Category Archives: Pets

Pets

5 Benefits Of Using Wood Pellet Cat Litter

Wood pellet cat litter is one of the most highly recommended, both for your cat’s health and also the environment in which you and your cat share. A natural and highly absorbent cat litter, leading animal welfare organisations rate wood pellet cat litter as some of the best on the market, highlighting these key benefits: 

1. An all natural cat litter 

Going through a rigorous manufacturing process, wood pellet cat litter is an all natural option made using safe wood sources. Undergoing the manufacturing process, the wood is  thoroughly cleansed and processed in order to provide a safe cat litter option for domestic use. 

2. Highly absorbent 

Due to the nature of the material, wood pellets are incredibly absorbent, making this a clean and hygienic cat litter choice for cat owners. Compared with other options such as clay materials, wood pellets are considered the most absorbent and therefore the easiest type of cat litter to manage and maintain. Making sure that the cat tray is kept as clean as can be for longer periods of time. 

3. Natural odour to create a pleasant living environment

Thanks to the wood pellets being natural and sourced from types of wood, they offer a pine-like odour, that helps to keep your living environment smelling as best as can be despite the presence of a cat litter tray. The smell of the pine is not overwhelming or overpowering, instead it is a natural scent that helps to mask any unpleasant odours. 

4. A biodegradable cat litter 

Wood pellet cat litter is biodegradable, which means it can break down naturally in the environment. This makes it a more eco-friendly choice than other types of cat litter. This feature of wood pellet litter has resulted in demand for this product growing as more and more cat owners seek eco-friendly alternatives to traditional cat litter products. 

5. Wood pellet litter is lower maintenance 

Unlike other types of cat litter, wood pellet cat litter is much easier to maintain. Not requiring as much maintenance or regular cleaning. It does not need to be scooped as often, due to its higher absorbency levels. This, again, makes it a much more popular choice for cat owners with busy schedules and less time to maintain their cat litter trays. 

Having said that, all cat litter trays should undergo weekly scoops and frequent cleans in  order to maintain a healthy and clean environment for the cats. 

 

Overall, wood pellet cat litter is a good choice for cat owners who are looking for a natural, absorbent, and eco-friendly option. However, it’s important to note that some cats will take some time adjusting to a new cat litter. Giving cats the time to adjust and become familiar with the smell and texture will ensure an easy transition from traditional cat litter to wood pellet cat litter. Starting with a small amount in the litter tray or combining this with your current cat litter is the best way to introduce your cat to the new litter. 

Job Opportunities, News, Pet Friendly Holidays, Pets, Retirement, Travel

Couples embrace retirement bliss working together as home and pet sitters

In Valentine’s Week, Homesitters Ltd, the UK’s leading home and pet sitting company, is highlighting the romantic benefits of a homesitting lifestyle where couples in retirement can spend quality time together enjoying new experiences.

A survey last year by Aviva[i] to find the ultimate ‘retirement bucket list’ found that travel was top of the list; and when it came to how people planned to adapt their lifestyle in retirement, the top answers were they wanted to ‘enjoy myself/have fun’, ‘relax more’ and ‘spend time with family and friends.’

 

Ben Irvine, Director of Operations at Homesitters said: “Homesitting gives retirees the chance to travel more in the UK, have fun and relax, and spend more time with their partner whilst on assignment looking after people’s pets and homes.”

“Sharing a homesitting experience can be a real treat for couples looking to spend time together and do something purposeful in a new and exciting location. Caring for the home and pets is the priority, but there is also time to pop out to enjoy a romantic pub lunch, tour a local attraction or take a long walk with the dog.”

“Homesitters receive a modest remuneration and get a small food allowance and mileage, plus they can make savings on their own energy bills too. It’s a great way to boost pension income whilst doing something that feels for many like going on a mini holiday.”

 

John Charlick, 79 years old (pictured above) and his partner of 20 years, Richard, 70, are regular home and pet sitters and they love their way of life. John has been homesitting for seven years since retiring from a career in the hospitality industry and Richard, a former care worker, retired recently so they can now do assignments together.

The couple used to run a small boutique hotel in St Ives in Cornwall. Now they are both are fully retired, they enjoy homesits which they view as mini breaks, with the bonus of looking after someone else’s pet. They tend to do around eight assignments a year, which is enough to keep them busy in retirement.

John and Richard were both keen to stay active in retirement and thought the flexibility of the role would allow them to travel to interesting new places and be around different animals.

