What is Enrichment?
Enrichment for our dogs is more than just finding activities, like puzzle feeders or toys, to entertain our dogs. It is about meeting our dog’s enrichment needs.
The goal for enrichment is to create an environment that allows our dogs to meet their physical and emotional needs. What exactly does this mean though?
- When considering enrichment we need to consider our dog’s genetics, such as their breed. For example, a collie’s enrichment needs are different to a husky’s.
- Over 15,000 years of domestication has unsurprisingly changed our dog’s behaviour from their ancestors and as a result, their enrichment needs. We have selected for them to be better suited to living with humans and less suited to life in the wild. This means our dog’s enrichment plan will be quite different to their distant cousin, the wolf.
- Research into feral dogs and dogs living in sanctuaries tells us a lot about what dogs will do when not living in our homes. This has helped us to better understand a dog’s ’natural behaviour’ without human interference.
Our dog’s enrichment needs can be put into two categories:
Physical Health
Mental Health
How do I know if my dog’s enrichment needs are met?
Always go to your vet for any concerns around your dog’s physical health. At Canine Kin we specialise in dog behaviour. Our skills, knowledge, and experience ensure that we can assess your dog’s unique enrichment needs to provide you with a bespoke plan.
Get in touch to learn how we can help:
