The Retreat, Canine Hydrotherapy and Rehabilitation

02/09/2026

☀️🐾 Charity Dog Show – This Saturday! 🐾☀️

OK, it's been a bit rainy this week, but the forecast for Saturday is dry and sunny – so why not grab the lead, dust off your wellies (just in case!), and pop along to a fantastic afternoon organised by Tawland Events CIC in aid of The Cinnamon Trust.

📍 North Tawton Rugby Club
🕛 12–5pm
📅 This Saturday

Whether your dog's a show-ring natural or a "best in show for enthusiasm" kind of contender, there'll be plenty of fun, friendly competition, and community spirit for a brilliant cause. 🏆🐕

Our normal Autumn Market is being held slightly earlier this year as hopefully the weather will be kinder to us than later in the month.

We have also decided to hold it in conjunction with the Charity Dog Show in aid of the Cinnamon Trust to encourage new customers to our local producers, crafters and small business market that potentially would not attend the stand alone market.

If you would like to book a stall and showcase your wares then please contact us. There is only 1 week to go.

01/09/2026

** edit - We now have just ONE place left for our event next month!! **

Calling all dog walkers, groomers, and anyone who spends their days in the company of dogs – you're invited to our second Pawsitive Connections evening!

This time, we're delighted to have Scarlett, one of our veterinary physiotherapists, give a talk on: "Can you recognise the signs of discomfort in a dog under your care?" A practical session for anyone who wants to feel more confident spotting the subtle signs that a dog might be sore, stiff, or struggling.

After the talk, stick around for a relaxed catch-up and chat with other local dog businesses – a great chance to swap stories and build connections. 🐕🤝

⚠️ Please note: Spaces are limited due to room capacity, so we'd ask that you only register if you're confident you can attend on the night. This helps us make sure everyone who wants a place can get one!

📍 The Retreat
📅Tuesday, 27 October
⏰ 6-8pm

To reserve your space, send us a message, give us a call or WhatsApp 07711 492689

31/08/2026

🐾 Meet Blaze 🐾

He has a severe case of ‘crazy spaniel brain’ and a healthy dose of ‘I have no idea what my back legs are doing’ sprinkled on top. 😂

If you watch the video, you'll see exactly what we mean…

Obstacle? Step on it.
Pole? Knock it over.
Something in the way? Run straight through it.
Legs? Who knows where they are?! 🤣

But in the middle of all that chaotic energy, something brilliant is happening.

Blaze is learning. 🧠✨

He's learning to slow down and think about his feet - what they're doing, where they're going and how he's moving them. He's beginning to develop body awareness, coordination and proprioception (knowing where his body is in space).

And these are incredibly valuable skills.

The better a dog understands how to use their body, the more controlled and coordinated their movement can become, which can help reduce the risk of those “Oops, where did that leg come from?!” moments that can lead to injury.

So, if you have a dog who is energetic, excitable, easily distracted, don't give up!

You don't need a perfectly calm dog to teach body awareness. You just need to start where they are and build from there.

And Blaze is proving that even the most enthusiastic of dogs can learn. ❤️

Over the next few weeks, we'll be working on developing Blaze's body awareness even further - starting to focus more on his posture during movement, how he's placing his feet and how he moves his whole body through space.

Because learning new skills takes time.

It doesn't all happen at once.

Sometimes it's a case of one paw at a time. 🐾

📱 Social media is full of polished, perfect videos of dogs performing exercises flawlessly - but we think it’s just as important to show the messy start of the journey – the wobbly, imperfect, everything-in-progress bit – because progress takes time, patience, and plenty of stepped on and knocked-over poles along the way.

🐾 Got a high-energy dog who needs help with balance and core control? Drop us a message or call us on 07711 492689 to chat with our team!

30/08/2026

🐾 Meet Clive 🐾

This handsome chap struggles with back pain and arthritis, so regular massage plays an important role in helping to keep his spinal muscles from becoming too tight, tense and sore.

And judging by the fact that he's using his physiotherapist as a pillow... we think it's safe to say he REALLY enjoys his massage! 😂❤️

But it wasn't always like this.

When we first met Clive, his back was so sore that he could only tolerate even the gentlest massage for a few minutes. He was fidgety, uncomfortable, and would get up and wander off mid-session, as if to say, "Thank you, but that’s quite enough for today."

So, we didn't push him.

We went at Clive’s pace.

Little by little, as his muscles began to soften and become less reactive, we were able to gradually work on releasing more of the tension he was carrying. And, slowly but surely, Clive began to realise that massage didn't have to be uncomfortable.

