Posts Tagged ‘dog sitting’

Animal Smart New Puppy New Pet Owner Guide

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020
animal smart pet care

New puppies are arguably the most adorable creature on the planet, we certainly think so here at Animal Smart. With their big eyes and teddy bear appearance whose heart doesn’t melt.?!

However with owning a puppy comes a dogs lifetime of responsibility. The cuteness quickly becomes mischievousness and what used to be cradled comfortably in your arms grows into a rather large and sometime boisterous lump.

To be an Animal Smart pet owner we have put together some useful information that every new owner should consider before falling in love!

It’s not just about the practical factors of owning a dog and providing it food, water, exercise and care, but being a dog owner also brings some legal obligations. 

Legal requirements for dog owners:

Dog Tags

Every dog that goes in a public place or highway must wear a collar with some identification on it. This isn’t the dogs name and a phone number.

The legal information is the name and address of the owner, but having a phone number on there is a good idea too. Big pet shops such as Pets at Home offer a quick tag engraving service.

Microchipping

Your new puppy might not have visited the vets yet, but when they do make sure you get them microchipped, if the breeder didn’t do that already. If the breeder did, they should have given you some paper work relating to the microchip and details of how to up date your owner information. Make sure you update the owner information with the company or if lost your dog will be returned to the current registered owner (possible the breeder).

If your not sure, don’t worry as the vets will be able to scan your puppy to check.

Since April 2006 it has been a legal requirement for all dog owners to have their dogs microchipped.

Having a microchip implanted enables local authorities or vets locate lost, stray or stolen dogs with their rightful owners.

However for that to happen you must keep your contact details up to date on the database. So if you move house or change your phone number, remember to up date the tracking database with your new details. Or little Scamp might be taken back to your old address!

Cost considerations for dog owners:

Dog Insurance

Your new puppy may have come with 4 weeks free insurance from the breeder. This gives you a bit of time to look at options of insurance. Bear in mind that if your puppy does become ill and you allow the free insurance to expire before taking out permanent insurance, the condition your puppy was ill with may not be covered by a new policy.

There are different options for the level of dog insurance. Some only cover the payment of conditions for 12 months, after which they will no longer cover that condition meaning all future vets bills relating to that condition will be down to you.  Make sure you fully understand what you are covered for.

If your dog is unfortunate to get a condition and you decide you are not happy with the current insurance provider, changing insurance companies becomes difficult, as a new company is unlikely to cover that pre existing condition.

Animal Smart Puppy Safety

Your new puppy will quickly start to find their feet and become increasingly confident and inquisitive. Their little noses and mouths get everywhere. Dishwasher, washing machine, under cars, under feet…being extra aware of where your puppy is and what they are up to during time of adjustment will help to keep your puppy safe.

If you have young children with small toys or dummies, puppies will thing these make great chewing toys…Unfortunately they make even better foreign bodies and expensive vets bills!

Get your puppy their own toys so they don’t need to share those of your children. Up to around 7 months, they will be teething and will appreciate a good toy to chew on too.

You might want to invest in a stair gate. Getting up might be a challenge for some smaller breeds but getting down tricky for most young puppies, and it’s a long way to fall.

Chasing up and down the stairs also puts quite a lot of additional strain on larger breeds joints, which is to be avoided during the growing phase.

Puppy Socialization and bonding

Between the ages of 8 and 16 weeks are crucial times for socialization and bonding. Having you puppy exposed to as many different things as possible during this time will help to set strong foundations for your puppy to become a happy and well behaved family dog.

Before your puppy is fully vaccinated they won’t be able to go to a puppy class and meet other dogs, however as soon as you can, get your puppy enrolled in a puppy class. You might be confident in your ability to train your puppy yourself without the help of a class, but these classes are not just for teaching sit and stay. They are invaluable at teaching your puppy how to interact and behave around other dogs. If you are planning on taking your dos for walks in public places, to the park or on family trips out, you will want your puppy to learn this crucial social skills.

