Why Is Enrichment So Important?

Mar 4 / Canine Principles

Canine enrichment literally just means enriching the life of a dog. It doesn’t have to be creating tasks for them to solve all the time though. Enrichment can be anything from safely exploring an open cupboard which is usually closed, going on a different walk, having a groom (if they like it) or just a morning cuddle with their human.

Solving problems is a great way to raise your dog’s confidence – using recycling, old socks, foraging and specific food retrieval toys. Every time a dog succeeds they feel like a success, their confidence grows and they expect to succeed again. This is why our dogs should only be given problems that they can solve (with some effort) because being unable to complete a task will leave them expecting to fail.

Dogs smell their world, so it’s really enriching for them to be able to use that nose in as many ways as possible. It’s always sad to see a dog pulled along on a walk when they really just want to smell the world around them. Creating opportunities to sniff and giving your dog time to explore on his walks with his nose is really life enriching, and it’s free – the only thing you need to do is slow down.

Finding interesting ways to feed your dog is another way to make their life more interesting. Scattering food around, hiding it in the garden is smaller chunks or using it to learn something with you are all ways to make food time more fun.

Avoiding too much frustration is really important. Working hard to enrich your dog’s life is great – but if they are doing tasks which don’t really suit them or that knock their confidence, it’s not enrichment. Similarly if the same exercise is completed every day it moves from being enriching to being normal. Newness counts, but always newness in a way that your dog can manage.

So have a good think outside of the normal things we see as Canine Enrichment. Consider what you can do to jazz up your dog’s life now. How can you set new tasks, live life a little differently today or give them something to do or somewhere to explore – that they may not normally have? .

Are you looking to enhance your knowledge and skills in the canine industry? Would you like to provide a more enriching life for your best friends? Look no further than the Canine Principles CPD Skill-Hub!

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Self-paced - All CPD Diploma Courses, CPD Certificate Courses, Workshops, Webinars and Self Study Courses are completely self-paced learning with no deadlines for assessments or completion.

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Canine Principles pledges to teach only kind, force-free, positive methods that promote mental and physical well-being for dogs, in line with current scientific research. Our courses occasionally discuss the use of other training methods, with the intention of providing education in why these approaches are ineffective and harmful to learning.

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Welcome to Canine Principles

Thank you for enrolling on your learning experience. Your enrolment includes entry to the Canine Principles Facebook Study Group which is a highly positive group, filled with a vast range of experience. It would be great to have you join us.

Canine Principles welcomes students of all ability, experience and previous education. Whether you are a seasoned professional who wishes to further their personal development or an enthusiastic beginner with a passion for dogs, your self-paced study will be supported and guided with the same care and attention.

We appreciate it can be difficult and even daunting taking on a new study route. Education should be an enjoyable experience where the student is encouraged to thrive in their chosen field. We are far less concerned about grammar, spelling and formatting than we are about understanding the course material and demonstrating your knowledge of dogs.

Please don’t worry if you haven't studied for a while, you’re here now and that’s great. We aim for you to find this learning experience empowering and enlightening. With this in mind, we have prepared a short guide to help you achieve the most from your study.

Each individual has their own strengths, weaknesses and acquired skills that will help or hinder in their study. This guide is intended as an example of best practice that can easily be included in your current study routine.

Best Wishes,

Jo Middleton

Canine Principles Director of Studies

Get Some Exercise
In 2014, A University of Illinois Study, led by Dr. Chuck Hillman, found that as little as 20 minutes of exercise can lead to better cognition and memory, and higher scores on tests and examinations. This is great news for dog owners and something that you can definitely take advantage of as a daily walker.

Limit Distractions
Distractions can easily break our train of thought or pull us away from study all together. Find a suitable place to study that is conducive to learning. Set some time aside, ask for some privacy and turn off your phone.

Stay Hydrated
Dehydration contributes towards fatigue and poor memory. A 2012 study, conducted by the universities of East London and Westminster, found that results improved by an average of 10% when students kept hydrated throughout exams.

Read Out Loud
In 2015, Professor Victor Boucher of the University of Montreal completed research that suggested you are 50% more likely to remember information that has been read aloud than reading to yourself. You can either find a quiet place to read aloud to yourself or read directly to a friend or family member.

Teach as You Go
A step beyond reading aloud is to describe the lesson to somebody else. Try and make the subject understood and invite questions. If you don’t have the answer to the question, you have a new area of understanding to explore and study which will help to further your knowledge in a given subject.

