This household favourite is one of the easiest games you can make at home to give your dog some mental and physical enrichment. It is ideal as a starter enrichment activity as it is not so challenging that it will cause frustration in your dog.
What is the Muffin Tin Game?
Tasty treats are placed in each cup of a muffin tin and covered with tennis balls. The challenge for your dog is to remove the balls from the tin to get the treat reward.
Enrichment Goals:
- to encourage foraging and exploratory behaviours
- to do more feeding-related behaviour than eating
- to help encourage the development of strategies for getting the treats out of the tin in preparation for other harder puzzles
What You’ll Need
- Muffin Tin ( 6 or 12 cups)
- Small High Value Treats
- Tennis Balls
Small Dog Tip: If you have a smaller dog breed like a Yorkshire Terrier or a Chihuahua, try a Mini Muffin Tin instead with smaller sized tennis balls, ping pong balls or ball pit balls ( if you have kids).
No tennis balls?
No problem, ball up some old socks and use them!
Large Breed Tip: Use heavier toys (like kongs) to cover the treats in the tin.
Tasty treats are placed in each cup of a muffin tin and covered with tennis balls. The challenge for your dog is to remove the balls from the tin to get the treat reward.
Level: Beginner
Perfect for: All ages and breeds
Total Time: 15 minutes
Ready
Place a treat in each muffin cup.
Set
Place a ball on top of the treat to cover it.
Go
Put the muffin tin on the floor and encourage your dog to have a sniff.
Making it harder
You can up the ante by replacing the balls in the empty cups after your dog has snaffled the treat!
Helpful Tip: If your dog looks confused, lift up a tennis ball and show them the treat underneath.
