Field Guide · Glossary
Occupational enrichment
EnrichmentEnrichment that gives a dog a job to do, such as searching, shredding, chewing or problem-solving.
How it works
It targets the working part of a dog rather than the resting part. Dogs bred to do a specific job carry the drive for it whether or not anyone provides the work, and a dog with no outlet for that drive will usually invent one. The job does not have to resemble the original: a scent game satisfies a good deal of what a hunting breed is looking for, and a shredding activity satisfies a good deal of what a terrier is.
What it looks like
A working-line spaniel in a flat is given ten minutes of searching for hidden food twice a day. The searching has nothing to do with birds, but it uses the same nose, the same persistence and the same appetite for a task.
Commonly confused with
- Sensory enrichment
- Sensory enrichment offers a dog something to experience, such as a new smell or texture. Occupational enrichment gives them something to do about it. A scent trail to follow is occupational; a new scent left in the room is sensory.
Related terms