At 4 Paws Yorkshire we're more than just a brand, we're a family who truly cares about their pets. Our story started out of love for our family dogs Hollie, Poppy & Albie. Our mission was to create a blanket that was 100% waterproof, super thick and cosy, durable for playtimes but didn't compromise on the aesthetics. A blanket that could truly be mistaken for a normal throw but all the while protecting your home and car. 

The inspiration behind 4 Paws Yorkshire

Our 14 year old family dog Hollie (on the left) sadly became incontinent due to a couple of seizures, we wanted to find a way in which to keep her comfortable in her usual spot on the sofa. Poppy (on the right) is our 12 year old Lab who, like all dogs, loves to get muddy on walks! Beth's sister introduced little Albie (below) you will have seen a lot of him on our website and social media. Being a puppy he would have the accidents and wee in and around the house (which wasn't ideal) 

Hollie is a little reserved playing with Alb's but he seems to bring out the puppy in Poppy and she loves to see him!

Why did we decide to design our own blanket?

We search high and low for waterproof blankets that stayed waterproof after washing. This was near enough impossible but not only that they were not made to a standard that lasted. All dogs love to play and need something that's durable and is going to stand the test of time. As you can see from the photo below a lot of the blankets were crazy colours and just didn't add to the aesthetics of our home. We wanted to something that blended into our home that you could mistake for a human throw. Most of the blankets we did have the waterproof lining was like an old fashioned picnic blanket lining that rustled when moved or was hard. 

So, we set to work... and boy was it work! We wanted to create something we were truly proud of and that ticked all the boxes. It took us a long time to get to the finished product.

We decided to go with a greige edging which was double the thickness to anything we had previously had and added double stitching to make it a lot more durable. 

We went back and forth with our manufacturer about our waterproof lining. It HAD to be noiseless, no one wants to hear noise when they're watching Coronation street! We also needed this to be 100% waterproof and stay that way after washing

Our soft, grey FLANNEL material was a must as we hadn't felt something so premium. Again this took a good while for us to find! 

Last but definitely not least, the cream SHERPA, feels like clouds in a blanket form. This was just a no brainer! It is just the most cosiest material! 

We had the blanket tested to British industry standard, and.... 'IT COULD'NT BE ANYMORE WATERPROOF IF IT TRIED' Were the exact words from the lady we called to explain what the test report meant (as we had no clue what all the graphs and numbers meant) 

October 3rd we Launched! 

We were nervous & excited all wrapped into one! Since then we have had so much love and positive feedback from customers and countless repeat customers which is incredible, we are truly so grateful! One lady messaged and it has just stuck with us 'It's a blanket i never knew I needed' and until Hollie became incontinent we never really knew or thought about waterproof blankets and how much of a game changer they are! No more wet dog smells seeping into your car seats, no more scratches on the sofa, no muddy paws on the bed or any little accidents can be quickly dealt with by putting the blanket in the wash! 

We will keep you updated with our journey and what's next... as this is just the beginning and we have some very exciting things to spill! 

Until then, 

Thank you for supporting us, 

Beth & Dave 

23rd Feb 2025

Do you have a dog who loves getting wet?

Lets face it, at this time of year it is inevitable that your dog is going to get wet. We abandon any sense of trying to keep them dry, after all when they are off the lead they are their own masters and particularly around water and mud. Ummm don’t you just love it when they are enjoying themselves, but…..stop right there…that’s great!! but whose going to clean up, you guessed it YOU……..

Here are six things to look out for when wet walkies are over and don’t forget 4PawsYorkshire is here to help.

1.       Natural odour: Your dog when wet will have their own distinct odour, this is because of the natural waterproofing oils in their skin that mixes with any bacteria in their coats and gives off that wet musky smell.

2.      Shivering:  Just like us humans your dog may shiver when they are wet. This reflex is common to both our species and is just a way of warming ourselves up faster. Remember this is just a reflex action in a dog and is nothing to alarmed about.

3.     Drying:  Your dog is a master of getting excess water out of their coats, yes, you must have seen it many times, the vigorous head body and tail shaking is an efficient way of getting rid of that water. But always remember where they are when they do this, it’s good to do it in area in your home that you can wipe down, even better outside.

4.      As their coat dry: Dogs with long hair can get matted now is a good time to give them a quick brush, this will help later when they fully dry out as you will have already done the hard work.

5.      Here come the Zoomies:  Many dogs will want to get very active after being wet, this is a natural behavior which helps to dry off their coats quicker and also gives them a sense of escape from the feeling of wetness.

