Sensory Garden Bella in Gangelt
Let your dog explore the Sensory Garden!
Would you like to do something completely different with your dog? You want to see how your dog uses all its senses. Here, your dog can truly be a dog, and together we observe what your dog enjoys.
My sensory garden is called Sensory Garden Bella, named after my sweet dog Bella, who passed away in August 2024. She was my wonderful example of how important sensory experiences are for a dog.
Sensory Garden Bella is located in Gangelt-Birgden.
What is a Sensory Garden?
A sensory garden is a safe place where a dog can freely and naturally use its nose and other senses at its own pace, without interference from its owner.
It is also a space without other dogs or people.
Why a Sensory Garden?
- Your dog can run freely in a safe environment
- Mental challenge
- Own pace, without pressure from others
- Sniffing reduces stress
- Dog is relaxed
- Important for self-confidence
- The dog can overcome fears (e.g., noise or unfamiliar objects) because curiosity prevails
- The owner learns to see their dog in a new way
- The owner understands how important sniffing is for a dog and how a dog follows its natural instincts (dogs are scent-driven animals)
- Awakens curiosity
- A safe space for both dog and owner
- Stimulates natural movement
- Enhances learning ability
How does the Sensory Garden work?
After you have checked the garden again to ensure it is safe enough for your dog, the leash is removed.
I will stay with you throughout the visit so we can observe together what your dog does, what body language it shows, what it likes or dislikes, and ultimately what you have learned about your dog. This way, you can make your dog even happier at home.
In the Sensory Garden, your dog can use all its senses while we remain at a distance. Everything in the garden is designed to stimulate all of your dog’s senses.
It is a beautiful garden with many old trees, such as walnut, apple, and cherry trees.
Your dog’s sense of smell, hearing, sight, and even touch will be engaged. How do we achieve this?
In the Sensory Garden, your dog can use all its senses
Sense of Smell
In the garden, there are many scents, including natural aromas from hedgehogs, birds, cats, mice, dogs, and many other animals.
There is also an herb garden with herbs such as rosemary, sage, basil, and catnip.
Sense of Hearing
Wooden wind chimes, plastic bottles filled with small stones hanging from a tree, and natural sounds from birds and other surroundings.
Sense of Sight
There are many things to see and discover, such as bottles hanging from a tree that also make sounds.
Sense of Touch
A path with different surfaces such as wood chips, stones, and sand.
Sense of Taste
There are strawberry plants, berries, and other delicious treats for snacking—of course, only during harvest season. 😉
In the garden, there are some raised areas made of tree trunks that your dog can explore, climb on, or interact with however they like. The garden also features many shrubs and a garden house for further exploration.
A visit lasts a maximum of 20–45 minutes. Your dog will indicate when they are done—this might be by heading to the exit or lying down near you.
At this point, depending on your dog’s needs, we can offer a treat search/snack hunt. This gives us a few minutes to chat about the visit before it’s time to head home.
And now, sleep and process everything beautifully...
Very important!
Your dog will now sleep wonderfully—first in the car and later at home.
It needs this time to process everything properly. It was a tiring experience.
Please avoid too many activities with your dog in the following days to allow it to recover.
How much does a visit to the Sensory Garden cost?
Sensory Garden Bella is NOT a commercial garden.
A visit to the Sensory Garden costs €12.50, and 100% of the money is donated to the animal shelters in Heinsberg and Kaiserslautern.
Of course, you can always give more 😉—every additional contribution benefits the animals.
Sensory Garden Bella is part of the Dutch Snuffle Garden Project "Snuffeltuinen Initiatief"
Sensory Garden Rules
There are some garden rules we would like to inform you about:
The Sensory Garden is NOT a playground, training ground, or practice area.
Give your dog the time and freedom to explore and sniff everything at its own pace—without a leash, guidance, or encouragement from humans.
Please keep enough distance from your dog to respect its personal space.
If your dog discovers something exciting and seeks support, we will naturally assist when needed.
If your dog must stay on a leash due to health, behavioral, or safety reasons, please use a secure safety harness or a Y-harness along with a long leash (5 or 10 meters). Leashes are available on-site.
IMPORTANT:
Outside the Sensory Garden, dogs must always be on a leash.
Your dog must have valid liability insurance and be free from contagious diseases.
Female dogs in heat cannot participate.
Before your visit, please inform us about any special considerations regarding your dog—for example, if your dog is anxious or has specific needs.
Prüfen Sie daher selbst, ob der Zaun (1.50 meter) ausreichend hoch ist und alle Gegenstände für Ihren Hund sicher sind.
HOW MANY DOGS PER VISIT?
We aim to provide quality time for both dog and owner. Therefore, for the first visit, only one dog is preferred. For follow-up visits, an additional dog from the same household may join, as long as both interact calmly and can sniff individually.
OWN RISK:
Access to and use of the Sensory Garden on our private property is entirely at your own risk. The owner/handler is responsible for the dog's safety, including any accidents or escape situations.
PARKING:
Please park on the street and not in front of our house. Also, do not ring the doorbell! We will be waiting outside for you and your dog and will guide you into the garden.
We reserve the right to end the sniffing session if it exceeds its intended purpose.
You would like to visit Sensory Garden Bella
Would you like to visit Sensory Garden Bella?
Please let us know when you would like to come. I will contact you in advance to confirm whether and when a visit is possible.
Before your visit, I will send you a form, which I kindly ask you to fill out.
We would like to know more about your dog, including any special considerations we should be aware of. Along with the form, I will also send you our Sensory Garden rules
Let your dog sniff and explore in Schnüffelgarten Bella
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