5 Reasons to say YES to hiring a Dog Walker

by Pam Ranheim | Jun 3, 2020 | dog walking, dogs, pet health, Plymouth MA

Do I really need a Dog Walker?

Hiring someone to come into your home to care for your precious fur baby isn’t a decision to take lightly. When you look at the benefits, you see that hiring a Dog Walker can increase the quality of both you and your pup’s life exponentially. Whether you’re looking to get Fido a little more fresh air, hoping to help Gracie shed a few pounds, or just wanting to increase the quality of Lucy’s daily life a Dog Walker can be a great option for you and your baby.

Here are some of the ways that having a Dog Walker in your pet’s life will help:

• Peace of Mind

  Do you find yourself worrying about your dog having to “hold it” or wondering if they are lonely all day? The guilt of a working pet parent is real and a dog walker may be able to help! Peace of mind is knowing that your precious fur baby is not crossing their legs or sitting at home being lonely all day. This can help you to be more productive at work and give you more balance in your human/dog relationship. Peace of mind goes a long way in the overall yin and yang of pet parenting!

• Exercise is good for the soul!

Exercise is a crucial component to any dog’s life no matter their age. Finding the right dog walker to give your pet the appropriate amount of physical movement for their breed, age, and energy level is important. Exercise improves the overall health of your dog which can increase their life span. Who doesn’t want their precious pup around as long as possible?!

• Saves You Time

  Are you a Busy Bee? Early mornings/late evenings? Never enough hours in the day? You want to give your dog a beautiful, long walk just for them everyday but simply don’t have time? A dog walker helps to ease the stress of one more thing on your to-do list. Enjoy having a happy, tuckered out, pup post-walk and the peace of mind that you provided something just for them that day without the stress of squeezing it in!

• Improves Pet Behavior

  A well-exercised pup is a well-behaved pup. Many times our dogs have energy that we can’t help them exert. That energy can manifest negatively in chewing on the furniture, barking at every squirrel that runs by the window, or giving the mailman a piece of their mind. Sound familiar? When our dogs are well-exercised they release those held energies through exertion and stimulation of their senses improving their overall behavior at home.

• Socialization!

  While you may not be a social butterfly and you think your pet isn’t either, socialization is a wonderful way to build their confidence.  Meeting a new person and building trust with them as they walk will expand your pet’s “social circle” which ultimately lessens fears and apprehension they may be carrying. Likewise, group hiking/walks is an excellent way for them to socialize with other dogs. This can help to ease the alpha dog mentality they may have, making them a happier more well-rounded pup.

BONUS: Benefits of Exercise for your Dog

Whether you walk your dog yourself or you hire a dog-walker, good exercise is one of the most important gifts you can give to your dog. From their everyday health to their overall confidence, exercise is the best medicine you can give your dog for a happy, healthy lifestyle!

Top three benefits of exercise for your pup

1. Positive overall health   “If you don’t use it you lose it” is true for our pets, too. It may seem obvious to you, but you may be surprised by how many dog owners don’t actually walk their dogs on a daily basis. Exercise in dogs has been known to drastically reduce the risks of heart disease, nasty infections and even depression. Daily exercise keeps obesity at bay, stimulates over all healthy joints, and ultimately causes fewer visits to the vet. This means a fuller heart as a pet parent, and keeping a little money in your pocket isn’t a bad perk either!
2. Improves behavioral problems such as excessive barking, licking, chewing, digging, and overall anxiety. Many pet owners may not realize that most often these behaviors occur out of boredom. Every walk stimulates your dog with thousands of new scents and sights, which actually makes them even more tired. In addition, the exertion of their energy makes them feel more fulfilled and ultimately calmer when back at home. This reduces their need to bark, dig, chew, scratch, etc. creating a more positive living environment for everyone involved.
3. Builds Confidence   Exercise outside of the home can help your pet trust their environment more. From scents to sights, the exposure that physical activity gives your pet builds confidence with every walk they take with you or your walker. If your dog does not receive exercise they will find a way to release their energy in destructive behaviors. By giving them a place to exert that energy they are able feel a sense of comfort and control, all thanks to you!