John says, “I’m a people person and love the social side of the job, but my favourite thing is staying in gorgeous homes and visiting places I haven’t been to before. We often stay in great locations and very glamorous homes, with swimming pools and tennis courts. I took up playing the piano again a few years ago so if there’s a piano, I enjoy playing in the evenings.

“I also like spending time with the animals, particularly dogs. I’ve owned dogs in the past, but now that we live in a flat it isn’t practical to have one and they are rather a tie. Homesitting gives us the opportunity to look after dogs and take them for walks, but we can then hand them back to their owners – rather like having grandchildren!

“After seven years of home sitting, we have a few regular clients and particularly enjoy home sitting for a lovely couple in London looking after their whippet. We stay there several times a year and usually arrive the night before the client goes away so we can all have supper together – we almost feel like one of the family.”

 

Homesitters is keen to hear from people interested in home and pet sitting. Ideal candidates are responsible and reliable people, who are good listeners, and will be sensitive to clients’ requirements. Proven pet-care skills and a genuine affinity for animals are also a bonus.

For more information and to apply to become a homesitter visit: www.homesitters.co.uk

[i] https://www.aviva.co.uk/aviva-edit/your-life-articles/retirement-bucket-list/

News, Pets, South West England News

Bristol Pawrents, get ready for a treat! Scrubbies, the innovative dog shampoo brand, is giving away free products at their pop-up in John Lewis this March.

Trailblazing local dog shampoo brand, Scrubbies will host its first ever pop-up at John Lewis Cribbs Causeway in collaboration with The Great Brand Exchange. The pop-up will run from 18th – 24th March. Swing by their dog-friendly pop-up for a chance to snag free VIP gift bags filled with their eco-friendly shampoos – but hurry, it’s just for the first five visitors each day! Scrubbies will also have dog groomer, Charlotte Vickery, on hand on Tuesday 19th between 10-11am and again Thursday 10-11am to give advice on coats, grooming, and brushing to have your furry pal looking their best.

Scrubbies isn’t your average bubble bath for pups – it’s where sustainability meets style. Picture this: nourishing shampoos with nature’s goodness like geranium, rosemary, and grapefruit. Got pesky knots? Their detangling spray’s got your back. And for that ultimate ‘fresh pup’ vibe, there’s a deodorising spray to keep your furry friend smelling and looking on point.

Scrubbies founder, Polly Vickery says: “We’re over the moon to team up with the GBX & John Lewis for this Scrubbies pop-up! We’re all about making dogs look and feel their best and can’t wait to meet local dog owners in-store and showcase our range.”

In June 2023, Polly Vickery got the idea for Scrubbies when her sister, dog groomer Charlotte, was on the hunt for products that were effective and natural without irritating sensitive skin at her Bristol salon. After digging into natural ingredients that could leave dogs feeling pampered, Scrubbies came to life. The brand showcases local pups in ads to shout out the Bristol dog crew.

Employee Benefits, News, Pets, Wellbeing at Work

Pet Care Introduced to Provide Inclusive Support for Employees with Four-Legged Friends

Bright Horizons is set to support the UK’s most family-friendly workplaces in taking their benefits to the next level with the roll-out of its new Pet Care service.

  • The provision will enable employees to access a range of support services, including overnight boarding, pet sitters, dog walking and day care for cats and dogs.
  • Employer demand for the service in the US has doubled since it first launched last year

 

Bright Horizons already partners with over 400 UK businesses to support working parents and carers with their child and eldercare commitments and, following a successful pilot stage, has now extended its service to include furry friends too.

With over 4 million UK households becoming pet owners during lockdown, the demand for flexible and inclusive support to meet pet-related responsibilities is increasing. Back-Up Care services provide a lifeline to working pet owners and their employers when care arrangements fall through, or a last-minute walk is needed.

Bright Horizons first launched Pet Care in the US in 2022 and figures for 2023 already show a 50% increase in the number of organisations signing up to the service, with three times as many employees using it than the previous year.

Victoria Cottee, Head of Client Relations at Bright Horizons, said: “We’ve always been a nation of pet lovers and the rise in home-working during the pandemic coincided with a marked increase in pet ownership, as more of us were able to make the commitment to care for a pet.

“However, we’re now seeing more and more companies (and employees) recognising the benefits of being in the office at least some of the time. The pressure is mounting on working pet owners to find trusted and flexible care arrangements for their four-legged friends. 

