Fetch! Pet Care: April 2014

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Simple Steps You Can Take to Ensure Your Pet’s Safety This Spring

Spring and summer are some of the best times of year to enjoy your pets, but, as the weather gets warmer, there is an increased threat for your pet’s safety that can easily be minimized with just a few simple tips. Follow these precautions to keep this summer a fun and safe time for the entire family!

Safe summer outings

On a warm day temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, the temperature inside a car with the windows cracked open can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes, and after 30 minutes the temperature can reach 120 degrees. Even when the temperature outside is a balmy 72 degrees, the temperature inside your car can rocket to a fatal 116 degrees in less than an hour. As fun as a car ride may be for any pet, never leave them in your vehicle on a warm day. Plan ahead and make sure that you are traveling to an area that will allow you to bring your pet with you. Do you research ahead of time – even if you’re heading to a public beach or park – they may not be pet-friendly!

Speaking of safe summer outings, our Group Off-Leash Exercises are a fun and safe way for your pet's to enjoy a sunny summer afternoon with their pals. Click here for more information.

Be Vigilant about vet care

Warm weather check ups should include a heartworm test and a flea and tick prevention plan. Depending on your location, your veterinarian may recommend additional vaccines such as the Rattlesnake Vaccine to keep your pet safe. Need a pet taxi to the veterinarian? Visit our Specialty Services Page for more information.

Keep them cool

I don’t know about your dogs, by my Shepherd LOVES playing in water….my Pomeranian cross – not so much. Regardless of your dog’s love for or aversion to water, they will be grateful for a nice cool-down on a hot day. For water-lovers, have fun with the opportunity by turning on the sprinkler for them to run through, or set up a sturdy kiddie pool for them to make a splash in! If you have a dog that is less thrilled about water, a nice cool sponge bath will do the trick.

Swimming and water activities

Contrary to common belief, not all dogs are skilled swimmers. Stay close to them while playing in a river, lake or ocean. Remember: an experienced swimmer is still susceptible to undercurrents, jellyfish and other water hazards. Do not let your dog drink ocean or lake water – salt water can cause dehydration, while lakes and other bodies of water may contain parasites. Always provide your dog with fresh water. If you’re out boating make sure to provide your dog with his own lifejacket.

Beware of stinging insects

Cats may be curious to pounce on an insect or bee they are attracted to, which could ultimately lead to a bite or sting. Watch for stinging insects and be aware of nearby nests. Avoid leaving out food or drink – especially if they contain sugar as this will attract bees.

What are your warm weather pet safety tips? Leave them for us in the comments below or tweet them to us @fetchpetcare

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

5 Great Rainy Day Activities for You and Your Dog

5 Great Rainy Day Activities for You and Your Dog

Rainy days are always a good opportunity spend some quality cozy time indoors with your pets. When you want to avoid the possibility of your pup finding pleasure by rolling in a puddle, a little creativity in keeping your dogs happy and busy can go a long way. Follow these tips from our very own Fetch! Pet Care professionals.

It’s never too late to learn a new trick. One trick I wish I had thought of teaching my dogs sooner is to pick up their toys. Not only is it fun for them to put away their toys, but it also gives them a sense of accomplishment. Teaching your dog this trick is a lot easier than it may sound — just scatter the toys all over the house and have your dog find them and put them in a basket to earn a reward. Start by training your dog to know what “put away” means. Work on teaching your dog to pick up a toy, carry it to a basket and drop it in. Once your dog gets good at this trick, try making it more challenging by scattering the toys farther apart.

This activity is sure to please any time of year. Give it a try!

Take it to the stairs. If your dog is less active but enjoys following you around, try a few rounds up and down the stairs — get him interested in seeing what you’re doing “up there” and “down here”. If your dog is active, sit at the top of the stairs and toss a ball down for a bit of a workout.

Have a doggie play date! If your dog has a favorite playmate – invite him over for a little fun. Be sure to puppy proof the house beforehand so that everyone is safe and has a good time.

Keep ‘em quiet with a KONG chew toy. These toys are by far one of my absolute favorite go-to’s when everyone needs a little down time. I like to fill them with Greek Yogurt and freeze in advance – this way the yogurt (and quiet time), lasts longer. Give them a cozy set-up with a couple extra blankets on their beds and enjoy a nice 20 minutes to yourself.

Grooming is a simple and practical way to spend a day indoors. Fill up the tub and give your dog a bath – if he has aching bones, allow him to spend extra time in the warm water being sure to gently rub the achiness away. Not only will your pet feel extra special and loved, grooming doubles as a great way to bring you two closer together!

Have a rainy day tip to share? Tweet it to us @fetchpetcare or leave it in the comments below...

