Your Whole Dog

11/06/2026

Meet Scamp ❤️

Some of you may remember Scamp from his walking days with me. Now 15 years young, he’s navigating life with osteoarthritis, but he’s still very much himself.

I’ve recently had the pleasure of seeing him for a couple of myotherapy sessions. During our first session we took things slowly, but by the second session he was an absolute superstar, happily settling for around 30 minutes of treatment.

He’s also become rather good at letting me know when he’s had enough! Scamp is definitely a little more vocal these days, and he’s not shy about sharing his opinions.

We also headed out for a little walk together and, honestly, he’s doing pretty darn well. He’s still a huge foodie, still loves a cuddle, and still enjoys getting out and about.

For outings, when the walking becomes too much, Scamp has his buggy waiting for him, allowing him to carry on enjoying the adventure alongside his family.

What I love most about Scamp’s story is the dedication of his guardians. They’ve made thoughtful changes to support him as he’s got older, from non-slip flooring and raised bowls to a more comfortable harness and sensible exercise plans.

Growing old doesn’t mean life has to stop. Sometimes it’s simply about making a few adjustments so our dogs can continue doing the things they love.

And if those things happen to be food, cuddles, walks and the occasional massage… well, I think Scamp would say that’s a pretty good life. ❤️

10/06/2026

🐾 Come and join us at the Teign Village Summer Fête Dog Show! 🐾

I’ve been invited to help judge the dog show this year alongside another lovely Karen from Dartmoor Dogs Pet Services (yes, there will be two Karens judging! 😂).

📅 20th June
🕧 Dog show starts at 12:30pm
📍 Teign Village Football Field

It’s all about having a bit of fun with your dog, meeting fellow dog lovers and enjoying a great community day out. There’ll be plenty going on throughout the day, including food, music, games, races, children’s activities and more.

Whether your dog is a seasoned show-goer or you’ve never entered a fun dog show before, we’d love to see you there.

If you’re local, pop along and say hello – it’d be lovely to see some familiar faces and four-legged friends! 🐾

And remember, it’s all about having fun, so please only bring dogs that will be happy and comfortable in that sort of environment.

Hey everyone, myself and Karen Carnell are hosting the dog show at Teign Village Fête this year 🫣😁 20th June, show starts at 12.30!! Lots of fun stuff going on, food, bar, children's activities, races, tug of war and of course welly wanging 👢😂 It would be lovely to see a few faces 🐾 And yes 2 judges called Karen...nice ones 🤣

27/05/2026

I really love seeing more professionals moving towards lower-stress, dog-centred and consent-based handling. 🐾

I spend so much time watching how dogs stand, sit, turn, transition, shift weight, and move through space because those tiny details can tell us an enormous amount about comfort, compensation, tension, confidence, and how they’re coping physically.

Often, the more natural and safe the environment feels, the more information the dog is able to give us.

Looking for a veterinary clinic in Dulverton? Book your visit with Pet Pain Relief online. Check availability and reserve your appointment in minutes.

09/05/2026

We’re here! 🐾

Come and find Your Whole Dog Haldon Forest Park - Forestry England Bark 2026 today!

Pop over if you’d like to chat about:
✨ Behaviour
✨ Movement
✨ Posture
✨ Subtle signs of discomfort in dogs

I’ve got my posture & coat pattern board up, plus anatomy models and skeletons so you can have a proper look at how the body and behaviour can link together 👀

No pressure, no hard sell — just friendly conversations about dogs 😊

🐶 Dog treats available too!

01/05/2026

It’s time to choose your favourite photo😁
The one with the most likes will be the profile pic for May.
📸🌅🐾🐾🐶

30/04/2026

This really resonated with me.

Not just professionally, but personally too.

I’ve seen first-hand how a “mild” diagnosis can still have a big impact on a dog’s day-to-day life — their movement, their behaviour, how safe they feel in the world.

It’s a reminder that the label doesn’t tell the full story.

The dog does.

The term “mild” is used constantly in both human and veterinary medicine. Mild arthritis. Mild disc disease. Mild inflammation. On paper, it sounds reassuring. It suggests something small, manageable, perhaps even insignificant. But when it comes to pain, “mild” means almost nothing.

Pain is a subjective, individual experience shaped by the nervous system, emotional state, environment, and prior history. A “mild” finding on a scan can exist alongside severe, life altering pain. Equally, a “severe” diagnosis may present with very little outward discomfort. For example, “mild disc protrusion” describes the degree of displacement, not the impact it is having on the individual.

Pain is produced by the brain after integrating multiple inputs. These include sensory input such as tissue damage, inflammation, or nerve irritation, but also emotional state, including fear, anxiety, and frustration. Environmental context plays a role, such as predictability, safety, and noise levels. Learning history matters, including previous experiences of pain or repeated stress exposure. Internal physiology is also relevant, including fatigue, illness, and hormonal state.

This is why two individuals with the same “mild” diagnosis can have completely different experiences. One may cope relatively well, while another may be overwhelmed.

In practical terms, a dog with “mild” spinal changes may react strongly to handling, show sudden behavioural changes, or become noise sensitive and easily overwhelmed. These are not disproportionate responses. They are often indicators of how that individual is experiencing their internal state.

Dogs do not report pain verbally. Instead, they communicate through behaviour. When a diagnosis is labelled “mild,” it becomes very easy to dismiss what we are seeing. People may say, “It’s only mild, so it can’t be causing this,” or assume, “It must be behavioural,” or interpret the dog as reactive, stubborn, or anxious.

Pain increases anxiety. Anxiety increases pain. Because pain is subjective and difficult to measure directly, pain trials are often one of the most informative tools available.

“Mild” means nothing if the experience is not mild.

29/04/2026

It’s been a little quiet on the dog walking photos lately…

but the walks haven’t stopped🐾🐾

Here’s a little catch-up from some recent ones. 😃🥰✨