The Black clown fish is also known as the Yellow tail clown fish, and can be obtained in several colour variations. The most common form of Black clown fish is black and yellow with white vertical stripes. Just like the other clown fishes, Black clown fishes form a symbiotic relationship with anemones and are therefore also known as Black anemone fishes.

The Black clown fish is one of the most frequently kept clown fish species and you can find these fishes in numerous saltwater aquariums all over the world. The native region for the Black clown fish is the warm West Pacific Ocean. Populations of Black clown fish are found from the Persian Gulf to the Western coast of Australia. They inhabit the Australian archipelago, the many reefs of Melanesia and Micronesia, and you can also find Black Clown fish up to north Taiwan and south Japan.

The vibrant coloration of the Black clown fish makes it very easy to spot for predators, and it would not survive long in the wild if it was not protected by the tentacles of the stinging anemone. The Black clown fish will keep the anemone clean by eating left over food. When a Black clown fish is kept in an aquarium without any natural enemies and is provided with food by its keeper, it does not need an anemone to survive. You should however make sure that the aquarium set up provides the Black clown fish with suitable hiding spots, since it can be very stressed in a barren aquarium, especially when no anemone can be found.

In the wild, the Black clown fish is known to co-habit with a wide range of different anemone species. If you keep your Black clown fish with an anemone species that it has not encountered before, the Black clown fish must gradually acclimatize itself to the anemone to avoid begin injured.

The Black clown fish can be kept in a comparatively small aquarium since it grows no bigger than 5 inches (13 centimetres) and claims a very small territory. A 20 gallon (75 litres) aquarium will be enough. You should however keep in mind that the Black clown fish requires supreme water quality and keeping the levels of soluble waste down will be much easier in a bigger aquarium. In the wild, the territory of a Black clown fish group is limited to the immediate area around an anemone. The Black clown fish is however known to occasionally leave its host anemone to attack nearby fish. This habit makes it more aggressive than the other clown fish species. Since the Black clown fish is native to warm, tropical parts of the world it can only be kept in tropical aquariums. The temperature must be in the 75-82? F (24-28? C) range for the Black clown fish to do well. The pH should be around 8.3-8.4. Your Black clown fish should be provided with a meaty diet in the aquarium, since it is used to feeding on the scraps left by the predatory anemone. Chopped fish and shellfish is usually appreciated. The Black clown fish will also require some vegetables and algae to stay healthy. You can usually get a Black clown fish to accept flake food, but keeping it on nothing but flakes is not recommended.

Allen Jesson writes for several sites including two sites that specialize in salt water and fresh water aquariums and the aquarium site and Seapets, a leading source for aquariums and fish tanks.

Theres a horse show across the state in a few weeks, and youre planning on being there with your horses. However, its been awhile since you last pulled a horse trailer, and youre a little concerned about your trailering skills. After all, you want to arrive at your destination safely, with the horses as calm and relaxed as possible.

Guiding a loaded horse trailer down a country road or highway requires practical experience and know-how. Theres very little room for error. What do you do to ensure a safe, uneventful journey?

How to Ensure Safe Trailering

If youre out of practice, or if youve never towed a trailer before, obtaining adequate personal experience prior to the actual event is of the utmost importance. Just as if you were learning to drive for the first time, you should begin by practicing basic driving skills before getting out in traffic with the trailer.

The more experienced you become, the more prepared you will be for anything that may potentially happen. With more confidence and a higher level of awareness and preparedness, you should be better able to handle any unexpected situation that comes along.

Find a level field or a parking lot in which to practice. Mark your course with several highway cones, then, set out to work on the following driving skills:

Ready for the Highway

After youve practiced all the basic driving skills while pulling your horse trailer and you feel confident in your ability to handle the rig safely, youre ready to test your skills out on the road.

Try towing your trailer for short distances, at first. Make sure that you feel comfortable with turning corners in traffic, with backing your trailer, with parking on a grade, and with being able to stop your trailer quickly (should the need arise). Once you are confident in your towing abilities, youre ready to travel any distance with your horses.

Just remember to always be alert when out on the roads. Drive defensively and be prepared for any possible situation.

