Doggy.Trotters

07/05/2025

❌this is why i will use my own training leads if a retractable lead is what clients use normally❌
please consider this information when deciding what lead you use, there are plenty of options that give your dog more freedom on a lead without all the dangers that come with flexi/retractable leads, for example i have a 6ft training lead with clips that allow a change in length, or if you are in a woodland/beach a longline is a great option too!

Retractable Leads: Are they right for your dog?

Retractable leads can seem like a good idea as they allow dogs who may not be allowed off lead to experience some freedom.

However, there are a number of considerations that need to be taken into account when using retractable leads and they certainly aren't appropriate for every dog.

When over one thousand veterinary professionals were polled a whopping 92% had experienced issues with retractable leads.

These issues ranged from:

▪️Burns to people from the lead
▪️Failure of locking mechanism, especially with large dogs
▪️Tangling humans and other animals in the lead
▪️Trip hazard to cyclists and pedestrians causing injuries
▪️Dogs being out of control due to length of extension
▪️Being allowed to walk around the veterinary practice waiting room and approaching other sick or scared animals inappropriately
▪️Sadly many people reported to have attended road traffic accidents where dogs had run in front of cars, buses and trucks as the locking system was too loose, failed or the dogs weren't adequately controlled.

Sadly many of these pets lost their lives despite the intensive care of the veterinary team who attended them.

So... Are they right for your dog?

This is a hard question to answer because circumstances are very individual. Given then number of issues seen it would suggest that many owners are making the decision to use a retractable lead when in fact they are not appropriate to their dog, reason for use or lifestyle.

Retractable leads should be used with extreme caution near:

❌Roads
❌Others dogs
❌Busy public places
❌Indoors

And their use may not be sensible to use with:

❓Large dogs
❓Strong dogs that pull
❓Boisterous dogs
❓Reactive dogs that could lunge
❓Dogs on a loose retractable that could trip or tangle someone

02/05/2025

❤️

02/05/2025

put your paws in the air if the beach is the BEST place ever!!🥹❤️😆

01/05/2025

🤒heatstroke in dogs🤒

❗️use the pavement test, if by placing your hand on tarmac you cannot hold it there comfortably for 5 seconds, it is far too hot for your dog❗️

🐾be aware if your dog is classified as being at a high risk of heatstroke🐾

💧do NOT put ice cold water or a large amount of cold water on your dog suddenly - gently pour cool tap water but AVOID mouth and nose. offer water but DO NOT FORCE your dog to drink💧

🥵be aware of excessive drooling, panting, bright red gums, vomitting, diarrhoea, shaking, confusion, weakness and collapse as signs of heatstroke🥵

🤓plan walks in advance, use shade and do not engage in ball throwing and excessive exercise on hot days🤓

❤️keep safe and even if you feel your dog has recovered, still seek veterinary treatment and advice❤️

30/04/2025

🐶🐱petsitting betty and roo🐶🐱
🌟swipe to see the nicest review🌟

💛last week i had the pleasure of looking after a special wee pair of rescues - betty the most precious wee dog and her beautiful kitty sister roo!

🥾a week full of adventures, even on my last block of nightshifts we made sure to get lots of exercise and enrichment in! betty engaged with scentgames and loved her destruction boxes and roo searched for dreamies around her upstairs kingdom and enjoyed lickimats when left in the house💛

🥰i felt very privileged to be looking after these two again, i had them for a few days last year and its always such a heart bursting feeling to be asked to again!

29/04/2025

resharing as some slots still avaliable🤗

25/04/2025

🥳 🤎a year of doggy trotters!🤎🥳

🤯i cannot believe all what has happened this past year, 20 year old beth would not believe her luck (never mind 18 year old beth after just losing buster!)

❤️hand on heart this has been the best year of my life - i have met the most incredible people with the most amazing dogs who have taught, inspired, motivated and shared love and fun with me more than i could ever explain.

🌟this is your sign, if you have ever thought about getting into a career with canines advocating for +RR/FF or even ever thought about starting a business, as long as you never lose sight of your passion and why you do what you do, you will reflect with love, laughs and happy tears! if i can do it, anyone can!

🤗thank you to everyone who has supported me this last year, my family, friends, colleagues and most importantly my amazing clients for trusting me with your precious babies, my stirling family you know who you are, you have became more than a client/walker relationship and i truly hold you as great friends♥️

🌞here is to the next year!

love beth xx

17/04/2025

beautiful betty💛

15/04/2025

such a lovely community in aberdeenshire❤️🐶

11/04/2025

i have submitted my dissertation on the moral status of canines and the failings of british legislation to protect our dogs’ welfare🐾

its been some 4 years doing a degree in politics and journalism that deep down i knew wasnt for me, but every challenge opens doors you would never have dreamed of🌞

without stirling uni id never have ended up at dogstrust or vss, i wouldnt have met the most amazing people that i have and i wouldnt have started my business🥹

basically what im trying to say is even when things are challenging, powering on through and finishing it - turning it into the experience you want! - is what truely matters.

quite a niche politics dissertation but i wouldnt have done it on anything else😅🥰

roll on degree no.2 🐾🩺🐶