Pet News To Use

Spring Time Tips For Your Pets

As Spring approaches, your pets will be spending more and more time enjoying the great outdoors. But before they go outside, remember to apply their flea prevention.

Being a pet owner, you know that fleas come with the territory. They aggravate both you and your pet and fleas can and will bite people as well. Those bites can be itchy and a pain.

There are a number of products out there that will help to control this problem. (Read more)

Is Your Pet Home Alone

Like working parents who fret over their kids, pet owners, can be plagued with guilt. Just what does your dog do at home alone all day? Is he pining away for you? Does she long for another dog to play with? Is your cat lonely while you're at work? (Read more)

Dog Boarding vs Pet Sitter

When your travel plans can not include your pooch, you are faced with the decision of dog boarding vs pet sitter. This is a common dilemma for dog owners who do not want to impose on a friend, family member or neighbor (who sometimes forgets).

• Dogs are happiest when they're at home, surrounded by familiar sights, sounds and smells. 
• No exposure to illnesses or parasites of other dogs in a kennel. 
• You are not inconvenienced by having to transport your pet to a kennel. (Although there are kennels that will pickup and delivery your dog.) 
• You can utilize other services provided by most professional pet-sitters; watering plants, taking in mail and newspapers. Lights can be turned on in the evening and off in the morning. Curtains can be opened and closed. (Read more) 
• Separation

Separation Anxiety

Dogs with separation anxiety exhibit distress and behavior problems when they're left alone. The most common behaviors include:

• Digging and scratching at doors or windows in an attempt to reunite with their owners
• Destructive chewing
• Howling, barking, and whining
• Urination and defecation (even with otherwise housetrained dogs)

Source: The Humane Society of the US (Read more) 

Regardless of the severity of your dog's separation anxiety, all experts and dog owners can agree . . . exercise is key managing misbehavior and boredom.

Give your dog more exercise. A tired dog is a good dog! A dog can sleep most of the day if he's tired enough. Most young dogs could use 20-100 minutes of full-speed running per day. Increase your dog's exercise. Don't forget mental exercise, like training, exploring new places, encountering new smells, and social interaction with other dogs. Taking your dog to a park where he can run and play with others may be crucial.  (Read more)

Benefits of Using a Pet Sitter

Using a professional pet sitter reaps benefits for both pets and their owners. Once you experience professional pet care in your home, you'll never worry about being away from your pet again.

Benefits to your pet include:

• Staying at home in his/her safe, secure environment 
• Being surrounded by familiar sights, smells and sounds 
• Following his/her regular diet and exercise routine 
• Having play time 
• Receiving love and personal attention 
• Maintaining medical treatment, when required 
• Having someone responsible in case of an emergency 
• Eliminating the trauma of travel or an unfamiliar environment 
• Ensuring good health (no exposure to other animals' illness or parasites) 

Benefits to you include:

• Knowing that your pet is in caring, loving hands 
• Having the confidence that the pet sitter can deal with other issues - such as grooming, vet visits 
• Eliminating the trauma of having to transport and leave your pet 
• Not having to impose on family, friends or neighbors 
• Feeling your home is more secure (with someone going in and out several times a day) 

Source: National Association of Professional Pet Sitters 

How To: Adopt a Pet

If your family is thinking of getting a pet, consider adopting from an animal shelter. Animal shelters are full of dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles, and more animals, all in need of loving homes. Some may come with emotional or behavioral issues, but most are happy, healthy, and ready for a loving home. (Read more)

Dog-Friendly Home Decorating Tips 

Try some of these dog-friendly, yet stylish, decorating tips. By Sally Deneen

When Jennifer Fredreck and her husband Mitch Frankenberg opened a bed and breakfast in Vermont, they envisioned a dog-friendly interior design that could accommodate as many as 20 dogs while maintaining a comfortable inn. Though “dog-friendly” and “interior design” seem incongruous concepts, they needn’t be. Consider these tricks: (Read more)