In fact… he started to enjoy it. ❤️

These days, Clive comes in for regular massage to help keep on top of his muscle tension before it gets a chance to build up again. By managing that tension regularly, we're helping him stay comfortable - and he can now happily lie down and enjoy an hour-long massage session without batting an eye!

Quite a transformation from the dog who once said, "No thank you, I've had enough!" after just a few minutes! 🥰

💡 Soreness in older or arthritic dogs can often build up quietly. Regular hands-on therapy helps keep them moving comfortably. If you think your dog could benefit from regular massage, get in touch and see how we can help. T: 07711 492689🐾

27/08/2026

We often hear owners say, "Never again." 🐾💔

Not because they didn’t love their dog enough… but because they loved them so much.

The endless vet visits. The nights sleeping downstairs on the sofa just to be near them through the night. The constant worry. The stress of watching them struggle. The heartache of knowing you can’t fix everything for the one creature you’d do absolutely anything for.

It takes its toll.

And truthfully, sometimes, we love our dogs more than we care for some people. They ask for so little and give absolutely everything.

And then one day, they're gone.

And the silence in the house is deafening.

You find yourself missing the very things that used to drive you crazy - their fur on the carpet, the over-the-top greeting at the door, and the inevitable "cheese tax" you paid every single time the fridge door opened. The sofa hogging.

They leave a space that never really disappears. They stay with us - in our memories, our stories, our habits, and in the adventures we remember having together. ❤️

But, sometimes, slowly, a little space begins to appear.

Room for a new set of paws. New adventures. New memories. 💛

And so, we were absolutely delighted to met Bow-jovi - and we feel incredibly lucky to be a tiny part of the adventures this handsome boy is creating with his dad 🐾

For us, there is something really special about pawrents who have walked the hydrotherapy and physiotherapy journey with one dog, felt the difference it made, and then choose to bring their new buddy to us right at the start. Making therapy and wellness a proactive part of their new dog's lifestyle from day one - giving them the best possible foundations for all the adventures still to come. 🐾

Welcome to The Retreat, Bow-Jovi. 🐾

26/08/2026

🐾 Happy International Dog Day! 🐾

We hope extra treats, hugs and belly rubs are on the menu for your pawfect pal this evening!

24/08/2026

Meet Rupert! 🐩💙

At 2.5 years old, this gorgeous Standard Poodle was a committed member of the "tummy-deep only" club. His usual routine? Standing safely at the edge of the lake, supervising from afar, and barking at the water.

So, imagine our delight when he did THIS… 👀

He was calm, he was brave and honestly, we don’t think it will take long for him to perfect his swimming technique. A few more sessions and he'll be gliding like a pro.

And did we mention how handsome he is?!

Notice how not a single curl on top of his head got wet during his swim? Absolutely vital protocol when you’re this handsome and helping your Mum advertise her dog grooming business Dreybury Dog Groomers ! Talk about a professional model. 📷✨

We couldn't be prouder of how bravely Rupert took to the water. Welcome to the swimming club, Rupert! 🏊‍♂️🐾

20/08/2026

Logan: "Sorry my sister splashed you. Let me help dry your glasses."

Lucy: "Logan, you're squashing me"

11/08/2026

🐾 A change of plan for Alfie today

Alfie was booked in for a water treadmill session with us today, but something happened on his walk this morning and he just wasn't feeling himself.

Nothing dramatic - but enough for us to decide that hydrotherapy wasn’t the right choice for him today.

And this is where being a multi-modal rehabilitation clinic really makes a difference. 💙

Rather than simply cancelling the session and sending Alfie home, we changed the plan and gave him a relaxing laser therapy treatment in the shade instead. ☀️🌿

What could have been a wasted journey became a calm, low-key treatment tailored to how Alfie was actually feeling today, rather than simply sticking to what was on the schedule.

Because rehabilitation isn’t about following a one-size-fits-all plan. It’s about looking at the dog in front of us, assessing how they are on the day, and adapting their treatment when needed.

Having hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and other treatment options all under one roof means we can do exactly that - find the right approach for a dog, whatever the day throws at them. 🐾

Feel better soon, Alfie! 💙

07/08/2026

🐾 Recipe for a good night's sleep 🐾

Take one very excitable puppy. Add water. What do you get? One blissfully tired, sleepy pup - and very happy pawrents! 💤

There's nothing quite like watching a bundle of energy paddle their way to a proper, well-earned nap. 😴