Peak City Puppy & Dog Walkers
Apex, North Carolina
Phone: +1 919-367-7387
Email: admin@peakcitypuppy.com
Official Site: https://peakcitypuppy.com/
Google Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11GXLLZkWto9KUPgjTzuyuf_3AVOOkbtA?usp=sharing
Google Site: https://sites.google.com/view/peakcitypuppy/

Should My Dog Walker Have Insurance? Absolutely.

You’re headed out of town last-minute and forgot to book service for your dog.  You call the neighbor kid down the street.  It’s only for a couple days.  No big deal, right?  Unfortunately, a number of things can go wrong (and do!) when someone else is taking care of your pet:

The pet could escape
The pet could bite someone (or another animal) or even the pet sitter herself
The pet could become injured
The pet might break, destroy or soil something inside your home while unattended
The pet sitter herself may get injured
Will you be held responsible?  If you hire a pet sitter or dog walker without insurance, you may ultimately, be on the hook.

Pet owners have a lot of choice when it comes to the care of their pets. Twelve years ago when we started Peak City Puppy, there were only a handful of dog walking companies in Apex, Cary and Raleigh and most of them were one-person operations. The internet, social media and platforms like Nextdoor, Care.com or Rover enable many Triangle residents to simply post “Pet Sitter Needed” and get barraged with replies.  The convenience and price of individual providers is understandably alluring.  But, what if something goes wrong?

Your Pet Sitters’ Insurance Protects YOU

Whether you’re headed out of town or just into work for the day, you want peace of mind that your dog and your home are safe and secure. Hiring a professional dog walker or pet sitter offers a greater chance of avoiding accidents altogether. But even when accidents happen, you want the issue resolved without having to file a claim against your own homeowner’s insurance or worse, be held liable. Here are some actual claims published recently by the company we use for General Liability, Bonding and Workers’ Compensation coverage: Business Insurers of the Carolinas:

A pet sitter left a client’s dog in the fenced backyard. When she returned the dog was nowhere to be found and presumed to be stolen or run away.
A dog walker used a retractable leash and couldn’t control a dog from lunging into the street. The dog suffered multiple injuries from a passer-by vehicle.
An insured sitter brought a friend along on a pet-sitting assignment and a dog bite was reported by the stranger unfamiliar to the dog.
An insured dog walker failed to properly secure the crate for a new puppy who ingested multiple soft materials in the home and needed surgery.
An insured dog walker left a client’s garage door open while on a walk. Various items missing from garage when the dog walker returned.
What Level of Protection Should You Expect?

At a minimum, the pet sitter or dog walker you hire must carry a General Liability Policy to cover a lot of the unexpected accidents that are common when caring for both your pet and your home.  We also highly recommend that you seek someone with a Workers’ Compensation policy as dog walking is sometimes dangerous or accident-prone work. Innocent large-breed dogs can pull a dog walker to the pavement. Even the smallest dogs can do damage from fear-biting. Slippery front steps during the icy winter months are another potential hazard.  Here are the policies we maintain and recommend at a minimum:

$1M General Liability Coverage
$10,000 Personal Property Protection (including your pet)
$5,000 Surety Bond (though a reputable company should be doing pre-screening background and criminal checks on all employees)
 Workers’ Compensation policy for all Employees
Paying for Peace of Mind

If you ask, many independent dog walkers or pet sitters will not have any of the above mentioned policies. They are costly and often, out of range of a one-person operation. You’ll want to read closely, the level of coverage provided by referral or match-making sites that simply pair you with someone who filled out an on-line profile.  The pet sitting and dog walking industry has grown exponentially in the past ten years and while competition may drive prices down, be careful to consider your total costs, including any risks.

Since 2008, Peak City Puppy has offered residents in Apex, Cary, Morrisville, Holly Springs and Raleigh reliable and trustworthy Pet Sitting and Dog Walking services. We’ve had insurance policies in effect since the beginning, as every professional service should. Feel free to give us a call, text or email at PeakCityPuppy.com to find out ways we can help you and your family enjoy your time away from home without unnecessary stress.

