Chris Chandler talks with Celeste Lo, cofounder of Sniffworthy, about the card deck Your Dog Is Bored and the thinking behind making dog enrichment more accessible. The conversation centers on why dogs often need more than walks, how to choose activities that fit a dog’s temperament, and how to use simple household materials to build play, decompression, and problem-solving into daily life. Celeste also shares the real-life story behind the deck, shaped by her reactive dog Mochi, and how enrichment became especially useful during recovery after Mochi’s spinal surgery. Key topics In this episode, Celeste explains that the deck grew out of her own need to manage a reactive rescue dog with limited social options and a strong need for structured engagement. Chris and Celeste discuss the tagline “they’re not bad, they’re bored” and how it reframes unwanted behavior as unmet needs rather than defiance. The deck is organized into four categories: Mental burn Physical burn Safe destruction Decompression Celeste says the goal was to make enrichment easy, low-cost, and accessible by using things people already have at home. Chris highlights the value of a physical card deck over a book or a phone-based list because it is easier to grab, shuffle, and use in real life. Celeste walks through how each card works, including the why behind the activity, step-by-step instructions, difficulty level, time estimate, safety notes, and easier or harder variations. They discuss how to match activities to the individual dog, especially for nervous, anxious, or easily frustrated dogs that need slower introductions. The deck includes cross-references so if a dog enjoys one activity, you can quickly find a related card in the same category. Chris shares examples of combining activities, like mixing paper shredding with treat-finding games, to create a more challenging enrichment session. Celeste describes Mochi as an American bully rescue who is loyal, goofy, smart, treat-motivated, and wary of water, which shaped many of the deck’s design choices. They talk about how enrichment can be especially valuable during recovery, crate rest, or restricted activity after illness or surgery. Celeste previews possible future editions, including puppy, senior, winter, and summer versions. Timestamps 00:00 - Introducing Celeste Lo and the Your Dog Is Bored deck 01:14 - “They’re not bad, they’re bored” and the idea behind the deck 03:33 - Turning scattered enrichment ideas into one usable system 04:32 - Why structure and ease mattered in choosing activities 06:52 - The four enrichment categories in the deck 08:19 - Safe destruction and why some dogs need it 11:19 - Decompression as calming, bonding enrichment 13:27 - Built-in variations for different dogs and living situations 14:31 - Walking through the floating treat puzzle card 15:56 - Difficulty levels, safety notes, and easy variations 17:21 - Cross-referencing cards for more nosework or related play 18:20 - How to choose an activity if you’re new to enrichment 21:32 - Why five to fifteen minutes can be enough 22:14 - Building a “mega game” from paper shredding and treat puzzles 24:15 - What Mochi loves most and what she avoids 25:15 - Mochi’s background as an American bully rescue 26:43 - Living with a reactive dog and designing around her needs 28:50 - Why the deck uses household materials and recycled items 30:33 - Enrichment during recovery after Mochi’s spinal surgery 32:59 - Future editions: puppy, senior, winter, and summer packs 33:47 - What kind of dog Celeste would be 34:23 - The big message: keep it fun and low-pressure 35:36 - Remembering that your dog depends on you for everything Contact Sniffworthy Instagram: @yourdogisbored TikTok: @yourdogisbored https://sniffworthy.com/ Purchase cards at their website or https://sodapup.com/products/your-dog-is-bored-32-enrichment-activity-card-deck?_pos=1&_psq=card+deck&_psid=574c827c4&_ss=e *Always supervise your dog with activities and toys and remove any small pieces that could be ingested. Check with your vet regarding the safety of any human foods provided for dogs.
