Pet Etiquette Tips

The Pawfect Pet Gift

• Don’t buy a dog for a friend or family member.
• For dog lovers, canine-themed products make
  great gifts.
• Toys, treats, and gift certificates are good
  doggy presents.
• If you want to buy toys for a dog, consider factors
  such as age, breed, sex, and size.
• If buying treats, purchase healthy treats made from
  fresh ingredients, with no chemicals or preservatives.

To help with the process of finding a dog, buy The Right Dog For You by Daniel F. Tortora, Ph.D (Fireside, 1983) at your favorite pet store or www.amazon.com.

For dog lovers, you can buy a gift subscription to Dog Fancy Magazine at www.dogchannel.com. Another great gift for the purebred-dog enthusiast is the yearly poster of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The poster proceeds benefit the organization’s therapy dog program, Angel on a Leash. See www.westminsterkennelclub.org.

Pet Stages creates developmental toys for the stages of a dog’s life. Visit www.petstages.com to find a toy for a puppy, adult, or senior dog.

See www.dogtoys.com for some great gifts. You can shop by breed, toy type, toy size, and brand.

While Foppers Gourmet Pet Bakery makes beautifully decorated 100 percent natural treats with yogurt (www.foppers.com), Honeybark Bakery makes organic treats with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fresh meats, nuts, seeds, and spices. There’s something for every dog’s taste here (www.honeybark.com).

Taking Care of Pet Nannies

• To find a professional pet sitter to care for your
  dog, contact your veterinarian, the National Association
  of Professional Pet Sitters, or Pet Sitter
  International.
• Your pet sitter should be trained in animal-handling
  skills and first aid and be willing to care for your pet
  in your way.
• Confirm that the animal professional is bonded and
  insured and has at least three references.
• Introduce your pet sitter to appropriate neighbors
  and building staff and review all local health ordinances,
  building, or community regulations for
  information she should know.
• Leave your pet sitter detailed instructions regarding
  the care of your dog.
• Put out all appropriate supplies and equipment for
  your pet sitter, and leave her a small sum of money
  for emergencies.
• Ask your sitter to keep a daily log of your dog’s
  activities.
• Should the pet professional perform additional services,
  thank her for fulfilling your request, and pay
  additional charges for her time.
• Always pay your pet sitter in a timely manner.
  Tipping your pet sitter fifteen to twenty percent
  per visit is recommended.

The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (www.petsitters.org) or Pet Sitters International (www.petsit.com) can help you find a professional pet sitter to care for your pet when you are away from home.

Planet Dog has created a notebook of pet sitting instructions. The fill-in-the-blank sections allow you to include emergency numbers, special instructions, and more. See www.planetdog.com.

• Only ask a close family member or friend if you can
  bring your dog along for a visit to their home and
  only if your dog is well-behaved.
• If your host does not offer your pet an invitation,
  don’t try to change her mind; if you are invited,
  discuss how to make the visit comfortable for
  everyone.
• Pack your pet’s possessions, including an odor
  eliminator and stain remover, in case he has an
  accident.
• Take care when introducing him to dogs in the
  household.
• Balance your dog’s needs with the house activities.
• Walk your dog as a means of spending some time
  with him alone, giving him some exercise and the
  possibility of meeting new dogs and their owners.
• Be prepared to replace or repair any items destroyed
  by your pet.
• Thank your host for the invitation.

Before leaving home, don’t forget to bring a gift for the host. Since you will spend time together eating and drinking, take her a bottle of wine from the Mutt Lynch Winery, located in Sonoma County, California. She will be amused by the choices of Merlot Over and Play Dead, Portrait Of A Mutt Zinfandel, Canis Major Syrah, Canis Major Cabernet Sauvignon, or Unleashed Chardonnay (www.muttlynchwinery.com).

Travel to a friend’s house with a portable, soft kennel by Petgear (www.petgearinc.com).

The Urine-Off Travel Kit allows you to use a black light to locate stains that you can’t see. Then you can treat the soiled area with Urine-Off stain and odor eliminator (www.urineoff.com).

Use elegant pet stationery to write your host a thank you note (www.the-petset.com).

• The Pawfect Pet Gift
• Taking Care of Pet Nannies
• Best Guest Behavior

• Have a "petiquette" question?
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