4 Legs and a Tail

04/09/2024

04/09/2024

4Legsandatail.uk

At Four Legs & A Tail, we provide exceptional pet care services, ensuring your beloved furry friends enjoy their routine while you're away. Serving Retford and nearby villages, we offer peace of mind with our dedicated attention.

23/08/2024

💜 PURPLE POPPY DAY - 23RD AUGUST 2024 💜

Today is Purple Poppy Day and as Official Ambassadors of Animal Remembrance in the UK, Murphy’s Army Purple Poppy Campaign invites you to mark it with them 💜

This wonderful campaign, which is run throughout the year, remembers not only animals lost in service, but pays tribute to those who serve us today, protecting us and keeping us safe in so many different ways

💜 You can show your support & purchase merchandise from our shop here in Cottam & Wear your purple poppy with pride💜

As an entirely volunteer run charity all net proceeds from the sale of the merchandise directly benefit this year’s chosen beneficiaries which include Fireside K9 and Railway Dogs Benevolent Fund both of whom work amazingly hard to help former service animals in their retirement 💜



💜

Our poster features Watchman VI mascot of the Staffordshire Regimental Association and reproduced with kind permission 💜

22/08/2024

‼️Get you feed orders into me by 10:30am for delivery tomorrow ‼️

20/08/2024

Check out our fantastic new website ♥️♥️♥️

At Four Legs & A Tail, we provide exceptional pet care services, ensuring your beloved furry friends enjoy their routine while you're away. Serving Retford and nearby villages, we offer peace of mind with our dedicated attention.

01/08/2024

Good news!!!

We’ve teamed up with Willow Farm Cottam and 4 Legs and a Tail to secure a field to run classes and workshops on!

This has been a long time coming so I’ve got lots of exciting plans to make the most of the field. I’m thinking trail hunt, find my keys, agility, recall, loose lead walking and reactivity workshops.

What would you like to see me offering at the field?

21/07/2024

Finally the hay is getting cut 🚜🌾🌾🌾

05/07/2024

Did you spot what’s wrong with this advert?

❌ Being TOLD you are self-employed is a red flag! 🚩

This advert sets the hours as FULL TIME, you can’t be a freelance groom working full time for an EMPLOYER who dictates your hours and pay. This is 'false self-employment'.

👉 BGA members have access to a huge library of advice and guidance; bit.ly/am-i-self-employed

There are LOTS of reasons why employment status matters, the first being that it's illegal and could get you and your 'employer' into a lot of trouble and landed with big fines. Secondly, it has insurance implications for both you and your employer.

If you are self-employed:

✅You will have more than one client - i.e. provide services for more than one person/yard (this is key)
✅You set your own hours. You decide when you want to work.
✅You set your own payment rate
✅You are registered as self-employed with HMRC
✅You fill out a self-assessment and pay your own tax/National Insurance
✅You invoice your clients for the work you have carried out
✅You set your own holidays (and don't get paid)
✅You are your OWN BOSS & have 'clients', not an employer

➡️ Join for a huge amount of employment guidance, as well as free support, advice, online tools, resources and discounted insurance; join us from £25.50 PER YEAR.

🌐 britishgrooms.org.uk

29/06/2024

We sadly had to say goodbye our gorgeous cat recently, and now have these items left that could help another cat suffering from kidney disease.
We have 10 trays of Beaphar Kidney Diet (Duck) and a container of Ipakitine, which has only had 2 measures used out of it.
If anyone has a cat with kidney disease and can use these, please get in touch. 🐾🐱

25/06/2024

🍅🍅🍅🍅𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬🍅🍅🍅🍅

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝.
𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐨𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞.

12/06/2024

🌟 **Vote for Willow Farm Cottam in the North Notts Business Awards!** 🌟

Hey everyone! 👋

We are thrilled to be nominated in the North Notts Business Awards for Best Independent Retailer, and we need your support to win! 🌾✨
But it's not just about us—there are many incredible local businesses up for awards in various categories like Best Trade and Best Hospitality.

Even if you don't vote for us, you can still make a difference by supporting another deserving business. Let's come together to show our appreciation and support for our community!

It only takes 2 minutes to vote. Let's make a positive impact and celebrate the amazing businesses in North Notts!

