What is a Martingale Collar?

By Chris Bucci, Pet Care Specialist, Wisconsin Pet Care LLC

When I first brought home my newly adopted three year old dog, little did I know that the collar she wore wasn't correct. After she pulled out of her collar several times and my neighbors saw me chasing my dog down the block I realized that it was time to find a new collar. The humane society, where I volunteer as a dog walker, started using martingale collars on their dogs. After seeing how well these worked on their dogs I realized that this was the solution for my great escape dog. A martingale collar is great for dogs that can slip out of their collar. An example of this is when the dog pulls one way and you are going the other, the dog pulls until the collar pops off. The martingale collar makes it almost impossible for the dog to slip out of it collar. The collar only tightens when the dog pulls on the leash, this prevents the dog from backing out of the collar. Once the dog stops pulling the collar sits loosely around the dog's neck. The collar should be properly fitted to make it work correctly. The Martingale collar is easy to use and can be found at many dog supply stores and online.

What a difference a week makes..........

On June 26th, we welcomed another dog to our pack, and rescued Rocket. Rocket's story was unique in the respect that he had lived with his foster mother for quite some time, and she had rescued him from a breeder who was stricken with cancer. Rocket was a breeding dog. I came to find he was the sire for many a litter. Lucky pups.
Its only been a short month, but in this short expanse of time, Rocket has settled in, become part of our pack and is enjoying his new life. Why wouldn't he? He has the best food-we feed raw-a combination of The Honest Kitchen, actual raw meat combined with organs, heart, bone, vitamins and minerals. But the feather in the cap are two other standard poodles, Jackson and Dixie. Yes, they all speak the same language.
The first week was tense for everyone. Jackson, our alpha dog wanted no part of him. He made it very clear. Poor Rocket could barely move a muscle without a growl coming out of him. Dixie completely avoided him, and Jessie Mae, our 14 year old yellow lab couldn't have cared less who was in the house as long as she got her belly rubs, her big, soft papasan cushion and food.
Slowly, things started to change. Jackson realized that Rocket posed no threats; he wasn't going to take his food, he wasn't going to take his girl, and he wasn't going to be ignored by Mom and Dad.
Rocket started to get some confidence about week 3. He engaged Dixie in a delightful romp in our fenced in HUGE yard and upon seeing it for the first time, brought tears to my eyes. Here was a dog who was confined to a crate, actually acting like a dog. It felt to me like he had wings-his legs took him as fast as they could and he romped with wreck less abandon. I cried. I felt so good in what we had done-helped rescue a great animal from a life of living in a crate.
We are into our fourth week. Jackson and Rocket are inseparable. They look over each others shoulders when they leave the back door-run nose to nose in play, and beat up on Dixie. They also wear each other out on their daily beach run.
Yes, there is more sand in our home, there is more expense of vetting, food and of course grooming. But I can't imagine money more wisely spent than helping this delightful boy find happiness and love.

Simple Summertime Fun

By Marlena Ewing, Pet Care Specialist, Wisconsin Pet Care LLC

A week or so ago as I was driving through a local subdivision to a client’s house, with the windows down I could hear the sounds of summer play everywhere; children’s excited screams, splashing water, skateboards, etc.. Then I saw two little girls playing in a huge appliance box they had dressed and duct taped up as a cute little cottage with cut out windows, a door, flower boxes, the works. It totally reminded me of the fun my siblings and I had playing with similar objects as we took turns playing teachers, bank tellers, homemakers and horses, yes champion jumpers. Then of course there was all the water play with Slip and Slide, Mr. Wiggle, with whom we had a love hate relationship, and the sprinkler.
It got me thinking once again about how the simplest, homemade toys were usually the most fun. I had been trying to think of some fun, challenging inexpensive toys for a few of my pet clients. So my reminiscing helped me realize to keep it simple for my pets. Since then my dogs have chewed through empty paper towel rolls and cereal boxes to get to their kibble treats, played in sprinklers and gone hunting in their backyards for their mealtime food. It has been great fun watching them “work” for their food as it has challenged them to be who they are best at being, canines with primal needs. Just like when we were children, we used our imaginations to create wonderful, happy places and pretended to be our role models, all without the aid of modern society’s electronic entertainment.
The moral of the story: Keep it simple and go back to basics often. Life can be easy if we let it.

