Choosing A Trust Worthy Pet Sitter

Pet ownership is increasing every year and this means that there are more animals out there that require looking after while we are away on vacation. Of course there are several options open to the pet owner, you could pay out for kennelling or you could ask a neighbour or family member. Both of these options are acceptable if you are in the position to pay the kennelling fees or have very good relationships with your neighbours. But if not, then there is another option, Pet Sitters.

Pet sitting provides a quieter and calmer environment for your pet because it is in the safety of your own home. There is some risk in using a sitter just like trusting a boarding company or vet clinic in taking care of your pet; however, once you find the right dog/cat sitter you and your animal will be much happier. Here are some tips on how to find the right sitter for you and your pet:

Make Sure the Pet Sitter Is Insured & Bonded
You may ask for proof of insurance if they do not offer it up front. Pet sitting insurance is fairly inexpensive and not hard to get, so professional sitters should always have this safety, no excuses. If you are interviewing a business that does not have insurance, keep looking!

Look For Recommendations
When you are looking for a pet sitting company, ask around. Ask your neighbors, friends, and family if they have used a sitter before and who they might have used. You always feel more comfortable when someone gets recommended to you.

Ask For References & Call Them
When interviewing potential animal sitters, ask for references. If the person knows better, they should offer them up front without you having to ask, however, they may forget, so it is still safe to ask. Don’t hesitate to call the references and ask them questions. Ask them how they know them and if they were pleased with the pet sitting service. Ask any questions you like.

Ask Plenty of Questions
Not only should you question the business’ references, you should question the sitters themselves. Ask them questions about how they would deal with certain pet situations, such as a medical emergency. Ask about their knowledge of animals and past experiences. Also, ask any questions that would make you feel more comfortable in making a decision. Example questions: Have you as a sitter ever had emergency situations with a client’s pet. If so, how did you deal with it? Another example question, do you have any employees? If so, are they reliable and insured? What is your backup process for when you cannot complete your pet sitting duties? Being armed with the right questions will help you choose the perfect match for your pet, leaving you stress free and your pet happy.

Once you have hired your pet sitter a written agreement should be made between you both highlighting what services your sitter will carry out and how often and the costs involved. It should also include details of your pets likes and dislikes, their eating habits and routine, any medications which needs to be given etc. You should also show your sitter where everything they will need is kept in the house, like cleaning equipment, the food and litter and the pet’s toys and bedding. You should also provide your sitter with full contact details for yourself, a neighbour, a nearby relative and the local vets, along with a copy of your pets medical papers and record of vaccinations. Make sure you ask for a copy of their contract this will provide you with exactly what you can expect from this person as well as their rates of pay.

Advantages of using pet sitters :

Less stress to your pet as the animal will be cared for in their own home and own surroundings.

Being kept in the same area and around your home your pet will be less likely to pick up any strange illnesses or parasites.

A pet sitter will travel to your home to care for your pet this means there will be no travel trauma as he/she will not need to be transported anywhere.

Most kennels will require specific vaccinations to allow any animal to board there, pet sitters are less restrictive in this area.

Your animal will have a set routine and will not be required to adapt to a new environment.

Many pet sitting services will provide additional personalized touches which will leave you worry free, having someone come in and pick up your post and turn a light on so that you do not come home to darkness is just some of the added bonuses a pet sitter can provide. Some people say they double as a house sitter.

The costs involved are far less than kennelling.

To ensure that everything will run smoothly and that your pet will be properly looked after and not feel stressed while you are away there are a few last minute things you will need to do.

Make sure you have supplied enough food and litter for the pet and have left it in a convenient place.

Make sure doors are closed to rooms you do not whish your pet to enter.

Ensure that familiar toys are left available for your pet while they are on their own.

Leave a few items of your clothing lying around the familiar smell will reassure your pet.

Inform a neighbour that a pet sitter will be visiting your home and leave a spare key with them and your contact details in case of emergencies.

With all of this in place, your vacation should be a happy and relaxing experience for both you and your pet.

