Aqua Dogs

06/05/2024

A huge thank you to Caroline Griffith and her wonderful team for putting on another amazing conference. Absolutely brilliant speakers. I've learnt so much.

The Natural Dog Expo was fantastic. A must for any dog lover.

19/04/2024

10/08/2023

Anyone know a plumber to unblock a loo 😭😭😭

28/08/2022

27/08/2022

Hello.
The short film was announced today. It’s coming out at Christmas on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Thank you for being with me on this journey and for all your kindness and encouragement.

26/07/2022

The way we feel changes our behaviour. If we are scared, we might scream or get angry.

Yet we humans have much more opportunity to control our environment than our dogs do.

We have more opportunities to take a step back and manage our emotional responses.

Our dogs often feel at the mercy of the environment, so that they will be at the mercy of their emotional responses.

By being aware of how dogs feel when they are defensive or frantic, we can identify the reason for their emotional responses and step up to protect them from whatever in the environment is triggering them.

By being aware of our dog's emotions, we can give them the space they need and teach them how to deal with things at a safe distance.

We can teach them that they have choices.

When a dog feels safe and heard, they will act calmly.

We can't create steady behaviour in a dog who doesn't feel safe and calm.

And we certainly can't ethically change behaviour without knowing the reason it exists.

30/03/2022

Stanley enjoying his hydrotherapy session yesterday, he really is amazing in every way🐾🤍.

Stanley suffers with straight leg syndrome. He has weekly sessions here at Aqua dogs which benefit him in many ways. Stan always puts 100% effort into his therapy and loves to receive well earned cuddles. 🤩🥰🤍

30/03/2022

Woody enjoying his hydrotherapy session yesterday afternoon.🐾

Woody suffers with IVDD and had surgery to help him. His back legs were paralysed and after his 4th session he made his first steps. He now is walking, still a way to go but he's making excellent progress. He truly is a superstar🤩🐾💙.

04/11/2021

26/09/2021

So sad this beautiful boy had been poorly all week. Unfortunately he crossed the rainbow Bridge 🌈 yesterday. My heart and love goes out to Caroline Boyle and all his lovely family. I feel so privileged to have been able to treat this amazing boy. You can now run without pain and worry of slippy floors, you can swim and eat as much as you like beautiful Murphy 💜🌈🐶###

26/07/2021

🥵 HEAT WARNING ⚠️

It’s super hot today and set to be for the rest of the week!! We have to be extra careful with all breeds of dog, but especially our flat faced friends!

A few reminders for your dogs safety:

⚠️ Do not walk your dog
⚠️ Do not leave your dog in a car
⚠️ Do not transport your dog if they get very stressed in the car
⚠️ Do not leave your dog for long periods out in the sun

✅ Provide your dog with a cool and shaded area
✅ Offer water regularly
✅ Use a cool coat or cool mat
✅ Set up a fan
✅ Soak their coat or dip in paddling pool
✅ Offer frozen treats such as frozen yoghurt
✅ Be aware of heat stroke signs
✅ Contact your vet if you are worried

26/07/2021

26/07/2021

❓My dog had to be clipped short and now he’s upset and behaving strangely. What did my groomer do to him!?❓

A question I have seen asked at least ten times on numerous breed pages on Facebook this week so I thought I’d share some knowledge here.

The answer is, your groomer has done nothing other than their job.

9 times out of 10, if we have to clip a dog off short, it is because they were matted or very knotty and the kindest thing to do was to take a clipper blade underneath those knots or matts to remove them.

When a dog is knotty or matted, their skin is being pulled and whilst removing the knots or matting is a relief, it feels really weird.

Ladies... (or gentlefolk with long hair!). Imagine this... you’ve had your hair in a tight ponytail all day long and it’s starting to hurt a bit. You know that feeling...? Well, you’ve just got home and you’ve taken your hair down and there’s that feeling of relief when you pull the band out and let your hair fall. It feels so good but it feels kind of weird too. Now imagine you have that feeling all over your body!

Your dog is acting strangely because quite simply, he feel strange 🤷🏻‍♀️

Depending on the severity of the knots or matts, if they were particularly bad, it’s very possible they were causing a lack of circulation to the skin, in which case, it would no longer feel like you’ve taken a pony tail out... it would feel like pins and needles all over their body. That’s not a nice sensation for anybody, let alone your dog who doesn’t understand why his body feels this way.

There is something you do to help your dog if he’s had to be clipped short... and that is to simply pretend that nothing has happened 👌🏻

When you walk back in to the salon after your groomer lets you know your dog is ready and you see your gorgeous fluff ball no longer has any fluff, you’re shocked, of course you are, but if you start consoling your dog and telling him it’s okay and it will grow back etc etc, he will pick up on your behaviour and if you’re behaving oddly with him, he’ll behave oddly with you.

I’ve seen it time and time again where I’ve had to do a shave down and an owner has walked in to the salon, they’ve seen their dog and immediately started consoling their dog and the dogs behaviour changes instantly.

The best thing you can do is to act like everything is completely normal. If you behave like nothing has happened, the likelihood is that your dog will behave like nothing has happened too.

If your dogs behaviour has changed following a groom and the changes last more than a day or two, or if you are at all concerned, the best thing to do is to contact your vet for advice but I really hope this helps to explain why a dogs behaviour can change following a groom.

Much love, as always 💜
Dogs Rock - Luxury Spa for Dogs

22/07/2021

This absolutely beautiful pup, Boden having his 7th session today. Boden unfortunately was born with deformed back legs due to being squashed in the womb. He's such a big softie. He's made huge improvements since he first came. Thank you so much to his owner for sending me this video. ❤️🐶Xx

05/07/2021

They say when one door closes another one opens!

