Happy Paws Home Boarding

23/08/2024

Oh Milo you are a little ray of sunshine who comes bursting into our house.

Every time you come to stay you get braver and as your holiday mum and dad, that makes us very proud.

The timid little Milo who wouldn’t eat for the first couple of days of his holiday, when he first came to stay with us, launches himself at his food bowl within 10 minutes of arrival now (a little bit of sardine mixed in might have something to do with it too 🤗)

See you next year brave little boy 💕.

20/08/2024

Looking for a good dog walker?

Lots of people, exasperated by their day to day job, think dog walking would be an easy way to earn money, and so start up their own dog walking business, so it can be difficult for owners to choose somebody trustworthy and responsible.

Here’s a useful list of checks that you can make before handing your believed dog over to a dog walker…

- Ask to see a copy of their public liability insurance including Care, Custody & Control cover

- Ask to see a certificate of their Canine First Aid training

- Ask to see a copy of their Terms & Conditions and Contract/Service Agreement

- Ask to see their Consents Form

- Ask what is their Lost or Missing Dogs procedure;

- Ask what is their Cancellation Policy

- If they’re transporting your dog, ask to see their business usage insurance certificate for their transport and to see how they safely transport your dog

- Ask to see References & Testimonials and don’t be afraid to ask to contact a few directly

I hope this helps 😊

18/08/2024

I did have BBC Radio 2 Love Songs on the radio, when driving Lance home, so switched it over quickly to something more upbeat before Lance and I ended up sobbing on each other’s shoulders.

17/08/2024

Lance has been to stay with us many times over the years, and you know how we feel about this gorgeous boy, so I’ll just let you enjoy his French good looks 😘🇫🇷 😘…

10/08/2024

We don’t often have dog free nights so when we do we seem to have got into the habit of heading out for a meal (once, of course, bedding has been washed and is on the line, carpets hoovered/shampooed, floors mopped, bowls and toys disinfected, all ready for our next guest in the morning).

10/08/2024

I think many of you will appreciate this 🤣

I can never be allowed to use the bathroom without someone standing next to me, I'm afraid I just want privacy 😂

08/08/2024

Heck… it looks like it’s going to be a hot one on Sunday and Monday… ice creams to the ready!

07/08/2024

If you adore gentle, kind, loving dogs who have the sweetest of souls, then you’d be as smitten with Harley as we are.

Her waggy tail has no off button, her cuddles are huge and heartfelt, she has the most impeccable manners, and isn’t she a stunner!

We’ve absolutely loved having you to stay lovely girl. 💕

03/08/2024

The Government, DEFRA and RSPCA need to raise the public’s awareness that ALL dog boarders must have a boarding licence by law… there are too many sad incidents of dogs getting lost or coming to harm during their time with an unlicensed home boarder.

If you get chance, and are happy to share this video to help raise awareness by just a tiny bit I would be grateful.

01/08/2024

Paddling pool, iced drinking water, icecream, cool flannels on tummies, frozen yoghurt kongs…. even the dental chews are being chilled in the fridge… I think I’m going to reclassify us as a Sandals Luxury Dog Resort 🏝️

29/07/2024

No doggy guest tonight, so an evening of kayaking beckoned… and look who came to say hello… there’s no way I’m not going to cuddle a Yorkshire terrier sporting a diamanté collar… even if it is dripping wet.

29/07/2024

Tilly has been to stay for 10 days… 10 very busy days and she rose to the challenge brilliantly… visiting friends for Sunday lunch, hosting family and friends for my birthday celebrations like the hostess with the mostest, playdates with some of our other guest dogs, Teddy, Milo and Martie, and became a new firm friend to Robin’s youngest granddaughter who came for a sleepover.

As Tilly had been so utterly fantastic, on her last evening, when it had cooled right down, we took her out for one of her favourite hobbies… squirrel hunting, at Croome Court.

You certainly earned that squirrel hunt lovely Tilly… everyone fell completely in love with you 💕.

20/07/2024

Shhhhhh… Ted, my sister and I snuck into Croome Court on Thursday evening… it was magical.

