Because October is Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month, West Asheville Dog Walking & Pet Sitting is offering a 10% discount off any monthly package of regularly scheduled dog walks to any new client who can show proof of adoption from a shelter during the month of October. Perfect for those who work long hours away from home and don't want to worry about cleaning up accidents or picking their pooch up from doggie daycare when they get off work. Convenient, affordable and healthy for your pet! Daily dog walks will also help ease the transition of bringing a new dog into your home, since exercise helps improve most canine behavior problems including destructive chewing and hyperactivity.
Remember: this offer expires on October 31, 2009 so call for your free consultation today: 828.989.8517.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Destructive Chewing? Hyper Dog? Try Some Exercise & Enrichment
Do any of these less than desirable behaviors sound familiar to you?
* Destructive chewing, digging or scratching
* Investigative behaviors, like garbage raiding
* Hyperactivity, excitability and night-time activity
* Unruliness, knocking over furniture and jumping up on people
* Excessive predatory and social play
* Play biting and rough play
* Attention-getting behaviors like barking and whining
If so, then I highly recommend the ASPCA website's free Virtual Pet Behaviorist Tips & Articles. The ASPCA lists all of these behaviors as a result of lack of exercise and play.
The following two articles offer tips on how to set your dog up for success when he's home alone and how to keep him entertained with his own interactive toys (like a Kong stuffed with food, for example) so that he won't resort to chewing on your socks.
They also list a several ways to exercise your dog that don't require a lot of energy on your part. These include food puzzle toys, hunting for dinner, fetch, Hide & Seek and my own dog's new favorite: Find It.
ASPCA's Fun, Easy Ways to Exercise your Dog
ASPCA Tips: Enriching Your Dog's Life
* Destructive chewing, digging or scratching
* Investigative behaviors, like garbage raiding
* Hyperactivity, excitability and night-time activity
* Unruliness, knocking over furniture and jumping up on people
* Excessive predatory and social play
* Play biting and rough play
* Attention-getting behaviors like barking and whining
If so, then I highly recommend the ASPCA website's free Virtual Pet Behaviorist Tips & Articles. The ASPCA lists all of these behaviors as a result of lack of exercise and play.
The following two articles offer tips on how to set your dog up for success when he's home alone and how to keep him entertained with his own interactive toys (like a Kong stuffed with food, for example) so that he won't resort to chewing on your socks.
They also list a several ways to exercise your dog that don't require a lot of energy on your part. These include food puzzle toys, hunting for dinner, fetch, Hide & Seek and my own dog's new favorite: Find It.
ASPCA's Fun, Easy Ways to Exercise your Dog
ASPCA Tips: Enriching Your Dog's Life
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Itchy Skin and Allergies
The following is a link to some information about Itchy Skin and Allergies from Only Natural Pet Store. The article contains a lot of good information, but of course encourages you to buy products available through Only Natural Pet Store. This is not necessarily the worst thing, but I mention it in the interest of full transparency.
I personally find that feeding my pets a fresh, homemade diet of natural, species appropriate foods seems to help. I also give my dog probiotics before her meals and a little bit of fish oil (about 2,000 mg--she's a 70 pound dog) with her food.
If you'd like to learn more about preparing your pets' food, I recommend Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (or any of the other books mentioned in the "Recommended Reading" post).
I personally find that feeding my pets a fresh, homemade diet of natural, species appropriate foods seems to help. I also give my dog probiotics before her meals and a little bit of fish oil (about 2,000 mg--she's a 70 pound dog) with her food.
If you'd like to learn more about preparing your pets' food, I recommend Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (or any of the other books mentioned in the "Recommended Reading" post).
Friday, September 11, 2009
Five Ways To Stop Your Dog From Jumping Up On People
Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) Eric Goebelbecker offers Five Ways To Stop Your Dog From Jumping Up On People
I personally am a big fan of #3: Train your dog to sit instead. I also like that he explains why ignoring the behavior does not always seem to work, and he makes a critical point: if the behavior (jumping) is reinforced infrequently, the behavior will probably get worse.
I personally am a big fan of #3: Train your dog to sit instead. I also like that he explains why ignoring the behavior does not always seem to work, and he makes a critical point: if the behavior (jumping) is reinforced infrequently, the behavior will probably get worse.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Calling All Pet Owners: Online Survey Looks at Health of Dog Owners
Dog News from DogTipper.com: Online Survey Looks at Health of Dog Owners
So technically this online survey is open to both pet owners and non-pet owners, but I figure those reading this blog are more likely to be pet owners than not.
This George Washington University thesis project seeks to assess the health and physical activity levels of adults in the United States.
For every completed survey, $1 will be donated to animal welfare charities, such as the Humane Society of the U.S. and the Best Friends Animals Society.
Enough blogging for me--I've got a survey to complete!
So technically this online survey is open to both pet owners and non-pet owners, but I figure those reading this blog are more likely to be pet owners than not.
This George Washington University thesis project seeks to assess the health and physical activity levels of adults in the United States.
For every completed survey, $1 will be donated to animal welfare charities, such as the Humane Society of the U.S. and the Best Friends Animals Society.
Enough blogging for me--I've got a survey to complete!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
September Group Walk
West Asheville Dog Walking & Pet Sitting is now accepting reservations for the group dog walk for the month of September. The group walk is a great deal for busy professionals looking for an affordable, convenient way to exercise and socialize their dogs. The group walk is offered mid-day Monday through Friday to those who live either in the immediate West Asheville area or Biltmore Lake. Hurry-- space is limited and there's only one week left 'til September, so call now to reserve your spot: 828.989.8517. You may also send an email to karen@avlpetsitter.com.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Holistic Pet Care Website and Veterinary Advice Line
I love it when I discover an informative, helpful book or website about pet care. I especially love it when the author happens to be a veterinarian. Hence, I am overjoyed to have discovered the website of Dr. Christina Chambreau, DVM.
Two other great things about this website:
1)When you sign up for the newsletter, you get a Natural Flea Prevention Report.
2)The site also features a convenient veterinary advice line. You can call a toll free number to speak to a veterinarian for a flat rate of $34.95 with no time limit on the call. The vet advice line also features a very useful Learning Center, with several helpful articles about holistic veterinary care.
Since this website is new to me, please let me know if you've had any experiences (positive or negative) with the veterinary advice line. For the time being, I'm just delighted to know that such a service exists!
Two other great things about this website:
1)When you sign up for the newsletter, you get a Natural Flea Prevention Report.
2)The site also features a convenient veterinary advice line. You can call a toll free number to speak to a veterinarian for a flat rate of $34.95 with no time limit on the call. The vet advice line also features a very useful Learning Center, with several helpful articles about holistic veterinary care.
Since this website is new to me, please let me know if you've had any experiences (positive or negative) with the veterinary advice line. For the time being, I'm just delighted to know that such a service exists!
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