All protocols
Enrichment
Puzzle Confidence Builder
Achievable food or object puzzles your dog solves by choice.
What it is
Achievable food or object puzzles your dog solves by choice.
Why we created it
Success builds confidence; frustration doesn’t.
Goal
A puzzle your dog can solve and enjoys.
Before you begin
You’ll need
- An appropriately sized, intact, easy puzzle.
- A check for hard materials, small parts, choking and trapping hazards.
- Food counted in the day’s ration.
What you’ll do
Your first session
- Supervise closely the first few times.
- Make the reward easy to reach.
- Help or simplify before frustration builds.
- Change only one difficulty factor when you do change something.
Things to notice
- Willing problem solving.
- Frustration.
- Damage to the puzzle.
When to stop or get help
- Remove damaged items immediately.
- Guarding — stop and separate pets.
- Suspected swallowing, choking, injury or persistent severe distress — seek veterinary care.
- Keep supervising strong chewers.
About this guide
Advanced difficulty isn’t the goal; reusing an achievable puzzle is fine. There is no set rule for when to make it harder.
Low-intensity guide suitable for most healthy dogs.
Adapted into plain language from Nara’s prepared protocol material. It is general information, not a diagnosis or veterinary prescription, and it doesn’t report trial results.