Great pet sitters in your neighborhood are not always easy to find, but here are a few tips to make it easier the next time you need to leave your dog while you travel.
Our entire AZ Dog Sports team loves dogs and cats AZ Dog Sports so want to share our top 6 helpful advice on how to -hire a professional, certified, insured pet sitter in Phoenix/Scottsdale area!
Do you love being around dogs and helping people? Do you enjoy the outdoors and have fun exploring new neighborhoods and parks? If so, starting a career as a dog walker in Phoenix ,or a Arizona Pet sitter might be a win-win for you, and other families! Both can be healthy, active, part time or full time jobs!
5 reasons to be a dog walker or petsitter:
Our Dog Walking and the Pet Sitting services offered AZ Dog Sports fill an important need in the lives of your furry loved ones by keeping them healthy, happy and comfortable while you are working hard at your career, or away on holiday. Whether it’s having one of our professional dog trainer/walkers walk your day twice a day, pet-sitting your cat or dog for several weeks, or if it’s teaching your dog new obedience skills while he/she is being boarded at a pet resort; we believe that it is our job to give you peace of mind, and your pets happy!
Did you ever wish your dog was having as much fun as you are while you are away from home?10/28/2016 Do you wish your dog was having as much fun as you are while you are away from home? Dual Purpose Dog Board & Training: Boarding your dog at a facility that has day care, play time, and obedience training is one way to ensure that your puppy or dog is also having a great time! This new style boarding arrangements can be really versatile and active. You would not be happy sitting in a hotel room all day, and your dog used to have to be in a kennel all day while you were away having fun. Not anymore! If you are one of the new breed of pet guardians that understands your dog is happiest when he or she is active! So why not check out one the newest ideas in dog boarding in Phoenix? Dogs get a vacation & high quality dog training during vacation: Games, yards, beaches, pools, play rooms with climbing toys and tunnels are all part of the fun and action. if your dog is on vacation at the same time you are, it does assuage the guilt of being away from your pet for a while. Dogs love learning and some of these Phoenix new pet resorts will have training for your pet on the premises with a certified trainer. Families can let their pooch attend classes to learn new skills while they can tune in and watch on camera or get the occasional action picture on a smartphone. Our dogs want luxury accommodations too! Pet resorts are a rapidly growing segment of the pet hotel market in Phoenix. When on vacation, most of us would like to trade up to a more luxurious surrounding and décor. Why not apply the same standard to our beloved furry family members? If you love your pup and he likes fun and activity, one of these pet resort accommodations may be the right choice. You can bring your dog’s favorite toys, foods, and even have a TV and cot in some rooms. The sense of security you feel knowing your dog is safe, around activities, other dogs, and people that are caring and professional is worth a lot. Learn more about this service by visiting a our favorite dog boarding place in Phoenix, Foothills Pet Resort! or contact us at AZ Dog Sports. As part of our dog training academy teaching dog lovers how to become dog trainers, our students and trainers believe it’s a necessary “must” to teach and learn about the biology of dog- hence why we want to spend time in this article explaining it to you!
