Animals Unfolded

Lorrie Shaw   The personalities of the dogs that is get to meet and work with every day never cease to amaze me. They certainly vary, and observing those canines that are in multiple-pet families is really interesting. When meeting with a family for the first time, one thing that I am keenly observant of is how naturally attentive a dog is to their people. This gives me a lot to go on as I'm getting to know my prospective charge. If the property has a fence, I suggest heading outdoors to play off leash. In doing so, it helps me understand what sort of things will garner attentiveness toward me, especially if they don't offer it easily. As a caregiver, much of what I do is all about relationship building, and from that, everything else follows: trust, bonding -- and an environment of cooperation. The latter is vital, as the single most important aspect of my job is to keep a pet safe. If their attention is on me when a situation arises that may cause their safety to be c...

Swapping lightweight coats for heavier ones and pulling out hats and gloves as the winter weather arrives makes some people really happy. Staying warm and dry while spending time outdoors is a priority, but so is being safe.  As bipeds, it's also a challenge trying to walk on snow and ice covered areas, and the risk of injury from a fall increases greatly this time of year. If you’re walking a dog, your risk of a slip and fall in winter conditions is even higher. For myself, there is one foundational tool in staying safe this time of year: the proper footwear. Nothing beats a good pair of boots to keep your feet protected from the elements, and a pair of ice cleats   give extra traction in winter weather. From wet sidewalks to snow-covered trails to icy country roads in rapid-fire succession, you can do so with more confidence because of what's on your feet. But footwear is only one part of the equation. I often see people struggling with their dogs, trying to get ...