A Kenneling Alternative

Dog Training

Avoiding Separation Anxiety

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I have a confession: my dog sometimes pees on the rug. It’s nothing personal and we don’t talk about it (much). It is a symptom of her separation anxiety.

My dog, like most people, has a routine. And she likes to keep things in the rut in which she has grown accustomed. There is no question that her actions come from a past life (she was an adult rescue). Just like humans, pets need to acclimate to new normals in order to mitigate the most severe reactions of separation anxiety that could occur.

As Illinois begins to transition from its period of strict stay-at-home orders, people and pets may find themselves struggling to readjust. Just as you would prepare your children for bedtime hours in the days leading up to the end of summer vacation, you should consider how to manage your pet. [Read more…] about Avoiding Separation Anxiety

Bringing a Baby Home, Floofins-Style

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When you bring home your first baby, people have lots of advice. When you bring a baby to a home with Floofins in it, you get even more advice. Fortunately, we have an experienced individual to go to for how to bring a baby home, Floofins-style: owner Kristin Skelton.
We interviewed Kristin before she began maternity leave for her second child. The following are the excerpted responses to our questions.
Since this is child number two, is your approach to preparing your Floofins the same or are there differences? My approach is pretty much the same because if worked well and is continuing to work well with my son.  I was in training with Family Paws, a group of trainers and other pet care professionals that help families prepare and deal with some of the challenges that can occur when bringing home baby. I found out I was pregnant then so I had a plethora of tools and support at my finger tips as we got ready for the arrival of our first.

[Read more…] about Bringing a Baby Home, Floofins-Style

International Assistance Dog Week

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International-Assistance-Dog-Week

Celebrating International Assistance Dog Week

August is the month that features International Assistance Dog Week, celebrated this year from August 7-13. The aim is to honor all those assistance dogs for the hard and loving work they do, and to educate people on the myriad ways assistance dogs aid in the lives of countless people on a daily basis. Below is a run-down of just some of the jobs and responsibilities assistance dogs have.

Service Dogs: These dogs are trained to aid their human companions, who often use wheelchairs, with manual help, such as carrying or picking up everyday objects and pushing buttons to open doors, for example. Some service dogs are even trained to help with everyday activities such as shopping. These kind of service dogs assist in the physical activities their human companion may have difficulty or inability to perform on their own. [Read more…] about International Assistance Dog Week

The Benefits of Agility

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Agility

Agility Can Be Fun For Many Types Of Dogs

Walking and daily play with your dog is rewarding and fun for both of you, but do you and your pet yearn for more activity and challenge in your lives? Is your pup bored? Some dogs benefit enormously from having a “job” to do. If this is the case for your floofin, consider agility classes and competitions.

Agility is a kind of timed obstacle course for you and your dog—although you won’t be expected to jump over bars or crawl through tunnels—that’s your dog’s job. During agility, your dog needs to successfully navigate an obstacle course in the correct order and within a certain length of time with as few mistakes as possible. Courses will vary, and each organization has their own rules. There’s so much for your dog to do in agility! Some of the various obstacles include: [Read more…] about The Benefits of Agility

The 178 Flavors of AKC Breeds. Who Will Fit Into Your Family?

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AKC-Breeds

What Will Fit Into Your Family? One of the 178 Flavors of AKC or A Mixed Floofin?

Dogs were domesticated thousands of years ago and have been man’s companion for just as long. Over the centuries, dogs have been bred to serve different purposes. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes 178 different breeds in seven groupings: Toy; Hound; Sporting; Non-sporting; Working; Herding; and Terrier. Floofins & Co. dog walkers, pet sitters, and dog trainers work with all sorts of purebreds and mixes and each has special considerations when considering adding them to your family. What characteristics are ideal for your household? [Read more…] about The 178 Flavors of AKC Breeds. Who Will Fit Into Your Family?