Have YOU Smooched YOUR Pooch Today?!
What’s Your Dog’s Favorite Treat?
March 27, 2012 | 
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We all love treats. Our furry friends love them too! What are your dog’s favorite treats? When do you most like to give them treats? Do you get the treats from a special place in Phoenix?
Posted in Have YOU Smooched YOUR Pooch Today?! | 
Tags: biltmore, central phoenix, dog walking packages, dogs, Phoenix, treats, walks | 
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Spring Has Arrived!
Yesterday was the first day of Spring. Did you and you dog get a chance to get outside to enjoy it? Spring can be such a wonderful time of year here in Phoenix. We at Doggie Smyle love to take the pooches for walks through Arcadia, Central Phoenix, The Biltmore and many of Arizona’s beautiful areas this time of year and give them some extra time outside to enjoy. What do you love doing with your dog in the Spring before the desert heats up?
Posted in Have YOU Smooched YOUR Pooch Today?! | Tags: Arcadia, biltmore, central phoenix, dogs, Phoenix, spring, walks | No Comments »
7 Gadgets Your Arcadia Dog Walking Company Carries
Most people really enjoy taking their dog for a walk. It gets you outside, it’s good exercise for both of you and great bonding time with you and your dog! Our dog walking professionals make sure to keep the following items with them at all times:
1). Poop-pick up baggies
2). Water and water pouch for dog.
3). Cell phone
4). A set of plyers
5). Neosporin
6). Blood clotting powder
7). Paw-pads
Some of these items are common sense, and the others may seem a bit odd.
Doggie Smyle has been dog walking in Arcadia for over 5 years now, and have had dogs step on:
- jumping cactus
- step on a sharp object
- pull a muscle
-and even once a very large dog, just decided that his walk was over and lied down.
Having a cell phone in all of these instances is crucial. My employees call myself, or use the “buddy-system”, and they can call our on call Veterinarian, Dr. Ferrera at Squaw Peak Animal Hospital with any questions. Doggie-Smyle employees are trained in just in case instances, and we are pro-active and prepared for emergencies.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY TROUBLES WHEN WALKING YOUR ARCADIA DOG?
JOB LISTING: Reputable dog walking company in the Biltmore, Arcadia, & Phoenix area of Arizona is Looking For Loving, outstanding People for dog walking, over-night pet-sitting, and in home hosts for Precious Pets!
Dog walking, Biltmore: DoggieSmyle
Reputable dog walking, pet sitting Company in the Biltmore/Arcadia area of Arizona, is looking to hire people who are fanatic dog lovers, and are very organized, reliable, super tidy, honest and “salt of the earth”. Must be very people oriented as well, with great communication and follow through skills. We need dog walkers for Monthly dog walking packages, over-night pet-sitters for in-home pet sitting, and host homes for our clients pets. Must be at least 21 years of age, own a car, a cell phone, and a computer. Must be physically active to walk or run with dogs. Must also have excellent references, and pass our background check with flying colors. Please review our web-site at:http://www. doggiesmyle.com before applying. If you are interested and qualified, please send your resume to: lara.evans@msn.com.
Every Day Dog Walking in Phoenix: R.I.P. “Gopher”, You will be Missed Often & Remembered Always!
“To call him a dog hardly seems to do him justice, though in as much, he had four legs, a tail, and barked, I admit he was, to all outward appearances. But to those who knew him well, he was a perfect gentlemen.”-unknown
Dog walking With Gopher!
Three years ago, I recieved a phone call from a lady named Gayle, who was needing every day dog-walking for her Dad in Phoenix. I scheduled an initial meet and greet with Gayle, her Father (Bil), and Gopher the lab. While we were all talking about Gopher, I couldn’t help but to comment on the adorable painting above Bil’s head. It was a cartoon of Family Circus, and one of the kids was throwing an apple across the table at another kid. ” I just love Family Circus, cartoons, what a fun picture.” Bil smiled a huge grin at me, and at the same time I noticed he had an emblem of The Family Circus cartoon right on his shirt. His name: Bil Keane. Finally, the light bulb went off….You are THAT Bil Keane, the creator and writer of The Family Circus!! WOW!! Is Gopher really Barfy, like the dog in your cartoons? No….Gopher was a sweet yellow Lab that they rescued years ago. They guessed that Gopher was 12 years old at the time they hired us. From that day on, every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, for the last three years we have had the Joy of walking Gopher.
Myself, Kristi Thorton, and Ashley Norton all took turns walking him. Kristi and Ashley would walk Gopher on Tuesdays & Thursdays, and I walked Gopher the other 5 days of the week. We took him dog walking first thing in the morning, & boy what a great way to start our day!! We all loved Gopher and felt blessed to be able to spend time with Bil. (An angel on earth).
