Social Paws

Social Paws Helen Motteram BSc (Hons) behaviourist & Tristan Motteram accredited dog trainer. Behavioural support specialising in anxious, nervous dogs.

Supporting pet Guardians with their anxious dogs & rescues 👱‍♀️👨‍🦱🐶😺🐦‍⬛

Helping Guardians excel in confidence & their companions thrive with their human family. Puppy training and socialisation (1-2-1). Training for excitable dogs! Free discovery call on request

Manager and founder: Helen Motteram
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.socialpawscheltenham.co.uk

16/09/2025

Well done Helen 🥳🥳🥳

A tough competition as she was up against 3 dogs 😂 highly commended 🏆🙌

Happy heavenly birthday Nanny, you inspired me in so many ways ❤️Hope you and Sally are having an amazing time over the ...
13/09/2025

Happy heavenly birthday Nanny, you inspired me in so many ways ❤️

Hope you and Sally are having an amazing time over the rainbow bridge and heaven together 🌈

Happy Gotcha Day to Millie who's now 12 years old 🐾😺Love this photo of her and my Dad. He absolutely adores her.
12/09/2025

Happy Gotcha Day to Millie who's now 12 years old 🐾😺

Love this photo of her and my Dad. He absolutely adores her.

A week today Helen will be at Tewkesbury Park Hotel for the finals of award Gloucestershire with BBC Gloucestershire F...
07/09/2025

A week today Helen will be at Tewkesbury Park Hotel for the finals of award Gloucestershire with BBC Gloucestershire

For Helen's rescue work and as an advocate for birds and all animals.

Helen not only runs a bird rescue alongside Tristan but have both travelled overseas to help rescue dogs and cats, to help teach students and also be a voice for those who can't speak.

So here's to be glitz and glam on the red carpet with my family and loved ones.

Wish us all the luck in the world!

A smaller group today on our monthly dog walk ❤️🐶The sun was shining and Riley and Alfie had a great time. Thanks to The...
06/09/2025

A smaller group today on our monthly dog walk ❤️🐶

The sun was shining and Riley and Alfie had a great time.

Thanks to The Merryfellow

This takes place first Saturday of the month - meet outside the Merryfellow at 10:30am.

You can even join if you don't have a dog!

We are excited to be hosting the monthly dog walk with The Merryfellow tomorrow! 🐶🐾Even if you don't have a dog you can ...
05/09/2025

We are excited to be hosting the monthly dog walk with The Merryfellow tomorrow! 🐶🐾

Even if you don't have a dog you can join.

Meet outside the Merryfellow at 10:30am.

I love getting the message out there to thousands of Guardians 🐾🐶😺🐦However I still feared of going on TV and being judge...
02/09/2025

I love getting the message out there to thousands of Guardians 🐾🐶😺🐦

However I still feared of going on TV and being judged 😔😔😔

This was an amazing opportunity a few years back - but why was I feeling a little anxious just like some of you reading this right now.

Judgement...

Many dog guardians, particularly with anxious or nervous dogs have told me they've been judged at some point in their life.

"You should have socialised your dog"

"Your dog looks aggressive"

"Your dog shouldn't be walking in public"

Making assumptions, passing quick judgement needs to stop.

That is why I campaign to help support dog owners and give animals a voice.

As I sat on the BBC breakfast sofa the anxiety fulfilled me...

What if they don't like the way I look.

I say something that doesn't make sense.

I get lost for words.

This stems from much of my past. Being judged on my appearance, my quirky personality, being different.

Bullied early in my career by others for standing up for animals and my ethics.

But it went incredibly well. That's because I had support from friends and family.

Support from you.

A little hand holding.

This year and next I'm continuing to put myself out there more. So I can help more Guardians.

I encourage if you are also reading this as a pet behaviourist or dog trainer to do the same.

Kindness, ethics, empathy - 3 key words.

These 3 words are so important ❤️

Please be patient at crossings 😪Sadly on multiple occasions, when crossing a crossing, cars have not waited till we had ...
28/08/2025

Please be patient at crossings 😪

Sadly on multiple occasions, when crossing a crossing, cars have not waited till we had arrived to the other side.

Meaning they were at very close proximity to Nellie and myself.

Nellie has recently had an operation and I've got back pain. We both walk slower.

We live in a fast paced world but it's note important to slow down, especially when a dog and human is struggling.

Thank you,
Helen.

I'm proud to renew my membership to the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors - APBC as an Associate Member 🙌Associat...
26/08/2025

I'm proud to renew my membership to the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors - APBC as an Associate Member 🙌

Associate members have demonstrated that they have the appropriate level of Knowledge and Understanding for the professional role of Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB). They are now gaining the practical experience necessary to be assessed as a CAB and therefore become a Full member of the APBC. The APBC supports its Associate members undertaking behaviour consultations.

🐾🐾🐾

Established for over 35 years, the APBC works closely with the veterinary profession and the entire animal industry and is recognised as the flagship organisation within the field of animal behaviour.

🐾🐾🐾

My membership gives access to industry experts and I will continue to receive discounted webinars, events, support sessions plus free access to scientific journals and an employee wellness programme.

🐾🐾🐾

I am currently working towards my assessment in 2026 and am delighted to be working on this with a variety of case studies

I'm also incredibly proud to support hundreds of Guardians all over the world! 🌎

Thank you for your support,
Helen

It's International Dog Day! Here's Margot smiling and getting excited on her walk 😊🐶Feel free to drop photos of your fou...
26/08/2025

It's International Dog Day!

Here's Margot smiling and getting excited on her walk 😊🐶

Feel free to drop photos of your four legged friends in the comments ⬇️⬇️⬇️

25/08/2025

Remember Charlie? The gorgeous Cyprus rescue dog on our page cover...

Charlie found their forever home. I had the incredible opportunity of working with Charlie. But Charlie was a very nervous dog, who followed me around the garden and choose to sit by me at a distance.

Charlie loved the company of other dogs but just wanted more space and a quieter life.

You can see Charlie living their best life now!

This is why we do this, this is why I volunteer overseas, this makes it all worthwhile!

A walk is much more than a walk...It's a time for your best friend to process the worke around them, think of it like th...
19/08/2025

A walk is much more than a walk...

It's a time for your best friend to process the worke around them, think of it like their dog daily newspaper.

When we think of us on a walk we don't simply walk, we take in the beautiful landscape, we stop to have breaks, sometimes we'll even take a picnic.

And even before the walk so much good stuff that can happen.

But there if often the temptation to get Fido straight out of the door.

To walk, walk, walk.

🐕🐕🐕

Even on the walk (see photo) I look to keep slowing down, using the environment to engage the brain.

🐕🐕🐕

❤️ It's a set of experiences, stages

But seeing the walk as stages, in which we can focus on slowly taking everything in. That means even before the walk, our dog is using it's brain inside, a bit like mindfulness or meditation.

❤️ Channeling the energy

This channels this huge build up of energy into slower activities, thus helping slow the dog down and not having your arm yanked off! In the case of anxious dogs, these techniques are also really useful.

❤️ Flood gates

Each door, or change in environment can be like a flood gate. Incredibly overwhelming. These need to be introduced gradually.

We do this by using cones. The cones help give the dog a job to do but also create a positive association when paired with food. The cones get placed slightly away from the flood gate. I place a treat under or on top.

We thank the work of Suzanne Clothier who's taught us so much about the above.

So don't think of the walk just as a walk think of it as a sequence of events, to set your dog up for success!

And an experience, one we can enjoy together.

Thanks for reading,
Helen & Tristan

Address

Charlton Kings
Cheltenham
GL538DD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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