Make Notes and Diagrams
Keep a pen and paper close to hand and be ready to note down specific areas of interest. Even if you are not artistic, a quick diagram that only you understand is a great aid to the memory and allows you to process the information in a different way.

Research
Even when you feel that you have fully understood a subject from the course material, take some time to research further by looking online, reading books or talking to others who are involved in the subject. The study group is a great place to meet like minded people who are also learning new topics.

Review
Going back over previous course topics and modules, with the benefit of newly acquired knowledge, can help us to understand the connection between subjects. If we only focus on one subject in isolation, the connection may never be made.

Create Flash Cards
Flashcards are a great way to test your knowledge. Write a subject on one side of the card and then explain the subject on the opposite side. You can either draw the cards randomly and test your own knowledge or ask a friend to help.

Each course will have a unique grading system, dependant on the number of questions and exercises available.

Assessments will begin by advising the maximum possible score for each section and how this score can be achieved. Every module has an overall pass mark of 80%. Whilst the pass score is 80%, any assessment that scores below this will be returned with constructive feedback. Feedback is intended to describe where further marks can be achieved. You can re-submit a revised assessment to improve your score.

Assessments that score between 80% and 100% will also be returned with feedback, however, there will be no further grading as the threshold for passing the module has been met.

Each assessment will be marked and returned within 7 - 10 days of receipt by your tutor. If you have any questions, contact us here or by emailing info@canineprinciples.com and we will be happy to help.

1. Purpose

To maintain academic integrity, this policy outlines the prohibition of AI generated content and plagiarism in assessments. Our goal is to ensure that all work submitted by students reflects their personal understanding, effort and original thoughts.

2. Prohibited Conduct

Students are strictly prohibited from: a) Using AI tools to generate any part of their assessment submissions. This includes but is not limited to text, ideas, or structures created by AI. b) Engaging in any form of plagiarism, including but not limited to:

Copying text, ideas, or work from any source without proper attribution

Paraphrasing or summarising someone else's work without acknowledgement

Submitting work that has been completed by another person

Self-plagiarism (reusing one's own previously submitted work without acknowledgement)

3. Detection and Verification

All submitted assessments will be checked for AI generated content and plagiarism using appropriate detection tools. Any assessment flagged for potential AI involvement or plagiarism will undergo further review by our academic staff. Canine Principles reserves the right to choose the detection tools used.

4. Warning and Disciplinary Process

First Offence: The student will receive notification from their tutor that their work has been flagged as unacceptable due to AI generated content or plagiarism. The submitted assessment will not be accepted. The student will be required to resubmit the work using original content with proper citations where necessary.

Second Offence: The student will receive a second warning from their tutor. The resubmission of the assessment will be required.

Third Offence: The student will face expulsion from the course and the balance of any course fees will become immediately due in full with Canine Principles reserving the right to take legal action to recover the funds if necessary.

The final decision rests with the Director of Studies and is not subject to further review. For more information, email info@canineprinciples.com.

5. Policy Acknowledgment

By enrolling in any course at Canine Principles, students agree to comply with this policy.

6. Appeals Process

Students who believe they have been unfairly accused of violating this policy may submit a written appeal to the Director by email to info@canineprinciples.com within 7 days of receiving notification of the offence. Evidence should be provided to support their case. The Director’s decision will be final.

7. Amendments

Canine Principles reserves the right to amend this policy at any time. Students will be notified of any changes, and the most current version of the policy will be available on the Canine Principles website.

External research is a great way to improve your knowledge on any subject. Often, a course subject will be focused on the specific area that is relevant to the type of course. A course that covers the topic of scentwork may describe the scenting ability of a dog in great detail, whereas a course that covers dog training in general may only include a foundation knowledge of the same subject. For this reason, external research can provide an invaluable way of expanding on specific course subjects.

When you choose to include external research as part of your assessment, it is important that the work is clearly referenced. If you have previously studied at a higher level, you will be aware that there are many ways to reference your research. For the purpose of Canine Principles assessments, we are happy for you to include your references at the end of each answer.

References from online research can be included as a link to the source of the information:

Example:

...During a stressful experience, the canine immune system will begin to shut off nonessential functions in order to maximise the chances of survival. “The body sees no point in digesting food when danger is upon it. Neither does it place emphasis on fighting disease, for it is putting all that effort into fighting the threat on life itself, so the immune system shuts down.”...

(https://canineprinciples.com/fear-dog-physical-illness/ accessed online Feb 2018)

References from printed publications can be included in the following format:

Example:

A common mistake made by dog owners is to misinterpret canine communication in a way that suits our own style of communication and body language. “Anthropomorphism, the attribution of Human characteristics to non-human creatures – to phenomena such as weather, and even inanimate objects like rivers and mountains – is an intrinsic part of human nature.”

