Dog-Social (2025)

04/04/2025

I should’ve posted this on Monday, but I’ve been deliberating—trying to find the perfect photos, especially since I’ve got some adorable ones of him as a pup from training. But if I don’t post it now, I’ll miss the moment! Our Dog of the Month for March goes to…

Rio 💙💙 (gorgeous sweet kind boy)

Weimaraners aren’t an easy breed, and Rio is no exception. His natural chase drive is sky-high, and without the right training, it could easily lead him into trouble. But his owner has put in so much work, truly learning about the breed and what he needs. Their partnership is something really special, built on trust, understanding, and a whole lot of effort.

Because of that work, Rio is an absolute star. His recall is brilliant, he walks beautifully on the lead, and his emergency stop is rock solid —something we practise all the time to keep that chase drive in check. We’ve worked hard to interrupt his stalking before it escalates, and the progress he’s made is a testament to just how much effort has gone into his training.

Beyond all of that, he’s just a genuinely lovely, soul a kind, sweet-natured boy who is an absolute pleasure to be around.

We love him to bits, and we couldn’t be prouder of how far he’s come. Well done, Rio—you are one incredible boy. 💙

18/03/2025

If you’ve missed seeing Duke on my Instagram and wondered why, here’s the reason. About seven weeks ago, he suddenly developed a limp in one of his back legs. He struggled to get up from lying down, and at times, he refused to move at all. We hadn’t seen him injure himself & it came on suddenly and got worse just as quickly. My fear was that it was arthritis, something we’d have to manage for the rest of his life.

Even after 10 days of complete rest, he was still struggling. It was heartbreaking to watch, and I started to wonder if he’d ever be able to run off-lead again. But after weeks of a lot of rest, ice packs four times a day, magnesium baths, physio and plenty of adjustments at home, he’s finally getting back to his usual self.

This whole experience has been a huge wake-up call. My lovely boy is getting older, and while he’s still full of life, I can’t ignore that his body needs a little more care than before. I’ve put new measures in place using a ramp for the van, adding extra mats in the house to prevent slipping, and adjusting his supplements by increasing his green-lipped mussel intake and adding omega-3. Sadly for both of us, we are going to have to be very selective as to what walks he now goes on. We’re just waiting for a referral to start hydrotherapy, which I’m hoping will help him even more.

Right now, he’s up to on-lead walks and dare I say it showing no sign of the limp. Every walk we do together, no matter how small, means the world to me. I’ve always appreciated my time with him, but this has been a powerful reminder never to take the little things for granted.

Here’s to many more adventures with my boy. ❤️

22/01/2025

When we’re in fight or flight mode and our stress response is high, it’s so important to pause. Dogs are so in tune with our emotions and energy. If we’re feeling overwhelmed or frustrated, they can sense it, and it can impact how they react to us.

In these moments, taking a couple of mindful breaths can make all the difference. Those few seconds help us reset, allowing our mind and body to operate from a calmer, clearer perspective.

Remember, your dog looks to you for guidance, and when you approach situations with calm energy, it can help them feel more secure too.

The next time you feel yourself getting flustered, or your repeating commands and you feel like they’re ignoring you try this:
✨ Pause.
✨ Completely ignore your dog.
✨ Take 5 deep, slow diliberate breaths in and out.
✨ Reconnect with your dog from a place of calm.

It’s amazing what a difference this can make, not just for them, but for you too. 🥰

20/12/2024

Frank, Kimberly’s lovely little pug, wishes everyone the best Christmas! 🎄🥰 We can’t wait to see you all in the new year 🎉🐾

18/12/2024

🌟 **Stars of the Year 2024** 🌟

This year, we haven’t been as consistent as we’d hoped with our monthly Stars of the Month (something we’ll aim to improve on next year!), but we couldn’t let 2024 end without celebrating some of the incredible dogs we’ve worked with.

After much deliberation – because, let’s face it, we could highlight every dog we look after – we’ve decided to finish the year by recognising not just one, but ⭐️⭐️⭐️ three Stars of the Year.

✨ Opie
For being such a respectful dog who is kind to every dog he meets and the most incredible role model for the younger dogs. His recall is as close to 100% as it gets, making him a dream to walk. He is a complete joy to have around!

✨ Buddy
Once a very tricky little boy back in the day, Buddy is now a wise lovely old man. He’s had a tough year after losing his sister, Poppy, but even though he’s feeling the aches and pains of old age, he’s always happy and smiling.

✨ Rupurt
We’ve worked with Rupurt since he was a puppy, and he’s such a brave little sausage! From embracing mud (a rare feat for a sausage!) to being stung by a bee and taking it like a champ, he makes us proud every walk. It’s so lovely to see a dachshund with the amount of confidence he has – he truly is one of a kind!

Congratulations, Opie, Buddy, and Rupurt – our Stars of the Year! 🎉 Here’s to all of you who make our job so rewarding, and we can’t wait to see what 2025 brings.

27/10/2024

Such a lovely morning spent at Whitstable Beach!Grateful to spend time with such well-behaved dogs—it’s a pleasure because of them! 🐾

23/10/2024

Happy 1st Birthday, little Rupert! 😘🥰 It’s been a pleasure to watch you grow into the wonderful boy you are today. Seeing you gain confidence week by week has been incredibly rewarding, and we all love you so much.

Love, all of us at Dog-Social

P.S. Please thank your mum so much for the cakes—they are delicious!

