Canine Scentsory adventures

17/09/2025

Would you say your dog is fussy about their food?

People talk to me constantly about the worry that when they change their dogs food they eat it for a couple of days and then refuse it.

This can be for many reasons and health would be on the top of the list. If this happens constantly talk to your vet and do make an appointment and make sure your vet understands your concerns. Vets can't help unless you tell them the whole story

But

The truth is often far more basic.

The people that often tell me this feed their dogs on kibble. A friend of mine calls it "astronaut food" and she is not wrong.
Kibble may (or may not) have everything the dog needs to stay healthy. Do me a favour and take a sniff of the kibble you are using, if indeed that is what you are currently feeding your dog.
Kibble can go off -if it has a paint stripper smell it is indeed past its best and the bag should be thrown away, It is not fit to feed to your dog
Kibble is boring-the same texture and taste day in and out is not enticing

Dog guardians also tell me if they put other more tasty things in their dogs meals they will become "more fussy" and "spoilt" -this is not true!

Offer your dog variety -every time I watch the dogs moving around during enrichment sessions I see them quickly move on from foods I think they might enjoy and select others-but the same dogs on different days make different choices - and we humans are exactly the same

Do vary your dogs food-I know that we are advised to keep to the same foods because of GI upsets and illness and this is the case for some dogs but many dogs love a little extra in their food to provide extra texture, different tempting smells and just because they like to try different things

You do not radically have to change food and remember that a dog can't function without food or the correct amount of sleep and one can impact on the other

If at any point you would like some advice or help with your dog do contact me

15/09/2025

Monthly social walks near to the enrichment area

Where?
In a quiet area a short distance from the enrichment area

What happens?
These walks are quiet, all on lead. We help the dogs to settle, allow them to get used to the other dogs in the area and when the dogs are happy we begin walking

Who are they for?
to help dogs that are anxious around other dogs to build confidence.

I can also offer -
to assess your dog, provide you with information and a plan to help you and your dog with walks

Numbers are limited to 4 dogs per walk.
Price
£20.00 per session

If you would like to join please do contact me WhatsApp 07910 720961

09/09/2025

I have been doing a "spring clean" replacing the bunting and painting
Luckily Twoey has been helping (but he would rather watch)

Social walk Sunday 14th September

If you have a dog that is fearful around other dogs I am organising a social walk on Sunday morning -do message or call me if you would like more details 07910 720961

03/09/2025

Enrichment as a confidence builder

Last week I did a short post on how enrichment helps improve the posture of dogs

This week we are discussing confidence

It seems an odd thing to pair enrichment with building confidence but it does

Why? Because dogs are at liberty to choose where to explore and how to reach areas of interest
A dog might initially be a little worried about strange objects set out in an area but this is why we don't interfere. The humans that accompany the dog are there to provide support.
Our role is not to push the dogs into searching specific areas but just remain close by to provide assurance if needed

If a dogs curiosity is piqued -even if they have little experience of being able to choose where they want to go it provides a strong motivation to seek out those areas and to find out if they are of interest.

This is empowering for a dog that is anxious -especially if we remain available to the dog

As they investigate other basic needs are fulfilled and it may be that a dog will only feel able to explore for a short time, or as is my experience they will continue to move around for 45 minutes -this might have intervals where they check in with their human or lay down with a natural chew -but this is the norm for pretty much all the dogs I have ever watched during a session that is set up

Dogs that have had bad histories, are just getting used to new lives, have had injuries or illness all benefit

Book a session by message or calling. It is easy and if there are any aspects of your dogs behaviour that are puzzling you we can discuss how best to help and support you and your dog

https://www.horseandhoundschool.co.uk/crabtreeenrichmentcentre

27/08/2025

There are many benefits of enrichment

We will be looking at some of these in the next few posts

Posture

Why is posture included in the list-after all surely a dog is just exploring the environment?

The point is that the dog IS exploring. Exploring means movement and as they move, posture is involved.

Posture is complex.
A dog will have good posture if they live in certain conditions ( a home without slippery floors and if the dog has no pain)

Once the dog has pain or cannot move freely movement is inhibited and posture changes

Posture changes lead to atrophy of muscle-it only takes a little time for muscle to atrophy but far longer to rebuild muscle once it is lost

Proprioception is compromised if a dog is unbalanced and can have an impact on other senses such as the vestibular system

If a dog has failing eyesight this has an immediate impact on proprioception and balance-our sense of sight is integral to balance and the smooth movement

As dogs explore and reach areas of interest ~the placement of their feet will assist them
~to reach up to check scents
~to climb onto hard/ soft areas

these all affect posture-not only during the exploration but it kick starts the body to release tight areas of the body and fascia around the muscles and ligaments begins to receive more nutrients and becomes hydrated-----this help movement to become more fluid and posture improves

This is why specific elements are included -of course it is the dogs choice as to whether they attempt any one of the areas that call on the posture and it is this which provides us with valuable information

If you look at the picture you will see that my girl has to adopt her normal movement to walk through the rungs of the ladder and this has required her to shorten her body-by lifting her back and bringing her hind legs nearer to her front legs-this causes her to adjust her balance as she walks slowly through the rungs and of course she is using her nose too
This increases flexibility in the body and also contributes to fulfilling basic needs

Want to know more about how you can assist your dog to improve their posture?
Booking a session is easy-just send a message via Whatsapp 07910 720961

18/08/2025

What is the difference between an off lead area and an enrichment session?

