Dog enrichment programme Exeter

Purposeful Play for Happy, Balanced Dogs

Give your dog a day filled with sensory games, structured exercise, and peaceful rest. Our enrichment programme satisfies your pup’s natural instincts while boosting their confidence and well-being.

Dog Walking Service

As part of our dog enrichment programme in Exeter, we offer dog walking sessions conducted within a fully enclosed, private secure field. Designed to provide maximum safety, freedom, and enrichment for your dog.

Please note: To ensure group harmony, maintain our strict safety standards, and keep environmental stress low, this service is exclusively available to dogs registered in our Day Care program.

Individual Welfare assessments

All dogs undergo an initial assessment before attending day care and are continually monitored during their attendance. (Please see our Assessment Policy).

Behavioural Needs

Breed Characteristics

Confidence Levels

Physical Fitness & Health

Temperament

Individual Likes & Dislikes

Where necessary, activities may be modified or withdrawn to ensure the welfare and safety of the dog and others in care.

Sensory enrichment

Sand Pit Enrichment

Mental stimulation

Dogs are provided with supervised access to designated sand pit where appropriate.
Sand pit activities encourage:

  • Digging and foraging behaviours
  • Sensory exploration
  • Mental stimulation
  • Confidence building
  • Physical activity

Sand pits are inspected regularly and maintained to ensure cleanliness and safety.

Scent Work

Cognitive skills

Scent-based activities encourage dogs to use their natural scenting abilities and problem-solving skills.
Activities we provide on a rotational basis (to prevent boredom):

  • Treat searches
  • Find-it games
  • Scent trails
  • Hidden rewards
  • Object location exercises

Scent work provides valuable mental stimulation and can help build confidence, improve focus and encourage natural species-specifics behaviours.

Physical enrichment

Structured agility, movement, and physical play tailored to age and capability. We focus on functional movement, balance, and controlled athletic fun.

Agility

We offer tunnels, hoops, weave poles, balance equipment and low-level obstacles, that build core stability and spatial awareness without straining joints.

Controlled Group Games

Small group play sessions in a controlled environment encourage confidence, problem-solving, coordination, body awareness and physical fitness.

Dogs are never forced to use equipment and are encouraged at their own pace.

Ball work and interactive play

Structured ball work may be used as part of a dog’s enrichment programme where appropriate. We rotate activities on a rotational basis to prevent boredom.

Retrieval Games
Focus Exercises
Chase Games
Engagement Activities

Sessions are carefully managed to prevent over-arousal and to encourage calm, positive interactions.

Puppy Development programme

Puppies attending day care are provided with age-appropriate enrichment designed to support healthy physical, behavioural and social development.

Socialisation

Puppies are introduced to positive experiences in a controlled and supervised manner, including:

  • Appropriate interactions with other dogs
  • Exposure to different people
  • Novel environments
  • New surfaces and objects
Confidence Building

Activities we provide are:

  • Exploration exercises
  • Sensory enrichment
  • Problem-solving games
  • Confidence obstacles
Foundation Skills

Puppies may be supported in developing:

  • Recall foundations
  • Name recognition
  • Settling and relaxation skills
  • Appropriate play behaviours
  • Handling and grooming acceptance

This is discussed with owners at the time of the puppy’s introduction to daycare.

Positive reinforcement training

The Dog HQ Exeter uses positive reinforcement training methods to encourage desirable behaviours and support learning.

Training opportunities we provide:
  • Recall practice
  • Name recognition
  • Sit, down and stay exercises
  • Engagement and focus work
  • Calm behaviour training
  • Confidence-building exercises

Desired behaviours are rewarded using appropriate reinforcers such as toys, praise or play.
The Dog HQ Exeter does not use aversive, punitive or intimidation-based training methods.

Desired behaviours are rewarded using appropriate reinforcers such as toys, praise or play.
The Dog HQ Exeter does not use aversive, punitive or intimidation-based training methods.

Puppy Training (8 week mini programme):

Structure

Twice daily short sessions + socialisation opportunities.

Week 1-2

Handling, name recognition, gentle handling, crate/settle introduction.

Week 3-4

Sit, touch/target, short recalls, leash walk basics in low distraction.

Week 5-6

Leave it, impulse control (sit for food), short stay, social skills with other pups.

Week 7-8

Generalisation (training in different areas), basic recall play.
Puppy 10 Minute Session:

1

1-2 min warmup (name game, eye contact).

2

4-6 short training trials (target/touch, sit), high reps, immediate rewards.

3

2-3 min play/handler praise.

4

1 min calm landing (mat settle, treat on mat).

5

Agility 12 minute group

6

2 min warmup and body check.

7

6-8 obstacle rotations (each dog 1-2 runs).

8

2 min calm reward and water.

9

2 min rest.

Rest and recovery

Puppies are provided with additional rest periods throughout the day to support healthy growth and development and to prevent over-stimulation.

Age

Playtime

Rest

12 Weeks

30 – 60 Minutes

1 – 2 Hours

3 – 6 Months

1 – 2 Hours

30 – 90 Minutes

6 – 12 Months

2 – 3 Hours

30 – 90 Minutes

This is only a guide and each dog should be treated individually based on breed, temperament and observations of behaviour.

welfare monitoring

All enrichment activities are supervised by trained staff. Where necessary, activities will be adjusted or discontinued to ensure the dog’s welfare remains the priority.

