THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY AWESOME DOG SITTERS

Being separated from your dog can be a very stressful time. Finding the perfect person to care for your pet when you cannot is key to lowering stress for both of you. Many people find dog sitting a great way to earn additional income, but when considering a care taker, you want much more than a person just looking to earn extra cash.

The best dog sitters have a love for animals, are organized and creative and are extremely flexible and patient. Here are 7 habits of highly awesome dog sitters:

1. They know the value of preliminary introductions. Awesome dog sitters understand the importance of first impressions. Before their clients spend extended time in their care, great dog sitters will make time to introduce themselves to the pets they will be caring for. This helps to alleviate anxiety in both pets and their owners. It allows the dog to become familiar with a new care taker and gives the owner an opportunity to make sure the sitter is a good match for their pet.

2. They understand the importance of mental and physical stimulation. Long walks are a great way to relieve stress and anxiety in dogs - especially when separated from their families. Experienced sitters understand the importance of physical activity and mental stimulation. A simple game of fetch can accomplish both - keeping dogs happy and healthy and expending the energy of the most energetic pet.

3. They keep you updated. Dog sitters should take the time to find out how often you would like updates on your dog, what types of updates you prefer to receive and how you want to receive them (via text message, email, Skype, etc.). Awesome care takers will work with you to establish an appropriate communication schedule.

4. They have a great reputation. Excellent dog sitters have established a reputation of excellence. They have no hesitation in providing character or professional references that can vouch for their experience. They are comfortable providing a list of people whom you can contact prior to leaving your dog in their care.

5. They are clear on your expectations. Understanding your expectations is key to a pleasurable experience for you and your dog watcher. Top-notch dog sitters make it a priority to understand grooming, feeding, discipline and exercise requirements to minimize disruption in your dog's routine.

6. They are detail oriented. Having a plan for emergencies, keeping track of medicine schedules and likes and dislikes of your dog are all details your sitter will need to manage. Great care takers are organized and maintain attention to the important details involved in properly caring for your dog.

7. They are trustworthy. In addition to caring for your dog, many times dog sitters will have access to your home. Good sitters do not take this responsibility lightly. They treat your home with the same respect they give to their own homes. They clean up any messes your dog makes and are careful to lock your doors and arm security monitors appropriately.

 

Using the 7 habits of highly awesome dog sitters, you will be able to select a care taker that will ensure the healthiness and happiness of you and your dog.

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Introducing Your Dog to Grain Free Dog Food

When you go to the grocery or pet store to get your dog a bag of dog food, do you know what's inside of it? If you ever take a look at the long list of ingredients, you will find things like corn and gluten. These are fillers because it is what keeps the dog food so cheap.

You don't buy food for yourself with a lot of fillers, so you shouldn't do buy food like that for your dog, either. Grain free dog food can be found - and this allows your dog to eat cleaner. Some of the benefits to eating cleaner include:

• Healthier skin
• Healthier and more vibrant coat
• Better digestive system
• Stronger immune system

When you look at all of these benefits, you may wonder why you didn't introduce your dog to grain free dog food a long time ago. It is available on the market, but you need to know what to look for. Most dog food brands will identify if it is grain free because it is a big deal. It's a selling point and no company is going to hide the fact that there are no grains.

If you look at the dog food that you are giving your dog now, you can find out what grains are inside. There may be soy, gluten, wheat, or corn inside - and possibly all of them. This can add weight to your dog and make it harder to digest. If your dog doesn't seem like his usual self, it may have to do with what you're feeding him.

Here's the good news. You can change all of it around by making the introduction to grain free dog food. The food will be more flavorful and it will be healthier for your dog.

You may want to get a bag and start mixing it with the old food until you have run out of the old food. This ensures you don't waste what you already have in the house. Each time you feed your dog the new stuff, you can add more of it and less of the old stuff. Before you know it, you will be out of the old and giving your dog the new stuff entirely.

Your dog probably won't notice the difference. If your dog does notice, it will be because the flavor is bolder and he will enjoy dinner time with more fervor.

When you decide to make the change to grain free dog food, you do want to make sure you get a formula that is good for your dog. If your dog is a puppy or a senior, there are formulas that can help with energy levels or even with joint pain. If your dog is an outdoor dog that leads an active lifestyle..

Take the time to introduce your dog to something tastier and healthier - and your dog will love you for it.

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6 Fitness Tips For Your Senior Dog

Exercise in dogs maintains and improves muscle tone as well as burning calories to keep excess weight off. Both of these help in improving your senior dog's quality of life. Just because your dog is a little older, it doesn't mean that you stop exercising. The following are 6 exercise options for your senior dog.

Run

Even though it's quite an intense form of exercise, you need not abandon it without a good reason. Dogs love running and it provides them with calorie burning and cardiovascular benefits that keep your dog feeling young. It is however advisable to consult your vet first if it is okay to run with your senior dog. If you get your vet's approval make sure to look out for signs of fatigue in the dog such as excessive panting.

