Enrichment for Enrichment for Shelter Dogs Shelter Dogs Kelley - - PDF document

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Enrichment for Enrichment for Shelter Dogs Shelter Dogs

Kelley Kelley Bollen

• llen MS CABC

ABC Kelley Kelley Bollen Bollen, , MS MS, , CABC CABC Owner and Director Animal Alliances, LLC

What do What do I I mean by mean by Enric Enrichment? ment?

P i P idi i i l Prov rovid iding an ng an interest nteresting, comp ng, complex, ex, challenging, stimulat challenging, stimulating, and ing, and variable variable environment that environment that encourages the encourages the animals animals to to explore, think, learn, engage, and explore, think, learn, engage, and be be well well mentally mentally and and physically hysically well well – – mentally mentally and and physically physically.

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Shelters should place a Shelters should place a priority on priority on programs programs that reduce stress and promote the physical that reduce stress and promote the physical and and psyc sychological

• logical well

well be bein ing of their heir animal animals and and psychological psychological well well-being being of

• f their

their animals animals. Keeping the animals Keeping the animals beh behaviorally viorally, as well ell as beh behaviorally viorally, as as well well as as medically, healthy is medically, healthy is the the humane humane thing to do thing to do

Why is Enrichm Why is Enrichment Important in Important in the Shelter Environment? the Shelter Environment?

Shel Shelter animal ter animals: s:

• live in a stress

ive in a stressfu ful enviro environmen ent

• are m

mentally a lly and d physically unde ysically under-stimula stimulated ed

• are

re confined confined to a smal to a small area area (ca cage or e or run run) where the where they have have ( g ( g ) y littl ttle to e to no no contro control This can lead to boredom, an This can lead to boredom, anxiety xiety and the devel and the developmen pment of t of behavior problems incl behavior problems including abnormal behavior uding abnormal behavior.

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Enrichment Programs Enrichment Programs

Pr Provide

• vide fo

for the the ps psyc ychological w hological well-being o ll-being of the the animals animals in our ur care care by: by: animals animals in in our

• ur care

care by: by:

• r
• reducing s

stress

• providing phys

iding physical an ical and d me mental s al stimulation imulation

• allowi

llowing ng the the animal animals more cont more control rol over

• ver

their environment their environment

• preventing the

reventing the development and development and displa display y

• f abnormal behavior
• f abnormal behavior

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Environm Environmen ental tal Enrich Enrichme ment nt

Modifying Modifying the he enviro environment nment so so that that it: it: Modifying Modifying the the enviro environment nment so so that that it: it:

• is mor

more comfo comforta table e

• provide

provides more space (l more space (larger arger encl enclos

• sure, etc.

etc.)

• prov

provides more choi more choices ces (dif ifferent le rent levels ls, e etc) l ( l ( l h

• is

is m more re stim imulati ating g (views, views, stimu stimulating t ating the sen e senses es, etc.) c.)

• is less sti

ss stimulati ating (qui (quieter eter, not abl not able to to see see

• ther
• ther anima

animals, etc.) s, etc.)

Behavioral Behavioral Enrich Enrichment nt

Stimulating the brain by: Stimulating the brain by:

• giv

ivin ing t g the anim imal opportun unit itie ies s to p perfor

• rm

m speci species-typi s-typical behavi cal behaviors.

• rs.
• giv

ivin ing t g the anim imal opp pportuni

• rtuniti

ties to es to h k h k d l pp pp thin ink an and learn. earn.

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‘Research in ‘Research in the neurosciences has indicated the neurosciences has indicated that the brains of higher animals are that the brains of higher animals are constructed to function optimally when constructed to function optimally when receiving receiving a specific pecific amount mount of stimul timulatio tion ’ receiving receiving a specific specific amount amount of

• f sti

stimulati ulation. ‘When too much or ‘When too much or too little stimulation is too little stimulation is presented to presented to the brain, disorganization, the brain, disorganization, instability instability disease disease and nd suffering suffering may may result result ’ instability instability, , diseas disease, , and and suffe suffering ring may may result result. McMillan, 2002 McMillan, 2002

Studies consis Studies consistently indica tently indicate that te that mental mental stimulation stimulation is emoti is emotiona nally rewa reward rding ing to to animals, and animals, and there is there is a a strong motiva strong motivation to tion to seek novel stimuli. seek novel stimuli. Studies also show that many Studies also show that many animals prefer to animals prefer to work work for their food for their food rather rather than have it than have it freely freely availa available. ble. ‘Inadequate mental stimul ‘Inadequate mental stimulation gives rise to ion gives rise to the the unplea unpleasa sant emoti nt emotiona nal state of state of bored boredom, which serves which serves to motiva to motivate the te the individua individual to to seek stimula seek stimulation. ion.’

