16 years experienced dog walker in San Francisco! This is what my customers got from me on my anniversary!!
dog walks
4 Reasons Why You Should Take Your Dog to Dog Training Classes
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
Many pet owners add a furry friend to their family to enjoy an adorable puppy for cuddles, playtime, and companionship. They may take their pet to all necessary veterinary appointments and hire professional dog walking services to help with exercise. However, they may forget an important part of care giving, signing their dog up for dog training classes.
If you are one of these people who believes organized obedience or training classes are not necessary, these top reasons may help you change your mind.
- Correct Unwanted Behaviors Before They Get Worse
Without effective guidance, your dog may develop unwanted behaviors or even aggressive responses to different situations or stimuli. 1For example, they make growl or display other possessive actions over toys, food, or specific people. Excessive barking or destructive tendencies are two common complaints that may get help from dog training classes. - Improve Control and Safety For Your Dog
Pet safety depends largely on the amount of control you have over your dog’s actions. This includes their containment and access to issues inside the home, when visiting other locations, at the dog park, and with their dog walker in San Francisco. Dog training classes start with the basics of sit, stay, come, heel, down, and no. If they master these commands, you, your dog walkers and dog service provider have an easier time controlling them in potentially hazardous situations. - Socialization Helps in Many Different Environments
A large part of the safety equation involves socialization with other animals and people. Everyone wants a well-behaved pooch not only because it makes every interaction in public with them easier and more rewarding, but also because it alleviates stress for the dog themselves. Training classes that extend into different environments improve social behavior even in crowds and loud or busy places. Socialize your puppy or new dog with a wide variety of people so they do not display any anxiety or aggression. Always practice the commands and behaviors you learn in a controlled space elsewhere, too. - Good Leash Etiquette Makes Walks Safer and More Fun
Whenever you snap on your dog’s leash and head out for a stroll around the block or an adventure at a local park, it is an opportunity for fun, exercise, and bonding. The same holds true when you hire an expert dog walking service like mine. The last thing you want is for a walk to turn into a stressful, frustrating, unsafe event. One of the most important skills to learn at dog training classes involves leash etiquette. 2Coupled with the heel command, your furry friend can learn to walk without pulling and other negative behaviors. Safety is the number one concern so your dog does not either injure you or themselves with sudden movements or speed changes. Fun is an amazing by-product of loose leash walking and good leash manners that come from comprehensive dog training courses.
Reference Links:
1 https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues
2 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/teach-puppy-walk-leash/
Here Are 3 Reasons Monitoring Your Dog’s Poop Is Important
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
As a dog walker in San Francisco, it’s clear I have a passion for dogs, but that passion extends beyond socializing them or helping them release their energy. I also have a passion for ensuring dog owners are equipped with the knowledge they need to keep their dog happy and healthy well into their senior years. Though it isn’t a glamorous topic, dog poop is a massively important to ensuring your dog’s health. Your dog’s poop talks to you far more than your dog can.
As an important reference point, you need to have an awareness of your dog’s typical poop. A healthy dog poop is decently firm and a bit moist. Once you understand the look and frequency of your dog’s typical poop, consistently monitoring your dog’s poop for irregularities becomes much easier. Here are three reasons checking your dog’s poop is so important to their health:
- Early signs of illness first present themselves in your dog’s poop. The way those signs present themselves can vary, depending on the ailment, but their poop is one of the first places the issue will appear. As a more dramatic example, your dog could have worms in their poop. That is certainly terrifying to see (occasionally looks like rice in their poop), but actually quite common, especially with puppies. Another signal of a potential illness is black, tar-like poop – a sign of potential internal bleeding in their stomach or small intestine. Both of those types of stool are cause for a trip to the vet immediately.
- Changes in your dog’s poop could be a signal they are experiencing anxiety. If your dog suddenly starts experiencing diarrhea, that may mean they are dealing with anxiety that was triggered by something new in their environment. Sometimes the cause can be something like a move, which may just take time to adjust, while other times, you may be able to remove the trigger from their environment. Either way, if you notice your dog is dealing with frequent diarrhea, you should be sure to keep them hydrated. Additionally, if the problem persists for more than 24-48 hours, it’s worth a call to your vet.
- Food issues or allergies appear in your pooch’s poop. Though the signals can vary, if there is something wrong with your dog’s diet, their poop is the first place you’ll notice the issue. As an example, if your dog’s poop is white or gray in color, that could mean they are getting too much calcium in their diet. If their poop is greasy, you may need to cut back on the coconut oil. Yellow poop is a sign of too much fat in their diet, while diarrhea after a diet change could mean your dog has a food allergy.
