There is more to the saying “man’s best friend”, than you think.  Studies, done all over the world, have shown that pets can actually help or change your mental and physical health.  This fact is so widely known that many professionals in the health field will recommend pet ownership as treatment for their patients.  Treatment can vary, but the one thing that is consistent is that it involves being exposed to a pet in some way, shape or form.

At Universuty of Buffalo, a study was conducted which proved that a pet cat or dog can actually control blood pressure better than an ACE inhibitor.  The study focused on a group of hypertensive New York City stockbrokers, who were being treated with an ACE inhibitor.  Half of the stock brokers added a dog or cat to their treatment regimen, and that half’s health was found to be more stable during stressful situations than the participants who did not have a pet.  After sharing these results with the study participants, many went out and got a pet.

Not only do pets help your blood pressure, but they have also been found to be allergy fighters.  Research pediatrician, Dr. James Gern, found in a recent study that infants having a pet living with them were less likely to show pet allergies.  They were also less likely to have eczema.  In addition, they were found to have higher levels of some immune system chemicals, which is a sign of a stronger immune system overall.  Because pets (especially dogs) can be dirty, babies who have greater exposure to dirt and allergens have been found to have a stronger immune system.

In addition to physical benefits, pets also have emotional and social benefits.  Pets can help with loneliness by providing companionship and unconditional love.  They never have a negative thing to say and they are always happy to see you.  What better friend exists than one with those qualities?  And because so many of us take an interest in our pets, they can also help as social lubricant.  When out walking your dog, or at the vet with your cat, pets make us more approachable and give people a reason to start up a conversation.  Pets can even be the support system a shy person needs to allow them to engage in a conversation with a stranger.

Although pets can truly enhance our lives in many ways for the better, pets come with added responsibility and financial demands.  Pet ownership is not for everyone and should not be taken lightly.  However, if you are able to provide a safe and loving environment for a furry friend, the benefits you will experience from them seem to outweigh what they actually need from you.  So, when you go home today, give them an extra kiss, treat or snuggle…they deserve it!

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Here are the top 3 tips for quickly and properly house training your new best friend:

1. DO NOT use wee-wee pads

This is a big mistake that many new dog owners make. It seems so convenient to just put an absorbent pad down on the floor so little FiFi can cop a squat there, instead of on the rug, right? WRONG! Unless you want your dog doing their business INSIDE your house, and you plan on buying wee-wee pads in bulk for the next 15+ years, you don’t want to start house training with them. Believe me…I made this mistake about 14 years ago…and guess who’s still buying wee-wee pads? This girl! The purpose of house training is to teach your dog to go outside, and if you start off by letting them go inside (even on a wee-wee pad), you are going to have a hard time breaking them of this habit.

2. Buy a crate and — USE IT

I know, I know…it seems so mean to put a brand new cute little furry baby in a cage. All you want to do is cuddle up with that adorable little baby in your bed, all night long. But trust me, invest in a crate and put the puppy in there at night, and also whenever you leave the house or aren’t able to keep an eye on the little darling. He/She won’t be very happy about it at first, but hold strong and I promise that they will eventually love that space as a safe and cozy place of their own. I crate trained my German Shepherd and not only was she one of the best dogs I have ever owned (and solidly house trained), but she LOVED her crate.

As far as size goes, make sure that the crate is just large enough that your puppy can turn around, stand up and lay down. The reason it needs to be just big enough, but not too big is because most dogs will not potty where they sleep or lay. You don’t want too much room because then they are able to do their business in the crate and lie down in the extra space, avoiding their accident.

Also, in the very beginning when your puppy is just learning about house training, don’t put blankets or towels in their crate. These items can absorb pee and then they can avoid being near their accident. I had a puppy once who would go potty on the towel I put in her crate and somehow roll it up and push it to the front of the crate..then she would sleep behind it, staying nice and clean!

Know that the crate is not something you have to use forever, but I would highly suggest using it on a consistent basis until you know that your puppy is pretty solidly house trained. Once your puppy is a little older and has more bladder control, start phasing the kennel out. Leave them for a little time alone (in a safe place in the house). You can gradually increase the time you leave them alone for until you don’t need the crate at all anymore.

