Reducing Stress in Shelter Dogs: Scent vs. Food Enrichment

In shelters, reducing stress in dogs is crucial for their welfare, adaptability, and chances of adoption. A new study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior (Antonino et al., 2025) highlights how simple environmental enrichment can shape canine behavior.

Researchers tested two types of enrichment:

• Food-based: Treats placed in perforated bottles to simulate natural foraging.

• Scent-based: A lavender oil diffuser.

  
  

The effects were noticeably different:

• Food enrichment increased overall activity but didn’t reduce vocalization or arousal behaviors. It was useful for stimulation and frustration relief, but not calming.

• Scent enrichment (lavender) significantly reduced jumping and barking—behaviors often linked to stress and arousal. This suggests that carefully selected olfactory stimuli may have a calming effect and support emotional regulation in shelter environments.

Key takeaway: Different enrichment types serve different purposes. They’re not interchangeable. If the goal is calming and lowering arousal, olfactory activities and scents (like lavender) may be more effective than food-based stimulation.

In shelter work, enrichment shouldn’t be just “something to do.” It should be viewed as a tool for emotional support, adaptation, and improved coping in a high-stress environment.

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Antonino, G. V., Lovestain, D. D. C., Burle, M. M. C., & Azevedo, C. S. (2025). Effects of two types of environmental enrichment on the behavior of dogs in shelters. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 79, 10.1016/j.jveb.2025.05.004.