Tag Archives: pet

4 Downsizing Steps To Care for Your Precious Pet

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Guest Post by: Jessica Brody

Image via Unsplash

Downsizing happens for many reasons. Perhaps you cannot afford your current mortgage. Maybe you simply want a smaller house to maintain. Whatever the reason, the process can be tedious and challenging, especially if you have a fuzzy, furry, or fluffy pet moving with you. To ensure a smooth transition for you and your animal, follow these four steps throughout the moving process, presented by DogBlog: A Dog’s Eyes View.

1. List New Home Modifications

If you are wondering what moving tasks you need to do for your pet, you are not alone. According to one report, some state populations in the U.S. are 70% pet owners, including Idaho. This means many people have to factor in pets when downsizing.

When you’re looking at a potential new home, note what accommodations it has for your animal and what modifications are needed to create a safe and comfortable space. Maybe it has a spacious living room so you can set up an area just for your precious pooches, but perhaps the yard is not fenced in. To keep your dog safe, connect with local fencing companies to get quotes on a new fence and installation.

Before meeting contractors in person, compare online reviews for contracting companies. This provides you with a better understanding of the pros and cons of each business before you commit. Homeowners spend an average of $4,500 to install a fence; this cost can vary depending on the fence’s size, location, and materials. The last thing you want after signing a contract is to realize you could have gotten a better deal somewhere else. Be sure the installer is licensed, insured, and knowledgeable of underground utility lines.

Another possible house modification is a doggy door. If you are gone for most of the day, or you simply have an independent pet, adding a doggy door lets your pup go outside as needed.

2. Fix Pet Damage in Your Home

While pets bring joy and love into your life, they also bring more wear and tear to your home. Potential buyers will likely notice these damages, and it may dissuade them from purchasing your house. Before listing your home, fix the pet damages throughout the rooms.

Common issues caused by pets include dirty carpets, scratched floors, floorboards, and walls, unpleasant odors, and water damage. Do a thorough assessment of your home to see what needs to be updated. You might need to hire a professional depending on how severe it is.

3. Find a Safe Place for Your Pet

When moving into the new house, you might need to live somewhere else during the transition. Plan ahead, so your pet has a safe place to stay during the transition period.

If you are renting an apartment, make sure pets are allowed. If you are staying with friends or family members, ensure they make accommodations for your pet. Do not forget to compensate them for any costs they spend.

4. Introduce Your Pet to the New Home

Before moving into your new home, bring your pet for a tour so he or she can explore. This way, your animal is comfortable with the new surroundings. If you cannot do a tour before moving, walk through the home and yard with your pet first thing on move-in day.

Just as you want your kids, siblings, or parents to be protected and cozy when downsizing, you want the same for your furry family members. When you take these proactive steps, your pets will be just as excited as you are for the new home.

How to Raise a Happy Pet While Launching a Business

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Guest Blog Post by: Jessica Brody

Photo by Pexels

Launching a business is an exciting experience, but it’s also a lot of work. And if you’ve just adopted a new pet, you likely have your hands full already! How are you supposed to divide your attention between your budding business and your new furry friend? To help you juggle your business while raising a happy, healthy, and well-adjusted pet, check out the following tips from A Dog’s Eye View!

Delegate Your Responsibilities

First, look for ways to delegate your business responsibilities so you can free up some time. Those first few weeks with your new pet are important for establishing household rules, forming a strong bond, and getting started on your training. The more time you can spend with your pet, the better!

Automation tools are a great option for small business owners looking to save time without spending a lot of money. You can find apps that automate invoicing, project management, accounting, lead generation, social media posting, email marketing, and more!

Outsourcing to freelancers is another great way to delegate your work without breaking the bank. Whether you need a web developer or a virtual assistant, it’s easy to find contractors at a rate you can afford by searching around on freelance job boards. For example, Upwork reports that the website designer hourly rate ranges from $15 to $30. You can also outsource non-work tasks, like home cleaning or grocery shopping, to carve out some extra time in your day.

Stick to a Routine

Routines are important for pets and people. Establishing a routine will help your new pet learn when they should expect walks, playtime, food, and attention. This will help you avoid issues with your dog whining for attention while you’re working or begging for food at all hours of the day. A solid routine is also important for house training puppies!

At the same time, your routine will help you stay on task when you’re working on your business. It’s easy to let the day get away from you when you’re working from home! With a set routine, you should be able to breeze through your daily work without too many distractions.

Commit to Consistent Training

As you go about your day, try to make time for regular training sessions with your new pet. Regular obedience training will help you bond with your new pet and ensure they develop the skills they need to become a well-adjusted member of your family.

Since dogs can be a major source of distraction when working from home, you might want to start by training your pet to rest quietly or play independently. Set up a comfortable space for your pet in your office where they can relax while you work. If you need help establishing these behaviors, don’t hesitate to consult a professional trainer!

Schedule Time for Walks and Interactive Play

Besides training, try to also make time for interactive play and daily walks with your pet. Regular exercise and mental stimulation are important for keeping your dog healthy, but also for preventing boredom and the destructive behaviors that result. Take regular breaks from your work so you can reward your pet for relaxing quietly with a quick play session. You can keep your pet occupied while you work with some interactive toys like treat toys or puzzle toys.

You may even want to drop off your dog at a doggy daycare center once or twice a week. This is a great way to help your dog maintain their social skills with other people and pets, and you’ll get a little break to focus on your business!

Pets make great companions for home-based business owners. Nothing’s better than plugging away at a computer with a furry friend curled up at your feet. And when your business gets stressful, your pet will be there to offer a play break or get you out of the house for a walk. Start looking for your new pet today!

