Coming Soon - Canine Enrichment!

What is a Canine Enrichment Specialist?

I am wrapping up my work on my certification in Canine Enrichment with DogNostics Career Center. This was an online certification that required me to complete written exams and submit many videos demonstrating my dog training, handling and canine enrichment understanding.

 

What is Canine Enrichment?

Behavioral enrichment is an animal husbandry principle that seeks to enhance the quality of captive animal care by identifying and providing the environmental stimuli necessary for optimal psychological and physiological well-being – Wikipedia.

A Canine enrichment program is a system developed to assess, implement and guide you on how to provide a stimulating life environment for your dog that offers ample opportunities for your dog to engage in natural behaviors.

Environmental enrichment helps satisfy both the physical and psychological needs of your dog and allowing them to make choices. Thus, animal enrichment creates a win-win-win situation for you and your pets.

Pets that have good mental health will engage with their environment more, be less aggressive, less fearful and are more peaceful, exploratory and at ease with their surroundings. Happy dog – happy you!

As a Canine Enrichment Technician, I will be able to support this positive mental welfare by showing you how to encourage these natural behaviors in their pets. An enriched canine is a happy, healthy and easy-to-live-with canine.

 

Canine Enrichment Services Are Not Just for Busy People

Canine Enrichment services are not just for pets whose owners are struggling with time but also for pets (or owners) that have physical disabilities, pets recuperating from surgery, or any pet in need of creative outlets. Behavioral enrichment can also support training and behavior plans.

 

Do I need to buy special equipment to do these activities?

No special equipment is needed. You will need basic items that most dog owners already have such as treats, some dog toys and a mat or bed for your dog. Any activity that asks for extra items can be done with household items like cardboard boxes. You do not need to buy special toys or equipment to provide enrichment to your dog.