Heatwave Enrichment Ideas for Nervous and Reactive Dogs

Let’s be honest, when it’s boiling outside, everything feels a bit harder. If you’ve got a nervous or reactive dog, it’s not just the heat you’re battling. Walks become trickier, your usual quiet times are suddenly full of people, and your dog’s routine gets turned upside down.

At Nervy Mutt, we know the feeling. So here’s a bunch of heatwave-friendly enrichment ideas you can try at home. No pressure, no fuss. Just simple ways to keep your dog mentally stimulated, cool, and calm when the weather’s working against you.

1. Dog-Safe FroYo

One of our favourite go-tos when it’s too hot for anything else is frozen yoghurt for dogs. Super easy to make, and your dog gets something cool, tasty, and enriching to work through.

Basic recipe:

• Kefir Natural Yogurt 
• Any dog-safe topping of your choice!

We recommend fruit for a health tasty summer snack, particularly blueberries, banana, mango (no seed of course), strawberries and raspberries. 

If you're dog isn't fond of fruit, some 100% peanut butter or a touch of honey are a good shout too. 

Mix or blend it up, pour it into ice cube trays or silicone moulds, and freeze. You can add extras like grated carrot or a pinch of turmeric if you fancy mixing it up.

Spread some onto a LickiMat and freeze it for a longer-lasting, calming activity. 

🧊 Top Tip: This can also be done with plain water, or a broth! You can make a whole array of cool treats. 

2. Sprinkler Play, On Their Terms

Not all dogs love water, but a sprinkler can be a low-pressure way to introduce a bit of fun and cooling. Let your dog choose how much they want to engage.

Start by setting it to a gentle spray. Sit nearby with them. Scatter a few treats around the edge so they can explore without being overwhelmed. Some will dart through the water with joy, others will watch from a distance. Both are totally fine.

If your dog’s more into people than water, you can also use the hose yourself and create a little mist while you chat to them calmly. Always let them lead - none of these ice bucket challenges that have been doing the rounds, that's a sure fire way to damage the trust as relationship with your dog.

3. Shade-Friendly Snuffle Games

Foraging isn’t just for winter days on the carpet. Take your snuffle mat out into a shady patch of the garden or balcony.

You can even DIY one with damp tea towels or rolled-up yoga mats. Tuck some treats in and let your dog sniff them out. You’re giving their brain a workout without the physical pressure of a hot walk.

Try chilling the fabric in the fridge first or freezing it damp for an added cooling effect. Just keep an eye to make sure nothing gets chewed that shouldn’t. 

Alternatively you could scatter some treats in the garden or hide them in cardboard boxes under a tree. Let them sniff and problem-solve at their own pace.

Scent work is brilliant for confidence building. It taps into natural instincts and is perfect for dogs who find the outside world a bit much during busy, hot days.

4. Frozen Puzzle Toys

Frozen Kongs and puzzle feeders are gold in hot weather. Fill them with something tasty, freeze overnight, and give them to your dog as a calming activity. It encourages licking, chewing, and focus, which are all great for nervous dogs.

Try these combos:

• Chicken broth with a bit of cooked chicken 
• Mashed sweet potato with a tiny sprinkle of chamomile 
• Wet food with a few blueberries mixed in

Keep a few in the freezer so you’re ready when the heat hits.

5. Scent Work in the Shade

Scent work is a great low-impact activity for dogs of any age. You don’t need special kit and you can do it indoors or in the garden.

Start with a target scent

Choose a scent your dog doesn’t normally encounter in daily life. A popular beginner option is red Kong pieces or clove essential oil on a cotton pad (kept in a small, sealable container).

Step 1: Build value for the scent

• Dab a tiny bit of the scent onto a cotton pad or gauze 
• Place it in an open container or small Tupperware box 
• Show it to your dog and as soon as they sniff it, say “yes!” and reward with a treat 
• Repeat a few times so they start to associate sniffing that smell with getting something good

Do this for a few short sessions over a day or two.

Step 2: Teach the indication

An indication is your dog’s way of telling you they’ve found the scent. A nose freeze or a sit is a good start, but it can also be barking, or a lie down. See what comes naturally to your dog, otherwise you can use a command, like sit, that they already know to condition the indication.

• Hold the scent in one hand
• When your dog sniffs and lingers, calmly say “yes!” and reward
• If they paw, nudge, or freeze their nose, choose the one you like best and reward only that moving forward
• Build that up to a second or two before you say “yes”

Over time, your dog will offer the same behaviour every time they find the scent.

Step 3: Hide and seek

Now try hiding the scent box behind a chair, under a cushion, or on a low shelf. Let your dog search the room. As soon as they show their indication, mark it and reward.

This is mentally tiring, confidence-building, and can all be done in a cool, quiet space. No physical exertion needed.

6. And About Walks…

When it’s hot, everyone’s walking early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the heat. Trouble is, that’s usually our time. The time reactive dog owners rely on to get some peace and quiet.

So now, the park is full. The paths are busy. And the calm window you’d normally use has gone. If you’ve had to skip walks altogether, you’re not failing your dog. You’re adapting. And that’s what they need from you.

Mental enrichment, cooling games, and calm companionship at home can do more for their wellbeing than a stress-filled walk. Honestly, skipping a walk is better than pushing through something that makes both of you feel anxious. Fewer good walks, are better than several negative ones!