Genetically speaking, dogs and wolves are almost the same: more than 99% of their DNA is identical. How big a difference can that one percent really make? Well, consider this: Humans share up to 98.9% (depending on which model of comparison is used) of genetic material with chimpanzees. Fabulous as chimps are, it’s safe to say they live very different lives from us. Add to this at least 15,000 years of domestication (recent studies suggest a far longer period) and genetic adaptation for living with humans, and the result is that canis lupus familiaris—both physiologically and behaviourally—is very different from its big, grey ancestor. For a start, even the most wolf-like of dog breeds are smaller, weaker, and have less powerful jaws and necks than wolves. Why? They don’t need to be able to bring down moose by themselves; dogs are on Team Human and we have tools, big brains, and opposable thumbs. Behaviourally, we have bred dogs over millennia to retain a juvenile lack of aggression into adulthood. With that comes openness to new social relationships, allowing dogs to meet and bond with new people throughout their lives, an adaptability to changing circumstances that no wolf can match. Dogs take guidance from us in several ways, too. For example, they understand directional cues (pointing), something no other animal can do. They are sensitive to social cues and generally wait for humans to signal what is expected of them; wolves follow their own agenda, even if hand-raised in human homes. Dogs pay close attention to us and are adept at reading human emotions through facial expressions. Wolves don’t give a hoot about our moods. The takeaway is to not project wolf-like assumptions onto dogs. When we do, we too easily mislabel behaviour and see conflict where there is none. Yes, dogs are pack animals. But dogs are no more wolves than we are chimps. Feral dog groups provide a more accurate picture of dog social behaviour: they are opportunists whose lives revolve around getting close to humans for food and safety. In other words, dogs rely on and care deeply about their relationship with us. Not only can we teach them to live with us peacefully and happily; they spend their lives hoping we will. If you found this article interesting and want to learn more about dog behavior or dog training skills, please check out our Phoenix classes for dog trainers. The American Veterinary Medical Association defines the human:animal bond as “a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both.” So, what are the behaviors in question? Being a responsible caretaker is at the foundation, of course, and includes providing food, water, shelter, and safety, as well as medical care when needed. But aside from that, what influences a person’s relationship with her dog? What takes it from good to great? In the human world, psychologist John Gottman spent four decades studying couples to find out what makes marriages happy and lasting. His major takeaway was that a deep sense of connection and trust is built between couples that make many “bids”—verbal or nonverbal requests for attention
and connection—and offer positive responses to those bids. Most dog training schools now heavily lean towards positive reinforcement training methods. These methods show us that the same principles apply to dog-human relationship building. If you like something and reward it, not only will it be more likely to happen again, but everyone involved in the interaction feels better about each other. More connected, more trusting. The one caveat is that it’s important not to reinforce behavior we don’t like (with any kind of attention, positive or negative) and that we should therefore ignore whining, jumping up, nudging, and so on. Beyond that, though, any time spent with dogs offers opportunities to extend and respond to bids. For example, just looking at a dog with a happy or playful expression qualifies as positive attention and therefore a bid for connection. Ditto saying “what a good dog you are…” in a soft voice for no particular reason. The same goes for reaching over to a dog lying quietly on or beside the couch to scratch a belly or neck, depending on the dog’s preference. Have three minutes to spare? Play a quick game. (You can get suggestions for some games from many dog trainer websites.) Get out a treat and practice a fun trick. What’s the lesson? Never think you’re spoiling your dog with these kindnesses. They are tiny investments in a lifelong, loving relationship. Every time we remember to stop to give our dogs affection and attention, we are making deposits on a richer and ever-deepening bond. Looking to learn more so you can improve your dog training skills for your own animals or a rescue that you volunteer at? Look no further than the only Arizona school for dog trainers! AZ Dog Smart Academy is a hand’s on, interactive and educational school for normal people who want to learn more about dog behavior skills! Some dogs take treats too hard. As in, they manage to scrape your hands painfully when they grab the goody. Usually these dogs weren’t taught as puppies what is an acceptable amount of pressure for big pearly canines on human skin. They are not trying to hurt us; they just never learned to regulate jaw pressure.
