Mutt Monday Prepares for Vacation

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Whether you're headed to Grandma's house in the next county or off on a world tour, your pet needs to be prepared for his time without you, just as you must prepare to leave. Today's Blog Hop includes lots of ideas and angles for getting  Fido ready for your vacation.

Whether your dog will be hanging with the ruff crowd at a boarding facility or being cared for at home by a pet sitter, he needs preparation in order to assure a safe and happy experience. Feel free to leave questions or comments at any of the posts you read below.

Bloggers are invited to link up their own archived articles on the topic of Vacation Dog Care and Pet Sitters. We'd love to have more input; feel free to link up as many posts as you like.

This week's theme will run through next Monday, at which time we'll open a new theme:

Indoor Fun in the Heat of the Sun

Thanks for joining in, and please give a quick click to let your friends know what's new here. Thanks much!

I just read up on Vacation #Dog Care @AllThingsDog+look 4ward 2 'Indoor Fun' at next week's #MuttMonday: http://t.co/HFb3nAvlGV
— Carrie Boyko (@AllThingsDog) July 14, 2013

Mutt Monday Helps Woof+Meow Coexist

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Yesterday I posted my top 3 tips for helping stop the treasure hunt in Meow's litterbox. That's one of the top issues among pet parents with both dogs and cats. Today's Mutt Monday topic is just a wee bit more broad. I hope some of these posts help you with your pet solutions.

Bloggers are invited to link up posts on similar topics of help to our readers. Feel free to link up as many posts as you wish throughout the week and join us each week as we continue to share a themed group of our archived posts. You can let your readers know you've joined in by using this one-click Tweet to share with your followers:

Join me 4 tips on helping Woof + Meow coexist at #MuttMonday #BlogHop: http://t.co/WcYtkcPC3U
— Carrie Boyko (@AllThingsDog) July 7, 2013

Next week's theme will cover topics in this area:

Vacation Dog Care + Pet Sitters

Please share!

#MuttMonday is offering articles on vacation dog care & pet sitters 7/15-21. Bloggers link + we all learn! http://t.co/DLd2wV8O6G
— Carrie Boyko (@AllThingsDog) July 7, 2013

Have a great week and look for Mutt Monday each and every week.

Pups Will Play While Mom is Away; Otherwise Known As Dad is PupSitting

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko
Throw It Already!

© Carrie Boyko
Oliver's Turn to Swim

I'm on the road, learning more at Barkworld to help me bring you an even better experience here. Of course, anytime mom is away, someone has to take charge of the "kids", in this case the dogs. They are in good hands with pops this weekend. The photos you're seeing here are reminiscent of earlier days when the pups have been caught in the act of enjoying their pops.

© Carrie Boyko
A Nice Warm Lap

I've left a supply of Busy Bones for dad to give the boys an afternoon bit of chewing pleasure. The leashes and poop bags are stored safely where dad knows how to find them and more importantly, Tanner's Fetch toys are organized out of his reach, waiting for the opportunity to get a workout in the pool. I have no doubt that will occur if Tanner has anything at all to do with it. His imploring looks always work to get dad out to the pool deck for some Fetching fun.

© Carrie Boyko
Time for a Walk

Oliver will be happy to have a brisk walk and a warm lap, alternating with the opportunity to pester Patches. While we do try to give her senior self some space from the little munchkin, Tanner makes a regular habit of opening the child-lock gate that gives her a section of the house in privacy from the youngster. He's great at opening it, but has not quite mastered the art of closing it behind him ;)

© Carrie Boyko
Patience, Tanner

This weekend the dogs' walks and dog park visits will be completely out of my hands. No routine; no expectations. Hopefully daddy will remember how much chow for each boy. When I return, it will be to a pooped pops and a couple of happy dogs. Lucky am I to have backup.



This post is part of the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop sponsored by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers, and Confessions of the Plume. Their rules for participation are as follows, copied from Life with Dogs' site on 9/27/11:

• Link up your pet blog name and URL using the Linky Tool below. You only need to add your link once to be seen on all the Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop Linky Tools for that week. Note that if your blog is not pet related your link will be removed. Also note that only one post per blog is acceptable, and links promoting giveaways that are unrelated to the pet blogger hop will be removed. This is a community building exercise and not a promotional vehicle – please treat it as such.
• Grab the “Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop” button on the right hand side of this site and include it in your Saturday Blog hop post so that your readers will know what is going on. *Note – posting is optional. Feel free to just link and follow.
• Follow your co-hosts listed in the first 3 slots of the Linky Tool.
• Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you’d like.
• Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you’re from the blog hop.
• Follow back when you get a new follower through the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop.
• Make friends and grow. ♥

Planet Dog Puts Helpful Pet Sitter Info in Owners' Hands

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko
Tanner Enjoys a Treat Hunt
with his Orbee-Tuff Ball

This past week I wrote an article for the Saturday Pet Blogger hop. The topic was pet sitters and dog walkers and my new friends at Planet Dog were quick to jump in and help. When I mentioned this post there was no hesitation. They offered a generous giveaway of 10 Planet Dog Pet Sitter Instruction Pads. New friends are so wonderful!

