Are you about to head out on a last minute business trip and unable to find a friend to care for your pet. Well, there are two alternatives you can board your pet at kennel or call on a pet sitter. Just make sure you do your research to make sure your dog will be getting the proper loving care it deserves and left in the hands of reliable care-givers.

Well, if you are the lucky pet sitter to get hired here are a list of tips for those just in case emergencies. Remember you have a huge responsibility, not only do you feed, play, walk & take your clients pet on potty breaks you are there as guardian to protect. These tips will prepare you for anything & make your client feel more at ease & relaxed knowing that their furry family member are in good hands.

1) Learn CPR & Heimlich- Take a pet first aid class so you can learn skills and knowledge in order to react quickly and correctly in a pet emergency

2) First Aid Kit on the Go!-Create or purchase a just in case pet first aid kit and leave on in the car. Putting together your own First Aid Kit will allow you to customize it to your four legged clientele and you will know what you have in you kit. Our friends at ehow.com compiled a list of items to be included in your pet first aid kit.

3) Locate Pet Records-Make sure that you know where your clients pet records are located. Tell your new clients to alert their vet that you will be caring for their pet and also to have a credit card on file at the vet for emergencies.

4) Map out vet route! -Depending on the severity of the emergency sometimes every second counts so know where your clients vets so you can get to the vet quickly. Take time to print a map and leave in your clients file.

5) Wheres the closet vet clinic?- You should also be aware of the nearest vet clinics in your vicinity, the hours of operation, and if their is a vet is on staff during operating hours. Sometimes the vet is called in only if needed.

6) Transporting pet- If you are caring for large dogs make sure you have a way to transport them to the vet. It will be helpful to call a friend or neighbor for assistance if you are having trouble lifting a larger dog or have a guerney in your vehicle. When transporting & caring for cats make sure you know where clients carriers are located.

These tips are sure to give your clients a peace mind & make you confident knowing you are prepared for anything!

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Looking after your beloved dog at all times is your responsibility, and in cases when your canine’s behavior becomes uncontrollable, the use of dog containment system can be very useful. Leaving your dog unattended might cause troubles inside or outside your house. You can crate train your dog or put him in dog crates but it will not give him the freedom to roam around.

Besides pampering your dog, it is equally important to give him the necessary freedom and space where he can play and enjoy the beauty of the outside world while ensuring his safety.

Here are some of benefits of using dog containment devices:

With the help of pet containment systems such as dog exercise pens and dog kennels, leaving your canine alone will no longer be an issue! Dog containment devices can either be wireless, electronic or motorized that are installed in traditional fences or under the ground. They are generally portable and can be set up in a few minutes. Many pet containment systems available in the market these days are battery-operated and comes with a training collar that is placed around the dog’s neck. The collar has a receiver that detects when the dog is getting near the wire. Within this boundary, the collar will give a signal to your canine by discharging static stimulation.

Other systems are wireless and have constant radio signal to create a “safe zone” for your pet. Having said that, the primary benefit of using dog containments is that they have the ability to teach your dog to behave properly and stay only within specific locations. Electronic dog containment is also a lot cheaper than setting up traditional metal or wooden dog fences.

You can also prevent your dog from running away or stepping outside the house if you install dog containment devices. This can be particularly effective for controlling aggressive dogs that can destroy your neighbor’s property or attack passersby. You can also keep you dog away from valued properties and causing damage to the flowers, shrubs and other things in your garden or backyard. Dogs, especially puppies, are highly prone to getting lost when they venture out. In order to avoid such incidents from happening, dog owners must install dog containment devices.

I know. I know. You're probably thinking, "Is she crazy?" I have a Chihuahua and my neighbor has a Great Dane. How can she possibly tell us both how to dog proof in one short post. Okay, you're right. It probably won't be that short. Here goes:

Dog Proofing for your Small to Medium Sized Dog

 

Anything from a teacup Yorkie to a Cocker Spaniel may not appear to be tall enough to get something dangerous off of your kitchen counter, right? Think again. Dogs are smart. I've seen my Papillon jump from a chair seat to a table top and from the bed to a dresser top. So keep in mind that if something appeals to your dog's nose, he'll often figure out how to get to it.




Now that you know where I'm coming from, I'll share some of the things I've done to protect both the dogs and our possessions from danger:

 

1. Start with the area of your home that your dog(s) is allowed to spend time in and be sure it is as secure as possible. Can he jump your baby gate or open it ? Has he mastered opening doors or getting over or around furniture you thought was a deterrant? Tanner can open Oliver's crate and our child-guard loaded baby gate. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself. We've renamed him Houdini. Check out my post on the other amazing slips he's performed.




