Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Brisbane- Good Doggy Pet Care

Testimonial

Rita — Mon, 07 May 2012 05:42:49 +0000

Not long ago we had the privilege to look after these two cuties and their mummy loved the care we provided. She sent us the testimonial below:

I felt a little uncomfortable about having someone in my house that I don't know, but trying to find a cattery that was not just a cage was difficult and expensive.

I was really happy that I chose in-home care because the cats being cared for at home was a lot less stressful for them. Also, on reflection, not having to take them somewhere before going on holidays and then picking them up on return is much more convenient for me.

I would recommend this service to anyone with animals as having them cared for at home is less stressful than being deserted somewhere they don’t know. The care they received was very personal and the little notes fantastic.

Melissa, mummy of Ziggy and Zoe

Cats or Dogs?

Rita — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 04:30:25 +0000

Cat and dog owners have been long debating, which is the better pet a cat or a dog. Everyone seems to have their own opinion about the matter and most of them are very devoted to their views. They list all the advantages and disadvantages of owning one or another. But perhaps they just feel they can’t connect with a certain type of animal.

Before getting any kind of animal, it is highly advised to match their needs with your lifestyle. When you own a pet it’s important to know what kind of environment and handling they require to live a happy life. There are too many pets in shelters whose owners didn’t take the time to consider the needs of an animal before getting one.

If you don’t like going for walks (or get someone to do it regularly) and prefer just to watch TV after getting home from work, you might be better off with a cat than a dog. But you also should know that cats instinctually sharpen their nails and it can happen on your carpet or furniture.

There are lots of great things about both species:

Cats are naturally curious but not to the extent of a dog. They can be very friendly and attached to their owners and happy just to sit around with them. They need for exercise can be entertained by a string and they don’t want to go on big adventures (at least most of them). You need to think about getting a litter box and a kitty scratcher for them and they also love to be groomed. If you feel that you can’t clean out a litter box on a regular basis then your house will have a very strong ammonia smell.

On the other hand, you need to take your canine out to be exercised and relieved several times a day. Canines have much more energy than most other animals, making it important to exercise and play with your dog every day. Dogs also need obedience skills to become great company. You should take the time to enrol them to obedience training or train them at home. Missing out on regular exercise can make them destroy your house and they will be prone to have different mental and physical issues.

Cats or dogs? That has been a long time question people have been asking for a very long time. Please, take the time to research before you decide and they will be a great addition to your family.

Walking Your Dog: How to Do it Well and Why It’s So Important

Rita — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:39:40 +0000

Most dog breeds were developed with a specific purpose in mind, for example, sporting, working, herding and so forth. Consequently, whether your pet is a purebred or mixed breed, chances are he carries genetic traits that drive him to pursue an activity.

Many modern day dogs don’t get opportunities to do what their breed instincts tell them to do. In addition, it’s a rare dog that exercises on his own, and your backyard doesn’t provide the variety of sensory stimulation most dogs need to ward off boredom.

Dogs need walks for both exercise and mental stimulation.

According to Clinician’s Brief:

Generally, people walk their dog for 4 reasons: elimination, mental stimulation, exercise, and training. Dogs like to go for walks to get outdoors, sniff and engage with their environment, exercise, and perhaps socialize with people and dogs outside the home. There is no reason that a walk cannot encompass and meet all the needs of both humans and dogs. Because time is often at a premium, it is useful to help owners understand and find creative ways to meet these needs.

Why and how to walk your dog may seem like a ‘no brainer’ topic to many of you, but the fact is there are lots of pet owners who:

Don’t walk their dogs at all, or don’t do it routinely

Don’t make the most of the activity

Dread walks because their pet actually walks them, or exhibits other bad leash manners

Before You Head Out the Door

The best way to develop a positive dog walking habit is when your pet is a puppy.

As soon as her immune system is strong enough to protect her from communicable disease (discuss when it’s safe to take your pup outside with your vet) , she’s ready for walks with you or other family members.

