Petsitting Blog“Oh, he never comes when I call him. He’s just stupid.” “Why does he insist on chasing his tail? What a dumb dog.” Have you ever thought those things about a pooch before? Many people have, but one pet behavior specialist tells us that there’s no such thing as a truly stupid dog.
Have you ever seen a bad dog walker before? Some dog walkers walk dogs in groups rather than individually, which can be tough to stay on top of if you’ve got several dogs pulling you in several directions. But what’s worse is when the dog walker doesn’t even care to stay on top of all those pups, as one blogger recently witnessed.
We can honestly say that we’d never heard or even thought of this before! We all know about Feng Shui for humans, but “Fur Shui” for pets? Is their Chi really that out of wack? Yes, says one animal communicator who has written a book to help pet owners find balance through this nontraditional practice.
This spring, we highlighted the inevitable controversy that was swirling around the rent-a-pet business, with FlexPetz at the center of the storm. It appears that bloggers aren’t the only folks appalled by the idea of doggy timesharing — lawmakers and activists have taken action against pet rental companies as well.
We’ve written about some, uh, interesting grief management tactic from pet owners who have just lost a pet. First there was the couple who turned their dog into a sweater, then there was the cat owner who turned her black cat into a black ring. And now? Rather than go with inanimate memorabilia, one woman is opting for a very LIVE alternative: cloning.
Many of the petsitters here on Sittercity are individuals who don’t necessarily have a petsitting “business,” in the traditional sense of the word. Yes, they are skilled sitters and professional care providers, but they don’t have a business name. Do you? If you’re thinking about turning your passion into a full-fledged petsitting business/company, here’s a reminder of why it’s important to choose your name carefully.
We almost wrote “pet napping” up there, but who would really be worried about their furry friends catching a few Zzzz’s? No, this issue goes far beyond “napping” in the traditional sense. We mean pet stealing. Pet theft is on the rise right now, as slimy individuals try to cope with the economy by making a quick buck stealing and then selling those stolen pets.
John McCain has two dogs, two turtles, a cat, a ferret, three parakeets and a tank full of fish. Barack Obama has no pets. According to a AP-Yahoo News poll, 42% of people who own pets think McCain is their man, compared to 37% who favor Obama. Among the petless, Obama is favored by a solid margin of 48 to 34%. Does pet ownership really influence voting?
Who knew that pets had a preferred, uh, paw just as we have a dominant hand? It certainly never crossed OUR minds. But according to tests at the Institute for the Study of Animal Problems in Washington, DC, dogs and cats were actually shown to favor one paw over the other.
Yep, you read that right. According to a recent study from the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society at the University of Pennsylvania, the Dachshund is the breed MOST prone to aggression, closely followed by Chihuahuas.
This insane cat project has been going on for quite a few years now, and the concept isn’t anything too crazy (though the results are!): Go to www.infinitecat.com and take a picture of your cat looking at the screen. Sure, seems simple enough. But the trick is that you have to take a picture of your cat looking at screen containing the picture of the last cat. Did we lose you? Maybe a few pictures will help.
There was an article in the American Chronicle recently about a former kennel owner and her experience caring for two dogs while the owners were away — it was NOT a pleasant one. When pet owners forget to tell pet care providers about certain details, it can be trouble. Here’s one cautionary tale.
You’ve probably heard that when dogs pant, it means they’re thirsty and you should shove the nearest bowl of water under their heads to quench that thirst. We’ve for sure done that, but what you may not know is that this isn’t always the real reason dogs pant.
The weather is HOT, so this is an especially appropriate video of how one pup handles the heat. Apparently, the Chocolate Lab thought his family was gone for the day so he decided to have a little fun with the waterslide — and it was captured on tape. Check it out.
With the Fourth of July just around the corner, it’s even more important to keep cats inside for the day. Not only can fireworks be terrifying, but, as much as we HATE to even type this, sadistic individuals have been known to use cats as a part of the light show. (Shudder.)
According to an article in the Ft. Worth’s Start-Telegram, the petsitting industry has been relatively unaffected by the economical slump and rising gas prices we’re all battling. Interesting that most businesses are feeling the effect, but petsitting continues to grow…
We always have our little pups in the office, Milo and Bruiser, but since last Friday was Take Your Dog to Work Day, we had our dog walkers take the day off so a few more of our furry friends could make an appearance! All in all, there were six dogs roaming around our loft — including three Puggles. Here are some of the photos from the big day.
At Sittercity, every day is Take Your Dog to Work Day, but we’re happy to say that this Friday, June 20, is the day for all other companies to participate and bring their pooches to the office! We commend Pet Sitters International for leading this effort and sincerely appreciate all of the companies that will be opening their doors to dogs to celebrate what great companions they are.
Hot weather = hot pets, but petsitters and pet owners still need to make sure pets get enough exercise in these warm months. Since it’s so important to keep Fido cool, here are a few cooling pet products we found.
We often use the term “pet parents” around here, so this really shouldn’t come as a huge surprise… “Pupnups” are like prenups, as in prenuptial agreements, that focus on the custody of the pet in case of a divorce or break-up. Apparently, it’s becoming quite the trend.
Does your pet have a long-lost sibling out there somewhere? Maybe you never thought about it, but one man certainly did. Keishin Tanaka created a social networking site for pets that goes beyond the basics of blogging, photo sharing and pet profiles.
YES. Pets can absolutely get sunburned. Whether you and your pet are going on a walk through the neighborhood, hiking in the mountains, playing frisbee on the beach or just “sunbathing” in the windowsill, you need to be very careful to protect your pet from the sun.
Were you born after 1979? Then Bella, a Labrador cross, is probably older than you. Bella was adopted in 1982 when she was about 3 years old, which makes her the world’s oldest living dog — and possibly the oldest dog EVER.
ANY dog can bite. Whether you’re a pet owner or petsitter, be responsible and educate yourself on how to prevent dog bites. Below, we’ve got some tips for how to reduce your risk of being bitten by a dog (petsitters, you’re “new” to many dogs, so pay attention to that part especially) and how to prevent a dog in your care from biting someone else.
A while back, we posted a blog about some dog owners who turned their dead pets into sweaters. Not the most fashionable of statements, but it certainly had its share of sentimental value. Well, now a cat owner has followed that same sentiment and turned her dead black cat into a diamond ring.
They’re loyal, loving, adorable and generous… just not always with each other. Just because you and a dog have a great relationship doesn’t mean that he’ll be so kind to other dogs. When dogs don’t get along, it can cause a huge amount of stress, so here are a few tips to help generate harmony.
In New Orleans last week, a green puppy was born. Yes, green. All natural — no cruel dye tricks here. Aside from his hue, he is completely normal and healthy!
We’re all used to those standard, rectangular aquariums — that’s why this crazy, new angular design known as the “Infinity Aquarium” is so eye-catching. It’s a “goldfish freedom simulator” whose design may actually trick goldfish into thinking they are free.
It’s an ongoing debate among pet owners: dogs versus cats. A recent study doesn’t dare delve into whether one animal is “better” than another, but it DOES suggest that dog owners put more time, affection and money into their pets than cat owners do.
It can be a battle to get your pet to the vet. Since spring often means time for annual vet visits to protect our pals from the upcoming tick and flea season, we thought this would be a good time to remind our pet parents how to make the trip less stressful.
