West Asheville Dog Walking & Pet Sitting

New Services: Group Walk & Training Walk

2010-09-29T11:40:00.004-04:00

As of today, West Asheville Dog Walking & Pet Sitting is officially serving biking distance clients only!

Refining my service area to include only dogs and cats within biking distance of Haywood Road allows me to be much more efficient: in terms of both time and fossil fuel consumption.

This newly refined service area also frees up my schedule enough to offer these two new services: A small group walk and a training walk.

Both the group walk and training walk require a commitment of at least three walks per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) on a month-to-month basis. Please send an email, leave a comment, or call 828.989.8517 for more information about either of these special walks.

The group walk is ideal for dogs and puppies who could use a bit of socialization with other dogs in a controlled, supervised environment. This walk is also a bit more cost-effective than the individual, private dog walks. Group walks will be capped at four dogs per group, and the walk ranges from 30 minutes to one hour, depending on when your dog gets picked up.

The training walk is well-suited for busy dog owners who don't have the time for intensive training sessions with their dog, but would like to address minor behavioral issues such as: destructive chewing, hyperactivity, leash manners and various other common doggie problems. I work with your dog during the day while you're at work, then check in with you as needed (once every couple of weeks, for example) to teach you the skills needed to maintain your dog's new-found good manners. Just get in touch to see if your dog would a good candidate for this walk. If I don't feel qualified to address your dog's behavioral issues, I'll happily put you refer you to another well-qualified trainer in the area.

Breakfast!

2010-08-18T11:38:00.003-04:00

Rosie's breakfast today:

-Honest Kitchen Verve (an awesome, human-grade, gluten-free, dehydrated raw dog food made with hormone-free USDA beef and organic rye)

-2 fish oil capsules (for her sensitive skin that gets itchy toward the end of summer)

-a whole raw egg (shell and all) from my wonderful client's chickens just down the street

-a chunk of raw, organic beef liver, provided by my dear friend Kristi King, maker of Green Earth Pet Food

Yum!

Got questions about feeding your pet a raw or more species-appropriate diet?

Ask away! There's not much I'd rather talk about.

PS: Rosie is my 70 pound lab/hound mix.

Happier You, Happier Dog: Loose Leash Walking

2010-08-08T11:21:00.009-04:00

I remember when I first adopted my lab, Rosie, I looked into basic obedience classes. As a professional dog walker, of course I needed a well-trained dog! I remember chuckling at the use of the term "loose leash walking". Little bit of a tongue twister, huh? Especially when all the other skills you learn in basic obedience are generally one word commands like "sit", "down", "stay" or "come."

Loose leash walking is different than "heel" in that you don't necessarily need your dog to walk by your side all the time, you just need him not to pull your arm off. Teaching this behavior can be much easier said than done, especially if your dog has been rewarded by years of pulling and getting where he wants to go. Luckily, I was able to start training Rosie to walk on a loose leash from the day I got her. She does occasionally pull a little bit more if we see a squirrel or, heaven forbid, a rabbit, but for the most part the leash & my joints are relaxed when we walk.

I am including a link to a Dog Spelled Forward post by Eric Goebelbecker that outlines seven things you can do to train your dog to walk on a loose leash, instead of pulling your arm out of the socket.

Believe me, if you have a large dog who already pulls on leash, training her not to pull will be very frustrating at first. Don't expect to get much walking done in the first few training sessions, especially if you are trying Eric's first tip: "If you feel tension in the leash, stop walking."

For some dogs that are used to being rewarded by pulling, there will always be tension in the leash. In this case, I encourage you to drink an energy drink & try Tips #5 and #6 outlined by Eric: "Speed Up" and "Take a Tired Dog."

Eric Goebelbecker of Dog Spelled Forward has a number of other useful training articles and videos on his website. Too bad he's located up in New Jersey!

Loose leash walking and a good, solid "sit" are two of the most important behaviors I would recommend teaching your pup. Walking your dog is infinitely more pleasant if your dog is not trying to pull your arm off. Loose leash walking makes walking your dog a more positive experience for you, thus you are likely to walk Fido more often. Everybody wins.

