IACWC 2015 - Workshop - Rick Hayman - Infection control in the animal shelter
2.6 The Bear Necessities of Life - Dr Roger Mugford
1. Dr Roger Mugford
The Bear Necessities of Life
Affordable Environmental Enrichment and
Behavioural Husbandry in Dogs
2. 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
3. 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
15. • 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
20. 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 stableDogs=changing groups, never form stable
hierarchieshierarchies
• Daily 1:1 walksDaily 1:1 walks
• Centre – city: easy viewing by potentialCentre – city: easy viewing by potential
adopteesadoptees
• Food and toy driven gamesFood and toy driven games
• 24 hour human supervision/CCTV24 hour human supervision/CCTV
33. 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
34. It takes only a little extra
imagination to make a dog happy