Post on 13-Jul-2020
transcript
ESSENTIAL ENRICHMENTENRICHMENT ESSENTIALS
CJ Bentley
Director of Behavior and Training
Atlanta Humane Society
Goals for Today
♥ Enrichment is…
♥ Why it’s important
♥ Implementation
♥ Based on your resources
♥ Right for your animals
♥ Questions
A Little Bit…
♥ I am♥ Director of Behavior and Training –
Atlanta Humane Society♥ Behavior consultant - canine♥ APDT member♥ Mom of Jammer and Rogue♥ So happy to be here!
♥ I was♥ Sr. Director of Operations for Michigan
Humane Society♥ Volunteer, Behavior Director, blah, blah
♥ Dog obedience instructor♥ CPDT
AHS is…
♥ Animal Sheltering
♥ Disaster and Emergency Response
♥ Humane Education
♥ Veterinary Hospital
♥ Behavior Training
♥ Shelter Medicine
♥ Legislative Advocacy
♥ Animal Cruelty Investigation
♥ Animal Transport
Enrichment is…
♥ En·rich·ment [inˈriCHmənt, enˈriCHmənt] -The action of improving or enhancing the quality of something
♥ What are we “improving and enhancing”?
♥ Our animals’ time with us:
♥ Physically
♥ Mentally
♥ Emotionally
♥ ….Medically
♥ Prevention counts!
Enrichment is…
♥ Physically♥ We got this; mostly…
♥ Dog walks
♥ Play yards/play groups
♥ Kitty “people time”
♥ CCRs
♥ Treadmills
♥ Aren’t just for dogs
♥ Don’t have to be evil
onefastcat.com
Physically…
♥ But wait!♥ Play yards for cats?
♥ Low end
♥ Higher end
♥ The wonders of Eagle Scouts
♥ Creative!
Physically…
Enrichment is…
♥ Mentally♥ Gives control
♥ Reduces “shutting down”
♥ Increases ability to cope
♥ Less stress/less sickness
♥ Teaches/encourages problem solving
♥ Exercises the brain
♥ Makes ‘em tired too
♥ Busts boredom
♥ Prevents inappropriate behaviors
♥ OCD type stuff
Mentally…
♥ Easy stuff♥ Feeding toys♥ Plastic eggs♥ Ping pong balls♥ Wads of paper♥ Mini paper cups folded over♥ Corks♥ Bubbles♥ Baby socks
♥ Birdfeeders/butterfly plants♥ Kites/kids make mobiles♥ Disco ball/laser toys♥ Scratching opportunities
♥ Carpet vs cardboard vs sisal
♥ Music♥ Scents
Cats first!
Mentally…
♥Considerations♥ Housing – sound/echo
♥ Bars – toys “escape”♥ Group – food toys/guarders
♥ Bird feeders♥ Mice and rats? Butterflies!
♥ Lasers/disco balls♥ Frustration – be conservative
♥ Scratching♥ Carpet/cardboard/sisal – oh my!♥ Need to STRETCH
♥ Music♥ Type (of course)♥ Delivery method
♥ Scents♥ Type♥ Amount
♥ Don’t forget lights out/quiet time
Cats first!
Emotionally…
♥ Bond with people♥ The easiest – READ
♥ No handling required♥ Kids, older volunteers, VIPs????
♥ Clicker training anyone?https://clickertraining.com/cat-training
♥ Inside kennel/condo♥ Secret of touch♥ Into a carrier ♥ High five – why?
♥ Learning is just good♥ Cats…the new dog
Cats first!
Mentally…
♥ Easy stuff♥ Feeding toys, buy ‘em or…
♥ Cupcake tins♥ PVC pipe
♥ Frozen treats (buckets/cups)♥ Toilet paper rolls stuffed/frozen♥ Lacrosse balls NOT tennis, eh?♥ Bubbles♥ Check the Zoo!!!
♥ Apes, rhinos, etc.♥ Kites/kids make mobiles♥ Music♥ Scents
Now the dawgs!
Mentally…
♥Considerations♥ Housing
♥ Sound/echo (Jolly balls, Tug A Jug, etc. Kongs…Squirrel Dudes – cleaning nightmares)♥ Bars – toys “escape”♥ Group – food toys/guarders♥ Frozen treats - messy
♥ Zoo toys♥ Expensive…but♥ “Top fastening”
♥ Lasers/disco balls♥ Frustration – be conservative
♥ Music♥ Type (of course)♥ Delivery method
♥ Scents♥ Type♥ Amount
♥ Don’t forget lights out/quiet time
The dawgs!
Emotionally…
♥ Bond with people – nothing bad happens♥ The easiest – READ
♥ No handling required – CID♥ Kids, older volunteers, VIPs??
♥ Clicker training anyone?https://clickertraining.com/dog-training
♥ Inside kennel♥ Click for quiet♥ Basics
♥ Go lie down♥ Secret of “bad dog”♥ How ‘bout a wave?
♥Right…but who and how?
Dawgs too!
Prevention…
♥ Reduce stress♥ Block the view – barriers/frosting/curtains
♥ For cats too
♥ Allow hiding♥ Clicker train ‘em
♥ Meal time =
ENRICHMENT TIME!
Is the BEST medicine!
Next steps
♥ Matching your assessment/observations to the enrichment
♥ Shy animals get confidence building enrichment plan
♥ Bouncy animals get an impulse control enrichment plan
♥ Older/hard to adopt animals get the
“sneaky trick” enrichment plan
♥ Reactive animals get the building block
enrichment plan
♥ Young, unsocial animals get the socialization
enrichment plan
Questions?
Let’s collaborate!Enrichment Ideas Tracking SuccessesThis is the FUN stuff!
cbentley@atlantahumane.org