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Floofins & Co. - A Kenneling Alternative

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Avoiding the Summer of Separation Anxiety

April 21, 2021 by Jennifer Houghton Leave a Comment

As we watch vaccination rates increase and society slowly tiptoe towards one another again, one thing those of us with pets will be attempting to avoid is 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. Just like humans, pets need to acclimate to new routines in order to mitigate the most severe reactions of separation anxiety that could occur.

As summer nears, 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.

What to Consider

If your pet has grown used to having you home all day long and you immediately disappear as you begin to work outside the home again or go on vacation, your pet may demonstrate separation anxiety. It could be as simple as an involuntary urination in the house or as destructive as chewing drywall or breaking through windows or doors.

The best way to avoid any extreme reaction is to transition your pet back to your typical routine. Floofins & Co. can assist you by helping you get your pet out the door and back to a normal midday walk with our pet care specialist. We can also help you build up extended periods of your absence to reacclimatize them to potential travel periods.

What You Can D0

If you have a new puppy, you want to build times into your schedule where you leave them alone. Also, you want to get them used to a dog walker during the day. Exposing them to different schedules and people, with safe social distancing, will help to prevent separation anxiety.

We want to help you get out and be in the world again while making sure your floofin has had the time to remember what those periods away from home will feel like.

Hopefully, you can avoid any behavior issues from separation anxiety by taking steps now to get your pet readjusted slowly to different routines. Contact us to find out how to schedule your pet on walks with us and ask about any special accommodations you may have. Stay safe, transition slowly, and avoid separation anxiety.

Filed Under: Pet Care Tagged With: absence, accomodations, bedtime, behavior issues, chewing, children, dog, doors, drywall, Floofins & Co., involuntary urination, midday walks, pet care specialist, pets, puppy, routine, rut, schedule, separation anxiety, social distancing, society, summer, Summer Vacation, travel, vacation, vaccination, windows, work

How Much Exercise Is Enough For Your Pet?

August 12, 2020 by Jennifer Houghton Leave a Comment

Maybe your pants have felt a little snug as the pandemic continues. If you’re even putting pants on, that is.

But, what about your pets? Have you noticed them putting on some COVID weight as well?

Chances are that both you and your pet have seen a decrease in the amount of exercise over the last several months, which may account for the uptick on the scale. But as many locations have experienced heat waves and have limited areas to do outdoor activities, what is a person (and pet) to do?

Forbes reports that too little exercise is causing epidemic levels of canine obesity, lethargy and behavioral problems. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports that one in four dogs is now considered obese. Heart disease and diabetes are spiking upwards in our canine companions as well.

First, as with any good column offering advice, we recommend you consult with your veterinarian first. I was not surprised to find out that my older dog had put on some weight. We both had. What was surprising was that she had gained roughly 13 pounds in less than a year.

WHAT? I exclaimed, baffled, to my pet’s doctor. After some thyroid medication adjustments and a repeat blood test, her weight was holding steady and the answer turned out to be medical.

If, however, your pet has a non-medical reason for weight gain, we offer up the following advice to help curb the gain.

Most entities suggest that you exercise your pet anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour per day. The types of exercise should consider:

  • Age
  • Breed
  • Health

A senior may not require high intensity exercise and a puppy may need something vigorous but not taxing on their growing bodies. If you happen to have an adult in good health you’ve hit the sweet spot for exercise.

Another factor to consider are weather related conditions, which make it harder for certain short nose breeds to breathe. And depending on where you workout with your pet, asphalt and concrete temperatures should be considered so as not to damage the pads on your dog’s paws.

As many times as you’ve heard it, we are all in this together. That includes taking the time to make sure both you and your pet find a way to get in enough exercise and the right type. After all, any activity that extends the length and quality of your pet’s life is one worth taking advantage of. 

We will see you and your pet outdoors, at a safe distance, soon!

Filed Under: Pet Care Tagged With: age, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, blood test, breed, COVID, diabetes, exercise, Forbes, good health, health, heart disease, high intensity, medical, medications, obese, outdoor activites, pandemic, pants, pets, puppy, scale, senior, thyroid, veterinarian, weather, weight gain

Halloween Puppy Dog Blues

October 16, 2019 by Jennifer Houghton Leave a Comment

Halloween used to be a holiday that I enjoyed. I would sit down outside, weather permitting, and hand candy out to a slew of adorable kids shouting, “trick or treat”. But, for the last 7 years, I’ve had the Halloween puppy dog blues.

When I adopted my sweet little G, I knew she had a rough past life and was what I thought of as “shy”. Turns out all kinds of things terrify her. Not the normal things: vacuums, lawn mowers, or even my dad’s loud old pickup. Nope, she walks right up to those things. What G is frightened of includes other dogs, the ice maker, and Halloween decorations.

You heard that right – Halloween decorations. At first, I thought it was just the oddity of something new along her pathway. Not so.

[Read more…] about Halloween Puppy Dog Blues

Filed Under: Things To Do With Your Pet Tagged With: candy, cauldron, decorations, dice, dog, Floofins, goblin, Halloween, hay bales, head, ice maker, kids, pictures, pumpkins, puppy, scarecrows, shy, spine, tail, terror, trick or treat, witch

Celebrating Birthdays or Gotcha-Days

July 10, 2019 by Jennifer Houghton Leave a Comment

When it comes to pets, birthdays are just as big a deal around the Floofins & Co. staff as our human friends and family’s birthdays. Well, maybe we go a tad more over the top for our pets, but why not? 

July 10th marks the 11th birthday for the original Floofins: Portia and Priscilla, aka “Prissy”. The girls will be celebrating, as they do every year, with a personalized liver cake from Happy Dog Bakery in Downers Grove. 

For the rest of us out in Floofins-land, birthdays (or gotcha-days for those of us who have rescues without official birthdays) are an opportunity to do something new and unusual or just a comforting ritual for your pet.  [Read more…] about Celebrating Birthdays or Gotcha-Days

Filed Under: Floofins and Company, Things To Do With Your Pet Tagged With: agility class, Barkbox, birthdays, celebrating, crate, dinner, dogs, FitBark, Floofins & Co., games, gift, gotcha days, Happy Dog Barkery, love, massage, party, photographer, Portia, Priscilla, puppy, rescues

Maybe Re-Think Puppies as Christmas Presents

December 16, 2015 by Gail Brasie Leave a Comment

PuppiesAsChristmasPresents

Thinking About Gifting A Puppy? Be Ready For A 15+ Year Gift.

At some point, most kids ask for a puppy for Christmas. It’s understandable: puppies are adorable, they bring joy wherever they go, and dogs enrich the lives of the people who live with them. But a dog or puppy as a Christmas present may be a nightmare wrapped up in a furry, squirmy, unbelievably adorable package, so here are some points to consider. [Read more…] about Maybe Re-Think Puppies as Christmas Presents

Filed Under: Pet Care Tagged With: puppies, puppy, puppy as a gift

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