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We love our cats. Throughout the centuries, Cats have been revered, even worshipped. They can be our cuddly friends or fearsome hunters. Through it all, they are our beloved pets. For some, coming through the door at the end of a long day, being greeted by a furry feline it the best part of the day. Our cats love us unconditionally; we can do no wrong with them. Now, there is something that can lift your spirits as soon as you turn into the driveway. A new and unique way to pay tribute to the one who enriches our lives in so many different ways and this is with cat mailboxes.

Cat mailboxes, what?s not to love? A cat mailbox is a cute, fun, decorative novelty item that can bring you home to life. It is a way to personalize your property. It can show to the world that you are friend to felines. The assortment of different cat mailboxes is as astounding. There are so many different shapes and sizes that it makes the decision to purchase just one difficult. There have been some who have purchased cat mailboxes just for d?cor. They can be created a playful kittens or in a stalking pose. The design is limited only by cat lovers? imagination.

Cat mailboxes are approved by the United States Postal service and are made of heavy-duty steel that is rust and weather resistant. They also can be made out of wood, or vinyl, and are all durable to withstand the often-frigid temperatures of winter or scorching heat of summer. Cat mailboxes come in many different designs. They can be freestanding, or attach to a building. They can have locks attached by request.

By searching the Internet, there are hundreds of links that will assist the cat lover in finding the perfect cat mailbox. There are even sites that will create a specific cat mailbox from a picture that is sent. It can be made to be a life size model of the your favorite pet. What better was to express love for a furry feline friends. A cat mailbox can also have a message inscribed on it to welcome guests to your home. This services is usually offer by request only. These adorable designs are usually hand crafted, and made to look exactly like a treasured family pet. A cat mailbox can even be made with movable whiskers and tails. They are a delightful novelty item that all cat lovers would love to receive as a gift.

A cat mailbox will make an incredible addition to a home that will keep friends and loved one amazed at the quality and workmanship of the design. Most sites on the Internet will send a cat mailbox complete with everything you need for installation. This feature is appealing to most people as all they have to do is unwrap and install their cat mailbox for all to see.

Big or small, black or white a cat mailbox will be the talk of every neighborhood.

Mailboxes HQ http://mailboxes-hq.com/ contains information about mailboxes from designer mailboxes through how to keep your mail safe from criminals.

One of the reasons I strongly encourage horse owners to train their own horses rather than ship them away to a professional trainer is familiarity. Quite simply, an unfamiliar party will not understand your horse nearly as well as you, and this understanding of a horse is the backbone of any successful training plan.

This is not to suggest that all horse trainers are clueless individuals that bumble along hoping to do something right, because most professional trainers will take the time to understand a horse before ever thinking about saddling him and training him to ride. But all too often an impatient or inexperienced trainer will misread a horse’s problem or intention and react incorrectly due to his lack of understanding. Too many of these incidents can prolong the training process (thereby costing you money) and potentially mentally scar your horse for life.

Far too many head-shy horses can be attributed to inexperienced or abusive past trainers and/or owners who lacked an understanding of the horse they were working with. Once a horse has developed this mistrust or fear of people it can take a good while to reassure the horse that another cuff is not waiting around the corner. And who can blame the horse? If every past exposure with a dog resulted in the dog biting you, chances are you would be very wary, if not outright panicked, by future exposures to canines.

To correct an improper action it is first important to understand the motivation that lies behind it. For example, let’s say that you are training a young filly to walk alongside you to your left. Suddenly without permission the filly slams against your side, but being that she’s still young it doesn’t do much more than get your attention. What would you do?

1. Ignore the behavior no harm was done after all.

2. Jab your elbow into the filly’s shoulder and growl at her to remind her to respect your space.

3. Take a moment to detect the reason why the filly brushed against you.

If you selected the first option, you chose wrong. Although your heart is in the right place in your willingness to write off a seemingly harmless action, eventually if you ignore these things they can compound to worse problems. Your filly won’t always be so small and light!

If you selected the second option you might have reacted correctly if the filly was gently asked to respect your space previously and elected to ignore the request out of defiance. In such a scenario you would need to reinforce your authority lest she view herself as being the alpha leader amongst you.

