History
I (Cath) have always have owned dogs from since I can remember, from pure breeds to cross breeds and rescue dogs. In the early 1990's I saw the benefits of swimming with and for my dogs, who loved to run along sandy beaches and swim in the sea. I wanted my dogs to benefit from swimming all year round and was able in the mid 90's to find a reputable pool in Chichester to do this. This entailed me travelling one and a half hours each way, but for my dogs, the vitality it gave them far out weighed any costs. Over the years all of my dogs have reached the ages of 15 - 17yrs, the prue bred ones, the mixed breeds and those that have been rescued from apaulling starts in life, I am so sure that this has been through the, 'everything in moderation', tlc and the incorporation / benefits of hydrotheraphy. In 2000 I still lived in the suburbs of London and was very happy using a more local pool in Uxbridge. In 2002 I moved out to Essex (with my dogs and horses) and found it difficult to find a suitably qualified and reputable canine pool, everyone seemed to be 'jumping on the band wagon' of hydrotheraphy, without full training, an understanding of medical conditions let alone a dogs anatomy and physiology; so for a while I again communted to Uxbridge.
At about this time John and I met, John having rabbits, tropical fish and koi - he and my animals soon became inseparable. After a couple of years we decided that we would like to have our own hydrotheraphy pool for our dogs. John undertook the design and construction of our pool, it was decided to have a 3m x 6m x 1.4m pool, allowing us as therapists to be in the water with the dog, so a full range of movement could be obtained and if needed for both of us to be in the pool with a dog. We looked at both the requirements of NARCH and CHA and undertook our training in 2009 / 2010, both of us gaining NVQ Level 3 from the ABC in Hydrotheraphy for small animals. We wanted courses that incorportated canine anatomy & physiology, pool water management, first aid, COSHH and the principles and practices of hydrotheraphy for small animals. We routinely update our first aid for small animals and continue to go on courses to expand our knowledge. At present the NVQ Level 3 is the highest qualification offered, once the NVQ Level 4 is available we will be undertaking this. Cath has also for many years been qualified in massage and reiki and can tailor sessions to incorporate these.
Water Hounds is based here in Great Dunmow, Essex, within easy access from Braintree, Chelsmford and from the Hertfordshire / Cambridgeshire boarders. We have an ethos - for the benefit and well being of dogs.