3. Take your puppy out frequently and at key times

Getting your puppy outside before they actually go is key! In order to do this, you have to recognize the times they most likely need to go potty and the signs that they have to go. My rule of thumb is to always let them out in the morning, when they awake from sleeping (during the day), after they eat or drink, and at night before they go to bed. Also, if you see your puppy sniffing around a lot, that may be a sign that they have to go…so get them outside right away. If they do go outside, give them lots of praise or even a little treat…just until they get the idea that they are supposed to potty outside. And if they do go in the house, don’t get too upset. If you catch them in the act, just say “No!” and quickly get them outside. If you find an accident in your house randomly, unfortunately there isn’t really anything you can do (other than clean up the accident).

4. Hire a professional pet sitting company like Angel Pet Sitting

If you are like most other people, you probably work outside your home for 8+ hours a day. This is a tough situation for a puppy because they typically need to be let out to go potty at least 2-3 times during the hours that you are at work. In order to keep your house training routine going strong, hire a professional pet sitting company like Angel Pet Sitting. A professional pet sitter will be able to get your puppy out of their crate for some exercise, make sure they go potty, and give them a little extra TLC and socialization when you are unable to. Utilizing a professional pet sitter will allow you to do what you need to do, when you need to do it, but still make sure your little fur-baby’s needs are being met.

House training will happen! Don’t stress! If you are consistent and follow these three tips, you will be on your way to having a happy, healthy and house trained puppy. Good Luck and feel free to share your house training tips and success stories in the comments below

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When choosing a food for your pet, you may want to make sure you can answer the following questions.  Answering these questions will ensure that you know about your pet and its specific needs.

1. How old is your pet?
2. What is your pet’s activity level?
3. Is your pet overweight or underweight?
4. For dogs, are they a small, medium, or large breed?
5. Is your pet allergic to anything?
6. Is your pet a picky eater?
7. Does your pet need supplements?  For example, MSM/glucosamine for joint issues?
8. Does your pet have a sensitive stomach?  Some breeds are prone to digestion trouble.
9. Has your veterinarian expressed any dietary concerns due to a health issue?

If you are a new pet owner and cannot answer these questions, consult a veterinarian before changing your pet’s food.

Once you have answers to the questions above, you can then begin to make an educated decision as to what food would be best for your pet.  For example, if you have a dog who is an 8 year old, German Shepherd with hip dysplasia, you would probably want to choose a senior formula food for large breeds with MSM/glucosamine supplemented in the food (or use an additional hip supplement that you add to the food).

Generally, the higher quality the food is, the more expensive it becomes, however Yuppy Puppy, City Kitty (YPCK) offers extremely high quality pet food, supplements and wellness products at reasonable prices. They offer Lifestyle Bundles that suit your pet’s specific dietary needs and are shipped right to your door!

Here are some things that you should take into consideration when choosing a specific type of food for your dog or cat.  First, make sure that the food is appropriate for the age of the pet and has the highest amount of nutrients and minerals needed for your pet.  Next, check to see that chicken, duck, fish, or lamb meal is listed as one of the first two ingredients.  There should not be any “by-product” listed as a main ingredient.  In addition, the food should also contain the proper amount of protein and fat for your pet’s breed and age (which your veterinarian can help you with).  Lastly, make sure the package provides easy to read feeding instructions and a company phone number that you can call with any questions you may have.

One last thing to do before you choose a new food for your pet, is check the FDA pet food recall products.  In the past few years, more and more pet food products are being recalled.  While human food goes through rigorous testing, pet food is not held to the same standards.  In order to avoid giving your pet a food that has been or will be recalled make sure that the producer of your pet food has proper testing and quality control, their plant is USDA and APHIS inspected, and all ingredients used are EU certified.  For a complete list of FDA recalls, go to: www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/newpetfoodrecalls/#Dog

Personally, I use YPCK brand food and feel it is the best quality food on the market.  All ingredients are holistic and all-natural and they offer many different varieties to choose from, based on your pet’s dietary needs. If you would like to learn more about YPCK pet food, treats and wellness products, go to www.ypckpets.com/angelpetstore.

In addition to choosing a proper food for your pet, here are a few other simple things that you should do for the general health and well being of your pet:

1. Make sure there is fresh water available at all times.
2. Go easy on the table scraps! (Even though Fluffy and Fido love them!)
3. When changing your pet’s food, make sure to change it gradually.  Introduce the new food (with the pet’s current food) in small portions that increase slightly each day.
4. Keep pets away from known toxins such as chocolate, coffee, tea, onions, grapes, raisins and alcohol.

If you have any questions about your pet’s specific dietary needs, you should always consult a veterinarian.  Hopefully, with these tips you can help your pet have the most beneficial and nutritious diet possible.

