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

FIREWORKS ADVICE - help keep your pets safe this New Year's Eve 💖It's that time of the year again and unfortunately it's...
30/12/2025

FIREWORKS ADVICE - help keep your pets safe this New Year's Eve 💖

It's that time of the year again and unfortunately it's not just on New Year's Eve celebrations will continue right into the new year, and in our local area have started already, so please keep these tips handy.

If you have a rescue dog, or a dog who has experienced a recent trauma, they may be particularly sensitive to fireworks (the same is true for small animals and birds).

So here's a few tips to help you prepare for the fireworks and to help keep your pets safe and calm:

1. KEEP PETS INSIDE DURING FIREWORK DISPLAYS

Make sure your dog is taken out to go to toilet earlier. Where possible, bring cats and small animals inside.

Rabbits, guinea pigs and birds in aviaries are particularly vulnerable.

2. PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE

Provide a safe place, where you can keep your pets company. This may be a quiet back room with the curtains closed or a mini den type area. Cats particularly like a space they can crawl under, but be mindful of them trying to fit into tiny narrow spaces and possibly getting stuck.

3. REASSURE THEM

Do not punish your dog for showing fearful behaviour. If they are frightened - it is okay to comfort them.

You can reassure your dog. Please do not punish your dog if it is fearful or anxious.

We advise, where possible, staying inside - particularly on the eve - to keep your pets safe and to give them company and support.

4. OCCUPY THEM WITH ENRICHMENT OR PLAYTIME

Provide your pet with an alternative outlet, to keep anxiety at bay. A nice filled Kong, a puzzle game or a simple game of 'find it'.

5. HELP SOOTHE YOUR PET WITH MUSIC

Music can help to block out some of the noise and certain types such as classical music have been proven to have a calming effect. You can also turn up the volume on the TV, to make the *bangs* seem less dramatic in comparison to the volume inside the house..

6. WALK YOUR DOG EARLY

Try to take your dog for a walk before 3pm, or as early as possible; be mindful that some people may even let fireworks off before it gets dark!

Remember: if your dog has already experienced fireworks in a particular area, going back to that same area may bring back trauma.

🐾🐾🐾

We always advise pet guardians to seek further advice from a behaviourist or trainer working closely with a vet.

They will work with you on a behavioural modification programme and, in certain cases, vets can recommend drugs/therapy/holistic remedies to help keep your dog calm and relaxed.

Preparation is the key - so please keep this advice handy, especially over the festive period and new year's eve.

Thanks for reading,
Helen

DOGS CAN CONTINUE TO FEEL TIRED, STRESSED AND CONFUSED EVEN AFTER THE FESTIVITIES ❤️🐶Stress can soon tire the body and a...
28/12/2025

DOGS CAN CONTINUE TO FEEL TIRED, STRESSED AND CONFUSED EVEN AFTER THE FESTIVITIES ❤️🐶

Stress can soon tire the body and affect behaviour this can last for days...

I really enjoy Christmas - spending time with family and friends. But even I get tired, stressed and confused.

I mean what day is it even???

Now let's imagine our pet friends - boxes out, visitors, humans rushing around, all these tempting smells, all these new strange 'gifts' in the house 🎉🎁👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

The festivities may be ending, but for our dogs, in fact all our pets, the added stress, the excitement or the confusion can last for days.

When a dog is not given enough time to recover from the triggers or get away from what is causing the stress while the body may learn to ‘cope’, at a certain point, the body will start to tire and exhaustion can set in (Hanne, 2015).

Just imagine how long the build up to Christmas lasts, for some families it starts at the end of November! Given the added stressful events - halloween, bonfire night. It all becomes far too much 👻⚠️🔥

A dog that faces prolonged periods of stress is likely to encounter various physiological and psychological problems.

Many which can result in behavioural issues, or a sudden change in character.

This can include:

– Diarrhoea
– Urination indoors
– Mood change including an increase in anxious behaviours
– Interference with learning and memory (which often looks like a confused dog).

🐾 So let's talk about trigger stacking

I compare trigger stacking to a kettle, one which doesn't automatically switch off and then eventually has to boil over 🔥🔥🔥

The interactions our dog has has had over the festive period including visitors, strange gifts, a change in routine may prolong stress.

Trigger stacking is defined as ‘Stress accumulating due to exposure of multiple triggers, either simultaneously or close enough in time that the dog’s reactivity has not returned to normal' (Grisha Stewart, BAT 2.0).

This can have an effect on their behaviour especially on walks..

Your dog seems out of character? 🤔

Pulling on lead when they are usually calm?

They've never once barked at next door neighbour's cat 🐱🐱🐱 but today they did?

🐾 What can you do to help?

Give your dog time to decompress, to calm down, shorter walks with minimal stressors. Increase enrichment inside instead and minimise visitors for the next few days.

Remember they aren't being naughty or bad, they are often just overwhelmed.

Manage the environment, prepare, a good routine and structure.

Just think how you feel. Bloated, tired, confused.

Now think about your dog.

Just slow things down for the next few days. Your dog will thank you.

Thanks for reading,
Helen

23/12/2025

6 years ago I had this amazing opportunity with BBC Breakfast!

