Waggity Tails is hiring!

Do you love and understand animals? Do you want to enjoy the fresh air while you work? Do you want to get paid to care for pets? Waggity Tails is looking for caring, responsible, and professional pet sitters and dog walkers to join our team!  Our ideal candidate is someone who loves animals, is a great communicator (texts, emails, etc.), and will treat our clients animals as if they were their own.

POSITIONS AVAILABLE:

Pet Sitters: Pet Sitters make multiple visits per day (morning, afternoon and evening) to our clients homes to care for their precious pets. You must be available for AM & PM visits and weekends.

Mid Day Dog Walkers: Mid Day Walkers walk dogs between the hours of 10:30am & 4pm Monday-Friday.

House Sitters: House Sitters spend the night in our client’s homes.

Locations: We currently are in need of pet sitters and dog walkers in Bel Air, Abingdon, Fallston, Forest Hill, and Jarrettsville.  We ask that applicants live in or very close to these towns to reduce your drive time between visits, therefore increasing your profits. Within a 10 mile radius will work best.

If interested in working with our company, please fill out a questionnaire on our web site. We kindly ask that you not call the office about the position. We will contact you if we feel that you will be a good fit.

NOTE: Please fill out the questionnaire at the link provided above. Those individuals who email a resume without filling out the questionnaire will not be considered.

How do we hire our Pet Sitters?

Step 1:  A face to face interview, a thorough background check on each prospective pet sitter.

Step 2: We call all professional references supplied to us by the contractor.

Step 3: We make follow-up phone calls to our clients to make sure that they are satisfied with the work done by their Pet Sitter.

Step 4: We continue to run ongoing evaluations of each sitter to assure that they are adhering to the standards of Waggity Tails

Thanks for your interest and happy tails!

See More at : http://waggitytails.com/blog

Fourth of July Fireworks and Your Pup

You may have gotten a feel for my dog Murphy’s personality in my previous blog. 4^th of July fireworks is a VERY hot topic in our home! I am curious how many other dog owners have the same issue as I do on the holiday.  Just because your dog looks big and tough doesn’t mean that they are! This is very true in Murph’s case, he is incredibly terrified of fireworks and I mean TERRIFIED. You would think that my brothers and father would not torture him by lighting them off in our backyard, but.. we won’t go there . Thunderstorms are also bad but the second Murphy hears one firework his entire body is shaking and all 100 + pounds of him lands on top of me! After about 5 minutes of pawing my face he runs in the bathroom and hides.  It is awful, I feel terrible for him and I have not figured out a way to calm him down. With every year bringing more and more fireworks from every direction, the entire evening is traumatic for him.  Does anyone else have this issue?! If so, has anyone found something that works? I have tried the thundershirt. This was not successful for Murph, but I know it has worked for others. I really don’t want to put my dog on Xanax! If you know anything that will allow me to be with my family and not torment my dog, please share your thoughts!

Here are some of the tricks you can try if your pooch gets nervous when he hears fireworks

• Thundershirt- available at thundershirt.com , target, amazon etc and will run you about 35-40$
• Place some toys, food and water in the small room, even if they can hear the noise, they he can keep track of what’s happening in his immediate surroundings and so is less confused/concerned.
• If your dog has terrible anxiety and fear, the pet store and vet can suggest sleepytime medicine or anxiety chews (which I have also tried with Murphy)
• Your vet can prescribe you valium or Xanax, but make sure that your vet agrees and gives a small and appropriate dosage
• Some pups like to hide under the bed, that is normal , do not pull them out if they feel safe there

For dogs with super high anxiety, who tend to chew when nervous, you may want to consider speaking to your vet about sedation or anxiety medication (especially if your dog will be home alone) It seems drastic and excessive but, unfortunately, they can do harm to themselves when they are feeling unsafe

For those whose pooches love the 4^th even with the Fireworks, here are some things around Baltimore you may like to do !

July 3

• Baltimore Country Club, Suburban Golf Club, Woodholme Country Club

July 4

• Federal Hill
• Canton, Fells Point, relax along the water
• Inner Harbor
• Middle River(if you’re on a boat make sure your pooch wears a life jacket!)
• Catonsville High School
• Grange Elementary School
• Loch Raven Academy
• Oregon Ridge
• My father’s backyard 

Have fun! Be Safe and Good Luck!!!

