Paws For Thought Grooming Salon

16/02/2026

*Please Read* Just to let my customers know that my house has gone up for sale today, Please do not worry because I will still be working. I will keep you all informed if and when anything else happens. Thank you Julie 🐾

23/12/2025

Merry Christmas and thank you to all my customers past and present,all the best for the new year x

26/11/2025

My face when I see some of the 'dog training' advice on the internet 🙄

Why we Read Body Language (And Why It Matters)

There’s a narrative floating around that we can ignore dog body language entirely “just punish the behaviour you don’t like and reward the behaviour you do.”

This sounds simple.
It’s also fundamentally flawed.

Dogs don’t behave in a vacuum.
Behaviour is driven by emotion.
Fear, frustration, excitement, pressure, confusion, these internal states create the behaviour we see.

If we ignore body language, we ignore the very thing telling us why the behaviour is happening.

And when we ignore the “why,” we risk:

Increasing stress

Creating conflict

Suppressing warning signals

Damaging trust

Making behaviour look “better” while the dog feels worse

Punishment might stop behaviour in the moment, but it does nothing to change the emotional drivers behind it.
In fact, it often intensifies it.

I read body language because emotions matter.
They shape learning.
They shape behaviour
They shape how the dog navigates life
And they shape the relationship we build with our dogs.

10/07/2025

🐾 Puppy/Beginner Gundog Class 🐾
📅 Starts Wednesday 16th July, 10am
📍 Oswaldtwistle Dog Park, BB5 3RN
⏱ 45-minute sessions, every fortnight
📆 6-week course (that’s 6 sessions):
👉 16th July, 30th July, 13th August, 27th August, 10th September, 24th September
💷 £144

Perfect for:
✔️ Gundogs and Gundog crosses
✔️ Puppies & young dogs
✔️ Pet gundogs wanting more than a stroll around the block
✔️ Owners who love kind, positive training

🧠 We’ll be focusing on:
🐕‍🦺 Foundations for Hunting, Retrieving, and Steadiness
🌟 Building focus, confidence, and motivation
🐾 Encouraging calmness around exciting things

Why it's great for pet gundogs:
Even if your pup's not destined for the field, these classes help channel their natural instincts into fun and rewarding activities. You’ll get a more focused dog on walks, better recall, and a brain that’s satisfied, not just tired out!

Instructor:
Jane Ardern BSc (Hons) KCAI (WG)
Kennel Club Accredited Instructor (Working Gundogs)
The Gundog Club Approved Instructor & Assessor
Association of Pet Dog Trainers UK Full Member (1058)

📞 To book, call Barbara on 07817 771585

12/06/2025

🐍 Adders 🐍

With the glorious weather recently, we have seen an expected increase in calls regarding adder bites.

The adder (Vipera berus berus) is the only venomous snake native to the UK, and is also found across northern Europe. It is a protected species in the UK. Adders are most commonly, but not exclusively, found on dry, sandy heaths, sand dunes, rocky hillsides, moorlands and woodland edges. The clinical signs of an adder bite can include rapid and progressive swelling around the bite site, pain, lethargy, vomiting, bruising, bleeding and collapse.

What should you do if your pet has been bitten by an adder?
❌Do not panic.
❌Do not interfere with the bite.
❌Do not apply a tourniquet.
❌Do not attempt to touch or catch the snake.
❌Do not kill the snake – it is a protected species.
❌If practical, carry your dog to your car and go to your veterinary surgeon - do not delay seeking advice even if your pet is well as things can change quickly.

Adders are not aggressive and generally only bite when provoked. They hibernate in the winter and as a result most bites occur in the summer. Pets are frequently bitten on the leg, head or neck. If your pet has been bitten by an adder (even if you did not see the snake or are not sure what happened) – contact your vet immediately. Your vet will examine your pet to determine the location of the bite and extent of the swelling.

Veterinary professionals can call us any time on 02073 055 055 if required for assistance with managing cases of adder bites. We also hold a list of antivenom stockists across the UK. Please note that antivenom is not indicated in all cases.

22/05/2025

Available appointment 10th June 🐾

12/05/2025

I have available appointments on 28th and 29th May🐾

28/04/2025

Letter from a dog. 🐕
Be cool, always. 🙏😊

“Dear Human,
I see you.
Not just with my eyes but with my whole being. You may not realise it, but every time your heart beats a little faster, I feel it. When your hands tighten ever so slightly on my lead, I sense it. When you breathe differently, I know.
You may smile and say, “It’s fine,” but your scent tells me otherwise. Your muscles betray you. I can feel your energy shifting, and I carry it with me.

You see, I live in a world of sensation. Your voice is only part of what I hear.
I hear the tension beneath it. Your body language speaks louder than words. I watch your posture, your eyes, and the way you hold yourself. I even catch the subtle chemical changes in your scent when you are nervous or afraid. My nose is built for this—I can detect fear and stress hormones in your sweat and skin. And when I do, it shapes how I feel.

When you are anxious, I become uncertain. When you are afraid, I may feel the need to protect or flee. And when you are tense, I wonder if there is danger nearby. Your feelings change the way I experience the world. I’m not trying to be difficult when I pull on the lead or bark at something you can’t see. I’m just reacting to what I feel through you.

I know there have been times when I embarrassed you. Maybe I lunged at another dog, jumped up on a stranger, or barked too much. You held your breath and worried about what others thought. I felt that too. And because I love you, I tried to match your energy—I either got big and bold or small and unsure. Either way, it wasn’t helpful.

But here’s the thing, dear human: I don’t need you to be perfect. I just need you to be calm. When you breathe slower, so do I. When your shoulders relax, I trust that we are safe. When you move with quiet confidence, I follow.

Please, when you are nervous, remember that I don’t need you to control me with strength—I need you to lead me with clarity. When you feel unsure, help me by being steady. I look to you for reassurance, not through words but through the energy you carry.

If you are feeling uncertain, that’s okay. I understand. Just take a moment. Breathe. Stand tall. Move deliberately. Let me see that you are okay, even if you have to fake it at first. With time, I will learn that I don’t need to carry the weight of your worry. You will be my calm. And I will be your calm in return.

With love and loyalty,
Your Dog”

I hope this helps some folks understand a little more about our dogs’ world.
Best wishes,
Allan Ritchie MGoDT ( MPDTI)

15/04/2025

31/03/2025