McMilla McMillan, 2002 n, 2002

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Enrichment Enrichment Is re Is required b uired by law for ca law for captive tive primates! rimates! q y q y p p 1991 Amendment to the 1985 1991 Amendment to the 1985 Animal Welfare Act Animal Welfare Act

R i R i ll f iliti h i th Requ equires a res all ll fac acil iliti ities es hous

• using

ng th them: em: “… to promote the psychol “… to promote the psychological gical well-being of well-being of nonhuman primates.” nonhuman primates.”

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Primate Primate Enrichm Enrichment in the Zoo in the Zoo

Bore Bored Stimulated Stimulated

Soda Soda b bottles ttles Fee Feeder b boxes xes PVC PVC feede feeders

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PVC PVC pipe pipe feede feeder Spinni Spinning log log feeder feeder Milk crate Milk crate feede feeder Nut Nut b board ard Ice Tre Ice Treats Fru Fruit roll roll-u

• ups

Cocon Coconut feede t feeder

1/28/2013 9 The The rest of the zoo ani rest of the zoo animals als also also recei receive enri e enrichment. chment.

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Don’t they deserve it too?? Don’t they deserve it too??

Environmental Environmental Enrichment Enrichment

.wouldn’t t that b be nice h here?

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A Comfortable A Comfortable Environment Environment

• Soft bedding

Soft bedding

• Platforms

Platforms

A comfy adoption floor

• mfy adoption floor

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Less stimulating environment Less stimulating environment

You may You may think that enrichment is think that enrichment is all about all about INCREASING INCREASING stimulation stimulation INCREASING INCREASING stimul stimulation And that is a And that is a big part of it big part of it But in the shelt But in the shelter r enviro environment nment – DECREASING DECREASING stimula stimulation is ion is just as just as important. important.

Visual barriers Visual barriers

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Quiet Kennels Quiet Kennels

Reducin Reducing noise level noise levels reduces reduces stres stress

Noise Levels in Noise Levels in Shelter Shelter

Can excee Can exceed 100 dB (118.9 dB 100 dB (118.9 dB)

> 70 dB = > 70 dB = co consi nsidered loud ud 96 dB 96 dB = = sub subway ay tr trai ain 110 110 dB dB = = jackha jackhammer 120 = 0 = prop

• peller

eller aircra rcraft ft

Any sound in Any sound in the 90-120 the 90-120 dB dB range is range is considered to considered to be in in th the c critic itical zo zone ne and can be d can be felt felt as well as as well as heard. heard.

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Click for Quiet Click for Quiet

Time outside of Time outside of the kennel in the kennel in an office an office or real life

• r real life room

room

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The Senses The Senses

We We should consider all should consider all the senses when the senses when we we deve develop enrichment strategies for enrichment strategies for shelter shelter p animals. animals.

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Auditory Stimulation Auditory Stimulation

Research has Research has found that found that l i l i l i l h lt class assica cal mus music ca c calms s ms shelt lter er dogs ( dogs ( Wells et. al. 2002 ) Wells et. al. 2002 ) New Age New Age Musi Music

Soothing Music Soothing Music

Heartbeat music therapy Heartbeat music therapy

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Canin Canine Lullabies CD Lullabies CD Psychoacoustically Psychoacoustically Designed Designed Music Music

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Through A Through A Dog’s Ear CD Dog’s Ear CD Househ Household sounds ld sounds

Dinner time sounds

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Wind Wind chimes chimes A Dog’s A Dog’s #1 Sense #1 Sense

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Olfactory Stimulation Olfactory Stimulation

