Pause With Paws Wellbeing

Pause With Paws Wellbeing Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Pause With Paws Wellbeing, Mental Health Service, Pause With Paws, Risley.
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🐾 Welcome to Pause with Paws CIC
🐶 We bring ethical dog-assisted wellbeing visits to care homes, workplaces, community spaces and more.
🧠 Led by psychology and grounded in compassion, for humans and dogs.
📩 pausewithpawswellbeing@gmail.com

Meet Jinx – our little warrior Queen 👑 When Jinx arrived with us she was tiny (We’re talking hamster sized) and we were ...
19/02/2026

Meet Jinx – our little warrior Queen 👑

When Jinx arrived with us she was tiny (We’re talking hamster sized) and we were extremely concerned for her health. 10 years on and she is the strongest dog in the World ❤️

She lives with IBD, survived pancreatitis, has a deformed spine, had luxating patellas in both legs which she had surgery at age 9 (anything for my babies). And yet… she still wags, still plays, still chooses connection every single day 🐾

Jinx is honestly the most beautiful soul.
She occasionally visits the care centre with us, only when she is feeling up to it, and enjoys gentle tickles from the residents and sniffing around the room💕

Jinx is the definition of resilience.
She makes us proud every single day.
She has helped Charlotte (our lead facilitator) through battles with her disabilities, recovering from surgeries, grief, mental health issues and so much more.

If you see this post please say Hi to Jinx 🥹🐾

The tiny girl with a huge heart ❤️

18/02/2026

Today’s visit to Sandiacre Court Care Centre was absolutely incredible. 💛

We had our very first session on the dementia nursing floor and honestly… what we witnessed felt like pure magic.

No one was sure how it would go, but we wanted to try.
And wow, we are so glad we did.

Residents who were withdrawn completely lit up. One gentleman sitting quietly in the corner became so happy just watching the dogs. One sat gently on his knee and he eagerly counted how many there were, smiling and enthusiastically saying, “It’s a dog day!” 🐾

We paid special attention to one lady who was very withdrawn, sitting silently in her chair with no expression. We gently placed a dog on her lap… and her face lit up. She smiled.
A carer told us this was a huge deal, as she hasn’t smiled in such a long time. That moment alone made my entire day.

Another lady wasn’t interested in the dogs at all at the start of the session, but by the end she was smiling, laughing, watching them and even gave them a stroke.

Seeing people smile, soften, and connect, not just with the dogs but with our handlers too, was truly beautiful.

We spoke with staff afterwards and received such amazing feedback. Many said how important our sessions are because residents don’t usually get any other chance to interact with dogs.

If you’d like to help us raise funds to deliver more free pilot sessions, we now have a JustGiving page. Every donation helps us bring more of these moments to more people. 💛
(Link in comments)

Thank you for helping us to bring dog assisted wellbeing to those who need it most.

Did you know that dogs feel empathy? ❤️ Studies show dogs are more likely to approach a human who is crying than one who...
17/02/2026

Did you know that dogs feel empathy? ❤️

Studies show dogs are more likely to approach a human who is crying than one who is just talking or laughing 🥹

They’re not just reacting to noise.
They’re responding to emotional distress 🐾

Dogs may:
• Sit closer to you
• Lick your face or hands
• Rest their head on you
• Become calmer and more gentle

Dogs pick up on:
• Tone of voice
• Body language
• Breathing patterns
• Stress hormones

Your body tells them before your words do.

Dogs offer:
• Non-judgemental comfort
• Emotional safety
• Co-regulation
• Connection without pressure

This is why animal-assisted wellbeing works 🐾
Dogs meet people where they are emotionally.

Meet Jake - our tiny wellbeing hero 🤍Jake is our long-haired Chihuahua, white as snow and extremely fluffy and of course...
17/02/2026

Meet Jake - our tiny wellbeing hero 🤍

Jake is our long-haired Chihuahua, white as snow and extremely fluffy and of course, he becomes a favourite wherever we go 😉

Jake’s special gift is his calm presence. He’ll gently hop onto someone’s knee, settle in, and invite slow, soothing strokes. His soft fur and steady breathing make him an expert in co-regulation, helping nervous systems settle without a single word being spoken.

He’s been supporting humans in wellbeing sessions since he was just a puppy, and over time he’s formed a truly beautiful bond with Nigel, a local wood turner who lives with Tourette’s.

