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Kennel Enrichment



Kennel Enrichment (KE) includes a variety of things, including stimulating toys (such as treat dispensing toys), training or exercise activities, in-kennel activities, music, scents, social needs, etc.

The first step in KE in an animal shelter, is keeping the dogs calm, and focused while in their kennel. A quiet, distracted dog shows much better when visitors are walking by the kennels.

Photo courtesy of Center for Shelter Dogs

KONGs are great, durable, treat dispensing toys. There are plenty of other brands of treat dispensing toys that are equally as challenging, and durable. 

 You can use a variety of dog treats and peanut butter. You can put most anything in them including regular kibble, bananas and yogurt. You can also freeze them! They last longer, and are great on hot days when frozen.


These are treat dispensing DIY toys that my dad helped me to make. They are made of PVC pipe, with holes drilled just big enough for treats to get out, but not so big that it makes it easy. The end twists off for cleaning/filling. 

How can you help?










Rewarding when quiet

Photo: BADRAP
Rewarding dogs for calm behavior in a kennel at a shelter is crucial. Adopters want to see that a dog is able to calm down, be quiet, and has received some training while in the shelter. This gives new owners, and dogs, a great kick-start to their future in a new home. 

Getting potential adopters involved in the training process is not only fun for them, but is a great learning experience for the dogs. Kids may love to take part in getting the shelter dogs to sit. The idea is, a treat dispenser on the front of the kennel holds treats that are only given to the dog when he or she is quiet, or sits. (Or has all feet on the ground) This reinforces appropriate and calm behavior, while involving the public. 

The treat dispensers can be made for cheap! The Dollar Store has plenty of containers, or buckets that work perfectly for this type of thing. To attach to the kennel, you can use zip-ties, or hooks, or binder clips. They don't have to be as fancy as the one at left. The important part is to put a sign on the dispenser that tells people to only give a treat when the dog is sitting, or not jumping, or is quiet. Otherwise, folks might pass out treats for fun, and that's counterproductive! You want to place the dispenser high enough where the dog cannot get to it. 

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