Paws for Thought

28/07/2024

Finally Summer is here!! Whilst it’s great for us it is too hot for the dogs to walk in the heat at their normal time.

I will be in touch with everyone personally but I will be walking early. This ensures everyone can enjoy a cool walk in the shade .

Any dogs that are left home alone all day please rest assured Aunty Soph will come back in at lunchtime to let them out for a wee and a big cuddle xx

25/07/2024

Whilst walking this afternoon we were treated to a family of 4 deer. Needless to say Aunty Soph made sure the dogs didn’t disturb them . They didn’t even know they were there!!

I feel so privileged to share my life with dogs and the wonderful Countryside and Wildlife.

25/06/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/vXmsk7ABYybzNhTv/?mibextid=WC7FNe

With the weather warming up, it’s important to keep your pets cool during the summer to avoid heatstroke 🌡️

🌞To protect your pets please avoid walks during the hottest part of the day. If you can’t safely take your dog for a walk it’s ok for them to miss a day or head out in the early morning/late evening when it is cooler.

⏱️ Have you heard of the pavement test? If you’re unsure whether it is safe for your pet to go for a walk on pavements, hold your hand on the hot pavement for five seconds and if you find it painful then avoid taking your pet out.

⚠️Signs of heatstroke include:
- Collapse
- Shaking
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Excessive panting
- Foaming at the mouth
- Bright red or pale gums
- Seizures

🐾Tips on how to keep your pet cool:
- Place ice cubes into your dog’s water bowl or freeze a kong filled with treats and water 🧊
- Give your pet damp towels to lie on
- Ensure your pet always has access to shade and drinking water 🧊🕶️
- Groom your pet regularly to brush away any excess or dead hair 🪮
- A paddling pool in a shady spot may be refreshing for your dog 💦
- Place a fan near your pets favourite spot 🪭

20/06/2024

With the temperatures getting warmer I will be changing how I do walks when necessary.

When the temperature is too hot all walks will be adapted. We will be in shade and instead of long walks we will take a gentle amble. I will carry water with me at all times for the dogs and my First Aid Kit. We will also be using trees to sit under and have lots of cuddles, play and enrichment games.

My van will have a cold mat in each crate and a non spill water bowl . All journeys will be as short as possible.

If anyone decides to cancel a walk due to hot weather I will waive my cancellation charge providing I get the message before arriving at your house.

Nothing is more important to me than your dogs safety. The dogs I walk are like my family and I will ensure that they are safe. I will also have my dog shower which is a great cooling off tool too!

11/05/2024

Well I looked out the bedroom window last night and could see a very faint pink glow. Popped my phone on and camera into Night Mode then the skies lit up!! Mother Nature at it’s best!!

08/05/2024

It’s not often I do this as I find it too sad and it is always the worst part of my job. However once in a while you experience a bond that’s so unique you have to!! So with the owners permission I share our tale.

Just over 9 years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a little black lab puppy called Sirius!! It was love at first sight!! He belonged to a lovely young couple who had just moved to Sherston. I had the pleasure of getting to know both them and extended family over the years. I even took him to their wedding.

Very sadly Sirius lost his fight against Cancer on Sunday. I still can’t quite believe our last walk was on Friday. You would have had no idea he was so poorly. Right up until the last 24 hours he was just the happy little man he always was.

I will never forget you Sirius. You were my best business confident I could ever have wished for. Always there with a big waggy tail and a huge 👅 !! Like a true lab loved a treat and the water!! Nothing made you happier than jumping in the river! Well possibly eating apples that had dropped from the trees in the Autumn!! All his doggie pals loved him to bits too.

You landed on your feet with the best family and from a family of 3 you grew to a family of 6 and a better family dog you couldn’t wish for.

Rest now little man you may be gone but you will never be forgotten. Your Mum made the best tribute.. MAY you be in the clouds with endless pizza crusts and slippers.

I felt very honoured to be your Aunty Soph and you will live on in all our hearts 💜###x

04/05/2024

Just told little Miss Daisy it’s the weekend!! We hope everyone has a lovely BH weekend and can’t wait to see you all next week. It also looks as if we might even get some 🌞 next week!!! Now Aunty Sophie should know better than to believe a weather forecast especially as it’s Badminton Horse Trails too! 🐎

28/03/2024

After a really wet day we are refusing to leave the side of a warm Aga!!

We are now on holiday until the 7th April. We can’t wait to see everyone on the 8th April for lots of new adventures.

Wishing everyone a Very Happy Easter 🐣

13/03/2024

The reason I started my dream … my own dog walking business. Thought I would share a picture of my girls we had commissioned sat in the boat and by it ❤️

01/01/2024

Happy New Year! Thank
You for all your support in 2023. We can’t wait to make new memories and have more adventures in 2024 💜

08/12/2023

It’s nearly Christmas time 🎅 . Our last walk is 21st December and we will be back on the 4th January 2024!!

We would like to wish everyone a Very Happy Christmas 🎄. Also we can’t THANK YOU enough for all your support. Being a small business we would not be here without you.

So many amazing memories have been made in 2023. Lots of happy dogs walked and friendships made for life. Aunty Sophie really does have the best life 💜 ###

02/12/2023

I had to share this …. I know everyone knows we lost our precious little Panda here at head quarters. It’s been very bitter sweet as our hearts are still broken but for us all we felt we needed some joy! So we have a new little baby called Frieda. We think that Panda would approve.

