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Pet and Home Sitter Specialists Pet sitting/house sitting in Parklands/Sunningdale and surrounds. Jock Multistage and Nutribyte dog food sales and delivery service. Home and Pet Sitting.

Spencers Natural Pet Product sales.

15/04/2025

This week there was a post from a well-known dog influencer claiming that "dogs don't need enrichment" and that we should focus on their "real needs" instead.

I'm not sure if this statement was made simply to create controversy and get a rise out of people, or if it reflects a genuine belief. Either way, it fundamentally misrepresents what enrichment is and why committed dog owners invest time and effort into it.

Let's get something clear: Enrichment IS meeting our dogs' real needs. It's not some frivolous extra - it's acknowledging the reality of who our dogs actually are.

At the end of the day, our dogs are animals living in captivity. Yes, they're domesticated, but we still ask them to live in ways that are profoundly unnatural to them.

Think about it:

❌ It's not normal for dogs to stay inside houses 22+ hours a day
❌ It's not normal for dogs to walk slowly on leash without pulling, sniffing, or interacting with their environment
❌ It's not normal for dogs to ignore other animals they see
❌ It's not normal for dogs to not forage, counter-surf, or dig up your garden

Our dogs actually make very big efforts to fit into our human world with all its arbitrary and weird rules. The least we can do in return is fulfill their natural needs as much as possible.

That's what enrichment really is: providing opportunities for species-specific behaviors like sniffing, chewing, licking, digging, shredding, and foraging.

In all my years working with clients, I've NEVER encountered a dog owner who spent "too much time" on enrichment. In fact, I've found the opposite - the more intentional enrichment a dog receives, the happier they are, the easier training becomes, and the better the relationship gets.

Why?
Because enrichment acknowledges dogs for who they are. We humans don't have innate needs to sniff, dig, shred things, or forage - but our dogs absolutely do.

When we don't provide appropriate outlets for normal canine needs, our dogs find their own solutions - which we often label as "bad" behavior.
The dog who shreds your couch cushions, digs up your flowerbeds, chews your baseboards, raids your garbage, destroys toys within minutes, or counter-surfs is actually just acting according to their natural needs. Enrichment helps bridge that gap by providing appropriate alternatives.

With my own dogs, I ensure they have several types of enrichment every day - chewing opportunities, licking activities, daily sniffing adventures, appropriate digging spots, and chances for shredding and de-stuffing.

To be clear, enrichment doesn't replace exercise, training, or social interaction. It's ONE important piece of a fulfilled dog's life.

The next time someone suggests that enrichment is unnecessary or superfluous, remember: It's not about mindlessly throwing toys at our dogs or creating Instagram-worthy snuffle mats.
It's about honoring their true nature within the constraints of our human world.

It's not a way to DISCOUNT what they need. It's a way to ACKNOWLEDGE who they truly are.

(BY the way: I am writing this as my own dogs are all eating their breakfast in the form of frozen slow feeders 😄)

Happy Enrichment!

06/04/2025

I am a 21st century dog….
-I'm a Malinois.
Overskilled among dogs, I excel in all disciplines and I'm always ready to work: I NEED to work.
But nowadays I get asked to chill on the couch all day everyday.

-I am an Akita Inu.
My ancestors were selected for fighting bears.
Today I get asked to be tolerant and I get scolded for my reactivity when another approaches me.

-I am a Beagle.
When I chase my prey, I raise my voice so the hunters could follow.
Today they put an electric collar on me to shut up, and you make me come back to you - no running - with a snap of your fingers.

-I am a Yorkshire Terrier.
I was a terrifying rat hunter in English mines.
Today they think I can't use my legs and they always hold me in their arms.

-I'm a Labrador Retriever.
My vision of happiness is a dive into a pond to bring back the duck he shot to my master.
Today you forget I'm a walking, running, swimming dog; as a result I'm fat, made to stay indoors, and to babysit.

-I am a Jack Russell.
I can take on a fox, a mean badger, and a rat bigger than me in his den.
Today I get scolded for my character and high energy, and forced to turn into a quiet living room dog.

-I am a Siberian Husky.
Experienced the great, wide open spaces of Northern Europe, where I could drag sleds for long distances at impressive speeds.
Today I only have the walls of the house or small garden as a horizon, and the holes I dig in the ground just to release energy and frustration, trying to stay sane.

