How I’ll spend my summer

We all know that time off is better spent with friends. Here’s how to entertain using items from around the house by simply spending time together.

Scent Games

Dogs are great at detecting smells! Scent games allow a dog to use their instinctive skills. Using their nose makes your dog think and requires them to concentrate. Scent games are fun for a dog but do not over stimulate them. A few minutes of a calming scent game can help a dog relax. Each game only takes a few minutes. Try a game while you are on a walk with your dog.

•Seek and Find Randomly toss treats or kibble into grass, snow, leaves, a room or onto a blanket on the dog’s bed and let the dog sniff and search. The challenge is greater when the treats are not easily visible requiring them to use their nose.

•Scent Trail Lay out a trail of tiny treats, Hansel and Gretel style. This game may be played inside or outside and in any size space. Some treats may be placed on a bench, around a tree, up on a branch, on the bumper of your car, around the perimeter of a room or under a couch cushion. Use your imagination. A jackpot (a small pile of treats) should be placed at the end of the trail.

Bring the Outside In for Rabbits and Cats

Introducing a little of the outdoors inside for enrichment can be very intriguing for your pet. Wheat grass is beneficial for both cats and rabbits, and it’s easy to grow. Here’s how:

•Soak the grass seeds for 8 hours or overnight.

•Fill the containers with potting soil.

•Plant the seeds in the soil and water well.

•Place in a warm, dark location and keep the soil damp, not soggy.

•When the grass sprouts, place the containers in a sunny window. When the grass reaches an inch or two, give it to your pet to enjoy.

The enrichment grass will introduce something new to investigate and provide the opportunity to graze for pets who choose to indulge!

Treat Puzzle Game

A puzzle activity can provide enrichment by stimulating your pet’s mind.

Supplies

•Muffin tin or cardboard beverage or egg carton

•Tennis, ping-pong balls

•Treats

Place a few visible treats in the individual compartments and let your pet find them. When they are easily getting the treats out of the cups, cover a couple treats with a tennis or ping-pong ball to provide extra challenge.