Every color, texture, and frequency change in your dog’s poop means something different. Being able to spot those changes is massively important to maintaining your dog’s health. Some issues can be monitored for a couple of days at home, while others signal an immediate vet visit. Regardless of the issue, spotting it early is always essential to keeping your pooch healthy and happy.
Now equipped with three reasons monitoring your dog’s poop is so important, it’s time to start examining your pooch’s #2!
Reference Links:
https://noochypoochy.com/what-dog-poop-is-telling-you/
https://torontodogwalking.com/monitoring-dogs-poop-important/
3 Reasons Consistent Exercise is Essential for Your Pandemic Puppy
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
The Pandemic brought an entirely new wave of dog ownership. Many people adopted their first puppy or rescue, given the additional time they were spending at home, while existing dog owners were soaking in all of the time they were able to spend with their pup thanks to being at home all day. Though dog owners have been able to be at home more over the last year and a half, that doesn’t always mean dog owners are exercising their dogs as much as they should. Afterall, many dog owners still spend most of their day working while they’re home, unable to step away for the lengthy walk their dog needs.
Whether you are still able to work remotely, or you are now working in-person again, your dog needs to be getting consistent exercise. From the expertise of a San Francisco dog walker, here are three reasons exercise is so essential to your pandemic pup’s life:
- Consistent exercise combats obesity. Perhaps the most obvious, though still extremely important, benefit of consistent exercise is the decrease in the likelihood your dog will become obese. Even if you are feeding your dog the right amount of food, you are avoiding table scraps, and you monitor their treat intake, if they aren’t getting the exercise they need, they will start packing on the pounds. Obesity is just the first red flag to a dog’s health. After a dog becomes obese, it is subjected to many other health concerns no one wants their best pal to endure – all avoidable with a dedication to consistent exercise.
- Exercise promotes joint health. Beyond the damage obesity can do to your dog’s joints, stiff joints can be problematic in and of themselves. Proper exercise for your pooch keeps their joints moving in their full range of motion while strengthening the muscles around their joints – fantastic ways to reduce arthritis pains in the future. The consistent movement also helps to prevent accidental joint injuries (from a particularly energetic play session, as an example).
- Dogs need an outlet. Consistent exercise not only helps your dog’s physical health, but their mental health, as well – great for you and them. Without the right stimulus, dogs can become anxious and restless. Those symptoms can be displayed in different ways, but commonly, especially with puppies, your dog might lack the obedience you know they are capable of. Perhaps they don’t listen to verbal commands or recall as well as they should, or perhaps they start releasing their energy in unwanted ways (like chewing on furniture or digging in carpet/the backyard). Reliable exercise can help you avoid those problems and have a happier pooch.
As a dog owner, you may have noticed a need to help your dog get better exercise recently, which likely led to Google searches like “dog walker SF.” If you are new to dog parenthood and are beginning to notice some behavioral changes in your pandemic pup, you may now realize that point three (shared above) has become an issue. Whatever the case may be, allow me to help you conveniently build consistent exercise for your dog into your schedule. As a professional dog walker in San Francisco, I would be honored to help you and your furry pal.
Reference Link:
https://jetpetresort.com/blog/dog-care/the-importance-of-exercising-your-dog/
What you need to know about tennis balls
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
Does your dog love to chase after tennis balls? Even, perhaps, a little obsessed about it?
Something you need to keep in mind is that a tennis ball is made of abrasive material that can quickly wear down your dog’s teeth. Some dogs love them so much that their teeth have ground down to little nubs. This is important because a dog must have their teeth last a lifetime and you definately want to protect them whenever you can.
If you want to nip this problem in the bud, change to rubber balls. Rubber does not have the abrasive properties like the green tennis balls you see at all the dog parks. Why do most people not change to rubber? Not all dogs have problems with tennis balls, so just keep an eye on your dog’s teeth to determine if you need to make any adjustments. Also, they are costly, especially if your dog likes to leave them behind in the bushes.
Do you know your Poisons?
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
Here are the ones to look out for!
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Ibuprofen (Advil) can cause gastrointestinal irritation, stomach ulcers, and kidney damage in dogs.
Naproxen (Aleve) has a long half-life in dogs and can cause gastrointestinal irritation, anemia, melena (digested blood in feces), and vomiting.
Antifreeze is very dangerous to dogs and causes central nervous system depression and acute renal failure. Treatment needs to be within eight hours of ingestion to be successful.
Mouse and rat poison ingestion is common in dogs. Most rodenticides in the United States are anticoagulant by depleting Vitamin K. This type is the most frequent cause of poisoning in pets. Third generation products contain brodifacoum or bromadiolone and are toxic after a single ingestion. Signs include spontaneous and excessive bleeding internally and externally. Treatment is with Vitamin K supplementation. Other rodenticides may contain cholecalciferol which causes hypercalcemia and leads to heart and kidney problems. Newer rodenticides may contain bromethalin which causes central nervous system signs such as seizures, muscle tremors, and depression.
