Glazebrook Canine Services

This is a statement/question we hear so often when talking to people about their dogs and their dog's needs. Why do we walk our dogs? There are four main reasons exercise elimination mental stimulation training  So lets look at each of these reasons and discuss the pros and cons for each.  Exercise -  Just like us, physical exercise is important for dogs in order to maintain a healthy body, so a daily walk or two is a good way of getting the exercise in.  Walks provide opportunities for your dog to participate in natural behaviours, such as sniffing and marking, which will give some mental stimulation, so that's a plus. Lots of owners believe that going for a walk gives your dog the opportunity to meet some of his/her own kind and behave naturally.  Whilst for some dogs meeting up and having a romp with other dogs is a pleasant, even positive experience, for many dogs it is less pleasant and positive, especially if they are nervous or reactive.  So suddenly

  What is scatter feeding? Scatter feeding is basically throwing your dog's meal or treats across the ground and letting him/her search it out. Why scatter feed? It slows eating down as your dog has to sniff it out, meaning it is a great replacement for a slow feeding bowl, and can reduce the risk of bloat. You can make it as easy or as challenging as you want, depending on your dog's experience of sniffing activities and his/her confidence levels. It can also help burn a few calories if your dog is on a diet, as it provides additional exercise. It can help with picky eaters, as dogs can become more interested in food if they have to look for it as it becomes more of a game to them, a problem to be solved. It is mentally stimulating as your dog has to search out his/her meal. It can help relieve boredom as they areactively engaged in doing something, and can reduce that mid-evening hyperactivity some dogs, especially younger ones get, as it utilises the brain and

 Snuffle mats can be commercially bought, or made using a base with holes in it and strands of non fraying fabric. They are great a way of enriching your dog's life, and i have even known rabbit and cat owners use them! So what do they do? They serve several purposes ... help slow feeding down  - they can be used instead of slow feeding bowls; relieve boredom - its a bit of fun to break up the day; provide mental stimulation - dogs need to have their brains exercised; allow sniffy time - if you give your dog opportunities to sniff during their day, it can reduce their need to persistently sniff when out and about; helps build confidence - confident dogs make good choices; reduce arousal and create calmness - by engaging in a natural behaviour can take the focus away from an arousing event, for example using in training classes to help maintani calmness and focus, to help reduce arousal after a stressful experience.  So how do you use a snuffle mat? Its not a matter of

  There are lots of different types of enrichment, however they tend to fall into three main groups: Sniffing/snuffling activities These activities focus on harbouring the dog's natural desire to sniff and can be done in lots of different environments. Snuffle/sniffy mats - these are mats made from a holey base with fleece, felt or old t-shirts pieces threaded through the holes and tied.  They be homemade or commercially bought.  The idea is that you hide treats/kibble/meat/cheese, anything edible really, inbetween the strands of fabric and the dog sniffs them out.  The activity can be made as easy or challenging as your dog needs it and is a great way to slow fast feeders down. Snuffle balls - these can come in several different forms, and can be home made or commercially bought.  Rather than static snuffling, as the dog nudges and snuffles, the ball moves, releasing the hidden treats. Scatter feeding - this is a really easy enrichment but great fo

 Enrichment is basically all the activities you give your pet in order to enhance or add to their daily lives.  There are lots of different types of enrichment activities, but most usually require the owner to be involved in some way, either planning and preparing the activity or being there to support, guide or help them. Enrichment isn't just for dogs, lots of our furry friends benefit from it, you noght just need to adjust the ideas and activities a little. So why bother giving your pet enrichment activities, surely they can enrich their own lives?  We enrich our children's lives by the toys, games and activities we give them, and pet enrichment works in the same way.   It relieves boredom , and that is huge for some owners as boredom can lead to inappropriate verbalisation (lots and lots of barking), destructive behaviour (chewing objects, beds etc), pacing, hyperactivity, and lots more. It stimulates the brain and allows your pet to practise natural behavi