A Kenneling Alternative

dog walking

When COVID-19 Crashes The Party

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The Background

Owner Kristin Skelton had been making plans for various ways to celebrate her 10-year anniversary in business. She had grown her local pet care and dog walking business from a tiny one-person operation to a multi-person employer that was named the “2020 National Association of Professional Pet Sitters Business of the Year”.

She looked into various ways to say thanks to clients and employees for the support and hard work. The idea was to bring clients, their floofins, and employees together to celebrate the milestone.

Ideas floated around were “yappy hours” and related social outings. Events that would clients, their owners, and the staff to see each other face to face — something that doesn’t occur often in the pet care business. The global pandemic changed all that.  [Read more…] about When COVID-19 Crashes The Party

Keeping Your Pets Healthy in Winter

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How To Keep Pets Healthy With The Upcoming Winter Season

The snow is here and the temps are chilly! But your dogs still need to go out for walks. Here are some valuable tips for keeping your dogs and other pets healthy and comfortable in the cold months ahead.

Know your pet’s limits
Some breeds of dogs are more susceptible to the cold than others. Dogs with a thin coat of hair, such as Greyhounds and Chihuahuas, have a low tolerance to cold, as well as dogs with short legs. Keep them cozy in a warm sweater and/or booties, and limit their outdoor time on cold and snowy days. Breeds such as Huskies and Newfoundlands can tolerate the cold better than their short haired counterparts, but even they shouldn’t be left out too long in temperatures below freezing.

Senior pets and those suffering with arthritis will also be less tolerant of inclement weather, and they also are more prone to slipping and falling.

Bottom line: Shorten your walks and playtime outdoors and dress them for the winter. [Read more…] about Keeping Your Pets Healthy in Winter

Dog Park Safety Tips

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DogParkSafety

When It Comes To Dog Parks, Safety Is Key!

There are many off leash dog parks in and around our service area, along with some dog friendly beaches in Chicagoland. Many people take their dogs to dog parks to burn off excess energy, socialize, and play. While those are all good reasons to head to the dog park, please take note of some dog park safety tips before your next trip inside the gates. [Read more…] about Dog Park Safety Tips

Choosing the Best Collar or Harness for Your Pet

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Harnesses_and-Collars

With so many collars and harnesses to choose from, what are they actually designed to do? Which is best?

Floofins & Co. dog walkers and pet sitters see MANY types of collars, harnesses and walking devices while in the field, each with a different design and purpose. Whether you choose a collar like a prong or a Martingale, or a type of harness for dog walks is largely dependent on your dog’s leash manners and your walking style. There are several options out there, so here’s a quick break-down of the most common types.

Types and Styles of Collars and Harnesses include:

Individual or Group Dog Walking–Which Works Best?

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Group or Private Dog Walking

Group Dog Walking Or Individual Dog Walking… Which Walk Style Works For Your Pet?

If you’re utilizing a dog walking service, should you choose a group walking style or go with the company that offers individual walks? There are many different dog walking services throughout the Chicago Suburbs from Elmhurst to La Grange to Lombard to Naperville, and each has their own philosophy and requirements when it comes to their service options.

When choosing a dog walking service, there are several important things to consider, one of which is whether to select a service that provides group walking (sometimes known as herd walking) or individual walks. Different businesses offer different options, including small group walks, as well as individual and large group. Large group walks seem far more prevalent in urban areas, and some folks argue that these style of walks are beneficial to dogs, who are social by nature. [Read more…] about Individual or Group Dog Walking–Which Works Best?