Differences Between a Professional Pet Sitter and a Hobby Pet Sitter

Good morning,

Today we are sharing a blog post from Ace Pet Care about why you should hire a professional pet sitter versus an amateur pet sitter, or hobby pet sitter. This may seem like a "no brainer" to some, but to others the imminent dangers that could arise aren't as apparent.  "Caring for someone’s pets is hard work. It takes long hours. It takes diligence, a sense of responsibility, personal commitment in the face of long hours and experience. Like other professionals, large and small, pet sitting is a trainable business, but one that still has value over cost. All professionals charge for their time and experience. They are worth it. Professional pet sitters are no different."

Take a look at just some of the many reasons, hiring a professional pet sitter is the smart choice and contact us today at: http://www.walkingwetnoses.com/ to inquire about our professional pet sitting services in Leesburg, Virginia.

"The next time you are wondering why a professional pet sitter costs more than a hobbyist, these are the reasons:

-A professional pet sitter pays for pet sitting liability insurance to protect you. This costs money.

-A professional pet sitter pays for membership in professional pet sitting organizations in order to take advantage of pet care education and training in pet first aid, pet CPR, pet safety, pet behaviors, pet training techniques, and to create a network of professionals to help quickly in any emergency situation.

-A professional pet sitter pays for pet sitting-related books and magazines to make sure that our skills are the highest possible and that we are providing the safest care and attention to your pet’s needs.

-A professional pet sitter pays for legal advice so that we have a contract in order to protect you and our business. It will explain what services the pet sitter will and will not provide. There will be forms to fill out to give the pet sitter all the information needed to provide the very best care for your pet and your home. There will be authorization forms for various professionals such as your veterinarian to work with us in the event there is a need. There will be policies and backup plans in place.

-A professional Pet sitter will have expenses just like every other legitimate business. And the reason you want us to charge enough to keep us in business is so that you know who is caring for your pets, and your pets know and trust their pet sitter. This provides for a trouble-free vacation for you, and stress-free time for your pets." (To read the original article post, visit the link here!) 

The Poisonous Threat to Your Dog You Probably Aren't Aware Of

The hot and humid summer brings with it some threats to unsuspecting dogs and cats: toads and toxic mushrooms. One thing that all of our pet sitters are constantly on the lookout for are toads. It's also important that all of our pet sitters are trained to recognize signs and symptoms of things such as toad toxicity.

"The two most important species of toad that are known for their toxic effects on pets are the Colorado River Toad (Bufo alvarius) and the Marine Toad (Bufo marinus). Most cases of poisoning are reported during the warmest weather months, when the toads are more active and humidity is high." (Petmd.com)

Did you know that "over a 4-year period, Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) processed almost 300 claims from pet guardians whose dog (or much less often, cat) had an encounter with a deadly toad. In fact, it was one of the top 10 types of poisonings during that 4-year period."

You may be aware of the fact that some toads can be poisonous to our pets but were you aware of how they pass their toxins to our dogs and cats? If you want to learn more and learn how you can protect your pets, or what to do when you think they might have toad poisoning, visit the article link from healthypets.com here.

To learn more about our pet sitting services and how we can visit with your dog this summer, contact us today at: http://www.walkingwetnoses.com/

Pet Sitting vs. Pet Boarding...What to do!

You are getting ready to go away for a trip and you are wondering... to pet sit or board your pet? Well, obviously it comes down to your personal preference and what you think your furry loved ones will be most comfortable with. However, there are several things to consider before you make your final choice. Sharing this article from PineapplePets today, it brings up several key points to consider. Like is your pet good around other pets and strange people? Or how about if they have any allergies or complicated medicine routines. All of these things are important when deciding whether to board your pet or have a pet sitter come over.

One of our pet sitters, Debbie

Of course, we are biased and feel that pet sitting is the best option! So if you are looking for caring, reliable and professional pet sitters in Leesburg, Virginia, then contact us today! We will be glad to meet you and your pet for your first, free consultation: http://www.walkingwetnoses.com/

To view the entire post about pet sitting vs. pet boarding visit the original link here. 

7 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR PET ENTERTAINED WHILE YOU’RE AWAY

Good afternoon,

As you might have guessed, we think the best remedy to a lonely pet while you are away is having a pet sitter or walker come by for a visit/quick jaunt out! However we do realize that sometimes you can't afford to have a visitor for your dog(s) every day, and you will have to leave them for one reason on another.

This article  from Positively.com talks about 7 ways to keep your pet entertained while you are out. (Note: Walking Wetnoses does not necessarily or agree or endorse any of these products, they are just ideas to share!)


If you are looking for someone to come stop in and do a mid-day visit or take your pup for a walk while you're away, contact us today! We are located in Leesburg, Virginia and serve the surrounding Western Loudoun County area. Check us out today at: www.walkingwetnoses.com!

Dogs Are Even More Like Us Than We Thought

Good afternoon,

As you know we LOVE our dogs here at Walking Wetnoses. But did you know that dogs are perhaps even more like us humans than we originally thought? "Dogs can read facial expressions, communicate jealousy, display empathy, and even watch TV, studies have shown. They've picked up these people-like traits during their evolution from wolves to domesticated pets, which occurred between 11,000 and 16,000 years ago, experts say.'

PHOTOGRAPH BY CAMERON LAWSON, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE

'In particular, "paying attention to us, getting along with us, [and] tolerating us" has led to particular characteristics that often mirror ours, says Laurie Santos, director of the Yale Comparative Cognition Laboratory. (Read more about how dogs evolved in National Geographic magazine.)"

To read more of this article and find specific tendencies how dogs can mimick humans visit the article link here. 


To learn more about our dog walking services in Leesburg and Purcellville Virginia visit our website at: http://www.walkingwetnoses.com/