Convincing Your Family to Get a Dog

Do you really, really want a dog? Does your family object to your dream of bringing a furry friend into the house? You don’t need to fret – there are ways to butter up your loved ones and pave the way for a tomorrow filled with slobbery tennis balls and bacon flavored treats.

Photo Copyright by Maja Dumat, used here
under the Creative Commons License. 

The first thing you can do is avoid bringing up the subject. Don’t tell people fifty times a week that you strongly desire a dog. This may annoy the individuals you talk to, and they may sour on the whole thing. Give everybody time to sit and think about the idea of having a dog. Show understanding and patience – never pout or press the issue. This doesn’t mean you can’t think about dogs at all, you simply have to keep it to yourself as much as possible until the right time comes.

Let your family know that you don’t have to spend a fortune on the well-being of the dog. There are many affordable alternatives to the care and feeding of a pet. For example, it’s possible to purchase toys on clearance at local pet stores. You can take Fido to doggie day care or hire a dog walker without the worry that your wallet will suffer. Put in the research and show your family not everything costs an arm and a leg – in this case, paw.

A dog is a wonderful addition to any household. Dogs provide companionship and affection, and you would be hard-pressed to find a better alternative to owning one. Despite this, some people may not immediately warm to the idea of having an animal in the house. You have to present them with the right information. Find the best breed and plan for your family and you can’t go wrong.

About Bewaggle:

Bewaggle is a brand new KIND of pet sitting company, unique in the entire nation! Bringing a new level of professionalism, training, and security to the pet sitting industry, we offer pet sitting, dog walking, puppy training, basic obedience training, and more. We are bonded and insured, background checked, professionally trained and supervised. And each sitter is backed up by a team of each qualified professionals. All our sitters are trained in Pet First Aid, Pet CPR, Professional Standards, Emergency Response and much more. 
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Hazards in Your Purse: Keeping Your Dog Safe

Photo Copyright by Flickr user:istolethetv, used here
under the Creative Commons License. 

When you think of things that bring harm to your pet, your purse may not register on your radar. After all, it’s just a purse. However, the contents of your purse can be dangerous to your curious pooch if you don’t take the proper precautions. The nicotine found in cigarettes is toxic, and hand sanitizers have alcohol in them – your dog could suffer from alcohol poisoning by licking a bottle or chewing a wipe. Even seemingly harmless sugarless gum carries chemicals dangerous to nonhumans. What can you do to keep your needed supplies and have a safe and healthy dog at the same time?

Keep Your Purse off the Floor

The first thing you can do is remove temptation. This means keeping your purse in areas your dog can’t reach like high shelves or behind a closed door. If you must keep your purse out in the open, invest in a purse with a zipper at the top. Don’t forget to use the zipper – never leave it open.

Supervise Your Dog

Pay attention to what your dog does and act appropriately. If you think your dog has their eye on the goodies nestled in your purse, distract the dog with their favorite toy or take them elsewhere.

Purses may not be a source of entertainment to you, but your dog may feel otherwise. Don’t let your pet access your purse and taste the items within as they may get very sick. If you don’t know what to do next, talk to your dog trainer or dog walker. They will have experience in the world of dogs, and if nothing else, they may know where you can go for help. Your vet is also an indispensable source of information, so make sure you have access to their phone number.

Be wise… Bewaggle!

About Bewaggle:


Bewaggle is a pet services company located in Central 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!

Training Tip

YOU GET WHAT YOU REINFORCE – NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOU WANT

When your dog does something you don't like, chances are, it's something you have been reinforcing, maybe without even realizing it.  For example, think about a dog that begs at the table.  He sits beside you, whimpering, and maybe he puts a paw on your leg.  You tell him no, but he comes back a moment later and starts whimpering again.  And again with the paw.  Maybe he gives you that irresistible tip of the head, and another little whimper.  And then, he seals the deal by placing his chin on your knee.  He's so dang cute.  How could you resist?  So you break of a nibble from your dinner and give it to him, saying, "OK, fine, here's a bite. Now go lie down."   Your dog has just learned that if he persists, he will get you to do what he wants.  He's not about to go lie down, he's going to continue the whimpering and pawing, because that's what you've reinforced.  The solution is simple, but not always easy.  You have to ignore his begging completely, and ask him to do something for you (like “sit”). A you can NEVER give him a treat while you're sitting at the table, because doing so would only encourage him to beg.  If he's a good boy for you while you eat, reward him with praise and treats AFTER you've finished your meal. 

