Dog enrichment toys aren’t just about giving your dog something fun to do. They can bring you peace, too—and they can help prevent unwanted behaviors from popping up or escalating.
During my chat with Tracy Otsuka on ADHD for Smart Ass Women, she asked what my favorite ADHD workaround was. I told her, “Having lots of frozen bones in the freezer.” When I said “bones,” I meant any safe toy or chew that can be stuffed with food.
So what does my dogs’ enrichment have to do with my ADHD?
When I wake up, I need quiet time with my coffee. My ADHD brain is usually off to the races from the moment I open my eyes, so that calm morning routine is a regulation tool for me. I need that slow transition from rest into my day if I want a fighting chance at being productive.
My dogs? They’ve just slept all night. They are ready—ready to move, ready to play, ready to engage.
It’s basically a battle of basic needs.
But when I pull out stuffed bones or safe chew treats (which count as part of their breakfast), everyone gets what they need. They get mental and physical engagement. I get quiet. The house stays peaceful.
Let me paint a picture of what mornings look like without this routine:
My Labrador, who comes from strong hunting lines, immediately finds a toy and drops it in my lap. If it falls, she’ll just keep throwing it at me until I acknowledge her existence. My Chihuahua watches this, decides she also has energy to burn, and starts barking at the Lab to get her to play. Eventually the two of them start wrestling. Then my Greyhound decides he’s missing out, so he joins in—loudly. Suddenly the whole house is awake whether I’m ready or not.
By starting their day with enrichment, I buy myself about 30 minutes of chew time. More importantly, it helps them burn off that morning adrenaline. We’re all less frustrated.
How Dog Enrichment Can Prevent Unwanted Behaviors
Dog enrichment toys are an essential part of management. A lot of people think management isn’t training—but that’s not true.
Any behavior a dog repeats is reinforcing to them. Take my Labrador from the example above. If she keeps tossing a ball at me and it rolls off my lap, she’s reinforced by the movement and the tiny bit of retrieving she gets to do. Even though it’s only a little bit of action, it still scratches that retrieving itch. It’s so reinforcing for her that she could do it for hours. And as we know: behavior that’s reinforced will be repeated.
If I know she’s likely to play that game in the morning (and yes—she has literally thrown a ball into my cup of coffee), I can break the reinforcement cycle by offering her an alternative activity that supports my vision of a peaceful start to the day.
Now, instead of rehearsing a behavior that amps her up, we’re pairing something soothing and calming—while still burning energy—with my morning routine. We’re building a new ritual.
High-energy dogs absolutely need appropriate physical outlets. But you get to choose when those outlets fit best into your day. That’s where planned enrichment really works in your favor.
Using Dog Enrichment Toys For Peaceful Holidays
With the holidays coming up, it’s a great time to think about when your dog’s behavior might become the most stressful. Some common situations I hear about include:
When guests arrive
When everyone is unwrapping presents
During big family meals—especially when certain relatives can’t resist slipping your dog food from the table
On the day of these events, the best way to set both you and your dog up for success is to:
Give your dog extra physical exercise before things get busy
Have stuffed bones or enrichment toys ready to go in the freezer for use during the festivities
I also recommend giving your dog a crate or quiet room where they can chew in peace—especially if you have guests who are likely to bother them while they’re enjoying a chew or a new toy. With all the excitement and unpredictability of the holidays, even dogs who have never guarded food before may feel a little more on edge.
People often ask if the bone has to be frozen. It doesn’t—but I highly recommend it. Frozen chews last much longer, and that’s important. Chewing helps regulate the parasympathetic nervous system, reduces stress hormones, and releases dopamine and endorphins. Freezing simply maximizes those benefits and buys you more guaranteed calm time.
Prepping Your Dog’s Enrichment Toys Now
Start prepping those toys now. Your future self will thank you when chaos hits, and your dog is full of energy. All you’ll have to do is open the freezer and hand them a stuffed toy—instant calm.
Now let’s talk about stuffing these toys. I often fill a toy with kibble and pour a little water or broth over it before freezing (this is usually how my dogs get their breakfast). But during busy or exciting times at home, you’ll want extra delicious stuffing to keep your dog’s attention.
Here are some ideas—but remember: if you’re introducing anything new to your dog, test it in small amounts first. You don’t want dietary upset adding to holiday chaos!