Roto-Rooter Pet Rescues

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Blue Belle, Canine Contributor
Blue Belle, Canine Contributor

Roto-Rooter reached out to us to make our readers aware of a free service they provide. This is what Maria said “Roto-Rooter is often called upon to save pets and wildlife stuck in precarious and oftentimes dangerous situations. Our expert technicians use state-of-the-art machinery to save the life of an animal in danger.” We thinks that’s awesome. Thanks, Maria for informing our dog blog community.

Blue Belle wants to draw folks attention to a company that is ready to help pets in your community.  The company is Roto-Rooter which is well known for plumbing and water cleanup services.  They also are available to help pets and wildlife that may be stuck in drains or pipes on your property.  They have state-of-the-art machinery, drain/sewer video cameras as well as industrial excavation equipment to rescue trapped animals or pets.  If you know of drains or pipes that pose a potential problem for your pets and other animals, Roto-Rooter will check out your property, find the problem areas and help you find a fix for them.  And Roto-Rooter offers this fantastic service for free!  We think that is great and you will too.

Roto-Rooter Pet Rescue

3 Ways To Make Your New Pet Comfortable When You’re Starting a Business

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Guest Blog Post By: Brandon Butler

Dog in home office.
Photo by UpSplash

When you’re an entrepreneur, life can be a nonstop whirlwind of meetings, calculations, website updates, and social media management. You may plan to be a “solopreneur” with no outside help, or perhaps your aim is to run a small startup that’s mostly internet-based with a few freelancers. If you’re considering welcoming a new pet into this mixture of excitement and chaos, ensure that your new animal friend will feel safe, secure, and loved by implementing the following tips.

Keep Your New Pet Close

New mothers often “wear” their babies, and while you don’t have to strap your new dog or cat to your chest to attain a sense of closeness and security, you may want to take a page from the attachment parenting handbook and keep your new animal as close to you as possible during the day when he first comes home. Make sure to speak softly, offer as much physical affection as your new pet wants, and give him plenty of verbal reassurance and treats throughout your workday.

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Summer Safety Tips for Your Pet

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Guest Post By: Hannah Stevens

Dog on beach
Image courtesy of Pexels.com

Summer is usually a great time to enjoy ourselves and spend time out with our favorite companions. However, spending long sunny days with our pets can spell danger to them. Dogs usually do not cool off quickly in hot conditions. Therefore, it is wise to learn the necessary precautions from animal experts.

Keep Your Dog Cool

To prevent dehydration, ensure that the furry companions take plenty of fresh, clean water and stay under a shade or in cool places to help them regulate their body temperature. Also, avoid over-exercising them in scorching weather. Similarly, know how to tell the symptoms of overheating such as;

  • Difficulty in breathing and excessive panting.
  • Increase in respiratory and heart rate.
  • Mild weakness and drooling, stupor and sometimes collapsing.

These symptoms can escalate to bloody vomit and diarrhea and sudden shot in their body temperature.

Never Leave Your Pet in a Car

Not only is leaving your dog in the car dangerous, but it is also illegal in some states in the United States. Dogs love riding in the car but certainly would not enjoy being stuck in there on a hot summer afternoon. Though it may seem as if a short while is harmless, dogs can suffer severely from 10 minutes in the car, deliberately inducing heatstroke. It’s advisable to search for the owner immediately if you see a dog left in the car or call the police.

Do Not Shave Your Dog

You may need to trim off long hair on your dog, but you should never shave them. The long coat acts as a cushion against overheating and sunburns. The fur on your pet also helps it keep warm during the freeze. It is advisable to leave it an inch long every time you are doing the routine pet grooming.

Adhering to grooming schedules despite the season also enables you to monitor any infestation of pests, thus prevent them from spreading. Make sure that any insect repellant products and sunscreen that you apply on the pet are explicitly authorized by a vet. A well-groomed and insect free dog will lead a healthy life and enjoy quality sleep.

Mind the Paws

When temperatures rise, hot floor surfaces will cause a dog to heat up pretty fast since their system picks heat from the ground. Despite the pooch heating up, the paw pads can also be injured. Minimizing walking at this time or avoiding asphalt and cement which heat up quickly. Driving around with your dog on the back of a truck can also cause the paws to burn from the hot metal. However, if you have to have the company of your dog, doggy boots can come in handy to protect the paws.

Encourage Swimming

Like human beings, dogs can enjoy a swim on a hot afternoon as well. It could be dangerous since not all dogs can swim so dress them in a life vest. The vest’s color should be bright enough to be noticed in case riptides, and intense storms sweep them away. Make sure you always keep watch when in the water.

What Your Pet’s Sleeping Position Means

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Guest Post: Brigid Ludwig

Most pet owners have developed their own way of communicating with their pets. Your furry friend can often tell by the tone of your voice when you’re praising or reprimanding them, and you know by those big puppy dog eyes that they want a piece of the food you’re eating.

This communicating goes for body language as well. You can tell by a wagging tail or raised hackles that your pet is excited or unhappy. Likewise, they can often tell when you’re angry or upset based on how you move. Take some time to notice how often you’re reading your four-legged friend’s body language, and you may be surprised how clearly their personality comes through. So even if your pet can’t talk to you, there’s an unspoken bond that doesn’t need words.

But did you know that just like their waking body language, there are insights to be gained from how your pets sleep? There are many subtle cues to pay attention for that could reveal whether your furry friend is happy, cold, anxious, or comfortable. If you’re not checking out the signals they’re sending while asleep, you’re missing out on valuable insights into your pet’s state of mind.

For more insight into what your pet’s sleeping position means, Sleep Advisor compiled a list of your pet’s most common sleeping positions and what they mean. Check it out below:

Pet sleeping position infographic