Blog 2017

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and many of you will be giving your pets something special.

With so many holiday-themed pet gifts to choose from, it can be overwhelming. There are tons of lovey-dovey, heart-shaped this or that for Skie or Mr. Butter Cup, however not all traditional gifts are safe. With food or treats, for example, ingredients such as chocolate, xylitol and grapes can be toxic to cats and dogs. Here are 4 safe Valentines Day Gifts for your pet. They are al Bark and Walk Approved.

 1. Heart ID Tag

Has your pet’s ID tag seen better days? Prefer a tag with a love motif? You’re in luck. Check out this "blinger" on WaxWingJewelry.

2. Heart Bowl

Although food and water may just be daily ho-hum necessities, give it some flair with heart-themed bowls and dishes. This heart bowl is available here.

3. Posh Pink Tent

Is your pet’s pad in need of an upgrade? Or perhaps your pet is like mine — I get a new bed and she sleeps everywhere but there. I think it’s the bed, so I buy another. Well, here is a fantastically frilly one for Valentine’s Day.

4. Trendy Dog Collar

If your furball is still wearing a collar with reindeer or snowflakes on it, it’s time to update the look. Here are some Valentine’s colors to get you started. This dog collar has optional letters if you want it personalized.

As always, we would love to hear some past pet gifts you've given your pet and don't forget to share some of your gift ideas for this Valentine. 

We are now 11 days away from Valentine’s Day! This is a time for many pet owners to experience some TLC with their loved ones without the slobber.  If you need a sitter, Bark and Walk is here for the job. So I ask you, have you scheduled us to pet sit for February 14th? While you're being spoiled by your first love, let us spoil your other love. Here are 3 Valentine games your pup will love.

It's Play Time

This is a luxury for most pets, especially if they are hound breeds that cannot be trusted not to chase woodland critters. A doggie park is great for this activity.  This special treat will certainly make your dog’s day!

Extra Hugs & Cuddles

What could be better on Valentine’s Day than extra cuddles? Not only will we pet sit, but we will take him or her on a nice Valentine's Day walk. At the end of the walk, your dog's certified walker will give them a relaxing treat, some extra cuddle time! It's a win-win for our walker and your dog.

Special Game Time

Wouldn't your dog enjoy going to a local trail or have fun playing a game of “hide and go treat” where your dog walker hides treats around the house or yard for your dog to find. Whatever activities your pet enjoys, we can spoil your dog by playing a special game together after the walk.

We would love for you to share some ways you spoil your dog!

I'm sure you know dogs have a sixth sense when it comes to humans. When you are feeling down, your dog can often act as a confidant. They listen better than we do, respond appropriately to your emotions, and genuinely care about your feelings. To your dog, you are family. It is as simple as that.

Understanding how your dog perceives you can help you relate better to your pet. Here are 3 things your dog can sense about you.

1. You can't Hide Your Sadness From Your Dog

Think about a time when you were sad, did you notice your dog became more subdued than usual. Sometimes they even lose interest in their toys and refuse to eat. After observing your mood, after a while, he may come over and place his head in your lap. Some even try to lick away the tears. Why you may ask. A dog's owner is their entire world, so you being sad effects them as well. 

In a study published in the journal “Animal Cognition,” researchers found that a dog was more likely to approach someone who was crying than someone who was humming or talking. Furthermore, they found that dogs respond to weeping with submissive behavior.

In other words, dogs have a caring spirit rather it's for their owner or a complete stranger.

2. Dogs can Detect Diseases You May Have

Various studies have confirmed that dogs have the ability to detect certain diseases such as cancer. Some dogs have been trained to warn individuals who suffer from seizures when an episode is about to take place.  

A dog’s ability to sense disease comes down to an ability to detect chemicals known as volatile organic compounds or VOCs. VOCs are what allows us to sense odor and though some are toxic, the term generally applies to any chemical that can get into your nose because it is a gas. While humans can detect certain potent VOCs, our limited sense of smell is no match for what dogs can do.

If your dog has been paying particular attention to a certain area of your body, you may want to visit your doctor to make sure everything is okay.

3. Your Dog Knows About His Vet Appointment

How in the world is a dog able to differentiate a trip to the park vs a trip to the vet? I've been wondering the same thing. It's like as soon as you load him into the car to head to the vet, he already knows what is going on. 

When you get to the vets, most dogs develop a set of anti-lock brakes that makes them impossible to move.

A dog knows that he is going to the vet thanks to his sense of smell and his ability to read body language. You probably can’t make a trip to the vet fun for your dog, but you can make it less anxiety-provoking.

Most experts recommend that you acclimate your dog to the vet by taking him there on visits (no shots or prodding during these times). You should also “play doctor” with your dog. That means touching him on the pads of his feet, looking in his mouth, and otherwise doing things that a vet would do. This makes the trip and visit a lot more comfortable.

We would love for you to add some things you've noticed your dog has sensed about you.

If you are a doggie parent, then you should know how to perform CPR on your dog. Seeing your dog in a life-threatening situation can be a frightening and stressful experience. Equipping yourself with the knowledge to effectively recognize and take action treating your dog’s condition can keep you calm and greatly increase your dog’s chance of survival. 

The infographic below: How To Perform CPR on Your Dog

Why hiring a dog walker is important? The best way to make sure your dog is getting a regular workout is to provide him or her with daily companionship, motivation, and structure. However, most doggie parents work full-time to provide Fluffy with her cushy lifestyle, right? For most people, there are just not enough hours in the day. The truth is, hiring a dog walker provides amazing benefits for your pet, as well as for you. 

Here are the top 5 reasons hiring a dog walker is important:

1. Health – To live a long, healthy, and happy life, your pet needs a routine and consistent work-out plan. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, an estimated 54% of dogs and cats in the United States are obese.  With proper exercise, you can prevent or reduce the chances of your dog acquiring specific health problems in their lifetime. A 3 or more 20+ minute walk per day is one of the absolute best ways to keep your dog healthy.

2. Socialization and Encouragement – Meeting other people or animals is a great way to stimulate your dog's senses. He/she gets to see, smell, feel, and hear a variety of new and interesting things while out for their walk. This is an excellent way to encourage proper socialization for your pup.  Believe it or not, but a simple walk can be the highlight of your pet’s day.

3. Calmer Behavior – With frequent long walks your dog will be less likely to do unnecessary barking, chewing, and/or biting. Releasing excess energy through regular walks results in calmer behavior at home. Simply put, a tired dog is a good dog. 

4. Peace of Mind – Close your eyes and imagine not having to rush your dog in the mornings to go potty. Imagine not having to rush home from work to walk your dog. With a daily dog walker, you don’t have to worry as much and it gives you a peace of mind that your dog is well taken care of, even when you're not home. Just knowing that your dog will get quality time outdoors during the day helps relieve the guilt or stress that they're left alone, often for 8 or more hours every day. Now you can feel confident that your dog is living a rewarding, happy life.

5. Time – Trying to fit a lengthy walk in your schedule is like trying to fly an airplane down a bowling lane, it's just not happening. The truth is we all live busy lives, and every second counts. With a regular dog walker, your dog still gets all of the exercise and attention they deserve, while you get back a great deal of time.  This way it's a win-win situation for all.

There are many other reasons why hiring a dog walker is important, but by now, I'm sure the benefits are pretty clear.  Bark & Walk make hiring a professional dog walker simple and affordable while offering top notch services.

We’d love to help you and your dog get the benefits you both deserve.