2. Now start with this area that your dog calls his own. By this I mean whatever part of your home your dog has full access to. Starting at floor level, check all cords and cables. They should be slid under furniture and rugs or between tables and couches. In other words, not accessible to anyone other than a teacup pup. If your tiny one likes to go after things under the couch or other low pieces of furniture, you'll have to take extra evasive action. Duct tape the cords to something that is not of interest to your dog's chewing instincts, or use PVC piping for a conduit. The latter is your best bet for cords under a bed, couch or other low furniture.




3. Now check your under the bed storage. Assure that all containers are made of hard plastic, not cardboard, and their lids snap on securely. Do not store food in these, no matter how secure they may seem. A family I once knew lost a dog when it found their chocolate stash under the bed, all boxed up for the holidays.




4. Next check your wallpapered areas for tears. One little corner pulled up is like a giant invitation for a chew-fest.




5. Do the same thing with mop boards and wood trim along cabinets. Secure them and fill in holes that might encourage chewing.




6. Inspect your dog's toy box or basket regularly for chewing evidence. When one area tears, this will lead to larger pieces coming off. This is a safety hazard, as is a chunk out of a toy. Check the toys as well, ensuring they are all safe for continued play.




7. Check your carpets and rugs for snags, pulls, loose fibers, etc. Some will require snipping to keep the pup's interest at bay. Others may need to be stitched down or pulled through to the bottom. Be particularly diligent in watching rubber-backed rugs for chewing. If the rug is rumpled when you come into the room, turn it over and inspect it for damage. You'll know if Fido is finding this interesting.




8. Anything stuffed can spell digestive system blockage if your dog chews it open and ingests the stuffing. This means pillows, toys, chair cushions and children's stuffed animals and dolls. Until your dog is past his interest in such things, these should be placed well out of reach. Stuffed dog toys should not be left out except when you are supervising, at least until you know your dog's tendency to destroy or simply carry these toys. Every dog is different.




9. Every desktop, counter top, table and other surface will contain a plethora of potentially dangerous "toys", in your dog's eyes. Common items such as pens, pencils, clothespins, hair clips, jewelry, razors (Wow!), flatware, matchbooks, computer supplies such as flash drives and camera chips, batteries, medications, knick-knacks, candles, houseplants, flower arrangements (live, silk, or dried), headphones....okay, that's enough. You get the idea. Place all these smaller items in containers, boxes, baskets or jars--out of reach.

Here's some quick anecdotal evidence of the danger I'm concerned about. A few years ago when my daughter was preparing for a Homecoming Dance, she had just shaved and laid down the razor. She was right there, so what's the harm? Tanner came out of nowhere and grabbed it; by the time we caught up with him, he had a bloody mouth. The razor was nowhere to be found. We assumed he swallowed it and rushed him to the hospital. During the X-rays, the razor was found under a chair in a corner of the house. Dogs know when they're not supposed to have something, so they tend to hide it from us while they play and investigate our neat stuff. Beware!

Now let's continue with your dog proofing expedition, moving on to the concerns for the bigger dogs with access to more areas:

 

1. Food. I'm sure you know, but your kids may forget. No food should ever be left anywhere but the refrigerator or the pantry, which should always be closed. I lost an entire plate of thawing chicken breasts (thankfully, boneless!) to Tanner's nose, despite having surrounded them on the counter by larger, heavier items--a barricade of sorts. It didn't work. Now I use the oven or microwave if something needs to sit out for a while.




2. Laundry areas and laundry baskets may or may not be accessible to your dogs. If they are, your clothing is at risk, as well as the dog. Intestinal blockage is serious business, often requiring surgery. If your dog likes clothing, get a covered hamper.




3. Trash is another thing that needs to be secure. Indoor trash cans with click open lids or releases you can tap with your foot are ideal.This is important in all areas of your home, not just the kitchen. Bathroom discards can be deadly for a dog, as can many items in an office or play area.




4. Children's toys are extremely appealing to dogs. If your kids are messy like mine were as youngsters, you'll need to be diligent about closing their bedroom doors and play areas off. Your only alternative to neatness or closed doors is plenty of secure storage space in your kids' rooms. Good luck getting them to use it.




