As some of you may know, People and Animal Wellbeing Services were awarded £10,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund last year! This was an amazing success for us and all the children and young people we knew we would be able to offer support to. Supporting Our Communities We want our local communities to thrive, and children and young people are the future of our communities. Our work build’s on children and young people's strengths and helps them to better connect to their peers, families and communities. The Statistics So far we are supporting young people in 4 schools with weekly w ..read more

A Place to Be's, Children's Mental Health Week is an important event that raises awareness about the importance of children's mental health and well-being. This year’s theme is Let’s Connect! Mental health issues in children can manifest in many different ways, including anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and difficulty with social interactions. These issues can have a significant impact on a child's ability to learn, grow, and thrive. Connection is a fundamental aspect of human well-being and plays a critical role in mental health. Research has shown that people who have strong social ..read more

Do you want high value toys? Increased focused motivation? A stronger bond with your dog? Tug-E-Nuff is the perfect place to buy these toys to do just that! They provide the best quality, high in enrichment toys ranging from sheepskin chaser tugs, squeaky chasers, bungee food bag tugs and even The Clam...! Together, PAWS and Tug-E-Nuff are offering you 10% off! Just enter our exclusive code PAWSTHERAPY at checkout. Head to https://tug-e-nuff.co.uk/?ref=pawstherapy to browse the range and let us know which toys you choose! Tug can promote impulse control, build confidence, and strengthen the bo ..read more

So you’re thinking of getting a rescue dog. It‘s a long process, one that doesn’t mean showing up at the rescue centre and just going home with a dog you think ‘looks nice’. Here is some advice to think about before making the commitment: Get to know your rescue really well. It is important that you build a bond with the dog before you take him/her home. Spend a few weeks visiting the dog to understand the characteristics they have and build a trusting relationship. This will help with the transition from centre to your home Get the right dog for your lifestyle. It may be that you live a ve ..read more

When you first bring a puppy or dog into your home you want to know you have the right tools to keep them safe and happy. The pet equipment industry is huge but there are lots of things on the market that can actually do more harm than good. In this article we explore what items would benefit you and your dog which we would recommend you stay clear of! Collar and Dog Tag The dog tag needs to have your details clearly printed it. This is a legal requirement but also something that is desirable. If your doggo went missing, they could be just a phone call away! Any pet shop or key cutting serv ..read more

After the launch of our new sister company PAWS Therapy Dog Training Ltd, we want to introduce you to Joyful Dogs! As part of the certification programme we have a whole bank of guest speakers providing webinars for our students to benefit from. One of the guest speakers are the trainers at Joyful Dogs - Joy Knowles and Dannyelle Fielder. Joyful Dogs are a company based in Cheltenham providing puppy training, dog training, rescue dog training and dog behaviour problems in a kind, effective and most importantly force-free way. Like PAWS, they promote positive reinforcement where the well-being ..read more

Have you ever noticed that the presence of an animal improves your mood? That you suddenly feel happier and more at ease after you’ve spent some quality time with your furry friend? Well there is a reason for that! So what exactly are our healthy hormones and what do they do? Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter that our bodies create and our nervous system uses it to send messages between nerve cells. Dopamine is responsible for allowing us to feel pleasure, satisfaction and motivation. When we feel good that we have achieved something, it's because we have a surge of dopamine in the brain ..read more

If the worst were to happen, would you know what to do to protect an animal’s life? Do you think you could act quickly, and safely, thinking on the spot to provide immediate attention? Our ,brand-new training workshop on 9th January could be just the thing you need. Give your furry friends essential support Whether they’ve been involved in an accident or suddenly become very sick, knowing how to treat an animal - exactly when they need it - could save their lives. Not just that but by knowing pet first aid, you can have extra peace of mind that you’d be able to take action in emergency situati ..read more

I never thought this time last year I could say I am employed, my health is in a stable position and I am surrounded by people who I adore working with. While doing my A Levels, I established that going to university and continuing with education really wasn’t for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the learning aspect of school but everything that came with it, not so much. The pressure that I put on myself over the years fueled by the education system to go above and beyond to get A*s and get into top league universities led to ridiculous amounts of stress leading to my diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syn ..read more

It is a common misconception that puppy classes are all that’s required for a well-adjusted adult dog. Training can have a negative connotation to it, people often interpret training as a countermeasure for ’bad’ or difficult behaviour. Do you ever see a dog and their owner seeming to be the perfect pair? They’re walking nicely together, the dog sits when it’s told and comes back when called. Well that isn’t just luck! The owner has spent huge amounts of time and patience to nurture their dog. Ongoing training contributes to the bonding between owner and dog, safety of the animal, desensitisat ..read more