Insecticides used in dogs for fleas and ticks commonly contain either organophosphates or carbamates. they can be absorbed through the skin, conjunctiva, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs. Organophosphates inhibit acetylcholinesterase irreversibly and carbamates inhibit cholinesterase reversibly. Toxicity occurs through overdosage with an appropriate product or use of an agricultural product. Signs for both include hypersalivation, vomiting, lethargy, tremors, difficulty walking, weakness, and death.
Chocolate is a common cause of poisoning in dogs. The toxic principles in chocolate are theobromine and caffeine. Baker’s chocolate is the most dangerous form since it contains higher concentrations of these drugs, followed by semi-sweet, dark, and then milk chocolate. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, difficulty walking, seizures, and heart problems.
Lead poisoning is uncommon in dogs. Exposure to lead is from eating paint chips from lead-based paint (found in houses painted prior to 1950), and eating lead objects such as shot, fishing sinkers, or counterweights. Signs of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, blindness, seizures, and tremors.
Raisins and grapes are potential causes of kidney failure in dogs.
Poisonous Mushroom Identification
The Deadly Death Cap and Other Amanita Mushrooms
With names referencing death and destruction, it’s no wonder the Amanita mushroom genus contains some of the most famous and deadly of all poisonous mushrooms. The death cap (Amanita phalloides) is suspected to have caused more mushroom poisoning deaths than any other species!
Yet what makes some amanita mushrooms so poisonous? Certain species of Amanita contain amanitin, a deadly amatoxin.
Amatoxins are some of the most lethal poisons found in nature. These toxins work by slowly shutting down the liver and kidneys. Often the victim will appear sick at first, and then seem to get better. Unfortunately the amatoxins are still at work, and death may occur anywhere from a few days to a week after ingestion.
This poison knows no real antidote beyond treating the victim with an extract of milk thistle. Milk thistle protects against liver damage from toxins, and is one of the treatments for amanita mushroom poisoning.
Despite this treatment, it’s said that one cap of a death cap is enough to kill. Given the danger, we’d better learn some poisonous mushroom identification! Visit this page to learn how to identify poisonous amanita mushrooms in general.
Remember: Never solely identify any mushroom based on what you’ve seen on any website (including this one) or by comparing it to a picture in a book. Always obtain hands-on expert help when identifying a new mushroom and never eat anything you’re not sure of!
Death Cap Details
Cap
- Convex initially but flattens with age, often sticky when touched
- Between 3 to 6 inches across
- Color is usually a shade of yellow to green, but sometimes white or brownish
- White gills underneath the cap that don’t run down the stem
Stem
- Between 3 to 6 inches across and less than an inch thick
- Usually whitish, sometimes with scales
- Often a ring around the stem right below the cap. This ring is the remnant of the partial veil, a piece of tissue that protected the mushroom’s gills as it grew.
- Also present is a white sac around the base of the stem. All amanita mushrooms start their lives as small buttons in the shape of an egg. This egg-like covering is actually a layer of tissue called the universal veil, or volva.
Because they form as a small button, an amanita may sometimes be mistaken for an edible puffball. This is why it’s essential to slice a puffball open before eating it. Puffballs are white and solid on the inside with no gills. If you see gills, you may have an amanita on your hands.
Once the mushroom has grown, the sac-like remnants of this universal veil are still an important identification characteristic. It’s often underground so you may have to dig carefully around the base to find it.
However, never assume that you don’t have an amanita mushroom just because you can’t find the sac. It may have disintegrated or broken away. Use all features for poisonous mushroom identification, not just one!
Other Infamous Amanita
No page on poisonous mushrooms would be complete without discussing the death cap’s deadly cousin, the destroying angel.
The term “destroying angel” actually refers to a few all-white poisonous mushrooms in the Amanita genus. They are:
- Amanita bisporigera in Eastern North America
- Amanita ocreata in Western North America
- Amanita virosa in Europe (below)
Amanita virosa is known as the “European destroying angel”. There is some disagreement as to whether this mushroom exists in the United States.
Destroying angels are sometimes mistaken for edible mushrooms such as young puffballs, button mushrooms, and meadow mushrooms. Thus it’s important to learn how to identify them.
The destroying angel is very similar to the death cap in terms of identification. The biggest difference is that they’re all white, with no green or yellow tint. They’re recognized by their rounded base, white color, and smooth cap. One bite of these may contain enough amatoxins to kill!
