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3 Reasons Consistent Exercise is Essential for Your Puppy

Janet Slissman · Jan 12, 2024 ·

Welcoming a puppy into your home is a joyful experience, but it comes with responsibilities, including understanding their exercise needs. With their outgoing natures, pups need a ton of physical and mental stimulation to develop properly. But contemporary life can make it difficult to make sure your dog gets enough exercise – navigating work, family, and other responsibilities can make this a challenge. For new and existing dog parents, regular walks and exercise is a must. We provide you with “what the benefits of walking a dog, and why exercise is necessary for their health, behavior, and happiness”.

Why Dogs Need Walks Off-leash at the Dog Park

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. After all, 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 you pup’s life:

1. Consistent Exercise Combats Obesity

Perhaps the most obvious, though still extremely important, benefit of consistent exercise is the decrease in the likelihood that your dog will become obese. Even if you are feeding your dog the right amount of food, avoiding table scraps, and monitoring their treat intake, they will start packing on the pounds if they aren’t getting the exercise they need. 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 regular exercise. Obesity not only shortens a dog’s lifespan but also leads to health complications such as diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems. Establishing a routine walk for dogs is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent these issues. Exercise guides can ensure you strike the right balance between activity and rest, preventing them from overexertion while helping them build healthy habits.

2. 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. Consistent movement also helps prevent accidental joint injuries (from a particularly energetic play session, for example). For young dogs, adhering to puppy exercise guidelines is essential to prevent damage to their developing bones and joints. Activities like walking are low-impact yet effective ways to build strength and flexibility. Puppies exercise chart can help you determine how much to exercise a puppy based on age and breed, ensuring their joints are well-supported for years.

3. Walking a Dog Provides a Vital Outlet

Consistent exercise helps both your dog’s physical and mental health – 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 the carpet/the backyard). Reliable exercise can help you avoid those problems and have a happier pooch. A proper exercise regiment should include regular walks for mental stimulation. Exploring new sights, smells, and sounds during a walk for dogs satisfies their natural curiosity and prevents boredom-induced behaviors. Puppies who get enough mental engagement are less likely to develop destructive habits. It also helps your dog build trust and confidence in you and in their environment. Off-leash allows your dog to go at their own pace, usually provides a longer, more exciting walk and allows them to explore their surroundings. As a Dog Walker in San Francisco, I often add exciting sports and group activities, which will also burn excess energy and really give your dog a proper workout. This allows them to build social skills, while also developing common training practices like catching, running back and forth, and staying within a designated play area.

Integrating Exercise Into a Busy Schedule

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, allow me to help you conveniently build consistent exercise for your dog into your schedule. As a professional dog walker in San Francisco, I could help you and your dog with exercise and any issues.

FAQ: Your Questions About Puppy Exercise Answered:

Why is exercise important for puppies?

Exercise is crucial for puppies because it supports physical development, builds strength, and prevents obesity. Following an exercise guide for puppies ensures they get the right amount of activity for their age, breed, and health, fostering mental and physical well-being.

What happens if I don’t exercise my puppy?

If you don’t exercise your puppy, they may develop behavioral problems such as anxiety, restlessness, and destructive habits like chewing or digging. Physically, lack of exercise can lead to obesity, joint stiffness, and poor muscle development. Regular walking a dog is an essential part of their growth and happiness.

Is it important that puppies get enough exercise?

Yes, puppies must get enough exercise. Proper activity levels, as outlined in puppy exercise guidelines, help them develop healthy joints, muscles, and cardiovascular systems. It also prevents health issues later in life and ensures a balanced temperament.

At what age should I start exercising my puppy?

You can start exercising your puppy when they’ve completed their vaccinations, usually around 12–16 weeks old. However, follow a puppy exercise chart to ensure you’re providing age-appropriate activity. Short, gentle walks and play sessions are best for young pups.

How much to exercise a puppy?

The amount of exercise a puppy needs depends on their age, size, and breed. A general rule is five minutes of exercise per month of age, up to twice daily. For example, a 3-month-old puppy can enjoy 15-minute walks twice a day. Always adhere to exercise guidelines for puppies to avoid overexertion.

Why do dogs need walks?

Dogs need walks to maintain physical health, mental stimulation, and socialization. Walking a dog also provides essential bonding time and helps prevent obesity, joint issues, and behavioral problems. It’s one of the most effective ways to ensure your dog leads a happy and balanced life. Consistent exercise is vital for every dog, whether a puppy or an adult. So follow these tips and utilize a puppy exercise chart, and your furry buddy will become the new proud consequence of the household. The simple act of going for daily off-leash walk in the park will make all the difference in your dog’s life!