5. Now let's talk about your big dog's toys. You probably already know that it isn't safe for him to play with your toy dog's balls or small toys. These items are a choking hazard for a larger dog. If you have large and small dogs in one home, you'll have to devise a system for keeping your big dog out of the little dog's toys, at least until he learns the rules. Extremely small toys that are appealing to your big dog should be kept out of his reach except when your toy dog is playing with them. Supervise this play carefully, for the benefit of your bigger dog, and offer him some exciting "big dog" toys to keep his attention. It's sometimes a juggling act, but very important.




6. If you have a dog who is protective of your home, you'll need to have an area that he can be safely and happily secured in when visitors come. Crate training is the ideal, since your pup will know this is his down time. Offering a special filled kong toy or other safe treat will keep him busy while you visit with your company.




7. A quick aside here: Some visitors may find your smaller dogs annoying or even frightening, especially if they are jumpers. Your guests' comfort level with your dogs is important if you'd like them to visit again, so consider this along with the safety issues. Enforcing rules like "off the furniture" or "no jumping" is something that requires much time and practice to master. I speak from experience on that one.




8. The garage can be an exceptionally dangerous place for your dog to explore. Keeping him out when you're working in the yard or on your car may be challenging, if you enjoy allowing your dog to join you outside. Many dog owners do. If your garage is like the typical American version, it is a storage area. It's all that storage that you'll need to review. Cleaning solutions, yard chemicals, car products, sharp tools, trash, plastic trash bags, pet food, extension cords that are plugged in, recycle bins, and much more can all be hazardous to your dog. Inexpensive plastic shelving units can be purchased at most hardware stores. These are stackable and secure for heavy items, so you can place all your potentially hazardous stuff in bins on shelves out of reach. If you have a Great Dane, out of reach will be much higher up than it will be for your Chihuahua, but that's the price you pay for a 175 pound couch potato. Tanner's best friend at his doggie daycare is a beautiful harlequin Great Dane, and I'm a huge fan. But I know that Zeus can put his paws on my shoulders and give me a kiss on my forehead with no problem. That's no easy task for most dogs, as I am 5' 10" tall. Moral of the story: store according to your dogs' ability to reach.

With this post, I hope to have accomplished one thing--make you aware of some of the household dangers to your dog that you may have not previously considered. There are probably plenty more. Send me your tips and I'll post them in an addendum. Your thoughts are often helpful to me. Keep those comments and emails coming. I love hearing from you.

If you haven't already realized dogs have so much energy and love to play. Although you love your dog so much sometimes you need a break from your four-legged energizer bunny. Hey, we have an idea, why not set up some doggie playdates. Here are some tips to finding your dogs perfect playmate.

1. Doggie Daycare-Enrolling your dog in Doggie Day Care full time or for a few hours while you are at work or running errands is a great way to give your dog exercise & socializing time. Many of these day cares have outdoor & indoor play areas. Just make sure to bring your dogs tags & vaccination records. Ask the daycare workers who your dog gets along with during most of the day and then talk to those dogs owners about setting up a time to play on the weekend.

2. Off-Leash Dog Parks- You will find a wide variety of dogs at an off leash dog park so your dog is sure to hit it off with one of them. This is a great way to get to know neighbors and interact with their dogs. Often times if dogs like each other the owners will arrange for a meet & sniff at a dog park at a specific time. Dog Park USA helps dog owners find the pet-friendly parks close to their homes or in destinations they’re planning to visit.

3. Join a Play Group-If you don’t feel comfortable bringing your dog to an off leash park, you can join a breed specific or dog personality specific play group that suits your dogs demeanor, size & age. You can find these play groups right online, all you have to do is create a social network for your dog. In particular, sites like Dogster helps you connect with other dog lovers & pup pals in your area. They have a wonderful forum for members to setup & find playdates. In above is a picture of @lola_eco_dog at her first Boxer Tweetup in Asheville, NC. She is having a blast running with her friend Scooby at the Arboretum :) We met Sherida, Scooby's lucky owner on Twitter.

4. Lonely dog seeks Fetching Playmate-Place an ad in a local pet publication or on Craigslist to sniff for that perfect doggie playmate. This is a great option if you don't have a dog park in the area, no neighborhood pups, you live in an appartment, or you are looking for that one special dog playmate. in your ad just specify the type of playmate, playmates and situation you are looking for. Hey, your dog may be what some other dog is looking for!

5. Call a friend-If you have friends with dogs set up an activity with them that includes your dogs. A day at the park, beach or even in your backyard can be fun for you, your friend and your four-legged pals.

We can officially say that playtime is now in session!!


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