Looking After Pets

Christmas has arrived again, a time for merriment , on the other hand it is also a hazardous time for both us and our beloved pets. Pet Sitters London have attempted to list their top tips to minimize the dangers to our pets over Xmas. Dog walkers are frequently asked for help or spot potential dangers to pets at Xmas. This is often a neglected part of pet care.
1. Your Xmas Tree
It is crucial that it is in a safe location and is firmly fixed. This enjoyable activity of decorating the tree with your children, needs to be done in such a way that the cat, when it jumps up onto it, will not bring it down on to the pet. Pets can be put out of joint at Xmas and can become panicky and likely to do anything, with all the new people around, with all the new sounds and smells. Try to avoid placing the tree close to furniture that will help the dog leap onto the tree. Ideas include tying the tree to the ceiling and wall with some wire. Use a hook in the wall might help. Weighting down the tree roots / stem to improve steadiness is another way of avoiding risks.
If it is a real tree, clean up the pine trees, not just because it looks nicer, but pets can eat them and this can make them sick. If you put water in the bucket holding, either avoid the chemicals that prolong life, or as they can be toxic, ensure your animal cannot drink this water.
2. Xmas Decoration Care.
The most dangerous to young children and pets are the glass balls, why not buy yourself a safe painted wood or plastic version. Eating these can be very dangerous. Another danger are the bight ribbons and streamers that can be attractive to dogs, and can block the intestines.
Take care with using hooks on fixing the decorations to the trees, use string – it is far safer.

3. Dangers with Electrics.
The electrical wire can be both a dangerous trip hazard and an electrical hazard if pets bite into them. So tidy the wires up. Be very careful if you have a dog or cat that chews and is curious. Keep the electric turned off if no one in the room, or shut the door.

4. Animal Behaviour
Though you may appear to have plenty of time, you are often distracted and paying more attention to other people / things than your dog.
It is important to have a rational understanding of the reliability of your pets. If in any doubt close the rooms with any potential danger to, or caused by pets.
Animal behaviour can become eccentric at Christmas with the new sounds, smells and people. Pets are territorial and can see a reduction in attention, their favourite spot taken over by the Christmas tree as a threat to their quarters. They are then more liable to change behaviour, cats become worried and nervous, they often go off their food – even if you are offering them some special Beef or Turkey. Dogs risk being hostile, if they are not getting their exercise or too much attention to the visitors. A particular risk even with very well behaved and trained dogs is the “ bizarre” attacks on kids and babies. Keep kids and dogs apart if not being supervised carefully all the time. If busy consider a professional dog walker from a company such as Dog Walkers London. If you do not have the time for exercising the dog, book your dog walker for a few sessions over Christmas, though you may need to do this early as they are often busy doing pet sitting at Christmas.
5. Boxes of Christmas Presents
Pets are intrigued by boxes, in sparkling colours and materials with lots of people showing attention. Be particularly careful if you have relocated your dogs bed and replaced it with the tree and presents. It is not unknown for dogs to take it out on the presents. The most dangerous consequence is often the digestion of string that can cause digestive blockages, resulting in a trip to the local London veterinary clinic.
6. Food Dangers for Pets
It is always tempting to feed the pets some of the nice food that you have at Christmas. Do not give from the table, transfer to their normal food bowls at normal feeding times. It can take you the rest of the year to stop begging at the table, if it worked well at Christmas
Mistletoe and Poinsettias. Other dangers are things like onions that may be with your meat that could be given to the pet. Chocolate is also another risky treat for pets, as well as sugary products that are not part of a normal animals food. Sugary products can cause teeth problems and with 30-50 % of dogs suffering from being over weight these calories should be avoided. For pet and human, perhaps go for a dog walk, he would probably prefer it.
7. Home Safety
Before the season, do a thorough check, looking for potential dangers, our pet sitters, often identify dangers and pass them onto the owners, common ones include live candles that could be knocked over by pets, especially dogs wagging tails.
Turn off potentially dangerous electrical items such as the Christmas tree lights when no human is present in the house.

