How to Catch a Loose Dog
“Everything I know I learned from dogs.” – Nora Roberts
“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.”– Orhan Pamuk
“Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.” – Agnes Sligh Turnbull
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” – Roger Caras
“Some of my best leading men have been dogs and horses.” – Elizabeth Taylor
“The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.” – Charles De Gaulle
“Dogs never bite me. Just humans.” – Marilyn Monroe
“I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” – Winston Churchill
“If you don’t own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.” – Roger A. Caras
“If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man.” – Mark Twain
“Reason No. 106 why dogs are smarter than humans: Once you leave the litter, you sever contact with your mothers.” – Jodi Picoult
“What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” – Dwight D Eisenhower
“My father… was a man who understood all dogs thoroughly and treated them like human beings.” – Flann O’Brien
“A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down.” – Josh Billings
“Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
“I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat.” – Edgar Allen Poe
“One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home.” – Pam Brown
“The love of a dog is a pure thing. He gives you a trust which is total. You must not betray it.” – Michel Houellebecq
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” – Josh Billings
“Who ever said that Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, never owned a dog.”
“Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.” – Kinky Friedman
“As wonderful as dogs can be, they are famous for missing the point.” – Jean Ferris
“Happiness is a warm puppy.” – Charles Shultz
“Did you know that there are over 300 words for love in canine?” – Gabriel Zevin
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” – Will Rogers
“You can usually tell that a man is good if he has a dog who loves him.” – W. Bruce Cameron
“I don’t understand people who don’t touch their pets. Their cat or dog is called a pet for a reason.” – Jarod Kintz
“When an 85-pound mammal licks your tears away, then tries to sit on your lap, it’s hard to feel sad.” – Kristan Higgins
“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.” – Gilda Radner
“The dog has seldom been successful in pulling man up to its level of sagacity, but man has frequently dragged the dog down to his.” – James Thurber
“The greatest fear dogs know is the fear that you will not come back when you go out the door without them.” – Stanley Coren
“Dogs are wise. They crawl away into a quiet corner and lick their wounds and do not rejoin the world until they are whole once more.” – Agatha Cristie
“My dog is half pit-bull, half poodle. Not much of a watchdog, but a vicious gossip.” – Craig Shoemaker
“Every dog must have his day.” – Jonathan Swift
“Anybody who doesn’t know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.” – Franklin P. Jones
“The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven not man’s.” – Mark Twain
“The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.” ~ Andy Rooney
“Time spent with cats is never wasted.” – Sigmund Freud
“Kisses are a better fate than wisdom.” – EE Cummings
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” – Josh Billings
“To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.” – Aldous Huxley
“Cats are inquisitive, but hate to admit it.” ~ Mason Cooley
“I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.” ~ Hippolyte Taine
“There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” – Albert Schweitzer
“I believe cats to be spirits come to earth. A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through.” – Jules Verne
“It doesn’t matter if a cat is black or white, so long as it catches mice.” – Deng Xiaoping
Are you going out of town but have a dog or cat with diabetes? There are a lot of factors to consider before you even decide to go on vacation. We want to walk you through these points of concern and discuss when you should make the choice to stay in town and skip that vacation instead. If you decide it is ok to leave, then we have a list of suggestions for pet sitting schedules that we have found work out well for diabetic pets. All pets need amazing care, but without an educated and precise pet sitter, it can be easy for a diabetic pet to become ill.
We are always happy to help out, but there are some factors that need to be considered with diabetic pets before you make the decision to go on a vacation.
If you are seeing multiple points of concern, then you should consider waiting to travel until your pet is more stable. We are concerned for both your pet, who is not feeling well already, and the safety of the sitter who will be handling your pet in close quarters. If you think this is a good time to travel then we have multiple steps to make sure it goes smoothly!
So you are going to travel and want to make sure it goes as well as possible. So do we! Here is what a sitter will need so you can have the best trip:
If your are unsure of how your pet will do with a sitter – have some trial visits. At Wet Noses Pet Sitting, we require a trial visit for any cat receiving medication. We recommend it for dogs, but only require it is the dog seems nervous during the meet and greet. During a trial visit, you will leave and your sitter will come just like you are on vacation. This will allow us all to observe how your animal reacts to a new person handling them and allows us to flush out any questions your sitter may have.
