Veronica Amaya and colleagues (2020) tested the effects of olfactory and auditory enrichment on 60 shelter dogs in a study published in Animals. Shelter environments often elevate canine stress, which manifests in excessive vocalization, panting, and restlessness, reducing both welfare and adoption prospects.
Dogs were divided into four groups: exposure to lavender, dog appeasing pheromone (DAP), music, or a control with no enrichment. Stimuli were applied for three hours daily across five consecutive days. Dogs exposed to music and pheromones spent more time lying down in restful postures, while those in the control group displayed higher arousal, including standing at doors, panting, and persistent barking.
Notably, the calming effects persisted beyond the treatment sessions, with reduced stress behaviors observed even into the following night. The findings suggest that small, low-cost interventions can improve the welfare of dogs in stressful shelter environments by promoting relaxation and emotional stability.
The authors highlight the practical significance: sensory enrichment is non-invasive, easy to apply, and effective, offering shelters a valuable tool to reduce stress and improve dogs’ quality of life while awaiting adoption.
Source: Amaya, V., Paterson, M. B. A., & Phillips, C. (2020). Effects of Olfactory and Auditory Enrichment on the Behaviour of Shelter Dogs. Journal: Animals, Volume 10. Publication Date: 2020-03-30. Authors: Veronica Amaya, M. B. A. Paterson, Clive J. C. Phillips.
