Westside Paws

03/06/2026

Thumper’s daily spa treatment apparently includes… toe tickles, paw pokes and annoying mum touching every single toenail 😂🐾

But in all seriousness — this is SUCH an important thing to work on when your puppy is young.

So many dogs struggle with:
• Nail clipping
• Grooming appointments
• Vet handling
• Checking for grass seeds or injuries
• Having muddy feet wiped

…and it’s often because nobody taught them early on that having their paws touched is NORMAL.

The key?

Tiny little moments like this 👇

While Thumper is relaxed on his green blanket (his cue that couch time is allowed 💚), I gently:
🐾 Touch between the toes
🐾 Handle each nail
🐾 Press lightly on paw pads
🐾 Massage the feet
🐾 Pair it with calm praise and relaxation

No forcing.No wrestling.No “holding him down until he accepts it.”

Just calm, positive handling while he’s feeling safe and settled.

The goal isn’t to “put up with it”…The goal is for your puppy to think:

“Cool, humans touching my feet is no big deal.”

Future You — the one trying to clip giant velociraptor nails on a 40kg adolescent dog — will be VERY grateful you started this now 😂

A few minutes here and there goes a very long way 🐶✨

27/05/2026

Normalise grief. Especially pet grief. 🖤

This was Ally.
Our beautiful girl.

Ally was 15 and a half when she passed away, which means she was part of my life for a very, very long time… and no, I’m really not that old 😭

I loved her.
We loved her.
Honestly, everyone loved her.

She was just one of those dogs. The once-in-a-lifetime kind.

If you were sad, she’d quietly snuggle into you like she somehow just knew exactly what you needed. No fuss. No training. Just pure love.

The thing about grief is… it doesn’t really get easier. Life grows around it, but the ache is still there in little moments you never expect.

Tonight while watching Ian and Thumper playing, I looked over and saw this gorgeous little sign the kids had made called “Ally’s enclosure.” It’s been there for months…. Maybe even years…. To the right of the sign is a little hole in the cabinet that was originally designed for something else, but it became Ally’s little sleeping space. And truthfully… I still haven’t had the heart to take it down.

But there were tears, you know the ugly cry. So while I sit here with puffy eyes I just want everyone to know that this is NORMAL. You’re not weird, broken or a sook. You’re a human who loves their pets like nothing else in this world.

Life is so different without her.

So please, be kind to people. You genuinely never know what someone is carrying quietly behind the scenes. Sometimes it’s grief for a dog that was never “just a dog” — they were family.

Forever our Ally girl 🤍

Like share or comment if you can relate. Sending love love🤍

11/05/2026

I’m sure there are a few of you who could benefit from this!

I am so excited to share this post for all those with herding breeds interested in giving their dog opportunity to master their instinct!
The herding workshop will be run just out of Melbourne. All details are in this flier. Both trainers are very experienced in herding.

11/05/2026

📣 PSA for all Puppy School Clients!

🐾🌟 It’s Week Green! 🌟🐾

This week, we’re covering some exciting topics to help you and your pups level up:
🐶 Recalls / Attention Getters
🏞 Dog Parks & Owner Responsibilities
🐾 Jumping Up
🚶‍♀️ Walking on Lead
✋ Stay & Wait
🚫 Preventing Problem Behaviours
🍖 Treats

👉 www.westsidepaws.com.au/green

Can’t wait to see you all! 🐕

09/05/2026

🐾 Spoil Your Best Friend This Dog Mum Day! 🐾

Forget the flowers—we know what Dog Mums actually want! We are open tomorrow, Sunday, from 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM for all your last-minute gifting needs.

Whether you’re treating yourself or the world’s best dog mama, we’ve got the goods that make life with your pup even better:

Fetchi Water Bottles: The ultimate 2-in-1! It’s a water bottle for you that doubles as a bowl for them. Stay hydrated in style. 💧

Treat Pouches: Keep those rewards handy and your pockets crumb-free. Essential for every adventure! 🦴

NEW WAGD Harnesses: They’ve officially landed! Come check out the fresh stock and find the perfect fit for your pup. ✨

📍 13 Butler Road, Altona North
⏰ Tomorrow, Sunday May 10th | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Swing by, say hi, and grab a little something special! 🐶💛

09/05/2026

Keep the momentum going after graduation! 🐾

You’ve done the hard work in Puppy Class, now let’s keep those skills sharp. Our Prep School Drop-in Sessions are the perfect way to practice adolescent dog training in a fun, supportive group environment.

📆 Sunday, May 10th
📍 13 Butler Road, Altona North.

Book your Sunday spot here:👉 https://www.westsidepaws.com.au/welcome-to-puppy-school

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