Dog enrichment explained: How to keep your dog happy, calm & fulfilled with Shay Kelly

🎙️ The Yappy Hour – Dog Enrichment Is Essential, Not Optional with Shay Kelly
Powered by Yappily – The UK’s ethical dog professional directory 🐾

Enrichment is essential — not optional. In this episode of The Yappy Hour, host Nathan Dunleavy is joined by canine enrichment expert and author Shay Kelly to explore how enrichment keeps dogs happy, calm, confident and emotionally fulfilled.

Shay explains why enrichment is far more than just puzzle toys, how it helps prevent behaviour problems before they start, and shares simple, realistic enrichment ideas you can do at home — even on a budget. Whether you’re living with a playful puppy, a senior dog, or a nervous rescue, this episode is packed with practical, accessible advice to help you give your dog a life worth living.

🐾 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Shay Kelly
04:30 – What enrichment really means (beyond puzzle toys)
12:10 – The 5 types of enrichment every dog needs
19:40 – Why safety is the foundation of enrichment
28:15 – Enrichment for puppies vs. senior dogs
38:00 – How enrichment helps nervous or anxious dogs
46:00 – Budget-friendly enrichment ideas you can try today
55:00 – How enrichment prevents behaviour problems
1:04:00 – Final thoughts: enrichment is essential, not optional

This episode is perfect for:

Guardians of anxious, bored or frustrated dogs

Puppy and adolescent dog guardians

Senior dog guardians

Rescue dog families

Anyone wanting to improve behaviour through fulfilment, not force

🎧 Listen to the full episode on the official Yappily podcast page:
👉 https://yappily.co.uk/podcast/

🐾 Find ethical, accredited dog professionals near you including trainers, behaviourists, groomers, walkers & more:
👉 https://yappily.co.uk

💼 Are you a dog professional? Get listed on Yappily:
Join the UK’s trusted ethical directory and be discovered by guardians who care about welfare:
👉 https://yappily.co.uk/get-listed/

▶ Watch all episodes of The Yappy Hour Podcast
Expert interviews, ethical training, enrichment, grooming, puppies and emotional well-being:
👉    • The Yappy Hour  

▶ Dog Enrichment & Fulfilment Playlist
Scent work, play, confidence-building and emotional well-being:
👉    • Dog Enrichment & Fulfilment | Scent Work, ...  

▶ Anxious & Nervous Dogs Playlist
Support for worried, sensitive and reactive dogs:
👉    • Anxious & Nervous Dogs | The Yappy Hour  

▶ Dog Health, Nutrition & Physical Therapy Playlist
Diet, gut health, physio, hydrotherapy and recovery:
👉    • Puppies & Adolescent Dogs | Confidence, Tr...  

▶ Puppies & Adolescent Dogs Playlist
Confidence, training, development and teenage behaviour support:
👉    • Dog Health, Nutrition & Physical Therapy  

▶ Ethical Grooming & Cooperative Care Playlist
Calm, consent-based, welfare-first grooming:
👉    • Ethical Grooming & Cooperative Care | The ...  

▶ Dog Breeds | Behaviour, Training & Breed Fulfilment Playlist
Breed traits, genetics, fulfilment and behaviour support:
👉    • Dog Breeds | Behaviour, Training & Breed F...  

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe to The Yappy Hour for more expert conversations on dog training, behaviour, enrichment and wellbeing.

#DogEnrichment #ShayKelly #DogFulfilment #AnxiousDogs #ReactiveDogs #Puppies #SeniorDogs #EthicalDogCare #WelfareLed #Yappily #YappilyDirectory #TheYappyHour #NathanDunleavy