blog

FAR BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY!

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:13:57 +0100

It's a fact: the single greatest threat to a pet's life, is getting LOST!

In South Africa, 1 in 3 pets goes missing in its lifetime - that is a SHOCKING statistic!!! And without proper identification, 90% of them will never return home. And still owners do not have collars with tags on and do not microchip their pets! Even if your pet never leaves your home and garden, all it takes is for someone to leave an access gate or garage door open for a second... It could be the one of your friends or family, a visitor or petsitter, it could be one of your domestic staff, or a garden service, an emergency service or armed response person, and sadly, it could be a criminal breaking in...

YES, all it takes is that ONE SECOND where someone is not vigilant and one of your beloved pets could escape.

The risks are compounded if you travel with your pets or take them for walks outside your property! What if you are hijacked or have a car accident with your pets in the car. What if your pets chase after a guinea fowl, hare or other animal on a walk? When a pet goes missing it usually is an accident or oversight, not a malicious or negligent act!

When a pet is lost, the owners are often wracked with regrets and guilt... AFTER THE FACT is sadly often a little too little too late! Putting a collar with a tag on AND microchipping your pet is INEXPENSIVE but EFFECTIVE! A microchip for dogs & cats gives the best protection with permanent ID that can never be removed or become impossible to read.

Microchipping your pet is simple and safe, quick and more-or-less painless (similar to them getting a vaccination). The Microchip, about the size of a rice grain is injected (without anaesthetic) beneath the pet's skin between the shoulder blades. This is a FOREVER from of identification and as along as YOU make sure all your details are updated on the data base every time you move home or change phone numbers, your chances of having a happy reunion should your pet go missing, are maximised! Your pet has a unique number which, when scanned by the microchip scanner, identifies the pet and links back to your contact information!

It has (since 2010) become mandatory for breeders of KUSA registered dogs to microchip puppies! All reputable animal welfare rescue shelters also microchip each and every animal that they rehome. Almost every vet and animal welfare shelter now has microchip scanners and can identify animals that are found and then reunite them with their owners!

So don't be an irresponisble, apathetic or blasé pet owner! Without a collar and tag, and microchip your chances of being reunited with your missing pet are slim at best ... pet identification (by means of collars with tags and Microchips) should be mandatory and not optional!

