Tag Archive for: fort collins dog

Why Should I Hire a Dog Sitter?

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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?

Hiring a dog sitter has a variety of benefits:

  • Dogs appreciate routine and their own space. A dog sitter allows your pup to stay home where she is comfortable and familiar with her surroundings and routine.
  • Dog sitters can spend one-on-one time with your dog, often as much time as you normally would.
  • Your dog is not exposed to other dogs or diseases that can frequent boarding kennels.
  • Sitters will notice any changes in behavior quickly and can pick up on any health concerns.

Schedules

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.

Questions?

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!

 

Easter Treats – Recipes For Your Pets

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Easter is almost here and soon we will be pawing through Easter baskets and sitting down to a nice meal with our loved ones. Don’t forget to include our four-legged family members in the festivities! Bake them some of their very own Easter Treats for them to enjoy.

Carrot Cake for Dogs

Photo: Tastemade

We found this recipe on Tastemade and it looks like a slice of doggy heaven.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup grated carrots (approx. 1 large carrot)

  • 1 large egg

  • ½ cup canned sardines, drained and shredded

  • ¼ cup sunflower seed oil

  • ¼ cup water

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour

  • cooking spray

  • 1 ½ cups cream cheese, room temperature

  • sliced carrot

Directions:

  1. Combine the grated carrot and egg in a bowl and beat until well combined. Add the sardines, sunflower seed oil and water and mix until combined. Add the flour and mix well.

  2. Spray two 4-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and divide the batter between them, smoothing the surface. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350F for 35 minutes, until golden brown on top. Cool completely in the pans.

  3. Beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy.

  4. Slice each cake in half to create a total of 4 layers. Place one layer on a serving tray of your choice and spread 2 tbsp of cream cheese over the surface. Repeat with the remaining layers. Cover the entire surface sparingly with cream cheese – they shouldn’t eat too much cream cheese, so just use enough to give the cake a white appearance. Place the remaining cream cheese in a piping bag fitted with a small star-shaped piping tip and pipe dollops of cream cheese onto the top of the cake.

  5. Place a heart-shaped carrot onto each dollop and serve!

 

 

Dog Bone Treats

Photo: All Recipes

This recipe came from Allrecipes and is great for all occasions. Use bone shaped, egg or bunny shaped, even heart-shaped cookie cutters to make this scrumptious treat for your dog! 

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Stir together the flour and baking powder; set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together the peanut butter and milk. Stir in the flour mixture until well blended. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into shapes using cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
  3. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly brown. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

 

Kitty Delights

Image: Serendipity & Spice

We can’t forget our to mak feline friends Easter treats on this holiday, so we picked up this easy cat-friendly recipe from Serendipity & Spice.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup white cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 5oz can of tuna
  • 1/2 cup water

Directions:

  1. Mix all ingredients together until it forms a ball.
  2. Break off tiny pieces and roll into a small bite size ball and place on baking sheet.
  3. Flatten ball with a finger– just like you’re making thumbprint cookies.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.
  5. Flip and bake an additional 5 minutes.
  6. Let cool and have your kitties enjoy!

What are some of your favorite Easter Treats to make for your pets? We’d love to hear your recipes too! Let us know on Facebook or the comments below!

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5 Valentine’s Day Gifts For Your Dog

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Is your dog your Valentine this year? How can you show your dog some love, other than belly rubs? Here are some Valentine’s Day gifts for your dog!

Spa Package 

Every dog loves getting pampered (and us humans love a less smelly dog). Check out Animal House Rescue and Grooming for dog grooming and nail trims. Want to pamper your dog at home? Try giving him a doggie massage. Start with a flat palm and run your hand over all parts of your dog’s body. Move in one swift motion over your dog’s sides and back with light pressure. The first few massages will help you figure out what normal feels like for your dog. After this you can feel spots on your dog that are swollen or need some extra loving.

