��� APPENDICES
MEETING THE WELFARE NEEDS OF SEIZED DOGS IN A KENNEL ENVIRONMENT 25
Platforms
The majority of current kennel designs are very barren and offer
little opportunity for dogs to carry out natural behaviours or
provide little choice within their environment. The addition of
a platform can help with this by increasing the environment's
complexity and available three-dimensional space. This can provide
the dog with somewhere to hide underneath or a vantage point
from which to carry out natural lookout behaviours that can be
particularly important for smaller dogs, which may not otherwise
be able to see out of the kennel without standing on their hind
legs. Platforms also offer protection from a cold or wet floor,
providing a more comfortable and warmer area to rest. Platforms
are used extensively and have shown to be beneficial within
laboratory kennels and other rescue shelters, are relatively cheap
and easy to construct.
Although staff may have concerns about the safety issues of
platforms i.e. when entering the kennel the dog could be at their
head height, this can be avoided. For example, if the platform is in
the sleeping area, staff could remove the dog from the exercise area
and vice versa. Alternatively the dog could be trained to jump off
the platform so that situations of potential conflict are avoided.
Furniture for outdoor areas
Enrichment does not just have to be confined to the kennel
environment but can also be incorporated into exercise areas
or paddocks.
Platforms, steps and ramps are beneficial in outdoor areas, providing
opportunities for exploratory as well as vigilance behaviours.
Whilst tunnels and pipes offer the same behavioural opportunities,
they are also areas in which to seek shade. Paddocks also provide
sufficient space to include boxes which, when filled with sand,
allow dogs to dig. Digging behaviour can be encouraged by hiding
treats in the sand, which also increases olfactory behaviour.
Creating areas with soil or sand and burying objects can also
provide opportunities for dogs to search and dig.
Natural furniture can also be considered such as the use of safe
and non-toxic plants, bushes and shrubs for dogs to push through
and explore as well as trees which dogs can investigate and mark.
Auditory enrichment
As described in section 1.7a, classical music can be beneficial to
welfare with dogs spending more time showing relaxed behaviour.
This is in contrast to heavy metal music where dogs spent more
time showing agitated behaviour. Human conversation and
pop music appears to have neither a beneficial or detrimental
effect. Classical music is therefore suggested but staff should be
aware that the playing of music has licensing requirements and it
shouldn't be played any louder than a normal conversation.
Olfactory enrichment
A dog's sense of smell is highly developed and is the primary
sense for dogs. Introducing different odours into the environment
and in different ways can be of value. Odours diffused into the
environment have been seen to have a significant effect on
behaviour. Lavender and camomile appear to be relaxing with
dogs spending more time resting and less time moving and
vocalising whereas rosemary and peppermint appear to result in
more movement and vocalising. Although there are commercially
available diffusers, a cheaper way of introducing lavender or
camomile is to plant it around the establishment.
Odours can also be used to increase and encourage natural
behaviour and can be great for mental stimulation. For example,
scent trails can be laid around exercise areas, treats can be hidden
that the dog has to find or, for a really cheap alternative, allow
the dog the freedom to stop and sniff when out walking and vary
the places that he/she walks.
Putting enrichment into practice
Every dog is an individual, so it is important that different methods
of enrichment are tried to identify what it is that each dog likes
and gains from.
Variety and change can also be used as part of enrichment and
can prevent dogs from losing interest in particular items. For
example, the types of toys provided to dogs can be varied on
a daily basis as can the odours presented to dogs or the places
where they might be taken to exercise and sniff.
What to do if nothing seems to work
There are many factors that affect the welfare of dogs. For
example, high noise levels, low temperatures, predictability of
routine, kennel size and individuals will vary in which factors affect
them the most depending upon their life experiences. Therefore,
enrichment should not be seen as a panacea to poor welfare.
Where staff/volunteers remain concerned about the welfare
of an individual dog they should seek the advice of a suitably
qualified behaviour expert (see Appendix III).
For further information see Rooney, N. J., Gaines, S. A., & Hiby, E. F., 2009, A practitioner's guide to working dog welfare. Journal of Veterinary Behaviour: Clinical Applications
and Research 4:127-134. Care And Respect Includes All Dogs. CARIAD. Enhancing and Enriching the Experience of Dogs.