Enrichment Deck FAQ: Your Stress-Free Enrichment Tool

Hi, I’m Chloe, founder of Calm Dog Games and creator of the Enrichment Deck.

This page covers (hopefully) everything you might want to know about it: what it is, how it works and some of the more frequent questions I get asked. If you’ve still got questions, feel free to reach out, I’m always happy to help 😊

🐾 What is the Enrichment Deck?

The Enrichment Deck is a set of 52 cards, each offering a simple, practical activity designed to give your dog mental stimulation, fulfil natural behaviours and provide a sense of purpose.

It’s a thoughtfully designed resource that helps you engage your dog in meaningful ways:

Using their brain to make decisions, solve problems, and work that incredible nose (their most prominent sense) to gather information.
Expressing natural behaviours such as sniffing, chewing, licking, digging, playing and tapping into breed-specific instincts.
Having opportunities for autonomy; to make choices, explore novelty and win rewards.

We make most of the decisions in our dogs’ lives; when they eat, when they go out, what they’re allowed to do. These activities offer balance by giving something back - opportunities for agency, fulfilment and emotional regulation.

The deck helps you meet your dog’s behavioural and emotional needs in simple, realistic ways.

There are 5 categories: Calm, Bond, Puzzle, Play and Focus.

You can pick a card at random, choose based on your dog’s needs or build a weekly routine to cover all bases.

Many activities can be done at home, but there are also ways to work your dog’s brain outdoors - building focus and strengthening your bond along the way.

It’s like having a library of brain games for dogs in your back pocket, but with deeper purpose, and lots of heart and soul behind it!

I have refined it over the years and I'm really happy with the resource it's evolved into.

👥 Who is it for?

The Enrichment Deck is for anyone who wants a calmer, more fulfilled dog - whether you have a high-energy working breed, a rescue, a new puppy or a senior dog needing gentle mental stimulation.

For example, if you have a puppy, the Bond activities are so helpful as they build trust and positive interaction. If you have an overaroused dog, the Calm category can help regulate and even transform their emotional state over time. The brain games are also just a nice way to make the most of your time with your dog and do something meaningful. You'll never be stuck for ideas!

🐕 Does the Enrichment Deck follow positive reinforcement training?

Yes - beyond the independent enrichment activities, all interactive games are rooted in positive reinforcement.

There’s no punishment, pressure or frustration, just opportunities to succeed, feel confident and be understood. The deck encourages kindness, patience and a deeper bond between you and your dog.

It's also a requirement of my Ambassador Program that the dog professionals I work with are force-free.

How did you develop the content?

The content is written by myself - the enrichment deck was first published in 2019. I've made a few revisions since then, the last being in 2024. All of the content was reviewed by the RSPCA’s behavioural science team.

No AI was used to write the enrichment deck. As someone who can write 1000s of words on scatter feeding alone, I can't tell you how much work I put into making the deck and companion booklet as concise as I could 😅 It was a labour of love and I've poured a lot of heart and soul into it.

Some of the enrichment activities are based on established practices, such as scatter feeding (a feeding method used in zoos) or scentwork. Other brain games I developed with my spaniel, Cam - observing what he enjoyed doing and then creating outlets for this (such as the "Squeezles" de-stuffing game). He was the initial inspiration and is a big part of the creative process!

I have also studied ethology & enrichment, canine coaching (positive reinforcement), predation substitute training and scentwork along the way, and continue to learn.

🧠 Are brain games just for high-energy dogs?

Not at all. Every dog benefits from enrichment and mental stimulation - whether they’re naturally chilled or full of beans.

Enrichment isn’t about teaching clever tricks or simply occupying your dog. It’s about giving them time and space to be a dog within this modern, controlled environment that they live in.

Sometimes quiet and older dogs can get overlooked, though they could still benefit from enrichment activities that add interest and quality time with you to their day.

🔍 What makes this different from just googling “brain games for dogs”?

