Guest blog by a proud golden retriever mum + small business owner

One of the questions I get asked most in the shop is:
“How are your dogs so calm?”
Or:
“How do they just chill there all day?”

So I thought I’d share a little peek into what it’s really like having my two golden retrievers, Orla and Amber, by my side at work — and how we got from chaos to calm.

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 Meet Orla: Our Original Golden Girl

Orla was our first golden, adopted at 8 months old — full of beans and completely clueless about how to behave in a shop full of delicate, handmade gifts.
Not exactly a low-risk move!

To ease her in, we brought her into the shop on quiet days at first. Dan (my other half) built a small gate to keep her behind the counter, and we turned the cupboard under the stairs into a cosy den.

Over time, she graduated to a long lead near the front, where she could see everything without sprinting at every customer. It worked. She learned to observe without chaos, and eventually gained free roam of the shop (though we still keep the door shut — just in case she spots a squirrel!).

There were definitely hiccups. I once popped to the post office and came back to find she’d eaten the pure beeswax candles and shredded my handmade Valentine’s tissue hearts. But… she has good taste?

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 Enter Amber: From Nervous Rescue to Shop Companion

Amber joined us in December 2023. She came from a puppy farm in Ireland and was terrified of everything — the indoors, outdoors, cars, people. So we didn’t rush it.

That first month, I worked half days so she could settle at home. Then we brought her crate into the shop as a safe space. She started by hiding, just peeking out when the coast was clear. Slowly, gently, she got braver — and eventually curled up in Orla’s bed on the shop floor.

So we got her one of her own.

Now they snooze side by side. Amber learned a lot just by watching Orla. She still has her quirks (we had a brief “mouthing customers’ coats” phase ), but overall, she’s settled beautifully.

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 What Actually Helps Dogs Stay Calm in Busy Spaces?

It might look like magic — two goldens sleeping sweetly on the shop floor — but here’s what really makes it work:

1. Start Slowly

Let your dog get used to new spaces in their own time. Early exposure without pressure makes a huge difference.

2. Set Physical Boundaries First

Use gates, leads, or crates to help them feel secure and avoid overstimulation while they adjust.

3. Exercise Matters

Both girls get an hour’s walk before work — off-lead play, swims, forest walks. Tired dogs are calm dogs!

4. Enrichment Is Everything

We use:

• Packaging paper for shredding
• Life of Riley ice cream licks
• Simple scent games and obedience refreshers
  This keeps their brains engaged without overstimulating them.

5. Each Dog Is Different

Amber and Orla needed totally different approaches — it’s all about watching, learning, and adjusting.

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 Final Thoughts

We love having Orla and Amber in the shop, and thankfully most of our customers do too. They’ve both got a bit of a fan club now! It hasn’t always been easy, but with time, training, and a lot of patience, they’ve become the heart of the business.

So if you ever wander in and see two golden fluffballs dozing behind the counter — now you know the story behind their chill.