-I am a border collie
I was made to work hours a day in partnershipwith my master, and I am an unmistakable artist of working with the herd.
Today they are mad at me because, for lack of sheep, I try to check bikes, cars, children in the house and everything in motion.
I am ...
I am a 21st century dog.

I'm pretty, I'm alert, I'm obedient, I stay in a bag...but I'm also an individual who, from centuries of training, needs to express my instincts, and I am *not* suited for the sedentary life you'd want me to lead.

Spending eight hours a day alone in the house or in the garden - with no work and no one to play or run with, seeing you for a short time in the evening when you get home, and only getting a small toilet walk will make me deeply unhappy.

I'll express it by barking all day, turning your yard into a minefield, doing my needs indoors, being unmanageable the rare times I'll find myself outside, and sometimes spending my days sunk, sad, lonely, and depressed, on my pillow.

You may think that I should be happy to be able to enjoy all this comfort while you go to work, but actually I’ll be exhausted and frustrated, because this is absolutely NOT what I'm meant to do, or what I need to be doing.
If you love me, if you've always dreamed of me, if my beautiful blue eyes or my athletic look make you want me, but you can't give me a real dog's life, a life that's really worth living according to my breed, and if you can't offer me the job that my genes are asking, DO NOT buy or adopt me!

If you like the way I look but aren't willing to accept my temperament, gifts, and traits derived from long genetic selection, and you think you can change them with only your good will, then DO NOT BUY OR ADOPT ME.

I’m a dog from the 21st century, yes, but deep inside me, the one who fought, the one who hunted, the one who pulled sleds, the one who guided and protected a herd still lives within.

So think **very** carefully before you choose your dog. And think about getting two, rather than one, so I won't be so very lonely waiting for you all day. Eight or ten hours is just a workday to you, but it's an eternity for me to be alone.

Written by *unknown*

25/03/2025

Ever wonder what makes orange cats so special? Spoiler alert: It’s in their DNA! 🧬 Let’s break it down. 👇

🐾 1. 80% of orange cats are BOYS. Why? The orange gene is linked to the X chromosome. Males only need ONE copy to be orange, but females need TWO! That’s why ginger girls are rare!

🐾 2. No such thing as a solid orange cat. Every single orange cat is a tabby—even if their stripes are faint. The gene for solid orange fur? It doesn’t exist.

🐾 3. Freckles, freckles everywhere! 🐯 A lot of orange cats get little black spots on their nose, lips, and gums as they grow. It’s called lentigo—and yes, it’s 100% adorable.

🐾 4. Orange cats = extra social? 🤔 Studies suggest male orange cats tend to be friendlier and bolder than other cats. Coincidence? Science says maybe not!

🐾 5. Some are bright orange, some are creamy. Why? It’s all about pheomelanin, the pigment that creates orange fur. Some cats have more, some have less. That’s why you see different shades of ginger!

🐾 6. Big boys, big attitudes. Male orange cats tend to be larger than other cats. In the wild, bigger size = more dominance. Maybe that’s why they act like they own the place. 😼

🐾 7. Sun addicts! 🌞 Orange cats LOVE warmth. Their fur absorbs light differently, making them naturally drawn to sunny spots and warm blankets.

🐾 8. They TALK. A lot. 🗣️ Ever notice orange cats seem extra chatty? Some owners swear they’re the most vocal felines out there. Science hasn’t confirmed it—but orange cat parents KNOW.

🐾 9. They might live longer? 🧐 Some research suggests coat color could be linked to lifespan. Bigger size = survival advantage. But at the end of the day, health matters more than fur color!

🐾 10. They’ve been loved for centuries. 🏺 Ancient cultures believed orange cats brought luck, warmth, and prosperity. They knew what was up!

🔥 Orange cats = tiny tigers with BIG personalities. If you have one, you already know. 😉

07/03/2025

Sleep in a bed with a cat? The health effects are staggering...
Cats can sense when you need help.

If they wander all the way to your bed, or if they're always taking up room on the couch, know that they're just relieving you of negative energy. They have a special ability to detect magnetic fields, which is why it is recommended to put the bed where the cat spends more time and feels comfortable.

