Environmental Enrichment for Dogs

[RealPitBull]

www.texasvetbehavior.com/Canine_Enrichment.pdf

[suziriot]

This is great info, Mary. Thanks!

[RealPitBull]

Yeah, Dr Haug is cool. These are also good ideas for enrichment for shelter dogs.

And just always have to add that supervision is important

[lpyrbby]

Its so funny you posted this. At the SAFER course yesterday, that was one of their preambles to helping get the best out of a dog during assessment is providing enrichment for them. If my printer was hooked up, I'd take it out there for them today LOL

[erpitrescue]

Alicia,
Not sure if you already have or not, because I go through the RPBF topics in sequence, but if you haven't, would you mind writing up a synopsis of your course, somewhere in the PBRA stuff?
I would really appreciate it, and I'm sure we could benefit from it.
Also, no time frame. realize you are just as busy as the rest of us. Hehe.

[lpyrbby]

Garland, I've got that stuff coming up Gonna put it in the Roundtable since this is more rescue related.

[shooonuff]

this is awesome!

[Chloe]

Good stuff, cant wait to try what we havent already!

[loverocksalot]

AWESOME Good Stuff, Shared it with my cousin in GA who adopted a border collie from shelter for first family dog, Nuff said. This is good stuff for them!

[loverocksalot]

OH yeah although made sure to add SUPERVISED ONLY.

[Courtney]

Awesome info, thanks


This is sort of off topic, but kinda goes along with environmental enrichment...

I was watching a documentary about laughter ("Laughology") and although most of the movie was about humans, they discussed the impact that "dog laughter" can have, especially on shelter dogs. They played audio recordings (of other dogs laughing and playing) in shelters and it had a soothing, calming effect on the animals. Thought it was rather interesting.

[RealPitBull]

Courtney that is REALLY interesting and sounds like it could have a really great benefit to dogs in the stressful environment of the shelter.

[marc]

Anyone have any ideas if using reconstituted raw diet for environmental enrichment?

We tried phasing her into a high-quality, grain free kibble just so we could get her to work for her food a bit. She's not a fan of the kibble anymore so we'll probably migrate back to the Honest Kitchen but still want something that she can work for...instead of having food magically appear from the ground every day

[emilys]

well, you can scatter the kibble around an area; that will make her work. Personally, I'm only willing to give my dog 1 or 2 chances at different foods. Assuming there's no health/allergy reason she's fussy about food, my theory would be: eat what I give you.

[RealPitBull]

You can always stuff raw into a Kong or something similar and freeze it, then give it too her that way.

[marc]

thanks Mary. Tried that. She seems not interested in food too much when we crate her. Won't really touch a PB stuff bone and some interest in Bully sticks. (btw...her food interest also is minimal when outside as she seems in another world)