02/10/2025
Agency… something we all aspire to.
Our dogs should always be afforded it too.
I often wonder when I see people walking with dogs how much choice, agency and control that dog has in their own life.
Choice, control, and animal welfare: definitions and essential inquiries to advance animal welfare science (study) reveals that giving your dog choices is essential for their mental health.
Scientists found that when animals (including dogs) have the ability to make choices, their overall wellbeing improves, even beyond their physical health.
The four areas of choice and control
Choice - Can I make a choice between treat A and Treat B?
Control - Can I elicit something in my environment, for example connection or an opening of the door to the garden.
Challenge - can I figure things out and feel like I have achieved something, for example problem solving or scentwork.
Agency - Can I have a quality of life that empowers me where I get a say in what I do, for example proper sniffing on walks and choosing directions.
Choice is how dogs get control, and when they have both choice and challenge, they experience agency, the feeling of being an active participant in their own life, not just along for the ride.
This month in my guardian community we are exploring nosework as a way to soothe the dog's nervous system - link in bio.
