Note: This is my first attempt at embedding a video from Facebook onto my blog. If for some reason you can’t see the video, you can access it directly here. I’m always on the look out for new enrichment ideas. That is, interesting games and puzzles that will keep my animals mentally stimulated while providing […]
Enrichment Ideas RSS feed for this section
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.
Henry and the egg carton
My foster dog Henry usually goes to work with me. But, I was off today and also had a few appointments away from the house, so he spent most of the day at home sleeping. This evening, we went for a nice walk. However, when we got back home, Henry still had plenty of energy! […]
Amy’s Elevator (video)
Amy is my big black and white rat who I adopted from the SPCA nearly two years ago. If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you’ve probably encountered some of Amy’s tricks and antics, such as learning to come when called and learning how to use my iPad. In her younger days, […]
Foobler: A smarter way to feed your dog
If you spend much time on Facebook (or read Sophia Yin’s blog) you might have already heard about the Foobler. The Foobler is an innovative new interactive puzzle feeder for dogs. I have many clients with young, active dogs. These clients are often interested in training or consultations because their dogs are spending too much […]
Rattie enrichment: Dinnertime puzzles
I often make my ratties “work” for their dinner. I’ll take their dinner, divide it into several portions and then make it into some sort of puzzle. For example, I often hide their rat blocks and dry food in boxes, toilet tissue rolls, or egg cartons. Then, they have to chew through the paper and […]
Anticipation and Announced Rewards
Animals like knowing that something good is coming. Think about how excited children get when they know a reward is coming–the kid squirming in his chair 5 minutes before the final school bell rings or the anxious child 2 days before Christmas. Expectations and anticipation can make rewards even more exciting than they might be […]