Xmas is with us again, a period for merriment , however it is also a dangerous period for both us and our beloved pets. London Pet Sitters have attempted to identify their top tips to minimize the risks to our pets over Xmas.  Dog walkers are often asked for advice or notice possible risks to pets at Christmas. This is often a neglected part of pet care.
1.  Your Xmas Tree
The most important this about this is ensuring that it is in a safe location and is firmly fixed. This enjoyable activity of decorating the tree with your kids, needs to be done in such a way that the cat, when it jumps up onto it, will not crash it down on to everyone. Pets can be disrupted at Xmas and can become worried and likely to do anything, with the crowds, with all the new sounds and smells. Try to avoid putting the tree close to furniture that will help the pet jump onto the tree. Ideas include tying the tree to the wall and or ceiling with some wire. A temporary hook into the wall is a great safety feature. Weighting down the tree roots / stem to improve stability is another way of avoiding problems.
Real trees pose a further risk from the pet digesting the pine needles – so clean them up regularly. Some of the water additives for prolonging the life of the tree are dangerous, make sure your pet cannot drink this water.
2. Xmas Decoration Care.
Glass Xmas balls are particularly dangerous, an alternative are the wooden and plastic balls. Eating these can be very dangerous. Another danger are the bight ribbons and streamers that can be attractive to dogs, to chew and block the digestive tracts.
Avoid using hooks on fixing the ornaments to the trees, use string – it is far safer.

3. Electrical Dangers.
Care with the electrical leads, man and beast can trip over them, bringing down what ever is attached. So tidy the wires up. Be very wary if you have a dog or cat that is curious and if it chews. Keep the electric turned off if no one is present, or close the door.

4. Animal Behaviour
Though you may appear to have plenty of time, you are often distracted and paying more attention to other people / things than your cat.
So watch your pet.
Animal behaviour can become erratic at Christmas with the new surroundings and people. Animals are protective and can see a lack of attention, their favourite spot taken by the tree and presents as a threat to their quarters. They are much more likely to change behaviour, cats become scatty and scared, they often go off their food – even if you are giving them some nice Salmon or Turkey. Dogs risk being hostile, if they do not have enough exercise or too much attention to the visitors. A particular danger even with very well trained and behaved dogs is the “ out of the ordinary” attacks on children and babies. Separate them if not being supervised carefully all the time. If busy consider a professional dog walker from a company such as London Dog Walking. If you do not have the time for exercising the dog, book your dog sitter for a few walks over the period, though a good idea to do this early as they are likely to be busy.
5. Christmas Presents
Pets are intrigued by boxes, in sparkling colours and materials with lots of people showing attention. Be particularly careful if you have relocated your dogs bed and replaced it with the tree and presents. Dogs can rip the presents to pieces in minutes if you are unlucky. The most dangerous consequence is often the digestion of string that can cause digestive blockages, resulting in a trip to the local London veterinary clinic.
6. Food Dangers for Pets
Even at Xmas avoid feeding animals at the table, this habit is very difficult to break as they do not understand why it was OK at Christmas but not now!
Mistletoe and Poinsettias. Other dangers are things like onions that may be with your meat that could be given to the pet. Chocolate is also another risky treat for pets, as well as sugary products that are not part of a normal animals food. Sugary products can cause teeth problems and with 30-50 % of dogs suffering from being over weight these calories should be avoided. For pet and human, maybe go for a dog walk, he would most likely prefer it.
7. Safety of the Home
Before the season, do a thorough check, looking for potential dangers, our pet sitters, often notice dangers and point them out to owners, such as live candles that would be knocked over by pets, especially dogs wagging tails.
I would advise Christmas tree lights to be turned off at night and when no human is present in the house.

Our best wishes for a safe and Merry Xmas for you and your animals. 