5 Tips to keep your pet busy while you’re at work

Every pet parent knows the guilt of leaving their pet home alone all day while they go off to work. At Fetch! Pet Care, we believe that even in your absence your pet can still have a great day! Whether it’s wrestling with a Kong for their food, finding a hidden treat or going for a great 60-minute walk, your pet can have a fun filled day that will leave them tired and ready for some cuddling when you get home. Here are our top 5 tips for keeping your pet busy while you’re at work:

1. Hunger Games: It’s time for your pet to bring home the bacon! There are great toys that make your pet work for their kibble or treats. The Kong and The Bob-Alot are great examples. The Kong has a hallowed out cylinder where you can insert treats that are almost out of your pet’s grasp. With work they can get their treats and have a great time. The Kong has both dog and cat versions of the toy. The Bob-Alot is an egg shape toy, weighted on the bottom so it wobbles around when pushed. Once the treat or kibble is inside, your pet will push it around the floor. The more pushing, the more the kibble comes out! You can put your pet’s whole meal in The Bob-Alot to make a meal last a lifetime!

2. Paper bags or boxes: If your pet has not discovered the joy of a paper bag or box then they are missing out! A simple paper bag or box can keep your pet occupied for hours as they throw the bag around, crawl inside the box and push it around the floor. Sometimes simple everyday items like these can be so entertaining for your pet. For safety purposes, please remember to poke holes in the bags or boxes, and never use plastic bags.

3. Satisfy the need to chew: Pets love to chew, so it’s important they have some great chew toys so they don’t go after your shoes! Chewing is great for dental hygiene and will keep your pet busy for hours! We recommend using nylon bones over rawhide, which can break off into pieces, get lodged in your pet’s stomach, and cause major problems. For kitties we recommend catnip mice and other fabric chew toys. Get some great chew toys and your pet will have a happy, productive day!

4. Fetch! Pet Care Walks/Pet Visits: Pets love to have a daily walk or visit from a Fetch! Pet Care pet sitter or dog walker. We can take your dog on a 30-, 45- or 60-minute walk, or for dogs with extra energy we provide fast-paced walks, designed to truly get your dog’s heart rate up and send him home “dog tired”! For cats we provide fun games and circuit training to engage your cat’s feline prey instincts. A daily visit is a great way to break up the long day.

5. Hiding treats: Our pets are notoriously curious, especially cats and small dogs. You’ll often find your kitty or pup curled up in a small, concealed cubbyhole or hidden spot. Seek out these spots and hide a yummy treat, small chew toys, or a crinkly fun toy! They’ll be lured in by the treat and then stop for a relaxing afternoon nap!

Although nothing substitutes a nice day with their owners, these tips can help your pet have a great, busy week until you’re home for the weekend!

Fetch! Pet Care of Palm Desert a friend to furry companions

Fetch! was featured in an article in The Desert Sun titled, “Fetch! Pet Care of Palm Desert a friend to furry companions,” than ran on February 18, 2014. The article mentions Paul Mann and highlights Kathleen’s opening on February 1st. Preview article below or read full story here.

"Fetch! Pet Care of Palm Desert a friend to furry companions"

BY: Nina Ronda

Palm Desert has a new pet care service. Kathleen Huffman, owner and general manager, opened Fetch! Pet Care of Palm Desert on Feb. 1.

After being in the corporate world and traveling for 20 years, Huffman knew how difficult it was to always find a sitter for her precious pets. Inspired by her two Shih Tzu dogs, Huffman considered starting professional pet-sitting and dog-walking services.

Getting started

A franchise company headquartered in Berkeley was founded in 2002 by Paul Mann. When Mann grew weary of searching for the right pet sitter, his solution was to start his own pet-sitting and -walking enterprise and use that as the business model for home-based franchises. So, this was a natural fit for Huffman to start Fetch! Pet Care of Palm Desert.

Read the full article here.

Pet Shape Up Challenge Successfully Promotes Healthy Weight Control for Pets

We talk about new diet trends, weight loss programs and exercise everyday, but do we consider this for our pets as well? Fetch! Pet Care was recently featured in Pet Business for their focus on pet health and their pet shape up challenge. Preview the article below or read the full story here.

"Pet Shape Up Challenge Successfully Promotes Healthy Weight Control for Pets"

BY: Jennifer Boncy

For the past couple of days, the topic de jour at many water coolers has been the dramatic weight loss achieved by the winner of the NBC TV show The Biggest Loser. Here at Pet Business Media, however, we’ve been awaiting the results of a very different weight loss program: the Pet Shape Up Challenge, a Dog and Cat Weight Loss Program.

Fetch! Pet Care, a dog walking, pet sitting and boarding franchise, joined forces with natural pet food manufacturer Halo, Purely For Pets, not too long ago to launch a pilot program designed to fight pet obesity and promote healthy pet lifestyles. The program emphasized exercise—particularly walking and getting active with Fetch! Pet Care pet professionals—and also included a nutritional component. A resident nutritionist from Halo custom-designed the daily feeding routine for each pet in order to control calorie intake and ensure proper nutrition during the Challenge period. Owners were then coached on how to properly feed and exercise their pets as well during the challenge.

In the fall, we introduced our readers to three participants of the pilot program: Wilbur, Bandit and Dixie (pictured above taking a hike during the challenge), and although we don’t have detailed results on the three animals, Fetch! Pet Care’s founder and CEO recently gave us an update how the pets fared during the challenge and what the companies learned from the pilot. He also filled us on in on a possible national rollout.

Full article here.