But what if the filly stepped against you because the wind was carrying along a plastic bag that startled her? In such a case if you discipline your horse you do her a huge disservice because she’s not trying to be defiant or challenge your authority she’s scared and she wanted your reassurance! If you start cuffing your filly for violating your personal space she will be like a deer caught in a car’s headlights; the bag to her left and the handler to her right are scaring her and she’ll either bolt or become paralyzed.

Had you understood the root of her concern you could have forgiven the invasion of your space and instead showed your filly the plastic bag was nothing to be concerned about. Such reassurances would have put her mind at ease, allow her to regain focus on the task at hand and hopefully become desensitized towards future encounters with plastic bags.

A trainer that believed in the one size fits all philosophy would probably have chosen option two in the above scenario since at face value that would be the correct reaction, but without understanding the horse or the motivation behind her action his correction would have further compounded the problem. It is essential a handler take the time to understand a horse’s behavior before attempting to correct it since one size most definitely does not fit all. And who would better understand your horse than you?

In addition the training process does not have to be the stressful battle of wills that most of us initially believe it to be. Taken slowly, both the horse and the owner can actually look forward to advancing along the lesson plan. As the owner and horse work together, each will develop an even better understanding of the other’s mannerisms, personality and expectations and with understanding comes success.

Jeffrey Rolo, owner of AlphaHorse and an experienced horse trainer and breeder, is the author of the above article. You will find many other informational articles dealing with horse training and care as well as games and other horse fun on his website: http://www.alphahorse.com

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Tired of your dog dragging you out the door and down the street? Are YOU the one that needs a nap after taking the dog for a walk? Maybe it’s time to leash train the dog. A little time and a bit more patience can provide a lifelong reward – enjoyable outdoor walks with your dog. But before getting started, let’s review a few basic training principles.

It is best train in an area that the dog is already familiar with, such as the back yard. Dogs have a natural tendency to explore, and things will go easier if they are not tempted by this desire. Reward good behavior with praise and treats – the treats can be lessened over time and you will find the dog is more than satisfied with just the praise. Keep the sessions short at first, and fairly often. Also, try to do the training at the same time everyday – this gives the dog an easy routine to follow. Remember to correct, not punish the dog while leash training. Punishment is only used when the dog does not behave as they have been taught, and they have not been taught how to walk on a leash yet. And don’t forget that you are learning, too!

A good collar and leash are necessities. A six-foot leather leash is ideal for training. An extensible leash is probably not a good idea for training purposes. They tend to keep a slight tension on the leash, and you want to teach the dog to walk near your side with the leash slightly loose (but not dragging). For puppies, use a regular buckle collar. If you are training an older dog, or one that tends to pull against the leash, then try a training collar. These allow you to tighten or loosen them around the neck to control pulling on the leash.

Now that you have everything ready, it’s time to start training. The first two or three sessions can be used simply to allow the dog to get used to the collar. Have the dog sit beside you while you put the leash on. Then let them roam around a little, dragging the leash. This lets them get used to the leash without having to worry about anything else. Try picking the leash up, and when it is about to tighten, give it a slight tug and call the dog to you. After the dog comes to your side, give them a treat and praise them. Repeat this a few times. Next time when you put the leash on and the dog starts walking away, call them back to your side and have them stand there for a bit. They will probably wander a little, but that’s ok – just keep an eye on the leash, and when it is about to tighten, give a little tug and call them back to your side. Don’t forget the reward and the praise. Your goal is to get the dog used to standing by your side with a loose leash.

After doing only this for a few sessions, you are ready to start walking. After putting the leash on and having the dog come stand beside you, try walking a little ways. Keep your eye on the dog, and if the leash starts to tighten, give it a slight tug and call the dog to your side. You might also try changing directions or simply stopping. If you do this before the leash gets tight, the dog will soon learn that you want the leash to remain loose. The dog will also learn that you want them to pay attention to what you are doing and follow your lead.