The cat is able to compensate for the physical and mental energy deficits of its owner. Research has shown that families with cats have a much lower incidence of disease, a more balanced atmosphere in the house and a more harmonious living environment.

Cats can sense when you are in pain.

Don't be surprised if your cat settles down exactly where it hurts. If your stomach hurts, your head hurts or your neck is tense, your favorite animal will most certainly linger on this area. Don't chase it away, be patient and let it flood you with healing energy. After a while the pain will decrease and you will feel much better.

Cats are excellent masters of bioenergetics, they can sense exactly when there is a problem somewhere, and therefore they try to balance the energies in a short time. They can sense the human aura, are amazing neurologists, psychologists, but are also excellent at "curing" physical illnesses. They alleviate anxiety, depressive symptoms and bring calm to the whole house and its owner.

Cardiovascular "doctors"
Cats are excellent cardiologists. People with hypertension can therefore consider sharing their life with a small, soft purr on all fours. People who have cats are much calmer, more balanced and their blood pressure problems are reduced. American research shows that the risk of heart attack is reduced by 30 to 40% in cat owners. Cats often sit on people's chests because they sense a problem and are quick to use their healing skills. This is how they prevent heart attacks.

Female cats have much stronger bioenergetics than male cats, and are more effective at reducing symptoms of mental and internal disorders.

Credit: Spiritual Nature

Gratitude Faye Rogers (please follow/like my page)

Artist: Lea Roche

19/02/2025

Welcome To Superhero Dog Training Training | Behaviour | TTouch Every dog has a superpower! If you’re like us and believe that dogs are just awesome, then you are in the right place. This SUPERPOWER is what makes living with your dog one of the most enriching experiences you can have. Does your do...

17/02/2025

We love what we do.

24/12/2024
Please come help clean our beaches
07/11/2024

Please come help clean our beaches

🌊 Protect Marine Wildlife – Join the Beach Cleanup! 🌊

Our SPCA Wildlife Team witnesses firsthand the harm that irresponsibly disposed of waste causes to our marine wildlife. From tangled sea birds to injured seals, littered beaches put countless marine animals at risk. That’s why we’re teaming up with The bowtie property guy —and we need you to join us!

📅 When: 30 November

🕘 Time: 9:00 - 11:00am

📍 Where: Blouberg Beach

Gloves, bags, and refreshments provided. Help us clean up, protect our shores, and keep our beaches safe for all.

Contact Jon Friedman [email protected] for more info

04/11/2024

*GUY FAWKES TOMORROW - 5th NOVEMBER*

🎆 : In spite of there being no approved designated sites for the discharge of fireworks in Cape Town, there are still those intent on illegally discharging fireworks in residential areas. Unfortunately, it's always animals that pay the price for their entertainment.

🔥The Cape of Good Hope SPCA is calling for a peaceful Guy Fawkes Night to protect pets and wildlife from the stress caused by fireworks. Every year, animals suffer from fear and anxiety due to loud explosions. Prevention is always better than cure, so be prepared!

Here’s how you can help:
🐾 Don’t support illegal fireworks and report them to The City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement at 0214807700 (available 24/7).

🐾 Keep pets safe: Ensure they have up-to-date identification, create a secure indoor space, close blinds, and mask outside sounds with the TV or radio. Feed them early and provide enrichment like a stuffed Kong or calming products from your vet.

🐾 Be there for them—older pets can develop new fears with age, so comfort them and keep them reassured.

👉 Learn more here: https://pulse.ly/fc36j11hus

25/10/2024
Jake and Oliver Straub. 🌈Gone but never forgotten, 🐾💖
08/10/2024

Jake and Oliver Straub. 🌈
Gone but never forgotten, 🐾💖

Jake & Oliver Straub

07/07/2024

WEATHER ⚠️ WARNING

Please prepare to have your animals inside for the next week, with ice cold air, rain and thunder rolling in.
Most animals suffer terribly when kept outdoors and even more so during this weather.
Thunder causes a massive increase in pet deaths due to panic- trying to get away from the rumbling thunder.

Please. Keep them indoors- SAFE AND WARM

Cats and Dogs need to be kept safe indoors please 🙏 🙏

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