Is Enrichment Just Challenging a Dog to Get Food?

There is discourse on Reddit and emails calling out pet care facilities that are selling dog enrichment in the form (and only in the form of) food puzzles. The question these “experts” are asking “Are you providing enrichment or just feeding dogs?”

First, let’s be clear – you can be very much doing both! Food puzzles can be part of a well-rounded dog enrichment program. But food puzzles alone do not make an enrichment program. Here’s the question pet parents and pet care professionals alike need to ask themselves:

Are you enriching your dog’s life—or just giving them something to do while they eat?

What Enrichment Should Be

Real enrichment is about more than calories. It’s about stimulating a dog’s body and brain, tapping into their natural instincts, and building confidence through challenges, novelty, and interaction. True enrichment satisfies behavioral needs in five core areas:

• Sensory (sights, sounds, smells)
• Cognitive (problem solving)
• Social (interaction with people or dogs)
• Physical (movement and coordination)
• Occupational (having a “job” or purposeful task)

A treat-stuffed toy might hit one or two of those. But the full spectrum? Not even close.

The Ranger Station Difference at Pet Camp

That’s why we created the Ranger Station at Pet Camp—our dedicated canine enrichment center designed to go way beyond snack-time busy work.

Every camper’s session at the Ranger Station is customized to meet their needs, abilities, and personality. Some highlights include:

• Scent Work – Using their nose is a dog’s superpower. Our scent games tap into that primal instinct, giving dogs a mental workout and satisfying their natural drive to “hunt.”
• Confidence-Building Equipment – We use wobble boards, tunnels, and Klimb platforms to develop physical coordination and help shy dogs build confidence through accomplishment.
• Problem-Solving Games – Puzzle boxes are just the start. We use rotating challenge stations that require dogs to think, adapt, and explore.
• Interactive Play – From flirt poles to hide-and-seek, dogs get the chance to engage physically and socially with trained staff in a way that’s dynamic and meaningful—not just reactive.
• Personal Attention – Every session is guided by an enrichment counselor who knows your dog’s preferences, motivators, and mood.

Food is great. Food can be enrichment. But if food is the only enrichment tool in your toolbox, you’re missing the mark—and your dog is missing out.

Why Dog Enrichment Matters

Dogs aren’t designed to lie around all day waiting for us to come home or drop off a treat. They’re smart, curious, physical creatures who crave variety, challenge, and engagement.

Without real enrichment:

• Boredom turns into anxiety
• Energy turns into destruction
• Smart dogs turn into frustrated dogs

And all of that can be prevented—not with more calories, but with more creativity.

The Bottom Line

So next time you’re stuffing a Kong, ask yourself:
Am I really enriching my dog’s day—or just delivering their lunch in a rubber tube?

If you’re looking for real enrichment—customized, interactive, and led by trained professionals—bring your pup to the Ranger Station at Pet Camp. Because your dog deserves more than just food. They deserve a full, fulfilling, tail-wagging life.

Thanks for reading.

Pet Camp’s Ranger Station is San Francisco’s ONLY pet care facility specifically designed for dogs that require activities beyond group play. With 13 different enrichment and training areas the Ranger Station can address the full range of dog and pet parent needs. If you have dog that has not done well at dog day care or has struggled at a traditional overnight care facility, the Ranger Station might be the perfect answer. Give us a call and discuss your dog’s specific needs.