Paws & Minds

18/10/2025

The mysterious case of the Vanishing Villager… Halloween themed teamwork is the name of the game 🐕🕵️ 🎃 👻💀🐶🕵️!

Can you and your dog solve the case as a team? Your dog sniffs out the clues and you decipher them. Spaces are limited - to book see details on the original post.

🎃 HALLOWEEN SCENT NIGHT 🎃

👻 The Case of the Vanishing Villager has haunted many generations of Kettleholm Hall - Can you solve the clues and find the vanished villager?

💀 You and your dog will need to work as a team - your dog's nose to sniff out the clue and you to solve those clues!

Beginner session - ideal for dogs who are new to scent work / haven't done it before

Advanced session - perfect for dogs who have scent work experience (scent used will be red kong)

🐾 £30 per dog / handler team (includes a goody bag)

Limited Spaces - FOR TWO NIGHTS ONLY THIS SPOOKY SEASON!

🦇 Friday 24th October - 6pm - advanced / 7:30pm - beginners

🦇 Tuesday 28th October - 6pm - beginners / 7:30pm advanced

Message for more details or to book.
Small group size. May be suitable for reactive dogs - please message to discuss individual behaviours / needs.

17/10/2025

🌙 When the nights draw in...

You'll have noticed how quickly evening dusk arrives now. Soon the clocks will change, and a lot shifts quietly in our dogs’ world.

The light feels different. Shadows move where they didn’t before.

Walks that used to smell of sunshine and freshly cut grass now carry the damp scent of leaves and cold air.

I’ve worked with several dogs over the years who find this time of year tricky. A confident summer walker suddenly hesitates at the garden gate. Another seems jumpier on evening walks, reacting to sounds that went unnoticed before. Even small changes, walking the same route at a different time, can feel unfamiliar and unsettling.

For many dogs, it’s not about 'being stubborn' or 'playing up'. It’s simply that their senses tell them the world has changed, and they’re right.

If you notice your dog slowing down or seeming unsure, try walking in better-lit areas, use a torch or head torch to soften the darkness, or shift walks to brighter parts of the day when possible.

Sometimes even the light from our own torch can surprise a dog at first, so it’s worth introducing it gradually before using it out on walks.

You can also pair the evening light with something positive; a calm sniffari, remembering those treats for checking in with you, or take a shorter route that feels familiar and safe.

These simple adjustments can make a big difference.

As the nights draw in it’s a good reminder that our dogs don’t just see the world differently, they feel it differently too.

When we notice and adapt alongside them, we help them rediscover their confidence in this new season.

What are your top tips for easing through the clock change and the darker evening walks?

Tara
Paws & Minds
🐾🧠

16/10/2025

Noticing the quiet progress...

It can be hard not to focus on the negatives: the barking that still happens, the lead pulling that returns when something exciting or worrying appears, those moments that make you sigh and think, “We’re not there yet.”.

It's easy to get caught up in the things you'd prefer were different, but in doing so, we can miss the quiet changes that say so much more.

The dog who settles a little faster after a noise.
The one who looks to you for reassurance instead of freezing.
The tail that used to stay tucked now loosening just a little.

Progress isn’t always about what’s fixed.

It’s often about what’s softer; a steadier breath, a calmer moment, a hint of curiosity where there used to be fear.

When we start noticing those things, we stop measuring success by what’s wrong, and start recognising what’s growing right.

Every small shift towards comfort, trust, and calm is a sign your dog’s well-being is improving, and that’s worth celebrating.

Tara
Paws & Minds
🐾🧠

15/10/2025

Ever wondered why vet visits seem to cost more each year?

You’re not alone, and change might finally be on the horizon with provisional information released today…

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has just released its provisional findings into the UK veterinary market, and it’s raised some important points that could affect all of us with pets.

Here’s what the CMA found:
💷 Prices have risen fast — up about 63% since 2016, much higher than inflation.
🏢 Big vet groups often charge more — around 16–17% higher than independents.
💊 Medication costs vary hugely — sometimes double the online price.
📋 Most practices don’t publish prices, making it hard to compare or budget.

What might change? The CMA is suggesting:
✅ Clear price lists for common services
✅ Caps on prescription fees (for example £16)
✅ Written estimates for pricier treatments
✅ Clarity on who owns each practice (chain or independent)
✅ Better regulation for vet businesses, not just individual vets

What this could mean for you:
🔍 More transparency.
💷 Fairer pricing.
↔️ Better choice and competition.

