Maria is experienced in providing dog adventure walks to stimulate your dog’s mental and physical Get up early to avoid the heat on hot days.
A Dog Walker and Dog Trainer with a lot of extra perks shall we say! You see, I know what its like to have a puppy that’s got a lot of issues, Experienced rescuing a very scared and angry dog. I’ve had the deaf moments when you know their listening, but won’t do what you want. Oh, and the waiting for the vet to say “I’m sorry, your dog is poorly”
Finding someone to look after you precious fur ba
by isn’t easy and rest assured, I would be the pickiest person. I endeavor to be there for your dog when your unable to, give them the physically and mentally exercise they need, give them comfort when their unsure and to provide you with the best quality care that I would give my own dog. I use whistles, toys, treats to interact with your dog to keep them all safe and near to me. Plus, I will be discouraging bad habits and reward good behavior along the way to help you as owners with reinforced learning. Plus… I will apply numerous layers of clothing in the winter and be out in all weathers. Jump in a river to encourage them to come in and cool down. I will defiantly be muddy than them. Carry the little ones when they feel tired and overwhelmed. Give your dog homemade ice treats at the end of a warm walk. Buy the best quality food and natural foods for treats. Not forgetting, make chicken broth for the picky dogs that don’t like to drink water whilst their walking. That’s just a few things that I do to keep your dog happy and you at ease as owners.
08/01/2025
🤗 Newbie Welcome 🤗
A big welcome to the Four Paws Family, Mr T!
The one thing I know, it’s kind to help a dog to settle into a new environment, aka my van!
Mr T can be a anxious boy. Pairing something he likes doing (Free Work) with something that may make him anxious (Vehicle anxiety), would have helped him to grow confidence in the situation.
Taking the time to help Mr T made his first journey and walk a positive situation. That’s what it’s all about! The next steps are to help him relax more with the other doggo’s and build our connection.
02/01/2025
🥶 SNIFFARRI WALK TO DECOMPRESS 😌
A beautiful frosty first walk of 2025! A slow and sensory walk to start the year off.
👃🏼Using their senses will help them decompress and calm…
🏃🏻 Off lead and running around like loons will heighten their arousal and produce unwanted behaviours.
Let’s start 2025 with calmness! 🧘🏼♀️
01/01/2025
✨ Stepping into a new year! ✨
Welcome 2025…
After a well earned end of year break, Walking the Four Paws doggo’s resumes tomorrow. I’m looking forward to all the wet nose welcome back snuggles and fresh air.
24/12/2024
Statistics released in 2022 by The Kennel Club showed that dogs are 53% more likely to be treated for eating human food that is poisonous to them, or ingesting ‘foreign bodies’, in December, compared to any other month of the year.
The statistics, collected by the dog welfare organisation’s insurance partner, Agria Pet Insurance, show that December has consistently been the highest month for intoxication claims since 2015, with the highest claim reaching over £1,600 following a dog eating a mince pie.
Every Christmas there are thousands of cases of dogs needing veterinary treatment after consuming chocolate and other unsuitable festive foods like mince pies, stollen, Christmas pudding and Christmas cake. Try and keep any food out of reach from your dog – this includes advent calendars, chocolate coins and edible tree decorations.
Remember:
⛔️CHOCOLATE⛔️ is poisonous to dogs so it’s vital to keep any away from your dog and make sure any visitors do the same – don’t forget decorations or gifts under the tree
⛔️CHRISTMAS DINNER⛔️ involves a large amount of dangerous foods for your dog, either through being toxic, too salty or too fatty. Be wary of feeding them traditional turkey, goose and chicken as bones can easily splinter, particularly when cooked, causing an obstruction and possibly even piercing your dog’s tummy
⛔️CHRISTMAS CAKE, MINCE PIES & CHRISTMAS PUDDING⛔️ all contain dried fruits such as raisins, currants or sultanas which are toxic to dogs
Other festive foods to avoid include: MACADAMIA NUTS, BLUE CHEESE, ALCOHOL and MOULDY FOOD.
