Ever come home to shredded pillows, a gnawed baseboard, and a dog looking very pleased with themselves? You’re not alone—especially if you share life with a brainy, busy herding dog. Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Corgis, Heelers, and herding mixes are wired to work. Without enough mental and physical outlets, your dog invents a job—like “trim the drywall” or “herd the couch cushions.”

This 6‑Week Enrichment Plan gives your dog the right “jobs” in short, daily sessions (10–25 minutes), using low-cost DIY props you can set up in minutes. It’s friendly for small spaces, budgets, and tight schedules—and tailored for herding mixes and low‑slung breeds like Corgis to keep backs and joints safe.

Quick tip: Start today. You’ll see small wins in a week, and meaningful change in three.

Why boredom-related destructiveness happens

• Herding breeds are problem-solvers: If you don’t give them puzzles, they make their own.
• Energy without structure = chaos: Mental fatigue, not just running, calms busy brains.
• Adolescence magnifies mischief: Between 6–24 months, chewing and testing boundaries peak.
• Reinforcement loops: Chewing is self-rewarding. It feels good, relieves stress, and gets attention.

Signs your dog needs more enrichment:

• Chewing inappropriate items despite walks
• Digging, barking at moving things, herding kids or other pets
• Zoomies that don’t fade after exercise
• Difficulty settling, compulsive pacing

Safety warning: Always supervise new enrichment. If your dog tends to swallow non-food items, avoid small parts, tape, rubber bands, and plastics. For Corgis and other long-backed dogs, avoid repetitive jumps and sharp turns.

How the 6‑Week Enrichment Plan works

• Short, consistent sessions: 1–2 daily sessions, 10–25 minutes each.
• Balanced mix: Scent work, problem-solving, calm chewing/licking, impulse control, and controlled movement.
• Skills build weekly: You’ll progress difficulty slowly so your dog challenges their brain without frustration.
• Low-cost props: Cardboard, towels, plastic containers, muffin tins, PVC pipe sections, and recyclables.
• Measurable progress: You’ll track chew incidents, settle time, and task difficulty.

Pro tip: Do enrichment before high-risk times (like when you leave or hop on video calls). An engaged brain is less likely to chew the couch.

Week-by-Week 6‑Week Enrichment Plan

Week 1: Reset Routines and Satisfy the Chew

Goals this week:

• Reduce destructive chewing by meeting oral needs
• Teach “settle” on a mat
• Begin easy scent and food puzzles

Daily plan (10–20 minutes total):

• Morning (5–10 min): Snuffle mat breakfast or kibble scattered in a towel roll. Let your dog use their nose—nature’s off-switch.
• Midday or evening (5–10 min): Calm chew/lick session on a lick mat with plain yogurt/pumpkin, or a frozen stuffed Kong.
• Settle practice (2–5 min): Toss a treat onto a mat; when your dog lies down, quietly mark “yes.” Reward calm every few seconds. End before they get fidgety.

DIY ideas:

• Muffin tin puzzle: Tennis balls over kibble in a muffin tin.
• Cardboard foragers: Place treats inside toilet paper rolls, fold ends; supervise.

Adaptations for herding mixes & Corgis:

• Keep everything low-impact; no jumps.
• For sensitive stomachs (common with excitement): Use part of their regular meal for puzzles.

Safety warning: No cooked bones. For heavy chewers, use durable rubber chews or supervised raw meaty bones per your vet’s guidance.

Next steps: Track how long your dog settles after each session. Aim for 10–20 minutes of calm after enrichment.

Week 2: Nose Work and Simple Problem-Solving

Goals this week:

• Engage the brain with scent games
• Build frustration tolerance and persistence
• Start “drop it” for safety

Daily plan (15–20 minutes total):

• Morning (7–10 min): “Find it” line searches—hide 5–10 treats along a hallway at nose height and baseboards. Release with “find it.”
• Evening (7–10 min): Two new puzzles: towel burrito (kibble rolled in a towel) and box-in-a-box treasure hunt (treat in a small box placed inside a bigger box).

Training layer:

• “Drop it” with a trade: Offer a high-value treat, say “drop,” feed as they release a toy. Repeat 5 reps. Transition to dropping for a second toy.

Adaptations:

• For intense herders (Border Collie, Aussie): Make searches longer instead of faster—distance over intensity.
• For Corgis: Keep searches linear and on nonslip surfaces; avoid twisting turns.