Whenever you feel the dog is doing well with this, then it’s time to venture into the real world. Try shorter walks at first, and lengthen them as you both get more comfortable with the leash. If the dog is not cooperating then put an end to the walk. Don’t reward their bad behavior by simply extending the walk and hoping they will improve. Let the dog explore their surroundings, but keep calling them back to your side. Over time, this behavior will become natural for both of you. Then YOU can look forward to the walks just as much as your dog!

This article was provided by Web-rover and AC tropical fish. Web rover features resources for all dog lovers and a popular Dog forum . Ac tropical fish is a large tropical fish resource with a large number of articles, species profiles and other aquarium resources. AC tropical fish also features a popular aquarium forum.

This week my dog Kiera had to go to the vet. Ill spare you the gory details, but I can assure you, there was no doubt in my mind that something was not right with my normally perfect girl.

While I was at the Vet I struck up a conversation with the team there about some of the things they wish people would remember when they bring their pets in for care. As we talked I realized that theres some great information here especially since we shared a few giggles and a few gasps about some pretty rude behavior. Voila! A column on vetiquette.

So, here are some things, courtesy of my hard-working front-desk friends at Del Ray Animal Hospital, to keep in mind to make sure you dont find yourself on the wrong side of the vetiquette police.

1.Youre not the only one with a sick animal who is nervous at the office. Try to take into consideration the fact that every person in the waiting room has a sick animal or at least one thats not necessarily pleased to be there.

2.Remember people go to the vet for different reasons. Some may be getting over a devastating diagnosis while sitting quietly in the waiting room. Some may have just put their companion to rest after battling an illness. Even if you have the cutest puppy in the world, they may not really be in the mood to be reminded of happier times with their own pet.

3.Not everyone is a dog person or a cat person. Dont assume that folks in the waiting room want to play with your pets or appreciate being slobbered, kissed, or purred on by your pride and joy.

4.Vet Clients are entitled to the same privacy as people-doctor clients. When you head to the doctor and youre getting ready to pay, you dont expect to have other patients leaning over the counter, looking at your receipt or listening to your diagnosis, do you? When you leave the examining room, realize that it will take a bit to process your receipt and if the front desk staff is busy with another client, respect their privacy and let them finish before you elbow your way up to the desk. Remember, financial stuff that isnt yours isnt your business.

5.Dont offer treats to pets that dont belong to you. This is a plain petiquette rule. No matter where you are, please dont feed someone elses dog or cat. Even if it is your pets favorite homemade liver treat. Remember, one of the reasons that pet may be at the vets office can be tummy trouble!

6.Keep your cat in the carrier. I thought this was a no-brainer, but Ive been assured that there are lots of people who insist that Pookie just hates the carrier and is perfectly behaved in all situations. Generally this assurance is coming as the owner is proudly watching Pookie walk across the front desk.

7.You are as important as the next person. Meaning, you and your pets needs are of equal importance as those of every other client at the clinic. Speaking rudely, disregarding rules (like cats in the carriers), and pushing other clients paperwork out of your way do not make you a more important pet-owner. In fact, it may make some people utter, theres an attitude only a pet would love!

The staff at every clinic goes out of their way to treat each and every pet with care, attention and tenderness. Sharing that attitude with your fellow vet clients can go a long way to keeping you out of vetiquette jail!

(c) 2006 Peggie Arvidson-Dailey

Peggie Arvidson-Dailey is the owner of Peggie’s Pet Services (one of the Regions BEST pet-care companies, as rated by The Washingtonian Magazine.) She’s also an engaging and lively speaker on topics related to the love affair between dogs and their humans. She’s an advocate for happy and healthy homes for all species and is eager to assist in creating them. If you want a monthly dose of tips and golden nuggets of information on living with and caring for your pet throughout his life, be sure to subscribe to The Care of Pets at http://www.peggiespets.com. Peggie is also a pet-care business advocate and the founder of the Pet Care Business Success University, which can be found at http://www.petcareuniversity.com.

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All dogs pick up fleas, ticks, and chiggers at one time or another, usually during the warm weather months. Even a pampered city pet can pick up a stray flea from a potted plant. Hunting dogs often return home with a collection of chiggers or ticks. Fleas hop from one dog to another with amazing speed and agility. Your pet only needs to greet one flea infested friend in order to acquire the beginning of a flea colony of his own.