She should already have her own secure-fitting collar or harness and ID tag, and she should be used to wearing it before you attempt to take her for walks. Some puppies have no problem wearing a collar; others do. If your dog is fighting it, as long as you’re sure it isn’t too tight (you should be able to easily slip your fingers under it) or uncomfortable for some other reason, distract her from fussing with her collar until she gets used to it. It shouldn’t take more than a couple days for your pup to forget she’s even wearing it.

Don't try to take your pup for a walk if she protests wearing a collar. Get her used to wearing her collar first.

If you plan to use a head halter or harness for walks (which I recommend for any dog at risk of injury from pulling against a collar/leash combination), the next step is to get your puppy comfortable wearing it. As with the collar, this needs to happen before you attempt to attach a leash and head out the door.

Once wearing her collar and a halter or harness (if you choose) is second nature to your dog, you’re ready for the next step. Attach about four feet of light line — cotton awning cord or light cotton rope will do – and let your puppy drag it around the house with her under your watchful eye, of course. She’ll get used to it being attached, as well as the tug of it when she steps on it.

Once your pup is used to the four-foot line, swap it for a 10 to 15 foot line of the same material, and head outdoors.

Starting Off on the Right Foot

Initial walks should be short for most puppies – the main goal is to get your dog used to being attached to you by a lead.

Find a safe environment. Allow puppy to drag the line behind him for a bit, then pick up the opposite end. Let him lead you around for a few seconds while you hold the line just off the ground. Slow down so he’s forced to slow down, ultimately to a stop. Take a short break for praise and a little playtime.

Next, let him trail the line again, but when you pick up your end this time, call him and stand still. If he pulls, hold your ground without pulling him in your direction. The goal is to teach him to put slack in the line himself by moving toward you. When he puts slack in the line, praise him and call him to you.

If he comes all the way to you, more praise and a training treat are in order. If he stops on his way to you, tighten the line just enough to apply a tiny bit of pull to it. Immediately call him to come again. Give praise as he moves toward you and treats when he comes all the way back.

Two or three repetitions is all many puppies need to understand lack of tension in the line is what earns praise and treats.

When your pup has learned to come towards you to relieve tension on the line, you can begin backing up as he’s coming towards you to keep him moving.

Next, turn and walk forward so he’s following you. If he passes you, head in another direction so he’s again behind you.

The goal is to teach him to follow on a loose lead. Once you’ve accomplished the goal, you can continue to use the light line or replace it with a leash.

Depending on your pet’s temperament, five to 15 minute sessions are sufficient in the beginning. Practice controlling your dog on the lead for 30 second intervals during each session. Exercise patience and don’t engage in a battle of wills with your pup. Don’t snap, yank or otherwise use the line for correction or punishment. Stop before either of you gets frazzled or tired.

After each short session on the lead, liberally praise your dog and spend a few minutes playing ball or some other game he enjoys. Remember — you’re building the foundation for an activity both you and your dog will enjoy and look forward to throughout her life.

Problem Pullers

Some puppies stubbornly fight the pressure of the line rather than create slack.

If your puppy freezes on a tight line or routinely pulls against it, my first recommendation is to use a halter or harness rather than a collar attached to the lead. Your dog can create serious neck and cervical disk problems by pulling on a collar/leash combination.

Next, make sure it’s not you creating the problem. Our human instinct is to hold the leash taught, so you must also train yourself to keep slack in the line. Your dog’s natural response to a tight line is to pull against it.

Next do the following when your puppy refuses to create slack or move toward you:

Maintain the tension on the line and turn your back on her. Allow time for it to occur to her she can’t win by pulling against you.

Remain still with your back to her holding the tension in the line – don’t jerk the line, don’t pull or yank her toward you, and don’t put slack in the line yourself, which will teach her the way to get slack is to pull at the line.

