Most people will only talk about 5 senses, maybe even a 6th in rare cases, but humans actually have 8 senses! And I’m pretty sure dogs have 8 senses too.
So, what are all these extra senses you didn’t know about?
Here are the most well-known senses:
- Visual/sight
- Auditory/sound
- Tactile/touch
- Gustatory/taste
- Olfactory/smell
And the 3 lesser-known senses:
- Vestibular- where our body is oriented in space, for example, whether you’re standing up straight or moving
- Proprioception- where one body part is in relation to another
- Interoception- sensations inside the body, such as hunger
But what does it mean for Dart, or any dog???
I theorize that if I appeal to my dog’s senses of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell, he will experience greater mental stimulation and feel a little less bored and little more satisfied with his life.
In contrast, if I stimulate ALL of his senses at once, he might just get overwhelmed.
If I can find the “just right” challenge for Dart (gotta love those OT phrases), it means I will have created the perfect level of activity that stimulates his senses and keeps him active and engaged in his life ❤