Of course, not every species in the Amanita mushroom genus is poisonous. Some, such as Amanita caesarea (Caesar’s mushroom), are edible. Yet given the danger involved in eating the wrong amanita, it’s best to avoid the genus entirely unless you really know what you’re doing.
It’s important to learn how to recognize Amanitas (especially the death cap and the destroying angel) if one is going to start eating wild mushrooms. Proper knowledge can prevent a fatal mistake!
– See more at: http://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/death-cap.html#sthash.aPp52tla.dpuf
Why it is Important to get Pet Insurance for your Dog!
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
You may kid yourself into thinking that they are “just a dog”, but the truth is you love them like family. So, when something happens to them you want to do the right thing and rush them to the vet office. Then comes the realization that the cost could be thousands of dollars and you stubbornly tell yourself again that they are “just a dog”. But when the time comes, your heart will be broken and will never repair. The guilt over losing your best friend because you couldn’t afford a procedure will stay with you for a lifetime.
The best veterinary care doesn’t come cheap. Pet parents without insurance often settle for less effective treatments because of high costs, compromising the health of their pets. With pet insurance paying the bill, money is never a problem for you. Not only do you get the best care possible, but the big pay off is the peace of mind knowing that you have done everything possible for your BFF.
One of the pet insurance companies that I often talk about with my clients is called PETPLAN. Although I am not personally experienced with their service, I do know that this insurance seems to cover many things that other insurance companies do not.
For example, they cover costs for:
- Veterinary exams visits for injury or illness
- Cancer treatments like chemotherapy
- Surgery & physical rehab
- Hereditary diseases like hip dysplasia
- Periodontal disease & dental injuries
- Chronic conditions like ear infections
- Prescription medication
They also will cover up to 90% reimbursement and have unlimited annual coverage.
Best advice is to compare pet insurance companies and pick the one with the most coverage. Consumers Advocate recently did objective research to create a guide – assisting pet owners in the essential points one should consider when making decisions on pet insurance. I figured you might be interested in reading it. I’ve added a link to the full guide below.
https://www.consumersadvocate.org/pet-insurance
But don’t put it off too long or you might be sorry.
Let’s Talk About Wag
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
A few years back a dog walking company by the name of Wag moved into the world of dog care providers. What made them different from other existing dog walking companies was that they were not a small, local company managed by professional dog walkers, but rather they came in brandishing their guns and tried to monopolize the dog care industry. Wag is a giant, national tech company which was started with 2 million dollars.
By making themselves appear trendy with celebrity endorsements, slick advertisements and an app for quick online scheduling they were off to a fast start. Wag’s marketing strategy included the phrase “Uber for dog walkers”. It was clever to say the least, given how popular Uber has become. Wag recruits thousands of people without experience and places them on an app, which is very easy to use and it schedules on-demand dog walking services in a snap. Quick, easy and no strings, what more could you want?
When a dog walker can be found instantly in one click on a gimmicky website such as Wag, it’s important for you to understand that these people, who are signed up to be dog walkers, do not necessarily have any training in dog care. Wag and Rover hire anyone to do their dog walks and are not allowed to provide any training to these people because they are hired as contractors.
What stands out most about Wag’s hiring process is that there doesn’t seem to be any attempt to get to know their walkers. Wag employees should spend a week or two shadowing them out on the job to see how they relate to animals, how dedicated and reliable they may be and how they handle the stress of being in charge of someone’s pet. You have to see them in person to be sure they are capable of doing the job correctly.
Need San Francisco Dog Walker? Contact Me Here
Wag’s may have taken the on-demand dog walking business by storm, but what they didn’t count on was the scrutiny and backlash they would get from their participants. Glassdoor is a website that give employees a place to share their insider info and a place to air their dirty laundry. The hiring process consists of filling out a multiple choice questionnaire, watching a video, and attending an exam in which the object is to fit three kinds of harnesses to a dummy dog. It is reported that anyone can fake who they are on the tests and still pass the scrutiny of Wag.
Would you really want to give the key to your house to just anyone? Sure, you read over their bios, but do you really know them? Are their references people that live in your neighborhood and have used this person before? Who are their friends? Sure they look trustworthy in their pictures, but you are leaving your key in a lockbox and you have never even met the person that is coming into your house to walk your dog. These are things to think about before hiring Wag to walk your dog.
Let’s Talk about YELP
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
Let’s face it, we all look at YELP when we are looking to do business with an unknown firm. I know I do it every time, just to see what others say about them. I recognize that most of us view YELP as an encyclopedia and make our decisions based on what others say. I know I use YELP especially when I am curious to find out if they have any bad reviews, how many, and how important or believable are the claims.
