“It is health that is the real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
During lunch, I was speaking with Brandee and our team about the different spheres of Canine Enrichment.
Brandee is particularly keen and interested in exploring “food enrichment.” She is incredibly passionate about nutrition for dogs – a topic that is highly-sensitive, and often under-rated when it comes to addressing canine wellness.
She was sharing a recent experience she had in speaking with one of our members about their dog’s food, and had offered some advice on considering options that would help support the dog through better nutrition than the tempting “add on’s” they top their dogs dry food off with.
She wasn’t expecting what happened later. Now, if you’ve met Brandee you know she is soft spoken, incredibly gentle, and I would even say, a bit hesitant and shy to be the first to engage.
Yet, she is a powerhouse when it comes to understanding canine nutrition.
It’s okay that not everyone will be open to receiving guidance in every sphere of canine enrichment. They are doing the best they can with where they are, and whatever information they have for now.
But if you happen to be that dog-loving mum or dad, who is really pushing yourself to offer your dog the absolute best support in all areas of wellness, then food is certainly one you must draw your attention to.
In fact, in the model of Canine Enrichment, we believe care must be given through nutrition, even before any kind of stimulation, activity, or exercise.
Once you do, you will begin to notice the immediate changes:
- smaller poop, with no odor
- healthier coats
- stronger muscle tone
- clean teeth and odorless breath
- no need for supplements
Remember, enrichment is encompassing of the whole being… and nutrition – NOT food – is an element equal to all other spheres.
Teena Patel is a Certified Dog Trainer and Behavioral Counselor who works with pet owners and owners of doggy daycares to bring her philosophy of Enrichment to the canine population. After almost two decades of successful dog training under her belt, Teena has done away with the standard doggy daycare “warehousing” of animals in kennels and runs. In place of an industrial model, she focuses on what is right for the dogs as living beings, providing experiences that improve and enhance their behavioral health. Coupled with a program of careful training, the Doglando experience results in companion dogs who are better-behaved, better integrated into their families, and above all, much happier. True to her passion, Teena Patel gives dogs the freedom “to be dogs”.