Sometimes this tendency is exacerbated by excitement (Ooh! My favorite treat!) or stress (Yikes, another dog is close by and she might also be interested in my favorite treat). What a Professional Dog Trainer School Suggests You Do About It: Stop letting go! Get a good hold on a treat before you offer it and only release the treat if your dog uses a soft mouth, i.e. light pressure or, preferably, all lips and no teeth. If your dog grabs too hard, say, “Too bad” or “Bummer” in an oh what-a-shame tone of voice and pull the treat away. As long as your dog isn’t grabbing for the treat, try offering it again. Release the treat if she is gentle or repeat the pull-away maneuver if not. Repeat until she gets it right. (If your dog is taking treats so hard that it hurts or even breaks skin, hold the treat in your closed fist instead of the tips of your fingers to protect yourself.) Once you and your dog have practiced this to the point that she takes her treats gently most of the time, you can up the ante. From this point, if you offer a treat and your dog grabs too hard, she loses the treat for good—no more second or third chances to be gentle. Switch to a zero tolerance policy. (A good dog behavior class can help you and your canine better communicate through this issue.) Remember: Consistency Is Key! To really soften your dog’s mouth for good, you must insist on a gentle mouth every time you offer something. Dogs may revert to rough grabbing at moments of excitement or stress. Just stick to your guns in these situations and don’t release the treat until your dog remembers to be gentle. If you need to learn more about how to teach your dog better skills, please no further than AZ Dog Sports! We teach dogs, dog lovers and dog trainers basic obedience training to advanced dog behavior skills or canine agility training for competitions. Please contact us now to book one of our dozens of Phoenix dog training classes available. We look forward to hearing from you! Ready to tango with your terrier? Do the mambo with your mutt? Canine Freestyle is, in essence, dog training set to music— with a heaping helping of artistry thrown in. The first rule to learn is: Have fun! The idea is that you and your dog carry out a choreographed sequence of moves to music, mixing positive dog training with fun, exercise, and showmanship.
Freestyle combines a variety of common training moves like Heel and Sit-Stay with showstopping tricks like Take a Bow, Weave, Twirl, Jump, and Back Up. Teaching your dog all these cues and timing the moves to music challenges your training chops, creativity, and patience. Freestyle is open to anyone and can be enjoyed at all levels—from your living room to national competitions where you and your dog will don elaborate costumes and perform in front of adoring crowds. You get to develop your own routine to showcase your dog’s strengths; the only prerequisite is that you work with your own dog (no hired handlers). So, put on your glad rags, queue up your favorite tune, and start shaking some bootie. Looking to learn other crazy or interesting dog agility training skills so you can have more fun with your dog: or so you can improve your dog training skills to eventually have a career working in the dog industry? Look no further than the only school for dog trainers in Arizona -- AZ Dog Smart Academy! AZ Dog Smart Academy, is a hand’s on, interactive and educational dog trainer academy to teach people who who want to learn advanced dog behavior skills! Working as a vet tech carries its own set of rewards. Not only are you helping pets and their owners in the healthcare field, but you are also building relationships with the animals you interact with. In order to work best as a vet tech, you must possess a specific set of traits.
Not sure if you will cut it as a vet tech? Here are a few traits that may help you succeed: 1. Interested in Science In order to become a vet tech, you must first study biology, chemistry, physiology, anatomy, radiology, and other health sciences related to both plants and animals. If you don't enjoy science, the classes may seem tedious and difficult. 2. Passionate about Animals You will be performing essential tasks, including everything from inserting catheters to providing comfort to injured pets. In order to do some of this work, you must be passionate about helping animals heal. 3. Attention to Detail Accuracy is essential in the veterinary field. Not only must you be able to fill out charts and forms with absolute certainty, but you must also dispense medication and other treatments according to directions. 4. Strong Communication Skills One of the tasks associated with working as a vet tech is the education of pet owners. You may need to discuss treatment options and preventative options with people who possess little to no veterinary knowledge. As top certified professional dog trainers will tell you, communication is also essential for communicating verbally and physically with dogs. 5. Compassionate Humane treatment is an essential component of treating animals as a vet tech. Additionally, you must remain calm no matter what happens. Your positive attitude will have a lot to do with how you handle the patient. 6. Flexibility When you complete your education as a vet tech, you have no idea where you might end up working. You could be working in an animal shelter, veterinary office, or a zoo. You may also find yourself working in some unconventional settings, including wildlife control offices, livestock centers, research laboratories, or even military bases. 7. Physically Fit Being in good shape is helpful for working as a vet tech. You may be standing for long periods of time, restraining pets, and even occasionally lifting animals. You must also do these things safely, sometimes while handling needles, radiation, and bodily fluids. No matter your reasons for considering a career as a vet tech or a certified professional dog trainer, possessing these traits will ensure that you are on the right track. If interested in learning advanced dog behavior skills or dog knowledge, please check out out the best school for dog trainers in Arizona! |
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December 2016
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