The holidays are an exciting time for all, your pets included! With the smell of pies in the air and the kids out of school to play with, your pup is sure to be full of the holiday spirit. As much fun as this time of year is for everyone, the holidays can also be a stressful time for you and your pup. Some dogs can feel overwhelmed when their owner celebrates the season with parties, out-of-town guests, or when they leave to visit family elsewhere.
Holiday Guests and Travel
One way to lessen the effects of numerous house guests on your dog, and to keep them happy and healthy during the holidays, is consistent exercising. This helps anxious dogs calm down and get out excess energy. Another tip is to make sure that they have a quiet, safe haven to retreat to in case they become overwhelmed by the amount of people and noise around. If you are traveling during the holidays, ensure that you have a proper caretaker for your animals so that they have a safe and cozy place to stay. Giving your pet a blanket or token that smells like home can comfort them if they are staying outside of your house.
Decorations and Food
While your family enjoys hot chocolate by the fireplace, these types of sweet treats and holiday foods are not the best for our four-legged companions. As much as we like to give our furry friends some scraps from the table during special events, this can cause discomfort, vomiting, and serious reactions in dogs and cats. Keeping special treats to goodies specifically meant for your pup is the safest way to include them in the festivities. Furthermore, decorations are enticing to dogs and cats due to their shiny and exciting appearance. This holiday season, ensure your animals cannot get a hold of decorations that they could consume or injure themselves with.
Give your pet a special gift this holiday season with behavior training and walks by Walk! ATX Our Austin dog walkers and trainers can make sure your pup is holiday-ready for your party guests, visiting family, and day-to-day celebrations. And if you are going out of town this season, let our sitters offer their services with overnight stays and daytime visits. Schedule our services today by calling (512) 655-9557 today!
One significant difficulty you may face as a pet owner is figuring out what to do with your pets when you have to go out of town. While there are numerous boarding services available, this is not a great option for every dog. Many dogs become nervous when placed in an unfamiliar environment, experiencing everything from emotional distress to physical symptoms like gastrointestinal problems, or refusal to eat. Additionally, for older, sick, or injured dogs, the stress of a boarding facility and/or unknown environment can take a significant toll.
Fortunately, there are alternatives to boarding at an external facility, one of the most convenient of which is letting your dogs stay in the familiar comfort of their own home while you are away! With in-home pet sitting, a qualified and experienced pet sitter will come to your home regularly, making sure that your dogs are not only fed and walked, but that they are properly exercised and entertained. Your dogs are sure to feel more relaxed when able to stay at home, and you will have the added benefit of knowing that not only your dogs, but your home, is being looked after while your away.
At Walk! ATX, our pet sitters are dedicated to making sure that your pets and your home are properly looked after in your absence. As such, in addition to giving your dogs the love and attention they deserve, we will also rotate lights, clean linens, wash dishes, and water your plants so that everything is in proper order when you return from your trip. Call us today at (512) 655-9557 to learn more about our pet sitting services and what we can do for your pets.