Field Guide · Glossary
Social enrichment
EnrichmentTime spent with people or animals a dog actually enjoys, in amounts they can comfortably handle.
How it works
The important half of the definition is the second one. Social contact is only enriching where the dog wants it and can cope with the amount on offer, which is why a busy dog park is not social enrichment for a dog who finds other dogs difficult. For many dogs the richest version is quiet time with their own household rather than anything new, and for a dog who likes other dogs it might be one familiar friend rather than a group.
What it looks like
A dog who becomes tense around unfamiliar dogs spends forty minutes on the sofa with their own person and no visitors. For that dog, on that day, this is the version of social contact that helps.
Commonly confused with
- Socialization
- Socialization is a developmental process, largely in puppyhood, of building comfortable associations with the world. Social enrichment is an ongoing need in an adult dog for company they actually like.
Related terms