The Lonely Toilet Paper Roll — Welfare For Animals

After its time rolling out sheets of toilet paper, the lonely toilet paper roll hangs forlornly on a steel ring until it is recycled into paper or tossed away. But what if the toilet paper roll has not reached the end of it's roll, but can have a new life, one that will make animals happy???

When a positive reinforcement force-free trainer or animal professional sees a toilet paper roll, a magical world is unlocked, and the once lonely toilet paper roll is no longer lonesome as it is transformed into an exciting enrichment activity for dogs, cats, small animals like rabbits and zoo animals.

Zoos, Sanctuaries & The Toilet Paper Roll

Enrichment is a trendy and oft thrown about word, but what does it really mean??

Enrichment means to provide species specific appropriate challenges, opportunities and stimulation.

The UK charity Wild Welfare states that enrichment can support positive mental welfare, encourages natural behaviours, helps create choices and confidence in animals, prevents boredom and addresses species-specific needs. (For more information on their work improving the lives of captive animals go to; https://wildwelfare.org/enrichment-animal-welfare/ .

For decades, zoos and sanctuaries have been using and rotating different enrichment activities on a daily basis to improve the welfare and behaviour of their animals. Several zoos and sanctuaries even ask their local communities to donate toilet paper rolls, cardboard boxes, wrapping paper rolls and paper sacks to create fun enrichment activities for their animals. A simple toilet paper roll can create hours of enjoyment and significantly improve the quality of life, mental health, behaviour and welfare for their care of magical creatures.

What can improve the life of a lion, weasel, monkey or a warthog, can also improve the life of your cat, dog or rabbit.

Figure 2. Wingham Wildlife Park in Kent, U.K.

Companion Animal Toilet Paper Roll Steps

Below are graduated step by step videos of how you can take the lonesome toilet paper roll and design it into enrichment fun for your cat and dog.

Always make sure when creating enrichment that your pets are supervised, that nothing but food will be swallowed and that all materials are non-toxic without sharp edges, staples or tape. If you suspect that your dog will eat the toilet paper rolls, use a KONG or K9 Connectable as an alternative.

Beginner

If your dog or cat has never had enrichment before, start with this step. Many dogs or cats who have never interacted with enrichment, may be fearful with new textures or objects. We don’t want this to happen! Enrichment is not enriching if your pet walks away in frustration or fear.

Make it easy and fun for your pet. If you need to, don’t pinch the sides of the toilet paper roll, instead sprinkle food on the inside and around the toilet paper roll so your pet can learn how to interact with the enrichment and develop positive associations.

Fig 3. Toilet paper roll enrichment for a dog (Treat, Play, Love)

Intermediate

If your pet has progressed from the Beginner stage, well done you! You can utilize different elements such as a shoebox, stuffable toys like KONGs and K9Connectables and toilet paper rolls to create a varied enrichment activity for your pet. If you want to advance it, you can stuff the stuffable toy. In our video steps we have ways you can make it easier or harder for your pet.

Follow the below steps of our YouTube Video on Intermediate DIY Toilet Paper Enrichment

Advanced

It’s time to step things up a notch. Don’t worry, we got you covered, with toilet paper roll steps that is! Make it harder by combining all different elements together and give your pet a DIY problem solving activity. But make sure that it’s not too hard for your pet as frustration is counter to the purpose of enrichment and can create negative associations.

Follow the below steps of our YouTube Video on Advanced DIY Toilet Paper Enrichment

Rabbits

If you have small animals like rabbits, a single toilet paper roll on its own can be loads of fun, but it is more engaging if you stuff the toilet paper rolls with hay or healthy treats as a part of their daily ration. It’s simple, easy and fun!

Our videos give you step by step ideas, but there are various and innovative ways you can create toilet paper rolls into enrichment fun for your pets such as making a treat search of toilet paper rolls in your backyard or feeding your pets their dinner using toilet paper rolls as Boyana is doing with her adorable Metta in the video below.

If you use our toilet paper roll enrichment message us your results and tag us @WelfareForAnimals on Facebook or @welfareforanimalsdogtraining on Instagram. We want to see how you do and celebrate your progress!

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