Environmental Enrichment is the new “buzz word” in the companion animal field.   Zoos and aquariums have been using environmental enrichment methods for over 30 years to enhance the quality of life of the animals in their care.   It is only recently making the commute to the pet animal industry.   Environmental Enrichment is any artificial or natural item that stimulates, enhances and improves the welfare and quality of life for any animal – companion, farm, laboratory or zoo.  Researchers such as David Shepherdson (conservation curator at our own Oregon Zoo), Hal Markowitz and Jill Mellen have spent decades studying environmental enrichment and have proven it is essential to the health and wellbeing of all animals domestic and exotic.

Cinthia Alia Mitchell, owner of Doggone Fun! Doggy Daycare Center in Tualatin and Nicole Nicassio-Hiskey, Senior Keeper of Marine Life at the Oregon Zoo, have co-authored a new book called, Beyond Squeaky Toys: Innovative ideas for eliminating problem behaviors and enriching the lives of dogs and cats.  It is the first book of its kind that looks at the importance of environmental enrichment in caring for and training pet dogs and cats. Cinthia and Nicole are pioneers in the field of environmental enrichment and have over 50 years of combined practical, hands on experience training, enriching and caring for both exotic and domestic animals.

Their book Beyond Squeaky Toys is for the pet owner who wants to live in harmony with their pet and is in search for options that do not take a lot of skill, time, money or in-depth understanding of advanced science and techniques. Best of all, the ideas in their book can instantly be implemented and produce immediate, positive behavior changes in pets.  Boredom is one of the most common contributors to problem behaviors in dogs and cats.  A dog that is bored, may become destructive, bark incessantly or dig up the back yard.  A cat that is bored my scratch and bite, claw on furniture and urinate in the house.  As humans we find these behaviors to be inappropriate and annoying, but for dogs and cats they may be traits of their natural breed-specific behaviors.  Our pets are members of our families but we also must respect the fact that they have unique qualities and behaviors that are different from their human companions.  Providing pets with the appropriate outlets to display their natural bread-specific behaviors is the best way to eliminate what many pet owners consider to be “problem behaviors”.

In Beyond Squeaky Toys Cinthia and Nicole explain how enrichment offers exercise, mental and physical stimulation, learning opportunities, entertainment, fun, and bonding time for pets and their owners. They assure pet owners that many of their pet’s behaviors are natural, and help is out there that is easy, takes no skill, no weekly class commitment, is inexpensive and most importantly WORKS!  Beyond Squeaky Toys is filled with real life scenarios, basic concepts, over 100 unique and innovative enrichment options and the tools to develop and implement an environmental enrichment program immediately.   Many of the enrichment items in the book can be made right in your own home with things you use on a daily basis: such as empty water bottles or juice jugs filled with kibble; a hollow bone packed with wet food and put in the freezer; or a sock with a tennis ball tied inside.  These items can provide hours of entertainment, are inexpensive and can reduce or eliminate the onset of problem behaviors.

If you would like to learn more about environmental enrichment or would like to set up an enrichment program for your pet, Cinthia and Nicole’s new book, Beyond Squeaky Toys: Innovative ideas for eliminating problem behaviors and enriching the lives of dogs and cats is available at Doggone Fun! Doggy Daycare Center in Tualatin, Createspace.com, Dogwise.com, clickertraining.com and Amazon.com. You can also visit their website at www.beyondsqueakytoys.com

Cinthia Alia Mitchell (owner of Doggone Fun! Doggy Daycare Center) and Nicole Nicassio-Hiskey (Senior Keeper at the Oregon Zoo) have co-authored a great book about environmental enrichment for dogs and cats.  It is available as an e-book on Amazon.com.  Check it out.  It has great information and inexpensive ideas for enrichment.