Pet Trails

30/08/2025

What a lovely week! ❤️🐾🐶🥰

We’re so lucky to have these beautiful dogs in our lives 😍

Our happy place is with them! ❤️🙌🙏

28/08/2025

This cheeky chops this morning: ‘Nope. Sofa or nothing. Walks are overrated. I’m not moving and I’m not leaving the house. I’m snoozing and you’ve rudely interrupted me!

60 minutes later: ‘BEST DAY EVER’! When can I come again? Why do I have to go home!? I’m not finished playing yet! I’m not getting back in the car! I’m staying put with my gang! I’m not moving - don’t care what you say! 😂

Proof that sometimes you’ve just got to get up, get out and get going! 😂
💙

27/08/2025

Gorgeous pupster living their best lives ❤️
✅ Balanced groups
✅ Structured play
✅ Dogs grouped on suitability
✅ Furry friends
✅ Outdoors fun
✅ Safe space
✅ Happy dogs

26/08/2025

Happy ‘International Dog Day’ from Pet Trails! 🐾❤️

Dogs aren’t just our pets! 🐶
They’re our family, our best friends, and sometimes even our secret heroes! From guide and hearing dogs, therapy dogs and medical dogs, to rescue dogs who save lives, and of course the everyday pupsters, who make us laugh with their bonkers zoomies (which we have a lot off at Pet Trails!), in my opinion, dogs truly make the world a better place! 🩷

They teach us about unconditional love, loyalty, and living in the moment. They’re the ones that greet us at the door after a long day, the furry shoulders we cry on, and the best adventure buddies we could ask for! We learn so much from them and to bond with a dog and know they trust you, is the truly the most wonderful privilege! 😍

So today, let’s celebrate every dog. The hard workers, the cuddle bugs, the bone idol 😂 the mischief makers, and the treat and sock thieves!

💜 Give your pup an extra snuggle today, a special treat, or make plans this week to take them on a walk they’ll never forget – because every day with them is a gift and those years go far too quickly!

🐾

24/08/2025

Why You Shouldn’t Judge a Dog Wearing a Muzzle ❤️

Seeing a dog in a muzzle can make people assume the worst, but muzzles are not a sign of a bad dog. In fact, they’re a sign of a responsible, caring owner!

Here are some reasons a dog may wear a muzzle:

🐶 Legal Requirement:
Some breeds must legally wear a muzzle in public under breed-specific laws, even when they’ve never shown any aggression in their life and can be the most beautifully natured dogs!

🐶 Training & Responsibility:
Muzzles help dogs in training, or those with strong prey drive, enjoy life safely.

🐶 Fear & Past Experiences:
Many dogs are fearful due to negative past experiences. A muzzle keeps everyone safe while they learn to feel secure again.

🐶 Health & Safety:
Dogs recovering from surgery, or those who might eat unsafe things outdoors, can be protected by wearing a muzzle. Dogs visiting the vets or groomers, who are fearful and everyone is being responsible taking precautions.

🐶 Visitors:
If people have strangers and children visiting which may make their dog feel anxious or overwhelmed. **Although it’s very important to remember, that just because a dog can’t bite, you must always consider their anxiety, or fear and not put them in a situation they’re unable to cope with! Always give them a ‘safe space’ away from the hustle and bustle where they can relax.

🐶 Respect for Others:
Muzzles are a way of showing consideration to the community, ensuring both people and dogs can share spaces safely.

❤️ A muzzle is not a punishment.
It’s a tool that allows dogs to live full, happy lives while giving peace of mind to everyone around them.

If your dog would benefit from wearing a muzzle, it’s important to remember they must be properly fitted and your dog needs to be conditioned to wear the harness using positive reinforcement, so they feel happy and comfortable to wear them. There must have enough space for their mouths to open and to pant/breathe easily, take water and treats and they must be secure and comfy.

If you’d like to learn more, or find a comfortable muzzle designed with your dogs wellbeing in mind, check out the amazing Muzzle Movement: themuzzlemovement.com 💜

Muzzles should fit & feel good - ours look good too (but that’s only half the story) Designed & manufactured by leading dog behaviourist for optimum welfare.

23/08/2025

The Truth About Our Job 🐾

Working with dogs really is an incredible privilege. We get to watch them grow, learn new skills, navigate life through new learning patterns, build confidence, and form special bonds with each other, which really do enhance their lives (and ours). Being part of that journey is something we never take for granted ❤️

But here’s the reality…

It’s demanding work. Every moment we’re switched on, making sure each dog is safe, happy, and cared for, ensuring each individual dog is considered and their unique needs accommodated. We are their guardians (or Kahu’s) for the time they’re with us and their wellbeing is always our first priority ❤️

We work in every season, rain, shine, snow, or storm. There are no days off from the weather, and there’s certainly no such thing as calling in sick! The dogs rely on us, their humans rely on us and we’re committed to showing up for them, whatever the conditions!

And the social groups, walks and training sessions are only one part of it. Behind the scenes there are messages, admin, training, continuous studying and exams, social media, and the phone that never stops ringing. It’s a full time commitment in every sense. Even at home on days off, we can never really switch off!

Doing this job properly, ethically, responsibly, and with care isn’t easy. It requires energy, patience, dedication, determination, devotion and high standards. But we wouldn’t have it any other way, because the dogs deserve nothing less! We also have our own ‘personal’ life and our own physical and mental heath alongside our working life and as everyone knows, sometimes that can be tough and give unexpected challenges - we need to juggle and work around these things and all whilst still turning up at work with a smile! 😊

Yes, the days are long and full, but the bond we have with these dogs makes it all worthwhile! It’s a very demanding job and often exhausting. But it’s also deeply rewarding, and that’s why we keep showing up! 😍

We’re hugely grateful to every client, every dog, and every supporter who trusts us, follows us and cheers us on from the sidelines - Thank you, we feel your support and love and it makes a huge difference to us! ❤️🐾

22/08/2025

Paws up everyone, we made it to the weekend! Yay! 🐶🎉🙌

The gang had so much fun this week with great play and some really fun groups. Lovely to see such great progress with some of our less well socialised dogs, watching them feeling confident and making great choices! 🥰🙌🐾

Also today was extra special because we got to welcome a big, bouncy new boy to the gang ❤️
He’s already made friends and loving the social life with his new crew!

Wishing all our clients, followers and friends a fabulous, long weekend! Enjoy, laugh lots and have fun 😎❤️xx
# ❤️

21/08/2025

Big smiles & wagging tails today! 🐶

Our pups had the best time playing in their carefully matched groups for safe, happy fun! ❤️🙌🐶

We also introduced two of our new dogs to some more of the gang and they have both settled in so beautifully and made friends straight away! ❤️ So proud of them! 🙌
❤️🐾🐶

20/08/2025

Wednesday’s Pupsters ❤️
✅ Playtime
✅ Fun and games
✅ Cooler day
✅ Happy dogs
✅ Pet Trails days 🐾🐶😎❤️
❤️

19/08/2025

Tuesday vibes! ❤️🐶😍

Today the dogs were very excited and bouncy! The weather was perfect, not too hot, not too cold, but a beautiful breeze and a moderate temperature, so we could all have a good run around and plenty of play!

All dogs went home pooped, happy and content!

A lovely day was had by all! 🙏❤️🐾