Blog

Meeting your pet sitter: here's what to discuss during a meet & greet

Celine
If you are searching for a pet sitter, then you’ll naturally prefer someone you feel comfortable leaving your beloved pet with. It’s important, therefore, to get along really well with your sitter. But how can you be sure of that all-important 'click' when booking a pet sitter via Pawshake? You'll find out during the meet & greet. Here are the do's and don'ts when meeting & greeting.
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Meeting your pet sitter: here's what to discuss during a meet & greet

Pet-proofing your house: preventing accidents and damage

Celine
If a new pet comes into your life or if a dog comes to visit you, it's important that your home is a pet-safe place and that you know your boundaries. We've created 2 convenient checklists to prepare your home for the arrival of a new pet - this will prevent damage to your property and keep the pet safe and sound.
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Pet-proofing your house: preventing accidents and damage

Traveling with your dog: tips for a pet-friendly holiday

Celine
There's nothing better than enjoying a holiday with your pet. But traveling should not only be fun for you as a pet owner: your dog should also have a good and comfortable experience. Here are the most important tips to ensure a pet-friendly holiday with your dog.
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Traveling with your dog: tips for a pet-friendly holiday

Moulting: Why does my pet shed so much fur?

Celine
It seems like it will never end: your pet's summer coat falls out and you find tufts of fur all over the place. What is moulting exactly? What can you do to make things as comfortable as possible for your dog or cat, and what should you avoid doing?
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Moulting: Why does my pet shed so much fur?

Selling yourself as a pet sitter

Celine
If you are a pet sitter, trust and responsibility are key, and pet owners should be able to tell that their pet is in safe hands with you. But how do you let the world see that you are that reliable sitter? How do you increase the likelihood that pet owners will book you? Read our tips on how you sell yourself as a pet sitter and how to communicate with pet owners.
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Selling yourself as a pet sitter

Whining cats 3 tips for annoying behaviour

Celine
Cats can sometimes show really intrusive behavior: meowing, begging or throwing your stuff on the floor. Where does this remarkable behavior come from? Why do cats throw random stuff on the floor and how can you stop the begging behavior? Also important to discuss with your cat sitter: here are our 3 tips for whining cats.
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Whining cats 3 tips for annoying behaviour

Tips to prevent your pet from going missing

Celine
It is a risk is always at in the back of your mind: what if your dog or cat goes missing? This is especially so if you plan to bring your pet to a sitter for home boarding or doggy daycare. You may worry about what happens if your furry friend suddenly takes off? Fortunately, most pets are found and returned to their owner very quickly. And the good news is that you can do a lot to prevent your pet from getting lost in the first place. And what if your pet does get lost? We have an action plan ready for you to bring your pet home quickly. Here are our most important tips for pet owners and pet sitters how to find a lost dog quickly.
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Tips to prevent your pet from going missing

Why do dogs smell?

Celine
Yes, some dogs can smell a bit, but generally, a healthy dog doesn't smell too bad. But if your dog's odor is starting to get really nasty, that might be a sign that something's wrong. In this article, we share with you everything doggy smell, and what to do if your dog gets a bit stinky.
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Why do dogs smell?

Pet sitting rates: how much does a sitter cost?

Celine
If you want to find affordable pet care in your area, you can go to Pawshake! You'll soon discover that the rates vary between each pet sitter. What is a reasonable price for pet sitting? And how do you, as a pet sitter, determine exactly what price you should ask for your sitting, boarding or walking services?
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Pet sitting rates: how much does a sitter cost?

First aid for cats: how to take care of a sick cat

Celine
You do everything you can to keep your cat happy and healthy - but at some point, just like us humans, your cat might get sick. Or adventurous cats can sometimes get themselves into trouble and suffer an injury. It's therefore really important that all cat owners and cat sitters can spot symptoms of illness or injury in a cat. What should you as a cat owner or cat sitter do in case of an emergency? How do you perform first aid on a cat? These are our emergency cat care tips:
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First aid for cats: how to take care of a sick cat

How much time do I need for a dog

Celine
How long can a dog stay at home alome? If you want to bring a new dog into your home, it is important to know in advance how much time you will need to take care of your dog. Also, if you want to become a dog sitter, this is a really important question to ask: How much time does the dog require to have his needs sufficiently met? Here's a handy checklist to help you find out!
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How much time do I need for a dog

Introducing dogs to each other

Celine
Anyone who walks a dog every now and then knows how exciting it can be to meet another dog. To what body language signals should you pay attention to? And how do you ensure that a meeting runs smoothly? With these 5 tips, you can introduce your dog to a new friend in a safe and calm way.
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Introducing dogs to each other

The ideal pet sitter profile

Celine
If you are looking for dog walking services or doggy day care, it is important to choose a sitter that fits your situation perfectly. But what should you look for in a great petsitter profile? How do you make sure that you choose that reliable pet sitter that fits your pet perfectly?
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The ideal pet sitter profile

Coping with a pet cone

Celine
We see the pet cone come out at the vet and instantly feel dread – which our pet can surely pick up on! If you know your dog or cat will soon be wearing a cone, protective collar or e-collar, fear not. Here are some tips to make it less of an ordeal for everyone!
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Coping with a pet cone

Help! How do I stop my dog from jumping on visitors?

Celine
Bouncing up to give you a big sloppy kiss is one of the most common challenges for any dog owner. You want to give a good impression to friends and family, as well as the pet sitter popping over for a meet and greet….so what do you do when all 20kg of dog go leaping up in guest’s faces?
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Help! How do I stop my dog from jumping on visitors?

The Paralysis Tick – what you need to know

Celine
When we talk paralysis ticks, we mean business – these nasty critters are responsible for the death and illness of thousands of pets each year. So what can you do to make sure this never, ever happens to a cat or dog in your care?
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The Paralysis Tick – what you need to know

Your dog's tongue - a window into their health

Celine
Did you know that your dog’s tongue is not just for giving us kisses….it’s also a window into their health? Here’s how to get to know and interpret your pup’s tongue!
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Your dog's tongue - a window into their health

Celebrate the Year of the Dog!

Celine
Lunar New Year (also often known as the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival) is one of the world’s most bright, beautiful and exciting cultural celebrations. And in 2018 we are lucky enough to be entering the Year of the Dog!
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Celebrate the Year of the Dog!

Lucky dog breeds

Celine
There is a Chinese myth that if a dog enters your house, it means that fortune is coming your way. Here at Pawshake, we feel so lucky even when a dog simply comes up to say "hi!" to us, but are there any breed that have been said to be extra lucky?
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Lucky dog breeds

How long is a home visit or a dog walk?

Celine
What exactly can you expect from your petsitter? How long should a house visit or a dog walk take? What expectations are reasonable? Find out here!
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How long is a home visit or a dog walk?

5 ways to celebrate Lunar New Year with your pet!

Celine
This Lunar Year of the Dog, why not start off on a positive note and freshen up your life and home with your pet by your side? Here are five pet-friendly ways to celebrate the New Year.
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5 ways to celebrate Lunar New Year with your pet!

Tips for successfully introducing cats and dogs

Celine
Forget what you’ve seen in the cartoons, because the truth about cats and dogs is….they actually can get along swimmingly! Here are some tips for success for those first important introductions.
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Tips for successfully introducing cats and dogs

Back to School Blues

Celine
Kids back at school this week? Spare a thought for the furry children in your home, as even pets suffer from the back-to-school blues!
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Back to School Blues

Begging – five simple ways to calm a hungry pooch

Celine
Please, sir! I want some more! It’s kind of cute, but it can be a bit much….having your dog (or a guest dog if you’re a pet sitter) dribbling into your leg while you try to eat. Here are five simple ways to calm your begging pooch.
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Begging – five simple ways to calm a hungry pooch

Caring for pets during the rainy season

Celine
If it starts to rain cats and dogs, taking your dog out for a walk or exercise might be harder. But don't let the rain get you down - Here's what to do!
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Caring for pets during the rainy season

Signs that a cat loves you

Celine
We always wish that we know what our pets are thinking. Are they hungry, do they want to play, and most important, do they love us?! Well, your cat does! Here are some behaviors that your cat might display to tell you that it thinks you are purrfect.
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Signs that a cat loves you

Keep your Pawshake profile safe

Celine
Every day, thousands of sitters, owners and a whole lot of furry friends have great experiences on Pawshake – and we want to make sure this continues! Here are a few tips for protecting your profile information from online scams and phishing.
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Keep your Pawshake profile safe

Christmas Dangers - keeping your pet safe.

Jessica
Christmas Dangers - keeping your pet safe. teaser: Do you celebrate Christmas together with your pets? Awesome! Of course you can enjoy the holidays together, but beware of a few unexpected dangers that could even be life-threatening to your pet. But don't worry: prepare in advance and you will prevent any problems.
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Christmas Dangers - keeping your pet safe.

The benefits of pets for elderly owners

Jessica
With loneliness and isolation becoming potential problems in the elderly population, it’s worth looking to pet ownership as a source of healing and purpose.
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The benefits of pets for elderly owners