Tag Archives: dog care

Why Pets Aren’t Good Presents

This goes without saying, but you can never say it too often because it happens every year: don’t give pets as presents.  If you’re thinking about gifting a pet to someone you love this year, consider very carefully.  Pets are lifelong commitments and responsibilities, not fun presents. Now, I can think of one context in which it could be OK to give a pet for a present: if the person receiving asked for it, knew that’s what they were getting, and understood the responsibilities involved.  That means in most cases, it’s not appropriate to get pets as gifts for children: … Continue reading →

Calling in My Assistant Dog Wranglers

As much of a handful as my dogs can be at times, I’m mostly able to take care of them without too much extra help. But this April, I’ll need the dog care backup team to take care of Moose and Lally for me. In case you don’t follow the Health Blog, here’s a quick recap: I’ll be having a hysterectomy thanks to some rather sizable fibroids (one is the size of a mandarin orange, one is the size of a football). The surgery requires a three to four day hospital stay, plus a grand total of ten days with … Continue reading →

Treats for Pets with Dietary Restrictions

When it comes to food, my two dogs are very different. Lally is the sort of dog who will only eat when she’s hungry; I could leave a bowl of food out all day and she’d regulate herself. Moose is a chow hound; he’ll eat until there’s nothing left and then eat some more. I can’t leave food out for him, because he’d never stop eating! It’s very hard to manage Moose’s weight when he never turns down food. The vet suggested that we avoid chewy snacks — they generally have a higher fat content than crunchy, dry snacks have. … Continue reading →

Starting A Doggy DayCare

Is working with dogs your dream? Would you love to spend your days surrounded by furry friends, showering them with affection and attention? You may be thinking about starting your own doggy daycare! The first thing you should investigate is your local laws for pet care and supervision. Will your town allow you to run a doggy daycare in your own home? Will you need to rent a space in an area that is zoned for commercial, not for residential? What sort of business insurance is required? Starting any business takes a lot of planning and some sort of investment. … Continue reading →

So You Want To Be A Groomer?

You love dogs. You love cats. You think life would be great if you could work full or part-time taking care of pets… but is life as a groomer right for you? Grooming can be a financially rewarding career — in the United States, a professional groomer can earn between forty and sixty thousand dollars annually. Not bad, for handing dogs and cats all day! What does it take to make it as a professional groomer? Good communication skills. You will be talking to owners with high expectations of you. Customer service and good public relations skills are a must! … Continue reading →

How to Choose a Doggy Daycare

With your busy schedule, you may feel bad about leaving your pups home alone all day. Doggy daycare is an option, with more care centers opening up every year! But how do you pick the right place for your dogs? Look for a facility that is clean, bright, and open. Look for a facility that has separate areas for dogs of different sizes and temperaments. Look for a facility that has both indoor and outdoor space. Will the dogs be allowed to roam in a play yard? Will they be walked on-leash? Ask about taking a tour of the facility. … Continue reading →

How to Choose a Groomer

Independent groomers. Mobile groomers who come to your home. Groomers at your local pet super store. Groomers at your veterinarian’s. Groomers at your doggy day care. With so many choices out there, how do you pick the groomer that is right for you and your pup? Why choose a professional? If you aren’t comfortable with doing the grooming yourself. If your pet requires more hair, skin, and/or nail care than you are capable of giving. If your pet has developed hygiene issues — sprayed by a skunk, developed serious mats, etc. You may not have the time to groom your … Continue reading →

Dangerous Foods For Dogs

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You may have heard that certain people foods are dangerous, even deadly for your dogs. The following is a list of foods that can seriously harm your dog, and why they are bad. Chocolate — a BIG no-no. Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most dangerous, because they contain more of the problem stuff — theobromine. This compound is a cardiac stimulant that can cause the dog to become hyperactive, thirsty, and suffer an irregular or increased heart rate. A dog may take up to 24 hours to show signs of theobromine poisoning. And chocolate is not only a … Continue reading →

Treating the Itchies

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The Moose monster has several special tricks for taking care of his itchy back. Sometimes he’ll flop down in the grass, roll onto his back, and squirm. Sometimes he’ll subtly jam his head under your arm so you know it’s time to scratch his back. But my favorite is when he walks through the bushes so the branches scratch his poor itchy self. If your dog has dry and/or itchy skin, there are a few things you can do to help. Try to determine the cause of the itching. It could be skin or food allergies; it could be fleas … Continue reading →

Grooming: Brushing Your Pet

I don’t know about you, but I love going to the hairdresser. My favorite part is getting my hair washed and the little bit of scalp massage that comes with it. Really, I don’t need the haircut, I just want the wash. For like an hour. Of course, I also love to have my hair touched, played with, braided, styled… you get the idea. And some animals love to be groomed, too. My Moose would be perfectly happy to sit and get brushed all day. Square slicker brush, long tooth metal comb, shedding blade, he doesn’t care what it is. … Continue reading →