Enrichment For Companion Animals

Question 1

What is stereotypic behaviour?

Answer 1

• patterns of behaviour that appear to be obsessively repeated without an apparent goal
• they are damaging and serve no function, however the stereotypy may actually help the animal to cope with their environment

Question 2

What are 5 characteristics of stereotypic behaviour?

Answer 2

• frequency, intensity or contact of behaviour is different from the norm
• the persistent, repetition of an act, carried out by an act that serves no specific purpose
• obsessive compulsive disorder brought about by stress
• starts as a response to stress, but persists and becomes routine even when the source of stress is removed
• once a stereotypic behaviour becomes part of the repertoire it is likely to persist

Question 3

What are the 2 types of abnormal repetitive behaviours?

Answer 3

• repeated goal-orientated behaviours
  (compulsive or impulsive)
• repeated motor function (stereotypic)

Question 4

Why do abnormal repetitive behaviours occur?

Answer 4

• behaviour alleviates physiological stress response and consequently the animal can cope with heightened levels of arousal
• commonly observed in human-controlled environments (zoo, farm, circus, research labs)

Question 5

Abnormal repetitive behaviours in dogs?

Answer 5

• circling
• tail chasing
• paw lifting
• persistent licking
• self injury

Question 6

Abnormal repetitive behaviours in cats?

Answer 6

• pacing
• over grooming
• wool-sucking

Question 7

Abnormal repetitive behaviours in horses?

Answer 7

• crib biting
• wind sucking
• self-mutilation
• weaving
• head tossing

Question 8

Abnormal repetitive behaviours in rabbits?

Answer 8

• over grooming
• repeated circling enclosure
• repetitive gnawing bars

Question 9

What are fixed action patterns?

Answer 9

• behaviours which are naturally repetitive an observed in wild animals
• these rituals;optic behaviours do serve a function and have survival benefits that improve the fitness of the animal

Question 10

What is environmental enrichment?

Answer 10

• modifications that act to enhance the level of physical and social stimulation provided by the captive environment
• also referred to as behavioural enrichment

Question 11

What are the 8 purposes of environmental enrichment?

Answer 11

• improves quality of life
• promotes natural behaviours
• promotes species-specific behaviours
• promotes positive responses to stressors
• enhances physical and physiological stimulation
• promotes cognitive behaviours
• enhances social interactions and exploration
• reduces stress, fear and aggression

Question 12

What are the implications of enrichment on welfare?

Answer 12

• can reduce stress-related repetitive behaviour
• provides an anti-anxiety and therapeutic affect against stressors
• can prevent unwanted behaviours by occupying their time

Question 13

What information does early research provide about enrichment?

Answer 13

• the biggest difference between the wild and captive environment is the amount of time animals spend active
• feeding, foraging, exploring

Question 14

What are enriched environments?

Answer 14

• composed of increased space and equipped with various objects that stimulate motor function by providing exercise, climbing activities and species-specific activities
• the location and type of objects are changed regularly to maintain the level of complexity

Question 15

What are the 5 approaches of providing enrichment?

Answer 15

• social
• occupational
• physical
• sensory
• nutritional

Question 16

What is the social approach to providing enrichment?

Answer 16

• involves keeping a pet with other animals
• may be conspecifics or other species
• encourages social behaviours and companionship

Question 17

What is the occupational approach to providing enrichment?

Answer 17

• devised to promote physical exercise or cognitive stimulation through work, such as puzzle feeders or agility

Question 18

What is the physical approach to providing enrichment?

Answer 18

• any aspect of the physical environment designed to influence behaviour
• makes use of unusual or unnatural items that stimulate natural behaviours

Question 19

What is the sensory approach to providing enrichment?

Answer 19

• designed to stimulate any of the animals senses

Question 20

What is the nutritional approach to providing enrichment?

Answer 20

• designed to mimic foraging or feeding behaviours
• the delivery of the food

Question 21

Methods of enrichment for dogs?

Answer 21

• puzzles toys are physically and mentally stimulating, and increase their ability to learn
• walking/running is mentally stimulating and provides a bonding experience and allows for basic obedience
• training reinforces basic commands, creates bond
• agility good form of exercise for anxious or high energy dogs
• flyball good form of exercise for anxious or high energy dogs

Question 22

Methods of enrichment for cats?

Answer 22

• hiding places, scratching posts, litter boxes and toys
• puzzle feeders and training exercises
• scents eg. Catnip

Question 23

Methods of enrichment for rabbits?

Answer 23

• bonded in pairs or trios for social living
• outdoor grass areas for exercise and feeding
• platforms, hay racks, chew toys, tunnels, puzzle feeders, hiding places
• sand pits for digging
• training and agility

Question 24

Methods of enrichment for horses?

Answer 24

• loose hay, hay boxes, slow feeders, puzzle feeders
• toys such as play/treat balls
• physical and visual contact with other horses
• clicker or target training
• scratching mats or broom heads to a strong post

Question 25

What are the 5 basic commands?

Answer 25

• sit
• down
• stand
• stay
• come

Question 26

How to train a dog to sit?

Answer 26

• hold treat above dogs nose
• when dog sits reward with treat and praise
• if dog doesn’t sit quickly the treat can be bought closer to the nose and the raised up slowly to lure their head further up so that hindquarters fall backwards

Question 27

How to train a dog to lie-down?

Answer 27

• kneel on the floor with dog sitting in front
• hold the treat in front of their nose and lower it to floor level
• the dog should follow the lure to the ground
• it is important not to let go of the treat until the dog is lying down fully on the ground

Question 28

How to train a dog to stand?

Answer 28

• taught from sit or down position
• stand in front of dog
• move treat away from dogs head at eye level
• take a step back
• automatically draws the dogs head forward and should stand

Question 29

How to train a dog to stay?

Answer 29

• with the dog in down position take a step away from the dog while holding your palm up and saying stay
• immediately return to the dog and reward
• gradually take more and more paces away from the dog

Question 30

How to train a dog to come?

Answer 30

• wait until the dog is looking at you from a a short distance away
• move away from the dog to encourage them to move towards you
• drop your hand low to the ground with the treat
• say come and the dogs name when the dog actually starts to move towards you
• the dogs response is reinforced by the food reward when the dog reaches you