Thursday Oct 09, 2025
Enrichment or Pressure? Rethinking Food Games and What Dogs Really Need
We’re told enrichment is essential for our dogs - puzzle feeders, lick mats, Kongs, scatter feeding, and endless “mental stimulation.” But is it really enriching our dogs’ lives… or adding more pressure?
In this episode of Rewriting the Rules, Bethany Bell (founder of the Canine Dialogue Dynamics Method) explores the shadow side of food enrichment: how making dogs “work for their food” puts them into survival mode, why frustration and food scarcity can create bigger problems, and why food should never be used as a tool of control.
You’ll learn:
– What food enrichment is and how it’s marketed.
– The negative effects of forcing dogs to earn their meals.
– Why scatter feeding isn’t natural canine behaviour.
– The real cost of Kongs, puzzles, and lick mats.
– What true enrichment looks like - and how diet itself can be enriching.
Most importantly, we’ll shift the focus from gimmicks to what dogs genuinely need: freedom, exploration, dialogue, play, security, and nourishing food.
If you’ve ever felt guilty for not doing enough “enrichment,” this episode will help you breathe easier - but and see enrichment through a whole new lens.
Further resources
Free Learning:
Take The Next Step
Our Programmes – Work With Bethany One To One
Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship
Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes
If you’re ready to step into something different—something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful—you’re in the right place.
Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.
5 months ago
Absolutely excellent. So many lightbulbs went off in my head, observations I’ve made after ”enrichment activities” suddenly make sense. And my conclusion is, that enrichment is another way of making some dogs addicts ... just like transactional learning.