The Pomeranian Species

The Pomeranian is a huge dog packed into a little tiny package of fluff that tend to be very yappy and bossy. Some have wondered how such a big dog can walk around in a little dog’s body but the Pomeranian sure does it well. It is a small watchdog in the way that they are very alert and bark at strangers excessively. It is said that the Pomeranian is temperamental and needs to be put in his place by way of a firm hand. If you let the little thing do as it wishes, it won’t ever listen. This is in part due to the fact that they are incredibly intelligent and loves to learn new things. The Pomeranian gets along well with other household pets and animals but can sometimes be aggressive to any animal, large or small. The Pomeranian dogs have a great disposition and are very good at learning new tricks so get your new dog some treats and you both will be pleasantly pleased.

Pomeranian were once used and bred mainly for sheep herding and were brought to Europe from the far northern country of Prussia for just this reason, for selling to the sheep farmers. The Pomeranian descended from the Spitz breeds that and weighed anywhere up to thirty pounds. Their ears are pointy and stand straight up. However, the feature that best sets these dogs apart from other small dogs is the tail that they carry around, feathered and pointed towards the back of the dogs head and they usually have a matching collar and fluff on the chest. They are very fashionable dogs and have a smart smile that shows the intelligence in the Pomeranian’s expression.

Pomeranians are beautiful dogs with a very responsible character, intelligent and also courageous little creatures that live an active lifestyle. They may not be quite so friendly with little children because being quite small and delicate they may be mishandled. In any case, Pomeranians make excellent watchdogs though they often bark a lot unless trained not to. And this breed of dog is also quite difficult to housetrain though they are very smart and will train with lots of time and patience.

When a Pomeranian puppy is around two months old its coat should already be long. At three months of age it will lose its coat and may look like it does not have much hair. At five months, the puppy will look like it has short hair after it sheds some more hair and at ten months of age you should be able to see its luscious double coat. The owner will need to spend more time on the Pomeranian’s coat when it is an adolescent. Daily brushing of the dog’s double coat is needed to prevent matting and an un-groomed appearance. Pomeranians shed once or twice a year, but monthly bathing is recommended and it is important to clean their ears, eyes, and teeth regularly.

Pomeranian should be given a check up at least once in a year and should be vaccinated on schedule as well. There are no doubts about the importance of grooming your Pomeranian both for keeping it looking good but also for health reasons. For these reasons the Pomeranian puppy cut might be the way to go because it will keep him looking his best all the time and will even ensure that he lives a long, healthy life. You should also pay special attention to cleaning his ears, teeth and nails, which are all important parts of grooming your Pomeranian.

Pomeranians are known for their long thick coats and also for the extensive grooming needed to maintain good looks and health. Whether cut short or left long, brushing the Pomeranians hair must be done on a regular basis. The hours of brushing the breed can be accomplished while watching television, chatting on the phone or even reading a book because a Pomeranian is satisfied lounging on your lap for hours and hours. This is an activity that both you and your Pomeranian will consider most enjoyable.

New Fish in New Aquarium

Finally, it’s time for you to go out and buy your fishes. Get the pet shop people to help you select healthy ones. While at the shop, make sure you’ve already gotten everything you need. Things like food, aquarium salt(if keeping brackish water fishes), net, water pump, and a bottle of anti-chlorine-and-chloramine water conditioner.

Once you reached home, float the packet of your new babies in your tank water. This is to acclimatize your fishes to the new water temperature. Float for about 15 minutes, then open up the packet, and pour some of your tank water into it. This is to acclimatize your fishes to the new water parameters. Wait for another 15 minutes, or more, if your fishes are sensitive species. And finally, use a net to catch your fishes into your fish tank!

Feed very sparingly during this beginning stage. As the filtration and bacteria system is still new, do not want to pollute the water too much. I suggest feeding small amounts once a day starting from the second or third day. If your fishes refuse to eat, do not put in more food. Try feeding again the next day. This is normal and you do not need to worry, as the fishes most likely already eaten when in the pet shop, and they can survive for as long as a week without food.

Soon, your fishes will get used to their environment. They will start becoming more active. Their vibrant colors will start showing. And they may even recognize you whenever you come close to feed them. That is the reward of fish-keeping! But of course, you have to be a responsible owner. Performing the regular water changes, medicating them when they get sick, and feeding them quality food everyday.