Hayley Walks - Pet Care Services

06/01/2025

“Could you please stop working now Mum? I really need a biscuit”

04/01/2025

It’s always lovely to see these beauties 🐱🐱🐱

04/01/2025

💛

Small dogs often face challenges in having their space respected, as their size can make them appear approachable or less intimidating. However, they deserve the same consideration as larger dogs.

Signs like backing away, barking, growling, or a tucked tail often indicate they’re asking for space.

It’s important not to crowd or pick them up without their consent, as this can increase their stress. Allow them to approach on their terms and respect their comfort levels with people and other dogs.

Teaching others to recognise these cues helps create a safer, more respectful environment for small dogs to feel secure.

03/01/2025

He’s a handsome little rascal 🧡

31/12/2024

30/12/2024

😂 it’ll never change 🙈

My elation with animals has always been very apparent 😂💓

29/12/2024

Weekend walkies 💛🐾🧡

26/12/2024

I have the kindest clients 🥹- thank you for everyone’s happy Christmas wishes/lovely messages 💖, cards, gifts, tips & treats for the boys 🐕🐕‍🦺 - I am very thankful to be thought of at such a busy time of year for all 🎄⛄️✨ it means so much that I get to spend all year round with your furry family members 🐶🐱🐶🐱 & I hope you’re all enjoying the festive break with each other, I’m looking forward to 2025 with them already 🐾🥰

23/12/2024

Thses foods are dangerous and/or toxic for dogs! Keep your precious companions safe this Christmas by keeping these products out of reach 🐶🎄

18/12/2024

I've shared these words before but I'm sharing them again after seeing the aftermath of a dog bite to a child because it's so important if you live with kids & dogs that you think about this stuff. No one ever thinks it'll happen to them til it does...

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“𝙃𝙚’𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙨…”
“𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙩𝙨 𝙪𝙥 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙨…”

We often praise our dogs for their tolerance of the behaviour of children, but tolerance is a subjective word….

𝙏𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚
1. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩
2. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨
3. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱

To tolerate something is to put up with something you’d really rather not. We tolerate queues, TV adverts and dental check ups….but, given a choice, we’d probably pass…

So when we praise our dog for being tolerant aren’t we really acknowledging that he’s putting up with things he’d choose to avoid if he could? He tolerates the children sitting on him, hugging him, pulling his ears or squeezing in beside him on the sofa…but he’s often not enjoying it and may actively dislike it.

Relying on our dogs’ tolerance of things they find uncomfortable in order to keep our children safe is a risky strategy….even the most bomb proof dog has his limits. One day he might be sore or feel unwell or simply have had enough of being manhandled and what then? What happens if he reaches a tipping point and reacts? No one ever thinks it will happen to them until it does.

Instead of tolerance perhaps a better word to keep in mind when thinking about dog/child interactions is respect?

𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩
1. 𝘥𝘶𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘺

Respect for the dog’s space and his right to choose what interactions he’s comfortable with. Respect for a dog’s right to say no. Respect for a dog to be left in peace. Actively teaching our children how to behave safely around dogs; how to treat them with consideration and thoughtfulness and not as playthings.

Safe, happy relationships are built on trust, communication and respect…not tolerance & forbearance.

16/12/2024

Such a handsome pup 😍🥰

11/12/2024

Social media can be so harsh. 💥
Lots of negative comments and posts dissing the 3x3x3 "rule".
The advice is still sound....and catchy enough to be able to be remembered, however I do understand that some people really do take things to heart and will strictly adhere to 3 days, 3 weeks etc.
I made this not to "diss" the creator of the 3x3x3 rule but to perhaps open up the conversation that every dog is unique, as is their (and your !) circumstances.
This is the time of year many people open up their homes to new dogs....I hope you find this helpful.
This dog training handout is available abcdogsnz.com

04/12/2024

I LOVE my job 😍 I get to spend my days with the best company 🐶

02/12/2024

❌AT CHRISTMAS YOUR DOG DOESN’T HAVE TO:

🧑‍🎄 Visit Santa at the garden centre

🎄 Be around your visitors

🎅🏽 Go to other peoples houses

🎄 Go to see the Christmas lights switch on

🍺 Go to the busy pub on Christmas Eve

If they are anxious or get worried about people, dogs or busy places or if they just don’t like doing these things. It’s not a fault if they don’t like doing these things, many dogs don’t enjoy ‘human activities’ like this (some do, I have one that loves all of it and two that would be 🫤 ).

✅ Instead they may prefer to:

🚪 Be in their safe space (see upcoming post on this), a quiet room they like being in with a dog gate on the doorway when you have a house full of people who may scare them

🐕 Have an extra trip to a freedom field on Christmas morning and some extra enrichment at home while you go and visit family for a few hours if they’d find it stressful to come with you

🐶 A meet up with a dog or human friend at a place they like rather than a trip to the heaving pub on Christmas Eve

🦴 A trip to a dog enrichment centre or a 121 in an activity they love (scent work, mantrailing etc) rather than an outing to see the Christmas lights switched on

🍖 Some dog safe Christmas biscuits you’ve made them rather than dressing up in a dog Santa outfit

Loads of these Christmas ‘traditions’ that we enjoy are not enjoyed by our dogs, especially if they are anxious or more sensitive. Even the most robust dog may tolerate these activities rather than love them.

Please be mindful of your dogs wants and needs and don’t put them into situations they find stressful just because we want them to be part of Christmas. It’s your Christmas, not your dogs, they really won’t mind not being included in everything you do ❤️

Laura McAuliffe Dog Communication 2024

29/11/2024

Small pets feel the cold too, even if they’re used to living outside ❄️

Rabbits and guinea pigs are sensitive to the cold and can become unwell if they get too chilly, so it's important to find ways to help them stay cosy during the colder months.

Make their winter a warm one by following our top tips ❤️

[Visual description: An infographic titled 'keeping small and outdoor pets warm'. Tips detailed include: wrap up water bottles to avoid freezing, plenty of bedding, well covered pet-safe heat pads, provide cover on outdoor runs, extra warmth (blankets), bring them inside in the worst weather, waterproof and insulate hutch roof and keep their hutch out of snow or rain.]