Let’s Talk About Wag

Janet Slissman · Dec 21, 2023 ·

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.

Read reviews and complaints about Wag Dog Walking.

Is Wag Dog Walking Service safe to use?

What’s so bad with Wag Dog Walking?

Video from KTVU showing Wag Walker mistreating dog

How to Remove Ticks on Dogs

Janet Slissman · Oct 7, 2023 ·

The San Francisco Dog Walker’s Guide to Removing Ticks

While ticks may seem like little nuisances to our canine companions, they can carry illnesses threatening health. As dogs spend warm seasons roaming the great outdoors, these parasites cling to their fur. An informed owner knows ticks endanger more than our dog’s comfort—detection and disposal defend against diseases spread. However, vigilant examination and effective removal can eliminate the hazards of hitchhiking ticks.

Most Common Ticks in San Fransisco

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 encountered them numerous times. The American dog tick

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. The Western black-legged tick

Why Ticks Are Dangerous for Dogs

Ticks are external parasites that latch onto your dog’s skin to feed on their blood. Unfortunately, ticks can transmit Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. That makes it critical to understand how to get rid of dog ticks quickly and effectively. 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-

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. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Video/How-to-Remove-a-Tick-from-Your-Dog

Frequent grooming and chemicals may help control the spread. 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!

Tools You’ll Need for Tick Removal From Dogs

Before you begin the process, gather the following tools to ensure you can safely handle tick removal from your dog:

Tick Remover Tool or Tweezers: Designed for safe and effective tick extraction.
Gloves: Protect your hands from direct contact with ticks.
Antiseptic Solution: This is used to clean the bite area after removal.
Sealable Container: This is for storing the tick if testing for diseases is required.
Magnifying Glass: Helps spot small ticks that are difficult to see.

Having the right tools makes the process smoother and reduces the risk of leaving parts of the tick embedded in your dog’s skin.

How to Remove Ticks From Dogs at Home

If you’ve discovered a tick on your dog, here’s how to remove ticks from your dog at home safely:

Prepare and Restrain Your Dog Keep your dog calm and still to make the removal process easier. You can use a leash, treats or another person to help gently hold your dog in place.
Find the Tick Ticks like hot places in the body, like on the ears, under the collar, in the armpit, and between the toes. Unearth your dog’s fur with a magnifying glass if you want.
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, which may take several days.
Remove the Tick Using a Tick Remover Tool: Slide the tool under the tick and gently twist it to remove it completely.
Using Tweezers: Grab the tick as close to the skin as possible without pinching your dog. Pull upward slowly to remove the tick without breaking it apart.
Ticks are more active outdoors in warm weather but can attack a dog anytime. In some cases, ticks will live for some time in the blood of an animal.
Dispose of the Tick Place the tick in a sealable container or submerge it in rubbing alcohol. If you suspect it may have transmitted a disease, save it for testing.
Clean the Area Use antiseptic to disinfect the bite site. Monitor the area for signs of redness, swelling, or infection.

Common Tick Hot Spots and Prevention Tips

Ticks are a vector for diseases and thrive in areas frequented by warm-blooded animals. As a San Francisco dog walker, I find ticks are especially common in places with deer trails, human tracks, and water sources where animals come to drink.

Ticks can be found in most wooded or forested regions throughout the world. In San Francisco, areas like Golden Gate Park and Fort Funston are hot spots. Always check your dog after walks, as ticks often hide in shrubs and meadows and brush near woody surfaces. 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 onto you! Frequent grooming and chemicals may help control the spread. 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!

Preventing Tick Infestations

While knowing how to get rid of dog ticks is important, prevention is even better. Here are tips to minimise your dog’s exposure:

Buy Tick Preventative Products: Pick veterinarian-approved products, such as collars and topical or oral medicines.
Look Your Dog Over After Walks: Check their coat and skin closely, looking in common hiding places for ticks.
Avoid the Tick Zones: Avoid high grass, brushy paths, and hot mattress area constraints.
Groom Regularly: Brushing helps remove ticks before they latch onto your dog.
Maintain Your Yard: Clean your outdoor space by mowing the lawn and trimming bushes.