If you think your dog may have eaten something that they shouldn’t or they have symptoms including sickness and diarrhoea, speak to your vet straight away.
22/12/2024
🐾 New Furry Member! 🐾
One thing I’ve noticed is that there are quite a few new puppies walking around, and many rescue charities are posting pictures of adoptions. This is an exciting time for families with a new companion in their homes.
Here are a few tips for settling your new companions into your homes…
🐾 Be prepared to change your plans! Dogs don’t adapt straight away to new environments! Everything is new to them - sounds, smells, sights, touches, and tastes. Give them time… days and months for this process.
🐾 Keep their world small! Start with one room and the garden. Let them acclimatise to one area for a few days, and then add another area. This will help reduce anxiety in the home.
🐾 Limit interactions to your immediate family. Please don’t invite everyone around to meet them straight away! Avoid taking them everywhere to immediately meet other dogs and people. Gradually invite people to meet your new companion over the course of weeks, not minutes!
🐾 There’s no rush to socialise your new companion! You are the most important person in their life, and it's your job to help them feel safe and loved.
🐾 Remember, socialisation is about helping your companion remain calm in the presence of others - humans, felines, and dogs. It’s not about them being bounced on or bouncing on others! Don’t set your dog up to fail, feel scared, hurt, or anxious! This part is crucial to get right and will be an important factor for the rest of their lives!
🐾 Don’t immediately change their food. Let them settle first! A dog can have an upset stomach due to anxiety, so don’t add to the problem.
🐾 Toileting indoors… 🤔
Give them time to adapt and learn where to toilet, and for you to recognise their signs!
🐾 Don’t immediately place items on their body that they aren’t used to! Do they really need a harness on yet, as they certainly don’t need to be walked? Place the harness near them, on their bed, to transfer scent, and introduce your dog to the equipment gradually.
🐾 They’re not eating! Don’t panic! Sometimes a dog’s anxiety can block their desire to eat. They will eventually eat, so give them time!
🐾 Let sleeping dogs lie! Allow them to sleep as much as they need to process what’s happening. Sleep is when a dog absorbs what they have learned.
🐾 Give them the love they need and crave. They have been taken away from everything they know. They are scared, anxious, and terrified, and this is a fine line before your new companion might show behaviours that they really don’t want to display.
🐾 If they show behaviours you don’t understand, ask yourself, “Why are they doing that?” Think about it before saying “No!” or doing anything else!
🐾 If you don’t like what they’re doing, ignore it and redirect them! Offer them something else to do. For example, if they wee indoors, it’s happened; ignore it, take them outside, stay with them, praise them when they do it outside, and then clean up the mess indoors!
🐾 Don’t rush — enjoy the time and process!
If in doubt, you know where to find me!
22/12/2024
✨Your dogs are your family!
✨You are their advocate!
✨The person that will know they need help.
✨The one that will comfort them when their anxieties are getting to much for them!
🦃🥕Don’t just prepare the turkey and veg…
Prepare enrichment, a quiet room, time out for your companion. Help them enjoy this time of the year too.🎄
🎅🏻Dogs at family occasions 🥳
Family and friends get togethers can be the best part of Christmas.
Every year I have messages or phone calls explaining that their dogs behaviour has changed and they don’t know what to do. Let’s take a few moments to prepare to help our dogs, before they get to the point of showing us they’re stressed. (Lip licking, chewing their feet, hiding, barking, growling, snarling, nipping, stop eating, stop listening, stop tolieting, or toliet in the house… etc)
Prepare a room that they are comfortable in for them to have time out. Place their bed in there, a few enrichment items that their used too, some music or pop the tv on.
If your dog gets excited when people enter the house, either pop them in a secure room or place them on a lead. Distract them whilst people settle in your home. Ask people to calmly greet them and keep contact to the bare minimum.
Don’t dress them in things they aren’t used to!
Keep them away from children they aren’t used to.
