It is useful to have a number of behavior management tools on hand in addition to your basic training equipment. The better you are managing your dog’s behavior to prevent him from being reinforced for unwelcome behaviors, the easier it will be to teach him that only desirable behaviors make good things happen. If you [...]

Keep Medication Out of Paw’s Reach. One of the most common pet-related holiday emergencies is the consumption of human pharmaceuticals. If company’s coming, be sure that all guests safely store their medicine. Knock, Knock. Who’s there? People will be entering and exiting the home and many of them may be strangers to your pets. Some [...]

Halloween is around the corner, and while we are enjoying the season with treats, we would like our pets to share the joy too. Pet treats are a great option when you want to treat your well-behaved little kitty or doggy with a sweet surprise. However, with a plethora of options for pet treats, the [...]

Puppies chew to explore their world as well as to relieve the pain and irritation of teething. What many dog owners don’t seem to realize is that while puppies sooner or later get beyond the stage where they feel compelled to put their teeth on everything they see, mature dogs also need to chew to [...]

Shredded tissues. Destroyed shoes. A gnawed coffee table. These are just a few of the things owners have come home to after leaving their puppy unattended. Similarly many cat owners discover that their couch or curtains have been shredded by sharp claws. A hassle for you and a potential danger for your pet, chewing and [...]

Pavement, metal or tar-coated asphalt get extremely hot in the summer sun. We remember to wear sandals, walk on the grass and not sit down on these surface in the heat of the day…harder to remember is summer heat and our dog’s feet. Unlike the obvious wounds such as lacerations, foot infections (fungal, bacterial or [...]

Are we in Chicago or Seattle?! All this rain has given us much to discuss – namely the importance of wiping off paws after coming in from a walk! Several bacterial infections erupt during rainy seasons because what collects in standing water. Issues like Giardia and Leptospirosis can be spread this way; wild animals like [...]

Wowzer! The news reports weren’t kidding – it really WAS Snowmaggedon 2011! It’s been a challenging couple days for our brave sitters, but with the help of our amazing clients, we were able to keep on top of our schedules! While Wednesday came to a standstill, Thursday proved to be a driving obstacle course. After [...]

With the impending weather forecast of record snow and blizzard conditions, there may be some delays getting to our visits on time. All of our sitters (except for one brave biker) drive to each of their visits, so shoveling out of parking spots, driving in difficult conditions and/or trying to find parking on plowed streets [...]

Imagine: you are in a foreign country. You do not speak the language, nor do the inhabitants speak yours. Suddenly, you fall ill and are rushed to the hospital. You have no idea what is wrong with you, and suddenly you are being poked and prodded with no one able to explain what they are [...]