By Lara Joseph
© Lara Joseph
Shaping challenges in an animal’s environment is something I see caretakers struggle with on a regular basis without even realizing it. Any environment can get stagnant over a period of time if it does not change. In my experience, the more an animal’s environment stays the same, the less he tends to interact with it. The less he interacts, the less he manipulates outcomes, and the less he manipulates outcomes, the fewer choices he makes. What effects do these restricted choices have on the animal and his decision-making skills? If environments stay stagnant, what physical and mental enrichment are those non-changing environments providing to empower the animal? What happens when his environment drastically changes and he has no control in the matter, such as being rehomed? Read more.