I came upon this wonderful article written by Dr. Ernie Ward for Vetstreet.com and I found it to be extremely informative and very easy to read and understand.  I thought I would pass it along to everyone.  I also HIGHLY recommend following Vetstreet.com on Facebook/Twitter, and via their newsletter.  You can truly find out so many valuable things about “everything pet related” there.

The article states that “every dog has the potential to succeed at controlled leash walking. And while there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to teaching a pup to walk properly on a leash, there are some tips that can make your walking routine more enjoyable.”

Read, learn, and pass along this Blog post to those dog lovers you know who struggle with walking their dog on a leash.

Enjoy and Happy Dog Walking!

Vetstreet.com

What made me really “MAD” was that he “CLAIMED” on his website to have all of these credentials…….and his patients simply believed these statements because he had a “professional website” and he “seemed like he knew what he was talking about.”  Sad……so sad!

So after watching the segment, I immediately thought about my own business and how my future and present clients “trust me” with their most valuable possessions.  These possessions are their HOME and their PETS.  The two most valuable things besides their own children, significant others, and family.

With that being said, let me take a few moments to explain what you should be looking for when hiring a professional pet-sitting company.

1.  All Team Members Should Be Bonded-(Often Called a “Dishonesty Bond”)–This means that should something be stolen from a clients’ home while a pet-sitter is booked to perform services, and the pet-sitter is convicted of the crime, the client will be reimbursed for the loss.

2. The company has Liability Coverage-In the pet-sitting industry, a term called “care, custody, and control” is used often. This provides coverage for both medical and replacement for animals should the unthinkable happen while in the “care and custody” of a pet-sitting company.

3. Automobile Coverage-In the event that something should happen to a pet while transporting in a pet-sitter’s vehicle.

4. Animal Coverage while Boarding-In the event that something should happen to a pet while boarding in a pet-sitter’s home.

At Starlets of Pawsperity Pet-Sitting Services, we have researched ALL of the various insurance companies/policies out there and are proudly insured by a “Nationally Known/Reputable Insurance Company” that specializes in pet related businesses.  They insure some of the largest kennels in the United States, as well as many of the “top dogs” in the industry.

Whatever pet-sitting company you choose to do business with, they should GLADLY want to produce to you their insurance policy for the company.  Proper insurance is something that your neighborhood pet-sitter or even friend/family/relative will not have in case of an emergency or accident.  That is why you should always hire a Professional Pet-Sitting Company.

We certainly WELCOME our clients to view our policy during the Meet and Greet Consultation.

Or planning a trip and wondering what hotels are pet friendly?

Looking for the coolest place to order some really neat pet beds, collars, or treats?

Well, Starlets of Pawsperity Pet-Sitting Services has done ALL of those things and wanted to create a handy tool for everyone who owns a pet!

We have a page dedicated on our website called “Helpful Resources”, which leads you to all things pet related on the web!!

We have separate categories such as “Pet Education, Lost Animal Information, Pet Poison Information, and Great Places to Shop”, just to name a few.

This page is always being updated as we find great websites that we think our clients and pet friends would like.  If you find a website you love and think it should be added to our “Helpful Resources” page, please feel free to comment below and we will review it and possibly add it to the list!

Click to view the Helpful Resources Page!

4PawsUp!!!

After doing some research, I found this great product called “The Freedom Leash” by Paws Republic, which is a “tangle free retractable leash for two dogs.”

I have purchased one to try myself and will write a Blog post about my personal experience once I receive it.  In the meantime, I did find a review that dogtipper.com has posted already on the product.  It is a GREAT review and they definitely spoke about the pros and cons of the product.

www.dogtipper.com/products/2011/09/review-freedom-leash-by-the-paws-republic.html

As a professional dog walking company, Starlets of Pawsperity’s belief is that each dog’s walking habits needs to be reviewed prior to choosing the correct leash and walking device. Retractable leashes may not be the right choice for a large, active “puller” on the leash; however, this leash may be the right choice for a smaller breed that does not pull or jerk and simply enjoys a leisurely stroll down the block.

PLEASE make sure you are choosing the right leash for your specific needs.