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, in the convenience of the customer's home.  Every Bewaggle employee is bonded, insured, professionally trained and has undergone a background check.  Be wise... Bewaggle!

Ear Infections in Cats

Ear infections are actually quite common in cats, and they can be caused by a number of factors. These might include bacteria, fungi, mites, some medications, and even diabetes.  They symptoms are pretty obvious, usually, and they can include a discharge from the ear, head shaking, swollen ear flaps, ears that have a foul odor, and extra sensitivity to the ears being touched. 

If your cat is showing any of these symptoms, it's certainly a good idea to have him checked out by your veterinarian.  Once the vet has determined the cause of the infection, a treatment plan will be prescribed that may include regular ear cleaning, eardrops, oral medications, and in severe cases, surgery.

Some breeds are also more susceptible to ear infections than others, so keep an eye on your cat for signs of infection.  Most ear infections respond well to treatment, but only a veterinarian can properly diagnose and treat them.  So have your kitty checked if it's showing symptoms such as those listed above.

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, in the convenience of the customer's home.  Every Bewaggle employee is bonded, insured, professionally trained and has undergone a background check.  Be wise... Bewaggle!

Preventing Hairball Problems

This is the third in our series of posts on the topic of Fur Balls in Cats.  If you missed the first two, you can read them here. 

Preventing Hairball Problems?

As with all pet health issues, the best medicine is always prevention. You can reduce or even prevent hairballs with daily grooming.  A daily brushing (or combing) will remove a lot of hair and will reduce the amount of hair your cat actually ingests. 

A High Fiber Diet

You can now buy cat food especially designed to help fur balls, particularly for indoor cats. These foods are high in fiber and may say ‘reduces hair/fur ball's’. The high fiber diet will help your cat pass the hair through its system instead of getting stuck either in the gut or intestine, which it often does with a lower fiber diet. This stops the hairball from actually forming and is highly recommended for all house cats.  Many high fiber cat foods and treats include pumpkin, which is a natural ingredient that adds beneficial fiber to a cat’s diet.

Fleas, Ticks and Other Skin Conditions

If your cat has fleas, ticks or other parasites on his skin, he’ll be more prone to excessive grooming, which can lead to excessive hair in his stomach, gut and intestines.  Be sure your cat is free of these parasites.  Your vet will prescribe an appropriate program of treatment to assure that fleas and ticks aren’t contributing to fur ball problems. 

If Your Cat Can’t Regurgitate

If your cat is having problems regurgitating a fur ball then take your cat to the vet. They can either prescribe or recommend a medicine.  The medicine will usually come in cat friendly flavors and will lubricate your cat’s stomach and intestines. This makes it easier for the hair or hairball to pass from the stomach into your cats litter tray.

Take Fur balls Seriously.

A large hairball can be very uncomfortable for cats and can cause serious medical conditions. A hairball that can’t be regurgitated will continue to grow within the stomach. Large fur balls become painful and cause blisters and ulcers. Hairball pain can also cause cat depression and anxiety.  A hairball that can’t be regurgitated can lead to stomach and bowl conditions causing your cat much pain and stress.  He’s counting on you to keep him healthy, so if you think your cat has a problem with hairballs, contact your vet right away.

For the 1st blog on hairballs Click Here.
For the 2nd blog on hairballs Click Here.

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, in the convenience of the customer's home.  Every Bewaggle employee is bonded, insured, professionally trained and has undergone a background check.  Be wise... Bewaggle!

More About Hairballs in Cats

This is the second in our series of posts on the topic of Fur Balls in Cats.  If you missed the first one, you can read it here. 

 

·    What are the symptoms of fur balls?

·    Are you having cat fur ball problems?

·    Are there cat fur ball remedies or cat fur ball treatments that can control cat fur balls?

·    Can you even cure cat fur balls?

What does a hairball look like?

Actually, a fur ball doesn’t usually come out round like a golfball.  Usually, it’s more of a football – or even a finger-shaped mass.  If you see one on the floor, you might even mistake it for poop. 

Cats eat grass to help them clear their stomachs.

