Whose Walk Is It Anyway? Why You Should Add Choice-Based Enrichment To Your Pup’s Routine | Pupford

As pup parents, we spend a lot of time thinking about how to give our dogs the best lives possible. We research the best foods, invest in cozy beds and stimulating toys, and spend countless hours on training and playtime. But there is one aspect of our pups’ lives that is often overlooked: Choice. 

Think about it, we make almost every decision for our dogs everyday. What time they eat, when they go to bed, the route of their nightly walk. And while dogs thrive on predictability and routine, it is also important to give them the opportunity for autonomy to make some decisions for themselves. 

This is where choice-based enrichment comes in.

In this article, we’ll break down exactly what choice-based enrichment is, why it matters, and how you can easily start incorporating it into your dog’s daily routine using tools like toy rotation, treat variety, multiple rest areas, and more.

Table of Contents:

1. What Is Choice-Based Enrichment?
2. Why Choice Matters
3. Easy Ways to Add Choice-Based Enrichment to Your Dog’s Routine
4. Tips for Success with Choice-Based Enrichment

What Is Choice-Based Enrichment?

Enrichment is anything that enhances your dog’s life by encouraging natural behaviors, promoting mental and physical activity, and reducing stress or boredom. Traditionally, enrichment might include puzzle toys, sniff walks, or training games, all great tools! 

But an aspect of enrichment that is often forgotten is choice. 

Rather than deciding everything for your dog, this approach focuses on offering a variety of safe, rewarding options and letting your dog decide what they want to engage with, when, and how. Of course, while always keeping safety a priority. 

Here are some examples of choice-based enrichment:

• Letting your dog choose which toy or treats they want
• Offering multiple comfortable resting spots
• Giving your dog control over the pace or direction of a walk
• Allowing them to opt out of play or interaction when they need space

This type of enrichment taps into something all social animals crave: autonomy. And for dogs, especially those who are anxious, reactive, or overly dependent, even small decisions can build resilience and confidence.

💡Learn the science behind mental enrichment!

Why Choice Matters

It is important to remember that giving dogs options or control over certain aspects of their lives is not ‘spoiling’ or ‘babying’ them. Offering choices promotes overall emotional well being. 

1. Builds Confidence

When dogs are allowed to make decisions and experience positive outcomes, they learn to trust themselves and their environment. This is especially important for shy or nervous dogs.

🐶How to Build a Dog’s Confidence

2. Reduces Stress

Dogs who are constantly directed or restrained can develop learned helplessness, a state where they stop trying because they believe their actions don’t matter. Offering choices helps prevent this and lowers stress levels.

3. Encourages Natural Behavior

Whether it’s sniffing, digging, or finding a cozy place to nap, dogs are more likely to display healthy, natural behavior when given freedom within a safe environment. 

❤️Did you know digging is a natural behavior for dogs? Learn why and how to redirect it!

4. Improves Relationships

Giving your dog a say helps build trust. It shows them you're someone who listens, understands, and supports their emotional needs.

Easy Ways to Add Choice-Based Enrichment to Your Dog’s Routine

Now that you know why, let’s talk about how! The great news? Adding choice to your dog's daily life is easy and low cost. 

Here are practical ways to start:

1. Offer Multiple Resting Spots

Think about your home from your dog’s perspective. Do they always nap in the same spot because it’s the only comfortable option? Or do they have the freedom to pick between several cozy zones depending on their mood or the time of day?

Try this:

• Set up multiple resting areas around the house: a soft bed in a quiet corner, a sunny patch by a window, a crate with a comfy blanket, a supportive karunda bed outside, or even a cool spot on the tile floor.
  
• Include different textures and heights (e.g., bed vs. mat vs. couch) so your dog can decide what feels best at any given moment.
  
  

Dogs, like us, may prefer different spaces depending on the time of day, temperature, or activity level. Giving them options honors those changing needs.

2. Use Toy Rotation 

Toy rotation is an easy way to get the most use out of your pup’s toys. Think about how when you were a kid cleaning your room, you always came across cool, old toys that you forgot you had! Dogs are the same way. If the same toys are constantly available they can get boring, but if you rotate them, you can suddenly make an old toy “new” again!

Here are a few other ways you can toys in choice-based enrichment: 

• Present 3–5 different toys and observe which one your dog goes for first.
  
• Occasionally “hide” toys around the house and let your dog discover them during free time.
  
• Offer different types of toys: plush, squeaky, chewable, rope, etc.