Objectives
  • Improve physical fitness, mental stimulation and social skills.
  • Reduce boredom related behaviours and stress.
  • Teach basic obedience, confidence and early socialisation for puppies and young dogs using reward based methods.
  • Provide structured, varied daily enrichment to suit mixed ages and energy levels.
Staff Awareness
  • Reward based positive reinforcement training only.
  • Group dogs by size, temperament and activity level; separate puppy group.
  • Supervise all activities; use short sessions (8-20 min) with rest between.
  • Rotate enrichment daily to prevent habituation.
Target Groups & Ratios
  • Puppies (12-20 weeks): max 4-6 per handler, recommended staff ratio 1:6 for puppy training group purposes only (rotating the group)
  • Young/adult high energy dogs: 1:10
  • Mature/low energy dogs: 1:10 adjust ratios for reactive dogs or complex needs.
Dogs are monitored for signs of:
Stress
Fatigue
Frustration
Over-arousal
Illness
Discomfort

Daily Timetable

A structured flow ensuring optimal balance of activity, mental stimulation, and relaxation.

07:00 – 08:30

Arrival & Health Checks

Warm welcome, secure settling, calm greeting.

Morning Start

09:00 – 09:20

Puppy Training Group

If no puppies in 12-20 weeks, start short refresher training.

Training

09:30 – 10:30

Agility

Rotating groups.

Physical

10:30 – 11:00

Cool Down

Rest and calm environments.

Rest

11:00 – 11:30

Sandpit play

Digging & scent burying in small groups.

Cognitive

11:30 – 12:00

Supervised Play

Free play to encourage socialisation.

Social

12:00 – 13:00

Lunch

Quiet time and 1:1 checks.

Lunch

13:00 – 13:20

Scent Work

Novice to advanced.

Cognitive

13:30 – 13:50

Ball Games

Fetch variations.

Physical

14:00 – 14:20

Training Refreshers

Short session for recall, sit and focus.

Training

14:30 – 15:00

Enrichment rotation

Stimulation puzzle games, Kongs.

Cognitive

15:45 – 16:00

Break

Calm break, towel-down, water.

Rest

16:00 – 16:30

Wind-down

Grooming, socialisation, 1:1.

Rest

16:30 – 18:30

Collection

Feedback to owners, short handover notes.

Departure

  • Sandpit Play

    Purpose: satisfy digging instinct, sensory enrichment.
    Setup: shallow sandpit with clean, coarse sand, shaded, raised edges.
    Activities: bury toys/treats for scent retrieval, supervised digging time (8-12 min/group).
    Safety: rotate sand, clean weekly, check for sharp objects, supervise ingestion.

  • Agility

    Purpose: physical exercise, coordination, confidence.
    Setup: low jumps, tunnels, weave poles scaled in size.
    Session format: 3-6 stations, 8-10 minutes per dog. 1-1 or small group rotation.
    Rewarding: click/treat for successful obstacle, target training for direction.
    Progression: start very low/slow for novices, increase complexity.

  • Scent Work

    Purpose: mental stimulation, confidence, olfactory development.
    Setup: scent boxes, scented cotton, hidden treats in course.
    Session format: 5-10 minute rounds per dog or small teams; progressively harder hides.
    Puppy adaption: very easy hides, use favourite toy or pup friendly scent.

  • Ball Games

    Purpose: high intensity play for retrieval breeds, impulse control.
    Variation: controlled fetch (release/return cues), pursuit games (on lead if needed), tug and release teaching.
    Safety: nonabrasive balls, monitor for over-arousal, alternate with calming activities.

  • Reward Based Training

    Purpose: obedience, recall, impulse control, enrichment through learning.
    Format: short, frequent sessions (5-10 reps x 3-6 minutes).
    Methods: clicker or marker word; high value treats for puppies; break down behaviours into tiny steps (shaping).
    Target for adults: recall, settle on mat, leave it, controlled greeting.
    Target for puppies: name response, sit, touch/target, recall basics, social handling.

  • Warm Weather Water Play

    Water-based activities: such as paddling pools and water games, will only take place on warm days.
    Staff will assess the daily temperature using reliable forecasts.
    If conditions are not suitably warm (to avoid any discomfort or chill), alternative dry enrichment activities will be provided.

Our Commitment to Your Dog’s Well-Being

All enrichment activities are supervised by trained staff.

– Reactive dog’s separate enrichment 1:1 session.
– Signs to stop: excessive panting, freeze, tucked tail, lip licking, growling, avoidance.
– Incident reporting: written incident log, owner notification, vet referral if needed.

– Staff must be trained in canine body language, reward-based methods, canine first aid.
– Keep daily notes per dog mood, toileting, training successes, incidents.
– Weekly progress review for puppies with owner feedback.

– Provide daily updates: on activities, food/treats given, toileting, any concerns.
– Provide daily updates: on puppy progress, training, socialisation, any concerns.

– Record baseline behaviour on intake and reassess monthly.
– Use simple metrics: recall reliability, settle time, impulse control success rate.
– Adapt individual plans based on progress, moving puppies to mixed groups when ready.

– Sand ingestion: small, controlled sand access, clean paws after play.
– Overexertion: monitor respiration, avoid long consecutive high intensity sessions.
– Cross infection: exclude unwell dogs, strict cleaning, separate puppy dog areas.

Unlock Your Dog’s Potential with Our Enrichment Programme

Every dog thrives when their mind and body are actively engaged. Our tailored enrichment programme combines stimulating games, physical activities, and peaceful rest to keep your pup happy, confident, and fulfilled.

Register Your Dog