Running an Enrichment Programme in a Boarding Kennel
Most kennels already do enrichment. It is usually informal: a member of staff smears something in a toy when a dog is unsettled, which works but does not scale, does not get recorded and stops the moment that person is on leave.
A programme is different. It is a documented routine that every dog receives, every staff member can deliver, and you can describe to an owner at the point of booking.
This is how to build one that survives a full kennel and a short-staffed Bank Holiday.
Why is it worth the effort?
Three reasons, in the order they usually matter to an operator.
Noise. Kennel barking is self-reinforcing. One dog starts, the block joins in, arousal stays high, and nothing settles. A block where every dog has something to work on at the same time goes quiet, and it stays quieter afterwards.
Settling time. The first 48 hours are the hardest for a boarding dog. A predictable routine with something to do shortens that adjustment, which reduces stress behaviours, refused meals and kennel-stress diarrhoea.
It sells. Owners choosing between two kennels at similar prices will pick the one that describes what their dog's day looks like. "Twice-daily enrichment sessions, included" is a line on your website that converts. It also supports a premium tier.
Choosing the format
Kennel use is harder on equipment than home use. Judge products on five criteria.
| Criterion | Why it matters in a kennel? |
|---|---|
| Dishwasher and sanitiser safe | You are cleaning dozens daily, not one |
| Solid, one-piece construction | No removable parts, no seams to harbour bacteria |
| Freezer-durable | Repeated freeze cycles, every day, for years |
| Size range | A Chihuahua and a Great Dane in the same block |
| Colour or marking options | So each dog gets the same toy back |
That last one is worth planning properly. Assign toys to kennels rather than to dogs, and mark them by kennel number. It removes the tracking problem entirely.
On numbers: budget three toys per kennel space. One in use, one in the freezer, one being cleaned. Two is not enough once you are running two sessions a day, and staff will start skipping sessions rather than washing up mid-shift.
For durability across a mixed intake, the large dog range and the general chew toy range cover the sizes most kennels need, and the FreezBone holds enough for a session long enough to matter.
The daily routine
Two sessions, at fixed times, every day.
Morning, after cleaning and feeding. This is the settling session. It covers the period when staff are moving between blocks and arousal is naturally high.
Late afternoon or early evening. This is the one that matters most. It covers the transition into the quiet period and it is when separation-related distress peaks for dogs whose owners are not coming back that day.
Fixed times matter more than the exact times you pick. Boarding dogs settle faster on predictability than on variety, and a routine they can anticipate does more for stress than a better toy given at random.
Optional third session for long-stay dogs, dogs on restricted exercise, or any dog flagged as struggling.
The kitchen system
This is where kennel programmes fail. The enrichment is fine. The logistics are not.
Run a batch system, not an as-needed system.
- One prep block per day, typically after morning feeding rounds.
- Fill everything for the following day in one go. Assembly line: line up the toys, base layer down the row, middle layer, top layer.
- Freeze overnight. Anything filled and served the same day is barely worth the effort, since unfrozen fills last a fraction of the time.
- Wash used toys as a single load at the end of the day.
- Rotate stock so the same toys are not always in the same cycle.
Freezer capacity is the binding constraint. Work it out before you commit. A 30-space kennel running two sessions daily needs 60 filled toys in the freezer at any time, plus stock in the wash. Most operators discover this after buying the toys.
Staff time. Once the system is running, expect roughly 20 to 30 minutes of prep for a 30-space kennel, plus a single wash load. It is a smaller job than most managers expect, provided it is batched. Done one at a time, it is impossible.
What to fill them with
Kennel economics are different from home economics. You need cheap, safe, consistent and fast.
The default base: the dog's own food, soaked. It is already on site, already portioned, already agreed with the owner, and it comes out of their daily ration so it cannot cause weight gain or upset a diet. This should be the backbone of the programme.
