Pet The World

If you own a pet chances are you might be faced with the need for someone reliable to look after your pet.

Pet sitters care for your pet just a babysitter cares for your child while you are gone. Pet sitters do much more than just providing food and water. A good pet sitter will look after your pet as you would yourself. A pet sitter will provide exercise, some playtime, some attention and also be aware if your pet needs veterinary attention.

People with exotic or particularly high maintenance pets will benefit from the services of a pet sitter.

Pet sitters will allow for the most positive experience your pets can have while you are away. Pet sitters offer the added advantage of allowing your pets to stay in their own environment while you are away. Your pet will be less stressed than if they where in one of the more traditional options for pet’s whose owners are away.

Pet sitters provide one on one attention and the special care that your beloved pet will require in your absence.

Hiring a pet sitter will not only give you peace of mind but will also save you worrying about your pet while you are away. Your home is also a lot safer. You have someone who will pick up the mail, water the plants and check on the general welfare of the entire home.

It’s worth the extra expense for the added peace of mind.

CHOOSING A PET SITTER

If you are going to go to the trouble to pay someone to look after your pet and home while you are gone, you will want to spend some time choosing the best pet sitter for you and your pet.

Make sure you see some qualifications.

Also make sure to ask for references, and follow up. This is the best way to get some idea of how reliable your pet sitter is. Glowing references are the best way to gauge which is the best pet sitter for your home.

You can start with the phone book or an online search. You can ask your Veterinarian for a reference. The vet often knows who the best pet sitter in the area is.

It’s best to line up a few different options. Arrange interviews with them all. Check to see how they interact with your animal. Many pet owners know hat animals can be fussy too!

When interviewing your prospective pet sitter it’s useful to see if the sitter asks a variety of questions too. The pet sitter should be interested in any medical conditions your pet might have, likes, dislikes allergies etc. If your sitter does not ask these questions rather choose someone who is genuinely concerned about the well being of your pet.

When choosing a pet sitter you don’t want to take any chances. After all it’s not just your pet who is vulnerable it’s the entire contents of your home too!

You can things a bit easier for your pet sitter too. Buying extra pet food and treats, leaving clear instructions and taking your pet for his regular checkups will ensure that things go smoothly. If you have a pet that is fussy or has a medical condition make sure you leave clear instructions for the sitter as to how to handle the situation.

Also if you have a complicated alarm system or security system make sure to explain clearly to the sitter how to get in and out, and how to secure the property in your absence. Leave a copy of your keys with a trusted neighbor and explain that you will be away. You can never have too many people keeping their eyes open.

Now that you know your pet and home are being well looked after, you can have a relaxed holiday. All that’s left to do is enjoy your vacation!

Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with his brother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzu’s and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at All My Puppies Online Steve is also the co-author of two consumer guides, Carpet Secrets and Moving Secrets Guide.

Share This

If you have a dog of your own you will know that a full tummy doesn’t nearly cover the whole process of deciding which dog food to buy.

Your dog is your best friend, you will want him to live the fullest, happiest life that he can. Feeding him the best food will not only ensure that he is healthy and happy, but has a shiny coat and lively tail too.

Many of our spoiled pets become fussy. It’s a natural progression from being fussed over so much. If you have fussy dogs, like me, you will know how guilt laden mealtimes can become.

You want to give your dog the best advantage in life; why not consider cooking some specially prepared meals just for your dog. Whilst it is true that many owners can provide their dogs with adequate nutrition on a vegetarian diet, this is tricky and time consuming to accomplish. Buying a medium quality dog food and adding some extra goodness should be sufficient.

One of the best ways to ensure your dog is receiving optimum nutrition whilst living on medium quality pet food is to add some kind of nutritional supplement. This can ensure good nutrition at all times. One such proven source is NuVet.

A news release, Chattanooga, TN with Calvin Sneed (Consumer Advocate) reported a breeder in Tennessee got caught in the Diamond Dog food recall and 12 out of 14 dogs died. However the 2 that didn’t die were on NuVet. You can only buy this product from breeder referral. 1-800-474-7044. Referral number is 75855.