Vote here: https://northnottsbusinessawards.weebly.com/public-voting-awards-2024.html

Thank you for your support! 🙌💚

06/06/2024

04/06/2024

🌟Please take a moment to vote for our shop🌟
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟❤️💫❤️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟

We are proud to announce that Willow Farm Cottam Ltd has been nominated for the **Best Independent Retailer Award** in the North Notts Business Awards 2024! 🎉🎉🎉

We were thrilled to learn that some of you lovely individuals thought that much of us that you took the time to put us forward, it’s left us very chuffed and feeling very appreciated. 🫶🏻

To think, we started off as part of 4 Legs and a Tail (some of you still endearingly refer to it as such 🥰) but it’s grown enough to be a business in its own right whilst still supporting its sister company 😁

We're up against some well-known, more established companies, so it’s not going to be an easy run - every vote really will count and therefore be greatly appreciated. 💪🏻💪🏻

So we'd love your support! Please take a moment to vote for us via the link below.

✨ Click here to cast your vote:
https://northnottsbusinessawards.weebly.com/public-voting-awards-2024.html ✨

Thank you in advance- Your support means the world to us! 🌿💚

23/05/2024

📣 **Attention 4 Legs and a Tail Customers!** 📣

We are excited to announce that our new website is currently under development! 🐾✨

We would love to include testimonials from our wonderful customers to showcase your experiences. If you've been happy with our services, please consider sending us a DM with a testimonial. Your feedback means the world to us and will help us make our new site even better!

Thank you for your continued support! ❤️



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18/05/2024

14/05/2024

📢 Attention all pet and horse owners! 🐱🐶🐴 This Thursday is order day for horse feed, cat food, and dog food! 📆 Make sure to get your requirements to me by 10:30 am on Thursday morning ⏰ for delivery this Friday. Let's keep our furry and four-legged friends happy and healthy! 🌾🐾

13/05/2024

🐴 Seeking the perfect setup for a friend's well-behaved gelding! Looking for 24/7 turnout with access to a stable for emergencies and bad weather/winter - happy if just a field shelter however. Bonus if there is an arena, but not a deal-breaker as they mainly hack. Ideally located within 20 minutes of Retford. Please comment with any recommendations. Thanks on behalf of my friend!

01/05/2024

📢 Attention all pet and horse owners! 🐱🐶🐴 Don't forget, tomorrow is ordering day for horse feed, cat food, and dog food! 📆 Get your orders in by 10:30 am ⏰ for delivery this Friday. Keep your furry and four-legged friends happy and healthy! 🌾🐾

01/05/2024

The good old days!

