Olfactory stimulus as environmental enrichment for shelter dogs: a pilot study

Abstract

Environmental enrichment techniques include olfactory stimuli for improving animal welfare. This study aimed to analyze the reactions of 41 shelter dogs exposed to odorous stimuli, such as the method used in another study on wild canids. The focal animal method analyzed the dogs’ reactions, with all behaviors recorded. Behavioral responses were classified as positive (P+), negative (N-), or other (Ot). Independent variables were all dogs and the size of the packs. The behavior between the basal (without stimulus), exposure, and after-stimulus withdrawal was analyzed. For all dogs, olfactory stimuli significantly increased P+ (P=0.001) and N- (P=0.004), contrasting with the decrement of Ot behaviors (P=0.001) from the basal to the exposure phase. After the withdrawal of the stimuli, P+, N-, and Ot behaviors returned to basal levels (P>0.05). There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the conduct of small or large packs exposed to stimuli. Dogs are sensitive to olfactory stimuli, but arousal is generalized to P+ and N-. It is undesirable to an N- increase for improvement of animal welfare. Contrary to what was observed in a study with wild canids, the method failed in shelter dogs because N- was increased. The introduction of sudden novelty (olfactory stimulus) in an impoverished shelter environment may have caused excitement in the dogs. It is suggested that changes in the method, such as stimuli exposition to each dog in an isolated room, are necessary to increase sheltered dog well-being.

Global Overview of Environmental Enrichment Studies: What Has Been Done and Future Directions

“…In this way, the animals are stimulated to forage and work to get their food, allowing them to exhibit behaviours that are closer to natural, which improves their well-being [ 6 , 63 , 64 , 65 ]. Sensory enrichment, especially sound and olfactory enrichment, is more commonly used in shelter environments, probably due to the ease with which it can be provided, the great olfactory and auditory capacity of dogs and cats, as well as the characteristics of enclosures, which are usually small, with a high turnover of animals and a high need for cleaning [ 66 , 67 , 68 ].…”