It’s still early days.
Nothing is final yet, but the CMA wants to make it easier for pet owners to understand costs and make informed decisions about their pet’s care.

Tip: You can already ask your vet for a written estimate, a price list, and a prescription to buy medication elsewhere if you’d like to compare costs.

Change takes time, but awareness is the starting point.
Every small step towards transparency helps all of us; pet owners, vets, and the animals we care so deeply about.

What's your experience of veterinary costs?

Tara
Paws & Minds
🐾🧠

14/10/2025

When your offer to help with videoing class content doesn’t quite go to plan…😂

Besides this slight hiccup, which was due to me not giving appropriate guidance, Woody did an amazing job.

He doesn’t often get to work like this, a tripod and camera, cones, agility kit and a completely new person was all in all a real test.

I loved working with him round the different activities. His enthusiasm for training is always infectious.

I was super proud of how well he managed his responses in what for him is a very exciting environment with a lot going on.

Fingers crossed we’re getting the balance right with his pain management now. He’s definitely been a happier boy all round the last couple of weeks.

Celebrating our little wins…

Tara
Paws & Minds
🐾🧠

13/10/2025

Sometimes the biggest wins come from the smallest steps forward…

I’ve been working with Dougal, a sensitive Border Collie, for a couple of years now.

When his guardian first got in touch, things felt really tough having lost her confidence, and Dougal finding the world an overwhelming place to be.

Progress hasn’t always been straightforward, but every small step has mattered.

During their recent visit to the training field, there were plenty of distractions, things you maybe wouldn't give a second though to. The breeze through the leaves on the trees, a plane overhead, a solitary car passing by. All of these can be a challenge for Dougal.

He did an amazing job, staying composed for much of the session. Managing himself beautifully, staying engaged, and making some lovely choices.

It wasn’t all easy, but it was a genuinely positive session. Seeing moments of calm confidence and connection between Dougal and his guardian was a real highlight.

Dougal’s currently undergoing some medical investigations for a leg and back issue, so there’s still more to explore, but it’s wonderful to see the trust and teamwork between them continuing to grow.

Progress isn’t always fast or easy, but it’s always worth celebrating.

Tara
Paws & Minds
🐾🧠

10/10/2025

Every puppy’s path looks different...

Beyond the basics not all puppies need the same support, and that’s perfectly ok.

Take little Otis, for example. He’s growing up beautifully, but the world still feels a bit big and busy for him right now.

New noises, people, dogs, birds, and wildlife can all feel overwhelming, and that’s before we even add in his sensitive tummy that his guardians are working through with their vet.

This week I’ve been helping Otis and his guardians build skills that help him feel safe and understood when out and about.

That means lots of work on:
✨ Noticing when Otis looks back to his guardian, and rewarding that lovely connection.
✨ Giving him time to look at something that worries him, process it, and then choose to look away again.
✨ Gentle reassurance, talking to him calmly, taking breaks, and helping him reset after anything tricky.

It’s not about racing ahead with training cues or perfect walks, it’s about helping Otis learn that the world is safe, one little moment at a time.

Puppies, just like people, come with their own histories, sensitivities, and needs.

The best progress happens when we listen to who they are and support them where they’re at.

Tara
Paws & Minds
🐾🧠

09/10/2025

This afternoon I had the absolute pleasure of meeting up with talented trainers Krysia from The Creative Canine and Gemma from Cydymaith Dog Training .

We chatted over coffee about dogs (of course!), running small businesses, and ways we can support each other while helping even more dogs and their people.

We all share the same philosophy. That training should always be kind, ethical, and centred around the individual dog.

When you start from understanding and compassion, everything else falls into place.

It’s always refreshing to connect with other trainers who share these values.

Working together, sharing ideas, and supporting one another makes such a difference, for us and for the dogs we work with.

Keep an eye out. Gemma has been planning like a ninja 🥷 and she and Krysia have something exciting coming later this month!

When likeminded trainers collaborate, everyone benefits, especially the dogs 🐾

Tara
Paws & Minds
🐾🧠

07/10/2025

Meet Walter!

I met 14-week-old Walter and his guardian today for their first 1:1 training session.

His big brother Stanley came along to our Mixed Sports Class earlier in the summer, so it was lovely to meet the newest family member.

Like many young pups, Walter’s world is very exciting. Everything is worth exploring!

Today we focused on helping him start to develop calmness, confidence and self-control in a way that still keeps training fun and positive.

