We are finally into summer and the weather is perfect for taking your dog for a walk! But whose walk is it? Is your dog getting the most out of your walks? There are so many benefits when we get out there and enjoy nature with our pets...physical exercise is just the beginning. If we take the time to slow down and enjoy our time together, it allows our friends time for mental stimulation.

Did you know that a 30 minute "sniffari" is equivalent to an hour long brisk walk? If your time is short, you can still get in a very stimulating walk for a happier, more content and relaxed dog.

Studies show that a sniffing walk lowers a dog's pulse rate, promotes calmness and reduces stress by lowering cortisol levels.

Walks are an important outlet for natural behavior. Giving your dog the freedom to choose when they stop and what they sniff improves a dog's self confidence and allows them to feel more in control of their environment.

Keeping a dog mentally stimulated will require them to interpret the information they are getting from sniffing and helps reduce cognitive decline in older dogs. 

So, get out there!  Explore your neighborhood and let your dog sniff it up! Time passes fast enough, slow it down and enjoy your time together with a "sniffari" hosted by your favorite walking partner!

One of our biggest concerns is the safety of your pet in our facility. That safety starts right at the front door. We have signs posted that all dogs need to be on leash and under control when entering, but I feel that we may need to explain our reasoning just a bit more. Many times when your pet gets to our door they are super excited and energy is high.  This can cause dogs to react in ways that may not be normal for them.  Some are super happy, some are very protective of their parents and some are a bit wary of the other dogs around them, which dog you are going to encounter is a huge unknown. We have even had best friends in day camp act standoffish towards each other when parents are here. In the 3 pictures below you can see that the smaller dog on entering has enough leash to jump up on the larger dog.  She then continues to come at the dog, trying to grab his leash and eventually getting their leashes tangled. While this is a simulated encounter with two dogs that know each other well, the outcome could be far different with two unknown dogs. In order to keep everyone safe, it is always best to hold your dog close and not allow them to interact with others in the front area. In the two pictures above, you can see that the handlers are holding the dogs on a short leash and putting their bodies between the two dogs to limit visual and physical encounter. If your dog is reactive, please let us know and we can always arrange another entry for you that is safe. Please help us to keep everyone safe and fear-free when checking in and out of the facility! (And whenever you are out with your dog!)

Saoirse and I have been working on the perfect way to pass along the wealth of information that everyone at Willow Lodge has to offer to our pet parents...and here we are...blogging!!  I will be posting on a variety of topics that we run into every day when working with our wonderful guests. Please make sure to leave us a comment so we can include any topics you may want us to address!