Dog Walking is work our that everyone can do. What’s great about it is that you can do it by yourself or with a friend. If you do not have somebody, the dog supplies great company. It’s simple to do, and requires no special equipment, apart from a dog, a lead and comfy shoes. It is also free, in fact you can make money out of it. In addition it can be done anywhere, anytime, even in London dog walking is popular.
Dog walking has many benefits. It is the key element of dog care. It uses calories, it is a weight loss aid. One hour of dog walking (you as well) will use between 200 and 300 calories, depending on your weight. The heavier you are, the more calories you burn. Walking does not strain your legs and ankles, unlike running, which can damage your joints and bones.
In fact it really helps the knees. The action of dog walking stimulates cartilage growth and the flow of synovial fluid within the knee. It also strengthens the muscles that protect the knee.
Because dog walking is weight-bearing it also helps strengthens the muscles that protect the hips. At the same time it strengthens bones therefore reducing the probability of fracture due to osteoporosis. By strengthening the core muscles of the spine and abdomen, dog walking helps reduce the chance for getting low back pain.
The increased exertion needed for dog walking helps the heart to pump more strongly. This helps reduce blood pressure with the subsequent reduced risk for stroke and heart attack.
Dog walking increases the respiratory rate (breathing rate), promotes increased flow of oxygen to the rest of the body and also helps eliminate the build up of carbon dioxide. A major plus for you and the dog is improved energy.
Studies show that exercise such as dog walking raises endorphin levels which helps relieve pain, reduces serum cortisol levels which helps reduce anxiety (as does having animals around, so a double benefit), and may also decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
So how do I {kick off with} start dog walking.
Pretty simple. Start with a good pair of walking shoes. If you have a history of flat feet, you should use orthotics.
Do not try to do too much at the very beginning. Build up gradually increasing the amount you walk. A great objective is 10,000 steps per day, which is approximately 5 miles. If that seems like a lot, note, most people already walk about 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day during the course of a normal day. Please note that many dogs, who evolved from wolves still have the same characteristics, require to walk over 5 miles a day. Most have the stamina for ten or more miles a day.
Depending on your fitness, you can start from low levels. Only one issue, I don’t have a dog. Not a problem, enquire around, there are many individuals who are time starved and don’t have ~ enough time for walking their dog. Increasingly, during this credit crunch period, dogs are being given to into dog charities, so either volunteer to become a dog walker or why not take a dog home with you.
Strapped for cash, why not help out people who do not have time for dog walking and set up a business walking their dog.
What speed for your dog walking will depend on you and your dog. Start slowly. A medium pace, you can walk up to about 2-3 miles an hour. You should be breathing faster and feel your heart rate increasing but still be able to carry on a conversation. You need to make sure that the dog is not pulling you, its not good for him and it is more exhausting for you.
Remember, it’s crucial to keep up your dog walking routine, for both you and the dog! Enjoy it.

The Maltese is a small toy group dog breed with silky white hair that is lively and cuddly and intelligent, so makes a great pet for city living. Though if living in an apartment, you will need to take them out for regular walks or use professional dog walkers such as London dog walking  The fur can grow long, so a good idea is to give them a puppy cut, otherwise the hair becomes difficult to manage.
They have dark round shaped large eyes. Whilst the Maltese is small, standing between 8 and ten inches high, it is solid and weighs between 3 and 7 pounds (1.5 to three kilograms). The dog care of a Maltese is relatively straightforward. They are somewhat long lived, living to about 15 years.
 
The Maltese is often dedicated to its owners, which means they are known for barking at strange noises and people. The Maltese’s high activity level can also lead to them snapping. Dog socialisation at an early age is crucial to removing this problem. They are brave and will go up to dogs far bigger than themselves, being self-assured they get on well with other dogs.
They suffers from a small number of health problems, that includes problems with the skin, eye and teeth. In addition the risk of sun burn on the top of the nose and some respiratory problems.
Regular brushing is needed with the Maltese, otherwise you will get matted fur. As well as brushing twice a day, one ideally should also clean the Maltese after eating, to reduce hair staining. Tear staining is also a common problem which is due to the size of the tear ducts and how much the Maltese’s eyes water.  Tear stain can be minimised or reduced by using regularly a metal fine-toothed comb that is moistened with lukewarm water and drawn through the hair below the eyes. This ideally should be done every couple of days.
Whilst they have thick hair, they do not shed very much and like the akin Havanese and Bichon Frisé   can be considered practically hypoallergenic, with many people not showing allergic reaction. Many owners will tie the hair on top of the head in a ponytail to ease cleaning the eyes. The ears also need regular cleaning.
Whilst the name suggests the dog comes from Malta, its origins are unclear, though generally felt to come from around the Mediterranean area. It is also known as a Maltese Terrier or the Maltese Lion Dog ( a reflection on its character), though its official kennel name is “Maltese”.