External parasites are not a special affliction of dogs. The dog is simply a convenient host for them. We would probably have them too, if our bodies were covered with hair and we ran around without shoes and clothing and sat or slept on the ground. Fleas are the most common, the easiest to detect and to get rid of. Fleas appear as black specks on a fine tooth comb, and a single one can drive a dog crazy.

The worst part of fleas is that they act as hosts to tapeworm larvae, and if your dog swallows one you may end up with a worm problem too. You can trap fleas in a silky smooth coat with a flea comb, but fleas that nestle in the dense undercoat of double coated dogs must be treated with a product that penetrates the skin, and a regular mild treatment is safer than an occasional severe one.

In one day a single flea can bite your pet 400 times, while consuming more than its own bodyweight in blood. Some dogs can contract flea allergy dermatitis, an allergic reaction to the flea?s saliva. The severity and length of the flea season varies depending on what part of the country you live in, but it is best to treat your pet in early spring, (April ? May). In northern climates, flea and tick season usually lasts approximately 4 months, but in the extreme south, fleas can live all year long.

There are more than 2000 species of fleas in the United States alone, but the one that attacks most pets is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides Felis. A cat flea can lay up to one egg per hour, and within two days, a wormlike larvae will hatch from those eggs. The eggs are oval, smooth, and about 0.5mm in size. The hatched larvae will range from 1.5 to 5mm in length. The complete cycle from egg to adult takes approximately 30 to 75 days depending on temperature and humidity.

Adult fleas are about 1/16 to 1/8 inch long, are dark reddish brown, wingless, hard bodied, have three pairs of legs and are flattened from side to side. Fleas can jump vertically up to seven inches, and horizontally up to fourteen inches. They have piercing ? sucking mouth parts and spines on their body. Adult fleas cannot survive or lay eggs without a blood meal, but may live from two months to one year without feeding.

In order to effectively control an infestation, fleas must be removed from the pet, the home, and the yard. Starting with the pet, there are shampoos, topical treatments, sprays, collars, and oral medications. The least recommended is shampoo, due to the grooming the pet does to his own coat. The pesticides can be toxic if they are consumed in quantity. Topical treatments are better, along with sprays and collars, but the best and most recommended is the oral medication Lufenuron called ?Program? from your veterinarian.

To clean the home, all areas frequented by the dog should be cleaned thoroughly by vacuuming, washing bedding and rugs and possible treatment by insecticides. Treating your carpet with a Borate powder such as ?Borax? laundry powder works as a poison upon ingestion by the flea, simply sprinkle the powder on your carpets and leave it for a few h ours before vacuuming will rid most homes of their fleas. A second treatment can follow if necessary. It?s cheap, you can do it yourself and there are no insecticides used.

To treat the lawn and around the homes exterior, pyrethroids such as ?Archer? or ?Nylan?, as well as fenoxy carb such as ?Logic? or ?Torus? can be effective. Outdoor treatment is usually only done in extreme or severe cases of flea infestation and may not be necessary. You should however keep your lawn trimmed to create a drier, less ideal environment for flea larvae. If you don?t want to handle the pesticides yourself, any licensed professional pest control operator can do the treatment for you.

In summary, you should check with your veterinarian before using any form of flea treatment. Never use products for dogs on a cat, as cats are more sensitive to the pesticide and they groom themselves more thoroughly. Never apply pesticides to young, pregnant, or sick animals, and use alternative methods to control fleas, such as combing frequently with a flea comb, vacuum your home frequently and dispose of the vacuum bag, wash all pet bedding regularly, and bathe your pet with a pesticide free shampoo. Prevention is much easier than dealing with an infestation.

Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can read articles about anything pets as well as shop for the latest designer dog clothes, dog collars, dog beds and more for their best friend. Feel free to check out the site at http://www.joncopets.com

This week my dog Kiera had to go to the vet. Ill spare you the gory details, but I can assure you, there was no doubt in my mind that something was not right with my normally perfect girl.

While I was at the Vet I struck up a conversation with the team there about some of the things they wish people would remember when they bring their pets in for care. As we talked I realized that theres some great information here especially since we shared a few giggles and a few gasps about some pretty rude behavior. Voila! A column on vetiquette.

