If your getting ready to travel or go on holiday, instead of boarding your pet in an unfamiliar facility or burdening a friend, why not consider a professional pet sitter?

But how do you find the right pet sitter to trust with your best friend? We’re here with a few important tips that will help you feel more comfortable that your pets are safer, healthier, entertained, and well-cared for while you are away:

• First and foremost, find a pet sitter that is affiliated with a company that is fully bonded and insured.
• Check the company’s and the sitter’s references, and check their social media sites for reviews.
• Confirm that your sitter has undergone a criminal background check, drug screening and received proper training in pet first aid and CPR.
• Call your chosen sitter and pre-interview them with your pets on hand so that you and your pet(s) feel comfortable.
• Outline all your pet sitter expectations ahead of time regarding playing, feeding, cleaning, walking, medical needs and more.
• Make sure that the sitter and the pet sitting company are available seven days a week, and provide ‘backup’ care if your sitter has an emergency.

By following these tips both you and your pet(s) will feel more comfortable while you are away.

Many areas of the country are experiencing very cold temps and a lot of snow, which makes it challenging for humans and pets alike. Most pets aren’t able to handle extreme cold and snow, and need a little help from their humans.

Here are our top 5 tips to keep your pets safer, healthier and happier this winter.

1. When the snow flies many cities and neighbors put down rock salt and other chemical ice treatments to melt the snow. These treatments can be dangerous for dogs paws and may cause tummy upset from licking the salt off their feet. To help your dog, try to avoid salted roads and sidewalks, use a paw safe salt for your walks and drive, and wipe their paws with a warm cloth when they come inside.
2. Fireplaces and heaters are as comfy to pets as they are to you which can make them a hazard. To keep your pets safe, keep them away from heat sources like wood stoves, heaters and fireplaces by placing barriers like secure screens, pet gates and x-pens around them.
3. Limit the time your pet spends outside in the extreme cold and snow. If you’re cold, you can be sure that they are too. Make quick trips outside and think about putting a coat and booties on your pet to help them stay warmer.
4. Keep an eye on your pet when going for walks, in your garage or near cars. Some pets are very attracted to the smell and taste of antifreeze, which is very toxic and harmful to pets.
5. If you live near open bodies of water, like lakes and streams, avoid allowing your dog off leash as these water sources may seem to be frozen, but if not your dog could slip through a thin spot in the ice and not be able to get back out. Keep them leashed and with you at all times.

And if you’re knee high in snow, like many parts of the country consider creating a fun maze in your yard so your dog can get some quick, fun exercise!

Snaggle Foot Dog Walks & Pet Care partners with Pet Health Academy
to provide pet CPR and first aid certification courses to their
franchise owners and their employees.

Snaggle Foot is the only nation-wide pet care franchise that requires its professionals
to complete training in pet CPR and first aid.

January 15, 2016 – Snaggle Foot Dog Walks & Pet Care announces a new partnership with the Pet Health Academy to provide Pet CPR & First Aid Certification Courses and annual accreditation to Snaggle Foot franchise owners and their employees.

Pet Health Academy is an organization dedicated to bringing excellent pet first aid and CPR techniques to everyone who cares for companion animals. This course can be taken from any mobile device from any location that has access to the Internet within a 30-day time frame. The course takes approximately 3-4 hours to complete and is an annual certification. The course has received approval for 4 CEU’s (continuing education units) from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).

The initiative is part of the ongoing commitment to provide the most trusted dog walking and pet care providers in the nation. Snaggle Foot is the only nation-wide pet care franchise that requires its professionals to complete training in pet CPR and first aid, be bonded and insured, and pass a drug screen, reference check, and eight-point background screen.

For further information and/or questions feel free to contact the Snaggle Foot Dog Walks & Pet Care corporate office at 877-609-7387 or via email at [email protected].

About Pet Health Academy

Whether you want to keep your pet safe or you’re responsible for the safety of someone else’s pet, it is important that you know what to do when something goes wrong. Pet Health Academy’s pet CPR and first aid class online provides the right knowledge it to save an animal’s life. The online course includes instruction relating to pet first aid, CPR, how to help choking pets, recognizing and basic treatment of hyperthermia and hypothermia, seizures and bloat, and more. Detailed course descriptions can be found on the Pet Health Academy website.  For more information email .

About Snaggle Foot Dog Walks & Pet Care

Snaggle Foot Dog Walks & Pet Care is one of the most trusted dog walking and pet care providers in the nation. Each Snaggle Foot pet care franchise is locally owned and operated providing care from professionals right in your neighborhood that strive each day to provide outstanding care to the pets with whom we are entrusted, making sure they receive world-class service and the most stress-free experience possible. Snaggle Foot is the only nation-wide pet care franchise that requires its professionals to complete training in pet CPR and first aid, be bonded and insured, and pass a drug screen, reference check, and eight-point background screen. For more information about Snaggle Foot visit their website, or email .

Photo courtesy of Pet Health Academy.

Winter can be a stressful time for dogs. It’s cold, it’s icy, it’s just not fun to go outside and get all the exercise they need every day to keep fit, physically and mentally.

Here are our top 5 ideas to help keep your dog busy, happy and healthy during  the long winter months:

Tricks!:

Winter is a great time to teach your dog some fun tricks. Learning new tricks and behaviors is great mental exercise for dogs! Zak George is one of our favorite positive dog trainers on YouTube. He has a wide variety of videos that will give you great ideas of tricks you can teach your dog. From sit, roll over and play dead to ‘say your prayers,’ whisper and even do math, Zak’s trick YouTube playlist is a great place to learn how to teach your dog some fun tricks.

Hide and Seek:

Hide and Seek is a fun game for dogs. And it’s a great game to teach them to come when called. Start by putting your dog in a sit, stay and then go hide in another room or a closet or even upstairs if you have different levels in your home. Call your dog and have them find you. When they find you give them a nice treat and give them a ‘good boy/good girl!’

Find it!:

The find it game is a great game for dogs to play at dinner time. Instead of giving them their food in their usual bowl, take some of their food and place around the home on container lids and let them search your home for their dinner. Find It! is a great mental and physical game to keep dogs happy.

Ottoman Game:

The Ottoman Game is a game many of our dogs love to play for their dinner. Start with an ottoman or a little rug or mat if you don’t have an ottoman. Teach your dog to go to the ottoman and lie down, then give them some of their dinner. To increase the difficulty you can send them to the ottoman/mat from farther and farther distances.

The Muffin Tin game:

If you have a muffin tin and a few tennis balls or other round dog toys, this game is a wonderful way to mentally exercise your dog, teach them to problem solve and use their noses. Here’s a video showing one dog having a great time with the Muffin Tin game:

Have fun!