20/07/2024

Ted has been to stay for his summer holiday.

He’s a nervous little boy, with sudden noises and planes being the main cause of his anxiety (not great with all of the planes heading to the International Air Tattoo yesterday).

Well we have had an overlap with Ted and our next boarder, a tiny gentle cockapoo, for two days and a night, and Ted has come into his own!

The once nervous Ted has been gobbling up his meals (whereas usually he can take them or leave them), he’s been showing off by standing still to have his harness put on (he usually turns it into a game by running around the house with me in hot pursuit) and he’s been leading the way confidently on walks… I think he’s trying to look cool and mature to his new little lady friend 💕.

Well done Ted, long may your new found confidence last.

18/07/2024

I want to share this story/advice with you. As dog owners we need ‘tools’ in our belt to protect our dogs and ourselves from rogue loose dogs.

Just recieved this email, image is generic and not related.

"I think I may owe my life to you and really feel you should know and repost this training article every single day.

Yesterday I went for a walk around my neighbourhood - I live in South Africa so 95% of properties are fenced and most have dogs for protection - but a dog got out of an open gate and flew at me. Bite my arm (60 stitches later) and pulled me onto the ground (and I weigh 70kgs so am not a lightweight at all). When I was on the ground I actually thought 'well, this is how dog attacks end in death - the damn dog is going to go for my throat' and then I remembered a training video from you where you said shout SIT. It worked - the dog looked very confused and backed off and I was able to get up and just kept shouting SIT and GET AWAY until the owner came out. It wanted to come at me again but I just kept on shouting SIT - one thing to note though - don't use any arm movements as this piqued his interest in me again.

Thank you, thank you, thank you and I am going to spread this jewel of info to everyone I see."

15/07/2024

I didn’t realise that some of these breeds can’t swim, or can’t swim very well, so thought I would raise awareness.

***Awareness Post***

We've had two requests to search for dogs recently. Sadly they've drowned and at this time of year they have resurfaced before we could get there, leaving their owners with a traumatic task of recovering them.

There are a number of breeds that CANT SWIM or are POOR SWIMMERS. They can sink very quickly and with best efforts to save them it is often not possible.

You rarely get a second chance with water.

Your dog may never have shown an interest in water, or may just paddle. But dogs are instinct reactive and it only takes one accident.

Please don't take the risk. Please keep breeds that are known to be poor swimmers on a lead near water. At least then you have a chance of saving them.

Some of the breeds most known that can't swim/poor swimmers and most at risk are...

• French Bulldogs
• English Bulldogs
• Pocket Bully's
• Pugs
• Dachshunds
• Boxers
• Shih Tzu's
• Basset Hounds
• Corgi's
• Maltese

10/07/2024

Having one dog boarding with us at a time means we can take them for days out… for one of Milo’s days out we took him to Hayles Fruit Farm near Winchcombe… lovely coffee shop and the best pistachio and chocolate cake, and of course Milo got to try a strawberry and splash about in lots of puddles on the nature walk… we all came home happy.

10/07/2024

Since Milo last came to stay he has become a big brother to a beautiful baby sister, and has been stepping up to the plate in his new role.

When Milo, his new sister, and mum and dad arrived here 10 days ago Milo panicked a little bit when he cottoned on that they were not all here just for a lovely visit, but that he was in fact staying behind for his latest holiday with us.

He soon settled in though and has, as always, been a real little treasure who we think the world of.

Well done Milo for putting on your big boy pants.

07/07/2024

Don’t forget… if your dog is booked in with a home boarder or kennels this summer, tell your dog’s carer not to post pictures of your dog on Social Media while you are away and your house is empty.

06/07/2024

One of my favourite sights… watching a dog just standing and using all of their senses to take in their surroundings… walks aren’t all about trekking for miles.

02/07/2024

29/06/2024

Our handsome French boy has returned… as always he was giddy with excitement when he arrived for his latest holiday… but then so was I!! He’s one special boy. 🇫🇷

29/06/2024

Lance taking his audition, to be the new Gardeners’ World dog, very seriously!