DogFish-Hydrotherapy

17/10/2025

Some great advice here, this would also be a great preventative protocol if you have a young or new dog whose noise reaction is unknown 🤗

We re very sorry but we are going to have to say the F word
….
Freaking Fireworks 😔🎆

Here in the UK the days are shortening rapidly and we move into one of the most dreaded times of the year for many animal carers -bonfire night / Guy Fawkes / November 5th …. But events and random fireworks just as likely for sometimes 2 weeks before and after.

So …. We highly recommend taking action now

We ll do a separate post on other animals, but here focus on dogs

- start shifting your evening walk if you do one, a bit earlier every day
- play some calm music when you arrive back, and as you close curtains / blinds earlier than normal and turn both TV and radio on if you have available
- use this as a signal to your dog you are about to do something together that is calm and fun … maybe a lickimat or similar with you say nearby, or some grooming whist you tell them a story, a massage or stroking session, some new odour / toy investigation
- at this time, practice giving a firm treat or piece of kibble wrapped in some pate (to mimic any medication giving)
- during the calm, connection session turn on some extra background music with a good beat (like rhythmic drumming or similar). Start quietly and over a few nights, increase the volume Leave this on every evening for an hour or more already so it is part of the routine

- if you think your dog might benefit from anti anxiety or anti anxiety and sedating medication on nights of anticipated noise, call your vets now to organise a weight and health check and get that prescribed
It can also be a good time to get their chip checked - is it working, are your details up to date ?

- for some dog / caregiver combos, you might find that heading off on a drive with the radio on whilst you head somewhere away from events is a helpful avoidance. Just ensure you set off early to avoid trying to get in your vehicle when bangs may go off, and always make sure your dog is wearing a secure collar / harness / lead with all your contact details.

I know many of us would really prefer there were no such events or loud noises, not just for our animals but for wildlife too (and many humans) but as that still isn’t the case, prepared is preferred

22/08/2025

Lovely to meet this literal Angel 😇 today, she was really quite worried at first but made a great start.

16/07/2025

Advance notice:
Im very sorry to have to do this but we are being forced to put up prices from 1st AUGUST due to having to be vat registered, which along with other increased overheads would make current price structure impossible.

Initial Hydrotherapy £80
Subsequent Hydro' £50
Fitness/fun sessions £35

We will still do the 11th session free when a block of ten is paid in advance.
We really appreciate everyone's continued support in these financially difficult times 🐾

29/06/2025

I'm going to ask everyone to bare with me this week as i work un supervised 😆poor Charlotte has had a disagreement with a glass door has needed stitches to her arm😞. So she's going to be out of action for a while. So far so good with squeezing everyone in though 🐾
Ps cooling coats or aircon at the ready for the journey here for a few more days i think, you may even want to bring a bottle of water for yourselves as the pool room is going to be 🥵👍

07/06/2025

great post, so thought I'd share as very relevant for our Dogfish 🐾🐟

🐾 Rethinking Dog Exercise: Why More Miles Aren’t Always Better 🐾

💠There’s a widespread belief among dog owners that “a good dog is a tired dog” — and that the key to good behaviour is logging a certain number of miles or hours of exercise each day.

💠But this mindset can be deeply flawed. Not only does it ignore the individual needs of the dog in front of us, it can actually create behavioural and physical problems that owners then try to “burn off” with… even more exercise. A cycle that becomes self-defeating.

💠Here’s what every dog owner (and trainer) should know:

⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻

⚠️ The Risks of Over-Exercising Dogs

Just like humans, dogs need a balance of physical activity and recovery. Without that, we risk:

🔸 Orthopaedic damage – Puppies, in particular, are vulnerable to over-exercising before growth plates close. High-impact activity can cause irreversible joint problems, such as hip or elbow dysplasia (Canine Arthritis Management, 2022).

🔸 Elevated stress levels – Chronic over-exertion can raise cortisol, the stress hormone, which impairs sleep, digestion, and emotional regulation. Dogs prone to reactivity or anxiety can become more on edge, not less (Beerda et al., 1997).