Have you ever seen your cat eating grass in the yard? Eating grass is a natural way for your cat to induce regurgitation (to vomit). So if your cat has anything indigestible in his stomach, like small bones or a hair ball, eating grass will help him puke it up.

What if you have an indoor cat?

For indoor house cats it’s not that simple. Many people keep their cats – especially long-haired cats - indoors. There are many good reasons to keep a cat indoors, but without natural grass to eat, cats often have difficulty clearing fur balls out of their stomachs.  This is a major problem and can cause your cat serious health issues.  It’s especially common in long-haired cats because longer haired cats can produce a larger hairball simply because they have longer hair.

In our next post, we’ll talk about some tips and strategies for keeping your cats healthy by treating and preventing fur ball problems.  Be sure to subscribe to our blog so you don’t miss this important information.

For the 1st blog on hairballs Click Here.

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, in the convenience of the customer's home.  Every Bewaggle employee is bonded, insured, professionally trained and has undergone a background check.  Be wise... Bewaggle!

Hairballs in Cats

This is the first of a three-part series on hairballs in cats.  If you own a cat, especially an indoor cat,  you may come across hairballs (also called fur balls) on the floor, or you may have witnessed your cat trying to cough up fur balls.  What exactly are hairballs?  What causes them?  How can you prevent or treat them? Are they dangerous to your cat? 

The first thing we want you to know is that fur balls are natural, and the occasional fur ball causes no harm to your cat. It is however important for all owners to understand what fur balls are and the possible risks of excessive fur balls.

·    What are the symptoms of fur balls?

·    Are you having cat fur ball problems?

·    Are there cat fur ball remedies or cat fur ball treatments that can control cat fur balls?

·    Can you even cure cat fur balls?

What is a Fur ball?

Cat fur balls form when your cat grooms. When your cat grooms, the tongue takes all of the dead or lose hair off the coat. This is a natural way for your cat to keep his coat in clean and healthy.  Unfortunately, once the hair is in his mouth, the cat can’t spit or pick it out. He has to swallow it. Usually, the hair will be digested and pass through your cat, but sometimes the hair can’t be digested, in which case it remains in the stomach. Over time, the hair will build up and mix with the fluids in your cat’s stomach, and eventually a ball shape will form. When the ball gets large enough, it will start to irritate your cat’s stomach. That irritation is what causes your cat to vomit, to bring up the fur ball.  Remember that hairballs are completely natural,  and it is normal and healthy for your cat to bring up a fur ball if it forms.  But problems can arise when there are too many fur balls, or when a cat has difficulty clearing them from his stomach. 

In future posts, we’ll cover much more on this topic, so be sure to subscribe so you get this important information. 

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, in the convenience of the customer's home.  Every Bewaggle employee is bonded, insured, professionally trained and has undergone a background check.  Be wise... Bewaggle!

The Yellow Dog Project

Have you ever been out for a walk around the neighborhood, and seen someone walking a dog with a yellow ribbon tied to his collar, or maybe on his leash?  The Yellow Dog Project is really a great idea, and we want to make sure everyone in America understands what it means.

When you see a dog with a yellow ribbon, or bandana, or other yellow attire, it’s a sign that the owner wants you to know that this dog needs a little more space.  It doesn’t mean he’s aggressive or mean, but it does mean that you (and your children, especially) should approach the dog only when the owner tells you it’s OK.

Some dogs are nervous around strangers, and some are just learning how to interact with people outside the house.  The Yellow Dog Project was conceived as a way to alert others that this particular dog needs his space, so people don’t approach him too quickly or get too close for their own safety.  

We’re so happy to share this information with you because it’s such a great idea. All dogs need exercise and an opportunity to learn their social skills. The Yellow Dog Project gives handlers and owners a simple way to let the world know their dog needs a little extra space.  To learn more, visit their website at TheYellowDogProject.com.  

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, in the convenience of the customer's home.  Every Bewaggle employee is bonded, insured, professionally trained and has undergone a background check.  Be wise... Bewaggle!

What to do if your dog has a seizure

If your dog is shaking or twitching, and he doesn’t respond to his name or a gentle nudge, he’s probably having a seizure, and it’s important for you to know how to handle that.  The first thing to do is to remain calm.  Seizures apparently cause no pain to the dog, and unless he’s in a dangerous place, you shouldn’t try to move him.  (If you need to move him, drag him gently by his back legs to a safe spot, and then let the seizure run its course.