Walk

If your senior dog cannot run, then walk instead. Walking is probably the most popular form of dog exercise for a good reason. It is easy to do, low impact, and it does not require use of specialized equipment. Always ensure that you find a pace which your dog can comfortably handle.

Gravity Use

Hills will help keep your senior dog in shape. The hill's incline may be used to target the dog's back or front legs, depending on whether you are heading downhill or uphill. You may choose on which part to focus on either the front or back legs.

Swimming

This is a good, low impact exercise for dogs. It provides both development of muscles as well as cardiovascular benefits. The only limitations for swimming are actually getting places to do it I.e. a pool as well as the need to bathe the dog more frequently.

Balance Exercises

Senior dogs, just like human beings can have their balance deteriorate. This is why it is important to ensure that they get good balance exercises. The side step is a great example of a balance exercise for senior dogs. It has great benefit but is also low impact.

Range of Motion Exercises

These exercises will help your dog better move around. The reach stretch is often used as a warm up. Get your dog to sit down and having a treat in your hand, let them follow your hand moving away from them followed by side to side. To get a really good stretch, you can even move it towards their flank. The effectiveness of this exercise depends on the ability of your dog to remain seated.

Give your dog some daily exercise and it will be healthier and live longer.

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The Key To Caring For A Dog In Winter

If you are wondering about caring for a dog in winter, there is a strong chance that you are keeping him or her outside rather than in the house. While many people advocate keeping dogs indoors as part of the family, there is nothing wrong with keeping your dog outside so long as it has adequate food and shelter. The thing to remember however, is that the definition of adequate will change during the winter months. let's take a look at a few tips and hints regarding winter care for your favorite pooch.

The Doghouse

If your dog is to remain outside for any length of time, he or she will require a dog house, and this is typically something that you will want to build yourself. For the coming winter, it would be a good idea to give your dog plenty of room, but also to insulate the walls of the structure so that the cold winter temperatures will be kept at bay. You will also want to insulate the roof, of course, and leave nothing to chance.

Food and Water

You will need to replace food daily, unless of course you have invested money in an automatic feeder for your four legged friend. Another major concern for the winter however will be water. If you took basic Earth science, there is a good chance you know that water freezes at a certain temperature, and with that being the case, it would be a good idea to ensure that you use a heated bowl. As always, if you do so, make sure that the cord for said bowl is out of the dog's reach, and that you constantly check to ensure the water is still heated. Fortunately these types of bowls do not have a high failure rate and will help to keep your dog hydrated throughout the winter. The biggest downside however is that while they are nice, they do not always have the greatest capacity. Still, they are your best option.

Considerations

While your dog can handle being outside during the winter, you must try to use some degree of common sense. For example, if the temperature drops into the negatives, bringing your dog inside would be within their best interest and yours. Sometimes news stations will issue weather advisories and they may mention the prospect of bringing your pets inside, though you can actually use your own common sense to determine this. Additionally there may be other circumstances which necessitate bringing your dog inside for a bit. For example, if the dog becomes wet or submerged in water, you should bring him or her inside immediately to prevent illness.

Finally, educate yourself on the different breeds. Some are better outside than others as you will quickly find out, and with that being the case, you have some fairly big decision to make. Try to keep in mind that a dog is life, and a soul. Treat him/her as you would treat yourself!

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How to Deal Effectively With Common Health Problems in Pet Dogs

Dogs sometimes get ill and like their human masters they need proper attention and medical care. Here are three common illnesses affecting dogs and a few useful guidelines for dog owners who are looking out after them.

Food allergies

A food allergy manifests in dogs in much the same way as in human beings. Allergies are an itchy business, and dogs who suffer from food allergies will be scratching like crazy. You might see your dog shaking its head repeatedly. Before dismissing it as a cute new antic, you might want to observe the rest of the dog's behavior. The repeated head shaking may be the dog's way of saying that is ate something its allergic to. Dogs can suffer from many different types of allergies and according to the experts 10% are from the food that they eat. The most usual causes of food allergy in dogs are beef, lamb, chicken, fish, wheat, dairy, soy, and egg.

Itchiness is not the only signifier of a food allergy. In some dogs, the signs may include gastrointestinal problems and chronic diarrhea. In most cases, a dog's food allergy is triggered by more than one cause. Allergies are determined by genetics, and most of the time, the dog owner is unaware that his pet is allergic to a certain type of food until the allergy manifests itself. Therefore, you must learn about the predisposition of your pet's breed to food allergies, and learn as much as you can about past medical history if the dog has had a previous owner.

Canine Ear Infections

There are multiple causes of ear infections in dogs, including moisture or earwax, yeast or bacteria, excessive hair and impacted foreign bodies. The ear canal of dogs is more vertical in orientation than humans and so they are many times more prone to ear infections. Canine ear infection must always be brought to the attention of a veterinarian, lest it gets worse and lead to more serious conditions such as total hearing loss and loss of balance. The first signs of ear infection that you must look out for are redness and swelling in the area, increased scratching around the ears, foul odor coming from the ears, and a yellowish or brownish discharge, which is sometimes splattered with blood. Upon examination, a good vet will be able to diagnose the infection and prescribe the appropriate intervention.

