Toxins in Your Kitchen

Our dogs and cats love to hang out in the kitchen while we're cooking, hoping something yummy will land on the floor. And when it does, they are quick to gobble it up.  But there are many (yes, many) human foods that can be toxic - even deadly - to our beloved pets.

Grapes and raisins, for example contain toxins that can cause organ failure in pets.  Onions, garlic, coffee grounds, chocolate and chewing gum are also toxic.  But these are just a few of the common foods that can be harmful to dogs and cats.  Please be aware of the dangers in your kitchen and keep these toxins away from your pets.  For more information about these and other common toxins that can harm or even kill your pets,  you should visit the American Animal Hospital Association's Healthypet.com website.


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!

Is it Time?

The most difficult decision that a pet owner has to make is putting a pet to sleep. We don't want our pets to suffer but we also don't want to lose our best friends.  It's a decision every pet owner dreads, but one that will ultimately have to be made.  Pet owners struggle with this because they want to do what's right, but knowing what is right is not always clear, and no one wants to put their pet to sleep.

Because this is a difficult decision, it may help to consider a few key points that can indicate the animal's quality of life is no longer worth extending.  If your pet reaches any of these thresholds, you can be assured that it is the right time to have him put to sleep.  Knowing these ahead of time can make your job easier when the time comes to put him down, because you've already agreed that these are the signs that it is time to put him out of his misery.

Here are the signs that your pet no longer has a good quality of life:

• Chronic pain that cannot be controlled with medication
• Frequent vomiting or diarrhea that is causing dehydration and/or significant weight loss
• Has stopped eating or will only eat if you force feed him
• Is incontinent to the degree that he frequently soils himself
• Has lost interest in all or most of his favorite activities
• Cannot stand on his own or falls down when trying to walk
• Chronic labored breathing or coughing

The decision to put a beloved pet to sleep is never an easy one, but if a pet has reached any of these thresholds, and you know he's not going to improve, then the time is probably right.  Your veterinarian can help you understand your pet's prognosis and can assist in guiding your decision.

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!

A Word About Puppy Training

Puppies are constantly learning. They absorb information like a sponge and even when class is not in session your puppy is learning.

They are smart and they quickly pick up which behaviors pay. You may be inadvertently teaching your puppy bad behaviors. For example: if your puppy is constantly crying in the crate, it is because you have taught him that crying gets your attention. If you talk to him, go to him, or tell him to stop you are giving him attention. Your reactions teach your puppy that crying gets your attention and any attention is better than no attention.

Is your puppy getting rewarded for bad behavior? Rewards are attention, play, praise, and food. Are you playing tug-of-war with your socks? Petting him when he jumps up on you? Giving him treats at the table? If so, you're rewarding bad behaviors, and he's learning that those behaviors earn him rewards.

Everything you do with your puppy teaches him SOMETHING.  It's your job to make sure he's learning exactly what you want him to learn.

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!

Is it Separation Anxiety or Boredom?

Most destructive behavior is usually caused by boredom but it could also be a result of separation anxiety. Dogs and cats can both have behavioral problems due to boredom and they can both also be affected by separation anxiety. However separation anxiety is far more common in dogs than in cats. Dogs are pack animals and they love their people and think of their humans as members of the pack.

Bored dogs will get into the trash, destroy furniture, and get into cabinets or food to entertain themselves while you are gone. Dogs with separation anxiety can range from lazing around miserably while you are gone and acting like they haven't seen you in a year when you come home to chewing through wire crates, jumping through windows, eating drywall, and destroying doors in an attempt to get out and find you.

If your dog is bored that means that he needs more physical and mental stimulation. This means more walks, more time to run and play, and spending some time on basic obedience training. You should also leave some dog safe bones (Nylabone) and food game toys (Kong with some peanut butter and kibble works great). These things will also help dogs with separation anxiety but you will need to do some other things to help them get over their anxiety as well.

Start with one minute.
Give your dog a treat and then leave the room closing the door behind you. Come back in one minute and gradually increase the time until your dog can handle being left alone for an hour in another part of the house. The treat is important - the dog will associate you leaving with the yummy treat which will make your leaving seem like a good thing.

Now that your dog is comfortable being left alone in another part of the house it's time to take it up a notch. Step out of the house for a minute. Step out for just a few minutes and come back. After about a dozen or so of those your dog should be pretty comfortable with you coming and going.

Don't make a big fuss about leaving the house just give the treat, calmly say goodbye, and leave. Don't make a big deal out of coming home either you need to show your dog that it's ok when you come and go.

Make your dog more comfortable.
Leave a light on at night and turn on the TV when you are gone. This way your dog isn't constantly listening for your return and they can hear some familiar sounds.

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!

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!

Jumping Dog?

So your dog is super excited to see you and he just needs to jump up on you or your company. It's rude and sometimes those dog nails hurt! Fortunately, there are ways to correct this behavior. Here's what you can do to get him off and put him in the habit of sitting down to greet people.

First off, whenever he jumps on you turn around with your back to him. Never start petting a dog that has his feet on you. This will only encourage him to jump up. He wants to see you, so he will come around in front of you again. This is when you should put your dog into a sit, and start petting him. If he jumps up again, start over. You have to show your dog that jumping up does not get your attention. He needs to know that sitting for you as a greet is what pays, so when he is sitting, it is time to pour on the love, or even give him a tasty treat. Your timing is important, so once his butt is on the floor - reward.

You’re going to tell any company that you have the same thing. But realize that it's really hard for dog lovers to resist playing with dogs that clearly want to play with them. So the trick is to keep a clicker and a bag of treats by the front door.  When they first come in, tell them to turn their back toward the dog if he jumps up, and to use the sit command.  You can hand them the treats and the clicker, so they can reward the dog when the moment is right.  The important lesson here is to stop rewarding a misbehaving dog by petting him while he is jumping up.

Remember that training has to be fun, so keep your training sessions short - about 5 minutes long. 

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!

Does Your Dog Get Rawhide Chew Toys?

If your dog has any kind of dietary issues, allergies, or diarrhea issues, then he really shouldn't be given rawhide chews. Most dogs can digest them, but if your dog has any issues, he'll be better off without them. These rawhide chew toys can also have bacteria that can make your dog sick.

The biggest problem with rawhides is that they are a choking hazard. If your dog bites off a large piece and it gets stuck, he could choke.  Even if he doesn't choke on it, the rawhide could get stuck in his intestines and then he needs surgery.

Rawhides are not a dog safe toy - pitch 'em. It's not worth the risk to your beloved dog. Give him a nice nylabone. You can scuff it up and smear a little peanut butter or some other yummy stuff on it to help get him started.  If he seems bored, or really wants to chew, you can make him work for his food with a kong or some other feeding toy.

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!