“Acknowledging the challenges employees face in combining work and family responsibilities – whatever these comprise – and providing meaningful support for them is a key factor in being an employer of choice. It’s equally impactful whether you want to send a message to your employees that their time and presence in the office is valued, or if you simply want to help them improve their productivity and lower their stress when they are working at home. 

“We are already working with some of the UK’s most forward-thinking employers to support with child and elder care needs, and our research demonstrates this has a significant  impact on wellbeing and productivity. 

“There is now undoubtedly a growing need to provide support with pet care, and we look forward to seeing the positive difference it will make to working families and their employers across the UK.”

Animals, News, Pets, Porthcawl

Volunteer widow is raising the guide dog named in her late husband’s memory.

A widow who lost her husband after years spent battling a blood cancer diagnosis is now raising a Guide Dogs puppy named in memory of him.

Sandra Corben is raising a puppy called Corby, after her husband Neil’s last name. The puppy, who has already left a “pawprint on [her] heart”, was named through the Guide Dogs’ ‘Sponsor a Puppy’ scheme after Sandra’s late mother-in-law left a legacy gift to name a dog in his memory.

The 66-year-old from Porthcawl, Wales, applied to Guide Dogs just one month after the loss of her husband in June 2013.

It has been 10 years since her soulmate Neil passed but “it just seems like yesterday for me,” Sandra says. “It hasn’t got better for me; you just learn how to cope with it.

“I truly believe, if it had not been for Guide Dogs, that I probably would have gone on to develop PTSD, which the doctors thought I might develop, or died of a broken heart like my dad seriously thought might happen.

“My story would have been very different to what it is now. I now have happiness in my life, albeit a different type of happiness from my time with Neil, that I never thought I would have again, and this is all down to Guide Dogs.”

 

Sandra and Neil were inseparable. The couple married when Sandra was 20 and Neil was 21. The couple, who tied the knot in 1977, had their own printing business together, and spent every moment by each other’s side right up until Neil died.

Sandra says: “We just kept going all the time. Before Neil was ever ill, we always used to say, ‘I want to go before you’ because the other one didn’t want to be left.

“Towards the end when he was ill, he was in the University of Wales Hospital for three months. I visited every single day, except for a couple of days when I went down with a cold and had to stay away.

“I always say with great love, comes great sorrow and when he died, for a long time, I felt as though I was living in a bubble and life had stood still for me.”

Sandra and Neil with Dog Bran

To help overcome her grief, Sandra signed up to volunteer for Guide Dogs – something the couple had always wanted to do together.

Sandra and Neil previously owned a Golden Retriever, Bran. “When Bran died, it was very difficult, because it was another bit of my life that was gone,” Sandra says. After Bran passed in January 2014, Sandra met her first Guide Dogs puppy, Berry, in March, who she described as a “diva retriever – exactly what I needed” as a distraction.

 

Guide dog puppies stay with volunteer raisers for up to a year while following daily training routine during the week and attending Guide Dog puppy classes every few weeks. Volunteers also socialise their puppies to increase their confidence by introducing them to a variety of environments.

Since applying for Guide Dogs, Sandra has raised seven dogs so far, all of whom she loves “equally”. During her time raising puppies, Sandra experienced the loss of her father James. He passed away on December 31 2017 at 81, followed by her mother Margaret on June 2 2021 at 83.

Then in September 2021, her mother-in-law passed away at the age of 96. It was a traumatising time for Sandra, yet she knew that she had to keep busy.

Jean, who was a “great animal lover,” left a £5,000 legacy gift in her will to sponsor a Guide Dog puppy to be named in memory of her son Neil. Corby was named through the scheme and the money would go towards covering the first year of the puppy’s life.

“We decided that because Golden Retrievers were our breed [as a couple], that it would be a male Golden Retriever,” says Sandra. “The two of us thought about what the name would be, something suitable for a puppy. Neil’s nickname to friends and family was ‘Corby’”.

On September 21 2023, Sandra had an emotional meeting with the “gorgeous” Corby. Corby, who is “active” and playful, loves to nibble Sandra and the furniture of the house that she has fully refurbished to accommodate him and future puppies to come. His two nicknames are “chunky monkey” and “demolition man”. Sandra has even noticed similarities between him and Neil, describing them both as “cheeky”.

