This is what we consider a fear-based fail.

Here at PAWsome Companions, we have a strong ethical stance on the behavior and training of both pets and their people.

If you're a pet parent like us, you've likely considered hiring a pet sitter at some point. But questions like "What does it cost?" and "Is it worth it?" may have crossed your mind. We're here to give you clear answers about our services and what to expect based on industry standards. Another important factor to consider when choosing a pet sitter is the level of care and attention your pet will receive. From personalized feeding schedules to exercise routines and companionship, a professional pet sitter ensures that your pet's unique needs are met while you're away. This peace of mind allows you to focus on your commitments, knowing your furry friend is in safe and loving hands.

Retractable leashes often pose more risks than traditional ones, and many pet owners may not realize just how dangerous they can be. For those asking, "Why are retractable leashes dangerous?" the answer lies in the sheer number of injuries they’ve caused. On one side, you have dog owners who love the extra 30 feet of freedom these leashes offer their pets. On the other, critics view them as accidents waiting to happen—tools of chaos that can harm both pets and humans alike.

We all love our dogs and often show affection through food—whether it's by offering treats or crafting elaborate meals. However, some well-intentioned feeding habits can lead to serious nutritional mistakes. Overloading on treats, misusing chicken and rice (which is meant as a short-term remedy for digestive issues), or skipping essential nutrients can negatively impact your pup’s health.

Our baby boy Gunnar, a 140-pound, 2-year-old Great Pyrenees—is literally (but affectionately) nicknamed "Boogie" thanks to his legendary eye boogers! 😂 If you're a dog owner, you’ve probably noticed your pup occasionally getting eye boogers or tear stains. It’s natural to wonder if these are signs of a health issue. The good news? For most dogs, these are completely normal. Keep reading as we explore the common causes behind eye boogers and tear stains, along with some helpful tips to keep them under control.

With inflation continuing to strain household budgets, pet owners are feeling the financial pressure—not just on groceries but also at the vet, pet stores, and even groomers. From routine checkups to emergency procedures, the cost of caring for a cherished animal companion has surged in recent years. In fact, the cost of veterinary care has risen by 60% over the last decade, and data from Rover.com estimates the lifetime care costs at $34,000 for dogs and $32,000 for cats.

As a professional pet sitter, much of my role involves visiting clients' homes to care for their beloved pets, primarily dogs. Our clients range from those with average incomes to individuals earning millions annually. One recurring issue I’ve noticed in many households is overlooked pet hygiene—specifically, dirty dog bowls. I’m talking about unwashed food dishes, murky water bowls, and grimy food mats. It’s surprising to see such neglect in otherwise pristine and luxurious homes. Taking just a minute to scrub a dog’s dish can make a big difference, yet it’s often overlooked. As part of our service, we always make sure to clean these items for our clients. It’s not uncommon for them to return home and assume we’ve deep-cleaned their house because even small touches like this can dramatically improve their pet’s space. But we mostly do it for the safety of their dogs and I always think to myself… Would they eat off of that?

The first thing to understand about barking is that, just like digging, chewing, and jumping up, it is a normal dog behavior. Your goal should never be to completely stop your dog from barking, but rather to reduce the frequency of barking in certain situations.

In today’s fast-paced world, pet care has evolved significantly, creating a growing demand for professional pet sitters. This trend is driven by pet owners’ commitment to ensuring their beloved companions receive exceptional care and attention, even when they can’t be there. Professional pet sitters play a vital role in the pet care industry, acting not only as caretakers but as trusted partners in supporting the overall well-being of pets. Choosing a qualified pet sitter offers pet owners invaluable peace of mind. It guarantees that their pets are not only cared for but that their emotional, physical, and daily routines are thoughtfully maintained. In a time when pets are cherished as family members, ensuring their happiness and health remains a top priority for loving owners.

The animals in your life are so much more than just animals. They are family, trusted companions, unwavering sources of love, and even your greatest confidants.

Many pets are terrified of fireworks—and it’s easy to understand why. Our furry friends aren’t told that these sudden, deafening booms are meant to celebrate, not threaten. For dogs and cats, reacting to loud, unexpected noises is an instinctive safety mechanism. After all, who knows what danger might be causing that commotion? Adding to the problem, their hearing is much more sensitive than ours. To them, fireworks aren’t just loud—they’re overwhelming and frightening. The pops, bangs, and booms that excite us can feel like an all-out assault to our pets. While dogs often display their distress more visibly, such as trembling, hiding, or refusing to go outside, cats are equally affected. Many retreat under the bed and may even avoid their litter boxes during the chaos. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to help ease their fear and create a safer, more comforting environment when fireworks are in full swing. This can make all the difference during holidays like Independence Day, which can already be overwhelming for your four-legged family members. With fireworks sales on the rise, this year’s celebrations could be more intense than ever, so taking precautions is more important than ever to keep your pets calm and safe.

