Little Tinkers Pet Services

26/05/2026

🐾 Understanding Dogs: Heat Isn't Just Uncomfortable — It Can Be Dangerous🐾

I'm not usually lost for words, but I've just witnessed something that genuinely shocked me.

At 27°C, I saw a brachycephalic (flat-faced) dog being run alongside a bike on tarmac.

Not walked.

Run.

As dog owners, we have a responsibility to understand our dogs' limitations, and some dogs are at far greater risk than others when temperatures rise.

Dogs don't sweat like we do. They rely heavily on panting to regulate their body temperature, and brachycephalic breeds already have compromised airways, making it much harder for them to cool themselves effectively.

Add exercise, hot weather, and heat radiating from tarmac, and you're creating a situation that can quickly become dangerous.

⚠️ Heat exhaustion and heatstroke can develop rapidly.
⚠️ They are medical emergencies.
⚠️ They can be fatal.

This isn't about wrapping dogs in cotton wool or never exercising them. It's about making sensible decisions and adapting to the conditions in front of us.

Sometimes the most responsible thing we can do for our dogs is accept that today's exercise looks different from yesterday's.

Our dogs trust us to make good choices on their behalf.

Let's make sure we're worthy of that trust. 💜

26/05/2026

🌞🐾 Today's dog walks have officially been replaced with... garden patrols, shady spot inspections, and quality control of paddling pools.

While the dogs are busy perfecting the art of doing absolutely nothing, I'll be popping in for garden visits, toilet breaks, fusses, fresh water top-ups and welfare checks where needed.

I'd be lying if I said cancelling walks was my favourite part of the job (my bank balance certainly isn't a fan 🥴💸), but the dogs' wellbeing will always come first.

So today's agenda looks something like:

☀️ Find shade
💦 Top up water bowls
🐶 Hand out treats and cuddles
🌿 Supervise important garden sniffing activities
😴 Encourage professional-level lounging

Stay cool everyone, and if your dog seems particularly exhausted today, don't worry... they're probably just recovering from the sheer effort of moving from one shady patch to another. 😆🐾

22/05/2026

Dogs don’t always show pain in obvious ways.

Sometimes it looks like:
🐾 Reluctance to jump in the car
🐾 Slowing down on walks
🐾 Barking or reactivity towards other dogs
🐾 Sensitivity to touch or grooming
🐾 Changes in posture, gait or movement
🐾 Becoming clingy, withdrawn or easily frustrated
🐾 “Stubborn” behaviour during training

As dog owners, we often put behavioural changes down to age, training, temperament or “just being difficult”, but discomfort and pain can have a huge impact on behaviour and emotional wellbeing.

Dogs are incredibly good at compensating, and subtle changes in movement, posture and behaviour can sometimes be early indicators that something isn’t quite right.

Sometimes behaviour is more than behaviour. 💜

22/05/2026

Yep, absolutely 🤣🙈💩

.secret.dog.walker

18/05/2026

⚠️ A lot of people don’t realise their dog is overweight… because sadly, overweight dogs have become the “normal” 😔🐾

This body condition chart is a really important reminder of what a healthy dog should look like.

💡 Contrary to popular belief:
✔️ You should be able to feel ribs easily
✔️ Your dog should have a visible waist
✔️ They should have an abdominal tuck

Dogs scoring around 4–6 are generally considered ideal.
Once we start creeping into 7 and above, dogs are carrying excess weight — and that extra weight has a HUGE impact on their body.

Being overweight doesn’t just mean “a bit chunky.”

It increases the risk of:
⚠️ Arthritis & joint pain
⚠️ Reduced mobility
⚠️ Breathing difficulties
⚠️ Heart strain
⚠️ Diabetes
⚠️ Reduced stamina
⚠️ Poorer quality of life
⚠️ Shortened lifespan

And the heartbreaking reality? Many dogs are slowing down, struggling, and becoming uncomfortable long before owners realise weight is the cause.

A healthy weight isn’t about appearance, it’s about comfort, movement, health, and giving our dogs the best chance at a long, happy life 💜

Sometimes the kindest thing we can do for our dogs… is help them lose weight.

13/05/2026

Come along and support a great cause ❤️🐾

10/05/2026

I have 2 agility spaces available this coming Sunday, 17th May with the lovely Emma Morton.

10:00am
North Kelsey
5 per group
£33.50

Pop me a PM to book 👇

07/05/2026

I'm absolutely crying laughing at this. The amount of times I have this conversation with clients 🤣🤣🤣 Absolutely spot on Coco 💜

29/04/2026

Some people get flowers… I get custom-built training equipment 😍🐾

A huge shoutout to my AMAZING dad, who has very kindly made me this brilliant free-standing gate for my puppy and obedience classes! 💜

This isn’t just a gate, it’s going to be such a valuable training tool for teaching puppies and dogs essential life skills like:
🐶 Waiting politely at gates and doorways
🐶 Building impulse control
🐶 Learning calmness before moving forward
🐶 Making better choices in exciting situations

Because real-life training isn’t just about sit and stay, it’s about helping dogs navigate everyday moments with confidence and good manners.

I’m so excited to start using this in classes and helping owners practise these skills in a safe, structured way.

And honestly… the purple makes it even better 😉💜

Thanks Dad, your handiwork will be helping lots of dogs (and humans!) for years to come.

14/04/2026

Could not have said it better myself..... and I'm definitely not that cute 🤣