After the success of Jena with Bell's and Bristles at Aqua Dogs, we've decided to give another exciting local business who have just starting up, a bit of help to grow.

I am extremely passionate about a complete holistic approach to treating our special animals. One such approach is Reiki. Today I met with the lovely Jane Philbin and I'm so excited to say that she is going to be working some days within Aqua Dogs. I can't wait to see the amazing results she's going to have with so many of our beautiful furries.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10222602833671831&id=1001670626

01/07/2021

6 years ago today Aqua Dogs was opened. Thank you to every single owner that has brought their beautiful precious animals to me. I am truly blessed to have met such wonderful people and treat, groom or train their precious best friends. ###

Found on Google from www.americangreetings.com

28/06/2021

I'm so glad that Aqua Dogs were able to give Jena @ Bell's & Bristles the leg up and opportunity to start up with our support and her hard work she has thrived and now sadly outgrown our premises. Good luck Jena and well done on your new venture ❤️🍀🐩🎉✂️xx

Hi guys! 🐾
‼️Important announcement‼️

We are extremely exited to announce that as of Monday 5th July we will be in our new salon! 😍

To celebrate we are hosting an open day on Sunday 4th July from 11am-4pm to give you a peek at our new premises! 🍾🥳

There will be live music from 12.00-13.00 performed by the amazing Leah.B. followed by some adorable special guests including meerkats, owls, reptiles, hedgehogs and much more joining us from 14.00-16.00.

We hope you and your four-legged friends can join us! 🐶🐾

Our new address is 9-11 Bolton Road, Bury, BL8 2AB.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

All our love, from Bell's&Bristles!
💕

04/06/2021

Beautiful Skye from Pennine Animal Welfare Society had her hydrotherapy session today. She's such a beautiful soul and went to the amazing charity because her owner took seriously ill. Love this beautiful girl ❤️🐕xx

14/05/2021

Today we want to stray away a little from arthritis to talk about another pain causing disease.

Let's talk about Intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) 😧 - this is a very important disease to consider in certain breeds, such as Dachshunds, French Bulls dogs or Shih Tzus for example if they present with lameness or sudden loss of the use of one or more legs.

The spinal chord is surrounded by bones with discs of cartilage between each bone which act as a cushion and allow flexibility of the spinal column. If part of these cartilage discs can become damaged or more brittle over time then they can protrude upwards and press on the spinal chord cutting off the information travelling from the brain to the legs.

You can help to reduce the risk of this life threatening condition in your dog by:
🐾 Keeping them at a healthy weight.
🐾 Avoid the use of stairs.
🐾 Stop them jumping on and off furniture or out of the boot of the car.
🐾 Reduce excessive twisting forces on the back by not allowing frequent repetitive exercises like ball chasing.
🐾 Wait for your dog to fully mature before getting them neutered (unless there is another medical reason to do so).
🐾 The disease can be inherited in some cases so don't breed from dogs with a know issue and ensure to ask about the condition in the dogs line when buying a puppy.

09/04/2021

Big softie Zac had his first hydrotherapy session today. He's recently had cruciate surgery. He was more interested in big bear hugs though 🤗

07/04/2021

So not all sessions look so elegant. Usually the first 2 of each Dogs are the most difficult as the dog is general a bit anxious and unsure. Beautiful almost 7 month old Stanley who's fostered by Tom and Shaun on behalf of Daneline International charitable foundation. Luckily Jena Bell of Bell's and Bristles has decided she wants to train as a hydrotherapist so I had help with this beautiful giant pup who unfortunately suffers with a condition called wobblers.

His technique will improve but this is a snapshot of how most dogs start. Generally on the 3rd or 4th session it kicks in and they stop panicking. He did very well considering he's never swam before.

06/04/2021

I'm absolutely heartbroken to say that beautiful Dodger went over the rainbow 🌈Bridge today. As Lyndsay Kempton says, he'll be causing a riot. My prayers and thoughts go to Lyndsay, you did everything you could for him. Run free beautiful boy, no one will take that toy off you now 💜🐕🌊###

18/03/2021

Today a big beautiful pup Wally came for treatment. I think its safe to say he loves it. ❤🌊🐕 xx

17/03/2021

Here's handsome Alan with the flamingo yesterday too🐕💜🦩🌊###

17/03/2021

Beautiful Fudge yesterday enjoying her hydrotherapy session with the new flamingo toy 💜🐕 🦩🌊###

15/03/2021

PUPDATE! Tedi's journey.

14/03/2021

*PUPDATE!!Tedi's journey *

Another video showing what physio I'm doing with Tedi. I apologise in advance for the video quality it's quite difficult to get the right angle.
Any questions please feel free to ask.

05/03/2021

Tedi's journey

So Tedi has come home today. He's very tired. He's come home with pain relief, anti inflammatories and sedatives.
Along with the awful cone. He has to have a sling to aid him to walk.

We've got some exercises to do with him until he's ready and he'll be confined to the lounge apart from toileting etc for the first 4 weeks.

02/03/2021

PUPDATE!! 13:30 03/03/21
Just heard about tedi hes OK, surgery was no issues. His hip was badly arthritic, the socket was bad and he'd completely ruptured the ligament. I've got to ring after 9.30 tomorrow morning to see when he can come home.

Tedi's journey
So Tedi has just gone into hospital ready for his surgery tomorrow. As for any owner its an awful time as you worry and miss them immensely. I'm certainly no different.

I've attached possible complications so you're aware of the risks that he faces.

01/03/2021

So these are Tedi's xrays.
First one was at 10 months old, not a great one of his left hip but you can clearly see the issue with his right.
Second was when he popped his hip replacement out.
Third after the repair.