Monthly Archives: February 2015

Human beings love living an active social life and having fun outdoors. So do our canine friends. Dog parks offer both humans and dogs the opportunity to do just that!

However, taking your dog to a park demands a degree of responsibility from you in order to ensure that the time out is beneficial to your pet and others. A trip to a dog park can turn awry or even become costly to you if certain factors are not taken into consideration.

There are basically five important aspects of dog care that you need to pay attention to before deciding to take your dog for a visit to the park. These are health, training, understanding behavior, preparation, and supervision.

HEALTH

You should ensure that your dog has been vaccinated to avoid him or her contracting or spreading dangerous pathogens while at the park. Also be sure that your dog is not injured or in any kind of pain. Consult with your vet be sure that your dog has taken the required shots and is healthy enough to go to the park.

To avoid pregnancy or unwanted sexual behavior, get your dog spayed or neutered. An unneutered male has high testosterone levels when in heat and could become a nuisance to female dogs or a target of aggression from other male dogs.

TRAINING

In order to avoid unpleasant situations, you need to be in control of your dog’s behavior while at the park. You therefore need to get him or her properly trained to be able to respond to and obey your instructions. Basic skills like responding when you call, tell it to sit, or settle down are essential.

UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOR

Not all dogs are the same. Understanding your dog’s temperament and behavior under different circumstances is important before allowing him or her to mingle with others in a park environment. Before going to a park, you could allow him or her to play with other dogs in the neighborhood. Understand your dog’s body language, social behavior and communication signals. If your pet exhibits signs of antisocial behavior, he or she may not be a good dog park candidate.

PREPARATION

Prior to walking your dog to a park, it may be necessary for you to pay a few visits first to ascertain its suitability.

A good dog park should have the following features:

• The space should be large enough to allow for playing and running around. An easily crowded park is not ideal because the dogs may become tense and overly aggressive.
• The fencing around the park must be firm and secure. Look around to ensure there are no holes through which dogs can leave the park unnoticed.
• The park should have shaded areas where dogs can rest, especially in hot weather. Also important in this regard is availability of water.
• A good park should have enough trash bags and cans to take care of dog waste.
• If you have a small or young dog, check to be sure that the park has a separate section that caters to this category. Younger dogs can easily get bullied or intimidated by older ones.

During your prep visits,

• Look around for notices and information about the park use. Some parks may require your dog to have some documentation before admission.
• Note the days of the week and times when the park is busiest and choose when it is best to visit with your dog.
• Also, observe the manners of other park users and how they handle their dogs. Some people are poor handlers and you may want to avoid visiting on the days that they come around.

SUPERVISION

On your visit, take along some treats and enough water for both you and your dog.

Before entering the park, stay around the perimeter for a while to allow other dogs get used to seeing yours. Dogs get excited over a newcomer and may mob your dog if you are not careful.

Be alert and be on the watch for your dog while in the park to ensure he or she doesn’t get into any sticky situations.

To stay connected, call your dog from time to time, have a short private game or pat and allow her continue playing with others.

Allow your dog to enjoy itself and mix freely. However, if you notice any discomfort or unusual behavior from your dog or if other dogs become unruly, you may need to cut your stay short.

In the event that your dog gets into a fight, keep calm. You can interrupt the fight by using an air horn or water hose. Don’t pull your dog by the collar to avoid being bitten. The scuffling dogs should be separated by their owners by pulling them from behind. To avoid injury, pull your dog from the hips above the knee area and gently pull her backwards. Don’t grab by the paws, ankles or knee.

After a fight, you may decide to leave or walk your dog to another area of the park, if it is large enough.

OTHER DOG PARK SAFETY TIPS

Don’t shout or chatter noisily with others. This can make the whole atmosphere in the park charged and may result in unusual behavior from the dogs.

Don’t go to the park with your dog’s personal toys, others may want to share and yours may be unwilling.

Clean up after your dog to keep the park clean.

References:

http://thebark.com/content/behavior-dog-park-tips

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/dog-parks

The dirtiest secret of the dog world is puppy mills. In case you don’t know, here’s some info. The act of breeding dogs in mass in an unfavorable condition with little or no human interaction is referred to as a puppy mill. The possibility that you are just hearing about it doesn’t mean it’s a new trend. In fact, it has been around for decades. Arguably, the worst thing about puppy mills is that the dogs are only used for breeding, and nothing else. When they stop breeding, they are either discarded or euthanized.

