Why Do We At Four Paws Require 2 Keys?…glad you asked!

Collage of cute pets isolated on white

Many people ask why does the sitter need 2 keys?

By having 2 keys will insure that even in emergencies we will be there to care for your beloved fur babies.

We want to make the pet sitting process easy for you while providing excellent care.

Being in business for 14 years has taught us a lot in being prepared for something that can go wrong.

The last thing we want to do is make unnecessary stress for our clients and their pets by having to call a locksmith or your emergency contacts.

So what kind of emergencies are we prepared for with having 2 keys?

A key can bend, get stuck or break off in the lock.

The sitter may have an illness or emergency.key_cabinet

We are not in the habit of losing a key but it could happen. Our sitters carry your key on a lanyard and the key is securely marked so no one would know what home the key belongs to.

Sometimes we may have 2 sitters doing your visits and each sitter needs a key. We will not hide a key on your property.

A sitter could accidentally lock themselves out.

We keep the 2nd key in a locked file cabinet in the office.

After your visits, the first key will also be returned to the office unless of course you are a daily client or very often and in that case the sitter keeps the key secure.

Having a backup is always important! So, one of the biggest lessons in this many years is that 2 keys is a must!

Makes sense, doesn’t it?

Dog-Toy Destruction – What 3 Toys Really Hold Up?

chew_toy

Is your pooch able to eviscerate a stuffed animal (or other dog toy) in under an hour? Then you may own a dog-toy shredder.

Shredder: Any dog that pulls all the stuffing out of their toy, pops the eyeballs off, locates and removes the squeaky inside, and basically destroys the toy in under a day. Why do they destroy their play toys? It could be instinctual.

The stimulation they get out of  acting as they would in the wild, “catching” a small prey animal and then eating it. It could also be boredom or lack of stimulation. In the past, toys didn’t seem to last, irregardless of the indestructibility rating.

Now, we have the benefit of Internet product reviews and websites devoted to testing out the pros and cons of competing brands.

Below are three highly recommended, durable toys to try:

1. For dogs that prefer stuffed animals:
Small Dogs: Kyjen  Invincibles Mini Plush Dog Toy
Pros: Plush, easy to carry around, durable plush, stimulates natural prey drive, squeaker

Large Dogs: Skineeze
Pro: Stuffing Free, durable, soft and furry, stimulates natural prey drive, squeaker

Check this website out if interested in the Skineeze.

2. For dogs that prefer to chew:
Rubber Kong
Pro: Can be filled with treat, aides dental health by cleaning teeth and gums, prevents boredom
You can find Kongs at Petco.

3. For dogs that like to play fetch/chase balls:
The Tug and Toss is a ball with a handle on it that the dog can grip with his teeth.
Pro: Made of extremely durable non-toxic polyethylene . The dog can grip it in his jaws and it will not deflate, even if punctured. They come in several sizes, for toy dogs up to large-breed.

Jolly Ball link

The gripper ball is another option, with a squeaker inside

The key to remember is that you pay more for a more durable toy. Putting up a favorite, cheaper toy, and only allowing your dog to play with it in limited amounts of supervised time can prolong the life span.