What if the important thing to stopping behavioral issues and nurturing a relaxed, joyful canine wasn’t about extra train or limitless toys—however about understanding their pure instincts and feelings?
On this inspiring dialog, I sit down with world-renowned canine coach and educator Susan Garrett to discover the science and coronary heart behind canine enrichment. Susan, a multiple-time agility world champion and founding father of DogsThat.com, has spent a long time serving to individuals construct extraordinary relationships with their canine by means of kindness, readability, and game-based coaching.
We uncover why true enrichment is a lot greater than maintaining your canine “busy”—and the way it can rework your canine’s wellbeing and the bond you could have.
Happier, More healthy Canines – with Susan Garrett
Early Influences
Dr. Peter Dobias:
Susan, I’m so glad we lastly get to talk. I’ve admired your work for years. Earlier than we dive into canine coaching, might you share how you bought began—not simply as a coach, however as an individual? Who’re you behind all of the accolades and championships?
Susan Garrett:
Thanks, Peter! It’s nice to lastly join; we use so a lot of your merchandise on all of our canine right here! That is an attention-grabbing query that I’ve by no means been requested earlier than. And I feel they each have influenced one another tremendously. I imagine anybody who owns a canine is, in a roundabout way, a canine coach, and our canine affect us as a lot as we affect them. Science now confirms what I at all times sensed: dwelling with canine really shapes our neural pathways.
I grew up in a giant household—seven brothers and two sisters. My brothers had an enormous affect on me, and I used to be a tomboy, at all times into sports activities. I used to be impressed by individuals like John Picket, Lou Holtz, and Zig Ziglar. Positivity was a giant theme in my life. I bear in mind listening to Norman Vincent Peale’s The Energy of Constructive Considering on repeat for months!
My sister, who was seven years older, confirmed canine in conformation. That’s once I fell in love with the world of canine. By my teenagers, I used to be serving to her, and once I wasn’t, I’d watch the obedience ring in awe. Again then, within the seventies, coaching was full of kindness. It appeared magical and out of attain, but it surely planted a seed.
I went on to review animal habits on the College of Guelph. I grew to become fascinated with how habits is influenced, not simply in canine however in all animals. I labored with horses and, imagine it or not, cows have been my past love. Milking cows at 5 a.m. taught me a robust work ethic and deepened my love for animals—not simply canine.
The Philosophy of Canine Coaching
Dr. Peter Dobias:
If you happen to might distill your coaching philosophy into one sentence, what wouldn’t it be?
Susan Garrett:
“Our canine are doing the perfect they’ll with the training we’ve given them within the atmosphere we’ve put them in.” And that’s an affect of the late by Dr. Wayne Dyer, who used to say that about individuals. One thing very related. All people you meet is doing the perfect they’ll.
The Science of Animal Conduct
Dr. Peter Dobias:
How has your understanding of animal science and habits developed over time?
Susan Garrett:
We’re each scientists, and we each perceive that science is a glimpse of fact as we speak. It isn’t fact endlessly. It’s an accumulation of what we all know. And so, I take a look at what we all know on this planet of reinforcement-based canine coaching—or force-free canine coaching, or no matter label you need to name it—and it’s so far more than what we knew 25 years in the past, once I watched canine within the seventies.
Again then, canine weren’t skilled with meals or toys. They have been skilled with the concept the absence of punishment—if you happen to did issues appropriately—was the reinforcement you bought. That was my upbringing within the 60s.
I don’t suppose it’s a coincidence that, even in as we speak’s world, there’s nonetheless an enormous side—I’d say most likely the bulk—of canine trainers, and undoubtedly the vast majority of the favored social media canine trainers, who imagine in opposition to me. They imagine that reinforcement has an enormous position in canine coaching, however canine must “comprehend it, rattling it.”
Whereas I actually imagine that canine are doing the perfect they’ll with the training they’ve been given. And if you happen to imagine canine are testing you or testing boundaries, then when a canine does one thing that you just suppose you’ve taught they usually “ought to know higher,” instantly you may’t assist however really feel wronged. Ego steps in, and also you would possibly grit your tooth while you’re coaching.
Now, it’d escalate from there. Some individuals would possibly begin screaming or throwing issues or harshly correcting their canine. However even for essentially the most excellent human being who trains this manner, there’s nonetheless going to be a second of, “You’re doing that to me.” What sort of neurochemicals are being dumped into our system in that second? How does that cortisol have an effect on us?
The Human-Canine Connection
Susan Garrett:
There was an important research accomplished on the College of Naples, I imagine in Italy. I really went to go to the lab and talked to the scientist who did this research, as a result of I used to be so fascinated by it. Giovanni—I can’t bear in mind his final title—had a lab the place they collected sweat samples from individuals.
In a single group, they confirmed individuals a extremely scary Stephen King film so the individuals watching have been terrified, after which they collected sweat samples. Within the different group, that they had individuals watch a humorous, heartwarming Disney film and picked up these sweat samples too.
