I recently discovered, completely by accident, one of the most fascinating books I have ever read.
As an animal lover I have always been curious about animal behavior. And in recent years I have loved seeing our eldest son’s amazing ability to relate to our pets in ways that far exceed his years. So when I discovered a book Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals, I was curious enough to buy it – ostensibly for my son.
Beginning in the chapter about dogs, I was immediately drawn in by the author’s fascinating observations. She revealed an entirely new way of looking at what makes animals tick. In the days that followed, when I had spare time, I’d open to some new chapter and discover more fascinating tidbits.
Her compassion for and understanding of animals is remarkable. Read the rest of this entry »
We at The Purrfect Nanny are proud to brag about the delicious (and nutritious!) home-made dog treats being offered by Jennifer Featherstone, one of our wonderful sitters.
As Jennifer writes on her website: “In an effort to give my dogs the best nutritional diet, I discovered that the FDA does not require pre-market approval of pet products. The FDA only ensures that the ingredients used in pet food are safe and have an appropriate function. This means that commercial foods may contain low nutritional value. Just as with humans, if dogs are eating a low nutritional value diet, over time, they may become ill and develop diseases. Read the rest of this entry »
Whether you are a local Metro Atlanta citizen or you are traveling to Atlanta, The Purrfect Nanny could be your pet sitter! Lately we have had a few clients staying in local first class hotels who brought their pooches and called upon The Purrfect Nanny to spend some time with them while they were taking care of business or family affairs. It’s easy, just give us a call and we get everything organized for you. To put the icing on the cake, you can pay your bill with your credit card and collect your award points when you pay for your pet sitting services. How much better could it get? Read the rest of this entry »
No, that can’t be right can it? The only thing perilous about Valentine’s Day is the pounds we’ll put on from all the chocolate, right?
So…in celebration of this day of “sweets for the sweet.” I had just finished making a double batch of double dark chocolate brownies (with chocolate chips added just for kicks) to treat my co-workers. Tightly sealed in an airtight plastic container they were safely (or so I thought) esconced on the kitchen table. The usual rush to get ready for work, round up the pups to put them up…you guessed it. Chocolate crumbs and swollen bellies told a tale of thievery! Read the rest of this entry »
The Association of Professional Dog Trainers has dubbed January “Train Your Dog Month” in an effort to promote public awareness about positive training methods. APDT member and positive reinforcement trainer, Susan Howard, of Ruff Diamond Dogs in Woodstock, Georgia, has this to say on the subject.
The Power of Positivity
What would you say if I told you that I have a “magic wand” that can turn your unruly dog into a well behaved member of the family? That’s right, bring on your worst barkers, pullers, diggers, jumpers and I will show you how a three-inch piece of plastic can change your life. But first (you know the drill, there is always a “but” after the teaser) you need to acquire a working knowledge of the principles of reinforcement training. Read the rest of this entry »
Wishbones for Pets is a charitable program designed for pet sitters to collect and distribute pet goods/funds to local pet shelters and other pet related agencies in their own community. The program was established in October, 2004 by Janet Depathy of Under My Wings Pet Sitting in Plymouth, MA. The program runs each year during the six weeks prior to Thanksgiving. Read the rest of this entry »
That sounds scary - but wait a moment, it’s not. This story is a heartbreaking story about a lonely young man who returns home at Christmas time only to discover that he is not so lonely after all.
The Moonlit Road is one of the most interesting website, featuring southern folktales and ghost stories. Read about the young man and the dog and decide for yourself what to believe.
Dr. Jane Bicks has some good points here in her article about “Why do cats purr?”
Most people believe cats purr when they are content or happy. While cats do purr when they are content, researchers attempting to uncover the answer to this 3,000-year-old mystery are finding the answer more complicated than previously thought. All domestic cats purr, as well as many wild cats, like pumas, ocelots, lions and cheetahs. Purring can occur in a variety of situations. When cats purr in the presence of other unknown cats or kittens, the behavior may serve to convey submissiveness or a friendly greeting. While it is true that cats purr contentedly while on their pet parent’s lap, they also purr when they give birth, when they are frightened, severely injured and even while dying. Because kitties clearly cannot be content in all these situations, contentment or friendliness cannot be the only reason they purr.
So why else would they purr?
Continue reading here!
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The summertime is coming and for many of us the question arises what’s the best solution for our pets while we are on our well deserved vacation.
Sometimes I’m still surprised that some pet owners are not aware that they have the possibility to leave their pets at home in the loving care of a professional pet sitter. This is not only an advantage for your pet who is happiest at home but also for the security of your home. Fact is, your home will have a lived in look with all the activity going on. Make sure to hire a pet sitting company who does not advertise their service on the car which will park frequently in your driveway - because that’s an indicator that a service company and not the homeowner or family members go in and out. Most pet sitters, like The Purrfect Nanny team will be happily bring in your mail, rotate blinds, turn lights off and on and more - for no additional charge.
For additional information please contact us at 678-999-3958 or visit us at The Purrfect Nanny
Please also read the informative article from NAPPS, the National Assosiation of Professional Pet Sitters. Read the rest of this entry »
Today I saw a report at Fox Five Atlanta about the healing power of dog saliva. That dogs are good for our soul is nothing new but it seems they are good also for us to heal.
I did a little research and found a few interesting article about it and I want to share one with you.
Before the dawn of antibiotics and other medicines designed to heal wounds and rid the injury of bacteria, dogs did just fine by nursing their injuries to health with the use of their tongue.
For centuries people have noticed that dogs always lick their wounds when they get injured. Although the following idea may not appeal to you, research has shown that a dogs’ licking can be good for people to!
Keep on reading at Puppies and Big Dogs
