Enrichment for Shelter Dogs

Dogs can't say that they're bored, but they can express their boredom, stress level, and anxiety by:

• Barking
• Jumping
• Spinning
• Chewing
• Snapping
• Resource guarding
• Withdrawing

A shelter enrichment program can make a major difference in the daily life of your dogs, by relieving their boredom and stress, helping them to maintain their health, and reducing the development of inappropriate behaviors.

Use the resources below to set up an effective, inexpensive canine enrichment program for your shelter, or to discover new ideas to enhance your existing program.

Articles

Canine Enrichment Glossary
Oral, auditory, tactile-what do these terms mean?

Canine Enrichment Tips
Access our collection of ideas and suggestions that will help your enrichment program to succeed.

Canine Enrichment Programs

Enrichment on a Shoestring
Find out how a tight budget and limited staff hours were no problem for this robust canine enrichment program developed by Mackenzie's Animal Sanctuary in Michigan.

Taming Those Canine "Teens"
Learn two smart strategies for using volunteers to teach adolescent canines basic manners.

Get Fit with Fido
Showcase your shelter dogs' talents as exercise companions by recruiting volunteers to walk, run, or hike with them in this program from the Seattle Animal Shelter.

Read and Relax
Help dogs who need to learn to chill out, or who would benefit from calm human company in their kennel with this program from the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland in Westbrook, Maine.

Mighty Mouths
Provide heavy chewers with appropriate alternatives that satisfy their need to chew with this canine enrichment program.