All kids rode in a snaffle because usually that is what your parent [mother] had in their day and they had survived so you had to - D ring, eggbutt, or loose ring. If your pony was a s**t and you had a kind parent or one with money, you might be allowed a kimblewick or pelham. Double bits were for adults out hunting or show ponies only.
Rubber reins were coveted - hunting a pony with shaving foam sweat on his neck meant plain reins were as useful as cooked noodles. Plaited leather reins were just as bad and ripped between your fingers.
Leather girths were coveted just as much - choices were string or the white candlewick girths which would split at inappropriate moments.
Coloured browbands were naff - the plastic ones for riding schools and the velvet ones for show ponies. Brass was for heavy horses.
There were four types of rug - canvas NZ, jute, wool with a coloured edging and initials for best and a sweat rug that looked like something Rab C Nesbitt wore that you used when thatching. Then there were blankets, usually nasty and itchy unless you were rich and could afford a Witney blanket
Every NZ rug hung to one side within five minutes of your pony being turned out.
There were four types of clip - trace, blanket, hunter or full. No one asked what type of clip suited their pony, ponies were clipped to suit the level of work they were doing.
No one wanted a coloured hairy, it usually meant your parents knew nothing and had bought your pony from the local riding school and no one wanted a riding school pony.
Everyone plaited to go hunting.
The amount of fences you jumped out hunting and stayed in the saddle was far more important than if you saw a fox.
Ponies lived out in just a NZ rug, even if clipped, nothing up their necks.
Feed was natural - oats, barley, wheat, sugar beet and bran then came in pony nuts which were great for rattling in the bottom of a bucket and a countrymix with yummy locust beans.
You made your own chop and warmed the molasses on the Rayburn.
You thought you were a nutritionist if you added garlic to your pony's feed.
Tesco own brand vegetable cooking oil was added to feeds to give a shine to the coat.
If you went hunting, chances are your pony had a warm mash with a bottle of Guinness and a raw egg mixed into it for a pick me up. Chances are that you had the dried up remains of whatever your family had at lunchtime.
Linseed was boiled and fed to everything to make the coat shine.
Grooming by torchlight was a skill.
Baling twine was a Godsend
Your pony probably knew all the top 20 hits.
Everyone entered the yearly WH Smith Win A Pony competition.
If your pony went lame, the farrier was called before the vet and usually cured pony.
No one's pony had ulcers.
We all knew someone who knew someone whose pony had had colic but none of us actually had that pony.
Fat ponies lived on thin air and no one said how cruel because there was no grass in their paddock.
Boiled spud peelings and other veggie peelings were added to feeds as a treat.
Wormers came in powder form - most ponies knew when it was added to their feed and left the feed uneaten and themselves unwormed. It was considered the norm to mix the wormer into a paste, spread in a jam sandwich and feed it to your pony.
Bread was not considered bad for your pony or even odd to feed your pony.
Winning at your local show in front of your school friends gave you rock star status until the next show.
Hacking to a show was considered normal. Sometimes your parents would leave a trailer at a show with your grooming kit, picnic and a picnic for your pony because your pony would not load so you hacked anyway. 😉
You turned out your pony to the best of your abilities - always plaited with clean tack. Tack was always correct, if you used a curb chain on a pelham/double then you also had a lip strap.
Coloured nylon tack was laughed at and considered townie.
Plain leather with just a stable rubber under your saddle or a plain numnah meant you knew your stuff - coloured numnahs, reins, etc meant you were a townie or came from a riding school.
Stockholm tar was brushed into the bottom of the hoof and across the frog every night.
Everyone had gone to school with purple spray stains on their fingers.
When the white wound powder finally came in black, we got excited.
All buckets were black and ridged until the rubber allegedly indestructible feed bowls came out - also in black.
A bright yellow builder's bucket meant my pony snorted and stood as far away from it as possible and meant I had to walk to the end of the field in the hissing rain to catch him.
Long leather boots were added to every Christmas list - rubber ones never shone as much.
Christmas lists always consisted of things for the pony - bridle, bit, rug, etc.
We didnt wear hats and back protectors hadnt been invented.
We went out riding without a phone and couldnt tell anyone where we were going as chances are we didnt know ourselves, we were just going out riding.
As long as we were back for meal times and before it was dark, our parents didnt worry.
Ponies knew their way home if you parted company.
Everyone had cleaned their tack while listening to Bohemian Rhapsody at number one in the charts.

Copied from another page but too good not to share.
Picture of 4 year old Angelena Churcher
Credit unknown

19/04/2024

For anyone who may be looking for some grazing 🐴🐴🐴
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Zu9E8XhgyVUss2Z1/?mibextid=79PoIi

17/04/2024

🐴🐱🐶 Calling all pet and horse owners! 🌟 Tomorrow is our ordering day for horse feed, cat food, and dog food! 📆 Make sure to place your orders by 10:30 am ⏰ for delivery this Friday. Keep all your furry friends fueled and happy! 🌾🐎🐾

02/04/2024

🌿🐿️ Free Squirrel Food Alert! 🌿🐿️

Attention all nature lovers and squirrel enthusiasts! Willow Farm Cottam has some surplus squirrel food that's past its best, and we're giving it away for FREE! 🥜🐿️
Drop by our shop and grab a bag of squirrel food (1 per customer).
Whether you're looking to treat the adorable squirrels in your own back garden or planning a fun trip to Clumber Park this Easter holidays with your children, this freebie is perfect for some outdoor entertainment! 🌳🌼
Don't miss out on this chance to connect with nature and enjoy the playful antics of these furry creatures. Swing by Willow Farm Cottam today and make your squirrels' day! 🌿

25/03/2024

🌟 Special Opening Hours Notice 🌟

This Friday, 29th March, is Good Friday, and we want to make sure you're aware of our adjusted hours:
🕘 Friday, 29th March: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

