It seems there is an awareness day for everything - but here’s one for all you dog mums and dads, as we marked National Dog Walker Appreciation Day!

8 September is the day when you can officially give yourself a pat on the back for being the superhero-carer for your beloved dog. No matter the weather (but not so much in the hot sunshine!), we know you are always there, out in the parks, fields, down the lanes and round the streets, enriching your dogs’ lives with a variety of outdoor scent-sations.

Going for a walk is great mental stimulation for your dog - from seeing other people out with their dogs, to checking out new smells and releasing excess energy. However, there are a number of other ways you can also enrich your dog’s life - and our charity partner, Dogs Trust, has got lots of ideas to help you with this.

Scent-based enrichment

Sniffing is a natural behaviour and is key to dogs gaining information about their environment. As well as out on walks, you can also give your dog plenty of opportunity to sniff in the garden, by buying dog-safe plants and herbs for them to smell. Some plants are toxic to dogs, so do check first. You can also find information about some other harmful substances on the Dogs Trust website.

You could also hide a few small treats (even better if they like their toys) in the garden. Otherwise, you could make your own dig box for your dog to sniff out. For information on how to make this and other hide n’ seek games, check out indoor enrichment with Dogs Trust.

Games with your dog

Playing games with your dog can help your dog, both physically and mentally – and it’s also good for further building the bond you have with your pup. Here are some tips to keep games fun and fresh:

• Rotate your dog’s toys weekly. This will keep them excited and interested in them.

• Let them win games. Your dog will enjoy it if you take it in turns and both win a few games each.
• Your dog may rip soft toys up – this is natural behaviour. Just make sure you are always supervising when they are playing with these toys. You don’t want them to swallow any small parts. If you do need to take away a part of the toy, swap this for a treat or two. Find out more about fair trade swaps.
• Dogs will naturally hold, tug and shake toys with their mouths. If you feel their teeth on you, stay calm, still and quiet to end the game. Then, calmly move away, if necessary. Take a short break and continue playing so they learn that the fun continues when their teeth stay on the toy.

Training

Teach your dog new tricks using reward-based training. Not only will they learn new skills, but it will also help improve your relationship and boost their confidence.

You could teach your dog to:

• give you their paw or high-five 
• do a figure of eight  
• tidy up their toys 
• put their paws up  
• run through a tunnel

As well as teaching your pup tricks, you can also do other basic training, including teaching them useful life skills. This could be fun loose-lead walking with puppies before they can go outside. You can also teach them to settle and do recall training. As well as providing enrichment, this will also help with future situations.

PAWFLASH – if you are going to DogFest this month, make sure you head over to the Dogs Trust Village, where free environmental enrichment fun is being offered for your pooch to sniff out! Dogs Trust Dog School will also be there to offer you advice and taster sessions.

Would you like to learn more about enrichment fun? You can find these tips and more on the Dogs Trust website.

Click here to find out more about Dogs Trust Enrichment Activities

Don’t forget: As important as it is to provide enrichment for your dog, it’s equally as important to incorporate time for your dog to rest – especially while they are still a puppy.