The purpose of enrichment is to provide dogs with outlets for their natural behaviours. When we tailor activities to suit our individual dog, we can enhance their well-being, reduce frustration and strengthen our bond. A great starting point for enrichment is to consider a dog’s breed-specific traits.
So, what do we know about sighthounds?
Understanding Sighthounds
While all dogs have a strong sense of smell and use their nose to gather information, sighthounds are unique in their heavy reliance on vision. As their name suggests, sighthound breeds, such as Greyhounds, Whippets, Salukis, Borzois, and others, have been bred to spot, chase and capture prey using their exceptional eyesight and speed, rather than scent.
To understand how to engage a sighthound, we can look at the predatory sequence in dogs:
ORIENT > EYE > STALK > CHASE > GRAB-BITE > KILL-BITE > DISSECT > CONSUME
Sighthounds excel in the EYE > CHASE > GRAB-BITE stages of this sequence. Knowing this helps us design enrichment activities that tap into their natural strengths while providing appropriate outlets for their fast paced energy and instincts.
Sighthound-Specific Enrichment Activities
1. Tug Games with a Twist
Traditional tug-of-war focuses on resistance and strength, which appeals to dogs that enjoy bite-work (think Shepherds, Malinois, Rotties, etc).
For sighthounds, however, movement is key. Instead of simply pulling back on a tug toy, try animating the toy in a way that mimics prey. Flick it, drag it, and vary your speed to keep your dog engaged.
A fun variation, included in my Enrichment Deck, is the two-tug game:
Start by animating one toy.
Once your dog grabs it, let it ‘die’ by stopping movement.
Immediately switch to the second toy, bringing it to life.
This engages their natural chase and grab instincts.
Adding a “watch” cue before movement can enhance the experience for sighthounds that enjoy the ‘stalking’ phase of predation. This builds anticipation and sharpens their focus.
While sighthounds may not be as prone to resource guarding as spaniels (since ‘possession’ is hugely rewarding for gundogs), it’s still worth practicing that release. By playing with our dog in a productive way, we can seamlessly integrate ‘incognito training’. This works well because your dog will be practicing cues in a higher arousal state - which is typically when a cue is most vital (e.g. Recall)!
2. Engaging the Eye: Dropped Toy Game
Many sighthounds are less toy-motivated when left to play independently. Your involvement is key to making play fun!
One simple yet engaging game is secretly dropping a toy on a walk and then doubling back to let your dog discover it. This activates their orient and eye instincts, making it an exciting ‘find’ for them.
3. Chase the Treats!
Since sighthounds are bred to chase prey across open fields, a fun way to incorporate this is by bowling single treats along the ground for them to chase. This is more natural for a sighthound than throwing a ball through the air, which mimics retrieving instincts more suited to gundogs.
Independent Enrichment for Sighthounds
While sighthounds love movement, they also enjoy relaxing with mentally stimulating tasks. This makes them great candidates for puzzle-based enrichment.
1. The Puzzle Plait – A Snuffle Toy with a Difference
My Puzzle Plait is a slow-feeding snuffle toy that allows dogs to engage their noses and problem-solving skills. While many enrichment toys focus on scent, the Puzzle Plait adds a fun physical component for sighthounds:
It’s 1 metre long length means you can drag it across the floor, activating their grab and shake instincts.
Once they settle down, their narrow snouts make treat extraction an engaging puzzle as it more closely mimics natural ‘dissection’ over pushing a treat ball around.
This is a great option for providing a calm but enriching activity after a stimulating chase game.
I think of this as closing the loop - your dog has sighted, chased, caught and now gets to consume. This is hugely fulfilling and helps to relieve the pressures and frustrations of living in our human world.
2. Food Puzzles & Scavenger Hunts
Sighthounds have a keen intelligence and do well with puzzle feeders. Instead of serving all of their food in a bowl, try:
Placing portions of their food in multiple puzzle toys spread throughout different rooms.
Encourage them to ‘sight’ each puzzle as they move from room to room, adding a hunting element to their environment.
Managing Prey Drive Responsibly
While prey drive is natural, managing it is important for safety. If your sighthound has a strong chase instinct, consider using a long line attached to a comfortable harness during outdoor play. This allows freedom of movement while keeping play within a safe range.
When playing chase-based games on a long line, ensure you keep well within the range of the line. You don’t want your dog hitting the end of the lead at full speed!
Finding a Calm Balance
Sighthounds may be known as ‘couch potatoes,’ but they thrive when given the right type of enrichment. Engaging their vision, chase instincts and intelligence through animated play, chase-based games, and puzzle-solving activities creates a fulfilling and well-rounded experience.
For more ideas, check out my Enrichment Deck, filled with creative ways to engage your dog’s natural instincts in a fun and structured way!
Chloe
@calmdoggames
Links to resources:
Enrichment Deck https://calmdoggames.com/products/brain-games-for-dogs
Snuffle Puzzle Plait https://calmdoggames.com/products/snuffle-toy-puzzle
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