Ideas from Brother Wolf Animal Rescue’s Training and Enrichment Team to help keep all your family members (two- and four-legged!) active and happy while spending time at home together.
1. “Sniffari” Walks! Let your pet’s nose take the lead and follow them where they want to go on a “sniffari.” Let them linger at places where they want to explore scents with their nose. This is great mental stimulation for your pet.
2. DIY food puzzles! Looking for a good use for your empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls? Use these household items to create a food puzzle for your pet. This combines dinner time with enrichment and fun.
3. Cut up old T-Shirts or blankets to make a braided rope toy! It’s a great time to clean out your closet and a great use for those old T-Shirts. Run the braid along the floor for your cat or play tug with your pup.
4. Homemade cat fishing pole! Send the kids into the yard to gather some straight, smooth sticks and use other materials around your house to get creative with this DIY project. Anything works as long as your cat takes the bait!

 

5. Build a cardboard cat castle! Get several different shaped boxes and connect them with tape. Cut various holes to act as doors and windows. Decorate the outside with colored paper, markers or pom poms.
6. Teach them a circle trick! To teach your pet how to spin in a circle, put a treat by their nose and twirl it in a circle around their back. Once they’ve spun in a full circle they get their treat! It may take a couple of tries. If your pet is having a hard time completing a full circle, give them a treat when they’re halfway around.
8. Pillow fort! Everyone loves a good pillow fort and animals love any excuse that involves you playing on the floor with them.

9. Hide and seek: canine edition!Have someone hide where your dog can’t see them. The hider should have a couple of treats in their pocket for when they get found. Once properly hidden, start calling your dog – make sure you sound happy and excited so your dog can pick up on the playtime energy. Start with easy hiding spots (behind an open door, under a blanket, or around a corner) and make it harder the better your dog gets at the game.

10. Nose work! Fun for everyone involved, and the possibilities are endless.

We’re here to serve our community in good and hard times.