Pied Piper’s Rainy-Day Enrichment Guide

Rainy Days, Restless Dogs & a Little Bit of Creative Chaos

We’re officially in that time of year. The days are short (they are getting longer—promise!),

the weather is rainy, windy, and sometimes downright miserable. We’re all going a little stir

crazy… and so are our dogs.

At Pied Piper's, we know that when outdoor adventures are limited, tapping into your dog’s

innate behaviors versus learned behaviors is an easy way to provide enrichment, burn

energy, and keep everyone sane—without needing to brave the rain.

Innate vs. Learned (Quick & Simple)

Innate behaviors are things dogs are born loving: Sniffing, foraging, licking, chewing,

digging, shredding, and chasing, to name a few.

Learned behaviors are things dogs do because they’ve learned they work. Such as sitting on cue or walking nicely on a leash, or can even be things that they have learned get a reaction out of you, such as jumping or counter surfing.

Easy Enrichment Ideas

Kongs, West Paw Toppls, Woof Pupsicles, lick mats, snuffle mats, and treat-dispensing toys

all tap into natural behaviors like licking, sniffing, and foraging. Always supervise your dog

during enrichment, and choose food-only activities if your dog tends to ingest non-food

items.

West Paw Toppls

treat-dispensing toys

Kongs

Woof Pupsicles

Snuffle mat

Lick Matt

DIY Foraging Box

Take a cardboard box (remove flaps if needed), add scrunched newspaper and paper towel

rolls, place a few toys inside, sprinkle treats throughout, and let your dog forage. Always

supervise.

Snuffle Experience (Blanket Edition)

Scrunch up a blanket or towel, scatter treats deep in the folds, and add challenge by layering

another blanket on top. Introduce new textures and sounds slowly and always go at your

dog’s pace.

Recall Chase Game

Toss a treat away from you, then turn and move away from your dog. As your dog finishes

the treat and turns to follow, give your recall cue while moving away from your dog,

encouraging a chase. Mark and deliver your high-value recall reward as soon as they catch

up to you.

Ping Pong Game

Always play this game on a non-slip surface to avoid injury. Place treats alternately to the

right and left of you, marking eye contact before each reward. Playing this game on a thick

shag rug or in the grass adds sniffing and foraging to the experience as well.

Trainer Tip from Pied Piper's

Dogs are excellent little problem-solvers—they keep doing what works!

If a behavior is popping up more than you’d like, try flipping the script and asking:

From my dog’s perspective, what’s the payoff here?

You’ll often find that a tiny tweak can lead to a big improvement. --------------------------------------

Jill KuderaCPDT-KA Certified Professional Dog Trainer

Licensed and Insured

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid Certified