Have you ever wondered how your furry friend understands what you’re saying? Let’s dive into some fascinating research that sheds light on how dogs process human speech!

If we learn anything as we age out of the desire to leave the house after 10 p.m. or have a friend force last-minute plans upon us, it’s that being a grouch isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In short, embrace the crankiness — wisdom some of our pets have long been enjoying. In fact, in 2021, one study found that the grumpiest pups among us may also be the smartest.

Working in the Petcare industries, specifically in regards to pet sitting and dog walking, we get a lot of clients who are very how do I say this in a nice way… Over reactive and exaggerator he with their pets. Rightfully so I am a pet parent and I do have my paranoid and freak out moments as well, But when I am unsure of anything, or some thing, when it comes to my dog or behavior or overall wellness, in general, I reach out to the professionals. This blog is going to talk about your dogs, emotional well-being, and if your dog is truly sad or not…

Have you ever wondered how your furry friend understands what you’re saying? Let’s dive into some fascinating research that sheds light on how dogs process human speech!

If we learn anything as we age out of the desire to leave the house after 10 p.m. or have a friend force last-minute plans upon us, it’s that being a grouch isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In short, embrace the crankiness — wisdom some of our pets have long been enjoying. In fact, in 2021, one study found that the grumpiest pups among us may also be the smartest.

Working in the Petcare industries, specifically in regards to pet sitting and dog walking, we get a lot of clients who are very how do I say this in a nice way… Over reactive and exaggerator he with their pets. Rightfully so I am a pet parent and I do have my paranoid and freak out moments as well, But when I am unsure of anything, or some thing, when it comes to my dog or behavior or overall wellness, in general, I reach out to the professionals. This blog is going to talk about your dogs, emotional well-being, and if your dog is truly sad or not…

This is what we consider a fear-based fail.

Here at PAWsome Companions, we have a strong ethical stance on the behavior and training of both pets and their people.

If you're a pet parent like us, you've likely considered hiring a pet sitter at some point. But questions like "What does it cost?" and "Is it worth it?" may have crossed your mind. We're here to give you clear answers about our services and what to expect based on industry standards. Another important factor to consider when choosing a pet sitter is the level of care and attention your pet will receive. From personalized feeding schedules to exercise routines and companionship, a professional pet sitter ensures that your pet's unique needs are met while you're away. This peace of mind allows you to focus on your commitments, knowing your furry friend is in safe and loving hands.

Retractable leashes often pose more risks than traditional ones, and many pet owners may not realize just how dangerous they can be. For those asking, "Why are retractable leashes dangerous?" the answer lies in the sheer number of injuries they’ve caused. On one side, you have dog owners who love the extra 30 feet of freedom these leashes offer their pets. On the other, critics view them as accidents waiting to happen—tools of chaos that can harm both pets and humans alike.

We all love our dogs and often show affection through food—whether it's by offering treats or crafting elaborate meals. However, some well-intentioned feeding habits can lead to serious nutritional mistakes. Overloading on treats, misusing chicken and rice (which is meant as a short-term remedy for digestive issues), or skipping essential nutrients can negatively impact your pup’s health.

Our baby boy Gunnar, a 140-pound, 2-year-old Great Pyrenees—is literally (but affectionately) nicknamed "Boogie" thanks to his legendary eye boogers! 😂 If you're a dog owner, you’ve probably noticed your pup occasionally getting eye boogers or tear stains. It’s natural to wonder if these are signs of a health issue. The good news? For most dogs, these are completely normal. Keep reading as we explore the common causes behind eye boogers and tear stains, along with some helpful tips to keep them under control.

With inflation continuing to strain household budgets, pet owners are feeling the financial pressure—not just on groceries but also at the vet, pet stores, and even groomers. From routine checkups to emergency procedures, the cost of caring for a cherished animal companion has surged in recent years. In fact, the cost of veterinary care has risen by 60% over the last decade, and data from Rover.com estimates the lifetime care costs at $34,000 for dogs and $32,000 for cats.

As a professional pet sitter, much of my role involves visiting clients' homes to care for their beloved pets, primarily dogs. Our clients range from those with average incomes to individuals earning millions annually. One recurring issue I’ve noticed in many households is overlooked pet hygiene—specifically, dirty dog bowls. I’m talking about unwashed food dishes, murky water bowls, and grimy food mats. It’s surprising to see such neglect in otherwise pristine and luxurious homes. Taking just a minute to scrub a dog’s dish can make a big difference, yet it’s often overlooked. As part of our service, we always make sure to clean these items for our clients. It’s not uncommon for them to return home and assume we’ve deep-cleaned their house because even small touches like this can dramatically improve their pet’s space. But we mostly do it for the safety of their dogs and I always think to myself… Would they eat off of that?

