Padding Paws Pet Services is a dog walking service with a passion for dogs. A dog should be able to use their senses on their walk. Police checked.
Padding Paws Pet Services provides a bespoke professional, caring alternative tailored service to ensure your pet receives the exercise and care they need. We believe that a dog walk should not be a regimented route march, but an enriching thrill for your dog; this IS the dog's walk. We believe that a dog walk should be about encouraging your dog to be able to experience enriching environments - g
iving them the time to sniff at things, roll in the grass, use the environment such as stretching up on things, climbing on rocks etc to improve a dog's body confidence. A well balanced enriched walk, helps dogs to relax and manage better in our world. A contented dog is a happy dog!! The enrichment environment is not just for a dog, other animals can enjoy enriched environments and chances of play, cuddles too. We are experienced dog owners. Qualified in Pet First Aid & fully insured. We know how important your pet is to you, but also understand that life can sometimes stand in the way of you being able to provide all the time and attention they require. So if you're at work all day, are going on a short break or holiday, have had a change in circumstances or are not as fit as you once were, we're here to help.
24/12/2025
Thank you Canine Arthritis Management for posting this. It's important to remember this.
Myth: “If the radiographs look mild, the pain must be mild.”
FACT: X-ray severity does not correlate well with pain. Some dogs with ‘minor changes’ suffer hugely, while others with severe radiographic disease cope well.
Meet Cully... ❤️
Sleeping her way into Christmas. 🎄❤️.xx
24/12/2025
Apologies for the late posting; we have a new addition to our family, hence the lateness.
I would like to wish all my clients, past, present and future a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you for your support this year, as always it is appreciated.
I look forward to seeing you and your furbabies in the New Year.xx
19/11/2025
It is with great sadness that we said 'Goodnight' to Islay this evening after suffering with Neurological degeneration, loss of muscle mass and this last week an aggressive tumour. She was such a brave girl and had such a hard start for the first half of her life, used as a breeding dog in a puppy farm and then to lose her best friend and Sister, Penny just 5 weeks ago.
She and Penny were the best of friends and had so much fun and many adventures together running through fields, on the beaches and playing in the water. They were a double act, affectionately known by us as 'The Nutters'. They were inseperable.
In the last seven years, she has had a fantastic life and she didn't want for anything.
So tonight we placed a kiss on her forehead, told her how much we loved her, our beautiful, chocolate girl - run free with your Sister Penderyn.
Goodnight, and Love you both, until we all meet again. xx
04/11/2025
Exactly this. Advocating for your dog is so important.
Thank you Speak Dog for writing about advocating for your dog. ❤️
:
Be Your Dog’s Voice
Advocating for your dog isn’t always easy, especially when it means speaking up to friends, family, strangers or even professionals like vets or groomers, Trainers etc. But it’s one of the most important things we can do as canine caregivers.
Sometimes that means politely saying “no, thank you” when a stranger wants to pet them.
Sometimes it means refusing to hand your dog over for an exam or grooming session if you know your presence helps them stay calmer.
If your professional can't or won't work in a way your dog needs, find one who will.
Being your dog’s advocate doesn’t mean being rude, it means being confident, kind, and firm in protecting their comfort and safety.
Your dog depends on you to speak up when they can’t, and that’s not something to feel guilty or embarrassed about.
It can feel intimidating to stand your ground, BUT its also our job to think in advance how you can minimise the stressors.
If your dog struggles with other dogs and needs to see the vet, wait in the car, call to say you're there. Book the first or last appointment of the day so the waiting room is empty. Tell them when you book the appointment and ask what they can do to support your dog, taking them through a side door for example.
If your dog hates being placed on a table for examination or grooming, ask or find a groomer or vet who will work or examine on the floor.
If your Trainer or Behaviourist tells you to behave in ways that is harsh and makes you feel uncomfortable, STOP them, learning shouldn't hurt and shouldn't be scary. I know you've paid money, but is money worth more than your dogs welfare and likely longer term fallout from harsh methods.
Sadly not every dog professional ACTUALLY has YOUR dogs individual needs and BEST interests at heart, that's a sad reality of the dog world.
Some are focused on outdated methods, some are focused on the money, some are focused at just getting the job done and quickly and some are focused on aesthetics over welfare.
Don't ever be shamed into silence when advocating for your dog.
There is no greater gift to a dog than a human who advocates for them.
( Picture of my beautiful black and white Siberian Husky Newton, the bestest boy EVER)
30/10/2025
This. Why don't dogs get on with every dog they meet. Thank you as always to Speak Dog for this post and explaining it.
Why Your Dog Doesn’t Get On With Every Dog, And Why That’s Perfectly Normal
It can be confusing when your dog gets along beautifully with some dogs but seems uncomfortable, or even reactive, around others.
