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October 4th, 2010 | Posted in Doggie Daycare Phoenix
Doggie Daycare Phoenix Based
Heidi’s Historic Home and Pet Care’s doggie daycare phoenix based and centrally located to down town, was first opened for business over eleven years ago; providing in-home pet sitting, dog walking, pet massage and pet taxi. However, I was continually asked by existing and new clients if I could spend the night at their homes for overnight pet sitting. If we can be honest here…I just didn’t feel comfortable sleeping in someone else’s bed…I’m just sayin. They would also ask me if I knew of a magical way to socialize their dogs. Besides taking them to the local doggie park and having friends bring their dogs over for play dates, I really didn’t have an answer for them. That’s when I decided, almost two years ago, to implement my doggie day care phoenix based here in Arizona, as well as boarding. By providing these services to my clients I could offer them solutions to many of their concerns. Now, my clients who choose not to have a doggie door, no longer have to worry about running home on their lunch hour to let their dog out. Which, by the way, I can also help with if you would rather keep your dog home for the day. I offer mid-day visits designed to offer exercise by playing ball in the back yard; taking a trip to the local park or a walk around your neighborhood. But, I digress. Where was I…oh yes, running home and back to work again within an hour lunch break – good times.
Another benefit is again, back to socializing your canine. I have a new client that recently started doggie day care and was complaining that her Bichon was acting “fresh”. She worried that because she had recently moved from N.J. into a down town Phoenix condo and Corky had no other dogs to play with, that he would remain “fresh” until she somehow socialized him with other dogs. Upon meeting Corky during our first temperament screening I didn’t have to be the dog whisperer to quickly realize that, indeed, he did have some behavioral problems. He began to bark incessantly at the other dogs as he turned in circles to let each of them know that he was the alpha dog and they should all respect his space. He also continually begged his mom to pick him up, by jumping up on her over and over (Bichons are famous for this, as they were bred/trained to be circus dogs and can jump extremely high) while whining. She tried to ignore Corky, but it didn’t stop him. At that point I asked her if she could leave Corky with me for an hour or so, so that I could see how he was with the other dogs when she wasn’t around. Similar to children, dogs act quite different when their parents are around. Within fifteen minutes Corky was calmer; stopped crying while looking for his mom and had discontinued the barking and snapping at the other dogs. Since that first visit Corky has been back for two more visits and plans to continue on with doggie day care with the hopes that very soon he will not only stop barking, but will learn to eventually enjoy running and playing with the other kids…I mean dogs.
Read Users' Comments (0)June 14th, 2010 | Posted in Dog Massages
Dog, Cat & Other Pet Massages – What Are The Benefits?
Pet massage, more specifically Dog & Cat Massages used to be unheard of years ago, however, it has become more widely accepted and even popular in recent years. Why? Because people are realizing that they are not the only lucky ones to enjoy the many benefits that massage has to offer.
Dog massages, as well as cats and other furry pets (no gold fish and reptiles don’t much like massage) is a therapeutic resource towards healing everything from Arthritic pets; dogs & cats suffering from Hip Displasia, to relieving a simple case of anxiety brought on by past issues of abandonment & abuse.
I have been a professional pet sitter for over eleven years now. And, during those years of caring for all types of pets, I have come to realize just how much our furry loved ones enjoy the human touch of massage. In fact, my first encounter with Pet Massage was over fifteen years ago when I first began dog massages on my ten year old black lab Maggie. I had taken Maggie everywhere with me, including long hikes up steep rocks and mountains, as well as roller-blading down at the beach when I lived in L.A. Ok, she ran & I roller-bladed (I know you were all picturing her in her little doggy roller blades). Although I always believed that all of that exercise was great for my princess Maggie, it definitely took a tole on her little body over the years. In just a short while I noticed a huge improvement once I began to provide her with dog massages. Not only did she moan in enjoyment and lick my hand whilst I rubbed her aching muscles, but I could tell she looked forward to receiving them and I enjoyed watching her become more like her playful puppy self again.
Sadly, my Maggie passed away years ago and I now have a house full with four Chihuahuas. My female, Bitsy, had a “oops” litter about two years ago and ever since her poor little body has been in much pain. Chihuahuas have a very hard time with whelping in general, as their bodies aren’t built for carrying more than two pups and she had a litter of six total, with four healthy pups and two still born. I immediately took her to the vet to have her checked and have been giving her a anti-inflammatory drug twice a day, as well as a liquid supplement of Glucosamine Ds with MSM & Chondroitin. This seems to take the edge off, but what I believe helps the most are the daily dog massages she continues to get from me. Bitsy, like Maggie, loves to get her massages. She walks up her little doggy steps to the couch, lays next to me & then looks up with her big brown eyes as if to say “Mommy, I’m ready for my doggy massage!”. Who could resist that? As soon as I begin to massage her she starts to make her little moaning whimpers (that’s a good thing) as she spreads her arms & legs out as far as they will go and closes her eyes while I massage her neck; back; hind end; legs and of course her tiny feet. I know I’m doing something right when she licks me every so often as a sign of approval.
For anyone out there that worries about what to do next for their pet who suffers from any type of body pain – I would first suggest seeing a vet and next I would suggest for you to either try massaging your pet yourself, or find a qualified person in your area who offers dog/pet massage.
May your day be filled with sweet puppy breath licks…or kitties…or…. Meet “Bitsy”
Heidi’s Historic Home & Pet Care, Phoenix Arizona