While all her Guide Dogs are special, Sandra said looking after Corby is “extra special because it is a memory of Neil” and feels the fact it has come in the 10th year marks a milestone.

“Hopefully Corby will go on to change someone’s life, or he could even turn out to be a stud dog, and then that legacy would keep going.

“Whatever happens, Corby will go on to be a life-changer in whatever way, and I hope that I can continue working with Guide Dogs for many years to come.”

She adds: “I feel now that I am starting a new journey myself. During the last 10 years I have lost five of my loved ones, which includes the last of mine and Neil’s pet dogs. I am really looking forward to the adventures with guide dog puppy Corby.

“I don’t want people to be grateful to me for puppy raising, I am just so glad that I have this in my life and it’s truly kept me going. I get more out of it than I give because I know how it has saved me.

“And now, with Corby, when people chat to me about Guide Dogs, I can tell them how Corby got his name and, not only promote puppy raising as I always do but, perhaps it will encourage more people to also leave a legacy in their wills.”

  • To find out more about volunteering opportunities for Guide Dogs, call 0345 143 0191 or visit the website: guidedogs.org.uk/volunteer

 

Job Opportunities, Jobs, News, Pets, Retirement

Beat the retirement blues by becoming a homesitter

Retiring may lead to low mood or worsening existing symptoms of depression according to research[i] as people adjust to life without the routine of work.

The Mental Health Foundation highlights that depression affects about 22% of men and 28% of women aged 65 years and older.  Even those not experiencing low mood or depression can find retirement challenging as they can feel they have lost their purpose and identity.

According to leading home and pet sitting company, Homesitters Ltd, keeping busy in retirement by taking on a part-time flexible role like homesitting can be a meaningful solution.

Research from the company this year found that homesitters feel happier, are better off, and have a sense of purpose in retirement due to homesitting.

 

Ben Irvine, Director of Operations at Homesitters Ltd said: “After retiring some people can experience a real sense of loss and self-worth as they no longer have their career to focus on or work colleagues to interact with.

“This is why many of our homesitters chose the role, some even before they retired, as they want the structure, responsibility and purpose it offers.  It’s a flexible position that involves taking care of people’s homes and pets when they go away.

“Homesitters can choose how many assignments they do each year, which means it can work around other commitments such as travelling or spending time on hobbies. The top benefits for most are exploring the UK, looking after pets, and having a change of scenery.”

 

Homesitters receive a modest remuneration, they are reimbursed for mileage when they travel to and from an assignment, and they receive a daily food allowance.  They also make savings on their own bills when they are on assignment.

 

63-year-old Julie Wade from Kent decided to become a homesitter after finding that retirement didn’t completely suit her. Previously she had enjoyed a fast-paced career as a senior manager at John Lewis, but after retiring felt that she had lost her purpose in life.

She thought that becoming a homesitter would not only keep her busy but enable her to combine her two passions of animals and travelling.

 

Julie says: “I’ve always loved to travel and when I turned 40, I made a promise to myself to visit a new country every year. As a homesitter, I still get to travel around the UK visiting lots of new places and different counties rather than different countries, having adventures and meeting new people and their pets.”

 

Julie is very much focused on doing homesitting to make the most of the new experiences including staying in interesting places and being around animals. She says: “It feels good to be out of the rat race and finally have time to do all the things that life gets too busy for.”

Julie describes home and pet sitting as ‘the perfect job’ and says: ‘I’m so pleased I’ve finally found a job which allows me to have it all; time with my family, free time to go to new places and have adventures, and a great way to stay active and fit.”

 

Ben adds: “We’re currently recruiting more homesitters and are looking for responsible and reliable people, who are good listeners, and will be sensitive to our clients’ requirements. Proven pet-care skills and a genuine affinity for animals is a bonus too. Anyone that thinks they fit the bill we’d love to hear from.”

 

For more information and to apply to become a homesitter visit: www.homesitters.co.uk

[i] https://patient.info/news-and-features/how-to-cope-with-retirement-depression?xnpe_tifc=OkYd4D174kP_bD_pxIL_OMpJRfn-xkQLxfUNxfHA4.e_OCllxFVXtIzXxIoAhkxDOFHdhFHpxuolrkx8OFLsbunlxdo8OFbpx.oT&utm_source=exponea&utm_campaign=180th%20version%20PA%20Newsletter%2015/08/2023&utm_medium=email

Homes, News, Pets, Retirement

Revitalising Retirement: “How Embracing Homesitting Added Spice to Our Lives”

Research this year from Aviva[i] suggests that four in five (80%) over 65s liked the idea of working through retirement, and that continuing to work in later life can improve people’s mental and physical health, boost their wellbeing, and can keep loneliness and isolation at bay. Increasingly, the desire to work after retirement age is prompted by money worries, with latest data from the Office for National Statistics suggesting the cost-of-living crisis is putting retirement out of reach for many with a record 1.5m over 65s still in the workforce, and more than one in ten either in work or job hunting in the three months to April[ii].