If you know your pet will have a hard time – schedule multiple trial visits! We are happy to come work with you for as long as it takes to get your dog or cat comfortable with us. We want everyone to be relaxed and have peace of mind when you do leave.
If you can prepare all of this, then you can travel comfortably, knowing that your pet will be well cared for. Now you just need to decide on a schedule! Unlike other pets, diabetic pets need medication every 12 hours, so our suggested schedules are built with that in mind.
Your sitter will use this visit for a walk and/or playtime. It is a good time during the day just to check on your pet and make sure she is feeling ok. If you have a dog, this visit should be set at a time when your dog would normally need to go outside, so it is in line with her normal routine. A visit during the middle of the day like this means that your dog will only be alone for 6-7 hours, depending on the time of the visit.
A 12 hour overnight means your sitter will feed your pet and give insulin at the beginning and end of the stay. Your sitter will arrive in the early evening (around 7 pm) and take your dog for a walk or playtime (if you have one), whichever is normal for her. Then comes feeding and some time for relaxation. Right before bed, your dog goes out for the last outing, usually a potty break. Your sitter sends you a picture with an update so you can rest easy knowing your pup has company. In the morning there is time for another walk or playtime and feeding, as well as other pet chores. The Extended Overnight Stay is especially good for dogs and cats who are accustomed to having company and companionship during the evenings or if you have a large number of pets needing care.
Your sitter arrives ready for a walk (if you have a dog) and dinner time! Your pets will be happy to see her after a day apart, so there is usually some happy greeting time followed by a trip outside to go potty for dogs. This visit will be scheduled during the time that your pet needs her evening insulin. After dogs get their evening walk, or cats have playtime, it is time for dinner and medication. Your sitter sends you a picture with an update so you can rest easy knowing your pet has company. Before leaving, your sitter turns on some lights so your pets are not alone in the dark, and to make your home appear lived in.
Your sitter will arrive in the evening (around 10 pm) and let your dog out for a potty break. Your sitter then settles your pup in for their normal bedtime routine. Maybe your dog sleeps in the bed with your sitter, or on a dog bed in the bedroom. If your dog needs a tuck in with a blanket or a late night treat, that will happen. In the morning there is time for a let out or a quick walk and feeding. Before leaving, your sitter will set your pup up for the day with her normal routine, including breakfast and medication. The overnight stay is especially good for dogs who are accustomed to having company and companionship overnight, and provides a level of consistency that dogs appreciate. It also allows your sitter to keep an eye on your pet’s behavior for any changes that indicate she is not feeling well.
Your sitter will arrive in the morning (between 7-8:30am) and take your dog for a walk or playtime, whichever is normal for her. It is an exciting time to get up and stretch our legs first thing in the morning! Cats gets some cuddles and playtime, whatever they like. Then comes feeding, medication and other normal chores. Before leaving your sitter will set your pup up for the day with her normal routine, whether it be a stuffed kong or leaving a radio on.
Your sitter arrives ready for a walk and playtime! Your pup will be happy to see her after a day apart, so there is usually some happy greeting time followed by a trip outside to go potty. Then they are off for their walk or playtime outside, depending on what your dog prefers. Your sitter sends you a picture with an update so you can rest easy knowing your pup has company. Before leaving, your sitter turns on some lights so your dog in not alone in the dark, and to make your home appear lived in.
This visit should be timed to be 12 hours apart from your breakfast visit. The sitter will take dogs out for a last minute potty break and then feeding and medication. It allows your pup to close out the day comfortable and secure. Your sitter will let your pup out and settle her in for the night with her normal routine. At the end it is lights out and time for sleep!
For dogs and cats, there are a few factors we like to consider when setting a schedule:
We want to work with you to set up the best possible schedule for your dog, so you are all happy during your trip. We also know that each home is different, and a lot of people have more than just one dog!
