Category Archives: Uncategorized

Apr
22

Happy Earth Day – Tips for Reducing Your Dog’s Carbon Paw Print

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Happy Earth Day! Every year on April 22, people across the world reflect on their impact on the environment and many take part in activities to show their greenness. This year, Rover.com is encouraging dog owners to not only think about ways to reduce their own carbon footprint, but also their pooch’s carbon paw print. To help, the Rover.com team has pulled together some tips on easy things one can do to make their dog greener.

  • Invest in a reusable water bowl to take on the go. There’s nothing more frustrating than being out on a walk with your dog and not able to find a bowl or cup to give them water in. Many restaurants and stores will only provide you with a paper or plastic one so they can throw it away. Investing in a collapsible or foldable bowl is the perfect solution and you can keep on reusing it!
  • Use compostable doggie bags. All dog owners know they should never leave the house without the roll of doggie bags to pick-up after their pup while outside. There are tons of options out there, from cute prints to ones that smell good, owners should also look into the option of buying compostable ones, so they can rest assure it will breakdown at the landfill.
  • Buy all-natural toys and organic treats. It’s no secret that dogs loves toys and treats. Owners can go the extra mile to keep their pups happy by buying all-natural toys and organic treats. There are tons of options out there and these treats and toys contain fewer chemicals and typically are made in more eco-friendly environments.
  • Find a dog sitter within walking distance of home or work. Finding the perfect boarding solution for a dog can be difficult and finding one within a mile or two of home or work can be even more challenging. Luckily Rover.com has dog owners covered, with an abundance of sitters across the U.S., that many people can find a five star sitter within a mile or two of their home, which is not only convenient but also cuts down on carbon emissions.

 

These are just a few ideas of how dog owners can help reduce their dogs’ carbon paw print. We’d love to hear more, so please leave a comment below with your tips and tricks!

Join Rover.com and find your own alternative to traditional dog boarding.
More fun for dogs, less guilt for pet parents.

Oct
17

Upcoming Dog Events

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Check out these fun dog events in your area!

Austin Dogtoberfest 2012 Dog EventsDogtoberfest
Austin, TX
October 20

This annual event at The Domain includes a silent auction, Canine Costume Contest, pet related demonstrations and fun for all! Costume Contest Categories include Most Creative, Best Owner/Dog Duo, Funniest, Best Super Hero and Best Overall.

Paws for the Cause Philadelphia Dog Events

Paws for the Cause
Philadelphia, PA
October 21

Calling all dogs and puppies for a one-mile dog walk! Each fall, hundreds of dogs and their owners make their way to Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia for Paws for the Cause to support efforts to prevail over cancer. To date, the event has raised more than $145,000! Visit dog-friendly vendors, “Ask the Vet,” get your face painted, enjoy breakfast treats and refreshments.

Howling Halloween in the Park Dog EventsHowling Halloween in the Park
Fountain Valley, CA
October 21

All kids, friendly dogs (on-leash) and their families are invited to join in the celebration and fun of “Howling Halloween in the Park”. Safe Trick-or-Treating for kids and dogs in costume, Costume Contests (kids, dogs, and family categories), Entertainment, Games for kids and dogs, Vendors of all types, Pet Adoptions, Food & Drinks and a whole lot more! Free Parking and Admission, too!

Join Rover.com and find your own alternative to traditional dog boarding.
More fun for dogs, less guilt for pet parents.

Nov
30

Seattle Dog Trainers: Susan and David

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Hello Rover-ites! Today, we’d like to introduce two local dog trainers- Susan Oshie and David Hogan. Both of these excellent trainers help dog owners and dog sitters better understand and communicate with their dogs. Dogs, like humans, are always learning and training is an important part of our relationship with them. Dog’s training is an ongoing series of procedures that we follow in order to get desired behavior. While some dogs are more excited to please others, and some seem to posses more intelligence, these trainers can help you to train your dogs in at least basic commands.

About Susan:

Susan Oshie, owner of Paws4training, puts her vast knowledge and experience to work training dogs and puppies to be well-mannered pets. Susan is a professional dog trainer and Licensed Veterinary Technician with more than 20 years of experience in the field. Her vast training experience includes serving as head trainer and teaching puppy classes at Sound Animal Services. She taught puppy classes at Ahimsa Dog Training in Seattle and was an instructor at Downtown Dog Lounge conducting puppy socialization, basic/intermediate obedience, beginning agility and Canine Good Citizen classes.

