The influence of scented toy enrichment on owned dog activity levels in a household setting

Environmental enrichment with toys can improve the physical and mental well-being of dogs. Despite dogs’ keen sense of smell, there is little known on how providing scented toys influences owned dog behavior. We investigated whether providing scented toys would influence activity levels (dog activity, toy movement, and play) in owned dogs. Experiment 1 assessed owned dog preference (N=30) between scented (beef, chicken, peanut butter, sausage), and non-scented Playology® plush toys using multiple stimulus without replacement (MSWO) test over 4-days, and measured engagement through ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers over a 72-hour period. Experiment 2 assessed the influence of familiar or novel scented toys on the physical activity and engagement of dogs (N=33), using three equal sized treatment groups: scented familiar (their preferred scented toy from Experiment 1), scented novel (peanut butter scent), and non-scented. Results suggest that MSWO did not predict in-home toy engagement. Dogs did show higher play levels for their most engaging scented toy compared to the non-scented toy, but the specific preferred scent varied by individual dog. Overall activity and play declined with age. In Experiment 2, a habituation effect was observed for dogs in the scented familiar group, as toy movement levels reduced when their preferred scented toy was reintroduced (p = 0.006). While no single scent was preferred across all dogs, individual preference for specific scents increased activity levels, suggesting that personalized enrichment can enhance welfare. Tailoring enrichment practices to individual dog preferences can optimize engagement, while considering the potential impact of habituation.