Stuffing ideas (you can also layer these for variety):
Plain Greek yogurt
Canned pumpkin (pure pumpkin, not pie filling)
Unsweetened applesauce
Mashed banana
Cottage cheese
Peanut butter (xylitol-free!)
Wet dog food
For an extra challenge, try filling the toy halfway and then adding a baby carrot, a few dog biscuits, or another treat on top. This adds a little variety to the enrichment.
My Top Five Favorite Enrichment Toys to Keep Stuffed & Ready
Most dog owners know and love traditional KONG toys. And I do as well, but I also like to offer my dogs variety. New shapes and textures add novelty, making enrichment more intriguing. I’m always trying new toys, and here are my current favorites:
Trixie Snack Snake Dog Puzzle Toy for Dogs
I hunted for this toy for months! It’s often recommended in trainer groups online, but for a while, it was only sold in Europe. I felt like Indiana Jones on a quest!
The Trixie Snack Snake is a rubber snake with a narrow slit along its body where you can stuff kibble or paste. Because it’s long and the opening isn’t very wide, filling it takes a little creativity. My hack:
Use baby food, or mix peanut butter tinned out with a little broth
Put it in refillable baby food pouch or a condiment bottle with a narrow tip.
Fill the snake and put the leftovers in the refrigerator for next time.
It holds up to my heavy chewer, and my Labrador loves to retrieve it too—shaking it feels different from her other toys, which keeps her engaged.
Indestructible Corn Dog Chew Toy
Full disclosure: I love dog toys shaped like food, and corn-shaped toys are a hit with my dogs. The nubs provide a novel texture that dogs seem to adore.
What I love most? This toy comes with two treat cups that you can fill and freeze, inserting them one at a time when you’re ready. I wish there were extra cups available—I’d prep a dozen in advance! The small cups are easier to fit in the freezer than an entire toy, so you can stock more for busy days.
Cactus Fillable Chew
From the same company as the corn dog toy, the Cactus Fillable Chew is multipurpose. You can:
Insert one of the freezable treat cups
Fill it with kibble for dogs to knock around.
It’s perfect for slowing down fast eaters while offering both feeding and licking enrichment. Bonus: it’s shaped like a cactus—adorable and fun!
Chew King Premium Treat Dog Toy (It’s shaped like a block of ice!)
This is my favorite budget-friendly fillable toy. I’ve ordered many of these. They look like blocks of ice and are perfect for freezing:
Fill with kibble, block the hole with your finger, and pour dog-friendly bone broth over it
Remove your finger, drain the excess, then freeze
Because they’re rubber blocks, they stand up easily in the freezer. The large holds ½ cup of food and the extra-large 1 cup, making meal rationing simple. They also require a bit more effort for dogs to move since they don’t roll.
Toppl Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Puzzle Play Toy
If your dog gets frustrated easily or is new to enrichment, the key is starting easy. Once your dog succeeds and earns treats, you can gradually increase the challenge.
The Toppl is a soft, rubbery, bowl-shaped puzzle toy:
Start with kibble—your dog can easily retrieve most of it
Once it’s easy, spread peanut butter or canned food at the bottom and refill with kibble
Progressively increase difficulty, or stack a smaller Toppls on top. You also try a Toppl Stopper for a different challenge.
This toy grows with your dog and keeps enrichment fresh and engaging.
In Conclusion
Save yourself stress this holiday season by planning ahead. Think about where your dog can comfortably go without getting in the way—and which type of enrichment will give them the best outlet.
Figure out which foods your dog enjoys the most and make sure they won’t cause any digestive upset. This way, you’ll have a solid plan to keep your dog engaged when you’re busy, preventing unwanted behaviors before they start.
By prepping and freezing enrichment toys now, you’ll make your life so much easier when you need a calm, occupied dog amid holiday chaos.
I’d love to hear from you—what’s your dog’s favorite enrichment toy?
Other resources to help with the holidays:
If your dog doesn’t want to be around the chaos of the holidays, Create a Comfort Zone for Your Dog as outlined in our Halloween article.
For more tips to help with holiday management, see:
Spot Training: Your Dog’s Place for Holiday Peace – The Distracted Dog Lover
Holiday Dog Training Tips: How to Teach Your Dog to Leave It – The Distracted Dog Lover
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