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Did you know that there are five categories of dog enrichment? Many of them overlap to some degree, but if you look at improving all five areas to some degree, you're on your way!
Social:
Social enrichment for your dog involves anytime you promote contact with other dogs or people. This can be in the form of having another dog, dog playdates, dog parks, etc. It can also mean socializing your dog with other people and teaching them that new people can be fun and engaging. When you promote social enrichment, you let your dog connect with other dogs (and people) which
Nutritional:
If you have ever used a slow feeder bowl or a snuffle mat to encourage natural foraging behavior to "earn food", ya`ou have provided nutritional enrichment for your dog. You can also alternate treats and chews (i.e. provide variety) to enrich their palette! By fulfilling this instinctual need to earn food, you are giving their brain an outlet for their natural hunting and chewing habits which expends a great deal of mental energy!
Occupational:
Have you ever taught your dog a command or a trick? Like sit, stay, or roll over? Have you ever done agility training with your dog or played a sport with them? If you have, you have provided occupational enrichment! This form of enrichment seeks to get your dog's brain engaged by mentally stimulating them, increasing their confidence... and it helps build the bond between owner and dog!
Sensory:
This category is really broad- it can be as simple as taking your dog for a walk in a new neighborhood to vary what they can see, smell, and touch- or providing indoor activities that simulate this experience. For example, you can play different music or animal sounds in your house (they even have dog tv!) or visually stimulating objects (for cats I have seen owners provide an enclosed fish bowl for their cats to stare at...). You could also add scents, like commercially available animal scents or herbs or spices!
Physical:
This can be providing a bed, platform, or a ramp or steps... any way that you can vary their environment to provide different stimulus to them. It provides dogs with a new way to navigate in their home. You can also satisfy this enrichment need by rotating their toys!
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By understanding the wide variety of mental enrichment that dogs need, you can start to look for small ways to improve their mental wellbeing which decrease their anxiety and destructiveness and increase their longevity, mental acuity, and happiness.