🔸 Dependency on exercise to cope – If the dog only “behaves” after a long run, they’re not learning coping skills or emotional self-regulation. It’s management, not resolution.

🔸 Suppressed signs of pain – Dogs are experts at masking discomfort. Many will run, jump, or chase even when injured, driven by instinct and adrenaline. Pain-related behaviours often show up later as irritability or aggression (Mills et al., 2020).

⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻

🧠 Why Mental Enrichment Often Matters More:

🔻Dogs don’t just need physical outlets. They need to use their brains.
• Sniffing lowers heart rate and improves optimism (Duranton & Horowitz, 2019).
• Puzzle toys and food-based enrichment help fulfil foraging instincts, promote problem-solving, and tire dogs out mentally.
• Shaping games and low-arousal training (like nosework or mat training) improve focus and build your dog’s confidence in a calm, constructive way.

🔻A 10-minute enrichment session can be more satisfying — and less stressful — than an hour pounding the pavement in an overstimulating environment.

⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻

💤 Rest Days Are Not Lazy — They’re Necessary

✅Even elite athletes build in rest days. Dogs are no different. Without them, the body can’t recover — and the mind never has a chance to settle.

✅Especially for:
• Puppies (whose joints and bones are still forming)
• Senior dogs (with reduced mobility or chronic pain)
• Reactive or anxious dogs (who find walks overwhelming)
• Dogs in rehabilitation (recovering from injury or trauma)

🥰A “rest day” doesn’t mean your dog does nothing — it means you swap stimulation type: fewer miles, more sniffing, calm games, massage, or simply downtime with you.

⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻

✅ So What Does a Balanced Week Look Like?

Rather than rigid daily quotas, consider a more thoughtful weekly rhythm:
• 2–3 structured walks
• 1–2 true rest days
• Daily enrichment (10–20 min)
• A mix of decompression walks, calm training, and varied environments
• Plenty of free time to sleep, chew, and observe the world safely

⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻

💬 Final Thought

We must move away from the belief that walking X number of miles every day equals good dog ownership. The truth is more nuanced.

✅ A well-balanced, well-regulated dog is not created by exhaustion — they’re shaped by rest, enrichment, safety, and trust.

Instead of asking, “Did I walk my dog far enough today?”
Ask, “Did I meet their needs today — mentally, emotionally, and physically?”

‼️Let’s start training smarter, not harder⚠️

25/05/2025

The Boss is In charge today, little Freya is ready to meet and greet at Hertfordshire County Show

24/05/2025

and we're off, please come say hi at Hertfordshire County Show 👋

17/05/2025

We have a winner….🥁

Congratulations Helen Moye you have won tickets to the Herts County show! 🎉🥳

Please email to redeem your prize:
📧 [email protected]

We hope you enjoy the day please come over to the dog zone to say hello to us 😁

17/05/2025

Competition now closed ⛔️

Thank you for everyone who has entered we will announce the winner tonight good luck! 🤞🏻

11/05/2025

To celebrate Dogfish turning 10 years old this year 🥳 We would like to give away two Hertfordshire County Show tickets!! 🥳🐏🐮

In order to enter this amazing competition please:

- Comment a photo of your dog enjoying the Great outdoors
- Share
- Tag two friends

We love seeing dogs enjoy the outdoors whether that is taking a stroll in the country side 🌳 on the beach 🏖️ or even enjoying a water sport 🌊

Competition ends Friday 17th and we will announce the winner on Saturday Morning

Good luck!! 🤞🏻

08/05/2025

We are excited to have a stand in the new dog zone at Hertfordshire County Show this year. It looks to be a lot of fun so please do come say hi as we celebrate 10 years of DogFish-Hydrotherapy ! 🥳🐾🐟

30/04/2025

I've told many of you about this incident and I'm alowing them to share as it's such an important message. However at no point was i upside down 😂 hanging on by one arm not a foot.
So I'm putting on the brave pants/waders tommorow morning and speaking to BBC 3 Counties Radio and then Greatest Hits Radio in the morning. I may try to sneak a 🐕🐟 mention in if I can 🫣🤞