You know it is time.

The toy bin will not close. There is stuffing under the couch that definitely did not come from a pillow. And somehow my dog is still carrying around the same flattened squeaky toy like it is priceless treasure, and don’t get me wrong, there are a few toys that are his favorite that I will allow him to keep for forever.

Spring cleaning (link to video) with a dog is never just cleaning. It is an audience. A supervisor. A tiny furry union rep making sure nothing “important” gets thrown away. Plus, if you have a dog, you already know cleaning out their toys is not just a chore. It is emotional.

There is the half-destroyed squeaky duck. The rope toy that has seen better days. The mystery ball you do not even remember buying. Meanwhile, your dog is watching you like you are personally canceling Christmas. This year, instead of attempting to declutter for Spring while my pup supervises in distress, I turned it into a win for both of us. It is the Spring “Pot of Gold.”

Enrichment meets distraction.

Let me explain, before you start sorting through the toy bin, create a simple enrichment setup that keeps your dog busy and happy while you clean. Grab a bowl, a pot, a snuffle mat, cardboard box, or even a clean flower pot. Fill it with:

• A handful of their favorite treats
• A scoop of kibble
• A few safe veggie slices like carrots
• Shredded paper or a small towel to hide the goodies

Hide the treats throughout so they have to sniff, dig, and work for the reward. If you want to make it festive, toss in a few green treats for that St. Patrick’s Day vibe and call it their Pot of Gold.

Now while they are nose-deep in treasure hunting, you can tackle the toy pile.

As you sort, use three piles:

Keep – still safe, still loved

Rotate – good condition but needs a break

Retire and Trash – torn, stuffing exposed, squeaker missing

Pro tip: Dogs get bored when all toys are available all the time. Rotating toys every few weeks makes “old” toys feel brand new again. It is enrichment without spending a dime….trust me I probably have about 200 toys in rotations, but I always keep out 2-3 of his favorite toys. Once you are done, surprise them with one toy from the rotate pile. Suddenly, spring cleaning feels like a celebration instead of a loss.

For cats, you can turn this into a quiet little hunt that taps into their natural curiosity. Hide a few treats in cardboard boxes, paper bags, or tucked into their cat tree so they can sniff, paw, and “stalk” their way to the reward. If you’re feeling festive, add a few green treats and call it their Pot of Gold, enrichment disguised as holiday fun. While they’re busy treasure hunting, you can sort their toys the same way: keep the favorites, rotate the forgotten ones, and retire anything frayed or unsafe. When you’re done, bring out one “new” toy from the rotate pile, to your cat, it’s a fresh conquest. Spring is about fresh starts. For you, that might mean clean closets and organized bins. For your dog, it means new scents, refreshed toys, and a backyard that smells like freedom.

A clean home and a happy, busy pup? That is the real pot of gold.