When to See a Veterinarian

Seek your vet within 24 hours for any signs of fever, lethargy, joint pain, or swelling around a bite. Identifying and treating tick-borne diseases early is important to keep your dogs safe.

Final Thoughts: Keeping Your Dog Tick-Free

Knowing how to get rid of ticks on dogs is a must if you own a dog. Whether you handle tick removal at home or be proactive, keeping your pup safe takes diligence and consistency. Watch for ticks after going to tick-heavy areas like Golden Gate Park or Fort Funston.

Following this guide and incorporating regular grooming, chemical preventatives, and routine checks ensure your dog stays healthy, comfortable, and tick-free. Let ticks be one less thing to worry about while enjoying the outdoors with your furry friend!

Hire a Dog Walker Today…

Let’s Talk about YELP

Janet Slissman · Aug 10, 2023 ·

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 very 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.

More About Yelp

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.

What you Need to Know about Tennis Balls

Janet Slissman · Aug 3, 2023 ·

As a dog walker in San Francisco, I’ve seen countless dogs that absolutely light up when they see a tennis ball. Does your dog love to chase after tennis balls? Even, perhaps, a little obsessed about it? You’re not alone—many dogs go wild for the thrill of fetching these bright green toys. While it’s great to see them having fun, there are a few important things to consider when it comes to dogs and tennis balls.

The Joy (and Risk) of Tennis Balls

Tennis balls are a fantastic way to exercise your dog and keep them mentally engaged. I’ve used them countless times to tire out a high-energy dog at Golden Gate Park or Fort Funston. However, as fun as tennis balls are, there’s a hidden risk most dog owners don’t think about.

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. That is important because a dog must have their teeth last a lifetime, and you definitely want to protect them whenever you can.

Alternatives to Traditional Tennis Balls

If your dog is one of those tennis ball fanatics, it’s worth considering alternatives to protect their teeth. Rubber chuck-it balls are a great substitute. These balls are durable, easy to clean, and, most importantly, don’t have the abrasive properties of regular tennis balls. When I take dogs out to the park, I always recommend owners switch to rubber balls if I notice excessive wear on their teeth.

So, why don’t more people make the change to rubber balls? For starters, not all dogs experience dental issues with tennis balls. It’s a matter of keeping an eye on your dog’s teeth to determine if adjustments are necessary. Another factor is cost—rubber balls tend to be pricier, and if your dog has a habit of leaving their toys behind in bushes or tall grass, it can get expensive quickly.

Safety Tips for Tennis Ball at Play

As a dog walker, safety is always my top priority, which extends to playtime with tennis balls. Here are a few tips to keep your dog safe while they’re having fun:

Inspect Your Dog’s Teeth: Regularly check your dog’s teeth for signs of wear. If you notice flattening or chipping, it’s time to reconsider tennis balls.
Monitor Their Play: If your dog is chewing aggressively on the ball, take it away and redirect their attention to a chew toy. Chewing can turn a harmless game into a dental hazard.
Beware of Squeakers: If your ball has squeakers, keep an eye open to ensure your dog does not chew the ball to get the parts out. They can choke on the squeaker parts inside the ball if they get them out. Always supervise squeaker play to prevent accidents.
Replace Damaged Balls: A torn or damaged tennis ball can become a choking hazard. Toss it out and replace it with a fresh one.

The Joy of Fetch Without the Risks

Playing fetch with tennis balls is a wonderful way to bond with your dog and give them the exercise they need. But, as with all aspects of pet care, balance is key. Whether I’m out on a walk with a pack of dogs or playing one-on-one with a client’s pup, I always keep an eye on the toys they’re using to ensure they’re both fun and safe.

If you’re worried about the risks associated with dogs and tennis balls, switching to rubber balls or mixing up their toy selection can make a big difference. This is another way in which your dog will still be getting all of the fun involved with your dog chasing and retrieving something because it can be kept fun but not cause any lasting dental problems.

Closing Thoughts

Every dog is different, and some may have no issues with tennis balls at all. However, it’s important to keep an eye on their behavior and their teeth. I am a dog walker and have witnessed how many dogs adore their tennis ball play and the issues it can lead to. So be proactive and consider using things like rubber chuck-it balls; that way, both your furry friend and your wallet will be ready for the next adventure!

So whether your dog spends time poking through the dog-friendly parks of San Francisco or is just playing in your yard, a touch of extra attention to your pup’s toys is good insurance. Oh, and you really should also peek inside those bushes—no one likes to see their favorite ball lost to the foliage!