Quick tip: End scent games while your dog still wants more. That builds eagerness for next time.

Next steps: Add a settle on the mat after each session. Goal: 15–30 minutes of resting within 10 minutes of finishing.

Week 3: Impulse Control + Controlled Movement

Goals this week:

• Channel movement safely
• Build “wait,” “leave it,” and “go to mat”
• Introduce a flirt pole alternative for low backs

Daily plan (15–25 minutes total):

• Morning (8–12 min): “Leave it” progression: Place treat under your hand; reward eye contact away from treat. Progress to floor drop, then low-value items.
• Evening (7–13 min): Controlled chase: Drag a flirt pole toy slowly in straight lines. Ask for “sit” or “down,” then release. 3–5 short rounds max.

Herding-safe movement:

• Choose straight-line motion and low arcs.
• Avoid sharp turns and jumping for Corgis and long-backed mixes.

DIY ideas:

• Tug with rules: “Take it,” “drop,” short rests. Tug can satisfy herding dogs’ drive to control movement.
• Two-toy fetch: Throw one, cue “drop,” throw the second when they release.

Safety warning: Keep flirt pole sessions short (under 5 minutes total) and on soft ground. Stop if your dog pants hard or bunny-hops.

Next steps: Add 2–3 “impulse-control breaks” into play (ask for a sit or down, then release). Aim for quick, happy responses.

Week 4: Thinking Challenges and Real-Life Skills

Goals this week:

• Combine nose work with puzzles
• Increase difficulty without creating frustration
• Teach “place” (go to mat) for doorbell/visitors

Daily plan (15–25 minutes total):

• Morning (8–12 min): Scavenger hunt with containers: Hide treats under 6–8 overturned cups or small boxes. Some empty, some with treats. Reward persistent sniffing, not pawing.
• Evening (7–13 min): “Place” training at the door:
  1. Lure onto mat, reward.
  2. Add distance: Step away, cue “place,” reward on the mat.
  3. Add the doorbell sound at low volume. Reward calm on mat.

Breed adaptations:

• For motion-sensitive Aussies/Heelers: Close curtains during “place” work to reduce visual triggers.
• For Corgis: Place mat away from slippery entries to protect joints.

Pro tip: If your dog barks at the door, feed a steady trickle of tiny treats on the mat while the “visitor” scenario plays. Reinforce calm, not silence.

Next steps: Practice one fake delivery per day. Track how many seconds your dog can hold “place” with the door cracked open.

Week 5: Jobs That Match Herding Brains

Goals this week:

• Give your dog real “jobs” at home
• Increase duration of focus and settle time
• Introduce shaping games to build problem-solving

Daily plan (15–25 minutes total):

• Morning (8–12 min): Shaping session: Put down a box. Click/mark for any interaction (looking at it, touching it), then raise criteria to front paws in, or circling it. Keep sessions short and fun.
• Evening (7–13 min): “Helper” chores:
  • Carry a small mailer to you
  • Put toys in a basket (shape one step at a time)
  • Target a light switch plate cover with nose (no pressure on the switch)

Scent + task combo (2–3x this week):

• Hide a sock or toy your dog loves. Cue “find it,” and when found, cue “bring” to your hands. Trade for a treat and praise.

Adaptations:

• Choose chores at your dog’s height (Corgis: floor-level buckets; avoid stairs).
• Heelers/BCs: Use longer chains (find → pick up → deliver → place) to satisfy their need to work.

Quick tip: Use your dog’s meal as payment for “jobs.” It’s budget-friendly and prevents overfeeding.

Next steps: Log how many steps your dog can chain together. Aim for a calm settle of 30–45 minutes after evening sessions.

Week 6: Putting It All Together + Real-World Reliability

Goals this week:

• Generalize skills in new rooms or outdoors
• Reduce reliance on food lures
• Plan your long-term enrichment routine

Daily plan (15–25 minutes total):

• Morning (8–12 min): Outdoor sniffari on a 10–15 ft long line. Let your dog lead with their nose for 10 minutes. Sprinkle “check-ins” and reward eye contact.
• Evening (7–13 min): Mixed circuit:
  1. 2 minutes of snuffle or scatter feed
  2. 1 minute of shaped behavior (paw target, spin, or bow)
  3. 1–2 minutes of controlled chase or tug with drop
  4. 2–3 minutes of “place” with doorbell sounds or TV background noise

Generalization drills:

• Practice “place” at a friend’s house or a quiet park bench.
• Do “leave it” with real-life temptations (picnic crumbs, dropped bread).