Many people assume that dogs should “get on” with every dog they meet. After all, they’re social animals, right? But just like us, dogs have their own personalities, preferences, and comfort zones.
The Myth: Dogs Should Like Every Dog
There’s a common misconception that all dogs should be friends. But think about it, as people, we don’t naturally click with everyone we meet.
We all have different temperaments, interests, and energies that affect how we connect with others. Some people make us feel relaxed and happy, while others might make us feel tense or uneasy.
Dogs are exactly the same. They read subtle cues in body language, tone, and scent that tell them whether another dog feels safe or threatening. When we expect them to “just get along” with every dog they meet, we’re asking them to ignore their instincts, and that can lead to stress or even conflict.
The Importance of Dog Friendships
Having trusted friends brings comfort, joy, and confidence, for both people and dogs. A dog’s close friendships, built through positive experiences and trust, can:
Boost confidence and reduce anxiety
Improve social skills
Provide healthy play and exercise outlets
Support emotional wellbeing
Just like a person might have a small circle of close friends rather than a huge social network, many dogs thrive with one or two canine companions they truly trust.
Supporting Trusted Relationships
As loving dog owners, it’s our job to notice who our dogs enjoy being around, and to respect their boundaries when they don’t. Encourage playdates or walks with dogs your pup feels comfortable with. Let those friendships develop naturally over time through calm, positive interactions.
If there are certain encounters that make your dog uneasy or reactive, it’s okay to avoid them for now. Forcing interactions rarely helps and can damage your dog’s confidence.
Instead, work with a trusted, professional such as a force-free behaviourist who can guide you in understanding your dog’s social needs.
Your dog doesn’t need to love every dog they meet,that’s completely normal. What matters most is that they are trusted friends who make them feel safe and happy.
By supporting those relationships and protecting your dog from stressful encounters, you’ll be nurturing a more confident, content, and emotionally comfortable companion.
14/10/2025
This morning our beautiful Penny passed away whilst on her walk. It was very sudden.
Please bear with us whilst we shutoff and come to terms with this.
Give your dogs any extra special hug today. 💔
29/07/2025
Ever wondered what Freework is and how it can benefit your dog? Read this great post from Speak Dog explaining the benefits etc.
Ever heard of Freework?
It’s a beautifully beneficial and enriching activity that offers your dog the chance to engage with their environment freely.
No cues, no commands, no expectations. Just your dog exploring, sniffing, licking, chewing, and moving however they choose.
Freework includes things like:
Laying out different textures (mats, snuffle cloths, cardboard)
Offering boxes, tunnels, or soft obstacles
Providing chews, frozen treats, or sniffable herbs
It’s about choice and agency. Your dog gets to decide what to interact with, how, and for how long.
Coined by Sarah Fisher and part of her ACE Freework brand, ive used for my own dogs and many client dogs and see and hear of its benefits regularly.
Why does it matter?
✅ Promotes calmness
✅ Builds confidence
✅ Helps decompress and regulate emotions
✅ Encourages natural behaviours
✅ Improves body awareness
But here's the key point:
If you're going to offer enrichment, make sure your dog can enjoy it.
That means:
Choosing a quiet, safe space
Allowing your dog to fully relax into that moment.
Imagine someone booking you a luxury spa day... and then handing you a toddler to manage during your massage.
That’s what it’s like for a dog trying to enjoy enrichment activities while feeling anxious about another dog nearby or being in a busy environment.
So when you give them the gift of Freework, Enrichment or chews, try to ensure you give them the freedom to actually enjoy it, otherwise it might not be as beneficial as we think.
29/07/2025
Love this from Speak Dog about how our tone can impact a dog's behaviour.
How Tone of Voice Impacts a Dog’s Behaviour
Dogs are highly sensitive to the tone of our voice often more so than the specific words we use.
Their understanding of human language is rooted not in vocabulary, but in intonation, rhythm, and emotional energy. This means that the way we say something often matters more to a dog than what we say.
Many people unintentionally use harsh or forceful tones when giving cues like "stay," "wait," or "leave it."
These words are often delivered with a sharp edge, either because the person is trying to assert control, or out of frustration.
While this tone might interrupt a dog's behaviour temporarily, it doesn’t necessarily teach them what the cue means. Instead, the dog might freeze or stop because they’re unsure or even a little intimidated, not because they understand the desired behaviour.
This can lead to confusion or a breakdown in trust, especially with more sensitive or insecure dogs.
That’s why choosing marker words that are naturally soft or playful in tone, like “pop,” can be incredibly effective ( pop was a colleagues suggestion which i liked and pinched lol)
Words like this are hard to say harshly, so they help maintain a positive emotional tone during training. This sets dogs up to feel confident and engaged, rather than cautious or nervous.
