A Kenneling Alternative

summer

Summer Time and the Living is Floofy

by Leave a Comment

Whether your Floofin loves sunbathing or finds the AC a delight, most Floofins agree that summer brings a more relaxed schedule that suits them. As we approach the unofficial kickoff of summer, we offer a few tips for maximizing your Floofins experience.

Summer Tips:

  • Make sure your information is up-to-date in the portal. It does seem like we mention this one quite frequently. Should trouble brew while you are away those pieces of information are super important. Remember, summer brings storms, AC breakdowns, and other unplanned events that make contacting you or a designated party even more important. 
  • Let us know about health changes in your Floofins. While we do our best to slow down the walks or keep the time outside limited based on our observations and experience with your pet, your feedback and knowledge is paramount. You know your pet best! If you want shorter outdoor time when the temp rises above a certain point, let us know.
  • Book your travel early. You may have seen the backlog of passport applications as Americans appear to be planning higher volumes of travel this summer. If you have plans to escape somewhere your Floofin can’t go, make sure to get on the books as early as possible.
  • Cancel your visits as soon as you know you don’t need them. While it is good to have that appointment booked, pet sitters are still in high demand and holding a spot you don’t need may impact someone else being able to book that trip. Freeing up visits you don’t need allows us to book visits with clients on our wait lists.
  • Slow down and smile. Summer gives us all a little more time to enjoy the things that make life worthwhile. Spend some extra cuddle time with your Floofin. Or, just take an extra long walk. Time is short. We hope you make as many memories this year as possible. 

Happy New Year To Our Floofins Family

by Leave a Comment

By the time this reaches you, Floofins & Co. will have completed our holiday season schedule.
We are grateful that we were able to care for your floofins during the holidays. It was busy and we implemented our first waitlist in the company’s history. Our team deserves a huge shout out for their dedication and commitment to making sure each floofin was tucked in and fed, medicated, and loved. Thank you to each and every one!

Current Status

We, like every industry, have been seeing increased demands for pet care service. And we are working diligently to bring on new staff to allow us to serve the clients on our wait list. We encourage you to take advantage of our staff referral program if you know of any great potential team members. 
We feel gratitude for your support during 2021 and are hopeful, despite the latest variant, that 2022 will continue to see more ordinary experiences for all of us.

Looking Ahead

Plunging into 2022, we have new things coming your way. Be sure to follow us on all the social media sites for details as they are announced.
What does founder Kristin Skelton see on the horizon as she looks into the upcoming year? “I’m looking forward to introducing our dog training arm to help our pet parents work in their homes on pet behaviors they want to work on! Especially with all of the new dogs that have gotten adopted this holiday season,” she said. “Additionally, we will be unveiling our Floofin Couture clothing line for clients to purchase. It’s been a frequent request and we are excited to be able to get it off the ground. We are also excited to bring these items to our table at all of our summer events in 2022.”
We wish you a Happy New Year and look forward to spending time with your floofins soon.

Making Ice Cream As A Summer Treat

by Leave a Comment

What sounds better on a hot, steamy summer day than a big ole scoop of your favorite ice cream? Not much!
 
But, your pet may not be able to digest the contents of your favorite batch of frozen goodness. So, why not make some ice cream for them?
 
We’ve assembled some ideas for you to whip up some homemade treats that will taste way better than what is in the store. And making it yourself will give you the benefit of knowing exactly what each treat contains.
 
First up, many people are familiar with Frosty Paws in the grocery store. Our friends over at HGTV have concocted a similar treat with fewer ingredients. It contains yogurt, peanut butter and baby food. If your dog doesn’t take well to plain yogurt you can use an alternate. Click this link to get the recipe.
 
Maybe you have fresh fruit and would prefer to mix up something a little less creamy, but still tasty. The AKC has options that extend beyond traditional peanut butter ice cream. Check out the various options they have available at https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/diy-frozen-dog-treats/.
 
Remember that too much dairy can cause an upset tummy. Also, some sugar free additives can be toxic to your pet. Be especially cautious with peanut butter as the additive xylitol can be fatal to your pet if ingested. If you have questions about your pets health and nutrition we always recommend consulting your veterinarian.
 
We hope that these ideas help you create a nutritious and delicious treat to share with your pet during the hot summer days ahead of us.

Summer Hot Weather Hazards For Pets

by Leave a Comment

As we head into July and August, hot temperatures can really have an impact on our pets. Let’s discuss some of the potential hazards that might be present in your surroundings as summer heats up.

According to the Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), there are a number of things to consider during hot weather.

  • Heartworm. While heartworm may not be the first thing that comes to mind, heartworm is a risk factor. Moosquitos are out and they transmit the disease. Get your pet checked for heartworm and keep her on preventative medication.
  • Dehydration. Like humans, pets need to get plenty of water and have a shady or cool spot to keep their internal temperature regulated.
  • Parked cars. We know that it can heat up quickly inside a car. This means potential heat stroke or death. And, in some states it is illegal.
  • Pools. Pets shouldn’t be unsupervised. Not every pet is a good swimmer. And if you use pool covers, the potential for an unattended pet to get trapped is real.
  • Open, unscreened windows. Pets can fall out of windows that are open and unscreened. Also, if you live in a high-rise with a patio or balcony make sure your pet is never left unattended. A fall from a significant distance can be fatal and can potentially injure others below.
  • Asphalt. We know the road gets hot. If your pet is low to the ground, not only can they get an overheated body from absorbing heat into their belly, they can burn the pads on their paws.

For other hazards go to https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/hot-weather-safety-tips.

Be safe and keep an eye on your senior pets as the summer sun raises the mercury in those thermometers.

Avoiding the Summer of Separation Anxiety

by 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.