Lesley White is Founder of Peak City Puppy, a company she built with her own four-legged family in mind.

Crate Training Your New Puppy

One of the biggest decisions you will make when welcoming a puppy into your home is whether or not you will crate train your new friend. Crate training is a comfortable and safe alternative to leaving your dog unattended when you must be away from them. Crates leverage a dog’s natural den instinct to help keep them safe, alleviates separation anxiety while you’re away and gives them a space to call their own. That said, crate training is not easy and it takes planning and perseverance to do it right. Read on to get the inside scoop on crate training so you may avoid common mistakes and ensure success with your new puppy or dog.

Why Should You Crate Train Your Dog?

Crate training has many benefits for both you and your dog and can help ease the transition to being left unattended as your dog matures. Whether you have a new puppy in the home or have adopted an adult dog, choosing to crate train is a personal choice and is one only you and your veterinarian can make. Some of the benefits of crate training include:

Keeping your pet comfortable in their own den
Providing a space for your dog to relax when they are overwhelmed or overstimulated
Giving your dog their own area while you are away
Keeping your pet safe from household hazards while they are unattended, including food, power cords, garbage and other dangerous household items
Keeping your furniture and home safe from destruction should your dog have anxiety about being alone
Hastening the housebreaking process and helping your dog understand appropriate behavior
Helping your dog travel with less stress so they can spend more time with you
How Do You Get the Right Crate for Your Dog?
Before you begin crate training, you want to make sure you have the right tools for the job. To start, you should pick the right type and size crate for your dog or puppy. The crate can’t be too small, or your furry friend will be cramped and uncomfortable. At the same time, it can’t be too large, or your pet will be anxious and may potty inside their crate while you are away. The best way to make sure to get the right size crate is to read the manufacturer’s instructions on sizing. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Make sure to get a crate that your dog can stand up in, but not jump around in. Measure your pup to the top of their head or the tips of their ears and add an inch or two for the best fit. It’s also important that your crate is big enough for your dog to turn around in. Measure your dog from nose to tail plus four inches to determine the width.
Crates come in many different materials, and the right material depends on the preferences of both you and your pet. The most common materials are metal and plastic, and both have upsides and downsides. Metal crates are safer for dogs who like to chew and who like to see the outside world while they are crated. Plastic carriers are great for small dogs and for dogs who travel frequently.
Make sure your crate grows with your dog. Puppies grow up fast, which means you may need to purchase multiple crates for your dog as they age and outgrow their previous one. To prevent unnecessary anxiety and discomfort for your pet, always be on the lookout as your dog grows for their crate getting to be too small.
What Goes in Your Dog’s Crate?

Although it can be tempting to make your dog’s crate an overly-cozy haven, crowding their crate can make your dog anxious and even resistant to crate training. When you are first starting out, a comfortable bed or blanket inside the crate is appropriate. As your dog continues with training and begins to spend more time in their crate while you are away, safe and durable toys are a great addition to alleviate boredom. A Peak City Puppy favorite is a toy containing a few treats so your dog sees their crate as an exciting place to go instead of an isolated spot. Our walkers are happy to refill treat toys after walks and make sure that your dog’s toys and bedding are intact before we leave.

Let’s Get Started

Crate training can be stressful for both the dog and the human that loves them, but a lot of the stress can be taken away by taking the time to introduce your dog to crate training gradually. Start slow with your puppy or adult dog, not only because they might not like the crate at first, but because bladder control during these first crucial days can be difficult for pups being introduced to crates. Here is our suggested process:

Start by introducing your pup to their crate without leaving them alone in it. Place treats in the crate and encourage your dog to enter the crate on their own, offering lots of praise and treats along the way.

Once your dog is comfortable going in and out of their crate, work on feeding your dog his meals inside the crate. For the first meal, place their food and water in the crate and let them eat with the door open. Gradually, over the next few feedings, close the door and sit with them while they eat, letting them out when they are finished. Associating their crate with food helps your dog develop a positive relationship with their crate.

