The Mayhew’s Head of Kennels, Maria Markey, has created a Sensory Garden for our dogs to reduce stress and anxiety, encourage them to become more secure in their surroundings, and provide additional stimulation and enrichment on a daily basis during their time with us.
The Sensory Garden is made up numerous different smells, textures and sounds to engage all the senses and offer enjoyment for each individual dog at The Mayhew.
Here are some of the ideas we use in the garden, which you could very easily recreate in your own at home…
Dogs love nothing more than having a sniff about. Here are some of the scented plants which have a beneficial effect that you’ll see in our Sensory Garden this summer:
Why not try growing some of these in your own garden for your dog to enjoy this summer?
Toys, activity tables and games (such as a log with treats hidden in it – see the photo of Cooper enjoying this!) provide mental stimulation and enjoyment and are things you can easily make at home. An area of astro-turf and a wooden bark trough of water provide different and interesting things for the dogs to sniff, feel and touch and a paddling pool is a great way for your dog to play and cool off in the summer time!
A solar-powered fountain and wooden wind chimes provide soothing and relaxing sounds for the dogs to listen to. Non-invasive and natural noises such as these have a calming effect, making the dog feel at ease.
We hope you enjoy making your own sensory delight for your dog in your garden this summer!
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