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I get this question ALL the time... do I just give it to my dog and see what she does? Do I immediately stuff it full of tasty tidbits?
If you have multiple dogs, it's best to start with one dog in case either one of them gets possessive over the toy. If you aren't sure if they will be interested, try doing it before mealtime. Make sure you are using high value treats (basically, the treats your dog is obsessed with!) that are fragrant.
No matter what toy you are starting with, make it as easy as possible for your dog if it's their first enrichment toy. This means not burying the treats as deeply (even letting some of the treat stick out, or in the case of a dense snuffle mat, having them almost on top of the mat) and making it easy for your dog to gain the reward for their searching. Don't worry- as time goes on and your dog gains more confidence and experience, you can make this more complex and time consuming for them!
You can prepare the toy with the treats as your dog watches to build their interest and let them see where the treats are, or do it away from them. Either way, sit down and place the toy on the floor. You can take your fingers and show your dog the way to the treat at the beginning if they are struggling- or pull the treat slightly more out of the area (making it easier)- but this is important- do not give your dog the treat directly while they are trying to figure it out. You can make it SO easy for them, but they still need to feel they "found" it!
If your dog shows no interest in the toy, try a different kind of treat- sometimes longer treats that can't get buried work well. If you didn't start before a mealtime, try right before mealtime! I have not met a dog yet that wouldn't eventually enjoy enrichment toys- and most of the time, they become their favorite toys!
After your dog has found all of the tasty tidbits you hid for her, you can either leave the toy out for her to play with (this is what I do) or tuck it away until the next time you want to use it!
Once your dog understands the toy, you can give it to her while you're working or gone to keep her occupied. It's a great way to keep their minds busy while you're busy!
If you need any help, please feel free to reach out to us at hello@bitsandpaws.com
