Pause 4 Paws

22/07/2025

How is your daily walk? Fast paced with the aim to cover as much distance as possible to wear them out? What does a walk that is fast paced mean to our dogs? In their world moving fast means danger, not slowing down and stopping to take in the world is because its not safe to do so.

Sometimes this pace is driven by us - we are so used to a fast pace world, aiming to quickly get the walk done because I have a million other things to do or I'm nervous to be out myself and I need to get through it. Our busy lives often lead us to give this feeling that we aren't safe to our dogs. They don't understand that we need to be at our desk by 9am or our boss wont give us gravy bone money.

Sometimes its driven by our dogs, they don't feel safe out, we see this as enthusiasm for the walk and pulling us round but often its their need to get back to their safe home.

A dog that feels comfortable to slow down, to sniff every plant to take their time is a dog that feels safe with their caregiver and the environment we have chosen for them. What if you both felt safe enough just to stop and just relax in nature what a special thing that would be, something to enjoy and heal in rather than rush through.

If you want to find your happy pace, book one of my guided walks and I can help support you through your outside time.

18/07/2025

Validating our dogs is so important for them to feel safe and heard. Often we join in the barking by shouting at them, ignore their warnings of approaching danger or allowing us to become dysregulated by their behaviour - adding to their concerns. To us it might just be a post man or delivery driver but to them its fear, anxiety and a lack of safety. Someone they don't know is approaching their den site. Going to the window and modelling how we want them to feel about the danger can make all the difference, reassuring them and empathising with where they are- not repeatedly shouting its only a post man.
If you want to learn more about how to help you dog relax and feel heard, follow me on Facebook or contact me about for my 6 month development program which takes you and your dog on a journey of repair.

16/07/2025

I was lucky enough to talk to a group of dog lovers from the https://thecanineadvocate.co.uk/ this week. It was lovely to introduce new people to the Hemene approach and talk a little about the different social characters of our dogs and the family orientated wolves who value everyone for the natural strengths.
I am so grateful to be able to raise my dogs with a deeper understanding of their needs and who they are. Just understanding that my decision maker doesn't like suprise parties and can be naturally weary of change helps me empathise with how she is feeling and why things we take for granted can be so much harder on her.
She was in the vets last week for xrays and this week her skin has broken out in hives and she is really itchy. The vets said she was very chilled and seemed fine. I know she is a great masker when she doesn't feel comfortable to show how she feels, its herself preserving nature. In the past I wouldn't not have put the skin reaction down to stress, especially with the feed back from the vets on how she was when in with them. But I have such a better understanding of her now. The vet visit was essential as her back legs have stopped working but I was prepared for her reaction and know it will take extra care and connection to help her mental well being while treating the physical symptoms of her stress.

If you would like to start on a journey of understanding and healing with your dog or would like me to join you on a walk to explain some of the behaviours you are seeing give me a call or drop me a message.

08/07/2025

Need more hands supporting everyone out side in the paddock tonight

03/07/2025

Owning a reactive dog.
Lets start with the word reactive, what do we mean. A reactive dog is one who lunges, barks, growls or chases things that worry it (a trigger). That can be chasing cars, lunging at other dogs on the lead or barking at people to name but a few. Something worries the dog and the dogs response is disproportionate to the threat .

It can be very hard living with dogs who are reactive. Always checking the horizon for an on coming trigger, worrying about what will come round the corner. Will you be able to keep your dog safe? Will you be able to keep other people and their dogs safe? What about if they are triggered by children and bikes? We can be pushed to walking after dark, in areas no one goes to, feeling unsafe but its better than meeting a lot of people and their dogs or joggers. We use walking paths that are isolated so you can keep them from pulling your arm out its socket lunging and barking. Avoiding the feeling of shame that arises because our dog isn't walking nicely on a lead being the social butterfly people expect from them as species. Maybe they are constantly restless in the house, no matter how many times you walk quiet fields. You cant watch you favourite program without hitting pause 100 times when your dog has been triggered by something its heard outside or on the tv!
It's not quite the picture of social meetings with fellow dog walkers, country walks to the pub or cuddly evenings on the sofa you dreamed of when you decided to get a dog.
Now lets think how your dog must feel, living in a constant state of fear. Nervous and scared with none of the tools to help it feel better, in a human world it doesn't understand . Walking empty spaces with their human who's heart rate just went up and their skin smells of stress chemicals because a dog just appeared on the horizon. Never feeling safe and always being told its done wrong for feeling this way. Being told to sit/ stay/ heel when its brain is stuck in survival. It maybe was born scared and never had anyone to show it any different, sent to its bed to deal with its big emotional feelings alone rather than helped to calm down. This is what we do to our dogs in a world where training comes first, before safety and relationship. I'm not blaming owners, its the society we have created with too many expectations and an emphasis on what they can do, not how they feel.