09/08/2024

🐾 Price Update 🐾

Starting September 1st, we’re introducing a new pricing structure to better cater to your dogs needs. We’ll be categorising our dogs into three grades based on their training requirements: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.

🔹 Level 1: Well-behaved dogs that integrate smoothly into group walks. Pricing remains the same!
🔸 Level 2: Dogs needing moderate attention and training. Our team works closely with owners to help these dogs improve their behaviour.
🔹 Level 3: Dogs requiring the most attention and individualised care. You’ll receive regular updates, a 10% discount on the first three one-on-one training sessions, and priority booking for Saturday morning classes.

This change ensures we provide the best care and attention to every dog, always prioritising their safety and well-being. Our goal is to see all our dogs reach Level 1, and we’re committed to giving them the tools they need to succeed. 🐶💖

An email with detailed information will be sent out in the next few days, so keep an eye on your inbox! 📧

Thank you for your understanding and support. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Sadie and the Dog – Social team 🐾✨

31/05/2024

🏆🐾 Dog of the month goes to Raya! 🐾🏆

Every time we see this girl, she grows in confidence. When we first started walking Raya, she was unsure of herself and hesitant around other dogs. She would either bark at distractions or jump into situations with a lot of excitement, masking her lack of confidence and social skills.

We are all so proud of her progress, but we can’t take all the credit. Her wonderful owners have dedicated so much time and patience to her training, and it’s paying off beautifully. Just recently, they sent the sweetest photo of her and her sister winning Best Junior Dog Handler! 🌟Raya is now interacting with other dogs in a much calmer manner, and her recall is becoming so reliable, even around distractions. She can also jump into the van now and we’ve never seen a dog more proud of herself for accomplishing this, it was a big deal for her. We are almost ready to take off her longline for good, we are only keeping it on to ensure we’ve proofed all distractions. Keep up the good work Raya! 🐶💪

29/05/2024

🧠✨ May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and there’s no better time to reflect on the special bonds we share with our dogs 🐶❤️

Committing to my dog’s well-being is not just about caring for them—it’s also about nurturing my own mental health.

Daily walks, play, and training sessions aren’t just for them. These moments help reduce stress, boost mood, and remind me to live in the moment. 🐾🌟 My dogs teach me unconditional love, patience, and the importance of self-care. Let’s honour our dogs and ourselves by making time for those moments together. 🐕💚

16/05/2024

The lovely little Nala needs our help raising money for her brave sister, please have a read of the JustGiving page (clickable link shared on our story) and any donations would be greatly appreciated💖

07/05/2024

Hey everyone! I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you for your understanding about our policy on giving us 24-hour notice for cancelling a walk. We really appreciate your cooperation in helping us keep things running smoothly. Planning the walks and ensuring all the dogs are in the right groups takes a lot of time and effort, but it’s all worth it to make sure the dogs are happy and safe. Giving us the right amount of notice also allows us to offer the spot to another dog in need and helps us avoid any staffing problems. Thanks again for your cooperation and support!

Sadie xx

12/04/2024

I often come across signs like this in the woods, and I actually agree with the message they convey. However, I do find the tone in which they are written a bit off. Accidents do happen, even with the most well-trained dogs. If a dog happens to run into your space, it’s important not to get annoyed or angry, as it will only make your own dog on the lead feel the same way. Instead, why not try to relax and understand that perfection is not attainable all the time? Just keep walking with a positive attitude, and the movement alone should be enough to avoid any potential issues. It might even make your own dog start to question their attitude. If you notice that the dog owner is making an effort, maybe we can try not letting it ruin our walk or someone’s day.😃
Hope everyone enjoys lovely walks over the weekend! Sadie x

29/03/2024

We would like to announce our ‘Dog of the Month’ for March & we couldn’t think of anyone more deserving than Ralph! Ralph has made incredible progress since we began walking him. 🏅🏆

When we first started letting Ralph off lead he used to range so far but now he always stays close and checks in with us regularly. He used to have a bit of an obsession with chasing birds, but even though he still enjoys them (we can’t take the spaniel out of this boy). He never gets too silly and always comes back when called.

It’s absolutely fantastic to witness the remarkable growth of his confidence around other dogs. Ralph, you’re doing such a great job, and a big congratulations to his wonderful family for all the effort they have put into helping this boy. He truly wouldn’t be the same without them.

❤️❤️❤️

14/03/2024

We are excited to announce that we are hiring! Please get in touch if you are interested by emailing your CV with any relevant experience to [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you and expanding our team🐶🐾

11/03/2024

We hope all the Dog Mums had a lovely Mother’s Day yesterday💐 At Dog Social we all know how much our own fur babies mean to us and always treat your dogs like our own
Please note that there will be no class this Saturday and we apologise for cancelling last week’s class. NEXT CLASS will be on Saturday 23rd March🗓️

08/03/2024

Following on from our previous email regarding the request for standard 4ft leads, we would like to provide some examples of our preferred leads, as well as discuss the importance of saving certain leads and accessories for personal use.

Ensuring we have the correct equipment is crucial for the safety of your dogs, especially in situations where quick attachment to a lead is necessary. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding on this matter🐶🐾

22/02/2024

COLLARS! We’re not fussing over appearances, but we do value a good fit🐶

We just wanted to remind everyone about the importance of properly fitting collars. We really want to make sure they are safe, so please double-check that the collars are fit snugly and cannot slip over their heads. Safety is our top priority!

Dog-Social