Page 344 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
get both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation from food enrichment. Extrinsic motivation is the reward itself and intrinsic motivation is the feelings created inside of the dog when they have completed the puzzle, a sense of accomplishment.
Examples of food enrichment activities and toys are slow feeders, putting treats inside of Kongs or even something as simple as a ration box filled with toilet roll tubes with kibble hidden inside. Feeding puzzles encourage mental stimulation, decrease overeating and makes eating an interactive activity. All animals evolved to acquire their food through activity, whether hunting, scavenging or grazing. These activities provide exercise, mental stimulation and social interaction.
Non-food enrichment overlaps with all the other elements of enrichment other than food; this is because dogs can’t swim and get a reward at the same time for example! Non-food enrichment includes activities such as tug of war, agility and fly ball. Some of these activities are not for everyone, as humans lead busy lives and the novelty of a new toy can wear off quickly especially if there is no food reward at the end. Making toys interesting to dogs can improve the dog’s enjoyment and stimulates them at the same time; this also helps form a closer bond with the handler. Overlapping non-food enrichment with a safe environment can include activities like swimming and paddling.
Natural behaviours are any activity that uses the senses; eyes, nose, ears and mouth. An example in a kennel area is the use of flower boxes outside of kennel areas, which uses sight, sound and smell. Sight of the flowers and insects; smell of the flowers and sound of insects flying around. The more dogs can perform any behaviour that encompass their senses the more enriched they will be. Allowing dogs to perform natural behaviours is one of the 5 Needs in the Animal Welfare Act (2006).
Companionship and bonding: Dogs are highly sociable animals and don’t tend to do well in isolation, so the more chances they get to spend time with the handler the better. The saying for domestic dogs that goes: “They may only be a small part of our lives, but to them we are their whole life” still rings true for working dogs. Off-leash play with other dogs also improves their skills of interactions and reduces the chances of developing reactivity and fear-based communication issues.
The introduction of enrichment activities should be done the same way as teaching a dog a new trick. Start simple and ensure the dog is successful. This builds the dog’s confidence and allows them to move onto more complex enrichment activities. The best type of
enrichment is where the activity promotes the use of the dog’s dominant senses. Enrichment activities should be given consistently throughout as this can lead to frustration. If the dogs expect something which it then does not receive. This can be mitigated when it comes to leave and changes in shift patterns using timetables. If it does get missed, bringing it in at a later point in the day is better than no enrichment activity at all.
Common questions that usually come with enrichment activities include keeping the dog motivated and stopping the dog becoming frustrated. Motivation, can be consistently achieved by keeping activities short, switching activities and watching for signs of reduction in motivation; this is when the activity should be ceased. With enrichment items such as treat dispenser balls, an eye should be kept on the dog and if it looks like it’s leading to frustration the activity should be stopped and moved onto something simpler or the dog should be rewarded when the activity is ceased.
Increasing canine enrichment activities inside and outside the kennel environment benefits MWDs in multiple different ways, both physically, psychologically and creates a good handler-dog relationship. It should be implemented wherever possible throughout a MWD’s day.61
And finally...from Chiron Calling, winter 2020: The British Army’s Defence Animal Training Regiment: One Dog’s Tale
On the western edge of the English market town of Melton Mowbray sits a unique 364 acre Ministry of Defence facility. The Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR) has existed on this site since 1903 and is part of the Royal School of Military Engineering. Their role is to provide trained and motivated military working animals, as well as personnel trained in their handling. They are also responsible for the procurement and retirement of military working animals and provide a veterinary referral and rehabilitation centre to support working and retiring animals.
When working animals are no longer able to work, through age, ill-health or injury, the DATR treats them and helps prepare them for retirement in a civilian setting. State of the art kennels provide a safe and comfortable temporary home to the working K9s while medical issues are addressed and the retraining process begins. Mock-up houses allow the introduction of these dogs to things they will meet in a civilian setting, such as tumble dryers, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners. Having never lived in a house before, their ability to adjust and function in a new setting is assessed carefully to ensure they will be able to safely make the transition.
Working dogs are a tremendous asset to the
61 ‘Canine Enrichment’ by Pte Hannah Tomlinson RAVC Chiron Calling Winter 2020.
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