Jean Brillman

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There are 2 options of care for your pets while you are away:  Pet sitting or kennel boarding.  In my opinion, pet sitting is a much better option for the safety, health and well being of your pet.  Before I became the owner of Angel Pet Sitting, I used a reputable pet sitting company in our area to take care of my two dogs.  This gave me the peace of mind to enjoy my vacation, knowing that my girls were comfortable and happy at home, with visits regularly from their pet sitter.  They received individualized attention each day and I took comfort in knowing that the pet sitter would not miss any unusual details or habits that would come up, because she was only caring for my dogs at the time of her visits.

Although kennels and boarding facilities have improved over the years, there are still risks associated with using these facilities.  One of the major concerns for your pet is that they are exposed to many unfamiliar animals and possibly unfamiliar germs.  Although most kennels require proof of vaccinations, there are other communicable diseases that there are no immunizations for.  In addition, things like worms are easily spread throughout an environment like a kennel.  This would be the same for boarding at a veterinary office or hospital, where many sick animals will be coming into contact with your pet.

For those who prefer their pet being out of their house while they are away, there are some great “pet resorts”, however they will usually come with a hefty price tag.  If you are interested in having your pet receive individualized attention, daily walks, or specific feeding instructions and medications, these services will usually come with an extra fee.  The service can be excellent, but it is not usually cost effective and accessible for all budgets.

A reputable pet sitting company, like Angel Pet Sitting, will give your pets individualized attention, good exercise and TLC, while at the same time being affordable.  Your pets won’t need to get stressed out, as they will be staying in their own, comfortable environment.  Professional pet sitting companies are bonded and insured and all their pet sitters will have a plethora of experience with all types of animals.  Most companies will offer a free consultation, so you are able to meet with your pet sitter before your vacation.  This is a great time to provide any and all information regarding your pet’s care and see how your pet responds to the pet sitter.

In addition to taking care of your pet, most professional pet sitting companies will offer complimentary services like retrieving your mail, altering your lights and watering your plants.  See if you can find a kennel that will do that!  Overall, a pet sitter is a better option for the health, safety and well being of your pets.  And for households with multiple pets, it is often a much more affordable option as well.  For more information on pet sitting and how to choose a pet sitter, go to http://www.petsit.com/hire-a-professional-pet-sitter.

Happy Holidays!

Jean Brillman

Owner, Angel Pet Sitting, Inc.

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First, independent contractors cannot be trained.  A company who utilizes IC’s cannot do ANY type of formal training with them.  They cannot force them to follow company policies and procedures, and they cannot tell them how their services should be rendered.  For example, if an IC decides that they want to walk your dog off-leash (even though company policy states they are not allowed to do that), they can do that.  The IC decides how they get their work done, and the company that they work for cannot technically do anything about it.

Another problem with utilizing IC’s as pet sitters (and this is the scariest factor) is they can hire another person to do their work for them.  Think about a plumber.  If they are contracted by a construction company to do work as an IC, they can bring in anyone else that they want to help work on their job.  If your pet sitter is an IC, they can technically “hire” someone else, unknown to you, to do their work for them.  This means that you could have a strange person, who you (or the pet sitting company) have never met, entering your house and interacting with your furry babies!

Lastly, IC’s have to set their own schedule.  The pet sitting company they work for cannot direct them as to where they have to be at a specific time.  As long as they “get the work done”, they cannot be told when they have to do it.  Think about the plumber, again.  The construction company doesn’t tell them when to go to the job site, they only contract a “job” with them.  The IC can set their own schedule as to when they want to work.

If you are currently using a pet sitting service, or planning on using one in the future, make sure to ask them if their pet sitters are employees or independent contractors.  If they use IC’s, keep in mind that the company has very little control over the people they are sending to your home.  If you want a reputable company that has more control, regarding what their pet sitters do on a daily basis, find one that hires employees as pet sitters.  This way you can have peace of mind and know that the person who is taking care of your “furry baby” is competent and has had proper training.

Angel Pet Sitting is a professional pet sitting and dog walking company that only hires employees as their pet sitters.  In addition, all Angel Pet Sitting employees go through a rigorous interview process and training program.  This training program includes a one-on-one training with the owner, Jean Brillman, supervised visits, and Pet First Aid/CPR certification.  Angel Pet Sitting services the Main Line and surrounding Philadelphia Suburbs.

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