Still debating if hiring a dog-walker is for you?

Take our 5 question quiz to find out for sure! 

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Ticks Trailside

by Pam Ranheim | May 16, 2018 | dog walking, dogs, pet health, Plymouth MA

What a winter we had, especially the month of March.  And of course, April was not typical spring temperatures either.  In fact, it was downright cold for most of the month.

Finally, we are in the heart of spring, with summer not too long away.  We are all so happy to get out of the house and take our pups on some nice, long hikes.  As much as we are excited to finally shed the winter clothes and enjoy the outdoors, we now have outdoor troubles to worry about.  By that I mean: the dreaded ticks.  Not a topic most of us want to think about.

Here is some helpful information for you:

Where are the common places dogs pick up ticks?

Dogs typically get ticks from walking through high grass, shrubs and wooded areas.  Ticks will typically hang out at about 18-24 inches off the ground waiting for the next warm body to brush by.  Did you know that ticks can live well over a year without feeding?  They will lie and wait and wait and wait until an animal/human walks by the plant material that they are hanging onto, and from there climb onto their food source.

What do ticks do once they find your pup?

Ticks are NOT jumpers.  Once a tick finds a host it typically starts from the bottom – feet and legs — and crawls upward.  They usually land around the head, neck and ears where the skin is thinner. That is where they will bite, latch on, and hang on for days.

Once the tick bites its host, it can take around 24 hours for the germs, infections and viruses to make their way into the tick’s salivary glands to be released into the host.  This is why it is so important to do a daily tick check.

How can I avoid having my pet pick up a tick while we are out?

Your pet is less likely to pick up a tick when they are walking with you on a path.  When you can, avoid off-leash hiking in areas where there is high grass, dense undergrowth.  Those areas encourage dogs to sniff and investigate their surroundings, and they can easily pick up a tick waiting at the top of the grass or brush for them to pass by.

What is the best way to remove a tick:

IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL to remove ticks properly.
It is best to go right to your vet to remove ticks unless you have a lot of experience removing ticks and are confident in disposing of them safely.  Making an incorrect or unsuccessful attempt can cause more problems than if you left the tick alone until you can get your pet to the vet to have it removed properly.  For example, you could easily break off the tick’s head, leaving it behind embedded in your pet’s skin.
If you feel you must remove the tick yourself as you are unable to get to a vet, pointy tweezers should be your weapon of choice.  Using pointed tweezers, grasp the head of the tick as close to the skin as possible, and pull upward quickly.  It’s important to squeeze the tick by its head only to avoid the risk of pushing the infected saliva into the bite wound.

3 common tick diseases in New England and possible symptoms:

LYME DISEASE: 
Humans will most likely get a “Bulls eye” rash, but dogs are different and will not display a rash.  Look for: random, sudden onset leg lameness and leg shifting that lasts more than a day, loss of appetite, depression, tiredness and reluctance to move.

ANAPLASMOSIS:
Watch for loss of appetite, lethargy, lameness, reluctance to move, neck pain, neurological signs, bruising of gums and belly and nose bleeds.

EHRLICHIA:
Keep an eye out for depression, lack of energy, loss of appetite, discharge in the eyes and nose, nose bleeds, bruising on the gums and belly, lameness and joint pain.
These are just a few possible symptoms.  The best rule of thumb: know your pet.  Watch for any changes in them physically or emotionally.  Remember, you are your pets’ best advocate. You know when they are not feeling well.  They are not able to tell us what is happening.  If you see any changes be sure to take them to your veterinarian.

WITH TICK BITES, PREVENTION IS KEY:

• Always do a complete body check for yourself and your dog after you have been out with your dog on a walk or hike.  This is especially Important if you walk in areas known for high tick population.
• Take preventative measures to keep your pet from being exposed to ticks.  These measures include topical applications (lotions, cremes), tick collars and even some oral medications.
• Consult with your veterinarian to find the optimum choice for your dog.

Being educated about ticks and following some simple rules will allow you to enjoy your walks with your pups…. Here’s to nice weather!  Hope to see you and your pups on the Trailside!!
Do you have a favorite Tick Prevention idea?  Post below!