When I started my business over 10 years ago, I really had no intention of growing into a large enterprise, even though this concept seems to be the all American Dream. When I would have doubts as to whether or not I was going down the right path, I would moan that it seemed like my competitors were doing really well with a more profit driven business model, and my sister would remind me that this is not a race to the finish line, but rather, that I was creating something that I could be proud of and it is commendable to not follow the herd. Having the courage to use my brain power to design the critical concepts of my business model instead of being driven by what the competition is doing, was an important component to my confidence as a business leader and to my future success. By staying small, I could offer a higher quality service, which would be driven and shaped by my ethics, not my desire to be a successful business entrepreneur.
It seems funny to say this now, but I have had only 8-20 customers over the last 10 years, while other successful dog walking businesses have had hundreds of customers. The reason I have survived, even with so many fewer clients than my competitors is because I do not have a high customer turn-over rate. Most of my clients have been with me 10+ years and that is why I have only a few reviews on YELP and GOOGLE. I don’t have a lot of clients, but if you look at it from a different perspective, that can be a good thing! It’s not quantity, it’s quality!!
Contact Me Regarding My San Francisco Dog Walker Services. Click here
So, what is so important about being such a small sized company?
Well, for one thing, I give my San Francisco client’s more personalized service. They feel very important and they are very important to me. I treat my clients vey well and that is why they have stayed with me for many years. For example, at the end of every year, I give my clients a beautiful, professionally published photo book with their dog’s picture playing with their friends at the park or beach. Do the large companies do this for their clients? Probably not or probably not for very long. It is expensive to do this and it eats into the profits. In order for it to work for them, they will have to walk even more dogs everyday. Many dog walkers feel that this business is already a burn out for them with the number of dogs they have to walk every day, and it is for most. If you do the profit model, you need to charge less than your competitors, walk more dogs to make up for the loss and enjoy making yourself crazy.
As I mentioned in one of my other blog posts, I go out of my way to provide the best possible service for my clients, but it is a subtle thing. For example, I use only rubber ball on my dog walks. These rubber balls save your dog’s teeth. Regular tennis ball are like Brillo Pads and wear down your dog’s teeth quickly, causing problems later in life when the their teeth are completely filed down. And on a regular basis, your dogs lose these costly balls at the park, but I replace them because I care about your dogs. Other dog walkers tell me that they don’t use balls out in the dog parks because it causes problems, such a jealousy between dogs, loud barking of joy, and oh yes, loss of income. But why do they think that a dog’s joyful, loud bark is not an important factor? Just how horrible is a dog’s bark at a dog park?
Ask your San Francisco dog walker if they use rubber balls rather than tennis balls on their walks? My guess is, no, they do not. Again, it is the bottom line that shapes their businesses.
So then, why do I think that some of the very best dog walking companies may not be surfacing to the top of YELP’s list? The answer is, the algorithms. Let me talk more about this in my next blog. Stay tuned!!
More about YELP
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
YELP is not going away any time soon and it is probably the #1 way people compile a list of names of companies that provide a specific service in their geographic area.
So, for example, if you are wanting to know the names of all the dog walking companies in San Francisco all you would have to do is type in “Dog Walkers, San Francisco” in the YELP query box and up would pop a list of dog walkers that service your area.
How YELP decides which dog walkers are at the top of the list is a science called algorithms, which magically chooses who will be first on the list. It is basically a pretty simple concept, but to be at the top of the list, you must have a lot of positive reviews under your belt.
At first blush, this may seem like a good way to find the best dog walker in your area, but think again. All it really says is that you have identified a “large COMPANY with positive reviews”. They have more reviews because they have more employees providing service. So is bigger actually better in this type of service?
Just because a San Francisco dog walking company has hundreds of positive reviews on YELP, doesn’t necessarily mean they are actually the best dog walking company for your particular needs. Big does not always mean best in the dog walking world. Sure, they have a lot of customers and they are a big company with many dog walking employees or contractors, but they may actually have a high customer turn over rate if they are marketing to a younger demographics. If they have a lot of YELP reviews, their target market is most likely the young, shakers and movers who relocate often and never look back, which just happens to be YELP’s target market. These people are known as YELPERS.
So lets take a look. What do young people that relocate often actually look for in a dog walker? I would say that they are probably really price sensitive and are looking for a low rate because they are mostly single and are a one income household wanting to move up financially. Two, they are probably swayed by charming, athletic looking, equally young dog walkers that they can relate to.
Are these really the factors that make up a good dog walker? In San Francisco, dog walking employees can find it very difficult to make ends meet. There is a high turn over rate in employees because they take these jobs as summer jobs or just until another one comes along that pays more. Often this means they are not completely focused on their work, but rather on their money worries. Is this who you want walking your dog?