What they did then was arrange an experiment. A stranger sat in a small cubicle studying a newspaper, and canine house owners from the neighborhood have been invited to take part. The house owners would stroll their canine into the cubicle, sit on a little bit chair, and let the canine settle. Then, the researchers introduced in a field containing both pattern A or pattern B—the sweat from the Stephen King group or the Disney group.
It was outstanding—over 90% of the time, the canine reacted to the emotional scent. If the field contained the “Disney odor,” the canine softened. They wiggled their means over to the stranger and approached with free, pleasant physique language and wagging tails. But when the field had the “Stephen King odor,” about 90% of the canine grew to become suspicious. They may growl, retreat, and even disguise behind their proprietor’s legs.
To me, this was proof: our feelings are instantly taking place the leash—and even simply into the room—and affecting our canine.
The Vito Recreation
Dr. Peter Dobias:
Are you able to share a narrative the place a canine shocked you—when he discovered one thing sudden or taught you one thing you didn’t anticipate?
Susan Garrett:
It occurs every day—canine shock me on a regular basis. Particularly with puppies, I’m at all times searching for these mild bulb moments the place they suppose, “Ah, I get it. We are able to work collectively now.” I would like them to have autonomy, to make decisions. My job is to create an atmosphere the place they need to select what I would like—after which I reinforce that alternative.
One in all my favourite examples is the Vito recreation, which I discovered from a pupil in Italy. You sit with two targets (like paper plates) on both aspect and drop a deal with on whichever plate the pet strikes towards. Quickly, they’re going forwards and backwards between the plates.
Then you definately add a cone within the center. At first, it touches you, so the pet has to go round it. Progressively, you progress the cone out to create a spot. When the pet tries to chop by means of, you give no deal with. Finally, they determine it out: “I solely get cookies once I go across the cone.” That’s the second they turn out to be downside solvers—they usually like it.
What’s Canine Enrichment?
Dr. Peter Dobias:
What does enrichment actually imply for canine?
Susan Garrett:
Enrichment feeds into the pure drives and feelings of the canine. There’s enrichment with socializing, there’s enrichment with engagement, there’s enrichment for health and for conditioning.
Good enrichment creates what we name a optimistic CER, a optimistic conditioned emotional response, which is what the canine feels when they’re engaged in an enrichment exercise. It has a stage of problem. For instance, if I simply give my canine a bone each day and it is the identical bone each day it won’t be very enriching. Which brings me to a different level about enrichment – there must be selection.
Feeding into Pure Drives
Dr. Peter Dobias:
Pax likes to chase once I transfer issues rapidly! And once I let him get one thing, whether or not it is a toy or perhaps a leash that we’ve tied in a knot, he likes to shake it.
Susan Garrett:
That’s the cycle. It is stalk, chase, chew. The shaking is the kill. You are giving nice demonstrations of that!
Dr. Peter Dobias:
How do individuals find out about what their canine’ preferences are and safely faucet into them?
Susan Garrett:
Let’s say we’ve a canine who likes to chase squirrels. That drive comes from what’s referred to as the canine predatory motor sequence—a hardwired program canine have carried for a whole bunch of years. It begins with a sight, sound, or odor that triggers alertness, then strikes to finding, stalking, chasing, biting to seize, biting to kill, eviscerating, and eventually consuming.
In home canine, breeding has exaggerated or diluted elements of this sequence. For instance, Border Collies usually stalk, whereas Jack Russells are pure hunters – usually used for ratting.
As a coach, I take note of which a part of the sequence stands out in every pet. Some love squeaky toys—this displays the bite-grab intuition. Others need to rip them open, exhibiting a drive for evisceration. Many canine love to make use of their noses; for them, hide-and-seek video games that contain scenting and finding meals or toys are deeply satisfying.
I by no means let puppies destroy stuffed animals, as that may result in harmful habits and even surgical procedures from impactions. As a substitute, I redirect these instincts with protected options like pet bombs—bathroom paper rolls folded and full of treats that they’ll safely shred.
By understanding your canine’s pure drives you may create enrichment actions that fulfill their deepest wants in a wholesome, protected means.
What Enrichment Is (and Isn’t)
Enrichment is about feeding into your canine’s pure drives and feelings in a protected, wholesome means. It helps them use their power constructively and prevents frustration or boredom.
What Enrichment IS:
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Actions that match your canine’s pure drive.
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Conceal-and-seek.
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Digging.
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Meals puzzles.
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Flirt poles.
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Scent video games.
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Rotating toys to make them really feel new, distinctive and enjoyable once more.
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What Enrichment IS NOT:
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Something that’s harmful to canine, or irritating (ex. if they’ll by no means “catch” the prey this could create extra nervousness).
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Chasing laser pointers.
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Repetitive ball throwing.
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Passive leisure (TV or radio).
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Overwhelming environments (like canine parks or unstructured daycare).
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A few of Susan’s Favourite Enrichment Concepts
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Snuffle mats and scent video games.
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Cardboard rolls filled with treats (“pet bombs”).
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Flirt poles for canine that like to chase.
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Meals puzzles — beneath supervision just for security.
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Susan Garrett:
Keep in mind, enrichment isn’t about maintaining your canine busy. It’s about fulfilling their wants and giving them company.