Where to find dogs bred this way

Although we cannot say definitively that all the dogs in pet shops and flea markets are bred this way, they are mostly found in those places. They can also be purchased from the internet. You may need to avoid buying dogs from pet shops that don’t tell you how they were bred.

You need to be educated about puppy mills in order to avoid buying puppies bred in such horrible conditions.

Why it’s bad to purchase puppies from puppy mills

Merely looking at some of the dogs you may think that there’s no difference between the ones bred in puppy mills and the ones bred in a normal condition. However, puppies bred in mills only serve to make the breeder richer. The breeder does not provide adequate nutrition, space, and attention. These types of dog have little interaction with people, hence they might not respond properly to training. They are used to unfavorable conditions and harsh treatment, which makes it possible for the dogs to be very aggressive and/or develop mental disorders.

Are they healthy to keep in your home? NO! The majority of dogs bred in puppy mills are not healthy due to the unhygienic environment in which they live.

Before you buy a puppy, make sure you ask a few questions to be sure where the dog is actually coming from. It’s most likely that pet stores get their puppies from puppy mills, however they should be able to tell you more about it. You might need to look at the documentation in order to confirm where the puppy was bred. In case the documentation is deceitful (you may not always be able to tell,) you may have to look for somewhere else to purchase your puppy. You need to be sure that the puppy is from reputable source such as the Humane Society.

Another thing you need to do is to familiarize yourself with the law concerning animal/pet care and breeding in your region. In case there’s any inconveniences, you can easily convey it to your local agent.

Buying puppies from puppy stores doesn’t mean you can’t get puppies from a reputable breeder, but you need to be sure that you know what they are trying to sell you.

You can help prevent animal mistreatment by reporting to the appropriate agency, and avoid purchasing from illegal breeders.

Animals bred in puppy mills are never treated properly. Tell someone if you know of any mills and help prevent harsh treatment on animals.

Mutts are healthier, anyway! Consider adopting! (Places to adopt: Humane Society, APA, StrayRescue)

Wolfgang’s pet stop is a nice local business located in the Central West End on 330 N Euclid 63108. We stopped by today to see what they’re all about.

Wolfgang of Wolfgang’s Pet Stop

The first thing I noticed was that the shop was split into two parts – a general dog care supply shop and a grooming salon. We were greeted by Kristin, who was working the desk, as we finished walking up the steps to the shop.

Some of the products along the wall

There were dogs there, too, which is always a plus! They were there because of their daycare service. Some of the dogs were up with Kristin behind the desk and the rest were playing happily in another pen.

Day Care

While we were there, we got to talk with Carole, the trainer at Wolfgang’s Pet Stop. She helped us get to know the company a bit better and told us about the baked pet treats. They’re made in house! They looked delicious, but we were assured that they don’t taste good to humans since there’s no sugar added. Here are some pictures!

If you live in the area (or even if you don’t) and have never heard of them, why not head on down and meet the friendly folk at Wolfgang’s Pet Stop? You’ll be glad you did!

Their contact info: www.wolfgangspetstop.com (314)-367-8088 Twitter Facebook

If you’d like to support this local business, you can participate in their in-house silent auction or donate directly via this page. Thank you for any and all help you provide!

Here are a few guidelines that you can follow when dealing with unhealthy elements your dog may encounter.

With regards to your dog’s health you must trust your gut feelings. If your pet shows signs of illness, consult your veterinarian. Keep in mind that you can self-diagnose with proper research but your veterinarian will be the only person that can create a final and accurate analysis.

Fleas used to be a big dog health care challenge. Aside from their itchy bites, they can carry tapeworms too. Fleas and lice are now a relatively easy task to deal with thanks to the countless dog shampoos, anti-flea dog collars and vitamins that are on the market today.

Remember to not use human shampoo to clean your dog since it will remove the natural oils on the fur and later on the dog’s pores and skin would need to secrete a lot more oil to make up for it. Flea sprays, flea-collars, powders or any other products can be purchased from any pet supply store.

It’s great to seek the advice of your veterinarian when starting out. Puppies require frequent deworming at their first few weeks of life. Dog healthcare specialists declare that worm immunity in pups doesn’t appear until they reach six months old. The worm larvae can move from the mother to the pups. To be able to meet the canine healthcare requirements you have to eliminate all stools from your own garden, keep your the lawn cut, and be sure you never feed your pet raw meat. Make sure any meat given to them is fully cooked and unseasoned.

