Animal companions help us in many ways, but there is a class of working dogs so special we’ve included them in the law of the land. Apparently, this was completed in a bit of a hurry because the designation system uses inconsistent nomenclature and leaves many people out to sea on this matter. Sorting out… Continue reading

As I was perusing an ordinary, unbiased, and completely reliable online news source the other day, I noticed an article that included a WARNING for dog owners in south Florida since a “highly contagious virus is spreading across the Sunshine State.” While I’m happy to be given a heads up, I’ve also grown hackles because… Continue reading

Last Friday, whilst sitting in the sunny back yard, I was doing some light reading and wondering what to blog about next. After noticing Rex stealing logs from the woodpile, I heard a strange sound that can only be described as a cow peeing on a flat, metal rock. I put down the Silmarillion, walk… Continue reading

Choosing your next best friend can be an intriguing and baffling challenge, especially if you haven’t known a lot of dogs. There are nearly 400 breeds to ponder over, and going online to complete superlative searches like “best family dogs” or “smartest dog breeds” is a worthwhile place to begin. As you embark on the… Continue reading

Becoming a foster volunteer can be a marvelously cooperative and rewarding adventure. Fostering may be a good idea for folks that aren’t sure what kind of dog is right for them, or are currently “between dogs.” Other foster parents are people that have lost their once-in-a-lifetime dog and decided the foster lifestyle is now best… Continue reading

The Articles of Organization is the document that you’ll file with the Secretary of State’s office in the state where you are forming your pet sitting limited liability company (LLC). Some states call this a Certificate of Organization or Certificate of Formation. Most states have a free Articles of Organization form available on the Secretary… Continue reading

Whenever a social media site declares that its National Dog Day it makes me chuckle. After digging a little deeper, I discovered there are roughly 170 days, weeks, or months dedicated just to pets. The United Nations General Assembly and their affiliate agencies are partly to blame for this. The UN has established itself as… Continue reading

After that first slow year, word on the street will get out, and that’s when pet sitters are able to finally fill a weekly schedule. Before you know it, you’ll be running around town like your feet were on fire and your drawers were catchin’. As you envision heaps of glimmering gold, excitement will flow… Continue reading

Yes! Of course, you will need to chew over a few bits before you take on this bone of contention. For many folks, leaving their dog alone while they go to work evokes immense guilt. Owners deal with this by leaving the smooth jazz channel on or preparing bizarre combinations of food and interactive toys… Continue reading

Fifteen years ago, dog DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) tests were primarily a novelty that enabled genotype research facilities to generate additional revenue. Since then, dog DNA tests have become increasingly popular, affordable, and accurate. Aside from ancestral breakdown by breed, DNA test centers may reveal whether a dog has a medical predisposition to a genetic disease.… Continue reading

For some reason, people tend to get very excited about tax deductions. Admittedly, claiming deductions does reduce the tax burden on a small business (for now), but they require time and effort to prepare, and may increase the risk of an IRS audit. About 10% of the money claimed on tax deductible expenses may be… Continue reading

Now that puppy Duncan is becoming an adult, and old Rex is getting older, I am revisiting this oft pondered and markedly idiosyncratic interrogative. Rapidly remembering just how overwhelming pet food analysis can become, I was elated to rediscover a couple of excellent resources to share. There isn’t a “catch all” in the best pet… Continue reading

RMS TitanicThree dogs survived the sinking of the Royal Mail Ship Titanic: A Newfoundland, a Pomeranian, and a Pekingese – Mostly true. Lady, a Pomeranian, was taken aboard Lifeboat 7 with Margaret Bechstein Hays. Sun Yat Sen, the Pekingese, belonging to Myra and Henry S. Harper (a publishing magnate), survived by boarding Lifeboat 3. Another… Continue reading

I stumbled into a myriad of situations I wish I had known about before beginning pet sitting. Some of these seem like common sense in hindsight, but let’s just say I didn’t realize HOW IMPORTANT they were until later. OvernightsMost dogs get what I call “first-night-itis” even when they know you and have visited before.… Continue reading