Introducin Introducing scents into the environme g scents into the environment t h l h l d l that are sti at are stimulating an ating and/or ca /or calming ming

Olfactory stimulation in Olfactory stimulation in the zoo the zoo

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Dry spices sprinkled on Dry spices sprinkled on bedding bedding

Scent of Scent of the Day the Day

Vanilla, almond, coconut, banana extracts Vanilla, almond, coconut, banana extracts

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Food scented Food scented arousal spray arousal spray The “other sense of The “other sense of smell” smell”

V l V l O Vomero

• meronasa

asal Organ rgan

Analyzes alyzes ph pheromones eromones

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Pheromone Therapy Pheromone Therapy Visual Stimulation Visual Stimulation

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Back to Back to the zoo the zoo Bubbles for the shelter dogs Bubbles for the shelter dogs

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Behavioral Behavioral Enrichment Enrichment

Providing Providing opportunities

• pportunities for
• r the

the animals nimals

• Providing

Providing opportunities

• pportunities for

for the the animals animals to perform species typical to perform species typical behavior behaviors

• P
• Providing o
• pp

pportunities for

• rtunities for the animals

the animals pp pp to think and to think and learn learn

Opportunities to Opportunities to perform perform species-typical behavior species-typical behavior

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Chewing Chewing is an is an important important behavior for behavior for dogs – dogs – especially specially when when anxious anxious or bored

• red

when when anxious anxious or

• r bored

bored

Provide safe chew toys Provide safe chew toys

Digging is Digging is a a normal dog behavior normal dog behavior

How about a How about a digging pit in digging pit in the play yard the play yard

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Those amazing noses Those amazing noses tracking games tracking games

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Nose Work Nose Work PLAY PLAY!

All dogs love to All dogs love to play play

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Toys in Toys in the the kennels kennels

Play yards for the dogs Play yards for the dogs

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Every Every dog needs dog needs exerc exercise se

Agility Agility

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Some shelters are lucky Some shelters are lucky enough enough to have an agility field to have an agility field

Activity Yard Activity Yard

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Dogs are social animals Dogs are social animals

Dogs are Dogs are a a social obligate social obligate species – species – they hey NE NEED socia social compa companio ionship hip to to be be emotionally healthy emotionally healthy

Provide opportunities for Provide opportunities for social interaction with conspecifics social interaction with conspecifics

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Play Groups Play Groups Pool Party! Pool Party!

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Play Group Concerns Play Group Concerns

Safety Safety

• make good matches

make good matches – introduce the ntroduce the dogs properly dogs properly

• obs

bservation & ervation & s supe pervision rvision

• keep

eep arousal arousal at a reasonable at a reasonable level level (positi (positive interr nterrupt pt signa signal) (positi (positive interr interrupt upt signa signal)

• be

e prepared to prepared to brea break up k up fights – fights – ‘fight kit’ fight kit’ where playgroups happen where playgroups happen

Fight Kit Fight Kit

• A
• Air H

Horn

• Blanket

lanket B

• B
• Break s

stick

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Co-housing Co-housing

Co-housing concerns Co-housing concerns

Safety Safety

• r
• redirected a

agg ggressi ression when aroused

• n when aroused

gg gg

• r
• resource g

guarding

• more difficu
• re difficult to manage

to manage

• make good matches

ake good matches b t b ti – o – observa servati tions

• ns
• no
• va

valua luable le r resources in sources in ca cage ge

• feed dogs separa

eed dogs separatel tely

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Human social contact is Human social contact is VERY VERY important too important too.

Sitting quietly, Sitting quietly, petting, brushing, petting, brushing, playing playing

What d do people w want t their dog to dog to do do most? most?

