Petra Edwards - Puppy School Trainer
Humans and dogs are incredibly social, intelligent and busy creatures. Where we fill up our days with work, sport, television, friends and family, social media, movies, and games etc., our dogs' lives generally revolve around us. Many are lucky enough to get regular walks, to come inside and to be a part of the family, but in most cases even this still results in at least 5-8 hours per day where the dog is left alone. Your dog has a daily behavioural budget and energy allowance, where the amount of energy and behaviour they can expend is limited. Without guidance, their behavioural budget will be filled doing normal doggy behaviours, which usually tend to involve digging, barking, chewing or escaping. Your dog has a daily behavioural budget and energy allowance, where the amount of energy and behaviour they can expend is limited. Without guidance, their behavioural budget will be filled doing normal doggy behaviours, which usually tend to involve digging, barking, chewing or escaping.
Instead of trying to stop these unwanted behaviours that might crop up, try to think about how you can fill your dog's behavioural budget with appropriate, 'good' dog behaviours. If you provide your dog with appropriate and adequate mental and physical stimulation, the time left in their day to be employed doing the 'wrong' thing will be significantly reduced. This is where environmental enrichment comes in – it refers to the activities we can leave our dogs (and any other animal) to do in order to facilitate natural behaviours like scavenging and hunting, or other ways to interact with the environment safely and appropriately. The good thing about environmental enrichment is that not a lot of space is needed, as many of the activities involved are mental, rather than physical, stimulation.
Environmental enrichment is you're iPad or TV for dogs – it's what you give your dog to do when you're busy – at work, with visitors, making dinner, helping with homework.
Many environmental enrichment programs utilise portions of your dog's daily food ration (instead of getting fed for free in a bowl, they'll now be working hard for their food just like we do). Dogs are also what are known as contra-freeloading. That means that they prefer to work for their food instead of get it for free.
Here are a few tips to begin your very own environmental enrichment program with your pup. Once you have a few strategies that work, mix and match so your dog gets something new every day!