Don’t Be a Bore

Don’t Be A Bore

By Lisa Ellman

The concept of animal enrichment came about in the 1920’s. Psychobiologist Robert Yerkes found that captive primates were much less stressed, and began to engage more,  when they had objects to interact with. Animal enrichment has now been used in zoos for several decades. Alleviating  anxiety, depression and boredom for animals in their unnatural environments. Canine enrichment is a term that’s come into the dog training vernacular in the last 10 years or so. Canine enrichment allows dogs to use their pre wired  abilities, giving them an outlet for their physical and mental curiosity. Enrichment  builds self confidence and presents the opportunity for physical and mental stimulation simultaneously. Working a dog’s mind and body together leads to a tired, calmer, more attentive dog. Enrichment can be playing fetch with you and then playing with another dog. One on one training work with your dog, while playing, provides both mental and physical exertion for the dog.

In addition to preventing boredom, enrichment activities can also teach problem solving skills. Bringing your dog closer to a taste of the wild, before we domesticated them and provided solutions to everything for them. 

Canine enrichment activities can also be used to discourage unwelcome behaviors such as  barking, anxiety and hyperactivity.

Providing play time and or play dates with other dogs also serves as an enrichment activity. Learning new social skills, having to decipher physical and auditory cues and signals, is extremely beneficial, and necessary for your dog.

One of the safest and most effective ways to help get your dog engaged with another dog, off leash at the park or on a play date, is to provide a new verbal cue, “Go play!” and then disengage. Take several steps away from your dog and look somewhere else for several seconds. The more you stay engaged with your dog, constantly chattering, trying to get them excited to play, the more they will be distracted by your voice and  the less likely they will be to go and explore and engage with other dogs. 

According to The Pet Retreat, canine  enrichment  consists of  5 main categories; “social, nutritional, sensory, occupational and physical. These categories do have some crossover, but it is very important to include activities from each…” So activities like  nose work, agility, tricks, playing hide and seek, scattering food, solving puzzle toys are all ways you can help your dog become a happier, more proficient, well, dog!

There are dozens of ways to provide homemade enrichment activities, as well as products to purchase online. There are websites that offer ideas from just blowing bubbles to playing the shell game. I used to demonstrate this one in my classes. Think of 3 Card Monty, but using plastic cups with treats hidden under one of them and then shuffling the cups around. As much fun for the humans as for the dogs!

Good Dogma has been training humans and their dogs since 1996. Readers are invited to submit questions to gooddogma@hotmail.com.  Contact information for all offered services can be found on our website www.GoodDogma.net