Enrichment during board and train

Enrichment during board and train: what sniffing, puzzles, lick mats, frozen treats and a supervised treadmill each do, and how to keep it going at home.

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The short answer

Enrichment during board and train is the planned activity between training sessions that meets a dog’s needs to sniff, chew, forage, solve problems and move. It lowers stress, burns energy in calmer ways than hard exercise, and helps a dog settle in a new place. Each activity has a different job: sniffing calms, puzzles work the brain, licking soothes, and controlled movement builds fitness.

At a glance

What it is: Activities that meet natural needs: sniff, chew, forage, solve, move
Why it matters: Lower stress, calmer energy, better learning
At Dogtown: Sensory garden, puzzle feeders, snuffle and lick mats, supervised treadmill
Facility: 10,000 sq. ft.
Not a substitute for: Training, rest or appropriate play

By the Dogtown Training team in Gloucester, MA · Last reviewed October 28, 2026 · Our trainer and methods

Why enrichment is part of a training stay

A dog in a new place has a lot of energy and a lot of feelings, and training sessions alone do not use up either in a healthy way. Enrichment fills the time between sessions with activities that let a dog do what dogs are built to do. A dog who has spent twenty minutes nosing through a snuffle mat is usually calmer and more ready to learn than one who has spent the same time pacing.

There is also a welfare argument. Being able to explore, make choices and solve small problems is part of good animal welfare, and the same idea shows up in how modern shelters and zoos care for animals. Every Dogtown stay includes enrichment in our 10,000 sq. ft. facility as well as daily training, so enrichment is part of the program rather than an extra.

Sniffing: the calming one

Sniffing is one of the most natural and rewarding things a dog can do, and many trainers find that slow, sniffy activity helps dogs settle. Following a scent trail or nosing through herbs is mental work at a relaxed pace, rather than the high-arousal energy of chasing a ball.

Dogtown’s outdoor space includes a sensory garden with herbs, mulch beds and raised planters for exactly this kind of work. Scent games, such as finding food hidden in a bucket or under cups, add a problem-solving layer. For dogs who find the world overwhelming, a sniffy session after a training block is often the fastest route back to calm.

Chocolate lab walking on the dogPACER treadmill

Puzzles, snuffle mats and foraging

Puzzle feeders and snuffle mats turn a meal into a project. Instead of eating a bowl of food in thirty seconds, the dog has to push, lift, paw and nose to get each piece. That slows eating, uses the brain, and gives an anxious dog something constructive to focus on in a new place.

Difficulty matters. A puzzle that is too hard frustrates a dog; one that is too easy is just a slower bowl. A good program starts simple and makes puzzles harder as the dog gets the idea, much like training itself. These are easy to copy at home after the stay, using part of your dog’s daily food.

Activity	Main job	Best for
Sensory garden and scent games	Calming, natural searching	Anxious, busy or new-arrival dogs
Puzzle feeders	Problem solving, slower eating	Clever dogs who get bored quickly
Snuffle mats	Foraging with the nose	Dogs who gulp food or need to settle
Lick mats	Soothing, repetitive licking	Winding down, handling and grooming
Frozen treats	Long-lasting licking and chewing	Hot days, rest periods, crate time
Supervised treadmill	Controlled exercise	High-energy dogs, bad weather days

Lick mats and frozen treats

Licking is a self-soothing behavior for many dogs, and a lick mat spread with something tasty gives them a calm, steady activity. It is also a useful training tool: a lick mat on the wall during a bath or a nail trim keeps a dog busy and pairs handling with something pleasant, which ties in with cooperative care.

Frozen treats, sometimes called pupsicles, stretch the same idea out. Freezing food or a lick mat makes it last longer, which helps during rest periods and on hot days. What goes into any frozen enrichment should fit your dog’s diet and allergies, so ask about it at the assessment and note any food restrictions when you pack your dog’s pre-portioned food.

The supervised treadmill

Dogtown has a supervised dog treadmill, a dogPACER, alongside its other enrichment. A treadmill gives steady, controlled exercise regardless of weather, and its pace and duration can be set for the individual dog. For very high-energy dogs, it can take the edge off before a training session that needs focus.

It is introduced gradually and always used with a person watching; it is not a way to wear out a dog unattended. It also does not replace walks, sniffing or play. Our page on impulse control training explains why a tired dog is not automatically a calm one, and why exercise works best mixed with brain work and practiced calm.

A worked example: a day of enrichment around training

A young high-energy pointer is three days into a two-week stay. Morning starts with a short training session, followed by breakfast in a puzzle feeder. Mid-morning, a sniff in the sensory garden helps him come down after the excitement of the first session. Late morning brings a matched playgroup, since the evaluation showed he was ready.

After lunch, a rest with a frozen lick mat. Afternoon has a short treadmill session, then another training block with a calmer dog than the one who arrived. The evening ends with a snuffle mat and bed. This is an example, not a fixed timetable; every dog’s day is built around its plan. Our page on the board-and-train daily schedule shows how the parts fit.

Keeping enrichment going at home

You do not need a facility to keep enrichment going. Feed part of your dog’s meals from a puzzle or snuffle mat, scatter food in the yard, add a sniffy walk where your dog sets the pace, and use a lick mat during grooming or when guests arrive. Rotate toys and puzzles so they stay interesting.

Watch your dog’s response. Enrichment should leave your dog calmer and more satisfied, not frustrated or overexcited. If a puzzle causes frustration, make it easier; if a game winds your dog up, swap it for a calmer one. For more ideas, see our guide to rewarding your dog without treats, which covers using sniffing and play as rewards.

The two programs

1 week · Puppies, young dogs & foundational manners Foundation Board & Train A one-week stay for puppies, young dogs and dogs missing the basics: obedience, leash skills, place, stay, recall, impulse control and household manners, with daily updates and a go-home lesson. Read about Foundation 2 weeks · Adolescent dogs & real-world reliability Advanced Board & Train A two-week stay for adolescent dogs and dogs who know their cues at home but lose them everywhere else: everything in Foundation, plus distraction proofing, real-world outings, neutrality and two go-home coaching lessons. Read about Advanced

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