Keegan Biondino

Waggity Tails

http://waggitytails.com/blog/

The month of February was Pet Dental Health Month!

We have all experienced doggy breath and sometimes it can be quite stinky. However, even with the stinky breath your pups kisses are still one of your favorites : )!  It is essential to keep your pets teeth clean and healthy. As you can see in the info-graphic, 75% or more of the health complications seen by vets have a correlation to dental disease. Keeping your pet on a healthy diet, regular brushing, and giving your pup plenty of chew toys can go a long way to help keep your pets mouth healthy.

According to ASPCA, signs of dental disease are: bad breath, difficulty eating and chewing, red or inflamed gums, teeth that are browned, and excessive drooling. The signs of healthy teeth are: clean teeth (no discoloring), no signs of swollen or bleeding gums, and no loose teeth. These are all the signs that we as pet owners want to see. Some pets can see the signs of dental disease as early as 3 years old. Preventative treatment can help prevent painful long term problems down the road for your pets. Your pets dental health is very important because is they do have bad dental health it can lead to loss of teeth, pain, and serious issues such as heart, liver, and lung disease.

For our two pups, we give them a dental bone regularly that is vet approved. Kooper does not like his teeth to be brushed so this is a great alternative that we have had success with. They also enjoy chew toys.  This can help with massaging their gums and get rid of soft tartar. Lastly, try and give your pet some dry food. Dry food can also help with less tarter and plaque buildup.  Make sure your vet checks your pets teeth annually to make sure their teeth and mouth are healthy. Take small steps now so that serious problems do not occur in your pet’s future.

 

 infographic credit: http://blog.petcarerx.com/most-pets-already-have-signs-of-dental-disease-by-age-3-or-4/

For more please visit : http://waggitytails.com

Pet-friendly Lodging in Maryland

Summer is quickly approaching!Maybe you are looking for a quick getaway with your pets?  It can often be difficult to find pet friendly hotels to stay in.  Most hotels charge an additional fee to bring your pets, but some allow you to bring pets free of charge.  Consider these options for a weekend getaway in Maryland! What is better than a vacation with your pets?

Pet Friendly Hotels:

Westin Annapolis: 100 Westgate Cir, Annapolis, MD 21401 – Phone: 410-972-4300

This hotel allows you to bring your dogs for no additional fee.  Pets cannot be left unattended at any time.  You must mention that you will be brining your pets at the time of reservation.

Aida’s Victoriana Inn: 205 Cherry St., St. Michaels, MD 21663 – Phone: 410-745-3368

Aida’s Victoriana Inn allows up to two dogs to stay per guest room.  They have a flat rate fee of $45 per stay to bring them along.  You must mention you will be bringing your dog(s) at time of reservation to ensure availability.

Hotel Monaco Baltimore: 2 N Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201 – Phone: 443-692-6170

Hotel Monaco Baltimore is one of the most pet-friendly hotels in the state of Maryland.  Dogs and cats of any size are welcomed for no additional fee.  Their concierge at the hotel can also schedule your pet grooming services, dog walking, doggie daycare, and also recommend pet friendly parks in the area.

Aloft Washington National Harbor: 156 Waterfront St., National Harbor, MD 20745 – Phone: 877-462-5638

Aloft Washington National Harbor allows up to two dogs (60 lbs or less) per guest room free of charge.  All rooms are pet friendly.  Other well behaved pets are also allowed, you will just need to get approval from the front desk prior to arriving.

If you’re a local pet-friendly hotel or if you have suggestions for other hotels to be added, send us an email to be listed!

See more at : http://waggitytails.com/blog/

Tips for having a safe Thanksgiving with your pets!

Is Thanksgiving really next week and am I the only one that feels like it was just summer? As I get older the days go by faster and faster. I have to say that I am excited for the holiday. My twin brothers are coming home and it’s not often that we all get to be together these days with our busy lives. With it being Thanksgiving, it brings some risk for your pets. Here are some ways to have a pet safe holiday…

1. Give your pup a KONG or toy to play with. This will help distract them from focusing on the turkey or other food on the counter.