But don't worry, we'll be back to our regular hours on Saturday:
🕘 Saturday, 30th March: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to seeing you during our regular hours! Have a wonderful weekend ahead! 🎉

19/03/2024

🐾 POEM OF A DOG
I'm the one who's always waiting for you.
Your car has a special sound that I have imprinted on my senses, I can recognize it in a thousand.
Your steps have a magic bell.
Your voice is music to my ears.
If I see your joy, it makes me happy!.
Your scent is the best.
Your presence moves my senses.
Your waking up wakes me up
I contemplate you sleeping and for me you are my God, I am happy watching your sleep.
Your look is a ray of light.
Your hands upon me, hold the lightness of peace and the sublime display of infinite love.
When you leave, I feel a huge void in my heart.
I keep waiting for you again and again.
I am the one who will wait for you all your life today, tomorrow and forever:
I am your dog.

11/03/2024

🐾Pet First Aid Course - places going fast 🐾🐾

2ND JUNE FULLY BOOKED, NEW COURSE NOW AVAILABLE SUNDAY 23RD JUNE 10:30-2:30

In light of Crufts offering some brilliant pet first aid advice last week, I am excited to be hosting a pet first aid course with Lincs Pet First Aid

When people think of First Aid and CPR courses, they don’t realise it’s also so important to learn how to save your own pets life.

Dogs and Cats have accidents the same as us humans, so by attending a Pet First Aid & CPR Course you will learn what to do in a life threatening situation, and it could be the difference between life and death for your own pet. You may also come across an injured animal in pain that needs your help.

What will I learn on the Course?
How to deal with Breathing and Respiratory problems including choking
Full training on a CPR Dog manikin
How to deal with…
Shock - Drowning - Broken Bones - Spinal Injuries Controlling Bleeding and Catastrophic bleeds - Dressings and applying bandages to Ears and Tails Paw Problems - Ears - Eyes - Epilepsy - Seizures - Poisoning - Bites and Stings Burns and temperature related problems and other illnesses

Receive a 3 year qualification, access to videos and the peace of mind knowing you know what to do in an emergency.

🗓️ Sunday 2nd June FULLY BOOKED
🗓️ Sunday 23rd June
⏰ 10:30-2:30
📍 Dunham on Trent village hall

£70 per person. Only 12 spots available

Refreshments and cakes available. Open to everyone including dog owners and pet professionals

Email [email protected] for more information or to book on

Dunham on Trent Village Hall events

08/03/2024

🐦 This week at Willow Farm Cottam is all about the birds! 🌟 Elevate your garden into a bird haven with our bird food selection. From mealworms to sunflower hearts, we've got everything to attract a chorus of feathered friends, including parrots, canaries, and budgies. 🦜🐤 Explore our range of feeders, fat balls, and suet blocks to keep your garden buzzing with avian excitement! 🌻🍽️

Opening Times
9am-4pm Tuesday-Saturday

01/03/2024

The unfortunate truth of owning and running a business.
Running a business is really hard.
What they don’t tell you is that it can cause severe stress and anxiety, and drains you mentally to the point of depression in even the most laid-back people.
People will talk about you, compare you to others, use you, they will view you as a service and not a person anymore.
People will expect discounts and people will value you and your hard work less than a big chain store.
You have to worry about if you forget to email/message someone back, are they going to think it was on purpose? Did you disappoint them? Will they hold that against you? When in reality you just can’t get to everyone’s messages and emails.
Starting up and running a successful business puts incredible strain on personal lives and relationships, many of which fail because there is just often no work life balance. You need to be the director, the worker, the admin, the marketing team, the accountant, the cleaner..... All whilst being a parent, a provider, family support, friend, spouse...
There’s a reason you don’t see many people succeed in small businesses after 5-10 years. If they are successful they are overwhelmed. It takes a toll. It’s freaking exhausting. Especially the past couple of years when so much has been out of our control.
Here’s a small reminder that we are just normal people with hectic lives. Be kind, be patient, support small businesses…….and hopefully more of us will stick around!

28/02/2024

🐴🐴🐴Grab yours while Stocks last only £5