Written by Laura Pakis owner of Acme Canine in Lewis Center, Ohio

Walking dogs in icy cold weather can be a concern for dog owners.  Ice and snow can cause damage to your dog’s paws.   Snow and ice can get stuck in between the pads on your dog’s paws, causing cuts and uncomfortably cold toes.

Adding a pad protectants such as Musher’s Secret or Bag Balm can help prevent drying and cracking of the pads but for those packed snowballs between the toes, your best bet is to simply let it melt off in the heat of your home.

You can also prevent this build up  by keeping the fur between your dog’s toes trimmed.    To avoid trimming out too much hair, keep your scissors parallel with your dogs pads and just shear off the fur that sticks out from in between the pads. Around the toes the fur should be cut just short enough to see the end of the toenail. Trim around the sides to keep that nice “paw” shape.  If your dog isn’t a dog that grows hair between his toes (not all do), then you need trim nothing.

A big thanks to Laura from Acme Canine for writing this informative article for us.  Acme Canine is committed to improving your relationship with your dog to create a stronger bond through classes, workshops and education.

With the spring traveling season approaching, it is time to start thinking of who is going to care for your pet(s) while you travel. There are advantages to choosing each option as well as downfalls. The most important step you should take is to research the company or individual with whom you are entrusting your pets care to. Below are a few things to think about before finding the right option for you and your pet(s). With all options, planning in advance is always recommended as reservations can fill up quickly, especially during peak travel times.

Professional Pet Sitter
It is estimated that Professional Pet Sitters serve over a million clients a year (as of 2006). While this option didn’t become readily available until the early 1980’s, it is now a thriving and evolving business.

Professional Pet Sitters do more than just feed and water your pets. They provide exercise and mental stimulation and are well versed to know when a pet is in need of medical care. Many professionals are trained in first aid and CPR as well as have hands on knowledge of animal behavior. Many sitters will have areas of expertise such as caring for aquatic animals or reptiles that are not easily boarded. Hiring a professional allows your pet(s) to stay in their own familiar environment and significantly lowers the risk of any communicable illnesses.

Professional Pet Sitters not only offer services while you travel but also offer options such as daily walking services, transportation to vets or groomers and in some cases, training and housebreaking services. In addition, many sitters offer other household services such as mail retrieval, light and blinds rotation and taking trash to the curb to give your home that lived in look while you are away.

What should you look for in a Professional Pet Sitter?

• Are they insured and if they have employees, are they bonded?
• Are they trained in first aid or CPR?
• Are they a member of any professional associations such as Pet Sitters International, National Association of Professional Pet Sitters or Professional United Pet Sitters?
• Are they associated with a local vet to provide emergency services?
• Is there a back up sitter in case of emergency and how are they trained?
• Can the sitter be easily reached in case plans change during travel?
• Does the sitter offer a consultation before travel to meet with your pet(s)?
• Do they appear comfortable around your pet(s) and does your pet seem comfortable in their presence?
• Do they ask questions about your pets likes and dislikes and medical history?

Kennels and Boarding Facilities:
Boarding kennels have long been the most popular and frequently used option when it comes to pet care while you travel. From vet’s offices who offer in house boarding to the luxury pet resort that offers all the extras, there is a vast array to choose from.

While boarding can be a wonderful option for many dogs, others experience stress in a noisy atmosphere where the smells and sights are far different than their own home. Other animals such as cats and pocket pets do not tolerate the stress of a new environment well. Also, be aware that some viruses are easily passed among the general population when animals are kept in close quarters or allowed to play with other infected animals. Be sure to ask what their age requirements are as many kennels will not allow dogs less than 14 weeks of age.

What should you look for in a boarding facility?

• Cleanliness- does the facility look and smell clean? Is the intake area organized and free of messes?
• Are they a member of The Pet Care Services Association (formerly the American Boarding Kennel Association)?
• How are the pets housed? Do they have enough space or get frequent enough potty breaks/exercise breaks? Are the animals taken outside for breaks or is there a room that is used instead?
• Safety- Are kennel areas free of harmful chemicals or objects that could cause injury?
• Is the staff trained for emergencies such as injury or illness? Do they have a vet that is on call in case of those emergencies?
• Supervision- how are the animals supervised? Are they monitored on a regular basis?
• Immunization Requirements- Dogs should be immunized against bordetella, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus (DHLPP) as well as rabies.

Friend, Neighbor or Kid Next Door
Another popular option is having a friend, neighbor or kid-next-door check in on your pet(s). Relying upon a neighbor watch your pet(s) is what most families did before boarding became popular and travel was not as frequent as it is today. This can be a good option as it usually includes minimal cost and the animals are usually already familiar with the person checking in on them.
While this may seem to be the best option for many owners, there are some issues to be aware of.

• Person checking in may not be trained in first aid or CPR
• Neighborhood kids can be forgetful and miss a visit or leave a door open
• Imposing upon a friend who doesn’t feel comfortable saying NO
• Not bonded or insured in case of accident

Any of these choices can be the right one for your pet. It is up to you as the pet owner to do your research and decide which option to choose that best fits your family.