Watch your dogs body language! Look at their ears, tail, mouths. Are they trying to hide, be on their own, want comfort? Please don’t ignore these signs, your dog is communicating! Please be aware that your dogs behaviour will escalate if they are ignored. They have short fuses…
If your dogs show behaviours showing that they are uncomfortable, use that prepared room and let them decompress. Sit with them and take sometime out yourself. Let them rest and sleep!
If your dog was to get aggressive, let them rest for a few days. No walks, family occasions, or excited play etc. Use calming games and enrichment to help them decompress further.
If in doubt… Decompress!
21/12/2024
✨🎁 Final walks of 2024! 🎅🏻🎄
Yesterday was our final walking day of 2024!
I feel truly honoured to know all these wonderful companions. I’m not “just” walking your dogs, they are my tutors and I learn from them every day whilst we walk.
I have sadly said goodbye to a few of them this year. They will always be in my thoughts and I will pass on what they have taught me.
A new companion will start with us in the new year and our Four Paws family will be complete again.
Enjoy and be safe over your festive time together. 🎁🎄
17/12/2024
The choc tox calculator! Work it out, don’t leave it to chance as symptoms can take hours to develop and can be hard to reverse! Ask your vet if unsure ❤️
Your friend (and mine) they’re awesome! Save their number incase you have a little naughty doggy who eats a cheeky Christmas no no. Or anything that isn’t dog friendly!
We will be at Cosby Light Switch on Saturday 30th Nov. We’ll have loads of goodies there and most importantly you’ll be able to chat with us about your dogs.
Come over and say Hi!
🐶
29/11/2024
✨Welcome back! 🐾
I’m so glad to welcome Miss P back to the Four Paws Family! I didn’t think we would have you back in group, but you have surprised us all. 💪🏻
28/11/2024
😔 Bye Bye! 😘
What can I say about this lovable rogue!!
Bonkers, Loves his snuggles, Bouncy, Happy boy…
😍 Iv loved the last three years with this boy. He has been a wonderful tutor and Iv learnt an awful lot with him being apart of the Four Paws family and the Training Academy. 🐾
His caregivers have been devoted to helping him through hard times, learning along the way as he grew up. It hasn’t been a smooth road in any shape or form, but we got there!
✨Mr B and family are going to pastures new and will be truly missed. I hope all goes well and Mr B continues to have loads of fun with his next adventures! 🏡
28/11/2024
23/11/2024
Come and join us!
04/11/2024
🤦🏼♀️Pee-mails!🐕🦺
This is what Mondays about!! Catching up with Pee-mails, Face-floofs, What-💩’s!!
What else could be better with fallen leaves as a natural snuffle mat and being able to sniff all they like.
Sniffing and licking is the best “calmative” that your dog can have. It heights the calm and happy hormones in their bodies… endorphins, oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine.
I promise that these dogs will be more exhausted than running around after each other.
Let your dog SNIFF!!
10/10/2024
🌈🐾Celebrating a Life 🐾🌈
It has been a honour to know A and her family! She was one of the first dogs I took on walking, but it wasn’t about being walked!
“A” didn’t like being away her mum.
Our relationship grew over five years, where eventually A has been loved not just by me, but my family too. Her family was able to have time away and knew she was safe. “A” was the reason why I got my homeboarding license. I now board the majority of my walking dogs.
The Four Paws family will miss you “A” and thank you for being one of my first dog tutors.
Much love to A’s family Sweet dreams my lovely 🌈
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Videos
🥶 SNIFFARRI WALK TO DECOMPRESS 😌
A beautiful frosty first walk of 2025! A slow and sensory walk to start the year off.
👃🏼Using their senses will help them decompress and calm…
🏃🏻 Off lead and running around like loons will heighten their arousal and produce unwanted behaviours.
Let’s start 2025 with calmness! 🧘🏼♀️
❄️☁️ The chilly days 🌨️🌦️ My favourite days… crispy, fresh air, with new smells and blue skys! Certainly a feeling that all the dogs haven’t experienced for a while. #outdoorsfun #winterdays #funwiththedogs
🤦🏼♀️Pee-mails!🐕🦺
This is what Mondays about!! Catching up with Pee-mails, Face-floofs, What-💩’s!!
