Tag Archive for: fort collins

A Day in the Life of Kit the Dog: An Outing to Bones du Jour

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Written by Kit (with help from Gillian Rankin aka Mom)

The day started out like any other, but little did I know my mom had a surprise for me in store. It was a couple of weeks ago and I thought I was tagging a long for some of my mom’s errands when we stopped in a parking lot I didn’t recognize and she opened MY door. It turns out that parking lot was home to a locally owned dog bakery called Bones du Jour and at first I thought I had died and gone to heaven!

Man, what can I say, when you walk into this bakery (conveniently located within walking distance of my favorite local hangout, City Park) you are greeted by the wonderful sounds of dogs saying hello and the aroma of all of my favorite smells. Then, as if out of my dreams, a wonderful stranger appeared bearing the most delicious biscuits I had ever tasted. This woman turned out to be none other than “biscuitologist” and Bones du Jour owner, Sue Carroll.

My mom and Sue began talking, while I began my investigation. I was looking for the source of these wonderful smells! While wandering I overheard Sue saying that she had been baking since 2004 (which is 63 years in dog years!).

 

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Now, I consider myself a biscuit connoisseur of sorts, so this visit quickly became an opportunity to test my skills. Every so often Sue would have to step to the back to check the oven and when she returned, she brought with her samples for me to try. In the first, I detected notes of pumpkin and ginger, and the second tasted strongly of peanut butter! My favorite, though, would probably have to have been buffalo liver. Yum!

Everything Sue does at Bones du Jour is all-natural, but I didn’t miss any of the bad stuff! She took out all the preservatives and fats that us dogs only think we need. Instead, she uses whole grains and other locally sourced ingredients.

My mom reminded me that this was not the first time I had tasted Sue’s biscuits. It was actually at Animal House, a local dog rescue, where she had donated treats to their annual ‘Comedy Night’ event. My mom tells me that she sees her all over town, though! I’m told you can find her at our local farmer’s markets. I highly recommend you stop in to see Sue, and be sure to tell her Kit sent you!

 

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A Special thanks to Bones du Jour for allowing us to come visit!

To visit them yourself get your parents to take you to 1720 W. Mulberry #B8, Fort Collins, CO  80521. You will love it too!

How to Safely Go On a Dog Walk After Dark

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I know, that evening walk around the block is a lot harder and somewhat scarier this time of year. It becomes very dark so early in the evening and with the snow, ice, wind, and those scary noises that turn out to be the bunny under the bush, it is easy to just say “we’ll go tomorrow, Fido”. Here are some suggestions that will help give you the confidence to go ahead and take your dog in the dark for a nice evening stroll.

Wear Reflective Gear

Both you and your dog should wear something reflective. Remember that reflective means it requires an outside light source to work. Items like reflective collars, leashes, and vests work best when used on the sidewalk or wherever headlights will illuminate you and are not much help if you are walking on a nature trail. Be sure that the leash you choose has the reflective material on both sides to be very visible.

LED Wear

There are some very cool, small dog-safe LED lights on the market now. These work in different ways (some push on while some twist) but they all easily attach to the dogs collar and hang near the ID tags. Some of the above mentioned gear also have LED lights embedded within them. The LED lights are very bright and can be some from a long distance in complete darkness.

Cold Weather Gear

Even the toughest dogs who love this type of weather can still feel the effects of the cold, snow and ice. Be sure to protect your dog’s feet with pad cream (be careful though as this might make slippery conditions a little trickier), or with the many different varieties of snow booties available today. These come in a range of sizes, styles, and prices but if you go out hiking often in this weather, you may want to invest in some. Fido may walk a little funny at first but will get used to them very fast.   A jacket of some type is also recommended for our dogs that have little hair or are very sensitive to the cold. Beagles, Boxers and other short haired dogs will thank you for the extra layer. These also are available in a ton of different styles and prices but if you shop around you will find the right one in no time.

Your Clothing

Now, we have Fido all decked out and ready to go but don’t forget yourself! Always wear reflective or LED as well and avoid dark clothing. You have to be as visible as your dog. Also, we’ve all heard about dressing in layers. Try to wear a few lighter layers with material that will wick away the moisture if you get wet (or work up a sweat) closest to your skin. Don’t forget your warm hat and gloves and always wear warm socks with your safest walking shoes. Remember that nobody will care what you look like and this is not style competition.

Other Gear

Always bring a flashlight. A small but bright flashlight can be helpful for finding those nighttime deposits that Fido leaves on the neighbor’s lawn and can also assist in visibility with other nighttime strollers. You might try a headlamp if you need your hands free.

Nighttime Distractions

You know they are out there. Those nocturnal animals that the darkness brings out create a whole new set of distractions. In the day time you are ready for the squirrel, rabbit or cat that might cross your path but at night you also get raccoons, fox and skunks. This is also where that flashlight can be helpful. Please have good control of your dog as well. A little sniffing and investigating can turn into a fight with something wild and possibly rabid so it is best to have already taught your dog what “leave it” and “let’s go” mean as well as have good leash manners.