Your puppy darts out the door, your cat sneaks past as you are bringing in groceries or your child leaves the door open on accident. Lost pets are every owners nightmare. The worry, the heartache, the anger and the downright fear.

The best step you can take, is to make sure that your pet has the proper ID tags and is micro-chipped. Make sure all information is up to date. This will make it easy for the person who may potentially find your pet to reach you.

If the unthinkable happens, don’t despair, there are steps you can take to better your chances at reuniting with your lost pet.

1. Check your home and property THOROUGHLY
Many times, a pet will not wander far or may even be hiding in the home if something has frightened them. The longer you wait to search for them, the more chance there is that they have moved further away from home turf. Check under bushes and decks, behind furniture, in trees or even on the roof (yes, cats climb up there too).
Put out a pet’s favorite item, something that smells like home such as a tee-shirt worn by you. With cats, sprinkle a bit of their used litter around the yard. If they are close by, this may lure them back.

2. Search your neighborhood
Ask neighbors if it is ok to check their yards and garages also. The best time to search for pets, especially cats, is late at night or before dusk when the world around has quieted down. Use a flashlight when looking, many times the light will reflect off their eyes when otherwise you may not have spotted them. Take along a bowl of food to shake or some smelly treats.

3. Make fliers
Fliers are the most common way that owners are reunited with their pets. In some cities, you must obtain permission before attaching fliers to any street signs or poles. Check with your city before posting because they can and will take them down. Once you have obtained permission, post fliers within at least a two mile radius. It is best to use a color photo of your pet and to make sure the writing is large enough to see from a passing car. Offering a reward will also get people’s attention.

4. Get your neighbors, friends and children involved
Hand out fliers to those in your neighborhood. You can shrink down your flier so you can fit four to a page. This makes a great sized handout for when you go door to door. I highly suggest going door to door in your subdivision as well as the neighboring areas. If you have or know children in your area who have cell phones, ask if they can forward a message to their friends and so on. Children are outside much more often that adults and have a greater chance of spotting the lost pet.

5. Internet
Post on Craigslist in the pets section as well as the lost and found section. List your missing pet on www.petfbi.org Check daily to see if someone may have found and listed your pet. Use Facebook and Twitter to get the word out. The more eyes looking, the better the chances.

6. Local Businesses, Vet Clinics and shelters
While some businesses will have rules against displaying lost posters, many others will allow them. Look for gas stations or stores that have bulletin boards and are in frequently traveled areas. Always ask permission before putting up a flier.
Don’t just call the area vet’s offices and shelters. Go to them, bring them a flier and keep checking back! Shelters are so overwhelmed that they may not have the resources to call you. Sadly, many pets go missing so it is up to you to check. Do this every couple of days at the bare minimum.

7. Put an ad in the local paper

While not every lost pet makes it back home, if you follow these steps you have a much greater chance at a happy ending. Yes, it takes time, effort and even money but don’t give up, your pet is counting on you!

Do you have a safe place for everyone in the house to go to? Do you have easy access to first aid supplies for your pets? What plans do you have in place in case of power outages?

Take a look at The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters Disaster Preparedness Plan for more information.

http://www.petsitters.org/cfincludes/MemberCenter/pdfs/DPPetOwner.pdf

One of life’s simple joys is taking your pooch to the playground. Watching your dog running and playing with pure abandon can make your day, not to mention your pets enjoyment!
However, the dog park can also be a scary place, for humans and dogs alike. Imagine your pet is playing and having fun with another well socialized dog when all of the sudden, another dog jumps in with hackles raised and starts bullying your dog around or worse.

These are some simple dog rules of etiquette to follow if you plan on bringing Fido to play.

• Your dog should be well socialized, friendly and outgoing without being pushy or overbearing. No one likes a pusher, including your pet.
• Your dog should be confident and social. Overly fearful dogs are only scared more by new stimuli. Aggressive or reactive dogs can cause injury to humans and pets alike and are not well suited for this type of play.
• Knowing basic commands such as come, leave it and sit are a must. This will allow you to have control and prevent your pet from harassing others.
• Please, make sure your pets are healthy before coming to the park. No one wants to spread illnesses.
• Pick up after your pet. Not only is it the polite thing to do, it cuts down on the chance of communicable illnesses.
• Realize there are different types of play for different types of dog. What you may think of as aggressive, may be the breed type’s usual style of play. Dogs are very good at picking up on this and if owners remain calm, situations are less likely to escalate into something worse. If you dog is prone to playing harder, please be respectful of others who may not.
• Please don’t bring small children to the park. Other dogs may accidentally run them down while playing or some dogs may not be used to kids.
• Limit the use of toys/treats so as to not cause jealousy issues among others.In most cases, I do not bring toys just for those reasons.

This is not an all inclusive list. Please check your local parks rules and obey them. They are in place for everyone’s safety.