Elina Halonen

Toy test: MyIntelligentPets Dog Sudoku

I bought the MyIntelligentPets Dog Sudoku a couple of weeks ago at the Animal Event but hadn’t had time to test it yet. Last night the little monkeys were particularly energetic despite a long walk with friends so I thought it was time. My Dog Sudoku is a part of the Travel Box which alsoContinue reading “Toy test: MyIntelligentPets Dog Sudoku”

A weekend of fun at the Animal Event

This post is a little bit late now but better now than not at all! A couple of weeks ago we bundled the dogs into our car and headed south to Tilburg for the 13th edition of Animal Event. We discovered it last year but too late to sign up for any workshops so thisContinue reading “A weekend of fun at the Animal Event”

Reset with sleep and slow games

Today is a low-key home day with lots of sleep to “reset” the dogs after a busy weekend. Our weekends are often filled with beach visits, trips to the garden centre and generally lots of activity for the dogs – in short, a ton of stressors because even a highly exciting trip to the beachContinue reading “Reset with sleep and slow games”

Toy test: grid snuffle mat

Today we tried one of the two unusual types of snuffle mats we bought at the Animla Event a couple of weeks ago. Result? It suits Grace very well because her sniffing style is (still) quite gentle but for Nell, who is more experienced it is a little bit too easy so it doesn’t keepContinue reading “Toy test: grid snuffle mat”

Multilevel “find-it” game indoors

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Layering snuffle games

Round 1: snuffle mat (or similar) under a blanket View this post on Instagram A post shared by BusyDoggies (@busy_doggies) Round 2: Putting a blanket over a Bustermat View this post on Instagram A post shared by BusyDoggies (@busy_doggies)

Toy review: K9 Connectibles

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Thinking about choice

I’m a fan of giving dogs choice and have previously not quite understood nor agreed with people who say their dogs can’t handle choices. Reading this article, I understand a little better – or to be more accurate, I have a better grasp of the concept and vocabulary of choice, and where it is appropriate.Continue reading “Thinking about choice”

“Why did you get a second busy dog?”

A couple of days ago we bumped into a dog physiotherapist who used to treat Nell and she me why we decided to get a second busy dog. The question took me slightly by surprise and I didn’t have a good answer for her on the spot, but her question stuck with me so IContinue reading ““Why did you get a second busy dog?””

Toy tip: going beyond classic Kong for frozen food toys

This morning I did my weekly ritual for the second time since Grace arrived in family: filled a dozen toys and froze them. While it is common advice to new puppy owners to use Kongs and especially frozen ones, in the first two weeks I was too much in a haze to be that organisedContinue reading “Toy tip: going beyond classic Kong for frozen food toys”