Toys and Bones 

Most dogs love new toys and bones. Check out your local pet store for cool Valentine’s Day toys for the dog. For the more destructive dogs, try Kong indestructible toys. For the dog who loves to chew, check out antler chews, which are dropped deer antlers. Be sure to pick bones or toys that are not a choking hazard to your dog.

valentine's

 

Treats 

 

Every dog loves treats! Check out our previous article on Valentine’s Day dog treats or check your local pet store for dog treats. Also,most local pet boutiques have a bakery and sell special Valentine’s Day cookies.

Winter Clothing 

In February it can be a little chilly for outside fun with your dog, but with some winter weather gear your dog can play outside. Check out a winter coat or some winter boots as Valentine’s Day gifts for your dog. The coat will help keep your dog warm on winter walks and boots will help keep his paws ice ball free.

Quality Time

Most dogs love spending time with their people and it can be the best gift you can give them. Try taking your dog to the dog park or on a long car ride.

With these gifts, you can make give a special gift to that special dog in your life. These Valentine’s Day gifts for your dog are sure to please.

Reduce, Reuse and Ruff-cycle

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Today we welcome guest writer Sidehill Pet Sitter Jessica! 

As the owner of two Australian Shepherds- who are way smarter than any toy I can buy them– I have had to come up with some creative, low-cost ways to keep them entertained. I decided to ruff-cycle. All of the toy ideas in this article are things that you likely have in your home or in your recycling bin!

As with any toy, make sure to supervise your dog the whole time he has it to make sure that he does not swallow anything he should not!

If your dog is on a diet or is sensitive to treats you can use his dry kibble as treats!

  1. Towel treat hide-it

This toy involves taking a towel, laying it on the ground and placing treats under it. It helps to let your dog watch you the first few times so that he can figure it out, or use smelly treats so he can find them quickly. After your dog catches on, you can put the treats under the towel with your dog out of the room! Most dogs will start by digging or licking the top of the towel, but will soon figure out to push their nose under the towel. * Please watch your dog to make sure that he does not swallow any part of the towel.

  1. Egg carton toy

This toy involves an empty egg carton. Take the egg carton and place treats in a few of the cups, then close your egg carton all the way, or leave the carton unlatched ( slightly open). Be prepared for your dog to rip the carton apart or flip the top open with his nose. In this picture, I am using apples to make this toy for my rabbit ( who thinks he is a dog)!

  1. Paper-tube toy

This toy involves taking a paper towel or toilet paper roll and applying peanut butter or another sticky yummy food onto the inside of the roll with a knife. Your dog will try and lick the peanut butter out of the roll!

  1. Orange Juice Container puzzle-toy

This toy involves taking a cardboard drink container ( like the kind orange juice comes in) and turning it into a puzzle toy. First be sure to rinse and clean the container very well! After the container is clean, remove the plastic spout with a knife or scissors. Then cut small (1 to 2 inches) holes into the sides and bottom of the container. Stuff small and medium-sized treats (such as your dog’s kibble, cheese or hard treats) into the container. Then, cover the holes with peanut butter. The treats should be able to fit through the holes with a little bit of shaking and knocking around. You can adjust the size of your holes to make it harder or easier for your dog. Your dog will shake and lick your toy, and eventually get the treats!

Hopefully, these reused toys will bring enrichment to your dog and a lessening on your carbon footprint!

Why Does My Dog Not Like New Year’s Eve?

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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.

A few reasons your dog doesn’t like New Year’s Eve

  • Decorations

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.

  • Loud Noises

Noisemakers, 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.

  • Crowds

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.

  • Fireworks

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 as 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!

 

 

How to Involve Your Pets in Christmas

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Christmas is a special time for family and a lot of families include fur-children too. That’s why it’s a great idea to try and involve your pets in the Christmas celebrations. And if you’re wondering how to do that, we have some great ways to include the four-legged family members this year.

 

Take a Christmas photo together

We all love getting the family together for a festive family photo. This year make sure that your pet is in the photo as well! Grab your pet and an extra Santa for the perfect (and complete!) family portrait. You can use it for Christmas cards, put it in an ornament or frame it for the perfect holiday keepsake.

