We all want and need to make the most of the time we have with our dogs, and the Attention & Autonomy Route is one of my favourite ways not only to make the most of that time but also to make the best use of time away from our dogs. A common mistake I see people make when it comes to choosing enrichment activities is doing things like scatter feeding or puzzle games when they have 121 time to spend with their dog. There are activities that require one-on-one attention. Some dogs find trick training stimulating, others enjoy activities like search-and-retrieve or tug games. When you have time with your dog, fill it with the activities that need your involvement. Then, when you’re not able to give your dog attention, you can still provide them with stimulation by offering activities that don’t require you to be there, like scatter feeding fro example. It’s a really simple concept: when you're with your dog, do activities that need you; when you’re not, keep the stimulation going with activities they can do on their own. An added benefit is that these independent activities are often calmer, helping to settle the dog down after the exciting activities you’ve just done together, increasing the likelihood they’ll relax or sleep afterwards. A common mistake people make is doing highly stimulating activities and then just stopping, wondering why their dog seems frustrated or restless. (Spoiler: it’s because the dog is still very hyped up!)