Ensure that you keep your dog away from any dangerous substances that could cause poisoning. Dog healthcare specialists explain that quick treatment is essential, should anything happen. If you believe your dog could have ingested toxic substances, try to provide some milk as an initial aid measure and contact your vet immediately.

Dog leashes can be found in a variety of styles. You can choose from retractable dog leashes, leather leashes, fashion leashes, hands-free leashes and much more. Countless color types are also obtainable and the weights are based around how big your pet is.

One of the first things to consider when leashing your pet is the age. Needless to say we all know an adult dog could have poor bones and arthritic joints and the younger dogs mainly are playful and considerably persistent. The variances in behavior require you to gauge your pet accordingly.

Puppies can be conscious and a little irritated when you start to walk them with a new leash. It is advised that you utilize a harness or perhaps a collar separate from the leash. This is because younger dogs can be very hot tempered and may chew the leash and damage it. They could also pull on the leash. In this case, you need a harness to avoid harming your pet.

Older dogs  usually take longer to conform to the leash, particularly if they weren’t raised with one.

To avoid your pet getting irritated, place the leash on the neck of your dog when they are eating or doing something enjoyable for them.

Be patient to steer your puppies since many of them tend to grasp and untie the collar. A leash can be distracting for them during their first week with it. Give your pet your full attention until he or she gets better accustomed to it.

If you think your pet is already comfortable with the leash, you may take your pet for a walk in the park. Adhere to your dog as he roams around while keeping the leash. As soon as your dog notices the leash, quickly provide him a meal or dog treat. As a result, you as well as your dog could have the leash connected with the daily routine.

Trying to work out the best way to care for your pet? Some people can find it quite hard to know what the solution will be for their own pets. For most, the choice is between hiring a pet sitter and using a kennel. Depending on what you want to get, both can have their uses. If you aren’t sure of what you should be considering for your own pet, you should start looking into what both solutions can offer you.

In House Pet Sitter

• This can make it easier for your pet to get used to being home alone. It can help your pet develop a sense of independence and even be able to stay home alone after a while.
• With a pet sitter your pet will have a routine to follow, giving it more discipline and ensuring that it will be able to relax even when you aren’t around to look after it.
• This can reduce stress for both of you. Your pet will feel like part of the family, and you won’t have a pet that struggles to control itself while home alone!
• There is a better standard of care in many ways. Your pet is looked after in its own comfortable home and is not just one of many pets being watched.
• When you come home, your house will be just as clean as you left it – no ripped up toys or cereal boxes.

Using a Kennel Service

• A kennel might put your pet in a constrained area that may make it feel uncomfortable at night.
• Your pet will be exposed to many potential sources of illness (e.g. other dogs.)
• Your pet may feel stressed by the kennel’s tight schedule and confined spaces. This could lead to your pet losing its discipline and barking and whining for attention.
• Stressed pets are not happy pets. They are also more prone to illnesses, mental or otherwise.

As you can see, kennels can be hazardous to your pet’s health. It’s not guaranteed, but do you really want to risk it? Your pet will receive better care and be happier with an in home pet sitter.

We’ll be able to give your pet the help it needs in staying active and healthy at home as well as becoming more accustomed to staying at your home. If you want to be sure that your pet is happy and stress free, consider a local in home pet sitter instead of kennels. Be sure to check out what pet services Saint Louis Dog Walkers can offer you.

There are some situations when you will need someone to take care of your dog, and when those times come you will need someone who has experience and more importantly loves dogs. Since it is understandable for you to have doubts when you have to make such an important decision, we have decided to talk more about the most common situations when you might need our service.

When you have too much work

There are many owners who do not have time to walk their dogs, and thus, they come to us. They know that this is a place where they can find all the support they need. After all, we are specialized in pet care. The next time you have too much work and you don’t have the time to walk your dog, give us a call at 314-446-9310!

When you are out of town

When you go out of town, you have two options: bring your dog with you, or find someone to take care of your dog. Maybe your friends don’t have the time or knowledge to do these things for you either, or maybe the neighbors own a parrot that is afraid of your dog. The truth is that it might be difficult to find the right people to look after your dog, and when you are in a hurry you cannot take your time in order to find the suitable persons for this job. However, you don’t have to worry about that because you’ve come to the right place! We can even send someone to stay at your house while you are gone. All of our employees are insured and bonded. It’s just like babysitting, but for dogs.

