Mental stimulation through enrichment activities is as important as physical exercise for dog welfare, and its absence causes boredom, frustration, and behavioural problems.
A physically exercised but mentally bored dog is not a happy dog. Mental enrichment through training, sniffing games, puzzle feeders, and novel experiences meets the cognitive needs of a highly intelligent social predator. Regular enrichment reduces destructive behaviour, anxiety, and stress, improving welfare and the human-animal bond.