Initial Consultation “Meet & Greet”– What To Expect

Daily Dog Walking And Running

A dog who has had the opportunity to drain their energy will be happier, healthier, more relaxed, and better behaved in your home. We understand that dogs have different activity levels and together we can develop a plan that suits the needs of your canine companion. Should you already have a routine, we will follow it as outlined for us and reinforce your training methods using positive reinforcement. If you are just beginning or have some habits you wish to change, we will be happy to work with you and your pet. We encourage and have successfully introduced good leash manners to pets at no additional charge and will be happy to teach you how to reinforce those if you desire. This is recommended for the safety and enjoyment of your pet and those around us.

Potty Breaks and Puppy Plan

Puppies need to get out on a regular schedule to set them up for success with housebreaking.  We will be happy to work with you if you need some extra pop-in visits during this special phase of development.

Doggie Playgroups

Dogs are pack animals and enjoy the socialization and time spent playing with other dogs. Supervised off-leash play in a secure, fenced in yard is available for those dogs who qualify.  We take great care in evaluating “our” dogs.   The time we spend walking together helps us to determine each dog’s behavior and temperament so that we are able to make successful matches for group play.  We will limit the size to between 2-10 dogs at any one time, they will always be supervised and experience shows us that they come home relaxed and ready for a nap.   Playgroup lasts for about one hour and we provide transportation to and from our yard included in the fee.

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Pet Sitting

Three options that give you the peace of mind you deserve when you are away from home. We want you to experience the freedom to travel with the confidence that your pets are being more than just taken care of – we’ll have a great time with them and them with us!

In-Home Pet Sitting

Available for your pets in your own home. We will spend 12 hours in your home and include an evening and morning walk for your dog(s) and/or lots of TLC for other pets in the household.  We will care for your cats, fish, rabbits and more.  We will follow your routine as outlined to us to include feeding, fresh water, medications if required, playtime and lots of belly rubs. We will also care for your home by taking care of mail, plants, alternating lights and blinds, etc. For dogs we recommend adding mid-day service to this option when you are out of town. *Due to limited availability this service is for existing daily clients only.

Vacation Visits

Available for your pets in your own home while you are out of town.  If you are comfortable with your pets staying home alone overnight we can make scheduled vacation visits at your requested intervals.  For dogs we require a minimum of three visits each full day that you are away.

Pet Sitting and Vacation Visits Include:

• Feeding and fresh water daily
• Scooping Kitty Litter for Cats
• Walks for dogs
• Administering medication
• Bath and brush out (upon request with in-home pet sitting)
• Take in mail, newspapers and packages
• Water indoor house plants
• Alternate blinds and window treatments
• Turn lights on or off per your instructions
• Take out garbage
• Lots of TLC
• Personal Daily notes and photos sent to you with each visit.

Family-Style Boarding

If you are traveling out of town and you would like your adaptable dog who enjoys exploring new surroundings, new adventures, lots of fun and playtime with other canine companions to also go on vacation, we do have family-style boarding options to recommend.  Pick-up and drop- off service is available throughout the Main Line, Delaware County, and Philadelphia.  You will not need to choose from an a la carte menu of services here and have to worry about your budget vs. your dog’s happiness. The attention, and loving, quality care you want for your family member is always included.

Basic Obedience Training

It’s very rewarding to learn how to behave in order to get the results you’d like to see from your pet. Setting appropriate rules and boundaries, giving your pet plenty of exercise, practicing kindness, calmness and committing to consistency with your pet is the key. The learning process is fun and rewarding, building a strong bond between you and your dog. We will give you tips and exercises to get you started. Just like people, what motivates each dog may be slightly different. Yea, we’re talking treats! Treats are not always food but can be affection, good ol’ play-time, or a favorite toy. Should you wish to continue learning and training with your pet or banish certain troublesome behaviors we may refer you to our trusted dog behaviorist or suggest a particular group class for you and your dog if we feel that is the most appropriate solution.

Ilene’s two dogs are certified therapy dogs but they were not born ready to do this job. It is a combination of exercise, basic training, and consistently providing clear rules and boundaries that keeps them up for the task.

Pet Concierge Services

Pet taxi services as well as supply pick-up and delivery to your home are available for our clients. Appointment at the vet, groomer, need a lift to or from day care and you’re not available to take your pet? No problem. Need food, treats, new collar or leash, special toy to keep them busy and don’t have time to stop on your way home? Just let us know.  Behavior situation troubling you and looking for a suggestion or tool to assist you?  Just ask.