The message you want to send your pup is pulling on the lead doesn’t accomplish a thing. It doesn’t change the scenery and it doesn’t earn praise or treats. Eventually, your puppy will stop doing what doesn’t work – especially when she is consistently rewarded for desirable behavior.

The very first second you begin leash training, make sure your puppy accomplishes nothing by pulling on her line. It takes some dogs longer than others to learn to keep the leash loose, but with patience and persistence, any puppy can learn to follow on a loose lead.

Different Types of Dog Walks

Once your dog has been taught good leash manners, I recommend you vary the purpose of your walks with him.

Allowing your pet some time to sniff around and investigate is good for him mentally. Dogs gain knowledge of the world through their noses. You can train your dog with commands to know when he’s out for a mental stimulation walk, a training walk or an exercise session.

Exercise consistency is really important. Dogs need exercise every three days, minimum, in order to maintain muscle tone and prevent muscle wasting. In my opinion, consistent daily aerobic exercise should be the goal. It’s important to elevate your pet’s heart rate for 20 minutes during exercise sessions. If your dog is out of shape, you’ll need to start slow and build gradually to 20 minutes per session.

Training walks can be about improving leash manners, learning basic or advanced obedience commands, ongoing socialization – just about anything you can think of that can be done on a leashed walk.

If your habit is to walk him to his potty spot to relieve himself, that’s a purposeful walk – usually of short duration.

Then there are mentally stimulating walks during which your pup is allowed to stop, sniff, investigate, mark a spot and so forth. Most dogs on a leash don’t spend as much time sniffing and investigating as off-leash dogs. (This is probably because leashed dogs sense their owners aren’t really into the same things they are!)

Regular exercise is a necessity for your dog, the natural athlete. Regardless of his size, breed, gender or even his age, he needs physical activity in order to be a balanced, healthy animal. Exercise will keep his frame strong, his weight in the healthy range, and it can also help prevent or alleviate arthritis and other degenerative joint diseases.

Ongoing training throughout your dog’s life is a great way to keep his faculties sharp and boredom at bay. It’s also a wonderful way to strengthen the bond between you and your pet.

Your dog depends on you for her quality of life. Walking her every day or at least several times each week – taking advantage of different types of walks to stimulate her mentally and physically – will help your canine companion be balanced, healthy and happy for a lifetime.

Source: Clinician’s Brief April 12, 2011

Dr. Becker is the resident proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian of HealthyPets.Mercola.com. You can learn holistic ways of preventing illness in your pets by subscribing to MercolaHealthyPets.com, an online resource for animal lovers. For more pet care tips, subscribe for FREE toMercola Healthy Pet Newsletter.

Keeping Your Dog Active and Alert

Rita — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:30:49 +0000

Finding ways to keep your dog both active and alert is very important if you want to ensure your pet’s physical and mental wellbeing. Dogs need to have physical exercise and mental stimulation and it is down to you, as the owner, to ensure that this is provided in one way or another. Of course, for many people finding the time to provide pets with exercise and mental stimulation can be difficult due to work and family commitments, but it is vital that you do not push this onto the back burner and assume that your dog will get along just fine without physical or mental exercise, as this is not the case.

There are many risks that come with failing to provide your dog with physical exercise and mental stimulation, ranging from poor general health and obesity to stress, anxiety, aggression or obedience issues, destructive behaviour and more. With this in mind, it becomes clear that providing your dog with an adequate amount of physical and mental activity is vital for both your dog’s sake and yours!

Ways to exercise your dog physically and mentally

There are a number of different ways in which you can provide your dog with the physical and mental exercise that he needs. You don’t need to commit a huge amount of time to provide your dog with his daily exercise and making sure that your pet is regularly exercised will prove invaluable to his health and wellbeing. Of course, there may be times when you are not around to exercise your pet, such as if you are away for a few days for work or on vacation. In cases like this, you should always ensure that there is someone available to make sure that he still gets his daily exercise.