They say dogs and owners sometimes look and act alike…..this was true of these two:) Bil is a sweet, silly, witty, smart, charming, adorable dear dear soul. Gopher and his Dad shared these traits. The last few months, the doggiesmyle girls and I knew that Gopher was slowing down a lot, and that each day we had with him was an extra blessing. It was still so heart breaking to hear the news of Gopher’s passing. There have been lots of tears, as well as giggles, as we recall our time with Gopher.
We Love You, and know you are running around chasing empty water bottles, coyotes, and bunny rabbits up in doggie heaven. You will be remembered often and missed always.-xoxo
Posted in Have YOU Smooched YOUR Pooch Today?!, My Best Friend Died Today | Tags: dog walking, Phoenix | No Comments »
5 Reasons Why Dog Walking in Arcadia Is Beautiful!
PSSSSSST……..
Pass it on!
1. Because you can walk by La Grande Orange and grab a drink. (I recommend their iced tea or the green tea-latte smoothie:)
2. Because we are one of the only green spots inthe valley
3. Because Hava Java, L.G.O, Taylors cafe, Einsteins, are all dog-friendly!
4. Because you can join a running group with your dog through I-Run.
5. Because there are many canal routes to walk along.
STOP YOUR DOG FROM BOLTING OUT THE DOOR!!!
Running away is one of the most dangerous decisions your dog can make! Even if your dog wears an ID. tag and is microchipped, he still runs the risk of being hit by a car, attacked by another animal, or “adopted” by someone who may not have your dogs best interest at heart. Whichever the case, a bolting dog almost always ends in tragedy. So if youve got a dog who likes to run away, it’s time to put an immediate STOP to the behavior!
NUETER!: Dogs sometimes escape because they are attracted to female dogs-which is also why it’s a good idea to spay, if you have a female dog.
EXERCISE!: A tired dog is less likely to escape the house. It’s important to take your dog for at least one good walk a day for exercise and to release all that puppy energy. That’s why Doggie-Smyle offers monthly dog walking packages! 
TRAINING!: Your dog must know sit, down, stay, heel, and be able to obey your commands. Try using a 3lb. empty coffee can and put a few pennies, or small rocks inside, then put the lid on. When you open the door and your dog tries to bolt out, shake the coffee can (don’t let your dog see that you are the one doing this). If you do this a few times, he will correlate that awful noise with his running out the door, and will stop doing the behavior.
TEACH YOUR DOG RESPECT FOR THE DOOR!:*** (This can only be accomplished if your dog has respect for you, which is accomplished through all of the steps above and consistency.) Put his leash on, then put him in a sit/stay. Hold onto his leash. Open the door. If he runs out say “UH-OH”, (in a firm voice….for us females, we have to really go deep and say it strong)., then bring him back inside and close the door. *Repeat this as many times as necesary. When he finally doesn’t bolt, walk outside holding the leash and say “come”. If he runs before giving him permission, say “UH-OH”, go back inside, close the door and try again. Each time you do this “Game”, it will take fewer times before he waits for permission. Eventually, he will come to respect the door and understand that he needs permission before he goes out of it. Then you can praise him with Gooooood Boys, and kisses, baby talks, and lovins, or a simple good job (whichever you prefer).
IF YOU ARE SUPER LAZY, NEED EXTRA BACK-UP FOR A JUST IN CASE, OR IF YOU HAVE A LEARNING CHALLENGED CANINE, then you can opt for an electric fence, and/or an electric collar.
When I say Super Lazy, I mean super busy, and don’t have time to train the dog……and when I say learning challenged canine, I mean not YOUR dog, because your dog is super smart and perfect. No, I mean those other dogs, that were given all the looks, and not so much of the brains. The dogs that God was overly generous with in the looks department, and not so much in the brains department, but we love them just that much more because of it…bless their hearts;)
An electric fence works, but it is expensive. The electric collar works too, but it is controversial and will cost you around $100-$175.
Your best bet is to: Nueter, exercise, train your dog basic commands, then teach him how to respect the door, (after he has learned respect for you, his most Awesome Master!!!)
STACY-MAE STARTED THE TEDDY BEAR PROJECT: WHAT A GREAT SERVICE DOG!
This Greater Swiss Mountain dog and her Mom started The Teddy Bear Project. Delivering teddy bears for the elderly and the ill to love. Stacy- Mae and these Teddy Bears bring comfort, warmth, and love to so many people who need it the most. Truly Touching!
Posted in Have YOU Smooched YOUR Pooch Today?!, Inspirational, Therapy Dogs, Videos | Tags: elderly, ill | 1 Comment »
PUPPY-POTTY TRAINING TIPS!
