Course Details
Enrichment is defined as: "Meeting all of an animal's needs as closely as possible to how they would be met in the wild, in order to empower them to engage in species-typical behaviors in healthy and appropriate ways."
But what exactly are typical behaviors in aging dogs? And how do we adapt to suit their changing needs? This may be especially important to consider for dogs who are nearing or entering retirement from dog sports or other more boisterous activities. How do you keep them moving, happy and engaged if one of their favorite ways to exercise or train is no longer a good option?
You've probably heard about or tried puzzle feeding, or food dispensing toys already. These are some of the most easy and popular enrichment methods to help your dog's eating become more species-appropriate, as well as providing some interesting cognitive challenges (mental stimulation) as well! But food puzzles and toys are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to enrichment. It's not ALL about food! Physical enrichment, sensory enrichment, agency- these all improve our dog's natural expression of behaviors. We can also improve our dog's quality of life with some adaptations to their environment and care- and these adaptations often improve their interest and curiosity, or willingness to engage or exercise- and so they count as enrichment too.
Join me in this presentation where we'll discuss ways you can use enrichment to stimulate each of your dog's senses, how enrichment affects your dog's feeling of safety and comfort, how it helps maintain cognitive abilities, and and even how you can use it to help maintain and improve mobility (and energy levels!) into their senior years. Energizing your elder with enrichment is easy and efficient, and will give you even more bonding opportunities with your friend throughout this stage of life.
About the Instructor:
Erin (she/her) is a lifelong dog enthusiast from Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada. Erin is certified as a Karen Pryor Academy Training Partner, a Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer, a Licenced Family Dog Mediator, and as a Cani-Fit Leader. She is also holds judging certifications in dock diving, disc, and scent work and recently became the co-founder of the National Dog Sports competition league. She breeds Labrador Retrievers with a performance focus under the Eromit kennel name and spends most of her waking hours doing dog things of some sort or another.
Erin’s journey in dog sports began as a junior handler, first in obedience and then more seriously when her family took up dog sled racing. She spent ten years as a competitive sprint racer specializing in 4 and 6 dog class with both Labrador Retriever and Alaskan Husky sled dogs. During her university years, where she studied Biology and Animal Science, Erin fostered a variety of breeds and mixes through her local shelter- also working as an adoption councillor and animal attendant for 6 years. It was around that time that a friend introduced her to the sport of agility and that sparked a whole new interest! Since then, Erin has had success training multiple dogs to championships in agility and dock diving and high scores in other sports.
In recent years, Erin has developed a passion for senior dogs and their changing physical and emotional needs. With an aging population of dogs in her family, she has had the opportunity to discover interesting ways to keep them strong and engaged long after retiring from dog sport competition.
Erin shares her home with her equally dog-loving husband Tim, a dozen or so wild and wonderful labradors ranging in age from a few months old to 14 years, and their newest addition: Leroy the beagle. Their family also includes 2 cats, pigeons, and some mixed breed clicker-trained sheep.
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