Route Safety

Please be careful when considering and choosing your path for your nighttime walks. There are routes that are just more tricky in the dark than others. Stay away from those desolate roads, dark paths, very busy city streets or those parts of the city that just are not as safe at night for you or Fido. It is recommended that you stay in a familiar area or where other nighttime dog walkers are out and about.

Don’t worry. With the right gear and some planning, you can be sure that both you and your dog enjoy your walk and are back in the warmth and security of home with no problems. It can be a quiet and bonding time for you and your dog and you might come home with a great story to tell about that attack rabbit!

 

Choosing a Path for your Dog Walk

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Guest writer Alexis, a Wet Noses Pet Sitting Dog Walker

As a dog walker I always wonder what path should I take on a walk. There are essentially two type of paths to walk on, hard surfaces like roads and sidewalks, then there are nature paths that may be made of grass and dirt. Each of these types of paths have their own positives and negatives. For both paths it is extremely important to have the correct harness and leash for your dog walk. Below are some tips I found helpful while taking dogs out for walks on both types of surfaces.

Notes for Walking on a Street

Try to avoid walking your dog at night, but if you must wear reflectors on both you and your dog.

  • Convenience – Many people like the convenience of walking their dog out the front door and on to the street. It takes less time then driving to a dog walking trail.
  • Nail file – Some of you might not know this, but walking your dog on a hard surfaces works as a natural nail file. As they walk their nails scrap against the ground slowly filing them down.
  • Cars – You must always be mindful of your surroundings and most importantly cars on the road. It can be dangerous walking in the street while cars are zipping by. So and avoid listening to music or talking on your phone.
  • Heat – When summer rolls around hard surfaces can become extremely hot and hazardous for your dogs paws. I suggest walking your dog earlier in the morning when it is the coolest. Test the surface by placing the back of your hand on the ground and holding it for 11 seconds. If its too hot for you then it is probably to hot for your dog.

Notes for Taking Nature Trail Path

Always be sure to take a marked trail that allows dogs, which you can check very easily online.

  • Shade – While not all trails are the same, most of them have more shade then walking on the street. This can help during those hot Summer months.
  • Paws – Walking on grass or dirt is softer compared to walking on the roads or sidewalks. This can give relief to a dogs paws and make your walk much better. Still be aware of twigs and debris along the way.
  • Wildlife – When walking your dog on a trail, be aware that wildlife can jump out at any time and frighten or excite your dog. It is important to always keep a tight grip on the leash when walking on a trail.
  • Bugs – Trail are nice because they involve nature, but that also means dealing with bugs. If your dog yelps on a walk then investigate the area they immediately look to afterwards. If bitten be sure to clean the wound and   watch it for any rash or swelling. If necessary you should take them to the vet, for safe measure.

No matter where you go for your dog walk, there is no doubt they will appreciate the time our of the house in the fresh air!

Need Help Walking Your Dog?

If you do not have enough time to walk your dog, or are wondering if your dog needs more walks, take a look at our 8 Times When You Need a Dog Walker. Our dog walkers are experts at picking the path your dog will love! Contact Us if you would like to get your dog out more more walks right away!

4 Reasons We DON’T Go to The Dog Park

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Can you take my dog to the park?

This is a question we get all the time. We are happy to walk your dog through any park near your home, on leash. We will not take your dog to the neighborhood park and let him off leash, or to the fenced dog park.

First off, we are not dog park haters. At Wet Noses Pet Sitting we believe the dog park is a great place in the right situation, for the right dog. Most of our sitters take our their dogs to dog parks and off-leash areas, but those are their own dogs. This is not the same as taking your dog to the park.

In order to make sure our clients are receiving the best and safest care, it is our policy to not to let your dog off leash at a park or go to the dog park.

1. We will never let dogs off leash in a regular, unfenced park, ever.

No matter how great your dog is about not running away from you, we are not you! We form great bonds with the dogs we watch and love them as much as our own pets but that does not make us have the same weight of importance with your dog when they see a cat run across the street. Besides, how often do you see a dog owner calling and chasing their dog, saying they never run off like that. We don’t want that to be us, and neither do you.

2. Dogs (and owners) are unpredictable.

So you live right next to the fenced dog park? Still no way. I cannot count the number of times I have collected my dog and left the dog park because another dog showed up that made me uncomfortable. We cannot predict how your pup is going to react in a variety of situations, nor can we predict how the other dogs are going to respond to your dog. We prefer not to take the risk.

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3. Dog parks can be a vector for diseases.

 

Yeah, so why do you take your dog to dog parks? I make an educated risk based on the conditions of the park before I take my dog. I do not allow my dog to go swimming in the park because Giardia is highly transmittable via water. Same with any park that has large puddles that are frequented by dogs. If we take your dog to the park and he gets sick, even if we went at your request, we are still liable and we have a sick dog on our hands!

4. There are lower risk ways to exercise your dog.

At Wet Noses Pet Sitting we chose to take the lower risk path and during the time your dog is in our care we play it safe. We go on lots of walks, play in the yard, play inside, make up fun games and more! We know we are providing the safest way for your dog to have fun.

What do you think about dog parks? Let us know your feelings and experiences in the comments below!