Now Hiring! Adding Pet Sitters to Plano, TX Richardson, TX Dallas, TX and Garland, TX. If you know anyone that may be interested send them this link to Apply. Thank you!
See some of our pet clients in action on our video page.
Dog Park Safety
Most dogs enjoy an off-leash romp at the park. Dogs are very social animals, and a dog park can be a fun place to take your pooch. Accidents and dog fights do happen at dog parks, but by following a few safety tips, you can lessen the chances of a bad day at the park.
Check out the park ahead of time; dogless. Try and feel the vibe, the rules, and see how busy it is. Be sure it has a double-gated entry and that the fencing is high enough to keep the dogs in. There should be separate areas for small dogs and big dogs. Check to see if it has water available and if people are watching their dogs.
Do not take a dog to a dog park that has poor social skills or is shy or nervous, that’s a recipe for disaster. Dog parks are not for puppies, and you need to go carefully with older dogs too, they are more apt to be injured.
Make sure your first few visits are during off hours, so your dog gets used to off-leash play. Be sure to watch both your dog and the others for signs of aggression. Because canine play often looks and sounds aggressive, you need to know exactly what to watch for. The second link at the end of this article goes over what play and aggression can look like.
Even the sweetest dogs can escalate during play, so after a few minutes of energetic play call your dog away and let him settle down a bit.
Here are a few more tips:
Make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date.
No choke or prong collars, flat nylon or leather only.
Bring poopy bags to pick up after your buddy.
Remove your dog’s leash inside the park; leash aggression is common at dog parks.
If water isn’t available, bring your own.
Have treats but don’t feed other dogs unless you ask their people.
If a fight breaks out, do NOT get in the middle of it. Throw a coat or blanket on the fight or turn the hose on the fighters. Often an air horn will stop a dogfight (they make small airhorns, but they are still loud!)
Don’t bring young kids to the park and don’t play with other dogs unless you ask.
Remember not all dogs love a dog park, so if your dog is showing signs that they are uncomfortable, just take them home.
Try a local park after you’ve checked it out and see if your canine companion enjoys it, but watch your dog at the park just like you would watch your child.
We all love the idea of feeding our pets healthy food with natural ingredients, but the idea of making treats from scratch can seem daunting. Luckily, making homemade treats doesn’t get much easier than this. You know exactly what is in these treats, so they are not only fun but healthy too. As an added bonus, if you get hungry while taking your dog for a walk, you can munch on the pup treats too, if he’s willing to share!
Dog Treats
1 Cup Oat or Rice Flour
2 Ripe Mashed Bananas
1/4 Cup Smooth Peanut Butter (be sure it doesn’t have sugar or sweetener)
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Peel and mash the bananas and mix them with the peanut butter. Add the flour a little at a time to the banana/peanut butter mixture and blend well. Chill the dough for 20 minutes. Roll out the dough and cut with cookie cutters or in squares with a knife. Put on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 30 – 35 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool before feeding! Yum!
Cat Treats
10 oz Canned Salmon (do not drain)
1 Egg
2 Cups Oat or Rice Flour
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Chop up salmon as finely as possible, beat in an egg. Add the salmon mixture to the flour and mix until well blended. If the mix is too dry add a little water. Roll out dough on floured parchment paper and cut into small treats. Move parchment paper and treats to a baking sheet (keep treats on paper, so they don’t stick) and cook for about 20 minutes. Cool before feeding.
Both of these treats will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks. These treats are both fun and healthy!
Signs of Cancer in Pets
Cancer is the number one disease-related killer of both cats and dogs, especially in our senior pets. No need to panic both cats and dogs are less plagued by this disease than people. But it’s a good idea to know what to look for and to start changing your pet’s routines now to help ward off disease.
Here are some signs to look for:
Sores that don’t heal
Abnormal discharges
Swelling that persists or continues to grow
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Weight changes (up or down)
Bleeding or discharge of any body opening
Offensive odor
Persistent lameness or stiffness
Behavior changes
Change in potty habits
Evidence of painIf your pet has these symptoms, don’t panic, as they are also symptoms of other diseases. But get your pet to your vet for a thorough check-up.