Just because a dog walking company has hundreds of positive reviews on YELP and they are one of the first to come up in your search, it does not mean that you have found the best company. It just means that you have found either a big company or a company with a high customer turn over, which often means that you have not found the best dog walker after all. In the dog walking business, small usually means more because the dog walking companies can be focused on keeping the customers happy, rather than on how fast their drivers can get to the next house to keep to the companies scheduling goals.
The Uber Dog Walker
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
I remember when I was in my twenties and thirties, there was no way I could afford to take a Taxi to work or home after an evening out in San Francisco. They were just so darn expensive! But along came Uber and for people that could not afford a Taxi ride, this opened the door for a whole new class of customers, those with lower disposable income. So now, Uber is affordable for most everyone.
The same could be said for dog walkers. Dog walkers seem indispensable for people that work or are limited in their abilities to walk long distances. What once seemed like a luxury for the richest people, all of a sudden became a must-have for the working class. Longer hours required at the office made it impossible for people to have a pet unless they could get someone dependable to help them out. Ozzie and Harriet days of 9-5 are long gone. Everything in San Francisco is so expensive, therefore people must work more hours to afford the extras. And San Francisco is the capital of dog ownership! Everyone has a dog!!
Lower middle class citizens now-a-days seem to demand house-keepers too, so that they can have time to relax on their weekends. I never had any of these luxuries in my young corporate working days and am very surprised by this turn of events. What it means is that young people are making larger salaries in San Francisco, so they can afford the extras and are putting off the purchase of a house or increasing their savings accounts – to a much future date, if ever.
Picking a dog walker is very much dependent on your income level. There are some of us that are at the top of our game, have years of experience under our belts and can offer subtle differences, (but important differences), that the newer dog walkers can’t possibly have under their belts.
So pricing may or may not be an important factor in choosing your walker. Kind of like the Taxi vs. Uber debate. By hiring a San Francisco dog walker that does not have a business license and chooses to evade the laws, you are taking a risk. Uber drivers are employees and must abide by the rules set out by their company, but they get away without purchasing a costly special license. Dog walking companies seem not to abide by such rigid set of rules. The companies they work for can be very lax in their expectations of their employees. Most of them do not hire employees, but rather use contractors. This is a big no-no and if caught using contractors on a regular basis as if they are employees, the fines are hundreds of thousands of dollars. But there are many dog walking companies that do this and seemingly get away with it. Most of their employees (contractors) are not certified dog walkers, nor do they have park permits. Very few dog walking companies actually do a background check on their employees (contractors). Everything is fine until one day when something goes terribly wrong.
So, if these companies are willing to cheat at dog walking they are more likely to cheat you in small, unnoticeable ways. Instead of a one hour walk, they take your dog to the park for 20 minutes. Or on rainy days, they just sit in the car and then give your dog a pee break, not a walk. Most of them never clean their autos regularly and your dog might get trampled under foot of bigger dogs. Most importantly your dogs are extremely aroused by the time they arrive at the park. They arrive at the park in a truck, barking and snarling at each other, while the driver pulls into the parking lot. And many times when the dog walkers get to the park, they just stand around and don’t tend to the wants and desires of their dogs.
Like I say, the differences between dog walkers are subtle and mostly go undetected. Make sure you ask the right questions, so you know the type of person you are dealing with. People without ethics in their business practices are hard to hold accountable, if the time ever comes for that need. But it may never come to that, since they seem to get away with it. They will grin and tell you how accomplished they are, but some of us know the real truth. There is no short-cut to doing the right thing.
San Francisco Dog Walkers deal with Foxtails
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
Tips from San Francisco Dog Walkers – Costly Foxtails
All Dog Walkers should tell you the faster you get the dog to the vet, the less it will probably cost to get the foxtail out. The reason for this is that if the vet can remove it without knocking the dog out with anesthesia, then it will be less expensive.
So, as soon as you dog shows symptons, like shaking head and holding his head to the side, licking paw, flapping ears or sneezing violently, run, don’t walk him to your vet. If the vet does not have to put the dog under to grab the foxtail the cost is around $150 for removal. However if you wait a day or two before taking the dog to the vet, the foxtail will travel further up the canal and the cost jumps up around $500 – $1,000 because the foxtail has to be surgically removed by a veterinarian. If the foxtail causes an infection because you waited, the trip to the vet could run you at least $1,000.00 to $2,000.00! Not removing the foxtail is very dangerous and can be life threatening to the dog because the foxtail penetrates the skin and moves through the bloodstream towards the heart or brain. Doing “nothing” is not an option!
Dog Walkers should always tell their clients to check their dogs for foxtails during the spring and summer months following a hike.
Foxtails come from the grasses and are in all of the parks in San Francisco. When pulled apart, the are little arrow shaped pointed stickers that it can burrow into your dogs’ paws, ears, nose, eyes and fur coat.
