their treats among the newspaper
*May not be suitable for dogs who have a habit of ingesting inedible materials
Lazy Snuffle
What you’ll need:
Towel or blanket (Use one you don’t mind getting dirty/ruined)
Kibble or hard treats (Toys can also be a fun alternative for dogs who enjoy toy play)
How to Play:
Lay the towel or blanket out on the floor
Scatter treats over the surface
Scrunch, twist or fold the towel/blanket to conceal the treats (Add a toy or two for extra fun!)
Watch while your dog uses their nose or paws to uncover the hidden rewards
* Towels and blankets can be easily washed after the game is complete!
Nature’s Snuffle
What you’ll need:
A grassy area that is dry and free of debris
Kibble or hard treats (Toys can also be a fun alternative for dogs who enjoy toy play)
How to Play:
Scatter treats in the grass
Encourage your dog to search!
*This game is not recommended for dogs who have not yet received all of their standard vaccinations
Toy Bin Snuffle
What you’ll need:
Box or bin
Variety of dog toys
Kibble or hard treats
How to Play:
Place a layer of toys in the bottom of your dogs toys bin
Sprinkle treats in around the toys
Place another layer of toys on top
Watch to see how your dog solves this puzzle. Will they dive in nose first, pull out the toys or tip the bin over!
*We recommend always supervising your dog while they are playing snuffle games