© A.J., reader copyright on file
Lola Shows Her Support

Planet Dog's offer was in honor of their 10th Anniversary of the Orbee-Tuff Ball. Tanner is playing with his in the photo above. This is one great ball. It smells delicious (not like typical rubber), floats in the water for swimming fun, and has a hole to transform itself into a treat toy as well. What could be more perfect? 


I suppose we should get down to business and hand out the loot now, huh? Congratulations to all these lucky readers who will receive a tablet of 50 sheets with fill-in-the-blank instructions for their pet sitters. It's a great tool to be sure you never forget the important stuff (like where Fido loves to be rubbed and which shelf the treats are on!). Congratulations to:
AJ 
Finn the Golden Retriever
Lillij
Ashley J.
Kristine T.
Sharon G.
Vicki B.
Colleen R.
Mike and Mandy
Sara N.

© Carrie Boyko
Tanner's Orbee-Tuff Ball
is a Great Pool Toy too!

You will all be notified by email. Please reply with your address to AllThingsDogBlog.com. When all of your addresses are received Planet Dog will ship your Instruction Pads. Thanks again for your participation. I look forward to seeing you often.


If you're not among the lucky winners, feel free to purchase your own Pet Sitter Instruction Pad by visiting this link. Meanwhile, Tanner wants to say Thanks to our friends at Planet Dog with one more photo:

Dog Care While You're Away: Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© courtesy Susanvg via Flickr
Dog Walkers Assure Fido is Properly Exercised
When You are Away

Whether you live in the city, a suburb, or even a rural area, you are likely to find a number of dog walkers or pet sitters in your area.  The trick is locating them, as they are often not listed in the yellow pages.


Checking with friends who own pets and enjoy travel may net you some suggestions, but keep in mind that you want someone reliable.  Ask about this as well, as friends can often give you input on their experiences and comfort level with each individual.


Your second source for recommendations is local veterinarian offices.  It is not unusual to find that a vet's office will have a tech that moonlights as a pet sitter or dog walker.  The services they offer can vary from merely dropping by for a potty break and feeding, to a long walk or even an overnight stay. Their home or yours? Sometimes you'll have a choice.


The overnight stay may be a particular perk if your dog is not comfortable with a crate or kennel at the vet's office or boarding facility.  What could be better than a stay at his own home?


In addition to this, having a vet tech or vet nurse care for your buddy at home could give you an extra sense of well-being if he has health conditions that you may worry about.  Your Fido may be in good hands with this arrangement, without the confining conditions of a vet clinic kennel.


There's another angle to explore here.  If you are planning a longer trip--more than a short weekend--a little legwork may help you find a vet nurse who can care for your pup in her own home.


This option worked well for me once while traveling with Oliver to another state.  A plan to visit a local destination nearly was abandoned because we found no doggy daycares in this rural area.  However, we did locate a vet nurse who was able to care for Oliver on her day off, and lucky Oliver had the enjoyment of playing with her puppy.  The two were close in age and size--a perfectly fun day for both.


One caveat to consider. A pet sitter can only do their job well when communication is thorough and not forgotten. You may find it most successful to write all instructions out and leave them with your contact information. I suggest using the Planet Dog Pet Sitter Instruction Pad, which will assure you leave nothing uncovered. Learn more at my Thursday post about this helpful product by scrolling down to it, or locating the link in my archives at the middle sidebar. The title is "Salvaging Your Pet Sitter Experience with Clear Instructions".

Thanks for joining us for another edition of the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. I hope you will enjoy bouncing around the blogs listed below, finding all sorts of fun ways to enjoy pets and their owners. The rules for participation by linking up are displayed below, as copied from Life with Dogs, one of the hosts. The hop is also co-hosted by Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume.

• Link up your pet blog name and URL using the Linky Tool below. You only need to add your link once to be seen on all the Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop Linky Tools for that week. Note that if your blog is not pet related your link will be removed. Also note that only one post per blog is acceptable, and links promoting giveaways that are unrelated to the pet blogger hop will be removed. This is a community building exercise and not a promotional vehicle – please treat it as such.
• Grab the “Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop” button on the right hand side of this site and include it in your Saturday Blog hop post so that your readers will know what is going on. *Note – posting is optional. Feel free to just link and follow.
• Follow your co-hosts listed in the first 3 slots of the Linky Tool.
• Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you’d like.
• Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you’re from the blog hop.
• Follow back when you get a new follower through the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop.
• Make friends and grow. ♥