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Showing posts with the label dog activities

Devil's Peak – an enticing challenge – with spectacular views

If you want a more physically challenging hike for you and your dog, why not try Devil's Peak.  When looking at Table Mountain from the front (or in any iconic pic or illustration) the peak on the left is Devil's Peak before you see the flat tabletop and Lions Head and Signal Hill on the right.  How Devil's Peak got its name Devil's Peak is the Dutch translation of Duivels Kop. The Peak got its name from a legendary folk-tale. According to Ridgway Ramblers , Jan Van Hunks, a retired Dutch pirate who lived in Cape Town, would go to the mountain to smoke his pipe as his wife didn’t allow him to puff at home. One day while enjoying a pipe a stranger challenged him to a smoking duel. For several days they sat on the mountain and smoked and smoked until a huge cloud enveloped both of them and the peak upon which they were sitting. When the smoke cleared both old men were gone and it was realised that the second old man was the devil and in losing the smoking competition, Van...

The benefits of hydrotherapy for dogs

Hydrotherapy is a part of alternative medicine (particularly naturopathy), occupational therapy and physiotherapy that involves the use of water for pain relief and treatment.  Hydrotherapy encompasses a broad range of approaches and therapeutic methods that take advantage of the physical properties of water, such as temperature and pressure, to stimulate blood circulation and treat the symptoms of certain conditions. But it is not exclusively reserved for humans. Hydrotherapy has become a popular way to treat animals, particularly because it is a low impact exercise on the joints and great for weight loss. Think of it as water aerobics for animals.  My Rottweiler Kygo, started his hydrotherapy journey almost two years ago when he was limping. He was walking uncomfortably and was being treated by an animal physiotherapist. His exercise routine was significantly reduced while he was healing and she recommended hydrotherapy as a form of exercise and for rehabilitation.  Kyg...