3. BEHAVIOUR
Making sure dogs behave normally
12 MEETING THE WELFARE NEEDS OF SEIZED DOGS IN A KENNEL ENVIRONMENT
��� THE FIVE WELFARE NEEDS
3.2 Toy and food enrichment
a) Dogs show a natural drive to chew and must be provided
with safe, suitable toys, bones or other items as an outlet
for this behaviour, appropriate for the individual dog.
b) Safe, durable, chewable, food-flavoured or food-filled
toys should be provided to each dog every day
e.g. Kong toys - (see section 2.2g for an example of how
to use them).
c) Devices should be presented in such a way as to maintain
interest and activity in the dogs. This can be achieved,
for example, by changing toy types to increase novelty.
d) Not all dogs will be motivated by the same type of
enrichment, so it is important to try different types and
provide a range of options to ensure all dogs benefit.
e) Toys must be checked daily to ensure they are safe and
must be replaced when necessary.
f) Toys must be disinfected before being given to
another dog.
ENRICHMENT
Enrichment generally leads people to think about the
provision of toys and feeding devices but there are
additional methods of enrichment that can be used
in a kennelled environment. See Appendix II for
more information.
Angela Hampton & Philip Toscano/RSPCA Photolibrary
3.1 Exercise
SOCIAL CONTACT WITH
OTHER DOGS
As social animals, dogs have a great desire for contact
with humans and other dogs so off-lead exercise with
other dogs can provide great benefits. It is recognised
that there will be some dogs that do not interact
well with other dogs. It is therefore important that
dogs are introduced to one another with care and
that trained and competent staff find combinations
of dogs that interact amicably, where it is appropriate
for the individual dog and individual circumstances
to do so.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISE
Exercise is important, not just for physical fitness but
to alleviate boredom - it provides opportunities for
behaviours which dogs are strongly motivated to
perform, for example, exploration, investigation and
contact with humans and other dogs. Recent studies
of kennelled working dogs showed that dogs exercised
less often tended to rest less, exhibit more repetitive
or stereotypical behaviours, bark and visit a veterinary
surgery more frequently.
a) Dogs must be provided with the opportunity to exercise
away from their kennel at least once a day and this should be
for a total of at least 30 minutes - unless veterinary advice
suggests otherwise.
b) In addition, where possible, daily opportunities for exercise
should be provided with staff and other dogs as long as
it is safe to do so (see section 1.8b also). The provision of
safe and suitable enrichment items, such as tunnels, steps,
ramps and toys should be considered for use in the off-lead
exercise areas. See Appendix II.
c) Additional opportunities, besides those during exercise,
should be provided for toileting (see section 5.3e). This
is particularly important for those dogs that won't urinate
or defecate in their kennel area.
d) The provision of exercise should follow a consistent daily
pattern so that it is predictable to the dogs (see also section 5.3b).
For more detailed information on the exercising of nursing bitches
and puppies, see Appendix I.