After you have the basic idea of your schedule we sit down to figure out the nitty-gritty:
When you leave town, deciding what to do with your dog can be a challenge. Should you hire a dog sitter? Should you board your dog? Or should you find a kind friend to step in?
If you are considering hiring a dog sitter, no matter what sitter you use, we have a list of ideas for schedules. The schedule for your dog depends on your dog’s personality and finding the right one is important to keep her happy and healthy.
If you are curious about our services or animal care in general, feel free to contact us! We are very active on social media and you can find up on Facebook Live some mornings at 8:30am MST talking about animal care. Join us!
Are you going out of town but are worried about your dog? There are a lot of choices for pet care and for scheduling and it can be hard to know where to start. Over the years we have had a variety of schedules and we have been able to see what works best for dogs with different personalities. Here are our top 3 schedules for pet sitting visits that we have found to work well. Of course, these can all be tweaked for your household, this just gives you a place to start!
Your sitter will use this visit for a walk and/or playtime. This visit should be set at a time when your dog would normally need to go outside, so it is in line with her normal routine. A visit during the middle of the day like this means that your dog will only be alone for 6-7 hours, depending on the time of the visit.
Your sitter will arrive in the early evening (around 7 pm) and take your dog for a walk or playtime, whichever is normal for her. Then comes feeding and some time for relaxation. Right before bed, your dog goes out for the last outing, usually a potty break. Your sitter sends you a picture with an update so you can rest easy knowing your pup has company. In the morning there is time for another walk or playtime and feeding, as well as other pet chores. The Extended Overnight Stay is especially good for dogs who are accustomed to having company and companionship during the evenings or if you have a large number of pets needing care.
Your sitter arrives ready for a walk and dinner time! Your pup will be happy to see her after a day apart, so there is usually some happy greeting time followed by a trip outside to go potty. Then they are off for their walk or playtime outside, depending on what your dog prefers. After getting that energy out, it is time for dinner. Your sitter sends you a picture with an update so you can rest easy knowing your pup has company. Before leaving, your sitter turns on some lights so your dog in not alone in the dark, and to make your home appear lived in.
Your sitter will arrive in the evening (around 10 pm) and let your dog out for a potty break. Your sitter then settles your pup in for their normal bedtime routine. Maybe your dog sleeps in the bed with your sitter, or on a dog bed in the bedroom. If your dog needs a tuck in with a blanket or a late night treat, that will happen. In the morning there is time for a let out or a quick walk and feeding. Before leaving, your sitter will set your pup up for the day with her normal routine. The overnight stay is especially good for dogs who are accustomed to having company and companionship overnight, and provides a level of consistency that dogs appreciate.
Your sitter will arrive in the morning (between 7-8:30am) and take your dog for a walk or playtime, whichever is normal for her. It is an exciting time to get up and stretch our legs first thing in the morning! Then comes feeding and other normal chores. Before leaving your sitter will set your pup up for the day with her normal routine, whether it be a stuffed kong or leaving a radio on.
Your sitter arrives ready for a walk and dinner time! Your pup will be happy to see her after a day apart, so there is usually some happy greeting time followed by a trip outside to go potty. Then they are off for their walk or playtime outside, depending on what your dog prefers. After getting that energy out, it is time for dinner. Your sitter sends you a picture with an update so you can rest easy knowing your pup has company. Before leaving, your sitter turns on some lights so your dog in not alone in the dark, and to make your home appear lived in.
Last minute trips out a necessary for a healthy dog bladder and brain. It allows your pup to close out the day comfortable and secure. Your sitter will let your pup out and settle her in for the night with her normal routine. At the end it is lights out and time for sleep!
For dogs, there are a few factors we like to consider when setting a schedule;
We want to work with you to set up the best possible schedule for your dog, so you are all happy during your trip. We also know that each home is different, and a lot of people have more than just one dog!
