Summer 2015

Once again summer is here, and since its the busiest time of the year for us, I figured I'd post a little update. Currently we have a few dogs here, mostly regular customers whose dogs we have looked after plenty of times.

Since I work during the day, its now my sister who looks after all of the dogs. She is so great with them, and they get tons of love and exercise. She has been bringing them to the dog park every morning, followed by a walk in the afternoon. Well I'll keep this post short, so enjoy the pictures :)

Tips for a Dog Safe Holiday Season!

(Source: http://jessicatrinh.com)

The holidays can be a fun but also stressful time for everyone, including dogs. Here are some tips to keep your furry friends happy and safe during the holidays.

1. Keep all holiday treats of out reach
This includes any treats, gifts going under the tree, etc. Even if the edible item is wrapped, your dog can still smell the item inside. Ask your guests if any of their gifts are edible, and put them aside instead of under the tree. Chocolate is the biggest culprit to watch out for during the holidays. If you have a larger size dog, warn guests to keep an eye on their food if they are leaving it on a coffee table that your dog can reach. Leftovers shouldn't be fed to your dog, especially turkey bones.

2. Keep your dog safe from the cold
Many dog breeds are not meant to handle the cold, especially smaller dogs. Coats and sweaters should be purchased if your dog has a thin coat of fur. Booties should also be purchased in the winter, as they protect your dogs paws from the salt that is usually laid out on the sidewalks for ice. Some dogs have a resistance to feeling cold, but dogs with smaller coats don't have this resistance. So don't take your dog on long walks on cold days.

3. Tire out your dog before guests arrive
Dogs can easily get overly excited when guests arrive, and this can cause behavioural problems. Also, if your guests are not the most comfortable with dogs, it will be a much better experience for them if your dog is tired out.

4. Don't forget about the rules because its the holidays
There are many temptations for dogs during the holidays, the many smells from the kitchen, the numerous guests over, all of the decorations, etc. The rules that are set in place should be enforced all of the time, and although you want to spoil your pup because its the holidays, if they do something wrong they should still be disciplined as usual.

5. Be careful of holiday items
Items such as tinsel, holly, and mistletoe can be very dangerous to your dogs health and if ingested could lead to a trip to the vet. Try only putting the tinsel on the top parts of the tree, so its out of doggie reach.

6. Keep a safe place to retreat to
During the holidays, many dogs can get stressed. Giving your pet a quiet space to go if they are feeling overwhelmed is ideal. They should have a comfortable place to lie down, and some food and water.

Woofstock 2013

A few weeks ago my sister, my mom, Cheico and I went to Woofstock, which is a huge festival for dogs that is located in St. Lawrence Market in Toronto. This years event had a huge outcome, there were so many dogs of all different breeds. Its so awesome to talk to other people that love dogs just as much as I do! It seemed like the most common dog breed at the event were pugs! They were literally everywhere. There were also a lot of chihuahuas, which Cheico loved! 

There were an endless amount of booths that I wanted to visit. We got lots of free goodies as well! I met so many interesting people that I had great conversations with. Cheico also got an adorable spray-on tattoo!

Overall my family and I had a blast at the event and I would recommend it to any dog owner/lover. If you do attend, make sure to wear comfortable footwear and have cash on hand. 

Check out the Woofstock website for details on next years event!

Pet-sitting inquiries

To book a visit, view my profile on Dog Vacay.

https://dogvacay.com/Dog-lover-Dog-Boarding-28939

Harness for small dogs

A few years ago at a dog festival in downtown Toronto called Woofstock, I came across a company called Buddy Belts that sold dog harnesses specially made for small dogs. Small dogs have very small tracheas, which can potentially be dangerous if a regular collar is worn. The company invented a special harness that does not rub against the dogs neck.

The story of the company is quite unique, the creator of Buddy Belts saw her miniature Dashaund choke and cough when she would walk her using a regular collar. So she decided to design her own harness. Buddy Belts is an all Canadian company!

We bought Cheico one 3 years ago and he has had it ever since. It has held up wonderfully, I was surprised at the quality. Buddy Belts are made with premium leather, which is one of the reasons why it lasts so long. Prior to wearing it for the first time, spray your Buddy Belt with a leather protector spray to repel water and stains. If your Buddy Belt gets wet, allow it to dry flat at room temperature. Never put your Buddy Belt in the washer or dryer!

I would recommend that every small dog owns a Buddy Belt. Whenever I look after a small dog that doesn't have one, I always suggest to the owner consider purchasing one.

Sassy Pup

Pampered Puppy

Barking Babies

If you are interested in purchasing a Buddy Belt or learning more about the product, visit the website.
http://buddy-belts.com/

Walter & Kitty

Currently I have 2 pets staying at my house, Walter and Kitty. Walter has definitely been one of my favourite dogs to look after, he is so playful and energetic! Its going to be so sad to see them go!

Walter loves going on long walks and he is very friendly with other dogs, which is a major bonus. The cutest thing about him is how his little teeth show!

They were wonderful guests to have over during the holidays :)

Here are some pictures