The first thing to understand about barking is that, just like digging, chewing, and jumping up, it is a normal dog behavior. Your goal should never be to completely stop your dog from barking, but rather to reduce the frequency of barking in certain situations.

In today’s fast-paced world, pet care has evolved significantly, creating a growing demand for professional pet sitters. This trend is driven by pet owners’ commitment to ensuring their beloved companions receive exceptional care and attention, even when they can’t be there. Professional pet sitters play a vital role in the pet care industry, acting not only as caretakers but as trusted partners in supporting the overall well-being of pets. Choosing a qualified pet sitter offers pet owners invaluable peace of mind. It guarantees that their pets are not only cared for but that their emotional, physical, and daily routines are thoughtfully maintained. In a time when pets are cherished as family members, ensuring their happiness and health remains a top priority for loving owners.

The animals in your life are so much more than just animals. They are family, trusted companions, unwavering sources of love, and even your greatest confidants.

Many pets are terrified of fireworks—and it’s easy to understand why. Our furry friends aren’t told that these sudden, deafening booms are meant to celebrate, not threaten. For dogs and cats, reacting to loud, unexpected noises is an instinctive safety mechanism. After all, who knows what danger might be causing that commotion? Adding to the problem, their hearing is much more sensitive than ours. To them, fireworks aren’t just loud—they’re overwhelming and frightening. The pops, bangs, and booms that excite us can feel like an all-out assault to our pets. While dogs often display their distress more visibly, such as trembling, hiding, or refusing to go outside, cats are equally affected. Many retreat under the bed and may even avoid their litter boxes during the chaos. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to help ease their fear and create a safer, more comforting environment when fireworks are in full swing. This can make all the difference during holidays like Independence Day, which can already be overwhelming for your four-legged family members. With fireworks sales on the rise, this year’s celebrations could be more intense than ever, so taking precautions is more important than ever to keep your pets calm and safe.

Losing a beloved pet is an incredibly painful and deeply emotional experience. With their shorter lifespans, it’s an inevitable heartbreak that touches the lives of many pet owners at some point, leaving a significant void that is difficult to fill.

It’s a worn-out myth that all cats are aloof, independent, solitary. In reality, they can be highly social and form strong bonds with humans and other animals.

There are several reasons why dogs may lick their paws—ranging from itchy paws caused by allergies to normal grooming to behavioral issues or other health concerns. Most of the time, it’s pretty normal, especially if it’s only occasional licking. However, if you notice that there’s excessive paw licking or your dog seems to be in pain, you should take them in for a checkup to determine the underlying cause of this behavior.

The rising temperatures signal the fun summer months of backyard barbecues, vacations and more time spent outside (with a cool drink in hand). But, the scorching days of summer can also present unique hazards for your dog—and dogs in your care.

In the age of side hustles and gig economies, pet sitting and dog walking have emerged as a popular choice for earning extra income. Platforms like Rover and Wag have capitalized on this trend, offering convenient ways for pet owners to find care for their pets and furry companions. However, relying solely on these apps as a pet sitter or a dog walker may not be the best or fastest strategy for building a successful pet care business.

Dogs are known for their loyalty and affection towards their owners. They often show signs of happiness and excitement when their owners return home, and they can even become protective of their owners and their territory. However, some dog owners may wonder if their furry friends are capable of feeling jealous.

As a pet parent, you want the best care for your furry friend while you’re away. While there are various pet care options available, hiring a pet sitter for overnight dog sitting can be the best option for many pet owners. However, we also understand it can be a little unnerving to invite a potential stranger info your home.   In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of hiring the best pet sitter for overnight dog sitting and how it includes taking care of your home.

It’s easy to see that humans love dogs. Greece, India, Sumatra, Egypt, Scotland, Turkey, China: cultures around the world have dog-headed (cynocephalic) heroes or gods. The existence of a word to describe such phenomena speaks to how common they are. Although other mythical human/animal chimeras are known — the centaur and minotaur, for example — none are as widespread as those involving dogs. This depiction of creatures with the traits of both humans and dogs attests to the longstanding idea that we are connected. We are, it seems, naturally predisposed to form deep connections with dogs.

There’s nothing cuter than dogs frolicking out in the great wide open, running at full speed with their tongues hanging out in what looks like an ear-to-ear grin. And while we love and expect dogs to pant while they are running around, you may be wondering why your dog seems to be panting at other random times.