We worked on:
🐾 Encouraging four paws on the floor instead of jumping.
❤️ Using a marker word to clearly show when he’s made a good choice.
🐶 Starting to settle when there are interesting things happening.
🐕‍🦺 Building confidence around his harness so it becomes part of his normal routine.

For most puppies, the key things to remember are:
💤 Rest is essential. Tired puppies find it hard to make good choices, and can need around 18-20 hours rest!
🐕 Slow and steady wins. Give time for thinking and learning.
🫶 Consistency helps your puppy feel secure and understand what’s expected.

If you’d like to start your puppy off with a calm, choice-based approach, my Puppy 1:1 options are designed to set you both up for success right from the beginning.

Message or WhatsApp 07462 669 301 to find out more.

Tara
Paws & Minds
🐾🧠

06/10/2025

Today I met Dan and his new family.

If you follow local rehoming centre pages you may already be familiar with Dan and his story.

He’s had a pretty challenging young life, finding himself abandoned outside a rehoming centre.

If that wasn’t enough, Dan had a very nasty leg injury which he’s still recovering from many, many months later.

His life has recently taken a very significant upturn, having found his new family!

Today was a starting from scratch training session to start building some strong foundations for Dan’s behaviour choices.

The training session was also about supporting his guardians with what they need to know and how to continue Dan’s training.

It can feel a bit daunting bringing home an adult sized dog, who doesn’t necessarily behave how you think they will!

Dan has a lot going on in his life so far, all of which can impact on his learning and current behaviour choices.

His past is unknown, training limited, leg is still healing (and that means wearing a lampshade quite a bit of time), only around 12 months old and developing into an adult dog, spent 4 months in a rehoming centre, and now he’s getting used to a new home, family and wider world.

Phew! That’s a lot to pack into a year!

Today Dan worked his paws off, and showed us all just how smart he is. Making lots of great choices, with relevant guidance and support.

I think he enjoyed the training session as I got a lovely mention on his Instagram post! Thank you Dan!

This boy has a very bright future ahead, and I’m looking forward to seeing where Dan and his family’s journey takes them.

Tara
Paws & Minds
🐾🧠

If I’d been on the ball I’d have taken a photo of Dan without his lampshade on during training 🫤!

03/10/2025

When fireworks are at their peak, walks may not be the best option, but your dog still needs ways to expend energy and relax.

Here are some at home alternatives: to out and about exercise:
⭐️ Food enrichment: stuffed Kongs, lick mats, puzzle feeders, cardboard box, towel,..., your imagination is the limit!
⭐️ Scent games: scatter feeding, hide-and-seek with treats or a toy. Start of with easy wins if this is new to your dog.
⭐️ Interactive play: tug, chase, retrieve, training games, or you could try teaching a trick or two.
⭐️ Relaxation training: teaching your dog to settle with you, try some gentle massage if your dog would enjoy it.

Mental stimulation can be just as tiring as a walk, and it helps your dog feel calmer indoors when the outside world feels overwhelming.

If you’re worried about how your dog will cope this year, I can help you put a tailored plan in place. Send me a message, preparation now makes for a much calmer November.

Tara
Paws & Minds
🐾🧠

02/10/2025

Even with preparation, some dogs need a little extra help to feel calm and safe during firework season.

There are natural products that many guardians find useful, and it’s important to choose ones that are well-researched and trusted.

A couple of options include:

🌿 Pet Remedy
A gentle blend of valerian, vetiver, sweet basil, and clary sage. Available as plug-ins, sprays, and wipes, it can help create a calmer atmosphere for your dog at home.
✨ As a Pet Remedy affiliate, you can use my code 'PawsMinds' at checkout for 25% off your purchase from the Pet Remedy website.

🌿 Dorwest
Dorwest have been making trusted herbal supplements for decades. Their Valerian Compound (liquid) and Scullcap & Valerian Tablets are popular choices for dogs who struggle with fireworks and other loud noises.
✨Dorwest have a 25% discount code for calming bundles at the moment. ‘FIREWORKS25’ at check out.

Important to remember:
Start trialling products now, not on firework night, so you can see how your dog responds.

Every dog is different. What helps one may not suit another.

If your dog is particularly worried, or you already know fireworks are a huge struggle, speak to your Vet about medication options in plenty of time to trial doses. For some dogs, this is the kindest and most effective route.

Supporting your dog through fireworks often takes a mix of preparation, safe spaces, enrichment, and the right calming aids.

Tomorrow I’ll share ideas for when walks aren’t an option.

Tara
Paws & Minds
🐾🧠