19/07/2022
ENRICH MY LIFE!
The benefits of providing enrichment for dogs.
Imagine being kept in the same space each and every day. You know every blade of grass, every scent, every brick, every piece of fence. You have no books to read, no TV to watch, no one to talk to, no interaction with the outside world and absolutely nothing to do. Would this situation begin to affect your behaviour? Would this situation influence your emotional, mental or physical state? What about our dogs? Many dogs live in this type of situation and yet we wonder why they develop behaviour problems, bark excessively, destroy the garden, become over excited, over aroused or maybe just sleep all day having completely lost interest in their world. Many behaviour problems are caused by boredom, a lack of mental and physical stimulation or being confined to the same space every day. Providing enrichment for dogs is so important for their wellbeing and really doesn’t require that much effort from us.
The dog in the picture is my mom’s 17-year-old Spaniel, Candy. In her final few years, she struggled to walk, had cataracts, lost her hearing, developed a heart and lung condition, had doggie dementia and slept most of the time. This is one of my favourite pictures of her taken a few weeks before she passed. A simple box filled with scrunched up bits of paper with treats inside gave her a new lease on life, if only for a short time. She could lie down and use her nose and paws to find hidden treats and thoroughly enjoyed this. This is just one simple example of how we can add enrichment to our dog’s lives.
There are so many simple ways to provide enrichment. Older dogs may enjoy a ride in the car, sitting at a window watching the world go by, bringing the outside in – sticks, cones, grass etc. from different areas placed in a box for them to rummage through and smell, dinner in the park, or even just playing some doggie music will make a difference.
For more active dogs, creating a simple “surface circus” inside or outdoors will keep them busy for a while. Here’s a link to a video with some ideas of items that you probably have lying around that can be used - https://youtu.be/KuAWNJNIh2o - Spread a meal throughout the objects and let your dog “go find it”!
“Chronic inescapable boredom can be extremely aversive, and under-stimulation can harm neural, cognitive and behavioral flexibility.” - A biological perspective on animal boredom and suggestions for its scientific investigation by Charlotte Burn - The Royal Veterinary College