Once your dog can eat with the door closed a few times, you can have your dog enter the crate without food and close the door for a few minutes. Your puppy will likely cry or whine during this stage, but it is imperative to stay strong and not release your pup until they are quiet. If you let them out while they cry, your dog will think that the way to get out is to whine.
Gradually increase the time that your dog remains inside the crate over the next few days or weeks. It helps to also crate your dog for short periods of time while you are still in the home, so your dog doesn’t associate the crate with being alone.
After a few weeks, your pup will be able to comfortably stay in their crate for extended periods of time. However, you should never leave your dog alone in the crate all day, as they still need exercise time during the day, water and meal breaks and many potty breaks.

At Peak City Puppy, our mid-day walkers are well versed in crate training and can help make the process easier with our New Puppy Potty service. Visits range from $90-$150 weekly based on frequency of use and are timed well to ensure proper potty training with your new puppy.  To learn more about these services, visit www.peakcitypuppy.com.

Should I Brush My Dog’s Teeth? What Every Pet Owner Should Know About Routine Dental Health

Have you noticed that your pet has bad breath? Bad breath is usually one of the most common signs owners notice when their pets have dental disease, but is not the only sign you can look out for. Dental disease is one of the most common diseases in dogs and cats which can have serious consequences on their health and longevity if not addressed properly. Given how quickly plaque, tartar, and gingivitis (swollen gums) can develop (within 24-72 hours for tartar and plaque and 2 weeks for gingivitis), it is important that pet owners learn to identify the signs of dental disease as well as implementing steps to prevent it.  

Besides bad breath, other signs of dental disease include:  

Trouble eating/dropping food
Excessive drooling  
Bleeding and/or swollen gums  
Broken teeth  
Swelling around mouth  
Discolored or broken teeth  
Plaque covered teeth  
Malocclusion (misalignment of teeth)
Extra teeth or retained baby teeth

Statistics show that by the age of three most dogs (80%) and cats (70%) will already show signs of periodontal disease (disease that occurs below the gumline). Periodontal disease happens once bacteria within the tartar start to gain access to the structures below the gumline causing pain, bone loss, and possibly root abscesses which are very painful to your pet and will likely lead to tooth loss and even spreading of bacteria to other organs of the body such as the heart and kidneys.  

By implementing a dental hygiene regimen at home, you will try to minimize and slow down the tartar accumulation and hopefully periodontal disease in your pet. Currently the American Veterinary Dental College recommends that dogs and cats have their teeth brushed at least once daily using a pet safe tooth paste. Ideally, we should start training our pets to get used to having their teeth brushed from an early age. A finger brush can be helpful when starting to brush teeth and/or for smaller pets and then you can progress to a larger, soft head tooth brush if your pet is a medium or large bred dog. If your pet doesn’t allow for teeth brushing, then special water additives and/or dental treats can be incorporated to their routine to help slow down the tartar accumulation.  

In addition to the routine dental care at home, it is also important and recommended that all pets have their teeth evaluated by their family veterinarian at least once yearly. This exam will allow your veterinarian to evaluate the level of tartar and gingivitis present and even detect certain issues such as broken or discolored teeth that could be present. Your veterinarian will then determine and recommend when a complete oral assessment and dental cleaning procedure should be performed (usually every 1-2 years depending on each pet).  A proper dental assessment/cleaning should always be performed under general anesthesia. Even though some people advocate for “anesthesia free” dental cleanings, these are actually not recommended as they give a false impression that your pets’ teeth have been properly cleaned, when in reality they are only scraping the surface of the teeth and not cleaning and evaluating the areas below the gumline and the roots of the teeth. Remember that periodontal disease occurs below the gumline and can only be evaluated while under anesthesia and with the use of intraoral radiographs.  Also, these type of “anesthesia free” cleanings require a level of restraint on your pet that can cause further anxiety and stress by being held down in order to scrape the surface of the teeth.  

If you feel that your pet may have dental disease, has one or more of the above mentioned symptoms, and/or has never had a complete dental assessment under anesthesia and is at least three years old, I recommend that you consult your family veterinarian for further advice. Below you will find links to trusted and useful resources about this topic.

Dr. Sara Catala is the Veterinarian/Owner of Happy Tails Veterinary Hospital in Apex, NC