While your waiting for the vaccinations, expose your puppy to things within the home environment.

Phones ringing, door bells, doors banging, the washing machine spinning, the hoover, dropping of things, rolling of balls and objects, the hairdryer…

People socialization: when you have guests to your home, allow your puppy to meet as many of them as possible, including the postman. Don’t allow your puppy to jump up, explain to guests to only acknowledge and reward him when all his four feet are on the ground.

Outside socializations: busses, trains, people on bikes, cows, sheep, horses…

Rewarding your puppy for your desired behavior and distracting or ignoring unwanted behaviors.

Grooming is a great way for you to establish a bond with your puppy. Getting a brush or 2 from your local pet shop is plenty for you to spend some quality 1 on 1 time with your puppy.

This is also a great time to teach your puppy to be touched all over, including ears and paws. Start to open your puppies mouth and check inside. This starts them getting used to being examined and also will make introducing teeth brushing easier too.

MOST OF ALL ENJOY YOUR PUPPY

Animal Smart Dog Walker Could Reduce Pet Anxiety

Wednesday, December 4th, 2019
animal smart dog walking

Dogs are very social animals, and being alone can be quite stressful for many dog breeds. Unlike cats, they don’t know how to enjoy their own company as they look up to their owners for affection, attention, protection, and everything in between. Most dog owners are familiar with the sight of their dog being sad as they leave the house for work or to go on a vacation. The most common reason for such canine behavior is pet anxiety, which is one of the top reasons Animal Smart Pet Care offers pet sitting and dog walking services. 

What is anxiety in dogs?

Anxiety is a prevalent mental disorder found in people, but we are now seeing it in our pets. There are many different types of pet anxiety, but one of the most common kinds is separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is triggered when dogs get nervous because of the separation from their human owners. Some dogs even try to stop their owners from leaving while others become anxious or depressed prior to the departure of their pet parent.

Other causes of anxiety include: 

  • Traumatic experience/abandonment
  • Illness or disease 
  • Pain 
  • Loud noises (fireworks, thunderstorms, vacuums)
  • Side effects of prescribed drugs 

Symptoms of anxiety in dogs

Much like humans, the autonomic nervous system of dogs produces the stress hormone called cortisol, and this could trigger a wide range of reactions, including: 

  • Excessive barking 
  • Trembling 
  • Panting 
  • Hiding 
  • Loss of appetite 
  • Destructive behavior 
  • Attempts at escape
  • Tail tucking 
  • Aggressive behavior (biting, nipping, snapping)
  • Urinating indoors 
  • Excessive energy 

How to help your dog manage anxiety

1. Dog walking 

Hiring a dog walker for your dog is a wonderful way to ease anxiety and stress. Dog walking helps relieve excess pent up energy and tension, providing a natural, safe outlet for your pup. A tired dog is a well-behaved dog. He’s worn out and just wants to take a nap. At Animal Smart, we provide one-on-one walks, playtime, and spending quality time with your dog while you’re away at work or when you’re on vacation. 

2. Pet sitting 

One reliable way to help your pet cope with anxiety is to keep him company by spending plenty of time with him. If spending time is not an option for you because of the nature of your job, consider finding a loving pet sitter for your canine companion. That way, your pet will be in a familiar environment while enjoying the undivided attention of a human. 

3. Change the way you leave 

An excellent way to help your dog is to change the way you leave. Rather than walk back and forth to pick an item you forgot, make a mental list of everything you would need while away and take them with you at a go. It also helps to keep greetings and departures calm without drama, so your dog doesn’t get stressed when you leave. Similarly, you might want to change your “leaving ritual,” so your dog doesn’t recognize signs that you’re about to leave.

Wrap-up 

Quite a number of dogs suffer from one form of anxiety or the other. The above tips are effective ways to calm an anxious dog, especially for those who have to leave home for work daily or part company with your furry friend for some days. At Animal Smart Pet Care, we offer pet sitting and dog walking services to help ease your dog’s anxiety and stress while you’re away.