Some dogs urinate or defecate during a seizure, so if he’s having a seizure in the house, you may want to put some newspaper or paper towels under him, just in case.  You can pet him to comfort him, but avoid getting too close to his mouth, as he could inadvertently bite you.

All dogs who suffer from seizures should see a vet, but emergency care shouldn’t be necessary unless a dog has a single seizure that lasts more than five minutes — or if he has more than two seizures in a row.  Duration is an important factor in caring and treating a dog with seizures, so when you find your dog having a seizure, take note of how long it lasts and report the duration and frequency to your vet. 

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, in the convenience of the customer's home.  Every Bewaggle employee is bonded, insured, professionally trained and has undergone a background check. Be wise... Bewaggle!

Preventing Bloat

Bloat and Torsion are potentially fatal conditions that can affect both dogs and cats. Bloat is a condition that occurs when an animal's stomach gets overfilled with food, water, or air. Bloat usually leads to torsion, which is the twisting of the stomach. The only way to correct the problem is with surgery and time is crucial. The signs of bloat include drooling, a bloated (enlarged) abdomen, non-productive vomiting (dry heaves), pacing, and shock. The signs of bloat usually occur within a few hours after eating a meal or after too much water is consumed at once. An animal with bloat and/or torsion must receive emergency treatment for shock and surgery to reposition the stomach. Nothing can kill an otherwise healthy animal as quickly as bloat.

To prevent bloat, watch and regulate your pet's food and water intake. Make sure that after exercise or after coming in from the heat, that your pet doesn't drink too fast. If your pet likes to eat too fast you can use food distributing games. These will both entertain your pet and ensure that they eat slower.

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!

What to do for Your Pets in Case of a Hurricane

Hurricane season is June 1st - November 30th!

You should stock up on gallons of water, keep your gas tank full, and have an evacuation plan. The best thing to do is to take your pets with you. So you will need to keep your pets' needs in mind. Make sure you have their food, bowls, medications, grooming tools, and some of their toys (help with the stress). You should prepare a pet travel bag (today) that should include travel bowls, a couple toys, a bag of food, grooming tools, and anything else you think you might need. Medications can be stored with your medications or in the travel bag. Keep everything you will need organized so that you don't forget anything important and so that you aren't stumbling around trying to find stuff. If you can't take your pets with you then find someone that can take care of them. If you think you have no choice but to leave them at home contact the ASPCA or a local shelter/rescue group - they might be able help you figure something out and they will give you some good advice.

Basic Disaster Supplies Kit courtesy of ready.gov and FEMA

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

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!

Summer is Coming - Be Wise... Beware

Summer is coming and all pet owners need to prepare and become aware of the dangers that summertime brings. The summer heat can be fatal to our beloved pets and hurricane season officially starts June 1st. Here are some things to watch out for to keep your pets safe this summer.

Leaving Pets Outside

Your pets should never be left outside unattended especially not when it gets hot out there. If you have to leave your dog outside on his own for an hour or more you need to make sure that he is safe. Make sure your dog is secure in your yard. Please don't use a chain - it will get very hot in the summer sun. Your dog's skin is sensitive too ya know. Your dog must have access to shade or a doghouse or some other form of shelter. You will also need to leave plenty of fresh clean water.

The Same Rules Apply to Your Cats 

To be honest all pet cats should be indoor cats for many reasons  - including their safety. You can let them out if they can be safely contained in your yard or if you have a catwalk or catio. In the summer you need to make sure that they can still get to shade and water or come inside.

A Note About Car Safety

We have a chart here showing what the temperature is outside and what it would then be in your car. Here in Florida the best parking is not the spots closest to the door - it's the ones that have shade. Shade makes a difference but even in the shade it still gets incredibly hot in the car. If you have to leave try to park in the shade and roll the windows down and make it quick.Even when you park in the shade and roll the windows down it is still going to be really hot. It's still hot outside and your car is still baking in that heat. You can leave for a few minutes but half an hour is too long. Rule of thumb: if you think it might take you close to 15 minutes take your dog home first. Life happens and things take longer than we anticipate too often. Too many dogs die in hot cars every year and this is easily prevented. Bottom line you can't leave a living thing alone in your car for a long period of time unless you leave the a/c on.

Keep an eye out for the next post in the next few days. It will be about what to do for your pets in case of a hurricane.

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!