Bulk additions: unsalted bone broth, 100% pumpkin purée, plain full-fat yoghurt. All cheap in bulk, all low in calories.
High-value top layer, used sparingly: a small amount of something the dog values, at the opening, to get them started.
Single-ingredient dried treats are worth buying in bulk. They crumble into a fill, stay solid after the soft layer has gone and extend the session considerably. Because they are one ingredient, they are simple to check against an owner's dietary declarations. Our treats and refills range covers this, and options like cod and chicken chips crumble well.
Do not use anything containing onion or garlic, which includes most shop-bought broth and stock. Buy unsalted, or make your own. Our guide to what should never go in a treat toy is worth printing and pinning in the prep area.
On calories: if the fill is the dog's own food, nothing is added. If you are adding to their ration, keep it under 10% of daily intake, which for a small dog is very little. Our full calorie table is a useful reference for staff. Combinations that hold together are in our recipe collection.
Paperwork and consent
Do this properly at booking, not on arrival.
Add to your booking form:
- Known allergies and intolerances.
- Prescription or restricted diet, with details.
- Any history of resource guarding.
- Consent to give the dog's own food as enrichment.
- Consent, or refusal, for supplementary treats you supply.
- Whether the dog is a destructive chewer.
Record daily: which session, what fill, whether the dog engaged, how long it lasted. This takes seconds on a whiteboard and it gives you three things: early warning that a dog is not coping, evidence if an owner queries anything, and content for the handover conversation at pick-up.
Photograph it occasionally. A picture of a dog working happily at a toy, sent to an anxious owner mid-stay, is worth more than any marketing you will pay for.
Safety protocols
Non-negotiable, and worth writing into staff induction.
- Check every toy at every wash. Any tear, crack or missing chunk means it goes in the bin, not back into rotation.
- Never leave a fillable toy with a dog you have not assessed for destructive chewing.
- Size up for power chewers. Our super chewer range covers the harder end.
- Never give a fillable toy to two dogs in shared accommodation unless you know they are safe together around food. High-value items are the most common trigger for a fight in shared kennelling.
- Remove the toy once the dog has finished, rather than leaving it in the kennel indefinitely.
- Flag dogs who refuse food. A boarding dog who will not engage with a high-value fill on day two is a dog under real stress, and that needs escalating rather than noting.
Costing it
Rough model for a 30-space kennel.
Setup: 90 toys, three per space. A one-off cost, and with proper cleaning and inspection they last years.
Running: the dog's own food costs nothing extra. Bulk broth, pumpkin and supplementary treats add a small per-dog per-day cost. Labour is 20 to 30 minutes of prep plus one wash load daily.
Return: a defensible premium tier, better online reviews, higher rebooking, and a genuine differentiator against kennels competing purely on price. Most operators find the setup cost is recovered inside a season.
On procurement: ask suppliers about volume pricing and about cosmetic seconds. Toys with minor cosmetic flaws function identically and are often available at a discount, which matters when you are buying ninety of them.
Frequently asked questions
How many toys do I need per kennel space? Three. One in use, one in the freezer, one in the wash. Two leads to skipped sessions.
How long does prep take? Around 20 to 30 minutes daily for 30 spaces if batched, plus one dishwasher load. Considerably longer if done one at a time.
Does it need to be frozen? Yes, for it to be worth doing. Frozen fills last several times longer than unfrozen ones.
Can I use the dog's own food? Yes, and you should. It costs nothing, avoids dietary conflicts and cannot cause weight gain.
What about dogs sharing a kennel? Only if you know they are safe together around high-value food. Otherwise feed separately or skip.
How do I stop toys getting mixed up between dogs? Assign by kennel number rather than by dog, and mark them accordingly.
Can I charge extra for it? Many operators include a basic level and charge for an enhanced tier with additional sessions. Whichever you choose, describe it clearly on your website, because it converts bookings.
General information for facility operators. Follow your own veterinary and licensing guidance, and check dietary requirements with every owner at booking.
