Shred box for dogs: how to play
A cardboard box stuffed with paper and hidden treats that your dog is allowed to rip apart.
- Time
- 10 min
- Energy
- Medium
- Space
- Small room
You'll need
- cardboard box with tape and staples removed
- scrunched plain paper, egg boxes or toilet roll tubes
- treats or kibble
Set up
Pick an area that's easy to tidy. Remove all tape, staples and plastic from the box.
How to play
Scrunch paper into loose balls and drop treats in between.
First time: leave the box open and some treats on top.
Say "Find it" and let your dog dig, pull and rip.
Next level: close the flaps loosely, or put a smaller box inside the big one.
When the treats are gone, swap the box for a chew and tidy up the scraps.
House rules
- Shredding is allowed in the shred box only.
- Tidy all paper scraps after.
- Make it easier
- Open box, only a little paper, treats on top.
- Make it harder
- Box inside a box, flaps folded, treats wrapped in paper balls.
Signs it's having fun
Gleeful ripping, bouncing, nose deep in the paper, then a happy flop.
Stop if you see
Your dog eats the cardboard or paper, or guards the box from people or other pets.
Safety
Safety- Remove tape, staples, glossy printed paper and plastic.
- Shredding is fine; eating cardboard is not. If your dog swallows lots, swap to a puzzle toy.
- Skip treats with strong smells that soak into the box if you have a dog who then eats the box.
- Use part of the daily food allowance so treats don't add extra calories.
Sources
- Bender & Strong (2019). Canine Enrichment for the Real World. Dogwise
- Canine DIY enrichment (ASPCA)
- Canine enrichment for the real world: making it part of your dog's daily life (Purdue Canine Welfare Science)
Written from these sources and checked against vet and trainer guidance. General guidance, not veterinary advice.
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