#116 - Try It: Budget-Friendly Enrichment from Everyday Items

When it comes to enrichment, we often think we need fancy tools, expensive toys, or complicated activities—but what if the best enrichment was sitting in your recycling bin? In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World, Emily Strong (she/they) shares how you can use everyday household items—yes, even your trash—to bring joy, engagement, and behavioral diversity into your pet’s life.

You'll learn why pets might ignore new enrichment items at first (hint: it’s not personal!), how to safely experiment with new objects, and why a little patience and creativity go a long way. Emily offers practical tips for encouraging interaction, assessing risk, and making adjustments as needed, all while sharing real-life examples of budget enrichment in action. Whether you're just getting started or looking to spice things up, this episode reminds us to be curious, flexible, and open to futzing around and finding out.

TLDL (Too Long, Didn’t Listen): 3 Key Takeaways
It’s all about the nuggets of wisdom. Here are the quick hits from this episode that will leave listeners feeling empowered and inspired.

🧩 Don’t Give Up Too Easily – Pets may not immediately take to a new item or activity—and that’s okay! Sometimes, a little guidance or tweaking can turn a flop into a favorite.

🎲 Futz Around and Find Out – Safe experimentation can be your best enrichment strategy. Give your pet something new (and safe) and see what they think—it just might become a hit!

🐾 Ask Your Pet – Ultimately, enrichment is about their experience. Observe their response and let that guide what you do next.

Links & Resources from the Episode

• Looking for a transcript? Go here for Arial | Go here for OpenDyslexic
• 🔗 #109 – Assessing Risk for the Safety Enrichment Category

Going Down a Rabbit Hole?
Let your audience dive deeper into the world of enrichment, behavior, and building harmony.

• 📚 Budget-Friendly Enrichment Options Blog – More DIY ideas and guidance for creating fun on a dime.
• 📦 July 2022 Training Challenge: Explore Variety Through a Cardboard Box – Who knew a cardboard box could be so enriching?

More from Pet Harmony
We’ve got a lot more to share—join the conversation!

Follow us on social media:
For all things enrichment, behavior modification, and building harmony with your pet:
Instagram: @petharmonytraining
Facebook: @petharmonytraining

For professionals dedicated to enriching the lives of pets and people alike:
Instagram: @petharmonypro
TikTok: @petharmonypro
Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/

Join our upcoming free live webinar for force-free behavior professionals!

3 Strategies to Uplevel Your Consulting Skills to Solve Behavior Challenges: Happier pets, enthusiastic clients, and a more rewarding career using the Pet Harmony Enrichment Framework covers our #1 tip to keep clients happy, working with you, and ultimately referring to you, and so much more.

Learn more and register here!