But this is welcome news for Homesitters Ltd who is actively recruiting individuals and couples who are retired or in part time employment, and readily available, to employ as home and pet sitters.

Ben Irvine, Director of Operations at Homesitters said: “Many people spend up to a third of their life in retirement so keeping busy and doing something purposeful like homesitting can make sense financially and health wise. This flexible and fun role can boost a pension income and contribute to wellbeing as it offers the opportunity to travel in the UK, meet people and spend time with animals. Our homesitters tell us they feel happier and better off through homesitting, with some wishing they had known about the role sooner.”

 

Sue and Gordon’s Story

One such couple is Sue and Gordon Heels, an adventurous duo in their mid-sixties from Bedfordshire, who decided to embark on a new chapter in retirement as Homesitters after seeing the role advertised. At the time, Gordon was preparing to bid farewell to his engineering technician job at a communications company, while Sue continued her work at the local authority, where she compassionately helped troubled teenagers. Both were approaching retirement with apprehension, wondering how they would adjust to a quieter lifestyle.

Homesitting seemed like the perfect solution – a job that offered flexibility and variety, the chance to travel but also a sense of responsibility, and a clear purpose.

Despite not having any pets of their own, they were thrilled at the opportunity to care for other people’s animals, particularly dogs and relished the joys of dog walking in the countryside as a chance to stay fit and active, regardless of the weather. Also, the variety of assignments gave them a regular change of scene, a refreshing break from their usual routine, and an unexpected chance to spend more quality time together.

When on assignment, Sue and Gordon still managed to attend church services on Sundays which has led to them making friends in different part of the country and even being invited to community dinners and events.

Homesitting also offered surprises, such as having access to a client’s indoor swimming pool daily during their stays and, many homes were not only comfortable but also beautifully decorated with stunning art works. One memorable stay was at a grand Victorian house lovingly restored to its former glory, complete with a stunning antique crystal chandelier in the bedroom.

Far from having a quiet retirement, Sue and Gordon’s decision to become homesitters has allowed them to be adventurous, become closer and explore their love for animals, and build friendships across the UK.

Ben adds: “We are currently recruiting and are looking for sensible and reliable people like the Heels to join our team. Proven pet-care skills and a genuine affinity for animals is a bonus too. In return our homesitters receive a modest remuneration, a daily food allowance and they are reimbursed for mileage when they travel to and from an assignment. Homesitters equally make savings on their home utilities while away from home and on assignment.”

For more information and to apply to become a homesitter visit: www.homesitters.co.uk

[i] https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2023/03/two-in-five-55-64-year-olds-plan-to-move-into-semi-retirement-before-reaching-state-pension-age/

[ii] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/06/19/record-15m-over-65s-working-cost-of-living-crisis-retiremen/

Careers, News, Pets, Retirement, Travel

Homesitting – the job with the feel-good factor

Ben Irvine, Operations Director at Homesitters Ltd is highlighting the wellbeing benefits of becoming a home and pet sitter which can offer a real boost to older people looking to keep busy in retirement.

This comes as the firm’s recent research with 400 of its homesitters showed the role has a positive effect on mental and physical health, with 90% reporting that homesitting had a positive impact on their overall wellbeing.

The study also found that homesitters feel happier, are better off, and have a sense of purpose in retirement due to homesitting. For older people participation in meaningful activities and physical health are two key factors that can affect mental health[i].

 

Ben, who is Director of Operations at Homesitters Ltd said: “Homesitting is a great role for retirees as it’s flexible and can fit around other commitments. It gives people the opportunity to discover new places, look after pets and do something responsible and enjoyable, whilst also earning a bit of extra cash.

 

“It’s a sociable job where people meet clients and other people when on assignment. It also encourages people to do more exercise, whether that’s daily dog walks or exploring the local area. Both socialising and exercise are renowned for improving mental wellbeing.