ON A DAILY BASIS, during foxtail season (when grasses are dry) it is VERY important to check between your dogs’ toes (look up into the cavity of each toe and feel around in there); and to thoroughly feel around in the dog’s fur for foxtails. I try my best to remove the foxtails I see after the walk, but it is always good for the owner to double check, as foxtails can and often are, missed.
If your dog begins sneezing violently, even if they stop for a day or two, they most likely have a foxtail in their nose.
San Francisco Dog Walkers share how to keep your dog from getting foxtails:
■ Keep your pet’s fur coat short, especially between the toes and around the ears.
■ Long-haired dogs are most prone to having foxtails attach to their fur and embed in the skin.
■ Avoid walking your dog in areas where dry grass is prevalent.
■ Prime areas for foxtails to penetrate the skin of an animal are between the toes, in and around the ears, nose, armpits and genitalia. Animals with foxtails under the skin are often licking the affected area where a red bump may be seen.
■ When returning home from a walk or hike in an area that might have foxtails, examine your dog thoroughly and remove any burrs or foxtails you might find before they have a chance to burrow into the skin.
Educational Video Re: Coyote Behaviors
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
Coyote are a part of the San Francisco landscape and are here to stay. Now might be a good time to review some coyote behaviors and what you could do should you encounter one on a walk. This information is now available from CoyoteCoexistence.Com in their video presentation.
Coyotes in San Francisco Parks
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
Coyotes have been spotted in some of the popular San Francisco parks and this year it is much worse than ever. Places reported are Golden Gate Park, Presidio, Glen Canyon Park and Stern Grove. You should avoid places that they inhabbit, especially if you have a small dog. Coyotes in San Francisco appear unafraid of people.
Coyotes were sighted last week at Stern Grove and Pine Lake, and others on Yerba Buena Avenue and Miraloma Park near Mount Davidson. Those who walk their dogs in the vicinity of Golden Gate Park (the bison enclosure), Stern Grove and Mount Davidson are advised to keep their dogs on leashes and cats inside.
The sightings last week in Stern Grove include an adult female with three pups spotted twice on the cement path next to Pine Lake. Another coyote was seen last week at Yerba Buena Avenue and Casitas southwest of Mount Davidson. A coyote was also seen near the Miraloma Park housing area, east of Mount Davidson.
Coyotes might look cute at first and can fascinate those who haven’t seen them. But like all predators, they will kill, eat and populate in an area. One strategy a pack will use to kill dogs is to send in a lone yearling, which will trot, stop and turn, luring an unleashed dog to follow it. It then will lead the dog into the pack waiting to ambush.
Excerpt taken from Tom Stienstra- SF Gate
Updated 9:53 a.m., Monday, October 1, 2012
Does your dog have chronic diarrhea?
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
Then you need to try Firm Up! made by Diggin Your Dog.
This amazing supplement made with 100% natural pumpkin works as a great anti-diarrhea, and oddly enough, it’s good for constipation too!
Pumpkin tastes good to dogs. Add a little to their daily diet, or use as a supplement when the “runs” strike…
Firm Up! is also a great product to use when your dog is transitioning to a different diet. The fiber helps digestion and makes the switch easier.
Firm Up! is 100% USA GROWN dried pumpkin. Pumpkin is low in fat and dense in nutrients such as Alpha-Carotene, Beta Carotene, Fiber, Vitamin C & E, Potassium, Magnesium, and Pantothenic Acid. Find it online for about $8.
Dogs Can Die From The Summer Heat!! BEWARE!
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
Dogs Can Die From Heat Stroke!
Animal experts say that it’s a common misconception that dogs can survive if the windows are cracked on a hot day, or if the car is parked in the shade. They said people often think that dogs can handle high temperatures. Wrong! In fact, even a dog walk in high heat can hurt or kill them. Dogs can get overheated much quicker than we can. Their temperature can shoot up to 104, 105 in just a matter of ten to fifteen minutes, and that can lead to a seizure. Even cracking a window a little bit, thinking they’ll be okay isn’t enough in to keep them safe. There’s not enough breeze. Dogs don’t cool down the way we do. They cool down by panting.
If you think your dog is suffering from heatstroke, get him out of the heat as soon as possible. Here are a few other things you can do:
- Put rubbing alcohol on the pads of their feet.
- Pour cool – not cold – water on them. Start with their feet, neck, and genital areas.
- Wrap them in a sheet or other cloth that’s been soaked with cool water.
- Get your dog to the vet! Even if you think your dog is OK, it’s a good idea to have him checked out.
