We all know that time off is better spent with friends. Here’s how to entertain your pets this summer by using items from around the house and by simply spending time together.

Scent Games

Dogs are great at detecting smells! Scent games allow a dog to use their instinctive skills. Using their nose makes your dog think and requires them to concentrate.

Seek and Find

Randomly toss treats or kibble in the grass, or onto a blanket on your dog’s bed and let them sniff and search. The challenge is greater when the treats are not easily visible requiring them to use their nose.

Scent Trail

Lay out a trail of tiny treats. This game may be played inside or outside and in any size space. Some treats may be placed on a bench, around a tree, up on a branch, on the bumper of your car, around the perimeter of a room or under a couch cushion. Use your imagination. A jackpot (a small pile of treats) should be placed at the end of the trail.

Bring the Outside in for Rabbits and Cats

Introducing a bit of the outdoors inside for enrichment can be very intriguing for your pet. Wheat grass is beneficial for both cats and rabbits, and it’s easy to grow.

Here’s how:
• Soak the grass seeds for 8 hours or overnight.
• Fill the containers with potting soil.
• Plant the seeds in the soil and water well.
• Place in a warm, dark location and keep the soil damp, not soggy.
• When the grass sprouts, place the containers in a sunny window. When the grass reaches an inch or two, give it to your pet to enjoy.

The enrichment grass will introduce something new to investigate and provide the opportunity to graze for pets who choose to indulge!

Wading Pool Enrichment

Anything new and interesting in the environment is beneficial to your pet. An assortment of objects to discover can give them an opportunity to think, explore, use their senses, stimulate the brain and provide fun.

The Wading Pool Enrichment Activity features different discoveries each day. A plastic wading pool can be filled with different items to explore each day, with or without water, and placed where they can discover it in their area or in the yard.

Herbs

Animals are great at detecting smells! The nose is the strongest sense for most animals and stimulates the most important part of their brain. Allow them to sniff the pet-safe herbs in the pool. The herbs may include basil, parsley, rosemary, mint, oregano, sage and thyme.

Ball Pit

Balls are irresistible! Toss some species-specific treats in the pool and let them search through the balls to discover the treats.

Ice Bar

The coolest thing to do in the ‘burgh is to check out the sensory excitement of the ice. Toss some ice cubes in the pool for a chill activity.

Treat Puzzle Game

A puzzle activity can provide enrichment by stimulating your pet’s mind.

Supplies:

• Muffin tin, cardboard beverage container or egg carton
• Tennis, ping-pong balls
• Treats

Place a few visible treats in the individual compartments and let your pet find them. When they are easily getting the treats out of the cups, cover a couple treats with a tennis or ping-pong ball to provide an extra challenge.

Don’t Forget Dog-Friendly Establishments

From pet stores, restaurants and even a night at the ballpark, more and more places are welcoming Pittsburgh pups! Most restaurants and breweries need to have a patio, but don’t forget bakeries and ice cream shops. Some only cater to dogs! We’ve even seen people training their pups in home-improvement stores. Always be aware of your pet’s body language to be sure your best friend is enjoying themselves.