Enrichment Isn’t Extra—It’s Essential

At Dirty Dog, enrichment means giving dogs the opportunity to think, move, explore, and connect in ways that tap into their natural instincts. It turns ordinary moments into adventures—and helps dogs lead happier, healthier lives.

Throughout The Great DogVenture, your pup will complete tasks inspired by our 5 enrichment pillars. Here's what they are and why they matter:

The 5 Enrichment Pillars

The foundation of a well-rounded, tail-wagging education

1. Cognitive
Problem-solving, decision-making, and learning new things—just like brain games for humans.

2. Sensory
Stimulating your dog’s powerful senses (especially that nose!) through new smells, sounds, and textures.

3. Physical
Helping dogs burn energy through movement—jumping, running, climbing, or exploring.

4. Social
Encouraging healthy interactions with people, dogs, or the world around them.

5. Nutritional
Using food in creative ways to build confidence and focus (and make things extra fun).

A Note from Your Guides

We created The Great DogVenture to make enrichment simple and joyful—no fancy gear required. Each task is a chance to learn, bond, and have a little fun.

This is a completely Self-Paced Experience—there’s no rush. We recommend spacing each activity a day or two apart to keep things fresh and avoid overwhelming your dog. You can repeat activities your dog enjoys or rotate through the full set once they've been introduced. The goal is to make enrichment a regular part of your lives—fun, rewarding, and stress-free.

Some activities may be easy. Some may take a little creativity. Either way, if your dog is thinking, engaging, and enjoying the process, you’re doing it right. Don’t stress perfection. And if your dog isn’t into a specific idea (like dressing up), that’s totally OK. Enrichment is about choice. Try adjusting the task to better suit your pup’s style—we’ll give you tips along the way.

How to Play + Submit Your Tasks

For each task, submit one photo or video to complete it. You have two options:

  1. Use the submit button at the bottom of each task OR

  2. Post to Instagram with the hashtags:
    #DirtyDogAdventure and #DirtyDogAustin

Every valid Instagram post = one bonus raffle entry. Get creative, have fun, and show us your dog’s unique take on the challenge!

Your photo doesn’t have to be perfect. We’re looking for dogs who are thinking, trying, and engaging—not necessarily pulling off flawless tricks. Did they get some mental stimulation? One-on-one bonding time? That’s what counts.

For example:
If a task says “First Day of School Photo” to support social and cognitive enrichment—you don’t have to dress them up if they hate it! Practicing a “sit” for the photo and sharing a fun moment together checks those boxes beautifully.

*Each task has additional resources to give you more instructions or ideas related to that task!

Let the tail-wagging begin.