Have questions about teaching your dog to walk on a loose leash? Send me an email (karen@avlpetsitter.com) or leave a comment!

PS: Follow Eric Goebelbecker & Dog Spelled Forward on Twitter for more great, practical dog training info.

LOLcatMaker Free iPhone App

2010-06-02T22:58:00.005-04:00

Oh, my dearly beloved clients:

Brace yourselves for an onslaught of LOLcats featuring your very own wonderful pets sent directly to your email address and/or smartphone. As a self-proclaimed pet, iPhone and LOLcats lover, this free LOLcatMaker iPhone app has officially just made my day. I have just downloaded the free app, and cannot wait to send you your own personalized LOLcats greetings to brighten your day!

Time for a Vacation!

2010-04-30T15:16:00.003-04:00

I've already informed many of you of my vacation plans for this summer, but I just wanted to make sure that all of my clients & would-be clients are aware that I will be unavailable to provide pet care services during the following dates: over Memorial Day weekend (Saturday, May 29-Monday, May 31) and another long weekend mid-June, from Friday, June 18th through Monday, June 21st.

If you need pet care during those times, please contact me directly for a referral to another qualified pet sitter or visit www.ashevilleareapetsitters.com.

Stamps to the Rescue

2010-04-28T15:13:00.006-04:00

This Friday, April 30th marks the launch of a remarkable "Stamps to the Rescue Campaign" which aims to draw attention to the plight of shelter & rescue animals across the country. According to the campaign website, nearly half of the animals that enter shelters are euthanized.

The United States Postal Service has partnered up with Ellen DeGeneres and Halo (makers of a fine pet food sold here in Asheville at EarthFare) to launch this series of "Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet" postage stamps. In addition to being able to order the stamps online, the campaign website features an Adoption 101 center, with an awesome "Do You Have What It Takes to Adopt A Pet" meter, some basic facts on adopting a shelter or rescue pet, and an online search of adoptable pets near you via petfinder.com

I just used up my last postage stamp yesterday, so I'll be heading to the Post Office on Friday to stock up on some of these adorable stamps.

3 Easy Tips for Dealing with your Pet's Allergies & Itchy Skin

2010-04-20T16:01:00.006-04:00

Well, spring is here and the flowers & allergies are in full bloom, affecting people and their pets.

Does your dog suffer from itchy skin or allergies?

If so, here are 3 things you can do to ease your pet's suffering:

1)Supplement with Fish Oil

Fish Oil is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, making it one of the top recommended supplements for itchy skin relief.

2)Cut out unnecessary fillers like corn, wheat & soy.

Corn, wheat and soy are often found in most of the commercial pet foods available at the supermarket. If your pet itches and you're not sure why, try eliminating these three common allergens to see if you notice any improvement.

Many of the premium pet foods sold at places like Asheville Pet Supply and Pet Supplies "Plus" do not contain corn, wheat or soy. Some of my favorite brands include Wellness, Innova, EVO, Canine Caviar, Nature's Variety, and Orijen. If you're shopping at Ingles, Lassie is one of the better brands sold there.

Above all, learn to read those ingredient labels & keep an eye on your pet to see what foods seem to work better or worse for him. Dr. Christina Chambreau, DVM makes a great journal for tracking your pet's symptoms.

3)Work toward a more natural, species-appropriate diet.

I personally feed my dog a prey model diet of 80% raw muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone (turkey necks, bone-in chicken breast, cornish hens, chicken quarters), and 10% raw organ meat (beef liver, beef kidney, chicken liver). If you're interested in learning more about feeding a raw, species appropriate diet, I'd encourage you to read any of the books mentioned in my Recommended Reading post or check out the blog DoggyBytes, which is packed with information on pet nutrition. Also, please feel free to contact me directly if you're interested in feeding your pet a natural diet. There's not much more in life that I'd rather talk about!

A quick precautionary note about feeding bones: Please do not ever feed cooked bones or weight-bearing bones of larger animals, such as beef knuckle bones.

