Canine Enrichment Herb Garden
Everything is covered to help you easily build your enrichment garden. Important topics include 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.
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 deeply 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 can be a dedicated space or incorporated into our existing garden. It 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, textures underfoot, and aromas for the dog to interact with, as well as 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.
Importantly, there is a chapter on ways we can benefit from this beautiful space, too.
The area we are going to create for our dogs can provide the following:
An outlet for instinctual behaviours such as sniffing, foraging, grazing, 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.
With so many dog-friendly herbs to choose from, 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.
Providing texture and varying terrain is also important, 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 like 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.
The book is available on Amazon as an e-Book or paperback on the link below: Here is the link https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FHKYK5T9
Or there are often paperbacks on the shop to buy. https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/products/canine-enrichment-herb-garden-book
Hedgerow Hounds handmakes veterinary-formulated supplements for dogs. The company is run by a qualified canine therapist with 30 years of experience in holistic dog care & nutrition.
Snack Bars for Dogs
A healthy snack bar which is easy to make and ideal for a day out with your dog or a long road trip.
If you are out all day with your dog, have a strenuous training session planned or a busy day at a show, these snack bars are ideal for active dogs and those that need a pick me up.
You will need:
A baking tray lined with baking parchment
250g Gluten free Rolled oats or Oatmeal
A generous pinch of Pumpkin seeds
1 small ripe mashed banana
Optional half teaspoon of almond nut butter (must be palm oil & xylitol free) Pip & Nut make a good one.
4 blueberries, lightly crushed with a fork or dried unsweetened cranberries.
1 teaspoon of local honey (not for pups under 12 months) or blackstrap molasses
1 tablespoon of melted coconut oil
1 teaspoon of your favourite Hedgerow Hounds herbal blend. The Crowning Glory blend would look great in this bar!
Optional quarter teaspoon of cinnamon or turmeric, if your dog likes the taste.
Place the oats, seeds, berries and banana into a saucepan over a low heat. When the contents are starting to get warm add the coconut oil, honey and cinnamon, stirring and crushing with the back of a fork if necessary, until the ingredients are combined.
Spoon evenly onto the baking tray, levelling out and pressing down firmly with the back of a wooden spoon.
Place on the middle shelf of a pre-heated oven at 180c for approximately 20-25 minutes until a light golden brown.
Remove the tray from the oven and while still warm gently cut the size of rectangles you require with a knife. Leave to cool completely in the tin before lifting the energy bars out.
Make sure the bars are cold before storing in an airtight container for up to a week or alternatively wrap the bars individually and freeze.
www.Hedgerow Hounds.co.uk