Safety warning: Avoid high-intensity play right after meals (bloat risk). Keep outdoor work on safe footing and a secure harness.

Next steps: Draft your maintenance plan: 3–4 enrichment blocks per week that your dog loves most. Rotate to prevent boredom.

Customizing the 6‑Week Enrichment Plan for Herding Mixes & Corgis

• Border Collies/Aussies: Increase complexity, not speed. Longer nose trails, multi-step chores, and shaping puzzles reduce frantic energy.
• Heelers (Cattle Dogs): Provide “control” outlets—herd a rolling ball into a kiddie pool, then “park it.” Straight-line fetch on soft ground with frequent “drop” breaks.
• Corgis and long-backed mixes: Low impact only—no jumping on/off furniture, limited stairs, and slow, straight flirt pole moves. Focus on scent, shaping, and jobs at ground level.

Pro tip: For back-safe exercise, try underwater treadmill sessions or controlled hill walks if your vet approves.

Troubleshooting and adjustments

• Chewing still happens: Increase lick/chew sessions and manage the environment. Crate or use baby gates when you can’t supervise. Offer acceptable chew outlets during known peak times.
• Doesn’t like food puzzles: Use part of your dog’s regular meal; try boiled chicken shreds or tuna water to boost interest; start with ultra-easy wins.
• Gets frustrated or quits: Lower difficulty. For boxes, leave lids open. For “leave it,” go back to covered hand. Success builds confidence.
• Overarousal during flirt/tug: Insert frequent “drop” and “sit” breaks. If arousal climbs, switch to a snuffle mat to end.
• Sensitive stomach: Introduce new foods slowly. Stick to your dog’s usual diet in puzzles when in doubt.

Quick tip: One calm, successful 8-minute session beats a chaotic 25-minute one. Quality over quantity.

How to measure progress (and know it’s working)

Track weekly:

• Destructive incidents (what, when, trigger)
• Settle time after enrichment (minutes to relax)
• Duration of “place” and reliability with doorbell
• Ability to disengage from moving stimuli (bikes, squirrels)
• Task difficulty (number of boxes, complexity of searches, steps in a chore chain)

Targets by week 6:

• 50–80% reduction in problem chewing
• 30–60 minutes of calm after evening session
• “Place” for 60–120 seconds with doorbell sounds
• Reliable “drop it” in 2–3 seconds

Budget-friendly gear checklist

• Snuffle mat (or DIY towel/sink mat with fleece strips)
• Lick mat and 1–2 durable rubber stuffables
• Muffin tin + tennis balls
• Cardboard boxes and toilet paper rolls
• Long line (10–15 ft) and non-slip mat
• Two identical fetch/tug toys
• Treat pouch and clicker (or marker word: “Yes!”)

Pro tip: Shop your recycling bin. Boxes, paper bags, and egg cartons are enrichment gold—just supervise and remove small bits.

Safety notes for all dogs (especially Corgis)

• Warm up with 2–3 minutes of sniffing before movement.
• Keep jumps, stairs, and sharp turns to a minimum.
• Supervise cardboard and soft plastic play; prevent ingestion.
• Introduce new foods gradually; consult your vet for special diets or dental chews.
• Post-exercise: Cool down with a short sniff walk or a settle on the mat.

Your long-term enrichment rhythm

After 6 weeks, maintain 3–5 enrichment sessions weekly:

• 1–2 scent sessions (indoor search or outdoor sniffari)
• 1 shaping/trick session
• 1 “job” session (toy pickup, mail delivery, target work)
• 1 calm chew/lick session on busy days

Rotate activities to stay fresh. Stick a checklist on the fridge and tick off daily wins.

Key takeaways

• A structured 6‑Week Enrichment Plan channels your dog’s brain and body so they stop making up their own “jobs.”
• Short, consistent sessions beat long, sporadic marathons.
• Herding mixes and Corgis thrive on scent work, shaping, and low-impact control of movement.
• Measure progress. If chewing drops and settle time grows, you’re on track.

Call to action

What has your dog destroyed, and which enrichment game helped most? Share your Week 1–6 wins (and fails!) in the comments—your experience can help another herding owner turn chaos into calm.