Loved being part of the expert panel 💖

Christmas celebrations part 4 - with the Charlton Kings Running Ladies 🎄🎅I'm Mrs Santa! And of course a few of our four ...
19/12/2025

Christmas celebrations part 4 - with the Charlton Kings Running Ladies 🎄🎅

I'm Mrs Santa!

And of course a few of our four legged friends. We raised a few smiles in Charlton Kings 😊🐶

Thanks to Moosh Coffee Co. For always being so accommodating!

Stress free Christmas for you and your four legged friend 🐶Top tips to help keep your pets stress free this Christmas ❤C...
19/12/2025

Stress free Christmas for you and your four legged friend 🐶

Top tips to help keep your pets stress free this Christmas ❤

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, a time for families to come together. However this can sometimes all be a little overwhelming, especially to pets who are slightly more anxious or have yet to experience their first Christmas in your home.

With all these new sights and sounds it can increase stress and make them feel unsettled.

🎄Signs to watch out for

Pets may give subtle signs that they are stressed and to us humans it’s not always obvious. In dogs these can include showing the whites of their eyes, yawning, sneezing, licking their lips or leaning away from us.

🎄 What can you do to help?

Firstly provide an escape route to a place where they can feel safe, like a quiet room or a nice bed away from the hustle and bustle. It’s ok to reassure and comfort your pet to make him or her feel more comfortable about the situation.

💖 Space

Encourage friends and family they’ve not met before to give them lots of space, letting them come to them in their own time. Remember young children can be unpredictable so never leave unsupervised with pets, again encouraging the child to give lots of space.

💖 Keeping calm

If your dog is an excited greeter, practice some settle downs on a mat or its bed prior to visitors arriving. A kong or lucky mat can provide an alternative source of entertainment! You may need to control and manage the situation by having the dog on a lead when people enter or behind a baby gate.This will help set your dog up for success, avoiding granny being knocked over by your bounding hound!

💖 Rethinking things

I’ve witnessed many anxious and confused pets who just simply can’t cope at Christmas.

If this is the case you may need to rethink the amount of traffic coming into your home and if your dog is happy to do so, practice some set ups, with help of friends and family before the big day. With lots of short, positive introductions you may help your dog become not only familiar with your family but already be adjusted to their presence in your house.

💖 Final thoughts

Some pets just can't cope with lots of people, never force them into a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable. Always offer a safe space and as above you may need to rethink things on the big day.

Thanks for reading,
Helen

Merry Woofmas! Christmas party number 3 😁 Hope you are enjoying the festivities and wearing your Christmas jumpers 🎄🙌
18/12/2025

Merry Woofmas! Christmas party number 3 😁

Hope you are enjoying the festivities and wearing your Christmas jumpers 🎄🙌

You are the heart of the lead ♥️ Helping your four legged friend no matter what you come against. So we need to look aft...
18/12/2025

You are the heart of the lead ♥️

Helping your four legged friend no matter what you come against. So we need to look after YOU.

December the 18th - check in on other Pet Guardians

December can be an overwhelming time and sometimes our friends need more support and in general it's the perfect time to catch up. Just a phone call, walk together or coffee and chat makes all the difference!

Christmas is a time to be with loved ones, so let's make it happen 🐾❤️

Helen & Tristan

'A family business, where kindness speaks volumes'

Slots available in 2026! 🐶🐾Exciting news {says Nellie, posing for the camera}.We have extra availability for our 1-2-1 s...
17/12/2025

Slots available in 2026! 🐶🐾

Exciting news {says Nellie, posing for the camera}.

We have extra availability for our 1-2-1 solo or training walks ✅️

- Monday 11am, 12 midday or 1pm
- Tuesday 10am, 11am 12 midday

Charlton kings or Leckhampton area: 30 or 45 minutes 💖

From Helen our Behaviourist, specialising in rescue or anxious dogs.

Personalised walks, kind ethical and trusted.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Presents can be dangerous for your four legged friends ⚠️December the 17th - keep presents away from your pets 🎁Many gif...
17/12/2025

Presents can be dangerous for your four legged friends ⚠️

December the 17th - keep presents away from your pets 🎁

Many gifts can contain items that may be dangerous for our pets, particularly chocolate. And imagine how tempting it must be!

Keep them out of paws reach and supervise your pets around presents and decorations.

Helen & Tristan

'A family business, where kindness speaks volumes'

Memories of snowy days ❄️I wonder if we'll get snow this year or in January ☃️Oh and who wants to boop that snoot!
16/12/2025

Memories of snowy days ❄️

I wonder if we'll get snow this year or in January ☃️

Oh and who wants to boop that snoot!

December the 16th - time with your best friend is so important Life is so short and so precious, so make the most of eve...
16/12/2025

December the 16th - time with your best friend is so important

Life is so short and so precious, so make the most of every moment ❤️

Helen & Tristan

'A family business, where kindness speaks volumes'

We live in a fast paced world, but what if I told you slow is a good thing!Quick is not always the best route to take, s...
16/12/2025

We live in a fast paced world, but what if I told you slow is a good thing!

Quick is not always the best route to take, sometimes when we slow down we can achieve so much more.

The important thing is you continue to persevere despite the bad days or the set backs.

That is true dedication 💖🐶

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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