Dog snuffle box success

DUMFRIES and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre have been working hard this summer to ensure their dogs are well entertained with a ‘snuffle box’ initiative.

The small boxes are filled with treats, as well as household materials such as shredded napkins and paper.

And they provide an enjoyable sensory experience for curious dogs looking for treats, but also play an important role in their brain development.

Centre manager Rebecca Plenderleith explained how the snuffle boxes can enhance brain activity for the dogs: “We try and do as much as we possibly can for the dogs that are in our care to keep their brains active. At the end of the day, living in a kennel is, unfortunately, a necessity for them for this point in their life.

“As we’re hopefully going to be able to find them all homes, we need to make sure that they’re all sharp and doing their metaphorical crossword puzzles as it were as well!”

Rebecca noted that one of the five rights enshrined in the Animal Welfare Act 2006, is the ability for a dog to exhibit their natural behaviours.

She added: “They like to dig in things, they like to rip in things. It’s all natural for a dog to do that. These cardboard boxes allow them to have that need fulfilled. It really tires them out, which is really good for their wellbeing as well, because they’re not highly strung in their kennels.”

Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre can help owners interested in creating their own snuffle boxes, as well as taking in materials which can be used to make them. As long as the boxes do not contain staples or tape, many household materials will do.

“If people aren’t able to make up the boxes themselves, the team always take donations of little cardboard boxes that can be filled once they’re on site. You can also make them up yourself with different dog treats,” said Rebecca.

Chicken or liver paste can be put inside the boxes as well as squeezy cheese, which often sparks canine interest.

She added: “If people have dogs of their own, it’s a really good way for them get a different bit of enrichment, change their dogs’ routine up in the home as well. It’s not just something that kennel dogs can benefit from.”

To find out more about how to get involved with making snuffle boxes, or to hear advice from Dumfries volunteers visit www.caninerescue.co.uk.