There are also a number of wonderful, natural commercial diets available for pets. Two of my personal favorites are locally made Green Earth Pet Food (available at West Asheville EarthFare, Greenlife, Pet Harmony, West Village Market on Haywood, and MoonDoggies out in Candler) and Honest Kitchen.

*****Please note that I am not a vet nor do I receive any compensation from any of the companies or products mentioned, with the exception of Honest Kitchen, which I am now offering for sale in my online store. In the interest of full disclosure, the owner & maker of Green Earth Pet Food has become a dear friend of mine after months of bonding & chatting about our mutual passion for raw food & holistic care for pets, and I did work as a demo rep for Wellness Pet Food for a few months. That said, I only formed these relationships with these companies because I love their products.*****

ASPCA "Pet Safe" iPhone App

2010-04-10T09:34:00.003-04:00

Shopping for plants this spring and want to know which ones are toxic to pets? The ASPCA has launched a "Pet Safe" app with a searchable database of plants and one touch dialing to the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center. I haven't tried it personally, but I can't resist plugging a pet-related iPhone app. For those of you who know me well, you no doubt know by now that pets & iPhones are two of my very favorite things. Anyone tried this app? Found it helpful?

Top 10 Myths About Pet Food

2010-03-13T09:14:00.005-05:00

Top 10 Myths About Pet Food<---Great Newsletter Article by Only Natural Pet Store

I am certainly not a vet, but I do, however, read lots & lots about holistic pet care for pets. In my mind, and in the minds of many other holistic health enthusiasts, nutrition is one of the cornerstones for optimum health. As Dr. Shawn Messonnier, DVM, puts it: "You are what you eat, and so is your pet. Feeding the proper diet is the foundation upon which any integrative pet care program begins."

The linked 10 Myths About Pet Food Newsletter above touches on a few key misconceptions many pet owners have about pet food. For starters: Hill's Science Diet is probably not the best food you could be feeding your pet. Just read the ingredient label: ground corn, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, ground whole wheat. Given that corn, wheat and soy are three of the top food allergens in dogs, this food could very well be less than ideal for that reason alone.

If you're interested in further researching pet food ingredients, Natura has a great pet food comparison tool on their website. Keep in mind, of course, that this tool will likely be at least a tiny bit skewed so that the ingredients found in Natura foods come out looking better than those found in other brands. A useful tool, nonetheless.

The Top 10 Myths About Pet Food Newsletter also touches on two other items I hear a good bit about: 1)Does that dry food really clean your pet's teeth? and 2)Is feeding table scraps really so bad?
My 2 cents: Nope, dry food does not make that much of a difference (I believe it is Dr. Pitcairn who compares kibble for cleaning your pet's teeth to eating a bunch of crackers every day to clean your own teeth).
As for table scraps: Sure, there are a few foods you should not feed your pet: grapes, raisins, onions, to name a few. However, my major concern with feeding table scraps is portion control. According to the Pet Obesity Prevention Foundation,over 50% of dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese. This is a surefire recipe for health problems (diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, to name a few) in pets as with people, and as your pet's guardian you bear the responsibility for for keeping your pet at a healthy weight. If you are going to feed your pet table scraps, leftovers or dog treats, you need to adjust his dog food regimen accordingly.

Finally, the folks over at Only Natural Pet Store address the recent trend of "life stage" pet foods: kitten, indoor cat, senior, etc. and concerns about Salmonella in raw food.

Got a question about pet food or anything I mentioned in this post? Send an email or leave a comment. There is not much I love more than discussing pet nutrition!

Switching Your Dog To A Raw Meaty Bones Diet - Dogs | DoggyBytes.ca

2010-01-07T11:09:00.003-05:00

Curious about trying a raw diet for your pet, but still have a few questions or concerns you'd like to clear up first? The following is part of a serious of blog posts that should prove quite helpful and informative to anyone considering a switch to a raw diet for their pet. It addresses a number of the more common concerns people seem to have about feeding raw, including salmonella and choking.