So, here are some things, courtesy of my hard-working front-desk friends at Del Ray Animal Hospital, to keep in mind to make sure you dont find yourself on the wrong side of the vetiquette police.

1.Youre not the only one with a sick animal who is nervous at the office. Try to take into consideration the fact that every person in the waiting room has a sick animal or at least one thats not necessarily pleased to be there.

2.Remember people go to the vet for different reasons. Some may be getting over a devastating diagnosis while sitting quietly in the waiting room. Some may have just put their companion to rest after battling an illness. Even if you have the cutest puppy in the world, they may not really be in the mood to be reminded of happier times with their own pet.

3.Not everyone is a dog person or a cat person. Dont assume that folks in the waiting room want to play with your pets or appreciate being slobbered, kissed, or purred on by your pride and joy.

4.Vet Clients are entitled to the same privacy as people-doctor clients. When you head to the doctor and youre getting ready to pay, you dont expect to have other patients leaning over the counter, looking at your receipt or listening to your diagnosis, do you? When you leave the examining room, realize that it will take a bit to process your receipt and if the front desk staff is busy with another client, respect their privacy and let them finish before you elbow your way up to the desk. Remember, financial stuff that isnt yours isnt your business.

5.Dont offer treats to pets that dont belong to you. This is a plain petiquette rule. No matter where you are, please dont feed someone elses dog or cat. Even if it is your pets favorite homemade liver treat. Remember, one of the reasons that pet may be at the vets office can be tummy trouble!

6.Keep your cat in the carrier. I thought this was a no-brainer, but Ive been assured that there are lots of people who insist that Pookie just hates the carrier and is perfectly behaved in all situations. Generally this assurance is coming as the owner is proudly watching Pookie walk across the front desk.

7.You are as important as the next person. Meaning, you and your pets needs are of equal importance as those of every other client at the clinic. Speaking rudely, disregarding rules (like cats in the carriers), and pushing other clients paperwork out of your way do not make you a more important pet-owner. In fact, it may make some people utter, theres an attitude only a pet would love!

The staff at every clinic goes out of their way to treat each and every pet with care, attention and tenderness. Sharing that attitude with your fellow vet clients can go a long way to keeping you out of vetiquette jail!

(c) 2006 Peggie Arvidson-Dailey

Peggie Arvidson-Dailey is the owner of Peggie’s Pet Services (one of the Regions BEST pet-care companies, as rated by The Washingtonian Magazine.) She’s also an engaging and lively speaker on topics related to the love affair between dogs and their humans. She’s an advocate for happy and healthy homes for all species and is eager to assist in creating them. If you want a monthly dose of tips and golden nuggets of information on living with and caring for your pet throughout his life, be sure to subscribe to The Care of Pets at http://www.peggiespets.com. Peggie is also a pet-care business advocate and the founder of the Pet Care Business Success University, which can be found at http://www.petcareuniversity.com.

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The popularity of the Havanese breed increased in Cuba throughout the 1900?s. The Havanese breed really is the perfect house dog that is very affectionate, good natured, and has a beautiful silky coat. Their coat is so silky that these puppies are referred to as ?Havana Silk?.

One thing to note is, that the wealthy Cuban society loved the Havanese not only for their Wonderful features and affectionate nature, but also for their high intellectual capacity. The Havanese Puppy is highly intelligent and is very skilled at performing tricks and following commands.

Just as the Bichon breed of dogs have been circus performers for hundreds of years. The Havanese was certainly no exception and often danced around and performed tricks for their wealthy owners that were entertaining and delighted guests.

The Havanese breed is instinctively great at performing which led this breed to become a top show dog. Cubans have focused on the show dog capabilities of the Havanese breed causing a surge in the breed?s popularity. This popularity skyrocketed in the late 1990?s and continues to increase.

Unfortunately such a quick rise in success and popularity of a breed can also lead to unscrupulous breeding practices. As a means to try and prevent and combat this issue, the Cuban Club of the Bichon Havanese was founded in 1991. This organization created breeding guidelines to help keep the integrity and health of the Havanese breed in tact.