6.      Settling down: After intense activity and particularly wet fun, your dog is likely to want to settle down, still not dry completely they will want to be on your carpet, sofa or even your bed. Their own bed might not be where they want to settle, especially if you’re not in the same room. Don’t forget, you have a real hack to help you, our fully waterproof blankets are ideal for you and your pet……..everyone is a winner.

Until next time, have fun and enjoy your dog.

D

2nd Mar 2025

Spring has sprung:  A short story and 5 things to think about as we move into spring:

A Ticking time bomb

I was amazed just yesterday, our elderly Lab Poppy had been down the fields and as usual she we in and out of the trees and long grass just as she always does. So here’s thing, my daughters dog Albie came to visit in the afternoon, zoomies over, as he is just one  year old, he could not stop nibbling Poppy’s neck and in exactly the same place time after time. We pulled him away a least a dozen times as I just thought he was being annoying.  I could not understand why he was going back time after time, so I felt around the area where Albie had been fussing about and sure as anything there was a small lump. I parted the fur and there to my surprise was a little black and bloodied what we think was left of a Tick. I am pretty sure that Albie had nibble it and although not completely out there was a small hole where it had lodged on Poppy’s neck, thank you Albie you’re a good dog. We will be booking our dogs into the vets for their prevention control.

1.       Flea and Tick treatment: In Warmer weather Fleas and Ticks become more active and prevalent and our dogs are in more danger. Check with your vet whether for furry friend needs their pet pest prevention updating.

2.       Nature walks:  Now is a great time to get out and about with your dog, not too hot and not too cold for either animal or human, there are some great walks all over the country and our next blog will concentrate on a few we go in Yorkshire and Cumbria.

3.       Allergy watch:  Our dogs are really good at telling us when they have a problem, we just need to recognise the signs, excessive licking of their paws, scratching and sneezing are just a few, if they continue you should consult with your vet.

4.       Normal out and about: As the weather get warmer be aware of the air temperature and strength of the Sun. You may want to consider early morning and later evening walks where temperature can kinder and although we don’t need to worry too much about hot pavements here in the uk, believe me, my son lives in California and with his CockerPoo and this is a normal routine for him, they do not take Ivy out after the temperature and Sun get too hot as the pavements become dangerous for her.

5.       Lastly: Maintenance of your pets equipment:   Now is great time to clean your dog accessories and renew where you need to after a long winter. Wash beds check for wear and tear on your collars and leads, big news, very shortly 4PawYorkshire will be introducing a new product our pet cooling blankets that help to keep your dog cool on those long hot summer days, watch out for them coming soon

Well that me done for this week, don’t forget to check out next week’s blog and if you have anything to contribute then send it in via our contact details on the Website.

Until then have fun and enjoy your dog.

D

9th Mar 22025

Three Great dog water dog walks

Hello everyone and welcome back. We hope you have had a great week, the weather has turned out fine and my thoughts are turning towards longer dogs walks and trips away. I must say it is a privilege to be able to visit beautiful places and take my dogs. I am just a bit sad that our girls are getting on and we certainly cannot take them to the places we used to. So short walks and visits to a local river is about the best. It would be nice to share some of our memories of great days out and the sheer joy that I know you experience as well when you see your dog just having the best time.

1.       Ullswater. in the Lake District is a stunning lake with great walks, on our first morning we took the Steamer from Pooley Bridge down to Howtown pier , the dogs loved the Journey but obviously we kept on a leads on board as they would have been over the side given the smallest of chances. The weather was fine, but we ensured even though by a lake we had plenty of fresh water for them and us. It’s only a 5 mile walk, so we took the Swarthbeck route, this climbs from Howtown Pier and plateaus out around what is called the Cockpit a large stone circle. The gently undulating moors open out and eventually you are rewarded with views that are amazing and you can really let the dogs go wild they loved every minute. We descended back into Pooley Bridge for a well-earned drink of water for the dogs and a pint for us.

2.       Aysgarth Falls. Woodland route, this starting with the Middle then Lower falls heading off into the countryside away from the falls. Some of this route is on private farm land so dogs must be kept on a lead. I must admit not my most favorite…….. I know I called this great dog walks, but the falls and access to shallow water is what they loved. We stayed in the Wheatsheaf Inn and the dogs loved it. We could walk from there every day to the falls through flat country side leading down to the falls and walking to the visitor centre. Leyburn and Hawes are great places to visit and the dogs were welcome in most of the Pubs.