Joint Problems

Running and jumping can take its toll in ageing humans. The same is true for their canine friends. Dogs with bodies and limbs that are subjected to high intensity forces such as work dogs are highly at risk for injuries of the joints.

Some of the most common orthopedic problems diagnosed in dogs are ligament tears and osteoarthritis, which are common in humans as well. Ligament tears are usually due to direct trauma to the joint, while osteoarthritis develops with advancing age. Ligaments are also prone to degeneration with repeated usage and time, and injuries could lead to degenerative problems which often manifest as a limp or excruciating pain. Nevertheless, you must be observant because joint problems manifest early as a change in the dog's movement patterns and/or level of activity. If they are diagnosed early, then a worsening of the condition can be prevented.

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Foods Known To Be Harmful To Dogs

Just about all dogs love to eat, particularly those foods they notice their human companions enjoying. While it is certainly fun to feed dogs the things they relish, it is important for anyone caring for a dog to know which foods pose a real danger to their canine friends. Some of the most serious dietary threats follow below.

Most people have heard that chocolate is not something that should be given to dogs. Sadly, far too many dogs are exposed to chocolate during times of celebration such as Halloween, Easter and Christmas. The danger of chocolate is also part of daily living, since many dog owners enjoy a bit of this sweet treat themselves.

The caffeine and the theobromine found in chocolate, however, can cause toxicosis in dogs, and must not be given to them. Dog owners should note that generally speaking, darker chocolates pose a greater threat to a dog's health than those that are lighter in color. The signs of dangerous chocolate exposure in dogs include high temperature, muscle tremors, vomiting and unusual thirst.

It is also important that dogs are not given raisins or grapes, as they can cause serious health effects that can sometimes prove fatal. While these foods may seem harmless, perhaps even healthy, they can actually cause kidney failure in canines. Dogs suffering from toxicosis due to the ingestion of these foods tend to exhibit lethargy, dehydration, vomiting and diarrhea. Death resulting from kidney failure can come as soon as 3-4 days following ingestion, and dogs who survive may end up with lasting damage to these organs.

Dog lovers everywhere should also be mindful of the risks posed by raw bread dough when accidentally ingested by their pets. A dog's stomach is just the sort of damp, warm environment in which bread yeast will thrive, multiply and ultimately produce a large expanse of dough. The growth can cause the stomach to expand to the point where tissue is compressed and circulation is reduced to a dangerous degree. Pressure on the dog's diaphragm can cause breathing trouble that is difficult to overcome. Alcohol production resulting from the yeast growth can also cause dogs to become dangerously intoxicated.

Though every dog lover knows the pleasure of giving their best friend a delicious treat, it is critical for all to become familiar with the threats presented by certain kinds of foods. By taking steps to reduce the risk of exposure to such items, it is easy to keep canine companions healthy and well

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Does Your Dog Need Vitamins and Supplements?

Dogs' nutrition has changed even more than human nutrition has in the last 40 years. With the advent of dry dog food (for convenience) nutritional for dogs has changed dramatically. Because of the nutritional deficiencies of dry dog food, dogs have a hard time getting the right vitamins and minerals in their diets. The question of whether or not your dog needs vitamins and supplements will be answered below.

The short answer to this question is yes. Dogs do need additional vitamins and supplements in order to maintain proper nutritional levels. In order for dogs to get the proper amount of vitamins and minerals, they should be either given supplements to fill the gaps, or be provided real food, innards, and bones from animals. Dogs are just like humans in that they will not function optimally unless they have an optimal nutritional intake. The fact is, dogs are not meant to eat grains and other fillers that dog food is largely made up of. They are meant to eat real nutrient dense foods such as; beef liver, soft bones, and hearts. Without these staples in a dog's diet, they end up without essential nutrients and these essential nutrients can only be made up by giving supplements.

Supplements are definitely not the ideal thing to feed your dogs. Just as real food is ideal for humans, it is the same with dogs. Dogs should only be given supplements if it is not feasible to provide them with the necessary building blocks on their regular diets. Although not ideal, supplements will end up being better than nothing. They will help dogs maintain a balance in their diets and allow them to function better than they would without any supplements to begin with.

However, it is very important that the supplements you buy/give are from a reputable manufacturer. Because supplements are not FDA regulated, the market is full of irresponsible companies that are selling bad quality supplements. You need to be sure that you are not one of those people that buys the supplements made from these kinds of manufacturers. You should always do extra research to ensure that the supplements you purchase are made of good quality and come from good sources. In order to do this, you should look at the supplement companies reputation on the Internet. By searching for the reputation of the manufacturer, you should get a good idea on how reputable they are.

Another way you can tell is if you check out third party reviews. By checking out third party reviews, you can see which supplements are the best on the market and which ones do not live up to the proper quality control standards. One of the best websites for this type of information is Consumer Reports. This website has great information on different supplement manufacturers for dogs, and you should be able to obtain enough reliable information to make a better informed buying decision for your dog. Always check with a veterinarian professional before making any changes to your dogs health care routine.

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