“Enrichment” is something us behaviourists bang on about a lot. It sounds like a complicated, fancy thing. But, it really doesn’t need to be. Canine enrichment simply means giving our dogs more interesting experiences in life, which we do in a way they enjoy.
Why Canine Enrichment?
A dog’s life can be frustrating for them, which is why canine enrichment activities become crucial.
We have bred them for many hundreds, even thousands, of years, to do particular jobs, and to want to be with us. Dogs can be hunting buddies, sheep herders, guards, lap-warming floofers, or family members. We used them and bred the best of them to be experts in their jobs.
Their intrinsic motivation compels them to engage in the activities for which they were specifically bred to feel their lives are enriched.
Now we pop them in a kitchen for 8 hours a day while we go to work, or in a crate for 8 hours at night while we go to bed. Then, we often do not spend the final 8 hours of the day providing enrichment or entertaining them either.
We enforce a lot of mooching around and doing nothing on them.
We forgot, in our desire to have perfect, well-behaved pets, that fit into OUR lives that they are living, breathing, sentient beings. They have wants, needs, desires, and feelings of their own, much like we do, and they need canine enrichment to thrive.
Then, our dogs in their frustration, develop behavioural issues like destructiveness, barking, chewing their legs and feet raw, getting over stimulated easily and more. It’s hardly surprising really. Being bored and unfulfilled all of the time is really tough!
What is it?
You may be wondering, what actually is canine enrichment? It’s easier than you think to figure it out.
One of the fantastic ways to enhance your dog’s well-being is through activities that provide them with a mental workout. “Enrichment” is an exciting buzzword in dog behaviour, and it has amazing benefits for your dog’s happiness, health, and overall behaviour. But what exactly does it entail?
To put it really simply, canine enrichment is adding in things of interest to the dog’s day.
The How.
Instead of putting all your dog’s food into a bowl, why not try some of these activities:
- Scatter it around your garden for them to go and find?
- Or hide it in little pots for them to discover and clean out?
- You can create paths by drawing sausage or cheese lines on the ground. The dogs can then follow the scent until they reach the food.
- Kongs are fantastic toys. They are shaped like rubber cones and bounce. You can fill them with food and treats, then your dog can go and lick it all back out again. This satisfies dogs who find chewing and working for their snacks enjoyable. You can find many kong recipes online. Our favourite one is made with peanut butter, mashed banana, and cream cheese. You put it in the freezer for a longer-lasting activity.
- Going for walks doesn’t need to involve pavement pounding. You can allow your dog to stop and sniff to their heart’s content, and even let them decide where you are walking to.
- You can have fun with your dog by exploring benches, posts, fences, bushes, and post boxes. Have them hopping up and down logs and looking under park equipment for treats and toys.
- You can have fun doing doggy parkour on walks. You can do it alone by reading books and joining free groups. Or, you can join certification programs online for more inspiration.
- Many dogs love puzzle toys and have fun getting treats by lifting flaps and moving parts. Other dogs find them frustrating. Those are dogs who might still enjoy more easy toys, such as snufflemats and rolled-up towels with snacks in.
- Playing hide n seek (so long as you can see your dog at all times) can be really good fun. It’s also a great way of improving your recall skills as the dog gets an extra dopamine buzz on finding you.
- You CAN go chasing birds and squirrels – you can keep your dog on the lead for safety and then go chasing those things along with them! We can’t be fast enough for our dog to catch a critter while on a leash, but our dog will appreciate our effort.
- Your dog will have a lot of fun learning new tricks if you use a reward-based approach. Make sure not to get frustrated or to give your dog tasks that are too difficult. The important thing is for them to enjoy and easily accomplish the process. This will help them to build confidence and strengthen their bond with you also.
Add canine enrichment from today.
There are many, many things you can do to make your dog’s life more interesting. Enrichment doesn’t need to take up much more time than your usual activities with your dog. You can get started right now!
You just need to think outside the box and see what things your dog enjoys. Set up lots of activities with your dog that fit into your day too, reward them well. Praise them when they get things right and then watch their confidence soar.
If you need some help putting some enrichment activities into place for your dog, give me a shout!
What canine enrichment does your dog find interesting and fun? Drop a comment and let me know!
The post Why Interesting Canine Enrichment Is One Of The Best Things You Can Easily Give Your Dog. appeared first on Freya V. Locke.