Its origin could have been either from the Swiss Spitz dog or the Asian Tibetan Terrier. Its earliest record of the Maltese dates back to when it was found on a Greek amphora around 500 B. C. and was frequently mentioned in writings of Greek / Roman times.

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This apparently is the top reason for puppies being taken to abandoned dog charities. It is often difficult and often professional dog walkers such as London Dog Walking are often asked to give advice, so a key part of puppy care. The general consensus as to the best way to toilet train is to use a cage. Often a breeder will {use a cagehave used one}, and will often sell on the crate, as the puppy is used to it. The cage method is based on the understanding that puppies do not like to mess their beds and in a cage would have no choice but to sleep in the mess. Whilst in these confines the puppy will try to control their bladder. Young puppies from 8 weeks or so should last about 8 hours. During toilet training, put the pup inside the crate whenever he cannot be supervised, whilst you are say having quality time with the children. Just before to placing pup into the crate or taking him out of the crate, take him outside so he can do his business. There should never be any water or food in the crate, just a blanket and maybe a toy to keep him occupied. As your confidence with your puppy increases, you can leave the puppy more and more out of the crate.
The cage needs to be right size, enough floor space for him to lie down. But not so large he could urinate in a corner. The crate is essential for the dogs whole life, so to avoid replacing cages as he grows, purchase one large enough for his full grown size, with a partition that you can move as he grows.
The two alternatives to crate toilet training a puppy are constant supervision, which in today’s busy life is too difficult for most people. This involves being with pup all the time, so you can be ready when you see his pre-potty pattern, such as clawing the carpet. Then taking him straight out to do his business, then return him straight back, remembering to give him praise and verbal clues such as “good dog”. The pup needs to understand the reason he went outside was for the toilet, nothing else, do not confuse him.

The third alternative to potty training is put down papers or pre-treated pads, encouraging the pup to use these areas, for practical reasons positioned in the bathroom or utility room. The papers have chemicals to attract the pup. When you observe with their pre- potty pattern, pick them up quietly and carry them to the papers. Praise them if they go to the toilet. The problem with this method, is you have to transition them to doing this outside, by moving the papers closer to the door.
Toilet timing, generally, puppies need to go out, soon after waking and around 40 mins after feeding.
At times puppies will spontaneously urinate when scared or excited, sometimes known as submissive urination. Do not punish the puppy for this. If the puppy is liable to this, go for a walk, before any excitement, like family coming. Or if visiting, take them for a walk, just prior to, or when you arrive. The puppy will normally grow out it after 4-8 months.
To strengthen the potty training, as in dog training, you need to use verbal clues. Great ones are simple and distinctive. Everyone in the family or in contact with the dog, such as your dog walkers and the pet sitter need to use the same words. One or a maximum of two words.
Outside: For going outside, to go to the potty. Use a different word such as “play” if its for more of a fun activity, though he may eliminate when he is there.
Potty: Go to the toilet.
Good Dog: For any praise to give him.
No: When they are doing anything wrong, such as going in the wrong area, or inside.
There are probably two rules to follow:
1. Always praise success.
2. Do not punish the puppy, if you do not catch him in the act of doing something wrong. He will have no idea why you are scolding him.

If you see him in the act of urinating inside, carry him to the place, will often stop him, as well as reinforcing what he should be doing.