If you’re an animal lover, you’ve likely heard or seen the term “enrichment” in the context of animal welfare; but what exactly is it? Enrichment is anything that enriches or improves an animal’s life and allows them to express natural behaviors in a way they find mentally and physically stimulating.
You may already be doing some of these activities with your pet, and that’s awesome! Remember to provide enrichment on a daily basis, and provide enrichment that often changes or increases in difficulty. Imagine finding the exact same crossword puzzle in the daily paper – you would lose interest as it’s no longer mentally engaging.
Providing enrichment aims to reduce frustration, boredom, and environmental stress, which can ultimately benefit your pet’s overall physical, mental, and emotional health. Enrichment affords your pet choice and control by allowing them to interact with their environment on their own terms, and allows them to use their bodies, minds, and senses to connect with their social or environmental surroundings.
Some examples of enrichment activities include: dog park, oneon-one visit with a friend, extra snuggle or play time, new toys, interactive feeder toys, pet-friendly YouTube channels, pheromone sprays or diffusers, snuffle mats, lick mats, scented toys, “pupsicles,” scented toys, a training session, a new bed or comfy space, outdoor adventures, etc.
When deciding which types of enrichment would be best, consider their individual needs, personality, and species. For example, a dog that’s nervous around new people won’t benefit from being taken to your favorite brewery during happy
hour.
These activities can also improve your human-animal bond – try some of the above activities, or get inspiration from resources online. When trying a new form of enrichment, always supervise your pet for safety and comfort. Have fun!
Learn more at nocohumane. org. Judy Calhoun is the Executive Director at the Humane Society of Northern Colorado.