Switching Your Dog To A Raw Meaty Bones Diet - Dogs | DoggyBytes.ca

If anyone does decide to switch to raw, please feel free to get in touch with me with any questions you might have. Raw pet food is without a doubt one of my favorite conversation topics!

iPhone apps for pet lovers

2009-12-27T19:55:00.002-05:00

Those of you who follow me on Twitter will not be too surprised to hear that I have recently learned of not 10 but 11 exciting iPhone apps for dog lovers! Here is the link to Mashable's list of the 10 Best iPhone Apps for dog lovers, and here is a link to a natural pet therapies iPhone app that I stumbled upon a few days ago.

The only app that I personally have tried myself is the PetMD Finder app. I chose to download this app for two reasons: 1)it's free and I can't resist a good freebie. 2)As a pet professional, I wanted to check out their pet services directory app. Of course, I then realized that I'd better hurry up and list myself in their service directory. Not surprisingly, they offer a free basic listing and then several paid upgrade options. My hunch is that they can afford to offer the app for free if pet professionals like myself choose to pay to be listed in their service directory!

My verdict thus far: I think it's pretty great that I can instantly & effortlessly find the closest dog parks, veterinarians and emergency clinics based on my current location!

So tell me: have any of you heard of any of these apps before? Tried them? Positive reviews, negative reviews? Any other apps I should add to my list? After all, if we can come up with just one more app that would be one app for each of the 12 days of Christmas...

Help for Your Fearful Dog

2009-12-07T09:55:00.000-05:00

As the owner of a dog who was somewhat fearful when I first adopted her, I am always grateful when I stumble across useful information about working with fearful dogs. Debbie Jacobs offers a wonderful website and series of articles on the examiner.com that will hopefully provide you or perhaps your friends with some useful tips and ideas for working with a scared or shy dog.

The most important guideline to keep in mind while working with your dog, according to Debbie Jacobs: "Most important is that you work on building a positive, trusting relationship with your dog."

Her website also contains tips for dealing with storm and sound phobias.

Another great resource for those of you concerned about a fearful dog: The Cautious Canine by Patricia McConnell.

Pick of the Month - December 2009

2009-12-03T17:34:00.002-05:00

It has been several months since I've announced a "pick of the month" product, but this cold weather has renewed my appreciation for one of my favorite pet products on the market: BioBags.

These poop bags are one of the most eco-friendly options available. Many poop bags marketed as biodegradable (such as Bags on Board) are polyethylene bags that simply break down into smaller pieces of plastic. BioBags, on the other hand, are biodegradable and actually compostable since they are made from corn (a renewable resource to boot).

However, what I most appreciate about these bags on a day to day basis is how easy they are to open. With many brands of poop bags, it takes a few seconds or even minutes to separate the plastic at the top before you are able to successfully pick up your dog's business. BioBags, however, open smoothly & quickly even in the dark when your hands are either numb from the cold or you're wearing gloves. This might not seem like the biggest deal in the world, but I am reminded of how grateful I am for BioBags each time I leave the house with some other brand of poop bag in my pocket--especially when it's cold and late at night.

The Intellidogs Advent Calendar

2009-12-01T09:53:00.003-05:00

As someone who was always delighted by advent calendars as a child, I could not resist posting a link to The Intellidogs Advent Calendar.
At this point it's hard to tell what's in store, but supposedly it will offer up training tips, interesting stories and holiday goodies you can make!

Welcome to December!

Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month

2009-10-15T09:58:00.002-04:00

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.

Destructive Chewing? Hyper Dog? Try Some Exercise & Enrichment

2009-09-23T15:31:00.005-04:00

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

Itchy Skin and Allergies

2009-09-13T17:07:00.000-04:00

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).

Five Ways To Stop Your Dog From Jumping Up On People

2009-09-11T10:24:00.003-04:00

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.

Calling All Pet Owners: Online Survey Looks at Health of Dog Owners

2009-09-07T16:29:00.004-04:00

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!

September Group Walk

2009-08-23T15:30:00.002-04:00

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.

Holistic Pet Care Website and Veterinary Advice Line

2009-08-17T20:17:00.005-04:00

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!