Happy Dog Walking!

I have a question for you…….When you think about what options are available for you to choose from when it comes to where you can leave your pet(s) when going away for a day or a few weeks, what would your answer(s) be?

Well, before I started this company, here were my answers……

1. My veterinarian’s office
2. A fancy doggie resort…….where they offered all types of services from doggie daycare to grooming services
3. A family members home or friends’ home
4. A company that would have “host families” care for my pets’ in their home

So in thinking about those options, I always came back to Studley and Bailey, (my two shih-tzu fur kids) and what would be the least stressful option for them. They have a basic daily “routine” and feel the most comfortable when they STAY on that schedule.

Here is an example of that routine, told in the eyes of Studley, my baby boy shih-tzu!

So as you can see, that schedule is not necessarily the same as what would occur at a veterinarians’ office or at a doggie resort.

• Would the environment at a veterinarians’ office or a doggie resort be a calming one??
• How many pet(s) do they care for on any given day??
• What time does a care-giver arrive in the AM and leave in the PM for that last “potty break?”
• Will they be on their same schedule for feeding, snacks, and potty breaks?
• Are the pet(s) sleeping in a crate, small room, or hard concrete floor?

With that being said, for my own pets, the only two options for me is to have them stay in their own home OR a trusted pet-sitter’s home so they can stay on their own schedule and have a calming and peaceful home environment.

At Starlets of Pawsperity, we take great pride in being a wonderful alternative to “kenneling in a resort or doggie day-care environment”.  There truly is “NO COMPARISON”.

We treat EVERY pet in our care as a family member…………it is so important to us that your pets are happy, healthy, and have an enjoyable time when in our care.  We offer a cage-less boarding environment where we often say “the pets have full bed and couch privileges”.  What we offer at Starlets of Pawsperity is not to be matched anywhere!

So if you, a family member, or a friend live in the Northern Dallas Texas area, please give us a call so we can assist you with ALL of your pet-care needs!

(469)554-2338       www.StarletsofFriscoPetSitting.com

Boy can I relate to this issue when it comes to my pets!  As a matter of fact, that is the main reason I chose to pass along this wonderful article that I received from my veterinarian’s office at the Animal Medical and Surgical Hospital of Frisco.  We went to our yearly physical last weekend for my two shih-tzu’s and they BOTH were overweight!  So we are going to try a few different things and see if that helps losing some weight.

I really liked the tips and information in this article…..and hope you do as well.

The Association of Pet Obesity Prevention advises that pets are suffering from epidemic obesity and it is preventable.  Obese or overweight animals weigh in at nearly sixty-percent for cats and nearly fifty-percent for dogs.  The number is constantly increasing and causing health conditions and physical distress for household animals.

“Helping your pet maintain a healthy weight is crucial to their quality and length of life,” says veterinary nutritionist Edward Moser. “In fact, studies show that limiting your dog’s caloric intake could extend his life.”

Food Is Not Affection advises of the importance of pet owners distinguishing the difference between food and affection.  “Owners tend to give their pets food and treats as a way of showing affection, but this habit can backfire if it isn’t practiced with some restraint. Far better to give your dog a good snuggle than a leftover from the dinner table.”

Stacia Willson’s Consistency, Patience Crucial to Helping Pets Maintain Healthy Weight discusses her conversation with Cathy McCoy, Humane Society of San Antonio’s public relations director.  McCoy educates and urges the public that, “Giving leftover table scraps is another fault that can potentially hurt your pet. Keeping track of their weight weekly and developing the proper moderate exercise technique safe for your pet is essential.”  Those moderate exercise techniques McCoy suggests include daily walks with your pet, playing catch with size/breed specific toys, tossing and fetching toys appropriate size toys, and swimming.  These are “great ways for animals to build stamina, strengthen their legs and lose weight,” McCoy advises.

How to Help Your Pet Maintain a Healthy Weight educates pet owners about health conditions that become consequences of pet obesity and lack of weight management.  “Pets that are overweight or obese are at risk for osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, respiratory disorders, high blood pressure, heart disease and some forms of cancer.”  Increasing numbers of “pets are developing these disorders as a direct result of obesity.”  Leary, the author, urges owners to help their pets maintain healthy weights and implement weight management techniques because “these conditions are usually preventable, but once they develop, can be chronic and incurable.”

