A book celebrating the love of dogs, the beauty of herbs, and the wonders of nature.
My first book is about a topic I am very passionate about and that has been an interest of mine for many years. It is written from a holistic approach to creating an enrichment space using knowledge gained over the past 35 years and given to me by my greatest teachers, the dogs themselves.
So, what exactly is an enrichment garden, and why should we create one?
An enrichment garden offers dogs the freedom to move and explore at their own pace, without human interference or direction. This dedicated space encourages natural behaviours and curiosity, rather than learned responses, allowing dogs to be themselves without pressure to respond to our expectations of what they should be doing. The space will include herbs, objects, textures, and aromas for the dog to interact with, but also to move their body in a therapeutic way to calm the nervous system and improve mobility. There is a section on providing enrichment for dogs with specific needs, such as the elderly, blind, or disabled dogs, as well as puppies.
The area we are going to create for our dogs can provide the following:
An outlet for instinctual behaviours such as sniffing, foraging, problem solving, digging, and exploring; all fantastic for reducing stress, frustration, and lowering anxiety.
Mental stimulation with scent from the environment and additional items such as snuffle mats and interactive toys.
A sensory experience with scent, sound, and texture underfoot. The garden will constantly change because of plant growth, weather conditions, seasonal changes, and what wildlife has visited the garden. Every day will offer something a little different.
Encouragement of natural movement without our influence or expectations.
Building confidence in themselves as the effects of sniffing and exploring lower the stress hormones and make the world seem a less scary place.
By going through a natural range of movements over varying textures and terrains, we are encouraging the dog to work all their body systems.
Enhanced well-being and quality of life.
A space that is appealing to look at, and that we enjoy spending time in with our dog.
We explore the many herbs that are suitable and safe for the herb garden, whether you choose to plant them in pots or directly into the ground.
There are so many dog-friendly herbs to choose from, and there is an extensive list in the book, as well as plants to avoid. Many are hardy and evergreen, so will provide interest all year round. If you have a small space and want to create an enrichment area in pots, then that is covered too.
Texture and varying terrain are also covered in the book, and how the dog’s body adapts and processes the information that is being fed back to them as they travel over hard and soft ground, slopes, and step over small obstacles.
Adding in texture, such as shingle, wood chippings, moss, mat-forming herbs, textured pathways, and sand, all add to the sensory experience.
Everything is covered to help you easily build your own enrichment garden. Important topics such as the choice of herbs, adding interactive items such as snuffle mats, choosing planters and pots, soil health, the importance of a chemical-free lawn, and ways to embrace nature with your dog throughout the seasons.
Learn how simple adaptations in your garden can provide a sensory experience as well as therapeutic movement.