Walks: Of course, this is one of the best known and popular methods of exercising your dog. Getting out into the fresh air and seeing new sights and sounds will keep your dog mentally active as well as physically exercised. Most dogs love going on their daily walks and if you can manage a walk in the morning and another in the evening, all the better. When you opt for daily walks for your dog it is not just your pet that gets some healthy exercise – you also get to benefit from it!

Running: Dogs love to run around so if you are able to take your dog to somewhere like a field that is fenced off, this is ideal. You can then let your dog off his leash and let him have some fun and exercise as he runs around. Take some toys along if you can, such as a ball or Frisbee, as this will keep him mentally alert as well.

Playing fetch: Most dogs like nothing more than a good game of fetch and the great news is that this is something that you can play in your garden as well as in a safe outside area such as a fenced off field. The game itself will keep your dog mentally stimulated whilst running back and forth will give him a good dose of healthy exercise

Swimming: Not all dogs like to swim, but there are many that do enjoy it. For dogs that have joint issues, this is a great form of exercise as it does not put pressure on the joints.

Agility courses: This is a fun way to exercise your dog and improve his agility, which the whole family can get involved in. You can set up your own mini assault course in the garden using all sorts of things such as wooden boxes and hoops. You will have fun training your dog, which is something that will also keep him mentally stimulated, and you can enjoy the results when you watching him having fun on his very own circuit!

The Importance of Exercise for Dogs

Rita — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:51:02 +0000

Having a dog as a pet can be a wonderful and rewarding experience. A well cared for dog can be a delight to have around, providing its owners with love, loyalty and even entertainment, and becoming a much-loved member of the household.

However, any responsible dog owner needs to keep in mind that all dogs have needs that play a dominant part in maintaining both their physical and mental well-being.

In today’s world, where we all lead busy lifestyles and have little time to relax, it is all too easy to forget about the needs of your pet. Many dog owners are- after coming home from a hard day’s work- find their dog loyally waiting and hoping for a walk, but deciding that they are too tired and that it can wait until tomorrow – which then rolls on to the next day and so on.

It is extremely important to remember that your dog’s exercise needs are vital to its wellbeing so you should never just pass them off as an inconvenience that can be ignored if you don’t have enough time available.

Dogs are able to get exercise and mental stimulation in a number of ways, such as daily walks or regular playtime in the garden. If you are away or do not have the time to do this each day, you should make sure there is someone available to help out and provide your dog with the fresh air, exercise and stimulation that it needs.

How lack of exercise can impact your dog’s health

There are a number of ways in which lack of regular exercise can impact upon your dog’s physical and mental health. This includes:

Fitness levels: If your dog does not get enough physical exercise then, like humans, weight gain and fitness issues can become a problem. Your dog may become overweight (some dog breeds are more susceptible than others when it comes to obesity) and this could lead to all sorts of weight related health issues that could become serious or even fatal. Not only is this a problem for your dog but you could find yourself footing increasingly costly veterinary bills if and when the dog needs treatment

Mental health: Imagine how you would feel if you were locked in the house day in, day out with no opportunity to go outside, get some fresh air and stretch your legs, and interact with other people. Dogs can go stir crazy just like humans and the effects of lack of exercise and stimulation can takes its toll on a dog’s psyche in a number of ways. Your dog could become very bored, which can lead to destructive behaviour – so you might come home from work to find the dog has ripped your favourite cushions apart, chewed your shoes or slippers beyond recognition or caused chaos across your home! Without exercise and stimulation dogs can also begin to suffer from conditions such as anxiety, aggression, biting, sleeping problems, excessive barking and other behavioural issues

Stress related problems: If your dog is regularly deprived of activity and mental stimulation, stress could become an ongoing issue. This in itself can lead to many other mental and physical problems for your pet, which could range from irritability and snappiness to poor condition of its coat and general appearance, weight related issues, and more.