2. Protect the trash. Make sure the trash lid is secure so that your pets cannot get into it.

3. Make sure that your pets have a way to leave the area. With the holiday brings lots of people and it might cause some of them to stress. For our dog, Kooper, as much as we would love for him to be around for the Thanksgiving festivities it is best for him to be away from all of the activity. We make sure he had a morning filled with exercise and playtime and then when it is time for the family to come over he goes upstairs with his KONG and he should be tired from the day. This is the best thing for us and Koop.

4. Check their ID tags. Holidays can bring stress for some of your pets. Double check their tags to make sure the information is up to date.

5. Thanksgiving is filled with yummy food but some of the food needs to be kept away from your pets. Foods that are harmful to them include alcohol, chocolate, turkey bones, onions and garlic.
Hope you all have a fantastic and safe Thanksgiving with your family, friends, and pets. Don’t forget to show your pets how thankful you are of them : )

See more at : http://waggitytails.com

The Holiday Season is Here

Now that the Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone it is time to start thinking about the Christmas holiday! As with all holidays it can bring some risks for your pets. When getting the house decorated remember some of these tips to protect your pet.

 

Some of the most popular plants are toxic for your pets. Poinsettias are very toxic. They are beautiful and very popular during this time of the year but make sure you keep them out of reach from your pets. Holly, mistletoe, and lilies are also unsafe for your pet.

When it comes to food it goes for the same as for the thanksgiving holiday. For Christmas the additional concern is candy to keep away. Candy canes are a popular choice but it should be kept away from your pets. Other foods that need to be out of reach is chocolate, onion, bones, and grapes. Another one that should be kept away is alcohol. No holiday drinks for the pups : )

When you decorate the tree, make sure that your pets do not get into it. Many years ago we had a cat and he climbed the tree and made the whole tree tumble over. Thankfully, we were home. Make sure that electrical wires are secure and that the pets cannot get to them and chew. Avoid tinsel, this can cause serious problems for your cats. If you have candles lit in the house be careful when leaving the room. The cat or pups can bump into it. Make sure that they are high enough up where they cannot reach and the counter is secure to hold the candle.

As always, make sure your pet has somewhere to go if they need to escape. Whether it is family over or a holiday party, sometimes your pet may need some time alone to settle down from all the commotion.

Happy Paw-lidays! : )

See more at : http://waggitytails.com/getting-ready-holiday-pets

 

Meet Dee,our foster fail!

Dee has been part of the family now for quite some time but I haven’t done a proper introduction for our girl! We started fostering her in October.  She was going to be a medical foster because of eye surgery that she would be having. My fostering past has been mostly fails…but really successes Scott, my husband was unsure about fostering because he knew my families foster past but he also knew this is something I really wanted to do. We met her and she was home the next week. I tried to not get too close because I knew I would get attached but that only lasted until she had the surgery and she was home with a cone around her head, stitches, and in pain. Seeing her after surgery broke our hearts but it was the best thing for her. She could finally see better and her eyes no longer bothered her. Kooper and Dee became inseparable and best friends. Dee was the best thing for Koop…and us! We eventually put her on the adoption page at Baltimore Humane Society and I cried. I knew we couldn’t let her go and even though Scott tried to act like he didn’t care, he really did. He LOVES the Deeders! I am so glad that we were a foster fail…Dee has brought so much joy into our house! My track record continues with fostering.

Six things about our girl Dee:

1. She loves everybody! This is a difference from Koop. Dee is happiest when she is around people.
2. She is 4 years old. She looks a lot older but she is still a youngster.
3. She has terrible allergies… we just got her results back and she is allergic to everything they test pups for…she is our overachiever : )
4. Dee is obsessed with Scott. She absolutely adores him and will follow him everywhere he goes. She is a daddy’s girl.
5. Her favorite snack is bananas.
6. She is the clumsiest dog I have ever been around. She bumps in to everything and falls off the couch when playing with Koop.

For more info please visit : http://waggitytails.com