Category: Pet Sitting

2017- A Dog Filled New Year's Eve Reflection

12/31/2017

This time last year, the weather was just a bit warmer, although it was just as snowy. I had taken a couple of favorite dogs with me when I went snowshoeing. I rang in the New Year with a dog who was afraid of fireworks.
Over the past year, I have sat for around 40 different dogs, as well as some other critters. Of those dogs, about half of them are purebred and about half are mutts. Some come from shelters, some from good breeders and some come from less than awesome beginnings. Some of the dogs were friendly, love everyone types and some I had to approach a little slower. The smallest one weighed in at 3 lbs and the biggest was 195 lbs. But each one of the dogs I have met are well-loved, and dogs I am happy to call my canine friends! Dog sitting boomed this year, and what may have started as a hobby is quickly turning into something I love doing.

I've had some fun where training is concerned as well. I finally got brave enough to apply for Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional program and I got in! I was afraid of being rejected, but getting in was the easy part. As life often is, am I right? Dakota was my training partner, and he and I learned a lot together. He and I are more worldly, after our four trips to Calgary. My passport got some use and Dakota aced his border crossings. It was pretty pain free. He performed beautifully at the workshops, and helped me to pass my training assessment. Dakota and I both have a bunch of new Canadian friends!
The training journey is just started though. I still have one more step for certification. I have classes starting in the new year, and I couldn't be more excited to start them! I've worked with a few training clients this year, and love nothing more than to see people follow through with my advice and tell me it works for their dog!

Dakota and I personally had a pretty phenomenal year as well. We ran in six agility trials, and we moved up to the next class. Dakota, at 10 years old, is getting faster every trial! He loves it and I love it, and my heart hurts in advance the day we have to retire from it. I hope he tells me when it is too much. He earned six titles this year, and just continues to love the game!
We also earned a title in Musical Dog Sports Association Freestyle Dance. It was a class we too, that I thought would be a good way to pass the time a few winters ago, and we have found another sport he loves! It is a good retirement sport for him and it has upped our agility game by a lot!
We did our first barnhunt trial this year, and I truly went into it thinking I was doing it for kicks, but Dakota showed me! When he is feeling barnhunt, and he almost always is, he stands on the tube as an alert! It is pretty hilarious to watch and is fun for him. He is one Q away from a title, and I can't wait for the next trial.
Dakota earned his AKC trick titles this year, without a ton of work on our part. He loves tricks, and I am trying to think of new ones to teach him.

It may not have been a perfect year, but I charged forward in following my dreams and making them a reality. Dakota gave me a few scares, but he is a tough boy and is such a willing partner, I am forever wanting to improve myself just so I can be the handler he deserves. I'm finding myself tonight again hanging with a couple of my favorite dogs, one of them is Dakota, and I am so thankful for my 2017. I'm not where I want to be just yet, but I am well on my way there!

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Dogs Who could Use A Dog Walker

12/22/2017

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Active dogs: active dogs can really struggle with all that downtime while their people are away during the day. These are the dogs that want to be up moving, the faster the better. They want to be out sniffing, learning new things, chasing a tennis ball and playing. These are also the dogs who can create their own fun during the day if it is not provided for them. These are the dogs who wear paths in the yard from running around and dig giant holes. While a daily walk is not going to be all the exercise your active dog needs, it may help them to be more settled and relaxed throughout the day.

Overweight dogs: dogs get overweight for the same reasons we do. They are eating more calories than they are burning. Maybe the dogs are using their sad puppy eyes to their advantage and are snagging extra treats or maybe they are still eating the same amount of food they did when they were active and growing. Whatever the reason, it is a good idea to take some of that weight off. Just as with people, weight issues can shorten a dog’s life, leading to stroke or heart attack, joint pain and arthritis. Our dogs already have a shorter lifespan than we want, so why are we shortening their lives even more. A daily walk, along with reduced food intake, will help dogs to take the weight off and help them to live a longer and more comfortable life.

Puppies: there is nothing cuter than a bright eyed, curious puppy. They are learning so much about the world around them and are always ready for an adventure. Except when they are napping of course. Puppies do have to wait until they have all of their shots to get to go out for long walks, but even having someone come by to help train them on a leash and play in the yard is helpful. Plus, hiring a dog walker can help you along with the housebreaking process. Walks can help puppies relax, learn, explore and socialize.