Read the labels of any dog food you buy carefully. Any of the foods you buy should contain turkey, beef, chicken or any other animal by-product to keep your dog looking healthy and glossy.

If you are changing your dog’s diet you are vulnerable to guilt-treating practices. Don’t overcompensate for your dog’s fussiness. The quickest way your dog will learn to appreciate a new dog food is to be forced to make do with what is served up at mealtimes. Don’t give treats or snacks because your dog isn’t eating. This just encourages fussy eating and perpetuates the cycles of fussiness again. Be firm.

If you are trying to incorporate some home cooked goodness into your dog’s life you might need to include rice, corn, oatmeal or wheat. These are all excellent sources of carbohydrates. You will need to keep in mind that most of your dog’s most valuable proteins come from meat. Whilst many say that dogs are omnivores - they are still partially carnivorous.

If you have a dog be sure NEVER to give them the following:

Chocolate

Raw fish or eggs

Onions

Tomatoes

With careful attention and some patience you can revolutionize your dog’s diet. And hopefully help him live a long and healthy life.

Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with his brother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzu’s and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at All My Puppies Online Steve is also the co-author of two consumer guides, Carpet Secrets and Moving Secrets Guide

Share This

When our son announced that he was moving back home to further his education, and that he was bringing P.J., his Maltese with him, my husband and I were somewhat apprehensive to say the least. First of all, we had never even seen a Maltese, and weren’t entirely sure that we even wanted to. Secondly, we thoroughly enjoyed our life as it was with the flexibility of coming and going whenever we wanted to. We also enjoyed the fact that we could have quiet time or go out for entertainment if and when we desired.

We knew things would change somewhat just by having our son home again, but between his working full time and going to school, we weren’t expecting to see much of him. So, what about the dog? If we didn’t see much of our son, neither would the dog see much of our son, which meant that my husband and I were soon to become a “threesome”. We decided we would tolerate the situation, knowing it was only temporary, but we were both already longing for assurance that we would have our previous flexible life back real soon.

Moving day soon arrived, and as the furniture and boxes were being moved in to the house, this inquisitive little fuzzy white dog with huge black eyes suddenly appeared, bounding in the door. She didn’t even acknowlege the fact that my husband and I were sitting on the couch, and instead began scurrying from room to room as if taking inventory of everything in site. She displayed absolutely no fear and one would never have suspected that this was her first trip to a house belonging to virtual strangers. When she completed her investigation, it was as if she gave everything her stamp of approval, jumped up into my lap, curled up, and promptly went to sleep. Little did I know that this was just the beginning of many curling up in the lap sessions.

That day, which was a little over three years ago, has certainly changed our lives, to say the least. Our car now has a doggie car seat prominately displayed in the backseat, and the car seldom leaves the driveway without P.J. happily perched inside. Our once orderly living room now has a large basket sitting there to hold the numerous dog toys and rawhide chews which are instead always scattered all over the house. There’s no such thing as an empty lap. P.J. not only thinks that all laps are “created equal”, but also that all laps are created for her. Both my husband and myself often find ourselves having complete conversations with….the dog. She’ll attentively sit there with her ears perked up listening to every word. She also loves to perch up on the back of the sofa and proudly announce the arrival of every bird, squirrel, dog, or person that does or does not come up to the door.

Yes, our lives have certainly changed. We no longer have the flexibility of coming and going whenever we want to. Our quiet haven is no more. In exchange we now have an adorable whimsical little companion who excitedly barks and wags her tail anytime either of us walks through the door. Our entertainment now consists of taking P.J. to the park or playing fetch, and our quiet time is holding this little ball of fur while she naps.

Our son has completed his schooling and is now moving on to a new phase of his life, but leaving P.J. with us. We of course are thrilled with this arrangement, and actually couldn’t imagine life without P.J. anymore. She has truly stolen our hearts with her Maltese Magic.

Copyright 2006 Cari Haus

By Connie Tersigni and Cari Haus. Connie Tersigni is owner of http://www.milliondollarmutts.com, offering upscale pet supplies for Poodles, Yorkies and Maltese — among other breeds.

Share This