Elina Halonen

Toy review: Buster ActivityMat

I’ve talked about the BusterMat before so I thought I’d make a longer video. It really is the best brain toy I’ve come across – you can increase the difficulty as your dog learns more, and it is difficult time and time again because you basically need dexterity to get the treats too, not justContinueContinue reading “Toy review: Buster ActivityMat”

Toy review: JW Hol-ee Ball & Caterpillar, Petsafe Ribinator

Puppies & physiotherapy

If your dog is very active (e.g. a sporting or working breed) it’s a really good idea to have them checked 1-2 times per year by a physiotherapist. Grace has been a rocket-monkey-otter hybrid since she arrived as a 16 week old puppy so for our peace of mind it’s been invaluable to know she’sContinueContinue reading “Puppies & physiotherapy”

Dummy games

Health insights: 10 most important things to know about canine hip dysplasia

A technical but very useful article from The Institute of Canine Biology 👇 1. All puppies are born with perfectly normal hips2. The genes that cause hip dysplasia remain a mystery3. Environmental factors are also important4. Joint laxity is the primary cause of hip dysplasia5. Controlling joint stability is key6. Body weight is a MAJORContinueContinue reading “Health insights: 10 most important things to know about canine hip dysplasia”

A muffin mould meal

This morning’s improvised enrichment… We do DIY raw but occasionally forget to order more before the pre-prepared boxes run out, so this is a sausage from the pet shop, just squeezed into what was within reach… a silicone muffin mould (that has never actually been used to make muffins). Works!

Books on dog-human connection

BECAUSE DOG TRAINING IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS ALL Train the Dog in Front of You (Denise Fenzi) If there was one sentence in the blurb that describes this book, it’s this: “This book is practical, realistic, easy to read and….radically different from all other dog training books on the market.” I’ve never seen a book likeContinueContinue reading “Books on dog-human connection”

Toy review: Sumo Play & Dog Comets Ceres Treat Locker

These two excellent products arrived yesterday – they are nice alternatives to the classic Kong. The Sumo Play is basically the same thing, but I find it easier to fill with wet food for freezing, and because it’s a different shape, dogs need to learn to hold it differently (i.e. more mental stimulation and pawContinueContinue reading “Toy review: Sumo Play & Dog Comets Ceres Treat Locker”

Reads: Interesting article on canine osteoarthritis

Interesting article looking at two sides of the story when it comes to canine osteoarthritis: owners and vets. In short, lots of assumptions on both sides which leads to miscommunication and not always the best outcome for the dog. Also, apparently a lot of times owners don’t want to accept the diagnosis and think theirContinueContinue reading “Reads: Interesting article on canine osteoarthritis”

Wrap your puppy into a python

If you’re getting a puppy, something like this might be good to allow them to curl up into something like the BeezTees cuddle toy below.. Or, for a cheaper version, the IKEA snake does the same job and even older dogs may find it loads of fun – ours do! It’s curled up in, carriedContinueContinue reading “Wrap your puppy into a python”