Something you’ll hear or read a lot about when becoming a bulldog pet parent, or the parent of any other doggy breed, is enrichment. It’s a big word that can mean lots of little things – all of which might be unclear to a novice in the doggo world. Today, we’re going to walk you through, ‘What is bulldog enrichment?”, including what bulldogs require, specifically, to keep them fit, healthy, and mentally happy.
So, let’s dive right in, shall we?
What is bulldog enrichment, specifically?
I think Dog’s Trust sums enrichment up quite well when they say this:
“Enrichment enables dogs to explore and use their natural instincts.”
We take for granted that our domestic pets are exactly that: domesticated. Yes, they’re happy sleeping on the couch, but our pet dogs also still have biologically built in desires and drives that are not easily met with a comfy-home lifestyle.
Those desires and drives often breed-specific, too. Greyhounds, for example, were bred to “hunt based on sight,” according to PetMD, and they also require lots of running around space and time – but in short bursts.
Boxers are also hunting dogs, with a high prey drive and a habit of chasing after smaller pets, such as cats, and other smaller animals.
Bulldogs are hunting dogs, too. They were originally bred to chase after, then take down bulls, hence the name. Lots of those traits have been bred out of the breed now, but they still have some of that original prey drive – and they still need enrichment (activities or items) that help them to go back to their sniffing/hunting roots.
Your bulldog is going to display certain biological behaviours whether you like it or not – because it is in their nature. Providing enrichment allows you – the pet parent – to control what your bully takes those behaviours (i.e. chewing) out on.
Wouldn’t you rather a chew toy was ruined instead of your slippers, internal doors, or carpets?
Types of English bulldog enrichment
As previously mentioned, enrichment covers many, many different things – so why don’t we break it down into smaller, more manageable (and understandable) chunks?
Enrichment basically comes down to two things:
Physical enrichment for bulldogs
Physical enrichment is basically anything that gets your four-legged friend’s body moving, including:
- Taking your bulldog for a walk or run
- Letting them run around in the garden
- Playing fetch with a ball or stick
- Tug-of-war with doggy toys
- Rolling ball with kibble or treats
Mental enrichment for bulldogs
Mental enrichment for bulldogs, on the other hand, works their brain rather than their body. Activities that require your bulldog to think, sniff, or fall back on their biological doggy traits are classed as mental enrichment, and you can incorporate both mental and physical enrichment in the same activities for an added wear-out-your-bully-for-bedtime bonus.
Mental enrichment includes things like:
- Training sessions
- Snuffle mats
- Food scent trails
- Chew toys
- Interactive feeding games and puzzles
These two main types of bulldog enrichment can be further broken down into different types and categories, too. These include:
Scent enrichment – encouraging dogs to use their natural scent instincts, i.e. sniffing out their favourite toy or food in a snuffle mat or going on “sniffari walks.”
Food enrichment – using feeding time and/or treats to provide enrichment, i.e. hiding kibble around the room/home, using snuffle mats, rolling treat balls, etc.
Sensory enrichment – things like chew toys to help with their natural chewing instincts, dog-safe bubbles, and ball pits or paddling pools.
Cognitive enrichment – this type encourages your bulldog to actively think and solve problems for themselves and includes things like interactive puzzle feeders, hide n’ seek around the home, and even training/teaching them tricks.
Social enrichment – social training is a vital part of making sure that dogs behave properly and appropriately in social settings and is also classed as a form of enrichment. Spending time with familiar and strange people alongside dog-friendly parks and other public spaces all offer your bulldog social enrichment.
Why enrichment REALLY matters for your English bulldog
Here’s the thing: enrichment, both physical and mental, is vital for your bully’s happiness and health. Dogs that aren’t given enough enrichment tend to be more destructive around the home, display more aggressive and unwanted behaviours, and are less likely to listen to your commands.
Enrichment isn’t just a new buzz word: it’s a super important part of your bulldog’s requirements.
In the same way that your bulldog needs a certain amount of food and exercise, they also need a certain amount of enrichment. You can’t skip it. Your dog can’t, either.
Bulldogs that don’t have enough enrichment in their lives are more likely to display poor behaviours or develop mental health issues, such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Heightened stress
- Boredom
- Obsessive and/or compulsive disorders and habits
- Hyperactivity
- Excessive barking, whining, and other vocal noises
- Home and property destruction, i.e. chewing on doors and baseboards
- Jumping up
- Digging
- Escape attempts
- Lethargy
- Cognitive (mental) decline
One study showed that treat and kibble games and stuffed toys actively reduced barking in dogs when used regularly.
Another study showed that dogs with social enrichment often had lower rates of depression and/or stress, and also improved and increased relaxation. The same study also suggests that social enrichment had the best results on doggy behaviour as a whole.
Bulldog enrichment: summary
Enrichment is a vital part of doggy parenting and just as important as feeding, cleaning, exercising, and all the other parts of welcoming a four-legged friend into the home.
Bulldogs without the right amount of enrichment are more likely to misbehave and develop mental health issues and decline.
Bulldogs with the right amount of enrichment tend to be easier to train, happier, and healthier all-around.
It’s easier than you’d think to incorporate all types of enrichment into your bulldog’s life. Why not take a peek at these articles on Planet Bulldog to learn more and get started:
