Enrich your pet’s life using olfactory stimulation (scent enrichment)
Have you ever wondered how you can naturally and simply influence your pet’s behaviour? Many owners are keen to find treatments to improve or enhance their dog or cat’s surroundings, interactions or behaviour. New research has been investigating the use of scents to enhance your pet’s life.
Specifically the use of scents – vanilla, coconut, ginger and valerian – has been investigated in kennelled dogs*. Fifteen dogs at a rescue shelter were given scents, via a scented cloth, in order of – cloth control, coconut, vanilla, valerian, ginger and odour control – for 2 hours a day, over 3 days, with 2 days between conditions. Five drops of essential oils were placed on the cloth and the dog’s behaviour recorded over the 2-hour scent exposure period.
What is Valerian?
Valerian is a flowering plant, whose root is dried and used as an herbal remedy for sleep problems and also anxiety, stress and other conditions.
Scent exposure results
Exposure to all four of the scents reduced the levels of vocalisations and movement. Since increased barking and movement may indicate stress in sheltered dogs, using scent may help reduce stress levels, improving canine welfare.
Coconut and ginger increased levels of sleeping behaviour, which may help pass time or reduce levels of stress in sheltered dogs but is not necessarily beneficial for adopters, who wish to view dogs.
Dogs spent more time at the front of the enclosure when scents were absent. Since this is a highly desirable position for potential adopters to view the dog, it may be beneficial to give scent enrichment when the public is not present. This should be weighed up alongside the shelter dogs tendency to bark more and be more active in the absence of enriching scents, however.
Scent enrichment and our dogs at home
While we cannot be sure exactly how our dogs at home will react to exposure to these scents, there will be little harm in trying. And, if your dog is overactive, an excessive barker or has trouble sleeping, then enriching their nose with these scents could definitely be worth a go.
Other scents
Previous studies have looked at the use of lavender, chamomile, rosemary and peppermint and their effects on dog’s behaviour. 55 shelter dogs were exposed to each type of essential oil olfactory stimulation and their behaviour recorded over 5 days.
The following results were found:
- Lavender and chamomile resulted in less time moving and barking (vocalising).
- Rosemary and peppermint increased standing, moving and vocalising.
Thus shelters would be best to use lavender, chamomile, vanilla, coconut, ginger and valerian to ensure dogs are settled in their behaviour and adopters see them in the best possible manner.
What about cats?
Olfactory stimuli may benefit cats too. 150 cats were exposed to either lavender, catnip, rabbit or a control cloth for 3 hours a day, over 5 days. Cats, unlike dogs, showed little interest in the cloths on the whole but when comparing scents, catnip scent interested the cats most. Like the dogs, the cats’ interest in the cloths decreased over the 2nd hour and beyond, probably due to habituation and possible the short-lived effects of catnip.
Specific behavioural effects on cats included:
- Catnip and prey (rabbit) scent increased the frequency of sleeping and decreased standing time and time spent exploring the environment.
- Catnip resulted in play-like behaviour
So, scent enrichment should also be considered for the enrichment of cats in a cattery or shelter setting. And no harm trying at home too.
Research
*New research conducted by Binks et al (2018) at Animal Welfare Research and Knowledge Exchange Arena, University Centre Hartpury, Gloucestershire, UK
The behavioural effects of olfactory stimulation on dogs at a rescue shelter
The influence of olfactory stimulation on the behaviour of dogs housed in a rescue shelter
The influence of olfactory stimulation on the behaviour of cats housed in a rescue shelter
More on scents, relaxing and healthy pets
Flower essences for pets
Enhance your dog’s sense of smell
5 ways to improve the mental health and wellbeing of your pet
Relaxing your pet with music, movies and audiobooks
Cats and catnip
About the author
Dr Jo Righetti is an animal behaviour consultant, who after more than 20 years in business, still enjoys discovering the latest research on pets and the human-animal bond and sharing it with pet lovers. More about Jo and Pet Problems Solved.
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