Just like humans, dogs have five basic senses. Ignore them sensory needs can lead to stress and undesirable behaviors.
Let’s break this down:
- Who doesn’t love pizza? Great. But if you eat it every day, it will really go bad.
- Staring at the computer all day gets boring after a few hours. You don’t just want to see something different, your body needs you to see something different.
- A five-hour plane ride with a screaming child is never fun and the radio gets really tiresome when they play the same song over and over again.
- Inhaling clean smells all day is really not a good idea and if you think about it, smelling the same flower all day can be overwhelming.
- Now a massage sounds like heaven right?
Now that you have an idea, stop anthropomorphizing and get real-world methods for get rich for dogs:
Sound
Sound is a dog’s most highly developed sense. A dog may become agitated and anxious when hearing other dogs bark.
Keep shelter dogs quiet with Click to Silence A game where you reward quiet dogs with a “YES!” positive (or clicker) and a dish. Don’t pay attention to the dog barking. This is a great project for volunteers.
Soft or calming music also helps quiet dogs. Try listening to classical music, audiobooks, or music specifically made for dogs.
Odor
is how dogs greet the world. Not only do shelters smell like other animals, but they are often filled with chemical odors.
Create fun things for dogs to do with their noses. Do a “find it” puzzle by hiding junk food in a blanket, towel, or rag. Hide food in the fenced yard for a fun time outdoors. Don’t forget to cheer them on when they realize the reward.
Use interactive toys or make your own. Drill a few holes in the elbow of the PVC pipe (big enough for the toy to get through), then let the dog play with the toy so the toy falls out.
Another great tip is to fill a spray bottle with water and 10-20 drops of essential oils, such as lavender, vanilla, or almond. Spray a fine mist on their bed, blanket or crib wall. Cycle the scents to keep the dogs engaged.
Vision
Observation can be quite challenging because no matter how long the dog stays in your shelter, the environment will never become natural. Some dogs are stressed by dogs or people simply walking past their kennel.
For dogs that react, place bars on the front or sides of their kennel. It could be anything like poster boards, bed sheets, shower curtains, etc. Ask people to throw things when they walk past the dog. This will help him associate traffic with positive things.
It is important that the dog change the scene frequently. Let them walk around the parking lot, spend an afternoon at the front desk or in someone’s office, or ask them out. Changing the kennel they spend time in is also effective for some dogs.
Taste
is closely associated with smell. This can cause some dogs to ignore food due to strange odors in the shelter environment. Poor health can also affect a dog’s sense of smell, causing them to skip meals.
Try adding broth, like chicken or beef, to food or serve alone. Soak a rag or toy scissors in the broth. Frozen and given out as a special gift. (These are especially good for teething puppies!)
For dogs that inhale their food, try feeding from Kongs, baby bottles, baby bottles, PVC pipes, and other feeding puzzles. They add a stimulating factor and help slow down the eating process.
Touch
Touching is important because dogs in shelters often don’t have enough contact with people. We rush to exercise and feed them and forget to sit and touch them. Patting and massaging your dog, especially in a quiet space, promotes a better mental and emotional state.
Enlist volunteers as your dog’s “quiet time” companion. Let them sit in the dog’s kennel for more than 10 minutes to pet and massage them. They can bring a book and read it to them! Massage not only brings comfort, but also teaches dogs how to stay calm when people are around.
We know enrich It can be intimidating for some shelter workers, but once you’ve made the leap you’ll realize it’s that simple. Plus, it makes a lot of smiling dogs, and nothing better than that.