“We encourage retirees considering taking on a fresh challenge to get in touch and find out how they could benefit from becoming a homesitter.”

 

One couple benefiting from the homesitting lifestyle are Jim and Ros Slaughter, a retired couple in their 70’s from Chichester and have been home sitting for the last eleven years.

They wanted to do something a bit different but still purposeful in retirement. Getting a part time job or setting up a business didn’t really appeal because they didn’t want to be tied into a routine anymore. They wanted the freedom to travel extensively, visit new places and meet new people and say homesitting is the perfect job.

Jim read an article about home sitting and thought it sounded like an ideal way to combine their many interests. The couple are both very sporty and active. Ros plays golf and is an avid gardener and both of them love walking and are great animal lovers.

One of their biggest attractions of home sitting was the opportunity to look after other people’s dogs. They have been ‘surrounded by pets’ all their lives so being a pet sitter made perfect sense and have relished looking after such a huge variety of dogs which have included Alsatians, Pugs, Westies, lots of Labradors and even Samoyed dogs.

The Slaughters now have six or seven regular clients located in Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, Kent and the greater London area who invite them back four or five times a year.

 

Ros said, “The pets are everything to us. We love staying in grand houses and we have some fabulous clients who are really interesting and lovely. Home sitting provides a real break from the routine and a chance to get fit walking the dogs. We’re very careful to be strict about the pets’ routines – no client wants to come home to an overfed dog.”

Jim and Ros have achieved a great work life balance and really enjoy home sitting in retirement and they look forward to doing it for many more years.

 

For more information and to apply to become a homesitter visit: www.homesitters.co.uk

 

[i] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/mental-health-statistics/older-people-statistics

Pets

The dog’s coat – mirror of health

A dog’s coat is a very good indicator of its state of health. Hair loss, dandruff, a greasy or dull fur indicate diseases or nutritional deficiencies that need to be clarified individually – here, a pet nutrition expert explains the signs to look out for.

The length and structure of the dog’s fur vary from breed to breed. Accordingly, the amount of care required for the fur can vary. For some dogs it is hardly worth mentioning, others need to be brushed almost daily. If you are negligent, you can expect your dog to have fur problems. The same can happen if the dog’s diet is not healthy and balanced. This can also lead to a change in the coat. It appears dull and lacklustre, there is hair loss, increased dandruff or disturbances in the change of fur. The quick and usually visible reaction of skin and hair to diseases or nutritional deficiencies enables every dog owner to judge the general condition of his dog. Accordingly, the causes can be counteracted promptly.

The dog’s coat change, for example, follows a seasonal cycle with peaks in spring and autumn. During this time, hair loss is completely normal in most dog breeds. The hereditary change of coat is supposed to protect the animals from cold in winter and heat in summer by an adapted coat. The renewal of the coat takes about 4 to 6 weeks. As this is an enormous metabolic effort for dogs, nutritional deficiencies are particularly noticeable during the coat change. A high-quality dog food that provides the dog with all the important nutrients is a good base for a smooth change of coat.

Keeping dogs indoors, artificial lighting, climate change and other external factors can disrupt the shedding cycle or even stop it altogether. Instead, the shedding cycle is completed throughout the year. This is not uncommon nowadays and therefore mostly harmless as long as there are no underlying health problems.

A healthy and strong coat should be a matter of course for every dog. It reflects not only the dog’s health, but also its conscientious care and optimal nutrition. If a dog is physically healthy despite poor coat quality, the diet should be changed and/or nutritional deficiencies corrected. A species-appropriate diet should also be supported by regular and thorough coat care. This also includes regularly checking the dog for parasites.

Tips for a healthy coat:

1. Feed your dog high-quality food that is appropriate for the species.

The connection between species-appropriate, high-quality nutrition and coat condition has already been examined in various scientific studies. The result: in almost all animals studied, it is possible to achieve an improvement in coat condition, which is expressed by shine and the right fat content, after just a few weeks by feeding high-quality complete food. PLATINUM, for example, uses only the best ingredients. In particular, high-quality salmon oil and cold-pressed linseed oil, to not only ensure the optimal fat balance, but also promote healthy skin and hair.

2. Bathing your Dog

When bathing your dog, use special skin-friendly shampoos for dogs to prevent the skin from drying out.