Although hereditary plays a role in this illness so does lifestyle. The best cure is prevention. Make sure your pet gets yearly physical exams, feed your pet a whole food, high-quality healthy diet, keep your pet at a healthy weight, minimize vaccinations, reduce their exposure to toxins (like fertilizers on the yard), check their body once a month for unusual lumps, and be sure they get daily exercise (we can help with that!).
The sooner you address an illness, the better the chance that your best friend will be around for a long time!
Great Pet Links!
Here are some interesting pet articles, pictures, and videos we’ve found on the net this month.
Most animals are doggone good at “speaking human,” but what are some dog and cat speak behaviors? If you’d like to have an even closer relationship with your best friend, learn a little animal language here.
Some Dog and Cat Speak Behaviors That You Can Easily Learnread more
Service dogs are dogs which assist disabled people in their day to day life, whether they be blind, hard of hearing or otherwise disabled. Dogs are also the only recognized species as a service animal, though many animals such as miniature horses can help disabled people. Although there are many types of service dogs that perform different functions (for instance, a popular dog for the blind are golden retrievers but smaller dog breeds such as cocker spaniels work well with deaf handlers) almost any dog can become a service dog with the right training. Nowadays a lot of service dogs are rescues from shelters, a welcome sign for the large number of dogs placed in shelters every day.read more
Now Hiring! Adding Pet Sitters to Plano, TX Richardson, TX Dallas, TX and Garland, TX. If you know anyone that may be interested send them this link to Apply. Thank you!
See some of our pet clients in action on our video page.
Wag More, Bark Less
It’s a fact of life, dogs bark. It’s an entirely normal and natural behavior, and it’s fun. But if your dog is an excessive barker, it can be annoying to you and your neighbors. To figure out how to quiet the barking you need to understand why your dog is barking.
Most dogs bark when they are playing, defending their territory, bored and want attention, or anxious. A few dogs are enthusiastic barkers, meaning they just like to hear their own voice.
It’s not always an easy behavior to stop, but if you can figure out why your dog is barking, you’re halfway to a fix.
If your dog is a territorial barker, then you’ll be ahead of the game to remove the triggers that cause barking. Often it’s people approaching your home or even walking by outside. Close the blinds so your pooch can’t see anyone outdoors. Put on some white noise (link at end) which is relaxing to dogs and may distract them a bit.
If you have an enthusiastic barker, you’ll be well served to teach them to bark and be quiet on command. It’s not difficult, but it does take some training time, which should be fun for both you and your dog. See the link at the end of this article for instructions.
An anxious dog needs some special attention. They may bark every time you leave the house because they have separation anxiety. Leave on a radio or TV for your best friend, take a Kong toy and fill it with peanut butter or wet dog food and freeze it. Give it to your dog before you leave because for many dogs a frozen Kong is distracting for hours. Have you tried a Thunder Shirt for your nervous dog? Many dog owners swear by them. Think about investing in a 2-way Pet Cube so you can watch and talk to your dog when you’re not there (they also dispense treats).
If your dog is bored – and this is the number one cause of barking – try some of the same ideas for anxious dogs above. Studies show that Reggae and Classical music seem to be the most relaxing for canines. Give them a wide variety of toys to play with and rotate them every few weeks, so they look new to your pup. Another critical element for a bored barker is breaking up their day, so they can have some fun!
We can help with your barker. Your dog needs exercise and stimulation, and we can help you provide it. Schedule a dog walk for your pooch; we’ll be sure they get a lot of attention. On your day off take your dog for a hike or throw a ball for them long enough to tire them out.
Let’s figure out why your dog is barking and start working on a fix. Quiet times ahead!
March 23 is National Puppy Day, and springtime is the most popular time for people to bring home a new pet. Before you do, think about acquiring a pet from your local shelter. Here are some good reasons:
You’ll save a life (or two). Sadly almost 3 million adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized every single year in the USA because too few people consider a shelter pet.
You’ll get a magnificent animal. Shelters are filled with cute, happy pets waiting for you to take them home. Most are used to living with a family and are housebroken. Shelters evaluate their pets and work on training while the pets are in residence at the shelter.
It’s a great way to help shut down puppy mills. If you buy a dog or cat from a store, online, or flea market, you’re almost certainly supporting a puppy mill. Just say no.
