There are many pet care options available for you to choose from today. So why would you want a professional pet sitter vs. a boarding facility or a non-professional pet sitter? Let me take you through why you may want to consider getting a professional to care for your lovely pooches!
            Let’s first go over what I mean by a non-professional pet sitter. These sitters are also referred to as “hobbyists” and is someone who does pet sitting for extra cash and typically does it for neighbors/friends/ or referrals from them. These pet sitters do not carry pet sitting insurance, CPR and pet first aid certification, training, or licensed as a business. They simply do this on the side as some people will do babysitting as a side job for extra income, not as a career. You can find these sitters on sites like Rover.com, and you will see they are far cheaper than a professional sitter.
            There is also the option to take your pups on over to a daycare and boarding facility. This may seem like a perfect option as most daycares are now offering free-roam play time in a large room full of dogs to go wild with. Your dogs will likely need to pass a temperament test prior to being accepted, as well as up to date on all vaccines. These facilities bring in a large number of dogs, and can take away from the personalization you get with pet sitters.
            So why do I chose being a professional pet care provider over the other options? I have worked for years in boarding facilities and even as a side job pet sitter. With the daycares I found that the more dogs coming through the door, the less personalized and quality of care was being given to these pets. As a nonprofessional pet sitter, I realized the risk of not carrying insurance. I noticed that potential new clients showed much more concern for my level of qualifications knowing it was just a side job. I now get to offer quality care and provide peace of mind to my clients as a professional pet sitter!
            I created my business Dog Lovers Pet Services LLC to offer quality care over quantity. My goal is to make every pet parent feel 100% comfortable as they leave their pets in my care. I offer years of experience and don’t just do this as a side job, but as a career. Here is just a little of what you get when you hire a professional pet sitter:

• Insurance, bonding, and licensed. Most professionals carry full coverage for the services they offer and have a licensed business.
  
• CPR and first aid certification. We want to be sure we can provide proper care in case of emergencies, and get certified every year to keep up to date.
  
• Personalization. We create a schedule specific to your needs, and want to make your life easier. We are dedicated to your pets alone when scheduled to care for them, no other dogs around to steal our attention. Most professionals will also send detailed updates on each service they perform, including cute pictures! Home security. Know that your house is being looked after while you’re away. Most professionals will offer to bring in mail and packages, water plants, and other household tasks.
  
• Comfort. Your pets get to be comfortable in an environment they are familiar with: YOUR HOME. They get to keep their same routine and get one on one attention. 
  
• Convenience. The professionals come to you, no need to drive and drop off anywhere. Just head to work or on vacation and we take care of everything else.
  

These are just a few of the many benefits you get when you hire a professional. If you want top quality care, and to know your pets will be safe, then it may be worth the price you pay. Make your decision wisely when looking for how or who you want to care for your furr babies. Thank you for reading!
-Brittany

We hope you are able to try some of these tricks and get your pups to master them!

Have comments or suggestions? I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment or contact me for any suggestions you have for me to post, this blog is for your entertainment and knowledge!

We have all seen the dog back packs, they are sure cute and would be great to have while on a walk or a hike to have your pup carry your things. But did you know, they serve a much bigger purpose and responsibility to your pet? Read on to learn how adding a doggie backpack to your walks can add both mental and physical health.

First off let’s discuss what type of back pack is good for your pup. You want to choose a backpack that will be comfortable for your dog, so you won’t want to get a regular back pack but an actual doggie back pack. You should purchase a backpack that will fit well to your dog and will not be too large or too small. There are typically 3 sizes: Small, Medium and Large. You will want to measure your dog’s chest measurements to see what will fit best.

Adding a backpack to your dog with some weight in it may seem easy enough. This is not the case, you should contact your veterinarian to see how much weight you should be adding. The amount of weight you can add will differ significantly from dog to dog. There are many factors that can affect your dog’s ability to carry more weight. This could be: Old age, Puppy, underlying health issues, breed, and many more. Once you figure out what the correct weight will be for your dog to carry, keep a scale handy to weigh the pack before putting it on your pup.

How do you put weight in the pack? You can add a variety of objects into the pack to add weight. Here is a list of a few ideas you can add into the pack:

1. Water for both you and your dog
2. Water bowl for your pup
3. Ice packs
4. Toys and balls to play with
5. Any other items you bring along with you

You are going to want to try your best to even out the weight on both sides of the pack. You also want to be sure, again, that your dog is comfortable and there is nothing jabbing or hurting them.

Adding a backpack to your dog walk can do 2 major things, give your dog a job and something to concentrate on, and also shorten the walk because it more strenuous. When you add the pack to your dog it gives your dog a responsibility and can help with some bad behaviors such as barking, pulling, or anxiety. Not only will it give your dog responsibility, you can also shorten your walk because it is giving them more physical activity then without a pack. This can help you significantly if you are in a rush and need the pooch exercised.

Give the backpack a try, your dog may be resistant to it at first but don’t let that stop you. They will soon feel comfortable with it if you keep persistence. You can start with just an empty pack first, get them used to it being attached to them and start slowly adding weight. If you have a small dog you likely won’t be able to add any weight, but having the pack can still help all the same.   

 
We all know that the dog treats at the store aren't always necessarily the best for your beloved pooch. Here below I am going to list some healthy dog treats you can create and make yourselves, all while knowing what exactly you are feeding your dog. Making dog treats is not only a great way to know what you are feeding your pups, but it can also be a fun activity for the kids to help out with. Have some fun and create your own recipes by adding or taking away from what is listed below. The possibilities are endless, and your sweet 4 legged kids will sure love them!
Please note: These are not my recipes

 Peanut butter and yogurt dog treats (Frozen)
This treat is great for a hot summer day after play time!

Ingredients

• 32 ounces vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup peanut butter

Directions

1. Melt the peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl
2. Combine the yogurt and melted peanut butter
3. Pour the mixture into cupcake papers
4. Place in the freezer

Basic dog biscuits

Try making these simple biscuits, you can modify the recipe to make different flavors so your pup doesn't get bored!

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour (substitute regular flour or oats if your dog is sensitive to wheat)
• 1 tsp. salt (or less)
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. Beef or chicken Bouillon granules (can substitute beef or chicken broth/stock)
• ½ cup hot water
• Bacon or chicken broth, eggs, oats, liver powder, wheat germ, shredded cheese, bacon bits

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Dissolve bouillon in hot water
3. Add remaining ingredients
4. Knead dough until it forms a ball (approximately 3 minutes)
5. Roll dough until ½ inch thick
6. Cut into slices or bone shapes (you can purchase a bone shaped cookie cutter to make shapes with)
7. Place dough pieces on lightly greased cookie sheet
8. Cook for 30 minutes

Healthy pumpkin balls

Does your pooch love pumpkin? Here's the perfect snack!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 4 tbsp molasses
• 4 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix pumpkin, molasses, vegetable oil, and water together in a bowl
3. Add the whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon to the mixture and stir until dough softens
4. Scoop out small spoonfuls of dough and roll into balls on your hands (wet hands work best)
5. Set the balls onto a lightly greased cookie sheet and flatten with a fork
6. Bake approximately 25 minutes until dough is hardened

Apple crunch pupcakes

How delicious does that sound?

Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups water
• ¼ cup applesauce (unsweetened)
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1/8 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 medium egg
• 4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup dried apple chips (unsweetened)
• 1 tbsp baking powder

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix water, applesauce, honey, egg, and vanilla together in a bowl
3. Add remaining ingredients and mix until well blended
4. Pour into lightly greased muffin pans
5. Bake 1 ¼ hours

Share with us your experience in making these delicious dog treats!