Alleviate your Dog's Separation Anxiety & Boredom

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 05:15:25 +0100

Separation anxiety almost always occurs within the first 20 minutes after you leave a dog alone. Give a stuffed dog KONG to your dog about five minutes before you leave. Having a stuffed KONG to explore is an effective way of redirecting your dog’s attention away from your leaving and will absorb your pet during this crucial time. Remember, the most anxious time for a dog is the 20-minute period after you leave — and keeping his attention focused on a KONG can really ease his anxiety.
The more you can do to mentally and physically stimulate your dog, the better he or she will behave when you’re away.
Also, remember to give your dog a stuffed KONG during the day when you do not intend to leave the house — as this will prevent your pet from associating it solely with your leaving.
KONG rubber chew toys can be used as easy and effective training tools.
With just one KONG, you have a reward, retrieval, and food-dispensing toy. KONG can be used as a training tool for almost any type of training — quiet times, crate training, recall, and retrieving all work better with KONG. Also, use it to reward and stimulate your dog and increase the bond between the two of you.
KONG can be used as a reward all by itself or lightly stuffed with treats when you’re teaching your dog basic commands. A tightly stuffed KONG can be used as the ultimate reward at the end of a training session
Dogs Need to Play
For dogs, play is an important part of that process. Interactive play can strengthen the bond between you and your pet.
Dogs have been around for millions of years, and for the vast majority of that time they lived in the wild. Like all wild animals, they had to fend for themselves. “The Pack” was their key to survival. Wild dogs hunted together in packs to overpower prey and protect each other from larger predators. Eventually, humans realized dogs could be trained to work at such tasks as herding and protecting livestock. Only recently have humans fully appreciated the many ways dogs add value to their lives — from protection to recreation to companionship. Today many dogs have moved inside the home. Their owners think of them as family members. And to the dog, the human family has become their pack.
In spite of recent domestication, the dog’s basic instincts have not changed. Dogs are predators, scavengers, and opportunists. They are genetically programmed to hunt for their food. Counter surfing, trashcan scouring, dinner begging, garden digging, and furniture chewing are all outgrowths of an opportunistic scavenger taking advantage of its environment. Often these are considered behavioral problems when, in fact, they are just evidence that a dog is being a dog.
Nearly all common behaviors can be traced back to instinct. Barking, digging, marking, and chewing all served distinct purposes in the wild. When dogs attack and try to tear something apart, or violently shake a lifeless item, they are acting on their instincts to subdue prey in order to eat and survive. When a ball is thrown to a dog, what appears to be play is actually the natural instinct to chase.
Dogs become frustrated if their natural instincts are constantly suppressed. Rather than fighting these instincts or punishing the dog for doing what comes naturally, it’s far more productive to find acceptable ways to satisfy these instincts. Healthy play can influence our dogs in so many ways. Physical and mental development, emotions, and behavior can all be influenced by how your dog plays. Games like fetch, tug, and chase satisfy a dog’s instinctual needs, as well as strengthen the bond between dog and owner. Play helps the dog expend excess energy, which is extremely important for appropriate behavior. In order to be well adjusted and happy, dogs need to play.
Play is imperative, because a bored dog will find something to do — and too often this means destructive chewing. This problem can be addressed easily by providing the dog with satisfying chew toys. For more than 35 years, dog owners have used KONGs to minimize inappropriate behaviors and keep their dogs occupied. KONGs are durable chew toys with an erratic bounce that appeals to a dog’s natural chase instincts. Once the dog captures the KONG, the natural rubber can be chewed on for hours, satisfying the needs to chase as well as chew.
But not all dogs will automatically chew on a KONG. Many experts suggest stuffing it with food. Dogs are quickly drawn to what’s inside and challenged as they figure out how to get the treats out. Treat-stuffed toys are a great way to get a dog’s initial attention, and as they chew the toy, good habits are reinforced.
The KONG-shaped Wobbler is an action-packed treat and food dispensing toy. It sits upright until pushed by a dog’s paw or nose and then periodically dispenses tasty rewards as it wobbles, spins and rolls. The unpredictable movement keeps the toy challenging, even for seasoned Wobbler users. The Wobbler can also be used as an alternative to a dog bowl to help slow and extend mealtime while providing exercise for your dog. Unscrews for easy filling and cleaning.
The KONG Biscuit Ball is a patented rubber ball with a hollow center and four bone-shaped ports to hold KONG Stuff’N Snacks and Easy Treat paste. This durable toy has all the fun of a ball, plus it keeps dogs busy removing the tasty morsels inside.
How to use a Kong Toy...
Most dogs need to learn to use a KONG Classic rubber chew toy. We recommend a phased approach to ensure that your dog knows how to enjoy all of the benefits of this popular toy.
Phase 1: Toy introduction: Begin by filling the hollow section of the KONG toy with treats that are easily dispensed. Try smaller kibble or treats that fall out easily. KONG Stuff’N Easy Treats or peanut butter applied near the large opening of the KONG toy also work great and will ensure your dog’s understanding and success.
Phase 2: Maintain enrichment: After a week or two of easily emptied KONG toys, gradually increase the challenge by using larger treats or a combination of treats that are increasingly difficult to dislodge. Use your imagination or browse our Recipe Section for recommendations.
Phase 3: Advanced enrichment. Once your dog has mastered the phases above, try to add liquid, such as chicken broth, to your stuffed KONG and freeze for an even greater and longer-lasting challenge.
The Kong toy is designed to be filled with your dogs favourite treats and food.
It is important for dogs to succeed at their "work". To start with, make it easy to remove the kong stuffing. As they become more experienced, you can start to make it more challenging by:
• Pack stuffing tighter.
• Wedge biscuits inside the cavity using the inside rim of the opening to secure them.
• FREEZE IT! Very Popular! Try various combinations of canned food, gravy, noodles, rice and mashed potatoes mixed with food nuggets and freeze. You're your dog cool with KONGSICLES. Put a dab of peanut butter in the small end of the Kong to plug it. Turn it upside down in a cup. Fill it full of water, chicken broth or fruit juice and freeze.
• CHEESE IT! Mix cheese pieces or cheese spread with food nuggets and microwave until cheese melts. Let it cool to a safe temperature. NOTE - Use a cup to ro hold the kong upright when freezing or microwaving.
• Hide stuffed Kongs indoors and/or out. The hunt is great fun and rewarding.
IMPORTANT POINTS WHEN USING KONGS:
• Provide stuffed Kongs randomly so they won't always be associated with you leaving.
• If your dog is unstuffing several Kongs per day, you should appropriately reduce the amount of bowl feeding.
• CLEAN KONGS THOROUGHLY AFTER USE! Dishwasher is recommended. Your dog's job will last until the Kongs are unstuffed. You can keep your dog "working" all day if you provide enough stuffed Kongs!