Get them a special gift

Wrap a gift and put it under the tree just for them. Just be sure that if it’s a fragrant gift of treats to wait and put it under the tree Christmas morning. Their curiosity may get the better of them and they may try to break into it. Eating ribbon or string can wreak havoc on their digestive systems, so it’s best to leave those gifts locked away until it is time to open it up.

Bake them their own Christmas treats

Most of the holidays are spent nibbling on delectable foods. However, almost everything we eat is far too rich for our pups to have. Why not take a few extra minutes in the kitchen to make them their own delicious Christmas treats? There are a lot of easy recipes you can whip up for your furry pal in no time.

Bring them along to look at Christmas lights

One of the best parts of the holiday season is all of the twinkling Christmas decorations. It’s always fun to jump in the car and drive around looking at lights. This year instead of leaving your dog at home, bring them along with the whole family for a chance to see how festive your neighborhood looks.

 

Spending time with family is one of the most important parts of Christmas. We get a chance to give our loved ones gifts and shower them with love during this special time of year. Including your pet is only the natural thing to do!

 

Related Posts:

The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats

No Bake Snowball Treats for Your Dog

Easy Thanksgiving Treats to Make for Your Dog

 

Book Early For Wet Noses Pet Sitting Holiday Services

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December is a busy time for a lot of us. Between holiday parties and visiting family, you’re often away from home for hours, if not days at a time. In fact, according to The American Pet Products Association (APPA), pet ownership is at an all-time high, with 66% of U.S. households—or 86.9 million homes have one or more pets. And more than two-thirds of those homes will need to find reliable pet care for the holiday season. That’s why it’s important to book early for any holiday services you need during the bustling holiday season.

Make sure to book Wet Noses Pet Sitting early to make sure your pet gets the best care.

It is important to call for an appointment as soon as you possible. Our schedules fill up incredibly fast during the month of December. We are licensed, insured and bonded, with highly trained pet sitters that will keep your pets happy and healthy while you’re away.

As Patti J. Moran, PSI founder and president states, “just finding a pet sitter in an online directory—or even on a nationally-publicized site—doesn’t ensure that person is a legitimate, qualified pet-sitting business,” Moran explains. “Anyone can post a profile advertising pet-sitting services, so it’s important for pet owners to take a closer look to ensure they are hiring a ‘real pet sitter’ to care for their pets.”

Why Hire a Pet Sitter for the Holidays?

Christmas decorations make the home more hazardous, so even if you’re away from home for a few hours, your pet can find all sorts of trouble to get into.

  • Trips to visit family
  • Long days shopping
  • Holiday parties

The holiday season is undoubtedly a time full of activity. From shopping to parties and quality time catching up with family, we spend most of December celebrating and spending time with our loved ones. But that doesn’t mean we should leave our furry family members at home to fend for themselves.

Book today to make sure your pet has a safe and happy holiday season too!

 

 

5 Halloween Costumes That Include Your Dog 2019

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Halloween is almost here, soon the weekends will fill up with costume parties and trick or treating. Couple’s costumes have always been a hit. But pairing up with your four-legged friend is even better.  You are sure to stand out with one of these awesome Halloween costumes that include your dog. With these top 5 costume ideas, you are sure to be the talk of the party for years to come.

1. Luke Skywalker, Han Solo or Princess Leia with an Ewok 

Choose your favorite Star Wars character and pair it with one the ever adorable Ewoks of Endor. You can go all out with store-bought costumes or keep it simple. Drape your dog with a brown cloak and attach a stick to the side. Then pick out similar cloths as your favorite character, grab a wig or pull up your hair, and you’re set.  Now, if you could only teach your dog to bark, “UTINI!!!!”

2. Felonius Gru and a Minion 

Photo from Buy Costumes

Photo from Buy Costumes

I love how comfortable and easy this one is for the human! Black pants, grey sweater and striped scarf will pull this look off. If you really want to go all out get the mask and scarf from Amazon, then you’ll really be Despicable Me.

