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Summer Time and the Living is Floofy

May 18, 2023 by Jennifer Houghton 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.

Celebrate Canines During National Dog Week

September 18, 2022 by Jennifer Houghton Leave a Comment

Canine lovers, prepare! National Dog Week returns September 18th and runs through the 24th!

What is National Dog Week? According to Petfirst.com, it is a “week-long celebration of man’s best friend [that] focuses on educating dog owners and the public, raising awareness about dog care, and helping lost, homeless, or abused dogs find homes.”

National Dog Week got its start in 1928. World War I veteran and canine advocate Captain William Lewis Judy decided to create a week that would educate people about the responsibilities of dog ownership. In that era, it was not uncommon to find a significant number of dogs chained up in backyards with their dog houses.

Judy was a founder of the Dog Writers Association of America and used his platform to educate and celebrate the many benefits from canine companionship.

Let’s cover some ways that you can take part in celebrating this week. We will give you tips, inspired by PetFirst.com, that you can use whether you have a dog or not.

If you have a dog:

Play with your pooch for an extra 10 minutes.
Extend your walk time by a few minutes.
Hire a pet photographer to do a photoshoot of you and your dog.
Adopt. Dogs are social creatures and most enjoy the company of another canine. If you dog spends a great deal of time alone at home and their temperament (and your budget permits) consider adopting a shelter pup.

If you don’t have a dog:

Look into adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue organization. Help a friend adopt a dog in need of a loving home.
Donate to a local shelter. You can donate your time, cash, or items.
Volunteer for a rescue or a shelter.
Walk shelter dogs. Time spent with an animal at a shelter provides them with companionship and love.
Gift a toy or treat to a friend’s dog.

No matter how you approach the week, do something special for either your own or an adjacent dog. Consider ways you can enhance dog education in your community. Or just offer some extra love to the canines in your orbit. Tell us about your adventures this week.

Walk Your Dog Month Is Here

January 20, 2021 by Jennifer Houghton Leave a Comment

January is Walk Your Dog Month. And what better time to get a routine in place that will bring both health and wellness to you and your furry friend?

There are a lot of really good reasons to get out of the house in January. If you’ve made a resolution to be healthier, movement and exercise (no matter the weather conditions), will be paramount. And once you have established a routine, it becomes easier to keep going as the weather improves.

Here are some benefits to consider: [Read more…] about Walk Your Dog Month Is Here

Meet-and-Greets on Walks–and Why we Don’t do Them

July 26, 2013 by Gail Brasie Leave a Comment

Safety First! Why A Professional Dog Walker May Avoid Meeting You or Your Dog On A Walk.

Meet-and-Greets during dog walks have the potential to be positive experiences–but they can also turn negative quickly. For caution’s sake, Floofins and Company avoids meet-and-greets during scheduled dog walks.

While on a walk with your dog, it may be tempting to say hello and greet the other dogs you see walking with their parents–and after all, why not? You’re clearly a dog lover, so wouldn’t you want to say hello to other dog lovers and their dogs? Maybe your dog and their dogs can become friends. Or maybe not. For your dog’s safety, Floofins and Company Dog Walkers do not engage in meet-and-greets during walks. [Read more…]