At pause 4 paws we want to make dogs and human feel better. We want to empower you to understand your dogs and help them feel safe and heard. To allow you to walk your dog and feel confident, knowing they have had a chance to repair and can handle the places you go. Call us today and we can start you on a healing journey or join us for a guided walk to learn more about our approach to dogs.

01/07/2025

It's everything for our dogs and childrens development

30/06/2025

30/06/2025

Today I wanted to talk a bit about mums, canine mums to be specific. When dogs biological mum is anxious/stressed this can have an effect on the puppies right from womb to birth and the initial raising. Mums should be tolerant, loving, gentle and nurturing.
I often see that dog mums are praised online for raising their young with harsh corrections and hard boundaries. This is not a good mum, this is a mum who has disruptions to her development and didn't get unconditional care from her mum/humans and the cycle is repeating.
A good mum keeps the pups safe and warm, when they venture too far or fall off her feeding she brings them back in to her warmth and co-regulates them, as we would hold a crying baby and sooth them. This helps the pups grow to be resilient dogs who look for help from their care givers.
If this didn't happen then we call this a disrupted stage of development and its important we go back and repair this. If this development stage has gaps, then we often see the dog has issues with sound or movement as it grows bigger in the form of chasing cars, cyclists or joggers, fear of fireworks or the hoover among other things. It can have a blocked seeking system that means it tries to deal with the world rather than asking for us to help.

If you would like to know more follow and like my page or join me on a new guided walk package and ask me questions while I help you have more enjoyable walk with your dog.

27/06/2025

Too hot for throwing balls today, hope everyone is keeping as cool as possible in this weather. Paddling pools and early mornings forecast for the weekend ahead.

If you need someone to check in on your pets while you are out and about give me call.

26/06/2025

Exciting new podcast from my mentors

Exciting News — The Resident Wild Podcast is Coming!

We’re thrilled to let you know…
Our new podcast The Resident Wild is happening!

It’s hosted by me, Kim (UK), and Neri (usually Australia… but she’s here in the UK right now!) — two humans, one wild connection, separated by oceans but united by a shared passion for changing how we understand dogs… and ourselves.

What’s it all about?
The Resident Wild is your backstage pass into the world of dogs, wolves, family dynamics, and the deeper side of connection. We’ll be diving into why your dog is so much more than behaviour, how their social and emotional development mirrors ours, and how the ancient wisdom of wolves shapes everything we do.

Expect relatable moments, plenty of Aussie-Brit banter, and real conversations that bring humour and heart to the work we love.

We want your questions!
To kick things off, we’d love to hear from YOU.
Send us your questions about:
✔️ Your dog’s behaviour, quirks, or development
✔️ Wolf wisdom and how it applies to family life with dogs
✔️ Emotional connection — dogs, humans, or both
✔️ Anything you’re curious about when it comes to our work

No question is too big, too small, or too weird — we’ll be choosing some to answer in our very first episode while Neri’s here in the UK.

Pop your questions below, DM us, or email [email protected]

We can’t wait to share The Resident Wild with you — stay tuned!

21/06/2025

Hope all your dogs are finding the shade and not being kicked in the side by annoying little brothers ! (she loves him really)
Ours have been out early and have a full paddling pool to play with but till tonight they are in the shady of the house sleeping with the fan on and the shutters closed to keep the heat out.

How are you keeping yours cool during the heat wave?

19/06/2025

Coming soon ...
I'm excited to soon be offering guided walks. Keep an eye on here for further details. I can't wait to help you when out and about with your dog.