The words we use:
Cues vs. Commands the words.
Commands to me suggest an authoritative relationship where the human demands obedience.
Cues, on the other hand, are invitations to act, a way of communicating with our dogs and giving them information about what’s happening next.
Using cues fosters cooperation over compliance, helping to build a relationship based on mutual trust rather than control.
Tone matters more than words: dogs respond to how you say something, not just what you say.
Harsh tones can cause confusion rather than clarity.
Soft, friendly words can encourage engagement and reduce stress ( situation and context do obviously come into play and every dog is an individual)
Framing behaviours as cues, not commands, promotes communication rather than control.
( Picture of Rodney pushing his luck with a friend and her pudding )
17/06/2025
Hot Forecast Due 🌅 Met Office Heat will build through the week. On Wednesday the highest temperatures values in the UK are expected to be around 27ºC.
Is it true that if we use cold water on heat stroke pets they will go into shock?
One of the most common things we still hear is that we can only use tepid water on a pet with heat stroke, incase they get some complications like hypothermic overshoot, peripheral vasoconstriction hindering a cooling response, and cardiogenic shock...
We have heard not to use cold water in case it causes shock... this rarely happens!
But guess what? In a recent study over 26% of dogs presented with heat stroke died, with flat faced breeds making up nearly half of heat stroke cases seen in the study.
You should:
💧Get someone to call the local veterinary practice and tell them you're going to travel down with a heat stroke patient
💧Pour, hose or if possible immerse the pet in very cold water (this should obviously be done under constant supervision, ensuring the head is fully above water and immersion should not be attempted if the animal is too large, or you are unable to do so without hurting yourself)
💧NB: If using a hose pipe, make sure it has run through until cold, as they can often contain water that is extremely hot in the tubing initially
💧Do not drape in towels and leave them in situ. Keep the cold water flowing.
💧Move to a cool, shaded area
💧Prepare to transport to vets in a cold, air conditioned car
In studies they found that:
🌅International consensus from sports medicine organisations supports treating EHS with early rapid cooling by immersing the casualty in cold water.
🌅Ice-water immersion has been shown to be highly effective in exertional heat stroke, with a zero fatality rate in large case series of younger, fit patients.
🌅Hyperthermic individuals were cooled twice as fast by Cold Water Immersion as by passive recovery.
🌅No complications occurred during the treatment of three older patients with severe heat stroke were treated with cold‐water immersion.
🌅Cold water immersion (CWI) is the preferred cooling modality in EHS guidelines and the optimal method applicable to UK Service Personnel
🌅Studies suggest using either ice-water or cold-water immersion
The best intervention is PREVENTION, but if you find yourself with an animal with heat stroke, using cold water either by pouring, hosing or ideally (if safe) immersion then this may help reduce their temperature to safe levels while you transport to a veterinary practice.
☀️🐾Hey doggy and hooman friends! 🐶 It’s me, Ziggy Bear! It's getting HOT out there🔥so please stay safe! Remember:-
🐾 Walks early in the morning or late in the day! 💧Keep your water bowl full and fresh, find a nice cool spot for naps! AND 🚗make sure your human NEVER leaves you in the car – not even for a minute! It gets way too hot, way too fast.
Let’s make this summer fun AND safe! Woofs Ziggy Bear 😎🐕
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Padding Paws Pet Services provides a bespoke professional, caring alternative tailored service to ensure your pet receives the exercise and care they need. We believe that a dog walk should not be a regimented route march, but an enriching thrill for your dog; this IS the dog's walk.
We believe that a dog walk should be about encouraging your dog to be able to experience enriching environments - giving them the time to sniff at things, roll in the grass, use the environment such as stretching up on things, climbing on rocks etc to improve a dog's body confidence. A dog should be able to use their senses on their walk. A well balanced enriched walk, helps dogs to relax and manage better in our world. A contented dog is a happy dog!!
The enrichment environment is not just for a dog, other animals can enjoy enriched environments and chances of play, cuddles too.
We are experienced dog owners. Police checked. Qualified in Pet First Aid & fully insured. We know how important your pet is to you, but also understand that life can sometimes stand in the way of you being able to provide all the time and attention they require. So if you're at work all day, are going on a short break or holiday, have had a change in circumstances or are not as fit as you once were, we're here to help.
Due to the rising number of pet thefts sweeping the country, we wear a discreet body camera. This is for the safety of your dog and ourselves.
Padding Paws Pet Services follows the Professional Dog Walking Guidelines as endorsed by Dog’s Trust, RSPCA, PIF & CFSG.
Padding Paws Pet Services promise not to use your information for any other business not related to this business.
