There are several possible reasons for their discomfort.  Not only are things out there getting wet, things also appear shiny, Noises can seem a bit louder/crisper/clearer than at other times, there may be a static build up in the air, things smell different, also there is a different feeling during pressure changes in the air ~ any of these things may effect your dog’s reaction, or the cause may be something totally different only present during rain and storms. 

While working with a few of our pet sitting pet kidz and our own ‘sensitive stormy,’ I have found a few things that ‘may’ be helpful to them during this time of discomfort. 

• Rescue Remedy ~ I have found this product to be pretty good for separation anxieties as well as other general anxieties.  I have found that it does seem to have a calming effect.
• Essential Oils – I have also used Peppermint.  Dilute this in distilled water.  (Do NOT apply this neat/full strength) Apply a dab on the pads of the front paws.  You can also use the room diffuser method. I have found this to help have a calming effect. 
• A dryer sheet ~ an *unscented (dog’s noses are very sensitive) rubbed on their fur will eliminate the static build up that may be present. 
• ThunderShirt®. ~ I found this to be a great product!  I have also found this helpful for dogs with very high general anxieties.

These are some things I have tried to help alleviate the anxieties of our ‘sensitive stormy’ I hope you find any one of these helpful for your pooch.  I wish you well

This dog’s walking motion is effected by the longer toenails pressing onto the ground as she/he walks.  If she/he is also a bit overweight adding to the pressure problem for this dog paws.

You can see how she/he tends to lean back as she/he walks.  There is an unnatural bend of the toe area.

This effects the movement and quite possibly hip and spine issues may present due to the stress placed upon these areas due to changes in her/his gait.

Long nails over an extended period of time can create pressure sores in the joints such as you see below.

An example of the rear nails.

There are many reasons that cause the pet parent to put off nail trims.

Here is an example of the negative effects on your dogs health over time.   If you are unable to do the nail trims hire a professional to trim them for you.

If your dog has sensitivities of  it’s paws and nails, you can help them become more comfortable to the touch of the leg, then the foot, then the nails.  Working your dog through it’s sensitivities will also create a stronger partnership between you as the trust builds up.

Services include:

Vacation pet visits – during these visits we will provide care for your pet kidz and your home

Daily dog walks – daily pet kidz clients really look forward to these visits!

Emergent pet care support – for those unexpected times you need to be away from your pet kidz

We also provide obedience training services… Share this:

Echo is able to understand SIT.  We are working on DOWN ~ It is a bit difficult because Echo has had difficulty trusting.  Because she does not hear, she seems to feel a bit more vulnerable.  She is understanding our small workouts and I do see progress.  It is important to me that she feels very comfortable and safe when taking the position of DOWN.  I believe she will have this by the end of this week, but if she does not I will alter my expectations and maybe adjust my approach.

It has been MORE important to me that Echo feels safe and does not feel cornered in anyway.  She had a very difficult time with trusting any handling ~ so my top priority has been to build a relationship, build a trust and make sure she feels SAFE in my hands and anyone’s hands she meets.  I see her progress in this ~ when we first met Echo she would shut down and her body would quake at the thought of any touch from anyone…

But first, she has had some challenges too.  She had a bout of Kennel Cough and she had PARVO.  She was not in house very long before the symptoms became aparant.  This is VERY unfortunate because this is a very important time period of her social development.  Things would have been much easier for her development had we not been dealt this challenge…

At the point of our meeting she and her siblings were VERY under socialized to humans.  The puppies would avoid any and all contact if they could … when they could not avoid they would absolutely quake under the touch of your hand.  Add to this very limited exposure to humans and any outside world, Echo’s very unique challenge of being deaf.  It was apparant to me as she depended upon input from her siblings for clues to what was going on in her new environment…

She is a very bright gal to have made her adjustment to her world in such a manner in order to socialize to her world.  My hope is that I can be bright enough to guide her to a happy life…

:pictures to follow:

• We worked on Getting her to a more normal body weight, she weighed about 35 pounds near the end of her stay with us
• She had Kennel Cough from the dog shelter ~ my first experience of it
• She did not know about a leash, stairs, different flooring, among other things…
• She needed to know basic obedience skills – and we both worked on these

She found her forever home on November 26th and is doing VERY well. 

She is renamed Storm, which fits her now that she is less fragile at a normal weight … 

At last weigh in she was 29 pounds!  She has had a bout wth kennel cough ~ and is on medication for that.  I am still keeping her seperate from the other pets of the home as preventative while she recouperates.  But her health is really coming around quite nicely. 

She now knows how to use the stairs.  She knows Kennel / Sit / Heel / working on Down / She also fetches quite nice – we just need to work on the release!   She is very happy – and quite the funny gal!

  She is about 7 months old. 

September 30th

She came into Measle’s Animal Haven’s Rescue September 30th.   Chronic Malnutrition… She weighed 15 pounds when she was rescued.  She has had truly a very rough start in life.  She is very affectionate, intelligent, and eager to please.  She is picking up on some every day manners quite fast.

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As I am working with an animal – teaching them new skills – My goal is to give them a better chance of finding and keeping a forever home.  I keep in mind things that will increase this potential and work with the animal where they are now to build them up and increase their chances at a happy life in a forever loving home.

Yet, the process of teaching creates a bond.   There is a communication that is being built up.  A relationship and a trust begins to grow during the process of teaching and learning.  By August I had really become quite attached to Pip.

So, I had very mixed feelings:  Although it was VERY hard letting her go I knew this was her family ~ things were the way they were supposed to be.  Everyone was interacting pretty much immediately.  Everyone looked so very happy.

“your pet kidz pal!”

“Warm weather is here!”

Increasing temperatures can require some additional planning for your pet kidz. With warmer weather, there are some things to keep in mind:

• *Provide shade and plenty of cool water
• to outdoor dogs.
• *Be aware while doing outdoor activities, watch for
• changes in breathing rate, activity level, alertness and
• behavior changes.
• *A good practice: Bring water along on your walks and do
• not walk in the hottest portion of the day.

Vomiting, excessive diarrhea, listlessness or lethargy, decrease in appetite are some of the warning signals that may require veterinary attention.