Enrichment refers to any environment, object or activity that provides additional stimulation or that increases natural behaviors. When we keep animals in captivity, whether it’s a pet dog at home or a lion in the zoo, it’s important to pay attention to not just the animal’s physical health, but also the animal’s mental and emotional health. In this section, you’ll find lots of information and ideas about behavioral enrichment for animals.
I visited one of my clients last Friday to do some lessons at her barn. When I arrived, her three baby goats were enjoying some fresh air outside the barn. However, for their safety, we needed to get the goats back in the barn, before we started our lessons with the horses. But, the goats […]
I admit it. I’m addicted to KONGs. Even though I have only one dog, I own a dozen KONGs. The classic KONG is one of my favorite dog toys. It’s also the toy that I most frequently recommend to my dog training clients. Not only do KONGs have a multitude of uses, they are also […]
I’m always looking for ways to make my rats’ lives more interesting. They have so much curiosity and energy and get bored pretty easily! I often give them enrichment puzzles at dinnertime, such as hiding their food in toilet tissue rolls. This makes dinner last longer and provides additional mental stimulation. However, after reading the […]
This fall, at the urging of several friends, I’ve given in and joined the social networking site Pinterest. I resisted a bit, as I love the ideas and discussions on social networking sites, but they can also be a big time waster if you are not careful! However, I’m finding Pinterest both useful and a […]
One of my current interests is the sport of canine nose work. I’ve been playing around some with nose work this year with my foster dogs and with the rats. Flower, one of my young rats, has recently started learning nose work and I plan to document our progress on my blog. But first, I […]
In recently years, there’s been a huge increase in interactive toys and food puzzle toys for dogs. While there are some of these types of toys for cats, I think there is a lot larger selection of fun interactive dog toys. This is unfortunate, as many cats are quite active and playful and would enjoy […]