Jake helps regulate his nervous system, Nigel calls him “the best medicine”… and his best mate. 🥹

Tiny dog. Huge impact.
Proof that healing doesn’t always come in human form 🤍

🐾 Dog-Assisted Wellbeing Sessions – Now Booking 🐾We’re a local Community Interest Company (CIC) offering gentle, inclusi...
16/02/2026

🐾 Dog-Assisted Wellbeing Sessions – Now Booking 🐾

We’re a local Community Interest Company (CIC) offering gentle, inclusive dog-assisted wellbeing sessions for adults, young people, and community groups 💛

Our sessions create calm, supportive spaces where people can:
• Connect with friendly, well-trained dogs
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Enjoy social connection in a low-pressure way
• Take part in grounding and mindfulness activities

We currently have limited spaces available for:
✨ 1:1 wellbeing sessions
✨ Small group sessions
✨ Care homes, schools & community organisations

Perfect for:
Mental health support • loneliness • neurodivergent individuals • learning disabilities • general wellbeing

📍 Based locally – happy to travel to community venues
📩 Message us to chat about your needs or book a space

Because sometimes healing starts with a wagging tail 🐶💛

16/02/2026

People often imagine our dog wellbeing sessions look like this…
🐕 chaos
🐾 barking
🦠 mess everywhere
😬 overwhelming

But the reality is very different.

Our dog-assisted wellbeing sessions are calm, structured and trauma-informed.

They’re designed to gently support your central nervous system, not overwhelm it.

What they’re actually like:
✨ quiet, relaxed environment
✨ small groups or 1:1 sessions
✨ no pressure to interact
✨ clear boundaries and consent (for humans and dogs)
✨ high hygiene standards - clean hands, clean spaces, clean equipment
✨ dogs chosen for calm temperaments and regularly health checked

You can simply sit, breathe, observe, or gently interact if and when it feels right.

It’s not about excitement.
It’s about regulation, safety, and connection.

Weekly Round-Up – What a Week! 🥹🫶🐾❤️This week has been a really special one for us, and we wanted to take a moment to re...
16/02/2026

Weekly Round-Up – What a Week! 🥹🫶🐾❤️

This week has been a really special one for us, and we wanted to take a moment to reflect on everything that’s happened.

First of all… we officially became a CIC (Community Interest Company)! 🎉
This is such a big milestone and means we can now grow in a way that truly puts community, wellbeing and accessibility at the heart of everything we do.

We held another wonderful session at a care home we support weekly, and it was so lovely to see that people remembered the dogs. Watching familiar faces light up and reconnect with them was genuinely heart-warming and reminded us just how powerful these bonds can be.

We also delivered a session at a local adult day centre for adults with learning disabilities and honestly, it went even better than we could have imagined. The smiles, laughter and gentle interactions absolutely made our day and reminded us why we started this in the first place.

On Sunday, we hosted our first public wellbeing session, and it went amazingly. People asked when the next session would be, everyone had their favourite dog, and the atmosphere was full of warmth, calm and connection.

This week, our dogs have supported everyone - from children to the elderly - showing just how universal and powerful human–animal connection really is 💕

We’ve also set up a JustGiving page, which will allow us to raise funds to reach even more people, offer pilot sessions, and run more public wellbeing events in the community.

And finally… we’re already planning more events! This is only the beginning, and we’re so excited for what’s coming next. Let us know what you want to see 👀

Thank you to everyone who has supported us, believed in us, and shared this journey so far. We’re so grateful to be building something that truly makes a difference 💛🐶✨

Pause with Paws Public Pilot Wellbeing Event - Community Update 🐶☕Today’s Pause with Paws wellbeing session was such a b...
15/02/2026

Pause with Paws Public Pilot Wellbeing Event - Community Update 🐶☕

Today’s Pause with Paws wellbeing session was such a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do. We welcomed a lovely mix of ages and people from the community – some attending on their own, others coming along with friends, family or carers.

The session included a gentle grounding meditation for those who wanted to take part, dog education, complimentary hot drinks and cookies, and plenty of relaxed social time, all with the added benefit of spending time with our certified wellbeing dogs.
There was no pressure to interact - people were free to join in as much or as little as they felt comfortable, whether that meant chatting, sitting quietly, or simply enjoying being in the space.

