Showing posts with label Daisy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daisy. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Friday, May 31, 2019
The Do's and Don'ts of Visiting a Dog Park
Seven years ago I took my newly adopted dog, Daisy, to the dog park because I thought it would be fun for her to expend her energy as she barked, played, and cooled off with her new friends but, sadly, I soon found out that it wasn't everything that I'd imagined it would be because
many mistook her deep and often incessant baying to mean that she was ready to attack but they didn't understand that her posture and wagging tail meant just the opposite. She is a hound, I explained, and is simply expressing how happy she is by barking. For those who are used to hearing tiny yips from a dachshund, Chihuahua, or Yorkshire terrier, for example, barks from a hound can be quite jarring but this was a dog park so I assumed everyone understood that barking decibels would vary from dog to dog.
Dog parks are excellent places dogs to relax, bond, and play with their kind but sadly their visit can quickly become a negative experience because many dog owners have not educated themselves about canine behavior or good pack leadership. Therefore, Daisy and I only visit the park once or twice a year partly because she gets enough exercise from our daily walks with clients, etc.
To ensure that you and your dog have a positive experience at the dog park here are some do's and don'ts to keep in mind:
Do's
1. Make sure your dog is spayed or neutered, has all her shots, and is in good health.
2. Check out the entrance before entering to make sure dogs aren't congregating there
3. Pay close attention to your dog's play style, interrupting play if necessary to calm your dog down
4. Move around the park so that your dog will need to keep an eye on you
5. Remove your dog if the dog appears afraid
6. Remove your dog if it is bullying others
7. Respect your dog's wish to leave
8. DRAIN YOUR DOG'S ENERGY FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES BEFORE GOING TO THE PARK. NEVER TAKE AN OVERLY EXCITED DOG TO THE PARK.
Don'ts
1. Allow your dog to enter the park if there is a 'gang' right next to the entrance
2. Congregate at a picnic table or other area and chat with dog owners who are not watching their dogs
3. Let your frightened dog remain in the park and hope things get better
4. Listen to other attendees in the park who may not understand your dog's needs
5. Assume a dog is aggressive when it is only trying to communicate its discomfort
6. Don’t bring food or your dog’s favorite toys as that often causes problems
7. USE THE PARK AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR WALKING YOUR DOG!
I hope these friendly reminders serve to help you and your dog have a wonderful and safe time at the dog park!
Thursday, May 30, 2019
What May 30th Means to Daisy and Me
When I woke up this morning the first thought I had was that ten years ago Daisy posed with me and my then fiance', Amos, in the back lot of
McDonald's in Vermont on May 30, 2009, after saying goodbye to her foster
parents of three months. I will forever be indebted
to Shannen and Dave for giving her a wonderful start of a new life far away from the
shelter where she waited far too long for stability.
That
day was such a blur because my then fiance' and I were so nervous and
excited that we forgot to ask her foster parents for her paperwork (the
adoption agency never had any which had us question when her birthday
really was) so we decided that May 30 would be her birthday. The vet
later confirmed her age to be nearly 1 year old at the time of her
adoption so by all accounts she really and truly is 10 years old today
and it is hard to believe! Look at how young she (and, sadly, me)
looks!
Shortly
after driving Daisy to her new home I quickly introduced her to my dear
Teacher's Pet Sitting Service client and pal, Sophie, (pictured)and many
other pet sitting friends!
When she wasn't socializing with pet sitting friends she's kept herself busy by going swimming,
sitting pretty at the bank to get treats,
doing some Christmas shopping at Nicole's Hallmark in Dover,
stopping for water breaks at Adelle's Coffeehouse,
catching the waves in York Beach, Maine,
visiting a turkey just in time for Thanksgiving,
getting ice cream with her pal, Molly,
swimming and barking up a storm in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts,
loving every minute of her many bus riding experiences in Martha's Vineyard,
and dining out with me in downtown Dover! These are just a sampling of the many memories I've had thus far with my buddy!