Before starting Paws4training, Susan began her career at Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital, and then went on to become a Licensed Veterinary Technician. She has worked as a Surgical Technician at the Animal Surgical Clinic of Seattle, Green Lake Animal Hospital, and Eastlake Veterinary Hospital.

Susan’s dog training and veterinary technician experience has enhanced her passion for promoting the health and well being of animals. Her invaluable skills have helped over 1,000 dogs to become well-trained pets that their owners are proud to live with. Susan continues her education by attending seminars and workshops presented by top trainers and behaviorists in the field.

About David

David knows a lot about learning theory and employs many components of the positive reinforcement technique, including clicker training. He believes that to efficiently communicate with pet dogs – companion dogs – people need simple exercises that are repeatable on a daily basis. Exercises that both the dogs and the owners want to engage in.

David is incorporating many more games and emotional cues so dogs are taught with ease and expedience. This approach is not totally unique, it is a style of training and communication used by leaders in the field like Dr. Ian Dunbar and John Rogerson.

Here are some videos to show some of the techniques David has used:

Particularly for those of you who work in dog sitting or dog boarding and have many dogs around, what is your experience with dog training? Do you believe that it builds a better relationship, stimulates intellect and enforces positive behavior? We’d love to hear about your experiences!

Oct
17

Dog Years

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We’ve all heard the phrase “but she’s x in dog years..”. A commonly accepted rule of thumb estimates that one human year equals seven dog years. But what does this calculation really mean? Is this approximation accurate, or is the assumed specificity of it simply a myth?

In actuality, the calculation of human years to dog years is less linear than a simple one to seven ratio. In fact, when correlating the life stages, represented by age, of dogs and humans, a key difference is that dogs reach adulthood much faster than humans. A more reasonable approximation of the age relationship is that for the first two human years, a dog ages ten and half dog years. After these first two years, a dog ages about four human years for every dog year.

This calculation of human years to dog years is further complicated by breed. While a smaller dog may live anywhere from 15-16 years old, a medium to large sized dog might only live between 10 and 13 years. A giant dog, however, may only have a lifespan of 7-8 years.

As with humans, dogs deteriorate both mentally and physically with age. Their ability to hear, see and move decreases, as well as the condition of their skin, joints and energy level. It is not uncommon to see dogs graying around the face and beard, and be plagued by diseases common to elderly humans like cancer and arthritis. As a caretaker to an older dog either as an owner, a dog sitter, or in a Seattle dog boarding facility, the classic equation of one human year to seven dog year calculation can still be important if not entirely accurate. This rule of thumb can be helpful to recognize that the senior dog you are dog sitting for should be treated as a seventy or eighty year old person would, even though she or he might only be 9 or 10 in dog years.

Oct
4

Active Dogs equal Active Lives!

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Seattle-ites tend to have a great amount of pride in our city. We have no shame in going out of town or abroad and declaring that we are from the great Emerald City. We have a lot to brag about from the plethora of coffee shops, the unparallaled natural beauty, the Seattle Sounders, and a powerhouse of companies like Microsoft, Boeing, Amazon, and more. So when Men’s Health Magazine declared Seattle the most active city in the United States, Seattleites accepted the title with pride. Running and walking are simple activities most Seattleites enjoy for their direct health benefits and affordability. So it seems only natural to bring along our four-legged friends to get some exercise of their own.

At Rover many of us are active individuals that see the companionship of a dog as an owner ordog sitter on the running trail as a positive experience. One, dogs are reliable and dependable workout buddies. Whether your dog is a member of the family or honored guest they will always be ready to head outside. Dogs to do not have hectic work schedules or special events that will provide you with a convenient cancellation or excuse to “skip a day” of exercise. In fact, this is another great incentive to be a Seattle dog sitter: instead of joining a gym, why not host an active pup for a week or two? You will be in great shape in no time! Two, dogs have little care for weather conditions. Rain is just a part of life in the Emerald City that can quickly undermine the motivation of a daily run. However, your four-legged companion could care less with their endless energy and priceless expressions demanding you put on a raincoat and enjoy the weather. Three, dogs breakup the monotony of exercising alone. Another internal battle any runner or walker face is the boredom of taking the same turns, same route, and listening to the same music. However, a four-legged companion might not be able to accompany you on the same route requiring a bit of creativity. Also, dogs might have a bit of curiosity of their own on your workouts exposing you to new pathways or sights.

As a dog owner or dog sitter everyone here at Rover hopes you get out and enjoy the last bit of summer weather with your four-legged companion before it is too late.