Daily visits

Sometimes when you do not have time, your dog will be bored, and there is a chance that he will start chewing something he shouldn’t. Thus, it is best to come here and find a person who is willing to play with your dog. Even if we already have some clients who request daily visits, we can probably make it work.

Additionally, you should know that this is a customer-oriented company, and thus, we appreciate your feedback. There is a contact us form at the bottom of the About Us page, and we also have Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ accounts. You can also email peter@saintlouisdogwalkers.com and we should get back to you in a timely fashion.

Probably the hardest thing a dog owner has to cope with is the begging eyes of his beloved companion when he serves dinner. We already consider our dog as part of the family, and it seems so unfair that our loyal friend cannot enjoy a tasty treat from our plate. Unfortunately, dogs are anatomically designed for different types of food than the ones we consume. All the foods that are so delicious to us can be very dangerous for them and can represent a real threat to their health. Another aspect you should always consider before you serve your dog a bite of your food is that we usually like to spice our dishes. We add salt, pepper and all types of spices, which can be bad for our dogs. So before you let go in front of your dog’s begging eyes, think that there is the risk to harm him. You can though give them an occasional treat from our food. But only certain food items won’t harm them. So to avoid unwanted indigestions, vomiting, diarrhea or other more severe symptoms, take a look at the list below and choose a healthy snack for your dog. Also, decide to give the treat after you are done eating, not during your dinner. You are the pack leader, and your dog should serve his meal after you are finished since he is in a submissive position in your family.

✓ Cottage Cheese

It is a type of cheese that contains the lowest fat and usually does not contain salt. So, it is a perfect light treat for your dog in a decent amount. But you should reconsider this treat if you know products made out of milk cause your dog diarrhea.

✓ Yogurt

It is great for dogs with a more sensitive digestion. You can sprinkle a little over the dried food before you serve your dog his meal. Make sure you pick plain yogurt, without sweeteners, sugars or flavors. If you like natural yogurt, it is a treat you can both enjoy, as it is healthy for both of you.

✓ Chicken

Chicken meat is the safest source of protein for your dog. But only if you boiled it first, to avoid any food poisoning. Prepare it simple, without adding any salt or spices. You can even mix it with some cooked rice, from time to time, for a delicious meal. But don’t give your dog rice too often, as it may cause constipation.

✓ Carrots

Carrots are great raw or boiled. They are an excellent source of vitamins and fibers. If your dog accepts raw carrots, it is a great treat and great to keep gums and teeth healthy.

✓ Apples

Apples are an excellent source of Vitamin C and fibers. If your dog likes them, you can serve him small slices from now and then to replenish his vitamin needs.

✓ Pumpkin

It is a great treat especially if you know your pooch has digestive problems. It is also an excellent source for vitamin A. Served raw or from a can; it can be a delicious and healthy treat for your companion.

✓ Eggs

They are a great source of protein if cooked. Scramble an egg without using any oil, or just boil it until the yolk turns hard.

Now, here is the list of foods you should never serve your dog. It doesn’t matter how tasty they are for you, but they can pose a real danger to your dog’s health and even life.

! Chocolate

We love chocolate, and we tend to think it is good for our dogs too. Unfortunately, chocolate is one of the most toxic foods for them. It contains ingredients that are harmless to us, but can bring even death to our furry friends. If you want to serve chocolate to your dog, pick the particular types you find in pet shops.

!  Alcohol

Perhaps you heard stories or seen videos about drunk dogs. Getting dogs drunk puts their lives in danger. They become highly intoxicated and disoriented and definitely do not enjoy the experience. Never give your dog alcohol, if you love him.

! Milk

You may think milk is great due to the high content of calcium. Well, it is, but not for dogs. Dogs cannot digest the proteins in milk and can cause diarrhea. Also, itches can appear as an allergic response to this food.

! Raw meat

Yes, your dog is a carnivorous being, but giving him fresh meat won’t help. You can risk infecting him with bacteria like Salmonella or E.Coli. Always cook the meat before serving it to the dog. The best meat is chicken or fish.

We know cats are low maintenance but you still need peace of mind when you are away on vacation or business. We offer pet visits, sitting and overnight stays for all your pets including your #GrumpyCat.

https://saintlouisdogwalkers.com/services/

Research shows that pet owners have less illness, recover faster from serious health conditions, and tend to be more content than people who do not own pets. Makes you want to go out and get a pet doesn’t it!

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART03385/Health-Benefits-of-Companion-Animals.html