What else could be better with fallen leaves as a natural snuffle mat and being able to sniff all they like.
Sniffing and licking is the best “calmative” that your dog can have. It heights the calm and happy hormones in their bodies… endorphins, oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine.
I promise that these dogs will be more exhausted than running around after each other.
Let your dog SNIFF!!
#besttimeever #dogenrichmentideas #knowledgeiskey #countrysidewalks #thegreatoutdoors #fortheloveofdogs
👌🏻Nope… this was the best puddle!💦
Looney wet woofs having the best time!
#besttimeever #puddletime #loveoutdoors #careforyourdogs #thegreatoutdoors
💦 We’re so happy! 😃
Brilliant check ins and the best puddle ever!! 😆
#loveoutdoors #countrysidelife #fortheloveofdogs #loveyourdog #dogwalkerleicestershire
🌾 Park Life! 🌳
Iv got to giggle at these two!
Recalls, middles, catching… anything for a snack or two!
One thing that was for sure, was they weren’t going to stray to far before checking in!
🤩 Fun + Positive Reinforcement = Happy Dogs and Walker!!
#encouragegoodbehaviour #knowledgeiskey #findadogtrainer #walkingthedog #thegreatoutdoors #dogwalkerleicestershire
☔️ Rain 🌧️
The ground is wet encouraging smells to rise. Loads of sniffing and berry munching happening this morning.
#knowledgeiskey #happydog #thegreatoutdoors
🙌🏻Congratulations🙌🏻
This is to all of the guardians and dog walkers that have been super advocates for their dogs in this hot weather!
🏃🏼♂️To exercise your companion’s you have been up and out early or late in the evening, not thrown or launched balls for them to chase, not walked at all and have given your dog a different type of exercise instead! 👏🏻👏🏻
Happy pooches 🐶☀️
#caninechoices #achieveyourgoals #calmnessiskey #knowledgeiskey #dogadolescenceisreal #dogawareness #hotweather #noheatstroke
😍☀️Early Summer Walks and Snuggles!☀️😍
🐕🦺 💦 Puddles 💩🦮
When it’s wet, you might as well get wetter!!
F’s first off the lead experience with me and it was all what she loves! She certainly fits in well…
#loveoutdoors #countrysidelife #walkingthedog #dogwalkinglife #fortheloveofdogs #thegreatoutdoors
🌧️ If you wet… get wetter! 🌧️
On a group walk and who do we see? Another member of the crew racing towards us with her guardian!
The best thing to do was drop their leads and let them meet. 👋🏻
🫶🏻 Such good friends play nicely together, loving the puddles and freedom! ❤️
#dogsocialisation #knowledgeiskey #fortheloveofdogs #dogwalkerleicestershire
We all love our dogs, but sometimes life gets in the way. No matter what the breed, large to small, puppy to senior. Maria is experienced in providing a reliable service, care, affection and sensory walks that your dog needs.
Areas covered in Leicestershire include Enderby, Narborough, Littlethorpe, Thurlaston, Huncote, Croft, Cosby, Whetstone and Lubbesthorpe.
Fully insured by Protectivity Insurance, DBS Checked,
Clean Driving Licence. Dog First Aid Certified
Qualifications in Pet Sitting, Dog Walking and Canine Behaviour.
About Us.. Maria loves the outdoors. She couldn't be happier hiking across the countryside, looking at the views. Maria has owned dogs all shapes and sizes, with different personalities and ailments all my life. She is a true believer that a loved and exercised dog is a happy dog! Tigger is our loveable Chocolate Labrador. We adopted him from the RSPCA when he was nine months old. Tigger didn't know a lot at the time, but with a lot of love, patience and training, he enjoys life to the full! He loves having fun with his friends! He may come along for a walk too, otherwise he’ll be happy to have a snooze at home.
What me and Tigger have in common… getting muddy, streams, walking and food!