3. Brushing your Dog

Brush your dog regularly: this can prevent skin problems and diseases caused by matted fur. Check your dog’s coat regularly for burrs, ticks and other vermin – also look out for skin lesions or rashes. Keep your dog free of skin parasites such as fleas or mites.

4. Care when dogs are indoors

In Winter, many dogs spend much more time indoors.

If possible, take off the collar and chest harness indoors so that the coat does not experience permanent pressure or friction in these areas.

During the cold months, make sure that the humidity in living areas is not too low (40 % to 60 % is optimal) and that the rooms are not overheated. This dries out the skin unnecessarily. If you use dog clothing, make sure that it fits properly and that the material is gentle on the fur.

Lastly, if you dog is indoors for long periods of time their claws are likely to need regular clipping.  Don’t let your dog’s claws get too long, shorten them with special scissors if necessary or ask your veterinary practice for help.

Pets, Property, Property News, Travel

Why hiring a Homesitters means all your pets’ needs are met while you are away

A stunning Egyptian Arab horse, a Shetland pony, plus a Havenese dog, cat and Koi carp are amongst the pets that Homesitters look after when their owner goes away.

Aflie the horse, Rupert the pony, dog Theo, cat Noddy and the Koi carp belong to a family that live in a large Tudor style house in Warwickshire and have used homesitters for 15 assignments as they wanted someone to stay in their home and care for all their different pets.

Homesitters provides responsible and vetted home and pet sitters to clients across the UK looking for someone to take care of their home and pets.

Ben Irvine, Director of Operations at Homesitters Ltd said; “Our homesitters are experienced with all types of pets, from different dog and cat breeds to more unusual pets. The benefit for our clients which have a menagerie of pets is they employ one person or couple to live-in their home to look after all their different pets which is cost-effective and means their animals can all stay in their home environment.

“For dogs and cats especially this is preferable to a kennel or cattery, plus there is someone living there for the horses rather than just popping in to the feed them. The home and pet sitter can also keep an eye on the koi carp pond, as well as ensure the home is occupied which can help prevent opportunistic burglaries.”

 

Paula and Gavin Rose from Dorset have done over 90 assignments since they joined Homesitters in 2012, with four booking planned for this year already. The couple are both in their 50s and decided to become homesitters when they no longer needed to work full time and wanted to try something new.

While sitting for their client in Warwickshire, Paula and Gavin give daily walks to Theo, feed all the animals per the client’s instructions and give them all lots of love and attention. For Alfie and Rupert, the Roses provide two feeds a day, along with topping up their water, checking the enclosure is all intact, and they are in good form.

Paula explains, “We wanted a lifestyle change – we were keen to live in different parts of the country and meet new people and researched ways to do this. Then we discovered homesitting and it sounded ideal. We love animals and are keen walkers, and the role incorporated the travel and new experiences we were looking for.”

The Roses tend to go on about 12 assignments a year which can vary in length from three or four days to a month at a time. They usually look after dogs and cats although they have also looked after horses, chickens and a tortoise, and once memorably homesat at a hedgehog sanctuary.

They were once asked to help out at the hedgehog sanctuary while they were staying in the owners home looking after her two dogs and a cat. They helped another volunteer at the sanctuary to feed sick and injured hedgehogs that had been rescued – they eat kitten food and mealworms – and weigh them to check they were progressing well. Once the hedgehogs were recovered, they were reintroduced to their natural habitat.

“That was a really interesting homesit” says Paula, “we enjoyed learning to handle and care for the hedgehogs, it’s not often you get to see these little creatures close up and we took great pleasure in being able to help with their recovery.”

 

Paula and Gavin prefer to be in the countryside rather than the town as they enjoy walking. While the couple’s own home is a small bungalow, often the homes they stay in are grander. They sometimes have swimming pools, table football or pool tables too so there is always something to do regardless of the weather.

Paula recalls one of her favourite homes, “It was like staying in a National Trust property, the gardens were very well kept and beautifully laid out, there were ponds and statues. It was such a pleasure to be able to step out of the house straight into that beautiful setting.”

 

Homesitters Ltd are different to many other pet sitting agencies in that all their homesitters are employed by them, are fully vetted and insured, plus they provide 24/7 back up support for homesitters on assignment. Homesitters also meet clients and their pets beforehand to be briefed on the home and the pets’ routine to ensure the assignment goes smoothly.

For more information on Homesitters Ltd and to apply to become a homesitter visit: www.homesitters.co.uk