Adolescent dogs: this is age when more dogs are surrendered to the shelter than any other. Why is this? Well, for starters, if an owner hasn’t taken time out to teach their puppy what their behavior expectations are, then suddenly, they have a full grown dog with no manners. Adolescent dogs are no longer adorable puppies and are often still growing into their feet and limbs. They might be gangly and awkward and are still getting used to their size. Sometimes the novelty has worn off, leaving pet owners realizing that a dog is a lot of work. Oftentimes they might find themselves with a large, high energy, overgrown puppy on their hands and have no idea what to do. If you find yourself in this situation, a dog walker can be helpful when it comes to exercising the dog and teaching the dog some of the social manners they are going to need for the rest of their lives. This might be the thing that helps the dog be able to transition from being that cute puppy to being a forever member of the family.

Newly adopted dogs: It is always so exciting to bring a new dog into the home. Whether it be a rescue or a rehome situation, this is a big transition to you and your new dog. Maybe your dog is feeling anxious or unsure. Whatever is going on, having some consistency is going to help this transition. More than likely, you want your new dog to be socialized to new people and places. Maybe you have discovered that the new dog has never seen a leash before or isn’t as well housebroken as you might have been led to believe. Having a dog walker come in can probably help ease the transition, can help you follow through on housebreaking, can help teach the dog to walk on a leash, can socialize the dog to new people and can make the dog feel more at home.

Senior dogs: it is tough to watch our beloved dogs get older. When we see them not get as excited for things as they used to or see them not able to jump as high, it can be a difficult time. Dogs, just like people, can also get dementia of sorts, called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. One of the best ways to keep your dog’s mind sharp is to give them plenty of opportunities to keep using it. There are dogs up in their teens who still compete in agility or rally-obedience, because their brains are kept healthy and exercised. While daily walks might not be the answer to all of the age related issues a dog may face, it certainly won’t hurt. Plus, if the dog is finding it harder to hold it between morning and night, a dog walker can help your dog stay housebroken. Just like the mind, the body is also more likely to break down if not used. A dog walker should understand that a senior dog can’t go as fast or as far as a young dog, but getting some daily exercise may keep the dog’s joints working better. After all of those years of loyalty, this is a great way to repay your dog a little bit.

Apartment dogs: Not all dogs were meant to live and work on farms with wide open spaces and someone around all the time. Nor are dogs who live in apartment buildings less fortunate. Sometimes you might have to be more creative about getting your dog out for exercise. A dog who is in need of more exercise in a fenced in yard at least has the great outdoors to bark out frustration, but an apartment dog can be heard echoing throughout the whole building. Neighbors probably won’t appreciate it too much. If the landlord or building manager gets involved, it’s not a good situation for anyone. Hiring a dog walker can again relieve your dog of some boredom and get some of that excess energy out, can give the dog a chance to relieve themselves and will keep your neighbors (and landlord) off your back.

Small dogs: it seems that most people are either huge fans of small dogs or else they are vocally opposed to them. It seems that quite a few small dogs are carried everywhere they go and never learn to walk on a leash. Couple that with the fact that smaller dogs are nervous and defensive and you get a tiny dog with a giant attitude. Hiring a dog walker is a great way to socialize your small dog to new surfaces, people and situations. It can also help to teach them to walk on a leash and to be braver and less defensive. Plus, small dogs are usually high energy dogs and walks can help relieve some of that energy and stress.

Big dogs: Bigger dogs are more likely to have joint pain and issues than smaller dogs. While walking and exercise is not the only answer magic cure-all, using those joints. Regularly might help to ward off issues and will keep stiffness at bay. Giant breeds tend to be less active which can lead to the dog becoming overweight, which only makes joint pain worse. Plus, it is critical to socialize big dogs. While a snarling dachshund might be considered cute to some and harmless to most, a growling Great Dane is a lawsuit waiting to happen! It is imperative to socialize larger dogs to new people, places, other animals and situations just so the dog knows what is dangerous and what is not. Also, with larger dogs, they are much more likely to be able to pull someone over when pulling, so a dog walker is a good idea to reinforce good leash manners.