YAPPY holidays for the PAWsome MOMS and the furbabies we petsit!

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 13:41:55 +0100

Just some of our happy PAWsons (& daughters) we are petsitting!
See some more pics on Facebook

Yappy Xmas and a PAWsome 2013

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:23:39 +0100

Embrace Life: Adopt a CLAWbie

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 12:30:22 +0100

SOS What about your Pets, In Case of Emergency?!

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:59:14 +0100

If you have PAwsome furbabies and critters, you need to have safety strategies and plans in place to take care of your pets when you are unable to!!! You should have an IN CASE OF EMERGENCY (I.C.E.) card in your wallet/purse and glove compartment of your car at all times! Then, if you are in an accident, get ill, sustain an injury or are incapacitated, and are unable to speak for yourself, someone can at least contact your relevant pet guardians and pet carers, to alert them that your pets are ALONE AT HOME!

As a client of ours, please copy our wallet-sized card (download our I.C.E Card), fold it over, fill it in and laminate it and place it in your purse/wallet and car, and also give it to your next of kin and neighbours!... we will do every thing in our power to supPAWt you and your beloved pets in your time of crisis!
Part of being a caring and compssionate pet owner is to be prepared for possible emergency situations affecting you and your pets. We, as your (and your pets PAWsomeMOMS pet sitter, could truly save the say and be the ones to take responsibility for the survval and wellbeing of your pets and home/ property's security.
With unfamiliar sounds, smells, and sights that follow an emergency, pets can easily become stressed, afraid, confused and disoriented.

A caring PAWsome pet owner would supply appropriate identification, such as tags with the owner’s name, address, and phone number. such as collars with tags, microchips, or tattoos.

Each PAWsome pet owner should know favourite hiding spots for pets and where they would seek solace and comfort in a crisis (eg during a thunder storm, fireworks or burglary) , and communicate this to your PAWsomeMOMS Pet sitter, Pet Guardian/ god parents and next of kin! Emergency contingency plans that work, must include as many people and supPAWt systems that can all back each other up, it has to include family, friends, neighbours, your vet and OF COURSE us! We at PAWsomeMOMS already have our emergency protocols in place. We ensure we have your ICE (in case of emergency) contacts on record, as well as the pet identification information and information about travel plans schedule and contact information. PAWsome MOMS (as long as you have used us recently will also have your up-to-date Pet identification info. on record!

You ought to seriously consider filling in a form such as this, for each pet. Leave it somewhere obvious in your home and at work. Also provide copies to your neighbours, family, pet carers (such as your vet, groomer, kennels and of course PAWsome MOMS, your petsitter or dog walker)

You may wonder why we are so pedantic and particular in all our information gathering... this is why... you will not know you NEED us until you do... so better humour us and rather be sure your pets are safe than sorry!
We need you to be contactable so we can assure you that your pet are safe. We really are your most valuable resource in a time of crisis! We can can secure your home and advise your neighbours, next of kin and other interested and concerned parties where your pets are. We can liase with your Vet and dog God parents or Animal Guardians! It is certainly advisable to give us (or your Pet Guardians, neighbours or next of kin) a spare set of keys, so that we can be there ASAP to see that we can care for your pets when you cannot!

A PAWsome friend in need is a friend indeed!

D.I.N.O.S. Dogs in Need of Space

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 06:18:43 +0100

Some dogs need space

If you see a dog with a yellow ribbon on the leash this is a dog who needs some space. Please do not approach this dog or its people with your dog. They are indicating that their dog cannot be near other dogs. How close is too close? Only the dog or his people know, so maintain distance or give them time to move out of your way.

There are many reasons why a dog may need space:

Maybe he has health issues or is in training.
She may be a rescue dog being rehabilitated. The world can be a very scary place for these dogs.
He may have had a bad experience with another dog or just not like the kind of friendly dogs who always want to say “Hi!”

In short, a yellow marker on a dog means it needs a little space.

Thank you! Those of us who own these
dogs appreciate your help and respect.

(info taken from: http://www.gulahund.se/default_en.asp )

Pg 1 GOING AWAY? Plan for your Pets (By the NSPCA and copied from the Friends of the Dog ...

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:34:34 +0100

Pg 2

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:28:26 +0100

Pg3

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:26:49 +0100

Thanks again toour favourite Friends of the Dog Website for supplying everything you want to know about dogs (for free)
You can download the original PDF Z-fold here