Spread the word; you can change the plight of other shelter animals. Tell everyone that your wonderful pet came from a shelter and you’ll be spreading the good news about shelter pets. Take selfies of you and your shelter dog or cat and post them online!
You’ll pay less. Adoption fees are much less than buying a purebred dog from a breeder (after all, they are in business to make a profit).
You’ll be adopting a pet that has received proper care. Shelter pets are spayed or neutered, have their shots, and go through medical and personality screenings.
Please, before you get a new pet, visit your local shelter. They have all sorts of animals, big and small, young and old. And they are all just waiting to give you a hug.
A Few Myths About Pet Food
The best foods are those by veterinarians – False. Although they are sold in vet’s offices and may benefit some animals with health issues, for the average pet, the ingredients in these foods tell a different story. Most have high amounts of grain or grain by-products as protein sources instead of real meat. Grain by-products are a cheap source of protein, which is why they are often used. When choosing food for your pet, look for the top ingredient to be meat or meat meal. If your vet recommends food for a health issue for your pet, discuss this diet with them carefully.
Table scraps and other people foods are bad for your dog or cat – False.Healthy leftovers are great treats for your dog or cat, just choose wisely. Consider plain cooked meat (not fat), steamed veggies like beans, carrots, or sweet potato. Most dogs love certain fruits, like apple, pear, or blueberries and they make great low-calorie treats. Cats enjoy cooked fish and eggs too.
It’s okay for dogs and cats to eat each other’s food – False. Your pets have different dietary requirements and should have their own food. Cat food has higher levels of protein, fat, and taurine. This isn’t what dogs need. Cats that eat dog food are at high risk for weight gain (more carbohydrates in dog food) and can develop nutritional deficiencies. Dogs that eat cat food risk weight gain (extra fat in cat food) and even pancreatitis. No need to panic if it happens occasionally, but they do need their own cuisines.
High protein diets cause kidney failure – False. Dogs (along with cats & people) need protein, and if you don’t get enough, you take it from your muscles (not good). So protein doesn’t cause kidney failure. The jury is out for pets that already have kidney issues. Even pets with kidney problems need protein but less of it, and it’s better to choose proteins with high biologic value, like eggs, milk (plain yogurt), low-fat cheese (0% fat cottage cheese), and fish.
Pets don’t need grain – Kind of False.Dogs and cats in the wild actually eat grains in the animals they hunt (mice, rabbits, etc.). Most dogs can digest them with no problems. Cats, on the other hand, are carnivores and don’t need grains at all. Many people think that grains cause allergies in their dogs. This may be true for some dogs, but the # 1 allergin for dogs is beef, and the #2 is dairy. Of course, your pet may not have allergies, so don’t panic if your high-quality pet food has some grain in it.
Do not take a dog to a dog park that has poor social skills or is shy or nervous, that’s a recipe for disaster. Dog parks are not for puppies, and you need to go carefully with older dogs too, they are more apt to be injured.
We all love the idea of feeding our pets healthy food with natural ingredients, but the idea of making treats from scratch can seem daunting. Luckily, making homemade treats doesn’t get much easier than this. You know exactly what is in these treats, so they are not only fun but healthy too. As an added bonus, if you get hungry while taking your dog for a walk, you can munch on the pup treats too, if he’s willing to share!
But it’s a good idea to know what to look for and to start changing your pet’s routines now to help ward off disease.
If your pet has these symptoms, don’t panic, as they are also symptoms of other diseases. But get your pet to your vet for a thorough check-up.
Great Pet Links!
If you have an enthusiastic barker, you’ll be well served to teach them to bark and be quiet on command. It’s not difficult, but it does take some training time, which should be fun for both you and your dog. See the link at the end of this article for instructions.
It’s a great way to help shut down puppy mills. If you buy a dog or cat from a store, online, or flea market, you’re almost certainly supporting a puppy mill. Just say no.
Most have high amounts of grain or grain by-products as protein sources instead of real meat. Grain by-products are a cheap source of protein, which is why they are often used. When choosing food for your pet, look for the top ingredient to be meat or meat meal. If your vet recommends food for a health issue for your pet, discuss this diet with them carefully.
Here are some interesting pet articles, pictures, and videos we’ve found on the net this month.