Pet Selection & Adoption Assistance

Thinking of adding a new member to the family? Well then, this is an exciting time! Let’s talk about your lifestyle. Do your hobbies include running, lots of busy outdoor activities?  Do you prefer to lounge on the couch with a movie or a good book?  Or are you somewhere in between? Big dog, small dog, purebred, mixed breed, puppy, older dog, shedding, non-shedding…we can assist you in finding the perfect match for your family from a shelter or rescue group.

Unfortunately our nation’s shelters are overflowing and wonderful, amazing companion animals are being euthanized every day. If you’d like to “browse” please visit www.petfinder.com where shelters and rescues list dogs currently available for adoption. We volunteer and visit local shelters and rescue groups regularly because we believe that every healthy, treatable dog deserves a family to love and every family who is willing to make a responsible commitment to care for a canine companion deserves the opportunity to share their lives with one (or more…) and have that love returned.

Preparing For A New Puppy

From the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)

The first step on the road to pet ownership is to ask yourself some tough questions: Why do you want a puppy? Can you afford one? Are you prepared to take care of a dog every day for his entire life?

If you’ve decided you’re ready for a dog, follow The HSUS’ top five puppy buying tips and you’ll be far more likely to secure a healthy, well-socialized dog who doesn’t drain your emotions or your pocketbook. One, in other words, who doesn’t come from a puppy mill.

1. Consider adoption. Adopting a dog instead of buying one is one of the surest ways to strike a blow against puppy mills. To find the perfect match, you’ll want to choose the right one for you and your lifestyle. Animal shelters have dozens of dogs, many of them purebreds, just waiting for homes. There are also breed specific rescue groups for every breed of dog, including “designer” or “hybrids” like Labradoodles and Puggles. Mixed-breed dogs also make wonderful pets. Read more about adopting a puppy through a shelter or breed rescue group »

2. Find a responsible breeder and visit their premises. Responsible breeders provide a loving and healthy environment for their canine companions, one that they will be proud to show you. Never buy a puppy without seeing where they and their parents are raised and housed with your own eyes. Read more on how to find a good dog breeder »

3. Don’t be fooled by common claims made by pet stores when pushing their puppies. Despite what they may tell you, pet stores do sell puppy mill puppies. Read more about the false claims commonly made by pet stores at the Pet Store Doublespeak page »

4. Don’t be swayed by a great website or ad. Just because a website says great things about their “home raised” or “family raised” puppies doesn’t make it true. Many puppy millers pose as small family breeders online and in newspaper and magazine ads. For many years The HSUS has aided local authorities in the rescue of puppy mill dogs across the nation. In almost all cases the puppy mills sold puppies via the Internet using legitimate-looking ads or websites that made claims that couldn’t have been farther from the truth.

5. Avoid the temptation to “rescue” a puppy mill puppy by buying him. Even though your intentions may be good, don’t buy a puppy with the idea that you are “rescuing” him or her. Your “rescue” opens up space for another puppy mill puppy and puts money into the pockets of the puppy mill industry. Pet stores won’t leave their cages empty and websites won’t leave their pages blank. The money you spend on your puppy goes right back to the puppy mill operator and ensures they will continue breeding and treating dogs inhumanely. If you see someone keeping puppies in poor conditions, alert your local animal control authorities instead of buying.

Educational Programs

B Aware

Available for local school presentations, library story-times, service learning and creating community service programs. Age-appropriate lessons are created from pre-school on up. We have created a unique program including a video that makes a strong connection between people and the animals who need our voice.

B Aware

B Kind

B Caring

B Respectful

Program Topics include:

1. Dog Safety. How Do You Greet a Dog? – proper way to approach a dog and understanding body language.
2. Adopting versus Buying – why you should adopt a shelter pet. Puppy Mills, the truth about that dog in the pet store window.
3. Animal Abuse and Neglect – what is it and why do people do it? How to help.
4. Shelter Life – what’s the role of shelters in our community?
5. Spay/Neuter – what is it and why is it so important?
6. Being a responsible owner – explain all that goes into pet ownership.  Animals and kids have a lot in common. They need shelter, food exercise, medical treatment, love, and it all needs to be provided by another human being.
7. Pit Bull Myths – dispelling myths about Pit Bulls and telling the truth about the breed.