70+ Dog Safe Foods to Use for Enrichment Activities
Food-filled enrichment toys, like Kongs or Toppls, can provide endless fun for our dogs, but the benefits extend beyond just playtime. Enrichment toys give opportunities for problem-solving and mental stimulation. It’s also an incredibly soothing activity! Repetitive licking releases endorphins that provide a calming effect.
Storebought fillings are convenient but can be expensive and a bit boring. We love creating new filling combinations using various fresh and healthy foods. To help kickstart your creativity, below is a list of over 75 dog-safe foods.
Our Favorite Enrichment Toys
West Paw Toppls - Best for Full Meals
We primarily use these for full meals - soaking Ripley’s kibble in broth, mashing, and then layering it with various foods from this list. We love the Toppls’ large capacity, West Paws’ sustainable business practices, and how easy they are to clean compared to other options. Toppls are also Ripley’s favorite. We think it’s because he can hold and access them easily.
Get 10% off Toppls with code WESTPAW10 using this link.
Kong - Best for Snacks & Shorter Sessions
Kongs are one of our favorites for shorter enrichment sessions. Instead of packing in a full meal, we layer in just a few different foods and then freeze them before giving them to Ripley. Freezing helps extend how long it takes him to get through and allows us to batch a bunch at once.
Lick Mats - Best for the Small Dudes
Stanley & Cooper, our older little dudes, prefer using lick mats. We think it’s because they don’t have to hold on to them. Depending on the mat, we can layer on a whole meal, or just a snack’s worth. Lick Mats also come in bowls and various shapes.
75+ Dog Safe Foods to Use for Enrichment
Below is a list of 75+ safe foods that dogs can eat. As always, moderation is important. Remember that like humans, dogs can have food intolerances and allergies. It’s essential to introduce new foods slowly and in small amounts.
Vegetables
Arugula
Beets
Bell Peppers
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Butternut Squash
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Corn (no cob)
Cucumbers
Dandelion Greens
Eggplant (small amounts)
Green Beans
Kale
Lettuce
Peas
Potatoes (cooked)
Pumpkin
Radish
Spaghetti Squash
Spinach
Summer Squash
Sweet Potatoes (cooked)
Zucchini
Fruits
Apples
Apricots (flesh)
Bananas
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Cranberries
Kiwi
Mango
Oranges
Papaya
Peaches
Pears
Pineapple
Plums (no pit)
Raspberries
Strawberries
Watermelon (seedless)
Meat
Beef
Chicken
Game Meats
Fish
Lamb
Pork
Organ Meats
Shrimp
Tuna (and canned fish)
Turkey
Grains & Seeds
Chia Seeds
Flax Seeds
Hemp Hearts (hulled)
Oats
Pumpkin Seeds
Quinoa
Rice
Sesame Seeds
Sunflower Seeds (shelled)
Dairy
Cheese (small amounts)
Cottage Cheese
Plain Greek Yogurt
Whip Cream (plain)
Misc
Chickpeas
Coconut Oil
Coconut
Ginger
Eggs
Honey (small amounts)
Parsley
Peanut Butter (Dog safe, natural, no xylitol)
Rosemary
Sage
Salmon Oil
Seaweed (plain, unsalted)
Tahini
Turmeric
If you’re unsure about introducing a food, talk to your veterinarian before adding new foods to your dog’s diet.
