I’ve mentioned specific enrichment activities many times, but I never
talked about what enrichment is and why it’s so important for the mental
health and socialization of dogs and wolfdogs.
Enrichment activities stimulate an animal’s mind by giving it obstacles to overcome, problems to solve, and physical challenges. Enrichment can alleviate boredom, curb destructive behaviors, and improve the quality of life of contained animals. Enrichment also helps animals adjust to new situations and sensations.
The activities are always designed to simulate the natural behaviors and activities of specific animals. For example, enrichment activities for a parrot would be very different from a robin, since one finds fruits and nuts in trees and the other searches the ground for grubs and worms.
For dogs and wolfdogs, activities may cater to such things as:
-The Prey Drive (without a kill… as in the poster)
-The Senses (scent marking and rolling)
-Oral Satisfaction (chewing raw bones)
-Movement (platforms, tunnels, walks)
-New Sensations and Situations( wrapping things in packages or hanging a plastic tarp outside the pen)
Enrichment also aids in containment, since a happy, stimulated animal is more likely to stay put and not have a need to wander for thrills.
Enrichment is not only for the animal, it gives the owner or caregivers a challenge to create and think like the animal, rewards all around.
Have fun, do some research on natural behaviors, and take the challenge to enrich all of your animal’s lives.
Enrichment activities stimulate an animal’s mind by giving it obstacles to overcome, problems to solve, and physical challenges. Enrichment can alleviate boredom, curb destructive behaviors, and improve the quality of life of contained animals. Enrichment also helps animals adjust to new situations and sensations.
The activities are always designed to simulate the natural behaviors and activities of specific animals. For example, enrichment activities for a parrot would be very different from a robin, since one finds fruits and nuts in trees and the other searches the ground for grubs and worms.
For dogs and wolfdogs, activities may cater to such things as:
-The Prey Drive (without a kill… as in the poster)
-The Senses (scent marking and rolling)
-Oral Satisfaction (chewing raw bones)
-Movement (platforms, tunnels, walks)
-New Sensations and Situations( wrapping things in packages or hanging a plastic tarp outside the pen)
Enrichment also aids in containment, since a happy, stimulated animal is more likely to stay put and not have a need to wander for thrills.
Enrichment is not only for the animal, it gives the owner or caregivers a challenge to create and think like the animal, rewards all around.
Have fun, do some research on natural behaviors, and take the challenge to enrich all of your animal’s lives.
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