Anxious dogs: Dogs get anxiety just like we do, but the problem is that they often can’t tell us what the cause of those anxious symptoms are. They might be nervous about something changing in their environment and are unable to use their words to work through it. They might have separation anxiety, which can be difficult to live with. With separation anxiety, best case scenario is that the dog whines and paces the whole time their people are gone and in the worst case, they can bark, howl, chew through walls and have explosive bodily fluids. Perhaps the dog is anxious about being hurt by other animals and is responding to this fear through reactivity and defensiveness. Or they may be feeding off of emotions coming from their people. Maybe you have a high stress job and your dog understands it. Just as with us, exercise for dogs can relieve some of that stress and can help their bodies to produce happy hormones. It can tire them out just a bit and a sleepy dog is less likely to be a vocal, destructive dog. Plus, a walker can socialize your dog and keep them safe.

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Why Should I Hire a Professional Dog Walker?

12/21/2017

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No one wants to go all day without using the bathroom. Hiring a dog walker is an easy way to keep your dog a little more comfortable. Plus, if something isn’t quite right, you will hear about it, such as stomach upset or possible UTI. It is great for dogs who are crated during the day and is very helpful with housebreaking.

It can help your dog release some of that excess energy. Dogs that don’t get enough stimulation throughout the day often develop bad habits, such as chewing, barking, running the fence and digging. Even dogs who have the option to be out in a fenced in yard can still use a walk. They often won’t exercise themselves the way we thing they should. Your neighbors will probably appreciate it if your dog doesn’t bark all day and you will; probably appreciate coming home to a content dog.

It gives the dog something to look forward to. It has to be pretty boring to stay home alone all day. Even with two dogs, they are still happier when their people are home. If the dog has something to look forward to, their day is broken up and they are much less bored.

A dog walker can help your dog learn to walk on a leash by following through with training you have been working on. The more practice your dog can have, the better they get.

It is not good for dogs to be left in a crate all day every day. Too much crate time can cause dogs to develop UTIs, obsessive licking and depression. Crates are a great thing, but can become too confining. Letting the dog out even once during the work day can help keep these issues away.

It is great for those pups who want to get back to their summer figure. Just like with us, obesity can cause a whole slew of problems for dogs, including joint issues, stroke and heart conditions that can affect the dog’s quality of life and your quality time with them.

The dog still gets their exercise even if their family is too busy to take them out for a walk. It happens: you get home late after a meeting and have to run one kid to soccer practice while the other one is at dance class. This way, you know your loyal buddy still got some exercise and fresh air even if you find yourself out of time. Plus, those nights when it gets dark before you get home, you’ll feel better knowing your dog has been out of the house.

Your dog is being socialized. Socialization doesn’t just mean with other dogs, but also with new people, sounds, surfaces, and smells. Dogs who never leave their home or yard can become anxious, territorial, reactive or even aggressive. This way, the dog gets to smell new smells, meet a new human friend and maybe meet some other pups too.

You have a person you can trust watching over your home. If your dog walker is coming by every day, they would notice and let you know if anything seems off, such as a broken window or an overflowing toilet. That way, maybe the damage will be less, saving you money and headache

Your dog walker will most likely be there for you in a bind. Say you have an emergency that calls you out of town or keeps you out late. Chances are, your dog walker will be able to drop in to visit your dog more frequently and you will know your dog is taken care of. Your dog walker might even be willing to board or stay overnight with your dog, and your dog will think it is an awesome slumber party.

Final Thoughts and things to remember: Please be honest with your dog walker, and they should be honest with you too. Respect them if they say that your dog is too much for them to handle. Not all dog walkers are trainers, but should be able to help follow your training plan. Set clear expectations with them, and respect their time and wishes as well. If you are interested in dog walking services, please see my page, Wags and Whiskers and if you are interested in teaching your dog to walk well on a leash, I can help you there as well!

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2017- A Dog Filled New Year's Eve Reflection

Dogs Who could Use A Dog Walker

Why Should I Hire a Professional Dog Walker?

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Dog Thoughts

2017- A Dog Filled New Year's Eve Reflection

Dogs Who could Use A Dog Walker

Why Should I Hire a Professional Dog Walker?

Author

Archives

Categories

To Learn More:

Training for Dogs, Solutions for Humans

​Hours

Telephone

Email

Hours