3.       Ingleton falls. By far my most favourite, we did this with the dogs a few years ago, Holly and Poppy could not get enough of it, a circular route, climbing and falling with the falls it can be hard going and while the dogs breezed it we were a little slower. Normally the route takes between 2 and 4 hours depending on how quick the human escorts are, if you left it to the dogs they would be done in 30 mins. A small cafe is a welcome relief an hour in and if open that hot cup of tea is brilliant. It’s so sad now that the dogs would not be able to manage it again, but we have great memories of them and our days out.

Top tip, often we would come back to our hotel/pub and the dogs would be pretty wet and dirty and while we always kept towels in the car, I wish the Waterproof blankets were around then, back in the room trying to dry them off and keep their bedding dry was tough, its easy today with a couple of 4Pawsyorkshire waterproof blankets we don’t have to worry.

 Until next time, enjoy your dogs.  

D.

16th Mar 2025

Hi dog lovers, having been through the health mill a little with our dogs just lately, I thought it might be a good time to touch on some of the more common illnesses you might see in your dog. Both Poppy and Holly have been to the vets recently, both suffered a Vestibular episode and Holly had a Toe removed following an infected Toe nail, while Poppy had an inner ear infection which almost certainly led to her episode. I am happy to report although a bit unsteady they are now much, much better.

Five Common health worries to watch out for with your dog:

1.      Bevhaviour changes:     Dogs are really great at telling us they have a problem, if your dog becomes aggressive or lethargic this can point to stress, pain or illness. Our dogs show stress by yawning excessively so we know when there is a problem.

2.       Vomiting and Diarrhoea:    While this is a common event with dogs, ours do vomit from time to time, but we are more careful when it comes to Diarrhoea. It is recommended to monitor your dog closely and if either last for over 24 hours it could indicate something more serious such as a digestive issue.

3.       Changes to Skin and Coat:     We notice our dogs coat and skin all the time so it should be not too difficult to pick up on changes such as, bald patch, parasites and skin infections. A good place to notice skin infections is on the tummy where it is less furry. As with any thing

with our dogs, generally if their coat is in good condition so are they.

4.       Changes in eating and drinking:    If your dog changes their eating and drinking habits suddenly the alarms bells should ring, as this could be a sign of a much more serious issues such as Kidney, Diabetes.

5.       Coughing and breathing difficulties:   Our dogs have been pretty good and we haven’t really experienced much in the way of breathing difficulties and were happy to know when the vet examined them that they had healthy Hearts, but breathing/Wheezing, again can be a sign that there may be something else going on:

In each case, you must decide what is best for your dog and if any of these present to you, you may want to consider a visit to the vet. We have been lucky with our dogs as they have had no real serious problems for 12/13 years but we are more aware now than ever as they depend on us.

So, we need to be upbeat, your dog’s love you and you love them and that for me is the best part about being an owner. Remember if you want a comfortable dry environment for your dog 4PawsYorkshire blankets are here to help.

Until next time, have fun and enjoy your dog.

D

23rd Mar 2025

Hi Dog lovers, Hope you and your dog have had a great week, we have had a quiet week with the dogs, plenty of local walks, with loads of different people taking them out which is great for all. We have our grandson son over every other Saturday, this brought to mind years ago, when we thought about re homing a dog from a local trust. The dog was Alsatian cross. Our youngest then, 20 years ago was just 2, Amiee the new dog came on a short stay to see how she would get on with the family. Unfortunately, she literally didn't see eye to eye with our small child and snapped a few times. It could have been a dangerous situation and over the two days visit we decided Aimee could not be trusted.

So when choosing your ideal dog and especially within the family group which breads should you consider and why. Temperament, energy levels, and how they interact with children and other pets can be deal breakers.  These are only my opinion and not in any order:

Dogs tend to hear better at higher frequencies and did you know they can hear further as well. Combining their super sensory nose with this enhanced hearing capability makes dogs a really incredible search and rescue animal. Funny, when my dogs are on the park with me they sometimes just don't hear me, I think they are just too busy enjoying themselves.

• Is your dog left or right Paw dominate?

Have you ever wondered why your dog normally gives you the same Paw if you ask for it, well research has shown that your pet does have a dominant Paw just like us humans. Next time I am playing with them I will do a bit of my own research to see if it true.

• Dogs can sniff out medical problems

It is well documents that we can train dogs to sniff out medical problems. In fact they can be specially trained to do this. Notwithstanding this I have seen several TV programs where dogs have detected Cancer in their owners and kept nosing the area of where it was. Our pets can be truly amazing.

Until next time, have fun and enjoy your dog

D @ 4PawsYorkshire