Feliway Comfort Zone and DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone)

2009-07-24T08:44:00.006-04:00

This post was intended to be a simple link to an article written by Nicole Wilde, CPDT, about a wonderful product called DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone). I first came across Nicole Wilde's work in my search for more information about fearful dogs. Indeed, she has two wonderfully informative online radio interviews about fear and aggression in dogs. (You can find a link to the aggression interview on our facebook page.)

In my attempt to write a brief introduction, however, I delved into my own positive experiences with a related product: Feliway Comfort Zone for Cats:

I have seen great results with Feliway Comfort Zone, the cat's equivalent of DAP. The Feliway Comfort Zone diffuser is usually marketed as a product that helps with cats who spray and/or do not use their litterboxes, however I have seen great results with various stress-related issues. While I'm on the subject, here's a review of Feliway Comfort Zone by the About.com Cats guide.

And finally, here is the article "What is DAP and How Can it Help Dogs?" by Nicole Wilde about DAP, the Dog Appeasing Pheromone.

Enjoy!

Also, if you've had any experiences with either DAP or Feliway, please feel free to add them to the comments section.

Clicker Training

2009-07-18T14:25:00.000-04:00

I never gave clicker training too much thought, despite all the good things I'd heard about it. I recall thinking "Why would I buy and carry around a clicker when I can just use my voice and/or treats?"

However, as I become more and more interested in the world of positive dog training, I've gained a newfound respect for Karen Pryor, and consequently clicker training. Karen Pryor, one of the founders of clicker training, outlines 15 tips for getting started with the clicker on her website. She also answers my question: "Why can't I just use my voice?" You can read her response by following the link, but the gist of it is that the click offers a unique sound that your pet hears only as a reward marker, whereas your voice can signify very many different things.

You can pick up a clicker at virtually any pet store in town. Karen Pryor's website even offers a clicker leash, to free up your hands while you're working on loose leash walking.

What Really Prompts The Dog's 'Guilty Look'

2009-07-17T13:41:00.000-04:00

ScienceDaily (2009-06-14) -- What dog owner has not come home to a broken vase or other valuable items and a guilty-looking dog slouching around the house? By ingeniously setting up conditions where the owner was misinformed as to whether their dog had really committed an offense, researchers uncovered the origins of the "guilty look" in dogs.

Here's the original article from Science Daily.

Counter-Surfing Cats

2009-07-15T14:22:00.001-04:00

The About.com Cats page always has lots of good information on cat nutrition, behavior, litter recommendations, etc.

Check out this recent post on Counter-Surfing Cats: How to Keep Counters Clean and Cats Safe.

Dogs and Thunderstorms: Part 3 of 3

2009-07-11T13:17:00.001-04:00

Reinforcing Fear II, Thunder Phobia III

Posted using ShareThis

From Patricia McConnell, a certified applied animal behaviorist and dog trainer.

Dogs and Thunderstorms: Part 2 of 3

2009-07-10T18:17:00.001-04:00

Thunder Phobia in Dogs

Posted using ShareThis

From Patricia McConnell, a certified applied animal behaviorist and dog trainer.

Dogs and Thunderstorms: Part 1 of 3

2009-07-09T01:09:00.001-04:00

You Can’t Reinforce Fear; Dogs and Thunderstorms

Posted using ShareThis

From Patricia McConnell, a certified applied animal behaviorist and dog trainer

Pick of the Month-July 2009

2009-07-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

This month's top pick for pets: Green Earth Pet Food.

I'm a big fan of raw food for pets. I feed my dog prey model raw food (80% raw meat, 10% raw bone and 10%organ) and I make raw food for my cat, following and modifying various recipes. Sometimes, though, I get lazy and I don't want to deal with grinding up eggshell powder for calcium or poking holes in dozens of Fish Oil capsules. Or I simply don't want to be messing with raw meat first thing when I wake up in the morning. For moments like this, I generally keep a three pound bag of commercial raw medallions in the freezer. I used to buy Nature's Variety, which is a premium food that I still recommend, but it is by no means a local product and the organic option is a bit pricey. Plus, I have to drive to either South Asheville (Pet Supplies Plus) or North Asheville (Asheville Pet Supply) to get it.

