Dr Roger MugfordThe Bear Necessities of Life

Affordable Environmental Enrichment and Behavioural Husbandry in Dogs

ETHOLOGY OF THE ANCESTRAL DOG

• Highly social, co-operative hunter

• Matriarch – dependant offspring• Batchelor groups of surplus males

• Pack-size highly variable: depends upon geography and food source• Territorial: exclusive of other unrelated wolves

• Culture: cross generational learning

• Pack dynamics determined by social hierarchies or individual friendships

ETHOLOGY OF ASIATIC BLACK BEARS/MOON BEARS (Ursus Thibetanus)

• Matriarch-based family groups in captivityMatriarch-based family groups in captivity• Omnivorous diet: termites, beetle larvae, honey, Omnivorous diet: termites, beetle larvae, honey,

fruits, carrion, grassesfruits, carrion, grasses• Typically inhabit forestsTypically inhabit forests• Males 140-200Kg, females 60-130KgMales 140-200Kg, females 60-130Kg• CrepuscularCrepuscular• Live for 25-30 years in wild, 35 years in captivityLive for 25-30 years in wild, 35 years in captivity• Good climbers – will climb trees to eat,rest, Good climbers – will climb trees to eat,rest,

hibernate and elude enemieshibernate and elude enemies• Hibernate or migrateHibernate or migrate• Territories est. 6-13 KmTerritories est. 6-13 Km

“FARM ANIMALS BENEFIT FROM ORDERLY HUSBANDRY”

WOLVES GOT LUCKY WHEN THEY DISCOVERED MAN

THE IDEAL LIFE: FREE CHOICE IN A NATURAL WORLD

And boredom is the enemy of adaptive behaviour

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLEXITY IS GOOD FOR BRAIN FUNCTION

IF THIS IS RESCUE, BETTER BE DEAD!

HOME ON A CHINESE BEAR BILE FARM

SOME BEAR NECESSITIES!

THE SMELL-CABINET

VARIED DIETS

• Externally imposed routine

PRISON

• Loss of choice: diet, activity, friendships

• Boredom• Noise• Violence• Broken family ties• Mental health issues: stress-induced depression leading to self harm, even suicide

KENNELS ARE FRIGHTENING PLACES: NOISE, SMELL, DAMP, STRANGE & LONELY

DOG-DOG AGGRESSION

SEPARATION ANXIETY

URBAN OUTSITTERS (CHICAGO)

LAKE SHORE (CHICAGO) ANIMAL SHELTER – URBAN OUTSITTERS DOG DAY CARE

• Solution:24 hour group day careSolution:24 hour group day care• Partner with communal dog dayPartner with communal dog day

OROR• Charity establish own facilityCharity establish own facility• Dogs=changing groups, never form stable Dogs=changing groups, never form stable

hierarchieshierarchies• Daily 1:1 walksDaily 1:1 walks• Centre – city: easy viewing by potential Centre – city: easy viewing by potential

adopteesadoptees• Food and toy driven gamesFood and toy driven games• 24 hour human supervision/CCTV24 hour human supervision/CCTV

DOGS NEED THE COMPANY OF DOGS

SCATTER FEEDING AND DIGGING FOR HIDDEN FOOD

FOOD IS THE BEST PERSUADER

Little and often

FUN & GAMES - KONG

More than just a dog toy!

KONG

PYRAMID PLAY

INTERACTIVE DOG GAMES

ON THE BAMBOO TRAIL – WORK IN PROGRESS

Or concessions to animals in a man-made world

Company: for a social species

Housing: space and complexity

Sensory experiences: e.g. light, sound, smells

Feeding: hunt-chase, chew etc

Training: set novel, complex tasks

Toys: that challenge, that amuse

Routine: vary, but within optimum range

Choice: allow freedom for animal to select environment and activity

ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT

It takes only a little extra imagination to make a dog happy

Here’s to a more peaceful world

Thank you