Thedogdenmusselburgh

04/11/2026

Christmas has landed at The Dog Den! 🎄🐾

Our Christmas stock is officially out in the shop, and the dogs might have a better festive menu than us this year 😂 Think pigs in blankets, turkey dinner, gingerbread and mince pie treats, plus squeaky Santas, plush puddings and plenty of toys to pop under the tree. 🎁

We’ve also got Good Boy advent calendars, but there’s a limited quantity available, so pop in soon if you’d like one for your pup!

Swipe for a peek, then come have a wee browse next time you’re in. ❤️

02/11/2026

The Dog Den is FOUR! 🧡🐾🎂

Four years of opening our doors to your dogs, getting to know their little personalities and building something that means so much to us.

To every customer who has supported us along the way — thank you. Every booking, shop visit, recommendation and kind word has helped keep our little business going. We still can’t quite believe some of you have been with us since day one. Watching your dogs grow and having your continued trust over all these years is something we’ll always be grateful for. 🥹

To our wonderful staff, we honestly have the best team we could ask for. Thank you for the care, patience and love you give the dogs, and for everything you put into The Dog Den. We’re so lucky to have you, and we couldn’t do this without you.

*Missing from the photos are Michael, Otis, Poppy, Lily, Amy and Nicole — it’s a Monday, so we let them enjoy their well-deserved day off! 🧡🐾

Running a small business takes a lot of hard work, but getting to spend our days with your dogs makes it so worthwhile. We get to do what we love because you choose us, and we never take that for granted.

From all of us, thank you for making these four years possible and for letting us be part of your dogs’ lives. They mean the world to us. 🧡

Lots of love,

The Dog Den Team 🐾❤️

01/11/2026

🎆🐾 FIREWORK SEASON — A LITTLE REMINDER FROM THE DOG DEN ❤️

With Bonfire Night approaching, we know this can be a difficult time for many of our dogs. The loud bangs and sudden flashes can be incredibly frightening for pets and wildlife, who have no way of understanding what’s happening.

A little preparation can help your dog feel more comfortable 👇

🐾 Head out before dark
Plan walks and evening toilet trips before displays begin wherever possible.

🐾 Keep them safe and secure
Keep your dog on a lead when out, even if they’re usually confident. A sudden bang can frighten even the most relaxed dog, so check gates and doors are secure too.

🐾 Make a cosy hideaway
Give them somewhere quiet to settle, with their favourite blankets and familiar toys. Let them choose whether they want to hide away or stay close to you.

🐾 Soften the sounds
Shut windows, draw the curtains and have the television or some gentle music playing to help reduce the noise outside.

🐾 Be a reassuring presence
Stay calm and offer comfort if they come looking for it. Never tell them off for being scared or try to force them out of their hiding place.

🐾 Keep them company
If fireworks frighten your dog, try to arrange for someone they trust to be home with them if you can’t.

❤️ Planning fireworks? Please spare a thought for your neighbours and their animals.

What feels like a short celebration to us can mean an evening of trembling, hiding and panic for them — and wildlife has nowhere safe to escape to.

Please consider quieter alternatives, keep displays brief and let neighbours know in advance so they have a chance to prepare.

A little notice and kindness can make such a difference. Let’s look out for the paws, claws and little lives around us this firework season 🐶🐱🦔

Love,
The Dog Den team 🐾❤️

01/11/2026

🎄🐾 A little festive diary update from The Dog Den!

We’ll be here for your pups and Christmas shopping as usual right up to Thursday 24th December.

🎁 Saturday 19th December | 10am–5pm
An extra Saturday opening for BOTH daycare and the shop! Let your pup enjoy some festive fun while you tackle your Christmas list, or pop in for those last-minute presents for their stocking. 🐶🛍️

🎄 Christmas Eve | 9am–4pm
Both daycare and the shop will be open, before we head home to wait for Santa Paws!

⭐ Daycare for Saturday 19th and Christmas Eve will each be listed as a separate booking on our system. Both have VERY limited availability, so please book the relevant session early if you need a space!

We’ll then be CLOSED from Christmas Day through to Sunday 3rd January, reopening with our usual hours on Monday 4th January 2027. ✨

Thank you for keeping our little den busy and choosing to shop small this Christmas. It means so much to us! 🧡🐾

30/10/2026

The only thing scary about this lot is how quickly they can finish a bag of treats 👻🐾

Halloween dress-up at The Dog Den — our little monsters and staff understood the assignment! 🎃🧡

30/10/2026

29/10/2026

After yesterday’s Budget, it felt like the right time to share a little honesty about life as a small business 🤍🐾

Over four years ago, we took a huge risk as a couple, taking on premises, bills and the responsibility of employing people. Today, we have five full-time and part-time team members, and we’re so proud of The Dog Den.

In that time, minimum wage has risen by around £4 an hour, and our staff absolutely deserve fair pay. The difficulty is that everything else keeps rising too: rent, insurance , energy, water, waste and annual council licensing fees. The list goes on, with very little breathing space.

It’s disheartening to hear promises of government support while the reality for small businesses keeps getting harder.

We know things are difficult for everyone. With further wage increases ahead and other bills likely to follow, we’ll do our utmost to keep prices the same, although we can’t promise they’ll stay unchanged forever. Our packages can help you save on regular visits 🐾

Your repeat custom keeps our doors open and our team employed. Regular attendance also helps your dogs stay familiar, confident and settled here, which is why we’ll be firmer about our minimum attendance policy of twice per month.

Long gaps can make returning harder for dogs. Consistency matters for their wellbeing and helps us sustain the flexible service we offer.

Many daycares require fixed monthly commitments. We’ve considered this, but know our book-as-needed approach is valued. To retain that flexibility, where minimum attendance isn’t met, we may consider invoicing for two sessions per month to retain membership when the min is not met, unless holidays or other time away have been discussed with us or notified in advance. Any change would be communicated beforehand.

Please remember to shop small when you can, too 🧡 Our pet shop is part of The Dog Den, and choosing us for treats, toys and everyday essentials makes a difference. Every purchase is appreciated.

We’re grateful to be living our dream, even when running a business feels heavy. Thank you for every booking, purchase, recommendation and bit of support. Choosing us means so much.

The Dog Den Team 🤍

28/10/2026

28/10/2026

Dressed to scare, spoiled with treats — you’ve smashed the costumes so far! 🎃🐾 Still 2 days for your little monsters to come to daycare in costume for a chance to win a special Halloween prize! 👻🏆

23/10/2026

A little reminder from The Dog Den 🐾🤍

We know plans change and unexpected things happen! But when we’re unable to make an exception to our cancellation policy, please know it’s never to be mean or unfair — it’s to protect our little business.

We plan our days and staff around the dogs booked in. When a dog cancels last minute, our staffing/running costs stay the same, and there’s often very little chance of filling their space.

Just a couple of weeks ago, we had four dogs cancel in one day. With only 20 spaces available each day, that’s a fifth of our daily capacity! For our little business, that’s a significant loss of income that we simply can’t afford to absorb while still covering the staff and care already arranged 🤍

Just like many other appointment-based businesses, a booking reserves a space, our team’s time and the care planned for your dog. Those costs don’t disappear when a booking is cancelled 🐶

Our cancellation policy is:
🐾 72 hours’ notice or more: a refund.
🐾 48 to under 72 hours’ notice: the option to reschedule.
🐾 Less than 48 hours’ notice: no refund or rescheduling.

Keeping this consistent makes it fair for everyone and helps us keep providing the care your pups deserve.

Thank you for understanding and supporting the small business behind your dog’s big day out 🤍