(John Bradshaw, In Defence of Dogs P.148)

In both examples, the external research is highlighted as a quotation and clearly referenced.

The following section includes 3 different answers to the same question. All of these answers are correct, however they will each vary in the level of demonstrated understanding.

Question: Describe how you would apply an emergency improvised muzzle to a dog, for the purpose of performing first aid safely.

i. Create a large loop in a bandage and slowly slip it over the dog’s muzzle. Tighten the loop so the dog’s mouth remains closed and he can’t open it. Pass the ends under the chin, knot again and then tie behind the ears to secure it.

This answer describes the correct process of applying an emergency muzzle. The method is correct; however, no consideration has been given to safety. To improve on this, and answer the full question, we can include more detail...

ii. Slowly approach the dog, talking gently. Create a large loop in the gauze bandage and slowly slip it over the dog’s muzzle. At this point, it is best to stand behind the dog. Tighten the loop so the dog’s mouth remains closed and he can’t open it, not so tight as to cause pain. Pass the ends under the chin, knot again and then tie behind the ears to secure it.

This answer has improved and includes personal safety advice. We now have a correct answer that covers the whole question. To demonstrate our understanding of the subject, we can go one step further and cover the whole subject in greater detail.

iii. Any injured dog, no matter how gentle they are normally, can bite when painful or panicked. Unfortunately, an injured animal is highly likely to bite, even if you are trying to help them. You may also be in a situation where you need to help a strange dog during an emergency. It is a useful and important skill to be able to muzzle a dog in an emergency situation. Some people will carry a muzzle in their car for emergency situations. However, you can also use a shoelace or gauze bandage. Slowly approach the dog side on, talking gently to reassure them. Be mindful of the dog’s body language and communication efforts while he is experiencing pain. Create a large loop in the gauze bandage and slowly slip it over the dog’s muzzle. At this point it is best to stand behind the dog to prevent direct eye contact. Tighten the loop so the dog’s mouth remains closed and he can’t open it, not so tight as to cause pain. Pass the ends under the chin, knot again and then tie behind the ears to secure it. NEVER apply a muzzle if the dog is struggling to breathe or vomiting.

This final version is an excellent demonstration of the whole subject. We have added information about the subject of emergency muzzles and included advice for keeping the dog free from additional pain or suffering.

You will receive positive, personal feedback from tutors who are always available to answer any questions and guide you through your learning experience. If you ever have any questions about course material or assessments, you can contact us here via email or through the study group.

Students are also encouraged to support each other, through access to a private study group where discussions and new information are shared daily.

Canine Principles offers both self-paced and time sensitive courses.

Self-paced - All CPD Diploma Courses, CPD Certificate Courses, Workshops, Webinars and Self Study Courses are completely self-paced learning with no deadlines for assessments or completion.

Qualifications - All regulated qualifications inherit a 2 year registration period. The cost of registration is included with initial enrolment. When the 2 year registration period expires, students may re-register for an additional registration fee. Fees vary by course, please contact us for details.

CPD Courses
Upon successful completion of your course, you will receive 2 certificates. The first certificate is supplied by Canine Principles and the second is supplied by the CPD Standards Office. All Certificates are available to download on successful completion and marking of the final exercise.

Qualifications
Upon successful completion of your course, you will receive 2 certificates. The first certificate is supplied by Canine Principles and the second is supplied by AIM Qualifications, an independent awarding body. Both certificates will be available as a digital downloads only.

All Other Courses & Workshops
These courses come with a single Canine Principles digital certificate of completion.

You will receive positive, personal feedback from Tutors who are always available to answers any questions and guide you through your learning experience. Tutors will respond to assessments within 48 hours (72 hours during weekends)

Students are also encouraged to support each other through built in student community and private Facebook Study Group. where discussions and new information are shared daily.

Thank you!

Why Is Enrichment So Important?

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Why Is Enrichment So Important?

Commitment Free Access

Start Your CPD Skill-Hub SubscriptionFree Trial Today

A Huge Library Of Self-Study Online Dog Courses, Workshops & Resources.

Worth Over £1500 + VAT

When Sold Separately

Your CPD Skill-Hub Subscription includes the following courses:

Latest From Our Blog

4 Dog Behaviour Problems - & the fun fix most people miss

Running an Ethical (and Professional) Dog Business

Follow Us

Exclusive News & Offers

Canine Principles#Dog Skills For Humans

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