Heatstroke or exhaustion can occur very quickly for our dogs as they only have the ability to sweat throught the pads of their feet. The major way they expel heat is through panting. The two most common ways that pets get overheated is being left in cars or kennels when it is too hot or playing or running excessively in the heat. Our canine friends are almost always up for a brisk dog walk or a game of fetch. The problem is that they do not know when they are overheated until it is too late. Thus, it is up to us as their caregivers to understand when it is time to take a break, drink some water and rest in the shade for awhile. A dog’s normal temperature runs between 101 and 102.5 degrees so they are naturally warmer than we are. When their temperature exceeds 106 degrees there is a very real danger in damaging cells in their brain and causing permanent damage or even death. Treatment for heat stroke is immediately getting the pet into a cool shady area or inside an air-conditioned building. Cooling can be continued with cool cloths or ice packs in the groin area or in the armpits. It is important not to submerge the pet in cold water as this can lead to shock.
Bottom line: Dogs can’t handle the heat as well as we can and run the risk of developing heat stroke much more quickly. Even if you leave the window open and park in the shade, it may not be good enough. The test to tell if it is too hot to leave your pet in the car, if it is too hot for you in the car, it is way to hot for your dog. And don’t forget the longer you are away, the hotter your car gets. Even 15 minutes may be too long.
Some summer problems to look out for!
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
It is very common at this time of the year that dogs will have swollen faces with eyes that are nearly closed up. In most cases this is from a bee sting. It can also be from vegetation that is caused by allergies. In most cases an antihistamine, such as Benedryl, will will take the swelling and discomfort down rapidly, but in severe cases it may be necessary for the pet to be seen to receive treatment with cortisone or even epinephrine. During times when insect activity is high, it is not safe to use repellants like OFF to discourage them from attacking your pet, because it contains DEET which is poisonous if ingested by dogs. Instead try, K9-Advantix, which repels mosquitoes, ticks and fleas.
By far the most common concern seen in the spring and summer months involves pets that eat things that they shouldn’t. This can happen any time of the year, but when the weather is nice and the ground is warm and moist it becomes a perfect incubator for viruses, bacteria and parasites.
Tick Season Hits McLaren Park
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker – Excerpt from Save McLaren Park Newsletter
Ticks are currently abundant in McLaren Park. Tom Scott of Save McLaren Park said, “In the past two weeks alone I’ve found 3 different ticks on me. I don’t recall finding any ticks in the previous 8 years that I’ve been going to the park. My dog remains tick-free thanks to the medication she uses.”
Suggestions when going to the park: Apply mosquito repellent, especially to your legs and even if you’re wearing pants. Also, it’s a good idea to check yourself after returning from the park. Ticks tend to go for warm moist areas, such as armpits and groins.
Tom explains, “the ticks I found on myself have been identified as Dermacentor variabilis, also known as American Dog Tick and Wood Tick. This species is not known to carry Lyme Disease, but it can carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. It’s unlikely, though, that the ticks in McLaren carry this disease. I don’t think this is an urgent health concern for park users, but something to be aware of.”
San Francisco Dog Walker-Ticks in San Francisco
Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
Golden Gate Park and Fort Funston are crawling with ticks. Even if your dog has prevention, such as a tick collar, they still crawl off of him and on to you! Be sure to check your dog over carefully when you return home and frequent grooming and chemicals for control may help to control the spread.
Ticks can detect heat emitted from dogs and humans from far distances and will often situate themselves on well traveled paths to gain access to hosts. They will generally drop off the animal when full, but this may take several days. In some cases ticks will live for some time on the blood of an animal. Ticks are more active outdoors in warm weather, but can attack a dog at any time. Ticks can be found in most wooded or forested regions throughout the world. As a San Francisco dog walker, I find that they are especially common in areas where there are deer trails or human tracks. Ticks are especially abundant near water, where warm-blooded animals come to drink, and in meadows wherever shrubs and brush provide woody surfaces and cover. Ticks are a vector for a number of diseases including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
The American dog tick
The American dog tick is perhaps the most well-known of the North American hard ticks. This tick does not carry Lyme disease but can carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. As a San Francisco dog walker I have come across them numerous times.
The black-legged tick
The Western black-legged tick lives in the western part of North America and is responsible for spreading Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. It tends to prefer livestock such as cows as its adult host.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can be lethal. Initial signs and symptoms of the disease include sudden onset of fever, headache and muscle pain followed by development of rash. The disease can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages, and without prompt and appropriate treatment it can be fatal. Tetracycline has dramatically reduced the number of deaths caused by Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
The San Francisco dog walkers top tips
Check your dog over when you get home. Put your clothes in the dryer on high heat or just simply wash them in hot water. Be sure to check yourself over too!
watch this video for more tips! 5min.com/Video/How-to-Remove-a-Tick-from-Your-Dog