Just be wi Just be with th them them

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“Do Nothing “Do Nothing” time in time in the shelte the shelter r is important is important Calm interaction Calm interactions outside the cage

• utside the cage

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Massage Massage Doggie Massage Doggie Massage

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Providing opportunities for the Providing opportunities for the animals to animals to think and learn think and learn

Food Acquisition Challenges Food Acquisition Challenges

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Primate Primate food gathering enrichm food gathering enrichment nt Anteater Enrichment Anteater Enrichment

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Feeding Procedures Feeding Procedures

Feeding meals in Feeding meals in Kongs Kongs helps to: elps to:

• prolong

prolong eati ating time prolong prolong eati eating ng ti time me

• provi

rovide mental sti de mental stimulati ulation

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Make it Make it more challenging more challenging Feeder Balls Feeder Balls

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Cheap Alternative Cheap Alternatives

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Box of Box of fun fun Commercially available puzzle Commercially available puzzle feeders feeders puzzle feeders puzzle feeders

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Shelter-made puzzle feeder Shelter-made puzzle feeder Ice Blocks Ice Blocks

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We use them in We use them in the zoo the zoo too too

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Training in Training in the Shelter the Shelter

M l M l l

• Menta

ental stimu stimulation ation

• Soci

Social sti al stimulation ulation

• Gives the animal some control

Gives the animal some control I d I d b l

• Increases a

ncreases adopta

• ptability

ity

• Easier to

Easier to manage manage

Clicker Training Clicker Training

Very effective form of Very effective form of training because training because its prin its principle ciples are based in science. are based in science.

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Clicker Training Clicker Training

Uses Uses the two major forms of learning: the two major forms of learning:

• Classica

ssical c l cond nditi itioni ning ng – a – association learning learning

• Op

Oper erant ant Conditioning Conditioning – – learning ning th through

• ugh

Op Op ant ant Conditioning

• nditioning

l a l a ning th ough the consequence of the consequence of behavior. behavior.

How it How it works works

The The “cl “click” soun ck” sound that the cl that the clicker ker mak makes i is fi first rst pa paired w ired with t the d deliv livery o ry of a a re reward ward (cla lassical cal co conditioning) nditioning) cl clic ick – t – treat click – treat reat cl clic ick – t – treat Once condi Once conditione ioned, the cl d, the clic icker becomes a ker becomes a wonderfu wonderful, l, effective co fective communication t unication tool to “s “speak” t peak” to the a animal. imal. The The cl click k sou sound “mar d “marks” the exac the exact behav t behavior you you wan want to to re reward (ope ward (operant cond rant conditi itioni ning) ng)

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Communicating wi mmunicating with th anoth another speci r species: s:

• is like trying

s like trying to speak to speak to a to a person person in a in a foreign foreign country when you country when you don’t know the language. don’t know the language. Clicker training is like using a Clicker training is like using a translator. translator. The animal understands the The animal understands the li li k ( diti diti d) d) cli lick (once con

• nce conditi

ditione

• ned)

d). .

Clicker Training is: Clicker Training is:

• Communication

mmunication the the animals nimals understands understands Communication Communication the the animals animals understan understands

• Positiv

Positive and and hands-off hands-off

• Mentally stimulatin

Mentally stimulating – g – because it ecause it makes the makes the animal learn to animal learn to think think “how do “how do I I get get that darn that darn clicke clicker to r to click?” click?”

• Fun for the human and the animal.

Fun for the human and the animal.

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Why use a Why use a Clicker? Clicker?

• Clear

Clear signal signal Clear Clear signal signal

• Carries no

Carries no emotion emotion

• Quickly m

kly marks th rks the beh e behavior you li vior you like ke

• Requires no

Requires no process processing in ng in the brain the brain

• Through

Through class classica cal conditio

• nditionin

ing the he

• Through

Through class classica cal conditioning conditioning the the anima animal understa understands its significa its significance ce. .

Marine Marine Mammal Mammal

Where Where it it starte started… d…

Marine Marine Mammal Mammal Tr Training aining

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Clicker Training in the Z00 Clicker Training in the Z00

• Mental sti

Mental stimulation ulation

• Allows the animal

Allows the animal contro control over its

• ver its

environment environment

• Improve

Improves husban husbandry dry

Station Stationing ng Respo Respondi ding ng to to cues cues

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Receive Injections Receive Injections Listen Listen to to heart heart

Uri Urine collecti e collection

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Shifting ifting

Moving from Moving from the outside exhibit the outside exhibit To To the the inside holding area nside holding area

Restrain Restraint – t – Moving into a

• ving into a squeeze cage

squeeze cage

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An “obedient” lion An “obedient” lion

