Pet Care Blog

Dog Walking Franchise Announces Star Search For Fun, Savvy, And Energetic Franchisees In Illinois

adam — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:02:20 +0000

Lisle, Illinois (PRWEB) December 30, 2011

Dogs Love Running!, the nations most unique, fun, and exciting dog walking franchise, is now conducting a star search for fun, savvy, and energetic franchisees in Illinois.

Were very excited to be looking for all-stars to join our team, says John Reh, president of Dogs Love Running! Franchising, a Lisle, Illinois-based company. Were looking for incredible people that want to follow through on their dream job and work with animals for a living. With a Dogs Love Running! franchise, we make that dream job come to life easily and quickly.

Dogs Love Running! is the only pet franchise in the nation that specializes in dog running and pet exercise. Their flagship service is to literally go and run with dogs. By offering customers the unique and valuable service of actually running with their four-legged friends, DLR! franchisees and their reliable staff can give clients pets a way to burn off excess energy. With high-mileage runs of up to an hour in length, even the most energetic dogs will come back tired and happy.

In addition to dog running, franchisees also provide dog walking services as well as pet sitting for all types of household pets.

Mr. Reh states that Illinois and, in particular, the Chicago city and suburban areas are prime for growth in 2012. Since were based in the Chicago area, we can offer not only in-person training, but also in-person support after a franchisee opens up their location. With the population and demographics in this area plus the personal hand-holding we can offer, we see many franchisees joining up with us in the coming year.

Dogs Love Running! is a home-based dog walking/running and pet sitting franchise business that requires very little money to start up and operate. We designed this to be a full-time, but flexible, job that someone can run out of their home, says the company president. Since were a service-based business, there are no big investments like inventory or office leases. Were a lean and efficient business that can basically be run from a laptop from just about anywhere in the world with internet access.

One of the most common questions we get is if you have to be a runner to do this business, says John. Although a franchisee would find it beneficial to be able to run or jog themselves, they dont have to be a hard-core runner primarily because theyll have staff making the pet visits for them.

He says that some of the most helpful characteristics for a franchisee to have are to be fun-loving, energetic, savvy, and to love working with not only animals, but also people. Being a people person is just as important as being a dog person in this job. Its tough to find both of those qualities in the same person and thats why were conducting this star search.

For more information on Dogs Love Running! and their franchise opportunity, visit http://www.dogsloverunning.com/franchising or contact John Reh at 1-877-738-7786.

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Open wide: Pets need proper dental care too

adam — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:37:56 +0000

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Doggie breath is no joke. It may be the first symptom that could lead to a more serious health problem.

The American Veterinary Dental Society says more than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats develop gum disease by age 3. February is Pet Dental Health Month, and was established to raise awareness of the importance of a good dental health for pets.

Just like humans, pets can get periodontal disease, says Dr. James Bowen at the Island Animal Hospital on Marco Island. “Once they get plaque, it can cause gum disease just like in people. Bacteria can then get into the blood stream and affect the kidneys, heart and liver.”

And bad breath is only one warning sign. Some dogs or cats will refuse to eat dry food, or even drop the food on the floor. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re fussy eaters; they might have an abscess making it painful to chew.

“Sneezing or discharge of the nose might actually be an infection in the teeth,” says Bowen.

Red, swollen or bleeding gums indicate a problem as well.

To help avoid a serious problem, there are several things you as an owner can do. Brushing your pets’ teeth daily is optimum, and at least twice a week will result in good maintenance, says Dr. Brent Garrison of Marco Veterinary Hospital.

To make the process less traumatic for your pet, start gradually when they’re young.

“First get them used to you putting your fingers in their mouths,” he says. “Work up to a piece of wet gauze then switch to a soft pet toothbrush.”

The last step is adding toothpaste — either poultry or beef flavored. Don’t use your own toothpaste. Dogs don’t like the foaming and stinging and it may upset their stomachs.

“Dog diet plays a big role,” says Dr. Bowen. Feeding larger kernel dry food with enzymes added help protect the teeth, and using a water additive, something he describes as “doggie Listerine,” will help as well. Also using a sealant product just under the gums seals the enamel and lessens plaque buildup. Give them toys embedded with enzymes that release into the dog’s mouth when chewed.

If you still see yellow-brown plaque on the teeth, a professional cleaning is in order says Bowen.

“For advanced cases we will sedate the animal and use ultrasound to get the plaque off the teeth and go under the gum — in that area is where most of the disease occurs.”

“We see pets all the time with abnormal blood work, but after cleaning their teeth, the numbers are improved,” says Dr. Garrison. “Don’t wait until something is wrong. Bring your pet in at least once a year, ideally twice a year.”

To put it into perspective remember that pets age faster than we do, so if you had your pet’s teeth cleaned every six months, Garrison says that would translate to every 3 1/2 years for people. Not many of us would go that long without seeing a dentist. So next time you make an appointment for your dental checkup, you might want to think of Fido’s teeth, too.

Keeping your pet’s teeth pearly white is more than just cosmetic.

“Don’t view it as an aesthetic problem because it’s not,” says Dr. James Bowen. “It’s an overall health issue.”

Cool Pet Groom images

adam — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:46:52 +0000

A few nice pet groom images I found:

Cole Standard Poodle

Image by anglerp1
. # 7 Kennel Clean face .

Vegas Lhasa Apso

Image by anglerp1
. #4 Kennel Scruffy Teddy bear head.