Most of we here at Pawcific NW Petsitting want  to wish you a safe and fun filled holiday weekend.

It is also a bad season for fleas as I unfortunately found out. I have four dogs of my own and two of a family members that stay with a lot these days. They did not have nary a flea, but then about two weeks ago, the itching started. I wonder now if I inadvertently  brought in fleas from my daily pet sits or walks. However these nasty bugs came into being here in my home. Home they are, right in my dogs fur. Now it is not a cheap expense to get rid of fleas, believe me, especially with the number of dogs I have. I went to Petco today and not only purchased Frontline, but flea shampoo and powder, just to be safe. My pocket book  was a bit more empty. Its bath and flea control time tomorrow, even if the temps are not all the warm.

I encourage pet owners to take the steps to prevent fleas from taking over their furry four-legged companions. Just a quick trip to the pet store or your vet can save you the time and trouble of getting an infestation.

It is one of the things clients should think about when out in the rain with their dogs. Purchasing a raincoat or letting them walk ala’ natural. I do both when walking my dogs. Since I have six dogs, it takes a few minutes to get all their gear on. They are so excited that its hard trying to put a rain coat on jumping, wildly happy four-legged banshee’s (that is what I refer to mine as). Usually I will wait until the rain has slacked off and there is but a slight mist or trickle.

Today looks like one of those days that I will sit in wait and just when I think its safe, I will leash them all up and off we will go.

For those that are walking their dogs in this weather..happy rainy walking!

Today I am pet sitting a cat, who is originally from Russia! He is a great cat, with long hair and beautiful azure eyes. He also knows how to play catch too. Its funny to see a cat fetch a toy. He loves it though.

A lot of people, the majority dog lovers, think that cats don’t get lo nely. Since starting my business I beg to differ. They do and the love attention. They may not be pack animals like dogs, but a nice warm lap to sit in, a good belly or back rub goes along way in reassuring them that they have not been abandoned by the their pawrents. I know some probably think so.

I do want to point out to cat owners that in my years of taking care of cats, having  a pet sitter or friend visit them once every other day for 30 minutes, truly is not enough. Many things can happen to cats when owners are away. They can get sick, get stuck or try and escape. That means there is 47 and half hours of time for something to happen to a cat. Please be aware of this when planning a get away or vacation.

I am very excited to look out the window this morning and see yet another day of sun. Feels great.

Its also  great day to take your dogs out for a stroll. Just remember that even though its not in the high 80’s that dogs can still get over heated, so take plenty of water with you. If you have a white dog, like I do, remember to use dog safe sunscreen so they do burn. Yes, dogs can get sunburns just like humans.

Have a great Sunday from the House of Pawz (HoP)

If your schedule prohibits you from providing for walks and play time for your dog, it is time to hire a professional who can provide those services. Dog daycare and dog walkers can be two great ways to give your dog additional exercise and stimulation. Like in any profession, there are very talented professionals and there are not-so-great companies. Shoddily-run daycares or inexperienced dog walkers and day care employees can create as many behavior problems as lack of exercise can cause, so be very choosy in deciding who you will trust with your dog. Picking the right dog walker is every bit as important as selecting a trustworthy babysitter for your human child – take it seriously.

Evaluating a Prospective Dog Walker

Come well-prepared with a list of questions (ask all that follow and any additional questions you may have):

What credentials does the individual have? Daycare employees and dog walkers should have some knowledge of behavior, training, and dog body language. Are they pet first aid certified?

Ask for veterinary references, references from other canine professionals in the area (trainers, veterinarians, etc.), and references from clients.

What are the businesses rates? Hours? How long has the company been in business? How many dogs do they take at a time? Has a dog ever been injured at or lost by their business? Do they adhere to all local leash laws and clean up after dogs on walks?

What training techniques or tools do they employ? How do they handle unwanted behaviors, like lunging, jumping, or pulling on the leash? Will they follow up with any training techniques and requests you set forth?

Are they fully insured or bonded? All dog professionals should carry liability insurance specifically for pet care businesses, and any professionals entering the home in your absence should also be bonded. Be firm on this requirement.(Please note  an owner is both insured and bonded through the same contract. If they are insured, they are also bonded, same number) Employees of the business must be  bonded separately.

If your dog is aggressive or reactive on walks, what experience do they have working with these dogs? How would they deal with a reactive or aggressive dog being approached by a strange human or loose dog?

If the answers to these questions are all satisfactory, it is time to observe them in action. You should always view the professional “in action.”