Daisy has fallen in love with little Frieda … as have we all. We are very lucky that we have become friends with one of Daisy and Pandas sisters owners!! They have been such a support for us over the last few weeks. We sent them a picture of Daisy playing with Frieda . Pippa hasn’t seen Daisy since she was 8 weeks old but just look at this video. Pippa looks so much like Daisy and Panda so it’s so lovely . Goes to show that sisters bond lasts forever 💜❤️ xx We are so grateful they let us share the video .

22/09/2023

Today is PDWA National Dog Walker Appreciation Day so here's a Shout Out for all the wonderful professional dog walkers out there! 👏👏👏💙🐾

“You are just a dog walker!” – we get told this all the time!!!

In actual fact, we are so much more!

We are trusted guardians who bond, exercise and enrich a dog’s life in all weather!

We enable owners to work or socialise with the knowledge their dog is exercised safely if they themselves have no time, energy or are too poorly to do so themselves.

Not just walks ! We provide enrichment and quality time.

We give owners peace of mind their dog’s welfare is paramount and adapt our days to ensure this during inclement weather for example.

We risk assess constantly but if an accident does happen we are first aid trained to look after dogs in our care.

We keep up to date with PSPO’s, Dog Law etc.

We build relationships with our dogs and know their “normal” so we can recognise changes such as tummy troubles, new lumps, different gait or mood etc., and report them swiftly.

We learn as much as we can about canine communication, seasonal hazards, breed traits and find suitable outlets for each one where we can.

Many of us go on to become groomers, pet nutritionists, trainers, behaviourists, pet photographers etc.

We love the dogs in our care. We laugh at their antics, we worry when they are poorly and we cry when we lose them.

We are so much more than “just a walker” and never doubt that.

So……..
Dog Walkers: tell us who you are and where you are based! (members and non-members welcome)
Owners: if you have dog walker help, flag them here and tell us what you appreciate the most about them!
Comment ⬇️

05/09/2023

We are so excited to be back from our holiday and what a welcome we got ❤️💜❤️. With the sudden hot temperatures which is fabulous for people but not dogs we are doing all we can to adapt.

Only dogs left on their own will be taken out in the air conditioned van which also has cool mats and a non spill bowl of water for each dog . Also there is a dog shower if needed.

I can’t thank my clients enough for being so flexible and accommodating. Where possible I am literally only doing morning walks. However if it gets too hot we will be sitting and playing under the trees in the shade.

I will always have my ruck sack full of cold water from the cool bag and first aid kit.

The dogs well being is always my Number One priority ###

24/08/2023

Just to say we are officially on our holiday now until Monday 4th September. So forgive me but we won’t be answering any texts, emails or phone calls until then.

Looking forward to some down time with my fur family and hubby! We will miss everyone terribly and have given out so many extra big cuddles to keep us going!

04/08/2023

Must have been awful for the poor dog and person walking them.

We are appealing for witnesses after a dog was shot at on Fosse Way, Chedglow at around 3.50pm on July 19.

The dog suffered two gunshot wounds and needed treatment.

We would like to speak to a male who was seen in the area described as a large build with blond hair and driving a green quadbike described as a large build with blond hair.

If this is you, or you have information that could help with our enquiries please contact us on 101 quoting reference number 54230075997.

22/04/2023

Very sadly we had to retire my loyal old van! However a new member has joined the team!! Please meet Fido.

Nothing is more important to me than the dogs safety . I have had it professionally fitted with dog crates to DEFRA standards. A jump
board has been added to help my older dogs. It is also fully air conditioned and has two added air vents to help with the air circulation. Separate water bowls will be added to each crate in the summer months. Water is always offered at the end of walks and carried with me
during walks.

The dogs I walk are like family and nothing is too much for them.

13/02/2023

This makes my ❤️burst with love. I was literally 5 minutes away and my lovely client sent me this. They were busy working from home 🏡 and my little man started stomping and crying at the door!! He knew Aunty Soph and his friends were only minutes away!!

22/01/2023

I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend. I can’t wait to see all my doggies tomorrow 🐶 🐕 .

We have had a lovely time enjoying frosty 🥶 walks. The muds all gone!!

I am so aware that my precious girls did not ask to be a family of 6. I strive to ensure that their individual needs are met.

This is us tonight ❤️. You are correct I am sat on their bean bag which allows them to choose to cuddle Mummy if they want and no one will ever be left out.

Good night all sleep tight 😴.

11/12/2022

Here at head quarters the girls and I have been having fun in the snow ⛄️ ......

11/11/2022

They shall not grow old, as we are that left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning WE will remember them. When you go home, tell them of us and say for your tomorrow, we gave our today.

08/09/2022

I make no apologies that this isn’t dog related! A truly sad day that we have lost the Queen. Wether you were a Royalist or not no one could fail to admire the dignity, grace and service she gave to this Country. Also an amazing animal lover. A great horsewoman and she did so much to Champion the Corgi breed.

RIP Queen Elizabeth 11 we will never have another like you.

17/06/2022

Today was so hot for the dogs. All week I have been so careful with the temperatures rising and had cool mats in the van, dog shower, and bowl of water accessible at all times whilst travelling. I had so much water in my ruck sack and lots of chilling under trees and playing. However today it’s far too warm for walks so for my fur babies who were home alone I have done garden visits. After the initial Aunty Soph we aren’t going for a walk I get lots of cuddles and hugs and then insist on staying in the shade! Thank you so much for my lovely clients who have been totally lovely as normal even putting up sun brollies for me in the garden and saying help yourself to anything and trusting me judgement. Stay safe and hope everyone has a lovely weekend .