Toy #1: The Snuffle Box – A Beginner’s Foraging Adventure
Our first project is perhaps the easiest and most versatile of all homemade dog enrichment ideas: the snuffle box. This toy taps into one of your dog’s most powerful and satisfying natural behaviors: foraging. A dog’s sense of smell is thousands of times more powerful than our own, and using their nose to find food is deeply rewarding for them. A snuffle box is simply a container filled with safe materials where you can hide treats for your dog to find.
What You’ll Need
The beauty of the snuffle box is its simplicity. You likely have everything you need right now.
A Box: Any clean, empty cardboard box will do. A shoebox, a small shipping box, or even a cardboard beverage flat works perfectly. Make sure you have removed all staples, tape, and plastic shipping labels.
Fillers: This is the “stuffing” that hides the treats. Great options include crumpled-up packing paper, paper towel or toilet paper tubes (cut in half for smaller dogs), old (and clean) t-shirts or towels cut into strips, or even other smaller cardboard boxes. The key is to have a variety of shapes and textures for your dog to explore.
Treats: Use small, dry, and smelly treats. The scent is what guides your dog on their treasure hunt. Their regular kibble is a perfect option, as are small, freeze-dried meat treats. Using their meal in the box is a great way to slow down a dog who eats too quickly.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Creating this toy takes less than two minutes, but it provides many more minutes of fun.
Step 1: Prepare Your Box. Double-check that your chosen box is free of any potential hazards. If it has flaps, you can either tuck them in or leave them up to create more of a challenge.
Step 2: Add Your Fillers. Loosely fill the box with your chosen materials. Don’t pack them in too tightly, especially for a beginner. You want your dog to be able to easily snuffle and move things around. Crumple up some paper, add a few cardboard tubes, and maybe a rolled-up fabric strip.
Step 3: Sprinkle the Treasure. Take a small handful of treats or kibble and scatter them throughout the box, tucking some inside the tubes or under the crumpled paper. For the first few times, make some of the treats very easy to find right on top to build your dog’s interest.
Step 4: Let the Foraging Begin! Place the box on the floor in front of your dog and give them a cue like “Find it!” or “Go search!” Then, step back and let their nose do the work. Resist the urge to “help” them. The process of searching is the rewarding part.
Tips for Success and Safety
The key to a great snuffle box experience is tailoring it to your dog. If your dog is new to enrichment, start very easy. Use a shallow box with just a few pieces of crumpled paper and very obvious treats. As they get the hang of it, you can use a deeper box and more complex fillers.
For a dog who is very enthusiastic and tends to tear things up, lean into it! Shredding paper or cardboard is a natural behavior and can be a wonderful stress reliever. Just be sure to supervise closely to ensure they are spitting out the pieces, not swallowing them. If you notice your dog is ingesting the materials, calmly trade them for a high-value treat and end the session. Next time, try using more durable fillers like fabric strips or KONG-style rubber toys.
Let’s consider a mini-example. Meet Barnaby, a 12-year-old Beagle who moves a little slower these days. His owner wants to give him some fun without stressing his joints. They take a shallow shirt box and put in three crumpled sheets of packing paper. They sprinkle in five of his favorite smelly, soft senior treats, placing two right on top. They put the box down and say, “Okay, Barnaby, find your cookies!” At first, he just sniffs the edge. His owner points to one of the visible treats. Barnaby eats it, and the lightbulb goes on. His tail gives a slow, happy wag as his nose goes down, and he begins to gently nudge the paper around to find the rest. The whole session lasts five minutes, and afterward, Barnaby settles down for a satisfied nap, his mind content.