The internet gives you volume, but that can be overwhelming and inconsistent. Enrichment content can sometimes be quite surface-level, and without a bit more nuance, activities can end up frustrating dogs rather than fulfilling them. So it’s important to understand what we’re doing and why.

My focus is on calmness, connection and understanding your dog - not just keeping them busy. As an overall resource, I believe it offers insight, not just information.

It’s designed to be calming for you too, by reducing decision fatigue. You can just pick it up and use it, without ending up back in the scroll hole.

🐾 How do you actually use the deck day-to-day?

There are 52 cards, each grouped into one of five categories: Calm, Bond, Focus, Play, and Puzzle. You can pick a card at random, choose based on your dog’s needs, or build a simple weekly routine.

For example, I often use the Calm category as our foundation because managing arousal levels is a key priority with Cam. These activities also work well on days when we’re decompressing after a busier period. They’re also great for puppies, as puppies can be prone to becoming overstimulated as people often want to play and pet them all the time. Calm enrichment provides them with independent self-soothing.

The Bond category is ideal for building your relationship - especially helpful if your dog’s attention outdoors is elsewhere, or if past training methods have affected trust.

I recommend keeping the deck somewhere visible and where you’ll use it - like in the kitchen. It’s usually the hub of the house, where you’ll have your dog’s food, as well as laundry and recycling items like towels, cereal boxes, or egg cartons that can be easily repurposed into simple, satisfying DIY puzzles.

You could pin a few cards to the fridge for the week. Mealtimes make a great anchor point - rather than always feeding from a bowl, you can use a card to do something enriching with some of that food.

📅 Do I need to plan ahead or can I just pick a card at random?

Both options work. You might prefer to plan a few in advance or just pick one on the fly. The five categories make it easy to create a weekly rhythm. You could do a category a day during weekdays and then leave the weekends open for more spontaneity. For example, we might go on a hike or canicross on the Sat and then have a Settle Sunday for rest. That’s a nice way to cover all bases.

Once you've done all the activities at least once, prep becomes minimal. Just keep some basics on hand - cardboard boxes, treats, chews and you’re ready to go.

🧸 Do the enrichment activities need any special equipment or toys?

Most activities use household items - such as towels, blankets, cardboard boxes, or your dog’s food. Some suggest extras like snuffle toys or chews, but nothing is essential. For example, if you don’t have a lick mat, you can use an ice cube tray. The deck is intentionally low-cost and adaptable.

🏡 Can I use it if I live in a flat or have limited outdoor space?

Yes! The majority of the cards are designed for indoor use. It’s all about making the most of the space you have. The deck works brilliantly in small homes, during bad weather, for post-op recovery, or for those with reduced mobility. Some movement is needed to set things up, such as setting a scent trail or gathering some items for a DIY puzzle or game, and some require your active participation. I’ve had wheelchair users enjoy using the deck. The activities can be great for families. If you have grandkids, you can get them involved and they can hide the toy, etc.

⏱️ How much time do I need to commit?

Some cards take 2 minutes to set up and last 20+ minutes. Longer-lasting activities are often independent. I always like to be there to supervise, but your dog can enjoy them while you read, watch TV, or cook. Interactive activities vary by dog - some prefer short rounds, others like a longer play session.

I recommend doing a few short rounds rather than overloading your dog. But if you want a 30-minute block, you could easily combine a few cards. The key is intention and being present, even for just a few minutes. The deck is helpful for adverse weather conditions, recovery periods and when you just need to add more mental stimulation to your dog's day.

💪 Are the cards durable? Can I take them out on walks or use them regularly?

Yes! The cards are printed on quality matte stock with a protective finish. They’re designed to be used over and over again.

🌍 Do you ship internationally?

Yes, international shipping is available.

Unfortunately, due to the new EU regulations, I’m currently unable to ship to EU countries :(

💻 Do you offer a digital version?

The enrichment deck is designed to be used as a tangible, non-tech resource (so it’s calm for your brain too). That said, I am working on some digital resources as demos and companion tools. If you’d like to be notified when they’re ready, join my newsletter for first-look updates!