As
you can imagine, the objective today will be to make sure Daisy enjoys
her BIG day by doing the things she loves to do! Her list of favorite
places to go is so long I'm certain that she will be satisfied with
anything I choose for her!
I love you, Daisy! Happy birthday!
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Thursday, April 4, 2019
Echo and Mojo's Sleepover Was Doggone Fun!
For seven nights and eight days Daisy (left) and I had the pleasure of keeping Echo (the Yorkie on the top of the couch) and Mojo (the Chihuahua mix, middle) company while their parents were on vacation and it was doggone fun!
From anxiously resting their paws on my legs while I held treats for them to enjoy,
to waking up in comfort,
to relaxing on top of a plush pillow,
to watching Daisy try her best to fit into her friends' tiny beds, it was a rewarding and fun-filled experience!
Overnight care is one of my favorite services I offer because it allows me to get to know the pets in an intimate way and this vacation booking was no different! It was rewarding to watch Echo and Mojo feel comfortable under my care even though their parents were far, far away!
If you are thinking of going out of town but don't know who to trust with your pets, I can help! Rates vary from home to home to satisfy the needs of each pet so please contact me to discuss. I offer 13 years of professional pet sitting experience and proof of insurance for your peace of mind!
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Thursday, March 7, 2019
The Dangers of Marrow Bones
'
What is stuck on the jaw of this poor dog, you ask? It's a marrow bone that are found in your grocer's freezer that got hollowed out when this dog chewed the marrow inside to look like
this leaving plenty of room for her to get her jaw stuck inside and then had to have the bone surgically removed with a wire saw at the veterinarian's office!
To view how this bone was removed from a dog named Dottie please view this video: https://youtu.be/GU4PkqCGuv4 and then follow it up with Dottie's story here: https://www.aspca.org/news/bone-pick-one-dog-learns-dangers-marrow-bones!
To bring this story home, I'll refer back to when my dog, Daisy, got her bone stuck on her jaw several years ago and it was removed almost immediately at the vet's office!
The best bet when giving your dog a marrow bone is to (a) purchase ones that are larger than your dog's jaw (b) monitor your dog (c) don't allow your dog to chew for long periods of time.
While marrow bones are rich in calcium and are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals they could potentially get stuck on your dog's jaw so the best thing to do once the marrow has been chewed out of the center is to DISCARD IT. In addition, the bone becomes brittle and could potentially break a tooth or splinter into dangerous pieces that could obstruct organs causing serious if not fatal harm.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Daisy Says "Wow!" at Woof Meow in Dover, NH
As soon as Daisy saw the sign in the kitchen at Woof Meow that read "Please help yourself to the cookies" she sniffed the
daisies,
ladybugs, and pizza slices until she settled on
on two no-frills cookies with blue icing! I thought surely she would've snagged a pizza slice! She later found out that "helping yourself" meant that the store wasn't giving them out for free! Good 'ol mom had to pay $1.75 for each cookie (a bargain!) but that was okay with me because it was fun to watch Daisy enjoy herself on a lazy day!
Do you have a Woof Meow in your neighborhood? If so, do your dogs love their cookies? What other items are a favorite?
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Looking Back on Daisy's Visit With Santa
Since I'm still catching up on posting about my Christmas activities due to the busyness of the season I thought I'd share how Daisy enjoyed going to Aubuchon Hardware in Dover to see Santa! The photography session was absolutely free which was a wonderful gesture!
Visiting Aubuchon is nothing new to Daisy as we visit there on a regular basis so I was certain seeing Santa there would be an easy transition and I was right except that Daisy wouldn't stand by him without being coaxed by treats!
After Daisy curiously took treats from a very kind stranger she was ready to have a final pat before she walked out the door to see more holiday sights!
I aPAWlogize for the delayed update about Daisy's holiday adventures but my wonderful pet sitting clients kept me too busy to sit for a few minutes to write to you!
I'm all caught up on the updates so please stay tuned for up-to-the-minute blog posts of my pet sitting adventures!
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
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