Off leads fields are great, they without doubt provide perfect areas for dogs to be off lead safely and guardians have no need to worry about other dog walkers or bumping into other dogs that may have an adverse affect on your own

Enrichment areas are different. They provide dogs and guardians with an alternative way to spend quality time

The areas are full of things which are sourced to intrigue dogs, they invite dogs to slow down rather than speed up and the process of slowing down encourages dogs to make use of their senses

All dogs have basic needs which we need to fulfill, as they are unable to do this on their own

The things which are included in enrichment areas not only encourage the dogs to explore and investigate they also put the dog in a situation where the senses are bought into play

As they explore, the sense of smell is called on, most sessions have good appropriate treats and smells to search out, and as they search for the smells both natural and ones that are provided they begin to move with more thought and this calls on dogs to use their balance and calls on proprioception

This in turn tells us humans a lot about how the dog feels.
Does the dog avoid climbing on and off specific things or are they happy to work out a route that is easier than the obvious to check things out?

This might be due to balance issues, or it might indicate discomfort in the body or signal some physical issues that may not have come to light before

Dogs carry the majority of their weight on their two front legs, so if they alter how they move to avoid using a specific area of the body this needs to be spotted earlier rather than later

If a dog is disinclined to move a leg and turns constantly in one direction this can also be an early warning that something is amiss

If when a dog picks up a chew but then drops it and moves on this could just be the dogs choice or might indicate that they would rather not chew because of discomfort in the mouth or jaw

As we are present as the dogs search around we have time to observe and make connections between things that the dog is choosing to do. We are all so busy that it is easy to miss things-things which a dog would not have hesitated to do but is now avoiding are vital information
I am a qualified canine bodyworker and offer behaviour support for your dog so can advise and answer any questions you may have about your dogs behaviour or physical problems

As well as all of this specifically developed enrichment areas provide dogs with places where they can relax.
If you have a recently rescued dog, a reactive dog. an older dog who likes to spend time with their person without being hassled --look no further
Puppies are welcome too-the exploring and searching will leave you with a happy relaxed young dog who will sleep for the rest of the day!

I have appointments available for Bank Holiday Sunday

11.30

1.30

Appointments available every Sunday -please message or call for details

07910 720961

Located just outside of Crowborough

11/08/2025

A little bit of catch up

The first weekend of August was Greyfest and I had a stand which was fun. A lot of people had questions about their dogs and how they could help them
I had some information about enrichment and had a few handouts for people to take home and read mostly involved with how dogs perceive their worlds and how to provide more enrichment and the various forms it can take

If you would like copies please do message or email me [email protected]

Yesterday there was a social walk -which if you have a nervous dog you are welcome to join, numbers are limited to 4 so booking needs to be in advance

In the afternoon we had a visit from this lovely boy. He is a Galgo and has a glorious curl to his tail!

24/07/2025

15/07/2025

To be honest it has been a very tough couple of months.

Then the weather has caused ructions and it has been way too hot for dogs

I have some sessions available this Sunday if anyone would like a bit of peace and quiet in a very special place that invites your dog to explore, chill and start to rebalance after all the heat

If you are having any problems with your dog - behaviour support is on offer and we can discuss how enrichment can help and if your dog is recovering from an injury or is showing signs of slowing down not only can this be discussed but it may be that adding some very simple exercises that I can show you -can really help your dogs flexibility and mobility

If you would like to discuss your dog, please do call or message WhatsApp 07910 720961

The times that are available for 20th July are

11.30

1.00

14/06/2025

Why should enrichment feature in your dogs life?

For one thing it is a basic need, if we look at what dogs need to thrive you won't be surprised to see they are scavengers by nature-but there is more

Enrichment has so many important functions and we all need to understand first and foremost that dogs need choice and autonomy

We spend a lot of time organising our dogs lives but we have to learn that while there are some areas of their lives where we have to step in there are many others when choice becomes a critical skill rather than a luxury

If dogs are unable to choose wisely because we are always hands on then wellbeing suffers

I will be doing a series of posts which detail why enrichment is crucial for your dog over the next week or so both to inform but to celebrate our FIFTH birthday

If you have any questions, would like to book a session form your dog or join the social walk please message or call Pennie WhatsApp 07910 720961

13/06/2025

A look back at the five years that the Scentsory area has been welcoming dogs and their people

This was five years ago-the grass had taken over and had been strimmed to form paths for the dogs

It was pretty empty and less welcoming at that point but things were to change!

12/06/2025

This month marks the ***5th birthday ***of Canine Scentsory adventures at Crabtree Canine Enrichment

There was a long story-we started putting all the elements together in 2019 and during Christmas of that year we invited a few dogs and their people over to see how it worked for the dogs-it all went well and there was amazing feedback

There was still a bit of work to do so the proposed date of opening was March 2020------but then we all know what happened then-so the official opening wasn't until June

I just realised a few days ago that it is the 5th anniversary-so I will be putting together some events to celebrate this landmark

This will include inviting some of the dogs and their people that have visited over these last 5 years -and it would be lovely if any of you that follow this page put any pictures you may have of your dogs during the visits
Those of you that contribute will be entered into a draw to win a free session

So please do post your photos on the thread and I will include them and compile your memories into a post