Online "challenges" and dogs: Should we participate?

Not being able to see our friends and socialise in real life has led to most of us turning to the internet and social media in order to stay connected. Throughout this pandemic, and even before lockdown, participation in online trends has been a common theme across social media platforms. From the Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014, to the Mannequin challenge in 2016, people have been coming up with all sorts of different and creative activities for charity or just for the entertainment factor. This year we have seen a surge in TikTok users creating clever dance routines and copying each other in fun inspiring ways.

When it comes to our furry friends however, it is totally understandable that some trends will include them. They're part of the family after all! Don't get me wrong; a few of these trends are adorable. One of our particular favourites is the #notmorebeautifulerthanyou trend, which usually ends up with the camera moving from some footage of gorgeous scenery to that of a puppy. If you look up the hashtag you'll find tonnes of cute puppy videos. However, some of the trends are concerning. Others could be okay if they were amended significantly. Some of the trends are downright dangerous and shouldn't be replicated at all. So lets dive in a little to what we need to consider when including our dogs in viral videos. 

With any activity we create for our dogs to participate in, we need to understand what the goal is, and what we want to achieve (i.e. is the activity enriching for our pet?). It's not really fair to only consider what WE want; what is your dog getting out of it? With little choice in what happens to them daily, as their caretakers it is our duty to provide them a happy safe life.

"Enrichment can be enriching if:

• Enrichment is individualised
• Enrichment is goal oriented
• Enrichment provides choice
• Enrichment allows the animal a little control over what happens to them
• Enrichment facilitates the demonstration of species and breed typical behaviours"

(AniEd Ireland, Enrichment must be enriching, 2019)

Lets apply this thinking to two of these popular trends; the toilet roll challenge and the hotdog game. 

The toilet roll challenge

When considering participation, 

• We have to ask ourselves can we individualise this challenge for our own pets? Can our dogs step over even one toilet roll? Can they clear the rolls easily without strain? Does my individual pet have any issues with mobility that might be cause for concern? Has your pet accrued the level of fitness and mobility required to clear a jump of even low height? 

• What is the goal? Is it to practice recall with obstacles? Do we need to teach recall with obstacles for safety? Does our pet want to participate?

• Can we amend the challenge to give our dogs options to participate? Can we amend it for their specific abilities? This might mean making sure the toilet roll wall is open ended so that our pet can walk around it rather than jumping if they don't want to, or limiting its height to just one roll if necessary.

• Does our animal have control over some elements of this? This might mean giving them the treat regardless of whether they step over the rolls or not. 

• Can our pet do this behaviour? Is it appropriate to them? Is is appropriate to their breed? Also consider that some pets will push through discomfort just for the treat. This needs to be a consideration when putting together a challenge.

Here is a video of an amended version. Can you see where the amendments for each dog were made? What choices did the dogs make? How high did the challenge go in relation to dog size? 

The hot dog challenge

When considering participation,

• How can we individualise this challenge for our pet? Does this challenge increase our dogs frustration level when they cannot win? Can we fix this so our pets can win?

• What is the goal? What are we teaching our pets when we play this game?

• How can we amend this challenge for our dogs to reduce frustration? Can we amend this so our dogs can win the game? Maybe each time we show our dog the hotdogs, they get to bite off a piece or consume the treat, keeping them interested and letting them enjoy participation.

• Can our dog control what happens to them here? Are they unable to access the food that appears and disappears in front of them? Does this benefit them?

So what challenge can I participate in with my dog safely?

Whilst assessing how beneficial a trend is for your dog is entirely up to you, you can use this information to help you make decisions that benefit and truly enrich your dogs life. However, there are safe challenges to get involved in, and we look forward to your safe, happy videos with happy dogs!

(One great place where your doggy videos will ALWAYS be appreciated is this facebook group here: #100daysofenrichment. It's linked to this blog here (AniEd's 100 days of enrichment) and it's jam-packed with 100 days worth of challenges. You literally have so many ideas, and not one involves scaring or deliberately frustrating your dog. Win win! Plus, your dog will thank you for it.)