After you have the basic idea of your schedule we sit down to figure out the nitty-gritty:
My three year old loves playing in the rain and jumping in puddles. But do you know who doesn’t love being in the rain? Our dog Rigsby. He hates going out in the rain, even to potty; that means taking a walk in the rain is absolutely out of the question.
So, why do so many dogs hate walking in the rain? We’ve compiled a few reasons why and ways to help get them out during rainy days.
Sometimes the reason is as simple as your dog doesn’t like the damp outdoors. Dogs coats are very sensitive. If you notice a dog getting rained on you can see their fur twitching, which has to be pretty annoying for them. Same goes for your dog’s paws. I mean, do you like walking on the wet ground in bare feet? I didn’t think so. Between the rain on their backs and the water on the ground, walking in the rain can be a pretty miserable experience for your dog.
A lot of times rain mean thunder and lightning. Animals have the knack for sensing storms before we even know they are coming. When dogs with storm phobias sense the change in the air and barometric pressure, the anxiety starts to creep up. A dog with storm phobia shouldn’t be forced to go outside because it may make it worse. Some dogs have a natural predisposition to have anxiety, others have had traumatic experiences with loud noises. But for the most part, there is no telling why your dog has thunderstorm phobias. All you can do is work with them and help them through it.
Rain happens and sometimes for days at a time. Your dog will still need to get out and use the potty at some point. Luckily there are some great products out there to help your dog through the distaste and fear of the rain.
Doggy Anti-Anxiety Stress Reducing Jacket
Help your dog stay calm with this stress-reducing jacket. Similar to swaddling a baby, this jacket helps comfort your dog when they are feeling anxious.
Storm Stress Relaxing Drops for Dogs
Stress from storms, hurricanes or even strong wind can be reduced with these drops.
Keep their paws dry during the storm and even in the snow with these cute little dog boots.
Transparent Umbrella with Leash
Avoid the pelting rain with this cute leash umbrella combo. Perfect for the rainy and snowy days.
Waking in the rain doesn’t have to be a terrible experience for you and your dog. With a better understanding and a few good tools, there is sunshine at the end of the storm!
If you are asking yourself this question, then you’ve probably had a traumatizing experience with Fido while watching the Times Square ball drop at midnight. If you’re like most people, New Year’s Eve is a night filled with lots of family, friends, fun, and noise. LOTS of noise. Though the noise may not bother you, your dog’s hearing is four times better than yours. Their natural instinct is to RUN.
One minute you’re cuddling with Fido and the next he is nowhere to be found. He most likely ran outside or hid under the bed, searching for a secure place to hide. While you’re frantically running around looking for your precious pooch, you get a knock on the door from your neighbor saying they found him wandering in their front yard. You think to yourself, “I’m so lucky I found you”.
If you can relate to this scenario, your dog most likely does not like New Year’s Eve.
See those streamers, balloons and party hats? They may be fun for you, but for Fido? Not so much. He may be scared and not recognize you. This may lead to a change in behavior and his reactivity to you. If he shows signs of fear, take the hat off and reassure your pup that everything will be okay.
Noise makers, cheering and laughter are all part of the New Year’s Eve festivities. These are all scary noises for Fido. You may find him trembling and whining in fear. Ask your guests to bring the noise down a notch, and put your dog in a separate room with the TV or radio on.
Is it your turn to host the annual New Year’s Eve party? Whether you are hosting a huge party, or it’s a group of your closest friends, these people are getting in your dog’s personal space. Large crowds are scary and Fido may react adversely. If your dog is not a social creature, spare him the anxiety and put him in a separate room.
Are your neighbors the type to set off fireworks in the middle of the street and make a huge commotion? If you answered yes, this may be why Fido is shaking uncontrollably while you “ooh” and “ah” at the light show. Fireworks are some of the scariest, loudest noises for dogs. Turn up the TV and keep your furry friend in a secure kennel or bedroom. If you have the opportunity to, try to stroke his back while you reassuringly hold him.
The reasons mentioned above may just be the tip of the iceberg to why your dog does not like New Year’s Eve. Just remember, while you’re excited and ready to ring in the New Year, keep your furry friend in mind!
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