08/03/2024
“Dogs weren't designed to sit around all day in sterile environments, looking at the same four walls. They were designed to explore and to use their bodies and minds while doing so. We owe it to them to give them what they need to be fulfilled and happy, if we choose to bring them into our lives and homes.”
We were away in the mountains for a few days and spent quite a bit of time walking. Our dogs have always loved hiking and exploring with us, but Primrose really takes it to a whole other level, climbing every rock, paddling in every stream and sticking her nose into every hole and bush - not to mention rolling in and sampling every p**p she comes across 🙈 The amount of dirt collected is directly proportional to how much fun she's having 🙄😄
Watching her sheer joy and freedom this week (freedom within limits of course - we don't allow our dogs to chase wildlife and we obviously need to keep them safe from venturing into harm's way) made me think about how many domestic dogs live and whether we allow them to fulfil their need to explore. Modern dogs are scavengers, descended from hunters, and would naturally spend their day foraging and scavenging for food. They would use all their senses to explore the environment and use up both physical and mental energy doing so.
Exploring and looking for things to meet your needs activates the SEEKING System in the brain - circuitry involved in goal oriented behaviour and the anticipation of rewards. The main neurotransmitter associated with activation of the SEEKING System is dopamine - the chemical that makes you feel really good and on a mental "high".
When our lives have few daily activities that tap into the SEEKING system, we either sink into depression or look for unhealthy ways to get our dopamine highs (drugs, social media, risky behaviour, gambling) and the same applies to our dogs. Some dogs will become quiet and miserable while others will "get into trouble" finding ways that we think are inappropriate or unhealthy to release dopamine in the brain.
Sadly, many dogs live a life of deprivation with little to stimulate them and few opportunities to explore and engage in natural SEEKING behaviours. The whole idea behind enrichment feeding is to try and meet these needs for dogs in more limited home environments.
However, we also need to think about the kinds of outings we take our dogs on and what we expect from them on those outings. Do we keep our dogs on short leashes and control the path they walk or do we let them move at their own pace, allowing them to stop and sniff and investigate whatever they find interesting? Do we take them to natural areas where they can explore and come across a wide variety of odours, where they can climb rocks, traverse logs, cross streams and scratch in mole hills and sniff bushes or do we walk them on flat concrete pavements where there is little to engage with or stimulate the senses?
I understand that some of you will object and say that you live in cities where you don't have easy access to natural areas, but then one really needs to work hard to find and access places where your dogs can explore and you have to get creative when it comes to meeting these needs. Others will say that you can't give your dog freedom, because they can't be trusted off lead - and that is where long lines can be so useful for preventing frustration and allowing more freedom, while still ensuring safety.
Dogs weren't designed to sit around all day in sterile environments, looking at the same four walls. They were designed to explore and to use their bodies and minds while doing so. We owe it to them to give them what they need to be fulfilled and happy, if we choose to bring them into our lives and homes.