You might be surprised by what your dog gravitates toward. Over time, you’ll learn their preferences, and they’ll love having the freedom to pick.

🦴Related Reading: The BEST dog toys!

3. Incorporate Treat Variety

Just like people, dogs enjoy eating foods with different textures and flavors. Giving your dog a choice or just always using a variety of treats can keep training and enrichment more engaging , especially if they are known to be a picky eater. 

Try this:

• During training, present two different treats in each hand and let your dog sniff and choose.
  
• Use a “snack board” (like a muffin tin or food puzzle) with a variety of treats: freeze-dried, soft, crunchy, meat-based, fruits & veggies, etc.
  
• Vary treat size, flavor, and texture based on the activity. High-value treats for difficult training moments, and everyday kibble or low value treats for simple tasks. 

When dogs feel more motivated and engaged, training and enrichment become much more effective.

Shop our full line of Training Treats!

4. Let Your Dog Choose the Walking Route

One of these easiest ways to give your dog agency is during walks, I mean, whose walk is it anyway? 😉 Letting your dog decide where they want to walk and at what pace allows them to get the most out of their walk. Did you know that a walk focused on sniffing can be more tiring than a longer walk or run with no sniffing? 

Try this:

• Use a longer leash (10–15 feet) and follow your dog’s lead for part or all of the walk. Of course, safety should be a priority and dogs should not be allowed to walk in unsafe places. 
• Let them stop to sniff as long as they want (within reason).
• At intersections or forks, slow down and see which direction your dog wants to go.

These "sniffaris" are not only mentally stimulating, but they also help satisfy your dog’s natural exploratory instincts. It's their walk after all, let them enjoy it!

Training Tip: This activity can be done more easily with dogs already leash trained, but even dogs still working on their leash skills can partake! You can even use the choice to walk a certain way or to spot and sniff as the reward for walking loosely on leash! 

5. Provide Multiple Puzzle Options

Enrichment toys and puzzles are fantastic, but once we find one our dog like sometimes we get in the habit of just using the same one over and over again (I have also been guilty of this!)

Try this:

• Swap out which enrichment toys or puzzles you use on a weekly or daily basis. 
• Watch to see if your dog prefers licking, chewing, or pawing styles, this can guide future purchases or DIY enrichment.
• Try giving toys frozen, thawed, or room temperature to see if your pup has a preference!

6. Allow Opt-In and Opt-Out During Social Interaction

Not every dog is a social butterfly who wants to be around when company is over or enjoys constant cuddling and attention, even from their favorite people! 

Giving your dog a choice about when and how they interact with people (or other dogs!) is a key part of dog safety and socialization. 

Try this:

• Before petting, offer your hand and wait for your dog to lean in. If they don’t, respect their choice. 
• While petting your dog, stop periodically to see what they do. Do they nudge you for more or immediately move away? Many dogs learn to tolerate touch without actually enjoying it. 
• Give them the option to walk away during play or training, and don’t call them back right away.
• When company is over, give your dog the choice to stay with the crowd or set them up with a cozy resting place and a long-lasting chew if they don’t feel like being the center of attention. 

Especially in busy homes or multi-dog households, this approach helps your pup feel heard and safe.

Tips for Success with Choice-Based Enrichment

Implementing this style of enrichment doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

✔️ Start Small

You don’t need to overhaul your routine overnight. Even a few small daily choices can make a big difference in your dog’s emotional well-being.

✔️ Observe and Adjust

Pay attention to your dog’s body language. Are they more engaged? More relaxed? Learning what your dog enjoys will help you refine your approach over time.

✔️ Respect Their Preferences

Choice-based enrichment only works when the dog’s decisions are honored. If your pup says “no thanks” to a walk or a toy, that’s okay! The goal is to let them feel heard.

✔️ Balance Structure with Freedom

Offering choice doesn’t mean chaos. Dogs still need clear boundaries, safety, and routines. Think of it like a menu, not an all-you-can-eat buffet with no rules.

Recap: Choice-Based Enrichment

At the heart of choice-based enrichment is the idea that dogs aren’t just pets, they’re sentient, thinking beings with their own personalities, needs, and preferences.

When we offer our pups more say in their daily lives, we help them feel safer, more confident, and more in control. We show them that their voice matters, and that makes all the difference in building trust and deepening our bond.

Looking for enrichment tools?
Explore Pupford’s enrichment toys and training treats to support your pup’s learning and autonomy with delicious rewards they’ll love.