Widespread Enrichment Errors
Dr. Peter Dobias:
What are some frequent errors individuals make with enrichment?
Susan Garrett:
An enormous one is pondering enrichment is nearly maintaining the canine busy. Enrichment ought to serve the canine’s bodily, emotional, psychological, and social wants—and ideally, it engages them with you.
Take a easy recreation of hide-and-seek: you ask your canine to sit down, go disguise in one other room, after which name them. That’s enriching and partaking as a result of it strengthens your bond.
Dr. Peter Dobias:
I’ve seen well-meaning house owners spend hours throwing the ball each day, pondering they’re fixing an issue. How do you right this sort of habits?
Susan Garrett:
Some individuals have heard that in the event that they train their canine extra, they gained’t be damaging or they will not bark as a lot. When in actuality, they may turn out to be much more match and have much more power to be damaging.
One of many best items we may give canine is instructing them how you can settle. My present Border Collie pet is without doubt one of the highest-drive canine I’ve ever had, but he’s been curled up asleep this complete time we’ve been speaking. That’s as a result of we’ve constructed relaxation into his coaching from day one.
OCD vs Enrichment
Dr. Peter Dobias:
How do you acknowledge the distinction between OCD and enrichment?
Susan Garrett:
Any habits that the canine begins to obsess about, they simply need it – it must be placed on cue. You get to do it once I invite you to, and also you ignore it at some other time. That is a part of a game-based coaching that that is. And I’d say with most enrichment actions, there is a queue that goes on earlier than them. Actually not all, however undoubtedly most of them.
Can Canine Endure From Despair?
Dr. Peter Dobias:
As a vet and a canine lover, I really feel that canine can get depressed. What’s your tackle this?
Susan Garrett:
I imagine canine completely grieve when one other canine in the home passes—relying on the connection, it may be an actual problem for them to beat. When it’s time for considered one of my canine to be euthanized, I invite all my different canine in, one after the other, to allow them to see that their companion has handed. That closure appears to assist.
Dr. Peter Dobias:
I’ve additionally seen canine change dramatically after being neutered or spayed. My very own canine, an authorized service canine, was neutered at two years previous, and he fully modified—he appeared older, slower, and even began limping for no clear motive. However once we tried hormone alternative remedy (HRT), I obtained my canine again. I’ve seen the identical unbelievable leads to different canine too, together with a ten-year-old Pit Bull who was as soon as torpid and bored with walks however grew to become energetic and completely happy once more after beginning HRT.
Susan Garrett:
I’m so inquisitive about that! I don’t spay or neuter my canine until completely vital, however at some age there’s a concern.
Dr. Peter Dobias:
Sure, there’s a 25% likelihood of pyometra in females. Nevertheless, we frequently counsel eradicating simply the uterus whereas leaving the ovaries intact to protect their pure hormonal steadiness and eradicating this danger. And for males, vasectomies are an choice to forestall undesirable litters with out eradicating hormones.
Learn more about hormone replacement therapy and HRT here
Key Takeaway: Enrichment and Coaching Go Hand in Hand
Susan Garrett:
I need to go away individuals with this takeaway: enrichment doesn’t take the place of coaching. That’s the underside line. Enrichment can completely assist your coaching, but it surely’s strongest when it’s accomplished with engagement.
Enrichment ought to serve many functions—it ought to meet your canine’s bodily, emotional, psychological, and social wants. And while you use enrichment as a part of your coaching, that’s when all of it comes collectively.
The excellent news? You don’t need to spend some huge cash. You can begin with easy issues like bathroom paper rolls and get artistic from there.
Dr. Peter Dobias:
The world is healthier due to canine, but it surely’s additionally higher due to individuals such as you—individuals who really love what they do. You make life a lot simpler for canine lovers, and also you assist us let go of the guilt that we’re not doing sufficient, whereas instructing us how you can perceive our canine higher.
So, the place can individuals discover you? The place can they watch your movies, take your programs, and discover ways to turn out to be the easiest canine lovers they are often?
Susan Garrett:
Thanks for that, Peter—that was stunning.
First, I need to give your listeners a free useful resource. Our web site is dogsthat.com/peter, you’ll find access to the ItsYerChoice game I mentioned earlier, completely free.
Our YouTube channel also has over 400 dog training tutorials. If you want to learn how to lead with kindness in all your interactions with your dog, it’s a great place to start. The channel is really well organized, with playlists for everything from new puppies to reactive or fearful dogs. And it’s all completely free.
We’ve also been offering online classes since 2009—well before it became popular—and hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in our free online classrooms. I never want money to be a barrier for someone to learn how to treat their dog with kindness.
FAQs
Q: What’s one simple enrichment activity I can try today?
A: Place treats in a folded toilet paper roll and let your dog safely shred it to find the rewards.
Q: Is it safe to leave my dog with food puzzles unsupervised?
A: Only if they’re made of durable, non-toxic material. Always supervise puppies.
Q: Why should I rotate my dog’s toys?
A: Rotating toys keeps them novel and exciting, which better engages your dog.