The Havanese came to America in the early 1900?s. However, the breed didn?t catch on until the 1970?s. This rise in American popularity can be attributed to the influx of Cubans in the 1960?s. The immigrated Cubans brought over their love and support of this breed to the United States.

The Havanese Club of America was then founded in 1979. You can check out more information regarding the Havanese Club of America by going to their website.

The Havanese has been around for hundreds of years, but was officially recognized relatively recently. For example, the Havanese breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1991. While The American Kennel Club recognized the Havanese breed in the ?Toy? category in 1996.

Fiona

Fiona Kelly is a passionate Havanese owner that has devoted countless hours sharing her secrets on how to have the perfect, happy, healthy and best behaved Havanese. If you?re interested in the Havanese then you can check out her web site at http://www.havanese-puppy-guide.com/ The Author grants you permission to re-print or re-publish this article so long as it remains unchanged and all links remain present and active.

The next time you go away, whether it’s for business or pleasure, you might want to consider hiring a pet sitter to come into your home to care for your pets. Employing the services of a professional pet sitter will allow your pet to stay comfortable in his own home, gives you peace of mind knowing he’s safe and in capable hands, and frees you from having to rely on friends or relatives. Before you hand over your keys and wave goodbye to Rover and Fluffy though, take time to educate yourself about pet sitters and the services they provide. Interview a few pet sitters, get to know them a bit, and ask questions. Find out about their experience, how frequently they’ll visit your pets, how long visits last, what they’ll do while with your pets, how they’ll handle emergencies, and fees. In addition to general information about their services, you’ll want to cover a few very important points, as listed below.

Insurance and/or bonding: This won’t prevent accidents from happening but it will protect you and the pet sitter to a certain extent should a mishap occur. Most sole proprietors are insured, and most services that employ pet sitters are bonded and insured. It’s a good idea to ask for proof of insurance.

Pet emergency provisions: If your pet becomes ill when you’re away, it’ll be important for your pet sitter to know what measures to take if you cannot be reached. He or she should have your vet’s contact information, and the type of treatment and/or amounts you authorize if you cannot be contacted.

Pet sitter emergency procedures: Ask what measures will be taken if your pet sitter becomes ill and is unable to care for your pets, if he or she is unable to get to your home due to inclement weather, or in the event of a natural disaster.

Key security: Ask how the key will be identified and stored. Keys should not be attached to anything with your name or address on it, and when not in use, ideally they should be kept secure in a locked safe or other secure enclosure. Most pet sitting businesses will also offer to keep your key for future pet sitting assignments.

Contracts and other forms: Be sure that your pet sitter provides you with a written contract detailing such things as dates, times, services agreed upon, emergency procedures, key security, rates, etc.

References: Ask for names and contact information for a few clients. Take time to talk to these people and ask about their experiences and whether or not they’d hire that particular pet sitter again. Many pet sitters are also happy to give references from other pet care professionals such as veterinarians, groomers, or trainers.

Pet issues: Inform your prospective pet sitter of any health problems, behavioral issues, or other important factors regarding your pets. Giving your pet sitter as much information as you can about your pet will enable her to give the best care possible.

Home issues: As with pet issues, be sure to inform your pet sitter of any oddities about your home that may arise in your absence (toilet that overflows, doors that don’t lock properly, security alarms, etc.).

Because pet sitting is a personal service, you and your pet need to be comfortable with the person you invite into your home. Look for a sense of professionalism with a personal touch, be sure to take into account your gut feeling, and observe your pet’s reaction to the pet sitter you interview. With a little bit of preparation and investigation, your pet will be able to stay safely in his own home while you’re away, and will be there to eagerly greet you with love and affection when you return.

To locate a pet sitter, dog walker, or dog daycare in your area, or to learn more about the services they provide, go to http://www.petsitusa.com.

2005 PetsitUSA.com All rights reserved.

Therese Kopiwoda is a professional pet sitter and the owner of PetsitUSA.com. Founded in 2003, PetsitUSA.com allows pet owners to locate professional pet sitters, dog walkers, and dog daycares, and learn about the services they provide. For more information, go to http://www.petsitusa.com.

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