The Essentials of Canine Care and Enrichment (Part 1)

Introduction

With pet ownership at an all-time high,¹ responsible canine care and enrichment have never been so important. Expanding information technology has made it possible to learn more about the many different dog breeds humans have bred for centuries, whether for companionship or to accomplish a specific task. It does not matter if it is a purebred dog or one looking for a new home from within an animal shelter; anyone with enough money can order a dog from all corners of the world or bring home a mystery breed within a couple of hours. Understanding the commitments and care dogs require can be an obstacle, as information from credentialed experts requires fiscal resources to unlock and the free information on the internet is unregulated and full of discrepancies and inaccuracies.

The author’s dogs

I rarely pass up an opportunity to tell the world about my dogs. For the last eight years, I have managed a multi-dog household with both permanent and foster residents to varying degrees of peace and chaos. One of the biggest obstacles in creating the most fulfilling life for my dogs and myself was a lack of understanding of canine body language, inconsistent training methods, and not having the resources to fulfill my dogs’ genetic drives. As someone who embraced radical change to create a better life for their dogs, I unearthed a passion just as strong as the one I carry for pet food and nutrition – dog training. Many dog owners, like myself, will live years with their beloved canine companions without truly understanding canine care, body language, and the enrichment that is needed to provide our fur children with the best lives possible.

Before the dog comes home

As social media makes stories of dogs struggling with anxious or dangerous behaviors more accessible than they have ever been, a new trend has emerged: responsible rehoming. Some dog-human duos were just never meant to succeed and both parties are often left heartbroken when this happens. As dogs like the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Australian Shepherd, and many herding dogs soar in popularity, the first step of being the best dog mom/dad/human is extensively researching any dog breed before they come home and for dogs with unknown heritage, being open about long term fostering.

High-energy, high-drive dogs from herding, working, or sport lines tend to struggle in homes where space or time is limited. On average, adult dogs need a minimum of two hours of dedicated time with their humans.² Puppies may sleep much of the day, but for every minute puppies are awake, they need supervision, play, socialization, and to start learning critical skills they will rely upon for the rest of their lives. At peak fitness, my own herding dogs are at their optimal mental and physical condition living on 4 acres with a herd of sheep, learning new skills, and getting multiple walks and play sessions every day. Someone in an apartment without access to sheep or with limited time per day should seriously evaluate if they can provide sufficient mental and physical enrichment to a herding dog. There are many wonderful dog breeds that are not lovingly referred to as “fetch junkies” or “workaholics”. It is a lot easier to select a good fit before the dog comes home to avoid the emotional pain that comes along with responsible rehoming or the development of undesired behaviors in unfulfilled dogs. One helpful resource for selecting a good canine companion is the AKC’s Dog Breed Selector, which can help filter desirable traits that may better match people to their new dog, found here.³ Shelters are overflowing with herding and working dog breeds with bite records or behaviors that make them undesirable to adopt. Additionally, undesired behaviors are one of the leading causes of abandonment and euthanasia of dogs under three in many countries^4,5 so taking the time to ensure the right dog breed for the household is worth it in the long run.

In addition, shelters often have many mystery pooches. It can be easier to assess the temperament and needs of an adult dog without knowing what dog breeds they come from; puppies can be an absolute mystery. Experts at animal shelters can estimate the size, temperament, activity level, and grooming needs of a growing puppy, but at the end of the day, an estimate is only a guess. Some of these unknowns can be navigated by hiring a dog trainer before adopting or purchasing a dog.

What to expect in future parts

Care and enrichment are fundamental to a happy, well-balanced fur pup. Weight maintenance, grooming, nail care, dental care, and exercise if neglected can all have serious health consequences. Enrichment is a wide topic that covers husbandry, health, as well as training, and looking for different activities and life changes that will enrich a dog’s life.

References

1. Pet Food Industry: Debbie Phillips-Donaldson, June 1 2021, New US pet ownership study confirms pandemic-led growth: https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/10325-new-us-pet-ownership-study-confirms-pandemic-led-growth.
2. American Kennel Club: Mary Keari, September 4, 2019, Alone Time for Dogs: How Much is Too Much? https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/alone-time-dogs-much-much/#:~:text=That%20said%2C%20for%20a%20general,the%20course%20of%20the%20day.
3. American Kennel Club: AKC, 2022, Find the Best Dog Breed for you! AKC Dog Breed Selectorhttps://www.akc.org/dog-breed-selector/
4. Boyd C, et al. Mortality resulting from undesirable behaviours in dogs aged under three years attending primary-care veteirinary practices in England. Animal Welfare (2018) 27:251-262. doi: 10.7120/09627286.27.3.251.
5. Yu Y, et al. Mortality resulting from undesirable behaviours in dogs aged three years and under attending primary-care veterinary practices in Australia. Animals (2021) 11:493. doi:10.3390/ani11020493.

 

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About the Author

Corrine Harris Trevino formerly served as a Manager of Technical Services in the Product Innovation Group at BSM Partners. Outside of work, she can generally be found walking, training, and playing with her dogs or wrangling her flock of sheep after a daring escape. Corrine also declares a bias for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, which she believes to be the superior of the two Corgi breeds.