Obesity and lack of weight management in your pet’s life can cause havoc with their immune systems and make them prone to disease, virus and illness.  Other consequences of excess pet weight or obesity in dogs and cats include damage to the skeletal structure leading to arthritis.   At least one-quarter of household dogs are estimated to suffer from joint conditions that are serious.  Ramifications of overfeeding and underexercising your pet also include intestinal disturbances, excessive tummy gas and digestive disorders.

Pet Weight Loss by veterinarian Jan Becker discusses pet exercise for owners of cats and dogs.  Dr. Becker suggests that walking, jogging or riding your bicycle with your dog can work well for both of you, and that tossing balls and Frisbees can keep your pet moving if it enjoys chasing a flying Frisbee or a favorite ball.  Care must be given to treadmill exercising for your pets because it can be dangerous and cause injure to them during the learning process.

“Cats on the other hand can be a bit harder to exercise,” says Dr. Becker.  Get your cat moving with cold laser lights flashed onto objects to interest them – but not in their eyes.  Wiggle stuffed animals, move them sneakily to get your cat’s interest and increase the attraction of pouncing, sneaking, hiding or batting at the soft toy.  Owners must be vigilant of string products or toys.  The string can easily get caught or tangles with your cat’s tongue inducing them to swallow it.  Unfortunately, when this happens it can be “very serious or even fatal.”

“Catnip will often get a cat running around,” says Dr. Becker.  Keep in mind that catnip must be used in moderation.  For cats, the nip is a stimulant that can cause digestive upsets.”

Easy Choices to Help Maintain Healthy Pet Weight

Your dog’s or cat’s body weight plays a vital role in its well being.  Overall good health is important to your pet living its best life possible.  You can take small steps to move your pet to better health with each bite and bit of playtime.

• Eliminate table treats and meal scraps.
• Get your pet moving to the best of its ability.
• Take measures to increase playtime with your pet.
• Involve your dog or cat in activities that make them happy.

Always talk with your veterinarian about customizing requirements for your pet.  Together you can create a program appropriate to their current health, any present medical conditions and their activity level.

My aim with the new website (www.StarletsofFriscoPetSitting.com) is to share helpful links, photos, and information to our existing clients as well as new clients.

One of my main goals this year is to Blog more…….about all kinds of stuff!  So please send me a line (info@StarletsofFriscoPetSitting.com) if there is anything specific you would like to read about or learn about.

I ask that you please share my new website with others and let me know your thoughts.

And please always remember…….the love from an animal is unconditional. If you have a pet, tell them and show them you love them every day. 4PawsUp!!

Well, as summer approaches I plan on mentioning a lot of different products to assist in cooling your pets in the heat.  So stay tuned for those products that I LOVE!

In this Blog, I want to talk about pet safety…….pet safety in your home that is.  Ask yourself this question………

What would you do if your home was in need of a policeman or fireman to get in and save your pets with you not there?? Do you currently have an “alert sticker” on your front entrance alerting anyone to SAVE YOUR PETS?  And if you answered “yes” to that question, do you think your pets would simply “go to that policeman or fireman” if they simply yelled out “here kitty kitty” OR “come here doggy”??

Well, I have found a FANTASTIC solution that is so incredibly cost effective it will give you peace of mind as it has given me.

We all hope that scenario above NEVER happens, but if it does, this product will help!

It is from a fellow pet-sitting company in Arizona and the product is called “The Furry Friend Alert Sticker”.

How it works is you send in pictures of your fur kids with their names and the sticker is printed so anyone can see what they look like as well as call their names!

They can be ordered with up to 3 pictures/pets on each.  Mine was only $10 for the two pictures.  And you can even choose your background options!

The website to order them is:  www.furryfriendalert.com

After you order them, you will then email your fur kids’ pictures to: photos@furryfriendalert.com

THAT’s it!!

Don’t you agree that this should be on the top of my “Favorite Things” List??

Ok…….ready, set, order your sticker to possibly save your furry friends life!