04/05/2025
Enrichment is all about meeting an animal’s physical, mental, and emotional needs. While it might look different for dogs and farm animals, it’s always about improving their quality of life.
For dogs, enrichment can go beyond shuffle mats and treats:
Let them sniff during walks (decompression walks)
Teach them a new trick or cue
Give them safe items to shred (like cardboard boxes)
Use scent-based games like hide-and-seek with treats or toys
Farm animals need enrichment too!
Goats love climbing and exploring, so raised platforms or obstacle courses are great
Pigs enjoy rooting, digging, and foraging – scatter food or provide dirt pits
Chickens love pecking, dust bathing, and hunting for bugs
Cows benefit from brushing stations or access to varied textures and spaces
Enrichment doesn’t have to be fancy – just thoughtful. Think beyond food and focus on letting animals express natural behaviors.
image is of button quail chick checking out a gerome pig toy placed on the floor of the brooder.
