Hello everyone! It’s been a very warm few days now and my two are resting in front of the fan most of the time. I’ve been posting lots of tips to keep your dog cool on my Facebook and Instagram and I hope that they have been helpful.
This month, I want to talk about loving your landscapes…not the gorgeous views we have here in the Surrey Hills which are really spectacular, but the landscapes you can build for your dogs. I’ve been so pleased to see many of my clients actually taking time to view their gardens from a dog’s point of view. Your dog gets to spend a lot of time outdoors and making things more fun is a helpful way to keep your dog mentally stimulated. Especially during the heat when it is too warm to take them for long walks.
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden (of any size) introducing paddling pools, ball ponds, little tents or a sandpit can all be a good way to create the perfect dog landscape. You can set up your own activity area for your dog to do all the things they love, like digging (in the right places!) and setting up a scent work trail for them to follow. One tip, please remember that if you have astroturf or fake grass this does heat up very quickly!
Even if you don’t have a garden, you can still “build” a landscape for your dog. At Smithbrook Kilns, my dogs get to walk round the wooded areas to get those sniffs they need each day. We’ve been exploring the local countryside where they get the chance to run around and burn off that energy. And when we are at home the landscape here is about keeping cool… travel crates set up with a fan blowing on them, cushions away from the sun and cooled water – I use ice cubes to cool it down rather than give them to the dogs – as well as cooling treats like a frozen carrot or a doggie ice cream. If we do venture out, the aircon in the car is always on the dogs. Not that they are spoilt or anything!
If you need any advice about how to set up a dog friendly landscape, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Or come and join the social sessions starting in July and find out how I keep my two interested in the same area each day.
Enjoy the sunshine, Sara, Edie and Rupert.
Contact me, Sara Bridgeman on 07504 925341 or visit my website at: www.rewardsdogtraining.co.uk
You can read more of Sara’s articles right HERE.
