Merry Paws On T'moors

22/06/2026

Here we go again! .secret.dog.walker

22/06/2026

🌞 IT’S MONDAY 🌞

(And according to the weather forecast, Yorkshire is about to become the Mediterranean.)

The workshop doors are open, and we’re preparing for temperatures usually only seen in exotic places such as Spain, Greece, and occasionally Doncaster.

If you’re melting at home, come and hide amongst the timber piles for a while. The workshop stays surprisingly cool, there’s always something interesting being built, and it’s a good excuse to escape whatever jobs you’ve been avoiding.

We’ve got projects on the go, and enough wood waiting for a second life to keep us busy for months.

So if you fancy a wander, a chat, a bit of inspiration, or simply somewhere that doesn’t feel like the surface of the sun, come and see us.

Open today.

Bring yourself.
Bring a cold drink.
Leave the outside world at the door for an hour or two.

22/06/2026

Here is a responsible and loving doggy professional!
It is soooo hard cancelling, financially, but without doubt the easiest thing to do when considering doggos' welfare!
Please be sensible this week with your furries.
There are a million and one other things you can do with your dogs to tire them out - extra training/ brain games/ scent games / other breed appropraite outlets etc in the saftey and coolness of your own home.
If I was still picking up for walks, I would be offering home visits instead (a loo break and a calm play session) 2 squillion percent harder work for me, but incredibly worth it for not risking your woofers safety!
Missing a few walks, isn't going to kill you or your dog... the alternative might! 🐾❤️

🥵HEATWAVE🥵

If you haven't heard yet this week is going to be HOT!!!!!

Due to this I will most likely be rearranging one to ones and cancelling classes. It simply isnt worth it.

Even if we can get the dogs from your cool house (who has a cool house in this weather) to a cool room for training, it isn't worth travelling them in a car when temperatures are so crazy high.

My rule for thumb is, if I wouldn't walk, train or transport my dog in that weather, I don't expect my clients to.

The dog's welfare comes first, even though it's a huge financial hit for myself and my amazing staff.

Thankfully it's rare I have a client unhappy when we make the call to reschedule sessions or cancel classes for the dog's welfare. We aren't doing it because we can't be bothered. We are doing it to potentially save your dogs life. It just isn't worth it.

I will be contacting all clients shortly to organise everything. Thankfully I have plenty of prep for my final stage of becoming a Clinical Animal Behaviourist to keep me busy from crying over my bank balance!

21/06/2026

Not all licks are for love... just like not all wags are happy. Doggo's have subtle signs of communication, often combined together that need to be read in context of a situation.
Doggy professionals can (or should be able to) read the dogs in their care and often prevent potential situations from arising 🥰🐾❤️

NOT ALL LICKS = LOVE

It’s understandable to assume that when a dog licks a person or gives them “kisses”, that it’s an obvious sign of affection.

While licking is certainly associated with affection, social bonding, investigation, excitement, or a positive interaction, it can also serve a very different purpose.

There is a term called "Kiss to Dismiss" - credited to Jennifer Shryock of Family Paws®, who developed it to educate families about dog-child interactions.

She uses it to describe situations where a dog's licking is not affectionate, but is an attempt to create distance, reduce social pressure, or attempt to end an interaction.

It's about a dog trying to navigate an uncomfortable social situation in a polite way without having to resort to stronger forms of communication.

Context matters, the situation matters, body language matters!

A relaxed dog with soft eyes, loose muscles, a wiggly body, and voluntary engagement is sending a very different message to a dog that is showing the body language of stress when feeling trapped or restrained by an interaction.

It’s so important to notice and respond to a dog’s subtle communication to prevent a situation from escalating.

Not all licks mean love, some licks mean - please leave me alone.

21/06/2026

Guess who I bumped into yesterday... Oliiiiiiiive!!!!! 😍🥰😍🥰😍
Oh I do miss this beautiful angel floof!
I am very lucky and get regular pupdates from team Tails on Trails who she walks with now, but yesterday was just pawsome, getting my real life Olive cuddles in and seeing that gorgeous smiley face and eyes in the flesh 🥰🥰🥰
As always, she made me giggle, giddy kippering around Val and then deciding she was coming with us instead of dad 😆 gotta add a little minxiness for old time's sake 😈🤭😍 🐾❤️

19/06/2026

Based in Otley - the best charity! If you need wood.... they got wood 🤣😍

https://www.facebook.com/share/1PnviFbHc4/

🌿 THE WOOD FAIRIES HAVE BEEN 🌿

We didn’t have much planned for this morning beyond a bit of paperwork, a brew, and perhaps a gentle argument with some fletching.

Then we arrived at the workshop to discover that, sometime during the night, someone had paid us a visit…

A rather generous visit, judging by the mountain of timber now sat outside waiting for its second life.

There are all sorts in this latest haul. Long lengths, short lengths, thick bits, thin bits, and several pieces already whispering ideas for future projects.

Perfectly usable timber rescued from being skipped, burnt, or forgotten, ready to become shelves, furniture, crafts, signs, workshop projects and who knows what else.

Now comes the fun part: sorting it all, cleaning it up, and seeing what treasures are hiding within.

If you’ve got unwanted wood taking up space, don’t forget we may be able to collect it and give it a second chance.

Right then… I’ll finish this brew and start digging.

17/06/2026

Second day of no dogs to rest foot... going out of my mind. I was not born to do nothing 🤣 Thanking my lucky stars I am giving my self a break from insanity and some of Team Merry Paws are coming to rescue me tomorrow 🤪🤣🐾❤️

I have almost a week of rest next week... what have I done 😳🫣😬🤣🐾❤️

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AxUdfFdN7/

16/06/2026

🌿🪵 NEW WOOD HAS ARRIVED! 🪵🌿

The timber gods have smiled upon us once more.

We’ve had a fresh influx of reclaimed wood arrive at The Elderwood Project in all manner of shapes, sizes and stories. Beams, boards, offcuts, stumps and oddities, each patiently waiting for its second life.

Perhaps a shelf.

Perhaps a workbench.

Perhaps the beginnings of your next grand idea.

Every piece that passes through our doors is another piece saved from landfill and given a chance to become useful, beautiful, or simply interesting once more.

Whether you’re a seasoned woodworker, a DIY enthusiast, or simply enjoy rummaging through piles of timber imagining what could be, we’ve got plenty to choose from.

Pop down and see what treasures have found their way into the workshop this week. You never know what you’ll discover.

16/06/2026

Hello lovely doggo mums and dads,
I just wanted to let you know, I have managed to break my foot 🤪
As usual, I did my overthinking thing last night and worried some of you may wonder why I haven't sent you my usual 'adhoc spaces' message when I seem so quiet.
I still love you all oodles, but I'm trying to stay quiet as possible to give the old foot as much of a rest as possible.
I will start sending out the adhoc messages again once my foot feels better.
Big love to you all, and give your Team Merry Paws pooches tummy tickles and neck scritches from their Auntie Memma in the meantime 🥰🐾❤️