No Exceptions

Regardless of whether you’re seeking to employ a dog walker or dog daycare, they should have no objections to you observing them during a work session. Ask to visit or follow along on walks. If they refuse this request, look elsewhere for a professional – your dog walker or daycare provider shouldn’t have anything to hide. Again, no exceptions.

Follow your gut. If you get a bad feeling about a potential dog walker or daycare, keep looking.

Buyer Beware, Unregulated Industry!

At this time, there are no requirements for dog walkers, daycare professionals, or trainers. Anyone, without any experience or knowledge of dogs, can start taking clients as a dog professional. There are many uninsured, uncredentialed, unknowledgeable individuals in all of these fields looking to make a quick buck from dog owners, masquerading as canine experts.

It’s somewhat frightening that one would need a license to cut hair or apply acrylic nails, but no state-mandated licensing program exists for those who are responsible for our best friends. Not all the dog walkers or daycares in the phone book will have insurance, be established as an actual business through the local government, or have the knowledge to keep your dog free from illness or injury, physical or behavioral.

Some cities have started guidelines for dog walkers in response to unscrupulous business owners. San Francisco is one such city, and has posted eight suggested guidelines for dog walkers online at www.sfgov.org. Call your local town or city hall to see if your city has such guidelines. If not, consider passing along San Francisco’s guidelines and suggest something similar be implemented in your town. Keep the S.F. guidelines in mind when evaluating your dog’s new dog walker!

Since Earth Day is coming up soon and Portland is known for being green I thought this video was very appropriate.

Plus I own Pugs and well anything Pug is good too.

I just got through with a walk today and had my camera. I just had to share this photo.

He was saying,”Yeah good job, nice walk, booyah!”

Spring also means many people will be getting out in their yards and doing general cleanup and fertilizing those flowers and shrubs. If  you have pets there are also things to watch out for when preparing your flower beds or vegetable beds for that matter.

I perused the internet and found some tips you can follow to make sure that not only does your yard stay nice and healthy but your pets do to.

1. Before you start planting those seedlings, first check to see if they are toxic to cats or dogs. For example, Lilies, Tulips, Daffodils and Morning Glory’s are quite lethal to pets.
2. Before reaching for the snail and slug bait,stop and read the label. The active ingredient is Metaldehyde, which is another toxic substance to dog and cats. (One  alternate and safer way is using beer in a sturdy can with lip, slugs and snails are attracted to the yeast in the beer)
3. Motor-driven tools such as rototillers, mowers and weed eaters warrant the best safety practices around the home and garden. Protect your pets by either keeping the pets locked safely away or being aware of their movements at all times. Store sharp objects in a shed or garage.
4. Sort garden chemicals and discard all of the outdated or unused chemicals according to label instructions. Check the lock on your chemical storage area to assure that pets have no access.Better yet, try pet-friendly organic alternatives for repelling pests.
5. Commercial mulch sometimes contains cocoa bean shells, which many dogs can’t seem to resist. The chemicals and caffeine that are naturally present in cocoa can be very dangerous to pets if ingested. Make sure that any mulch you buy for the garden is free of cocoa bean shells.
6. Be aware of the types of trees and shrubs surrounding your house that generate a lot of pollen. Just like humans, pets suffer allergies too. If your pet displays symptoms like skin irritation, hair loss, ear infections, excessive sneezing or runny nose, make an appointment to see your veterinarian.
7. Controlling vermin becomes an issue again in the spring. Be aware that the same properties of common rat and mouse poisons that make them irresistible to pests will also attract your pet. If consumed, these can be fatal to your animal.
8. This is also the time for pesky bugs such as fleas and heartworm to rear their ugly heads.They grow and spread quickly once they find a host. The preventative treatments that you may have discontinued in the winter should start early in the spring to keep your pet’s coat, and your home, free of pests.
9. Spring cleaning is an annual tradition in many households, but make sure the cleaning products don’t hurt your animals. If the label states “keep pets and children away from area until dry” follow those instructions carefully, and store all chemicals out of reach of children and pets.
10. Iron – This is commonly added to fertilizers, and can result in iron toxicity (from ingestion of elemental iron). This is different from “total” iron ingestion, and can be confusing to differentiate. When in doubt, have a  medical professional at Pet Poison Helpline assist you with finding out if the amount ingested was toxic or not. Large ingestions can result in vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and potential cardiac and liver effects.

Here is a website you can check out for more information on what plants are toxic to your animals:http://oregonvma.org/care-health/poisonous-plants

Here is the animal pet poison hotline: 1-800-213-6680