When a vet or trainer is trying to diagnose the reason for a dog’s bad behavior, it often boils down to one question: “How often do you walk your dog?” Exercise can make all the difference in a dog’s mental state and behavior. Their needs are not so different from the mental and physical health needs of humans in that way — and they can feel equally tricky to fulfill. (Did I get my steps in the week that Wednesday came to Netflix? I did not.) We all know that exercise is important for our pets, but why is dog walking so important? And how often should you walk your dog? A few experts broke it down for us.

This behavior is quite typical among dogs, particularly puppies. Working in the pet care industry, focusing on pet sitting and dog walking services, I often encounter many clients who raise concerns about this unpleasant issue. I trust that this blog will offer them valuable assistance with their concerns! Trust me I get it how gross it is...We get the pleasure of scraping it out of their mouths when they pull a sneak attack or run up to us and try to give us a kiss! 🤮

As a cat owner you’re probably familiar with their strange behaviors, but their love for your keyboard may be one of the strangest. While there are no concrete answers for why cats are drawn to your keyboard—aside from sending “interesting” messages to your coworkers—the following are some of the theories:

Many dog professionals believe that crates are a necessity when sharing your life with a dog — and they usually have a point. Crates can be a great management tool: They are helpful with a new puppy’s house-training routine, they can be a wonderful place for your dog to safely retreat and relax when there are too many visitors in the home, they can be used to safely transport dogs in a vehicle, and they can be a comfy place for your dog to take an afternoon nap.

You call them toe beans. Your vet uses more technical terms. Whatever they’re called, take care of them. Sadly, our Great Pyrenees Gunnar suffers from allergies and dry paws, so I wanted to share what I can with other owners having the same issue...

As someone who used to work remotely, I had a serious at-home office setup. It included a large desk holding multiple monitors with the type of elaborately comfy chair previously reserved for Twitch streamers. The downside to these long-sought-after luxuries is that I rarely used them because my dog can’t get close enough to me when I do. If I don’t sit on the couch, bed, or somewhere else he can curl up next to me all day, he will have a full-on emotional meltdown. 

While many people recognize and address the physical health of their pets, the same cannot always be said for their pets’ mental well-being. Sadly, I’m not surprised, as some people fail to recognize the importance of mental health in humans, believing behavioral issues are character flaws rather than symptoms of illness or distress.

In their development, puppies go through at least two phases where they are particularly fearful, even if they haven’t previously shown signs of being scared. These are called “fear periods.” These fear periods in dogs can take pet parents o guard if they don’t know about them. If they are expecting to see fear stages in dogs, it’s easier for both the people and the dogs to handle them and move past them in a way that is most beneficial to their dogs.

“America’s Veterinarian” and the founder of Fear Free Pets, Dr. Marty Becker, on how this method makes vet visits, training sessions, and grooming appointments less stressful for pets.

Every dog owner wants to make sure that they are doing the best thing possible for their pets, especially when it comes to providing them with a good diet. One of the most important question that all dog owners will have to ask themselves is whether to go with dry dog food or wet dog food, and though most will try to have a bit of both, one will definitely become more prevalent.

Unless the client specifies otherwise, we at PAWsome Companions allow dogs to sniff to their hearts content! Now of course we do not let a dog sniff (let alone eat) anything gross or dangerous, such as poop, mushrooms, dead critters, food, trash, and so on. But yes, they can absolutely sniff pee! Why do we give pee the green light?

We are often asked what the differences are between Pet Sitting visits and Dog Walking visits. The best way to think about it is: 

I’ve got this adorable Great Pyrenees puppy, Gunnar, who’s 8 months old. Let me tell you, my partner and I thought we hit the jackpot with this little guy. He was super easy to train and well-behaved from the get-go, unlike what we’d heard about his breed being notoriously barky. We were all smug when he turned 12 weeks and didn’t make a sound. But fast forward to 6 months, and he’s barking at every dog in sight or sound, even on TV or in cartoons. He’s also looking at us when he barks, like he’s seeking approval. So, this blog is for all the fellow pet parents dealing with non-stop barking!

Dog diarrhea: We don’t want to talk about it. We don’t want to look at it. We definitely don’t want to touch it. Our dogs’ diarrhea is definitely not the most adorable thing about them, but s*it happens. As much as we don’t want to, we have to deal with it.

It’s fun to be the molten center of your dog’s entire world—until suddenly it isn’t. When they find it unacceptable to be temporarily deprived of your company, something has gone horribly wrong in the dog-human dynamic. Thousands of folks with pandemic pups found out as much the hard way this past year, while attempting to return to the office.