3. Daenerys Stormborn & Her Dragon

Another costume that is sure to be a hit is Daenerys and her dragons from Game of Thrones. If you’re handy with the sewing machine, you could easily fashion some wings for your dog and a flowy garb ala Khaleesi. Or take the easy way with a plush dragon costume and a true Mother of Dragon’s outfit.

 

4. Batman (or Batgirl) and Robin

Photo from Amazon

The dynamic duo has never been so perfect! Dress your dog up as Robin and don your best Dark Knight get up for the perfect costume.

5. Ringmaster & Lion

Let your dog be the star of the show as a lion and you as the Ringmaster under the big top.

Just remember to never leave your dog unattended in a costume. It is important that your dog is safe and comfortable. Safety is an important part of a good time. Make sure to stay tuned next week for more Halloween safety tips.

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

Best Halloween Costumes for Your Dog

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Fall is here and Halloween decorations are starting to pop up everywhere. It’s time to start thinking about your costumes. And why should we have all the fun? Why not get your dog in on the spooky holiday with a costume of their own! Here are the top Halloween costumes for your dog this October 31st.

 

Minion

Halloween Costume

Image from Amazon

You can never go wrong with an adorable Minion costume.

Beanie Baby

Halloween Costume

Image from You Bet Your Pierogis

 

Transform your dog into a real-life version of the crazy 90’s trend, the Beanie Baby. The best part is that this Halloween costume is easy and inexpensive! Learn out to create it in this tutorial from You Bet Your Pierogi.

Super Dog

 

Halloween Costume

Image from Amazon

Create your own crime-fighting canine with this adorable super dog costume!

Punk Rock Pup

Halloween Costume

Image from Woman’s Day

Recreate the look with a Doggy Faux-Mohawk and a studded collar. Your pup will go from pup to punk in no time.

 

Lion Dog

Image from Amazon

 

We love Halloween and the chance to dress up as our favorite characters for the night. Just remember to keep your pet’s safety in mind first and you’re sure to have a great night!

What is your favorite costume that you’ve ever seen or done with your dog? We’d love to hear all about it in the comments below or on our Facebook page.

Related Blogs:

Top 3 Halloween Costume Safety Tips For Your Pets

Halloween Dangers for Pets

5 Halloween Costumes That Include Your Dog

Should I Let My Kid Bring our Pet to Show and Tell?

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One of the most exciting and fun days in school for younger students is Show and Tell Day. Children everywhere think about bringing their favorite things in life to show everyone. Who is more special in our kid’s lives than the family pet? That’s why every year tons of students ask if they can bring your pet to show and tell. And you may wonder, can they? Is it a good idea?

Well, that can depend on a few different factors. Here are a few things that you should consider.

Are there any classroom restrictions?show and tell

One of the biggest problems with bringing your pet to class is that some people may allergic. Just like peanut butter, depending on the pet and classroom, there could be allergies. Check with the teacher to make sure animals are allowed, if any.

How friendly is your pet?

Of course, you want to make sure that your pet is friendly. However, even if they are friendly at home, it doesn’t mean that they are friendly everywhere. Assess your pet’s threshold for strangers before you decided it is a good idea to bring them into the classroom. Make sure to consider how they interact with children especially. A dog may like adults, but some tend to get confused and more defensive around the small, loud, unpredictable humans.

Is transportation easy and stress-free?

Some pets are easy to transport than others. Even if you get the go ahead to bring your dog or cat that easily hop into cars and carriers, some of us don’t have conventional animals. For example, my son loves our Leopard Gecko, but taking her out of her terrarium and into a classroom just seems terrible. Not only do you have to either take a giant tank or a create a makeshift environment, it can be stressful for them.

When it comes down to it, check with your child’s teacher and school administrators. Then think about how easy it will be to transport your pet and how well they will adapt to the situation. If it doesn’t work out, make some other suggestions or print out pictures or make a craft. You can easily make collages, paper mache replicas, or just bring in photo albums of your beloved pets without all of the fuss and stress.

Have you ever let your kid take a pet to show and tell? Let us know how it went in the comments below!

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