One of the most special moments was watching how the dogs naturally chose who to sit with, who to lean into for cuddles, and who they wanted to play with. The dogs clearly loved the session just as much as the humans, and the calm, joyful atmosphere in the room was really something special.

We’re so grateful to everyone who came along and helped create such a warm, safe, and supportive space 💛

How You Can Support Us
As a community-led wellbeing project, your support means the world to us. You can help us continue running sessions by:
• Attending future events
• Sharing our posts and telling others about us
• Supporting our fundraising efforts (we now have a JustGiving page)
• Partnering with us as a venue, organisation, or sponsor
• Leaving us a review and tagging us in your photos

Every bit of support helps us reach more people and create more accessible, gentle wellbeing spaces.

We’ll be announcing more events soon, and we’d love to know what you’d like to see next 👀
Paint, sip & paws? 🎨
Pizza & Paws? 🍕
Mother’s Day Afternoon tea pawty? 🫖
Tails & tarot cards? 🎴

Thank you for being part of our growing little community 🐾💫

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/pausewithpaws?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about roses and romance…It’s about the ones who:🐶 wait at the door🐶 love you on your worst da...
14/02/2026

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about roses and romance…

It’s about the ones who:
🐶 wait at the door
🐶 love you on your worst days
🐶 don’t care what you look like
🐶 think you’re their whole world

Dogs don’t love with conditions.
They love with presence.

And honestly?
That’s the purest kind of Valentine there is. 💌

At Pause with Paws, we see it every session -
a smile from someone who hasn’t smiled all week…
a hand gently resting on warm fur…
a moment of calm in a noisy world.

That’s love too.

If you’re spending today with a wagging tail by your side - you’re already winning. 🐾❤️

Tag your dog Valentine below ⬇️
Let’s see the good boys & girls 💘

Today was one of those days that reminds us exactly why we do what we do. 🐾We held a wellbeing session at a local adult ...
13/02/2026

Today was one of those days that reminds us exactly why we do what we do. 🐾

We held a wellbeing session at a local adult day centre in Long Eaton, offering a gentle drop-in, drop-out format so there was absolutely no pressure and no forced interaction - just a safe, relaxed space for people to engage in whatever way felt right for them.

We brought along our educational cards about dogs - how they communicate, what their body language means, and the many ways they can support our wellbeing.

And everyone engaged in their own beautiful way.
Some service users simply watched and smiled.
Some enjoyed gently touching the dogs or observing from a distance.

But the most special moment of the day was with a service user who has a fear of dogs. At first, she sat on the other side of a glass door, watching from afar - which in itself was a huge step. By the end of the second session, she wheeled herself into the room, sat comfortably, and even gave Jake a little tickle. We were so proud of her. 🥹

She asked us how she could get over her fear of dogs, so we spent time chatting about how dogs communicate, how they read our emotions, and how small dogs were originally bred simply to be our companions and friends.

Another service user loved the session so much that she wanted to spend time saying goodbye to the dogs, asked if we’d be back next week, and even checked in with her activities coordinator to make sure we would be back on the days she is in!

The session was a real hit - full of smiles, gentle moments, and quiet breakthroughs. Next time, we’re going to explore dogs with jobs and all the amazing ways they help humans. We already can’t wait to go back. 💛🐶

(No photos today to protect the privacy of our vulnerable service users – but trust us, the memories are very special.)

Just 6 spaces left for Pause With Paws this Sunday 🐾Pay what you want • Pre-booking required • Limited spaceIf you need ...
13/02/2026

Just 6 spaces left for Pause With Paws this Sunday 🐾
Pay what you want • Pre-booking required • Limited space

If you need calm, dogs, and a moment to breathe - this is for you 🤍
Book via email or our website.

12/02/2026

Small dogs get a really unfair reputation 💔

In reality, small dogs are often incredibly sensitive, emotionally attuned and deeply affectionate to humans.

Small dogs have been supporting human emotional wellbeing for centuries.

They were bred for companionship, bidseness and comfort, not protection or performance.

Many behaviours labelled as nasty are actually signs of fear, overstimulattion or missed communication.

At Pause with Paws, we work with small dogs because their calm presence, sensitivity and ability to co-regulate make them incredible companions in gentle wellbeing spaces 🥰

Understanding canine behaviour changes everything 🐕

Address

Pause With Paws
Risley
DE72

Telephone

+447881309426

Website

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/pausewithpaws?utm_medium=CF&utm_source=CL

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