If you have embarked on the journey of providing a loving home to a newborn puppy, you know that from the beginning, there is hard work to be done! Potty training is tough and takes consistency. Here are some Doggie-Smyle tips and resources to help you train your new pup. The most important thing to remember is that there WILL be accidents, and CONSISTENCY is the key.
It’s all about the ROUTINE:
Puppies do best on a regular schedule. When a schedule teaches him that there are times to eat, times to play, and times to potty, it provides security necessary for learning. Generally speaking, a puppy can control his bladder one hour for every month of age. So if you’re puppy is two months old, he can hold it for about two hours. If you work outside the home, this means you may have to hire a dog walker to give your puppy his breaks.
This applies to his eating schedule; what goes into a puppy on a schedule comes out of a puppy on a schedule. Depending on their age, puppies usually need to be fed three or four times a day. Feeding your puppy at the same times each day will make it more likely that he’ll eliminate at consistent times as well, and that makes housetraining easier for both of you.
Outside, Please!:
It is important to take your puppy outside at least every two hours; immediately after he wakes up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking.
Pick an Out “House”:
Otherwise known as a designated bathroom spot outside. One helpful hint is to always take your puppy to that spot using a leash. While your puppy is eliminating, use a word or phrase, like “go potty,” that you can eventually use before he eliminates to remind him what to do. Take him out for a longer walk or some playtime only after he has eliminated.
“Good- Job!!”:
Be sure to praise your pup or give him a treat, making sure to do so immediately after he’s finished eliminating, not after he comes back inside the house. This step is vital, because rewarding your dog for eliminating outdoors is the only way he’ll know what’s expected of him. Before rewarding him, be sure he’s finished eliminating. Puppies are easily distracted. If you praise him too soon, he may forget to finish until he’s back in the house.
Monitor the H20:
Remove your puppy’s water bowl about two and a half hours before bedtime to reduce the likelihood that he’ll need to potty during the night. Most puppies can sleep for approximately seven hours without having to eliminate.
If your puppy does wake you up in the night, don’t make a big deal of it; otherwise, he will think it is time to play and won’t want to go back to sleep. Turn on as few lights as possible, don’t talk to or play with your puppy, take him out to do his business, and return him to his bed.
Supervision:
Don’t give your puppy an opportunity to soil in the house; keep an eye on him whenever he’s indoors. During the housetraining process, even your yard should be treated like any other room in your house. Give your puppy some freedom in the house and yard only after he is reliably housetrained.
For more tips, or to find out what to do if accidents happen (and they will!) click Here
(Resource: Humane Society of The United States)
Posted in Dog Training Tips, Have YOU Smooched YOUR Pooch Today?! | Tags: consistency, designate, monitor, praises, puppy-potty training, schedule, supervision | 1 Comment »
Pet Safety Summer Tips
Fellow Phoenicians, it’s that time of year again! As you prepare for summer by stripping layers of clothing and turning on the AC, you may be wondering about how you can help your four legged friends stay cool and signs that they have had too much.
Water, please. Leave your pets with plenty of access to clean, cool water. Of course water is a no-brainer for pet ownership, but is especially important to keep it replenished during the hot months!
Scratchy- scratch! Fleas, ticks and other pests are becoming more active during these seasons. Do your dog a favor by taking the proper precautions to keep these disease carrying pests away from your pet. Bathing your pet regularly and by administering medication by a special collar or chewable tablet can be helpful.
A doggie sunburn? Yes fur helps protect our friends, but your pet CAN get sunburned, particularly if she has light skin and hair. Sunburn in animals can cause problems similar to those it can cause in people, including pain, peeling, and skin cancer. Help prevent this burden by keeping your pet out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and when you do go out, rub a bit of sunblock on unprotected areas like the tips of her ears, the skin around her lips, and the tip of her nose.
The sensitive pups… Some dogs are better able to handle the heat than others. Elderly, very young, and ill animals have a hard time regulating their body temperature, so make sure they stay cool and out of the sun on steamy summer days. Dogs with snub noses, such as Pekingese, pugs, and bulldogs, have a hard time staying cool because they can’t pant efficiently, so they also need to stay out of the heat. Overweight dogs are also more prone to overheating, because their extra layers of fat act as insulation, which traps heat in their bodies and restricts their breathing capabilities.
When the heat is too much:
How much is too much? A heatstroke in animals is a serious medical emergency. Call for medical attention immediately if your dogs seems to be experiencing a negative reaction to the heat including the following signs of heatstroke: Panting, staring, anxious expression, atypical refusal to obey commands, warm, dry skin, high fever, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, collapse .