ESSENTIAL ENRICHMENT
A richer everyday lifestyle
Make daily life richer, one little ritual at a time
ENRICHMENT isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing it better – with meaningful little moments that encourage your dog’s instincts: to sniff, search, chew, solve tasks, explore and achieve calm.
Letting your dog follow its natural canine instincts is often beneficial because it brings something special in return:
more calm, more focus, less agitation, and a dog who seems … content.
Here is a guide with 5 brilliant enrichment ideas you can use right away – with no need for fancy extras or changes to your daily routine.
The ultimate Easter egg hunt
A treat hunt is ENRICHMENT in its purest form: your dog will be following a scent, solving a task and finding the “treasure”. This activates your dog’s senses, focus and self-confidence – and is likely to result in calm contentment.
Why is a treat hunt so rewarding?
Dogs are born to seek. The natural urge to sniff, track and find becomes a meaningful game – and when the reward has an irresistible aroma, there’s nothing more motivating.
Try our popular SENSATIONS treats, bursting with meat and herbs that really get noses sniffing.
RABBIT & ROSEMARY SENSATIONS
rabbit. A firm, chewy sensation bursting with natural herbal notes
BEEF & OREGANO SENSATIONS
beef. A firm, chewy sensation bursting with natural herbal notes
01 How to create a dog-friendly Easter egg hunt with the ESSENTIAL the EASTER EGG
STEP 01
Choose the right egg
We love to make the magic happen with the ESSENTIAL the EASTER EGG, but you can also use other types of egg in your hunt.
We recommend:
- Plastic eggs – medium sized – the kind that open in two halves
- Ideally an egg with little holes in it (or you can make a couple of little holes), so your dog can catch a whiff and really use her nose
- Avoid eggs that are so small they can be swallowed or so fragile they can be chewed to pieces
Important: Chocolate eggs are always a no-go – chocolate is toxic to dogs.
STEP 02
Fill the eggs with treats that can be tracked
ESSENTIAL the EASTER EGG is perfect for this: the treats are specially selected, not just for their amazing flavour, but for their enticing aroma as well, making the hunt all the more thrilling and satisfying for your dog.
Place little pieces in each egg (for many finds without overindulging).
STEP 03
Pick the right place
A home garden is ideal, but you can also arrange an indoor hunt. If you use a public space, be sure to keep your dog on a lead and look out for other dogs eager to “help” find the treasure.
STEP 04
Hide them well and safely
Hide an egg behind a planter, under a bench, in the grass, in a box or slightly hidden in a bush.
Think: accessible but challenging – and never in a spot where your dog could get hurt.
STEP 05
Follow the hunt
Always supervise, especially if there is more than one dog. You will want to make sure that one enthusiastic hunter doesn’t grab them all – and that nobody starts chewing on a plastic egg.
STEP 06
You open the egg – your dog gets the prize
When your dog finds an egg, cheer and praise, and then you open the egg – and remove the empty egg right away.
Top tips, for guaranteed success
Let your dog see you fill a couple of eggs first. Start with easy finds and gradually increase the difficulty with each round. Fill the eggs with little bites – many big finds can be overwhelming. Keep your children’s chocolate Easter egg hunt separate
Let the Easter games begin!
02 Sniff-a-meal
The easiest everyday hack
On some days, the best you can give your dog is not a longer walk, but a meaningful meal. Drop the food bowl two or three times a week and, instead, let your dog’s nose do the work: spread part of their meal around in the grass, or nestled in a blanket or towel indoors.
Method:
- Scatter the kibble in a well-defined area (start out easy and obvious)
- Gradually increase the challenge: wider area, multiple “zones” or slightly hidden under a rag/leaves
Why it works:
Sniffing slows the pace, provides mental satisfaction – and leaves many dogs calmer, more in balance and mentally content.
Explore meals from ESSENTIALS
NAUTICAL LIVING, 2.5KG
fresh Scottish salmon, fresh trout, seasonal fresh fish
NAUTICAL LIVING, 10KG
fresh Scottish salmon, fresh trout, seasonal fresh fish
HIGHLAND LIVING, 2.5KG
free-range fresh turkey and Scottish salmon, Aberdeen Angus beef, wildfowl
HIGHLAND LIVING, 10KG
free-range fresh turkey and Scottish salmon, Aberdeen Angus beef, wildfowl
ESTATE LIVING, 2.5KG
grass-fed British free-range lamb, free-range chicken, free-roaming venison
ESTATE LIVING, 10KG
grass-fed British free-range lamb, free-range chicken, free-roaming venison
03 3-minute “seek”
Mini-seek game for indoors
Perfect for rainy days, busy lives – or just as a little ritual in-between other activities. It doesn’t take much: just you, your dog and a treat.
Method:
- Show your dog a treat
- Tell your dog to stay (or use gentle restraint)
- Hide the treat in the same room (start out easy)
- Say “seek!” – and let that keen nose lead the way
Pro tip:
Try 3 short rounds and stop while you’re ahead. This is the trick to keeping your dog interested for next time.
Experiment with mouth-watering grain-free treats
TURKEY DELIGHTS
turkey. A delicate stick that's easy to break into smaller pieces
BEEF & OREGANO SENSATIONS
beef. A firm, chewy sensation bursting with natural herbal notes
RABBIT & ROSEMARY SENSATIONS
rabbit. A firm, chewy sensation bursting with natural herbal notes
04 The chew ritual
Calm, routine and a relaxed nervous system
Chewing is more than just a treat. For many dogs, it’s a natural way to unwind – like “sleepy-time tea”. When the chewing ritual is anticipated, it is also reassuring.
Method:
- Choose a safe chewing activity appropriate for your dog’s size and chewing habits
- Do the activity with your dog at the same time and in the same place every day
- Keep the atmosphere calm (no balls, no cheering)
Why it works:
Chewing aids down-regulation and is soothing – especially if your dog has trouble “unwinding”.
Explore our very best long-lasting chew treats
05 Same walk, new route
Add a micro-adventure to your daily routine
You don’t have to make your walk longer. Just different. A new route comes with new scents, new tracks and new little “stories” to read – pure enrichment for your dog.
Method:
- Switch to the other side of the street
- Add a short detour from your usual route, or walk it in reverse, starting where you usually finish
- Stop at two “sniff stations” (a tree, a bush, a lamppost) and give your dog time to investigate
Why it works:
New scents = new information. And new information is mental stimulation that leaves your dog feeling more content afterwards.
Explore our amazing bite-sized, walk-friendly treats
TURKEY MINI DELIGHTS
turkey. Small treats, big motivation
SALMON MINI DELIGHTS
salmon. Small treats, big motivation
Remember: Enrichment should feel easy
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be consistent.
One little thing at a time is enriching enough.
A richer everyday lifestyle