Target Training Target Training

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Targetin Targeting with the tigers g with the tigers In-cage target training In-cage target training with the with the shelte shelter dogs r dogs

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Training the Shelter Dogs Training the Shelter Dogs

Start with the important skill Start with the important skills that can that can help help h d h d d them get em get a adopte

• pted:
• sit at the cage front

it at the cage front

• don’t jump on
• n’t jump on people

people d l d ll h l h

• don’t pu
• n’t pull

ll on

• n the

e leas eash

First Impressions are important First Impressions are important

Teach them to “SIT” at Teach them to “SIT” at the cage front the cage front

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Sit at the cage front Sit at the cage front ‘4 on the floor to open the door’ ‘4 on the floor to open the door’

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Jumping as Jumping as person enters person enters Jumping in Jumping in greeting greeting

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Pulling Pulling

Stop ALL forward moveme Stop ALL forward movement when the nt when the dog dog pulls ulls (when (when there here is is tensio tension in the he dog dog pulls pulls (when (when there there is is tension tension in in the the leash) leash) “Turn to “Turn to Stone” Stone” “click” and treat when the dog is NOT “click” and treat when the dog is NOT pulling pulling pulling pulling

Tools that can help Tools that can help

Head-halter Head-halter Front Claspi Front Clasping ng Harness Harness

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Knowing some basic behaviors Knowing some basic behaviors

makes makes the do the dog more ado more adoptable table g p g p

• people want to adopt a

eople want to adopt a “smart” dog “smart” dog

Sit – Sit – Down -

• wn - Come
• me

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A Simple A Simple Trick Trick

is VERY impres is VERY impressive to a to a poten potentia ial adopte adopter! r!

Wave Wave

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Spin Spin Staff/Volunteer Classes Staff/Volunteer Classes

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Getting an Getting an Enrichment Enrichment Program Started Program Started

• Exp

Explai ain the i the impor portan ance to the staff & vol to the staff & volunte nteers.

• Hav

Have ever everyo yone come up wi come up with a th a list st of

• f enri

enrichment str strate tegies they want to they want to try. try.

• Everyon

Everyone get gets t their ow eir own clicke n clicker a r and ba bait it ba bag. g.

• Emp

Empower the staff – the staff – put them i ut them in charg charge of

• f one or
• ne or a

a few a w animals imals – – each d h day it it is is their re r responsibility

• nsibility to

it ith l i h t f th i i l i l come up w come up wit ith coo cool enr enrichmen ment for

• r th

their a r anima mals. s.

• Hav

Have a a contes contest – t – “best enr best enrichment of

• f the week

the week”

• Onc

Once i it beco becomes part of part of thei their day r day i it won won’t feel t feel l like ke an extr an extra chore. chore.

Keep Track Keep Track

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DATE

Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun

Meal in Kong/ Feeder ball Radio - soothing m usic Olfactory Enrichm ent Air Freshener spray Tracking Game Find I t Game

Daily Enrichment Log

Exercise On-leash walks Aerobic (running) fetch chase games agility recall games Social Contact ( hum an) sit quietly petting brushing massaging "do nothing" Social ( w ith other dogs) play group Clicker training basic commands tricks impulse control free shaping games

Not just for the animals Not just for the animals

• Why did you get

Why did you get into this busine into this business? ss?

• to help ani
• help animals

als

• not to clean cages
• t to clean cages or
• r deal wi

deal with th the publi the public ALL ALL da day ALL ALL y Spendi Spending even a ng even a few mi few minutes each day enri nutes each day enrichi ching g the ani the animals adds to your work sati als adds to your work satisfacti sfaction

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Do you Do you have time? have time?

• Every

Everyone knows that shelt ne knows that shelter work r workers ers are are k d k d ( d d id)

• verwor
• verworked (an

and un under pa er paid) id) MAKE THE TIME MAKE THE TIME A few minutes A few minutes a day can a day can make make a BIG a BIG difference to difference to the the animals nimals in in your care. your care.

Happy humans Happy humans

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Happy Animals Happy Animals

The End The End

k ll b ll ll @ i l lli lli kell lley eyboll llen en@an anima malalli lliances.com ances.com