So, imagine my delight when fellow pet sitter Jane Mitchell mentioned a local, organic raw pet food she had read about and then found at Greenlife. The product I am referring to is Green Earth Pet Food. It is a local, human-grade raw pet food that is slightly more affordable than the Nature's Variety I'd been buying. The Green Earth Pet Food comes in 2 ounce patties: the exact amount of food my cat needs per meal. (I feed him 2 ounces of raw food, twice a day.)
Not only is Green Earth Pet Food human-grade, it is made with ethically sourced ingredients: it contains cage-free chicken, organic vegetables, and free-range eggs. And it's made in Candler, of all places! Who could ask for anything more?

If you're interested in trying a raw diet for your pets, but you're nervous about preparing the food yourself, Green Earth Pet Food would be a great way to transition!

Green Earth Pet Food is available at Greenlife, EarthFare in West Asheville, and Pet Harmony in South Asheville. Hopefully, it will be available at the South Asheville Earth Fare this summer.

Getting Rid of Ants

2009-06-21T09:16:00.000-04:00

I just stumbled upon the blog "Dear Labby: Business Help for Pet Sitters." I haven't read too many posts on the blog yet, but I certainly appreciated the post about getting rid of ants. 'Tis the season for ants, especially in homes where cats are free fed kibble. I've had positive results with surrounding the bowl of kibble with another bowl of water, and I've also seen cinnamon do a good job of deterring ants. Here's a link to the original post:

Dear Labby, Business Help for Pet Sitters: Pet sitters' toolbox: get rid of ants

NC State Dog

2009-06-08T16:30:00.000-04:00

Did you know that NC has a state dog?

Well, I didn't until I saw an article on the Asheville Citizen-Times website.

The Plott Hound is supposedly the only breed to originate in the state of North Carolina. And guess what: it originated right here in WNC!

Here's a bit more information on the Plott Hound from the NC Department of the Secretary of State.

(Photo from American Kennel Club website.)

Pick of the Month-June 2009

2009-06-01T11:00:00.000-04:00

This month's top pick for pets: Pet Escentials

Pet Escentials is a local company that makes safe & natural grooming products for pets. Take a look at Flea Flicker if you are intereseted in a natural, non-toxic approach to flea control. I particularly like that their product line for cats is made with hydrosols instead of essential oils. (Essential Oils may be toxic to cats.) I was able to check out April's products for pets and for people at the City Market in downtown Asheville one Saturday morning. However, you can also order her products online from her website. I don't believe she's at the City Market every Saturday, so you might want to send her an email before you head downtown expecting to find her wonderful products. She also offers Reiki for pets!

Natural Feeding For Pets

2009-05-16T17:24:00.002-04:00

I'm very pleased to announce that the Appalachia School of Holistic Herbalism will be offering a class on Natural Feeding For Pets again this year on Sunday, June 7, 2009. I took this class last year and found it to be very informative and engaging. Here's the blurb from ASHH; see their website for more info:
Natural Feeding for Pets w/ Granny Sam
Sun, June 7, 1-5pm. Come learn how to identify specific needs in pets that can be addressed with diet and herbs. Know how to properly prepare and feed pets a more species appropriate well balanced diet, and confidently prepare foods for travel and boarding, using ingredients found in every grocery store. Understand how to properly use fresh and dried herbs, herbal infusions, dietary supplements, and fresh raw or cooked meats and vegetables for the betterment of your pet's health.
Cost: $45
Register now! (828)350-1221

PS: They also offer a class on "herbs for pets" on Saturday, June 6th.

Books & Bubbly

2009-05-14T11:17:00.000-04:00

This Friday, May 15th from 5pm until 8pm there will be a fundraiser at Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar, located 1 Battle Square (right across from the Grove Arcade). Drinks, Hors D'oeuvres & Raffle Prizes all benefit the homeless animals of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue. Hope to see you there!

PS: Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome!