Why my dog pees in the house

My dog is peeing in the house

Your dog may need to master his house training skills

Why is my dog peeing in the house?

When bad things happen to good people, we often ask ourselves: “WHY?” and this is the first thing pet owners say when they discover that their dog has peed somewhere in the house. When your dog pees in the house and you can find it, this is the best case scenario; the worst case scenario is when you can smell the dog pee in the house, but you just can’t find it.

Medical issues may cause your dog to regress

There is no simple answer why your dog is peeing in the house, because it could be anything from a lack of training or a case of  over anxiety to a bladder infection or diabetes. It is important to check with your vet to make sure there are no underlying health problems; this is particularly true if your dog was once house trained and now has regressed to having accident in the house.

House Training

The most common, non-medical reason that a dog may urinate around the house is a lack of proper house training. Dogs naturally develop habits of where they would like to pee. This means that when your dog finds a place where he prefers to urinate, he is likely to continue peeing in that same area; so it is very important that you teach him early on where he should eliminate.

If you have a rescue dog or a dog that has a long history of living in kennels – then there could be a higher chance that your dog hasn’t learned his house training lessons quite as well. It’s often easy for them to slip back into bad habits, especially if they’ve never mastered this aspect of their training or it wasn’t reinforced frequently enough.

Punishing your dog may cause additional peeing in the house

Emotional reasons that your dog may pee in the house:

• Excitement or joy
• Fear or submission
• Stress or anxiety

Because these issues are emotional, the difficulty you face in overcoming the problem will vary depending on the cause. Ultimately, patience and consistency will be essential for the best results. Punishing your dog can make him scared of you, and this will make him more likely to pee in different rooms and areas that you don’t know about.

Medical Issues

Dogs who pee in the house may need medical attention

It is possible that your dog has a medical condition that is causing this unwanted behavior.

There are a variety of medical issues that can make it difficult for your dog to wait to go outside. These include:

• Bladder infections
• Change in diet
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Urinary infections

Many of the medical conditions that commonly cause inappropriate urination can quickly         become serious for your dog so it is important that you visit your vet to rule out a medical problem.

Moving Forward

Even after you have determined that there are no medical concerns, never punish your dog for inappropriate urination. Don't rub your dog's nose in it, shout or hit     your dog. Punishment will only make insecurities and anxiety worse. Much can be gained by understanding your dog and why this inappropriate behavior is happening.

Always remember that a dog learns faster from praise for doing the right thing rather than punishment for doing the wrong thing.

If you need further support in dealing with your dog peeing in the house, join the conversation in our Facebook Group.

Dog hygeine: Ear Cleaning

Cleaning dog's ears contributes to good health

Do I need to clean my dog’s ears?

Yes! Cleaning your dog's ears is an important way to keep your dog healthy, reduce the chance of ear infections and excess wax build up. The regularity with which you clean your dog’s ears depends on your pet's breed, coat, level of activity, age, and ear wax production. Most dogs with normal ears require cleanings at least once a month. Others may need more frequent cleanings, especially those that regularly swim or get their ears wet. We recommend that you take time each week to examine your dog’s ears.

Examining your dog’s ears. Look inside the ears for signs of irritation, infection, dirt and parasites. If you notice redness, discharge, dirt, or waxy build up, do not attempt to clean your dog’s ears; your dog likely has an ear infection and should be seen by a veterinarian. If there is no sign of an ear infection, it is safe to clean your dog’s ears.

Before cleaning the ears. Dirty, matted or excess hair should be removed from around the ear canal and the ear flap. In some dogs, excess hair may need to be removed from inside the ear canal; this must be done very carefully to avoid damaging the ear canal. If you feel uncomfortable or your pet is unwilling to cooperate, it may be best to have a professional groomer or medical professional remove the hair if needed.

Do not attempt to clean if you detect an ear infection

Now that you have examined and prepped your dog’s ears, you are ready to begin cleaning.

Here are two important things to keep in mind:

1. Dogs don’t want their ears cleaned.
2. If you are not careful, you can cause serious damage.

So how exactly do you clean your dog’s ears?

Step one: Prepare

Your Work Space. Because your dog does not want to have his ears cleaned, you should try and make the experience quick and positive. By having everything within arm’s reach, you can reduce stress for you and the pup.

Your Supplies. You will need cotton balls (NO Q-Tips) and ear rinse for dogs. You can purchase a rinse or make your own; make sure that you are not using any alcohol at all in your dog’s ears.

Your Dog. You might want to have treats handy to give to your dog to reward him for cooperating. Also, a nice belly rub before you start will help your pet to relax.

Step two: Clean

While you may feel like you want to scrub your dog’s ears, the most important tip we can offer you is: be gentle! The ear canals and flaps are sensitive, and overly aggressive cleanings may cause serious damage to your dog’s inner-ear.

1. Start on the outside and work your way in — but only until you start to feel resistance. If you try to push further in, you can damage your dog’s ear, so err on the side of caution.
2. Wet a cotton ball with ear rinse and wipe the part of the ear that you can easily see, the outer flap.
3. Then wet a new cotton ball to clean the inner ear.
4. Repeat as necessary.

For additional tips on dog care, Follow us on Facebook  

Pet rats

Fancy rats have lots of heart and make wonderful pets

What kind of rat should I get?

Have you been hearing a lot about fancy rats? Are you thinking about getting a rat for a pet? While they are very popular pets today, your friends may still be surprised to hear that you are thinking about getting a pet rat. However, the fancy rat is a wonderful pet choice and has been bred for human companionship for hundreds of years.

In this article, you will find some basic things that you should know about fancy rats, before you decide to get one. As with selecting any other pet, you should also ask the breeder or rescue if you can interact with some rats and get a feel for which you prefer.

What are fancy rats?

The term fancy rat is another name for the domestic rat. Domestic rats are not the same as wild rats, just like domestic dogs are not the same as wolves. For hundreds of years, rats have been bred to be sweet, submissive and affectionate pets. Domesticated pet rats are incredibly intelligent and quirky- making them entertaining for both adults and children.

Rats can be very inexpensive to care for

Fancy rats are able to understand behaviors, reward systems, and even parts of the human language. They learn their names and can easily learn about what is going on around them and what to expect.

The wonderful world of rat ownership awaits you, and it all begins with your first fancy rats!

Why get a rat?

Rats form bonds easily and make great pets for both children and adults. They are particularly good pets for people who have limited space and/or busy lifestyles. While they are a serious responsibility, fancy rats are reasonably easy to keep happy and healthy. Because they are nocturnal animals, they are happy to sleep during the day while their human is at work or school; then they are ready to come out to play in the morning or evening. You can satisfy your rat’s needs for attention as long as you can spend at least 1/2 to 1 hour a day together.

Fancy rats are people-lovers and they enjoy being held and played with. Rats are exceptionally intelligent, clean animals; many can even be trained to use the litter box. The basic needs for pet rats are not very expensive, and you can use all sorts of materials to create their homes, toys, and jungle gyms yourself. They are also able to eat many of the foods we eat, such as meats, vegetables, grains, and fruits. Therefore, you can feed them a little bit of your own cooking when you have extra available.

Choosing a pet rat

Rats are very social and they should have at least one cage mate

Buy your new rat as part of a pair. If you want a happy rat, make sure to get a buddy. Fancy rats are very social animals and they need to have at least one cage mate. Because rats are intelligent, they are prone to boredom and listlessness if they are isolated. It is not uncommon for a healthy rat to become depressed and suffer illness when living without another rat. The two rats will spend their time playing, grooming one another and cuddling. In addition to making for happy pets, this will also serve as fun for you, because these small creatures are full of personality.

“It is not uncommon for a healthy rat to become depressed and suffer illness when living without another rat.”

Playtime with pet rats is entertaining for children and adults

Male and female rats. Because of their nature, both male and female rats make great pets. However, it is good to know that there are differences in the overall personality traits of fancy rats, based on their gender.

The descriptions below are simply generalizations, the actual temperament of your rat will depend on much more than it’s sex; but the following details will help you to have a starting point as you consider what type of rat you should get.

“Bucks are male rats and does are females”

*IMPORTANT* - Unless you are adopting rats that have been neutered or spayed, it is important that you properly identify the sex of your rats in order to avoid accidental litters. Rats can reach sexual maturity as early as 5 weeks old and the average litter size is 10-12 rats. Also, rats have no concept of incest and does will go into heat every 4 days that they are not pregnant. It is very easy to determine the sex of your rat: only females have nipples and males have large testicles.

- Breeders will encourage new owners to take two or more rats of the same gender from the same litter for starters.

The average litter of rats is 12 pups

Bucks - Male rats, bucks are often mellow and cuddly, with the ideal personality for laying around. Bucks tend to bond easily with their humans and they are often outwardly affectionate, many times following their human around the house. If you’re looking for a lap pet, the buck may be right for you, as they seem to be more reliant on their humans and less independent than female rats.

Marking - Most unaltered males tend to leave urine trails when they are out

playing. Many owners will have a blanket or towel to throw on the furniture

or floor when playing with their rats because of this.    

Neutered bucks - Male rats who are neutered are less likely to display

Aggressive behavior towards other rats or initiate a conflict. Neutered male

rats are also half as likely to be attacked by intact male rats. Neutering can

either significantly reduce or completely eliminate scent marking behavior.

An altered buck's coat is also smoother and less coarse. Male rats are sterile

three weeks following a neuter surgery.

- Neutered bucks can live peacefully with a male or female cage mate 

There are lots of rats that need to be adopted

Does- A female rat is called a doe. Does are independent, inquisitive and adventurous. They are always on the go and they like to do their own thing. A doe will enjoy using your body like a climbing frame, sitting on your shoulder and exploring everything on your desk. If you are looking for an entertaining pet, you should consider a doe.

Adventures - Does are quite clever and they like to be busy, so they are often responsive to learning tricks. If you give your doe free-range of your home, you should expect that she will steal treasures and hide them in one of her many “secret stashes”.  

Spayed does - Female rats who are spayed have a reduced chance of developing tumors; this is a massive health benefit for female rats. Before being spayed female rats go into heat every four days, and during this time they can be excitable, frantic, grumpy or have other changes in their personality. It is an ideal time for female rats to be spayed between 3-6 months. Female rats are sterile immediately after being spayed.

- Although the doe is less needy than the buck, she is still an affectionate pet; she simply will show affection on her way to the next great adventure.

So, you need 2 rats and you know a buck from a doe…..

Where do you get pet rats?

Rats come in such a variety of looks and personalities

Rescues and shelters - Adopting a rat from a rescue or local shelter is not only a charitable gesture but you can also find great rats. There are unfortunately many rats looking for homes out there, usually at no fault of their own. The rats at the shelter will be spayed or neutered before adoption. Giving some of these rats a permanent home can not only be a gift to the rats but also be incredibly rewarding.

Breeders - This is often the safest way to get your rat. Responsible breeders will only mate their best rats. They look for health, body shape, affection and outgoing personalities; you will also be able to choose breed and color markings. Fine bred rats will be yours at about five weeks old and they will have a strong start in life. Be selective about who you contact and email or phone them with a tailored list of questions.

-Breeders often come across unwanted rats. They may be able to guide you through the adoption process.

Pet stores - Pet stores are easy and convenient. And some of them are informed and do buy pet rats from responsible local families who carefully raise their critters. However, many stores sell these rats as food also and so the rats may not get the human interaction they require to be good pets. In the end, most rats will flourish with your love and patience. You can't change their past, but you can make a huge difference in their future.

Let Us Know….

If you found this article helpful, please share your rat story with us.

For additional information about caring for your rat, Follow us on Facebook

Pet Sitting Meet and Greet

AHB Pet & Home Care

Initial Consultation

Initial Consultation = Meet and Greet

Everything you need to know about

Meet and Greets 

AHB Pet & Home Care requires an initial consultation with every client before we begin pet sitting services.

There is no cost for the initial consultation and this meeting does not imply an obligation for us to work together.

This consultation is beneficial for both the clients and the sitters and we believe that is has much to do with providing our clients with the best possible service.

This brief article will provide you with an outline of what you can expect from our initial consultation, which we also call a “Meet and Greet”. Please let us know if you have any additional concerns.

AHB Sitters don't want you to be surprised. Let us answer your questions.

Why do we need a meet and greet?

Due to the nature of pet sitting, this meeting is often the only time that human clients ever see their pet sitters; so we take these meetings very seriously. This meeting gives clients the opportunity to see their pets interact with the new sitters and get to know more about the sitters themselves. This visit also helps all parties to see if AHB Pet & Home Care is the best service for the pet family.  

No matter how easy the pet care instructions are, we like to ask questions. During the visit our sitters will take notes of client instructions, the locations of supplies and other important details. We encourage all potential clients to make notes of questions they may have before the meet and greet. All sitters are capable to go into detail about pricing, policies and company procedures. 

Should a potential client decide to choose AHB Pet & Home Care, the meet and greet is the time when we will get a copy of the house key and possibly, the initial payment.  

When can I schedule a meet and greet?  

After you have an active Time to Pet account, you are ready to schedule the initial consultation. On Time to Pet, potential clients are able to review our policies.

When potential clients complete the online profile before our meeting, our team is able to review all of the basic information before we go to the home; this means that we can spend the majority of our time learning about specific pet care needs and instructions, not filling out paperwork.. This also allows our office to make a best match of sitters to clients.

Our team schedules initial consultations Sunday - Saturday, from 9am to 6pm. Once you have an active Time to Pet account, you can use the portal to schedule your consultation.

Who will come to my house?

AHB sends 2 pet sitters to each initial consultation. The primary benefits to this  method are:

• Client meet both their primary and secondary sitter in person
• Both primary and secondary sitters receive their instructions directly from pet parents

Before the initial consultation, potential clients will receive an “AHB Bio” for each of the sitters in their Time to Pet portal, so that they can know a bit about their new sitters. When the sitters arrive at the meet and greet, they are easy to recognize in their AHB attire.

How long is the meet and greet?

AHB Sitters value your time. Our average consultation is a 30-minute visit, but we will always follow the lead of the client; some clients need less time and some need a little extra.

Where can I get more information?

If you would like to know about us, please feel free to:

• Request current client references from our office
• Visit us our website at www.ahbsitters.com
• Follow us on Facebook @ahbsitters

We are happy to help you with your pet care needs.  We welcome any questions that you may have.

What is the next step?

Request a Time to Pet account and/or a meet and greet. You can do this by phone or online.

We recommend scheduling an initial consultation as early as possible so that you can begin benefitting from our pet sitting services right away. 

You can contact us by phone at (413) 310-3784 or by email at ahbsitters.office@gmail.com.

Contact us today!!! What are you waiting for?! 

Contact AHB Pet & Home Care today for a free consultation

What pet should I get? -

Choosing the right pet

Pet ownership can offer real satisfaction to an individual or a family. However, choosing the right pet makes a big difference as to how satisfied you may feel. We would like to help you choose a pet and have a smooth transition. So we have put together 5 important things to keep in mind when you are considering a pet.

These tips are appropriate for you whether you choose to buy or adopt your pet.            

In the United States, some popular pets are cats, dogs, rats, fish and birds. Each of these animals has the ability to bring joy to the right family. Please continue reading to help you decide if one of these might be right for your family.

5 things that you should do before making a commitment to any pet:

Dogs are loyal and loving

1. Take your time. Don’t make a pet an impulse purchase. No matter how cute the animal or how inspiring their story may be. Pet stores, shelters and rescues all have a built-in bias, so these places are probably not the best places to seek advice on the pet that may be best suited for you. The pet you choose will become a member of your family, so you should give this decision all the thought that you would to any major purchase.

2. 

   Rats are smart, friendly and clean

   2. Research your options. If you are considering a dog, keep in mind that each breed has its own personality, needs and abilities. Do your research and make sure that you know what qualities are a good fit for your family. You should also do some research on the organization that you are considering to work with; find out about their reputation and how much support and information will they provide you with before, during and after the process. Lastly, if you are only familiar with dogs and cats, it will be beneficial for you to compare different animals that offer similar benefits; for example, rats may suit your needs if you are interested in an alternative to a dog. Click here to find out more about choosing a pet rat.

3. 

   Gazing at fish has proven health benefits

   Match your lifestyle. Do you rent an apartment in a professional building or do you have a large, private fenced yard? Will your pet be home alone for long hours or are you seeking companionship? Are you a night owl or a morning bird? There are great pets to suit different schedules, lifestyles and environments. If  you are looking to reduce stress and lower anxiety, you might consider getting fish for your home.  

4. 

   Birds can be life long companions

   Assess your needs. While it is a wonderful thing to provide a home for an animal, you also need to think about your family’s personality and what you hope to get from this new addition. Will the pet fill the empty nest? Are you hoping to have a playmate for your child? Do you hope that your pet will be independent and low maintenance? The answer to each of these questions will help lead you toward the right pet for you. If you need an animal that does well in a small living space, you may look into birds. While birds need less interaction than furry friends, they are very social, highly intelligent and can easily be taught new tricks.     
5. Consider the costs. After the initial expense, having a pet will continue to cost you both time and money. Food, bedding and toys are a few of the recurring purchases that you may have. Depending on the type of pet you choose, you may also need to budget for the groomer, vet and a pet sitter. In considering the cost, you must also remember that some pets have lifespans equivalent to humans. 

These are the basics to keep in mind when you are trying to choose the right pet. For additional support and ideas for pet owners, Follow us on Facebook