Wednesday, January 30, 2013

A Dog Named Phoebe


I come from a dog family. We lost our last dog to a brain tumor while we were living in Germany. We didn’t want to put another dog through a trans-Atlantic flight so we had to wait until we moved back to the states to get another dog. Three years later we finally moved to New York and my mom and I asked my dad when we would get another dog. He was opposed to the idea. He said we were too busy – work and school all day and hockey all night and weekends (I had an Olympic dream). It wouldn’t be fair to the dog and he was right.
Phoebe
Then my older brother passed away while he was at college. My mom became far more insistent on having a dog. I wasn’t pursuing the Olympics anymore and we really needed to have a dog. My dad still said no. He had the same list of excuses. And he would get a little animated about it. They are expensive, they get into the trash, they are destructive (he would always act like he was shaking one of the Turkish carpets like a dog would), and he would always end with “and they carry disease.” We sat down and had this talk just about everyday until he finally screamed fine. I don’t think he was seriously giving the okay more like he was trying to get us to leave him alone.
That was good enough for my mom. She was working at West Point and she knew that they had a vet clinic on site that would sometimes have pets for adoption. She gave them a call while she was at work and told them that she was looking for a dog. She really didn’t care much about the dog so long as it would be a good pet. She told them that she would prefer large to small but not fussy about it. She would prefer short hair to long but it’s not a deal breaker. She would like a girl but she was really not fussy about it she was just looking for a good pet. They told her that they actually had a dog that she would probably like that just came up for adoption that day. My mom met the dog after work and took her home with her.  
She is a white dog with faded black spots, short hair, and medium size. She is dog, cat, and child friendly. After an epic debate we decided to name her Phoebe. We ended up with the most well behaved dog I have ever even heard of. She never gets in the trash, she never barks, she doesn’t bolt, she doesn’t leave her yard, she doesn’t steal food, she doesn’t get on the furniture that she isn’t allowed on, and she doesn’t touch anything in a box or basket (not even her own toys or treats). We can and have left her alone in the house and she still won’t break any of the rules. Once we accidentally left a plate of bacon on the table and left her alone with it. It was untouched when we came home. She loves everybody and no one can resist to love this silly and playful dog. 


About Bewaggle:

Bewaggle is a pet services company located in DeLand, Florida. We offer pet sitting, dog walking, puppy training, basic obedience training, and more. We are bonded and insured, with background checks and references. Be wise... Bewaggle!

Sunday, January 27, 2013

The Dreaded Nail Trimming

A lot of people have a hard time trimming their pet's nails. They squirm, fidget, pull away, and fight you every step of the way. It's a frustrating experience for you and traumatic for your pets. Nail cutting is a necessity but it doesn't have to suck. Here are some steps you can take to make it easier:
Oh No! Don't cut off my feet!!!
  • First you need to get your pet used to being handled everyday. Get them used to you touching them all over. Pay special attention to their feet and mouths. (This is a good time to look for ticks, fleas, and do some grooming)
  • Start by trimming just one nail a day. After you have successfully trimmed on nail praise your pet. Have a treat ready and give them lots of love. (Make sure you have a good pair of clippers.)
  • For cats be sure to supply them with plenty of scratching posts, cat trees, and I highly recommend an emery cat.
  • You can also try a PediPaws nail grinder. You don't have to worry about trimming too close to the quick and the nail won't be sharp.
Be wise... Bewaggle!

About Bewaggle:

Bewaggle is a pet services company located in DeLand, Florida. We offer pet sitting, dog walking, puppy training, basic obedience training, and more. We are bonded and insured, with background checks and references. Be wise... Bewaggle!

Friday, January 25, 2013

Say hello to Bewaggle!

This is Wiggles, the Bewaggle mascot!
Bewaggle is a brand new Pet Services company, located in DeLand Florida, and serving Volusia and Seminole Counties.  This blog will be a place for me to post tips, news and stories that I think will be interesting or useful to pet owners and animal lovers.

If you have questions about your pet's training or general care, post them here.  I'll do my best to get you the answers you need.

I'm a Pet Sitter, Dog Walker, Puppy Trainer and All-Around Animal Lover!  I help make your pets happier, healthier and better companions for you and your family.  Be wise... Bewaggle.