Saying goodbye to a loving friend

Today is a very sad day for me. I won't get too melodramatic, but one of most favorite customers is moving to a new city by the end of the week and I won't be visiting with her on a daily basis any longer.

Daisy and I became friends about 2 years ago. Since meeting, she grew on me each day, and I loved her as if she were one of my own. She is a unique breed with an equally charming personality. Daisy, for some reason is especially rambunctious every Tuesday-and I've pegged her Crazy Daisy on that day. Today was no exception. She was friskier than usual and full of piss and vinegar. I was lucky enough to capture one last shot of her, for old times sake. And to be really corny, its right by a bunch of daisies.

I wish Daisy and her family the best in the move, but boy, this is harder than I thought it would be. It feels like a death in the family-at least in the Wisconsin Pet Care family.

A Reason for Being!

Hello to all my fellow pet lovers, I’m Melissa, one of Wisconsin Pet Care LLC’s newest sitters.
This is my first time at blogging, and I have some thoughts I’d like to share with you.


As Marlena mentioned in the last blog, I also believe that “everything happens for a reason.” The last few years have been the hardest of my life (will spare you the details), but I always believe that animals can help you through almost any situation.

I’ve watched friend’s pets throughout the years, and it always gave me great joy. I often wondered what it would be like to become a professional pet sitter? Being able to walk dogs, hanging out with cats, getting outside with fresh air, how awesome of a job is that? After realizing that my restaurant career was making me unhappy, I sought an opportunity to make my dream come true. And ironically enough, one of my fellow former restaurant employers referred me to Lori. Is that karma, or what?

I felt I was supposed to meet Lori for some reason. I’ve been provided with all the necessary tools to make my career come true, and it really couldn't’t have come at a better time. I know that Wisconsin Pet Care LLC will make a difference for pet sitting in Milwaukee, as we have the highest standards for any professional pet sitting company.! Our business model is amazing and we cover everything you may need, and then, things you never even thought of.

While it may be a long and arduous journey, this is what I feel I was truly meant to do in life. It feels natural. It’s my passion. In my heart, I know we will become Milwaukee’s favorite pet sitters and dog walkers-from my experience, no one comes close.

Finding our inner peace by Marlena Ewing-Pet Sitter Exraordinaire at Wisconsin Pet Care LLC

I have always been a strong believer in “everything happens for a
reason”, especially when logical and rational reasons are not
apparent. Why else after moving to Wisconsin with no thoughts of
becoming a professional pet sitter, would the universe have connected
me with Lori and then subsequently with the energies of a 1 year old
Sheltie who has helped me discover a renewed sense of purpose after
becoming an empty nester.

As a rescue, Aidan came to his new forever home with numerous anxiety
disorders, one of which is his inability to lay quietly, but instead
paces from one reflective surface to another while inside and running
from one side of the yard to another barking at every scent, sight and
sound outside. So when the opportunity to sit him and his two
“sister” Shelties while mom and dad were on vacation presented itself,
I was very excited about the challenge to help Aidan discover a more
peaceful way to enjoy his new home.

While I have always been around dogs and cats, it was my experience as
a teenager raising horses and steers for show that taught me how calm,
confident behavior was most effective when expecting the same reaction
from my livestock sized pets. Coupled with the fairly new teachings
from, Caesar Milan, The Dog Whisperer, I was hopeful I could help
Aidan be a more balanced pup, hopefully sooner rather than later.

To the delights of many, but most of all me, day after day he made
wonderful progress in demonstrating and experiencing calm, peaceful
states of mind, each episode longer than the next. Occupying him with
challenging, instinctual activities, like walking, foraging and
chewing were essential in his self-discovery of quiet time.
Redirecting and averting his manic moments were equally as effective.
Our time together reminded me of my daughter’s toddler and preschool
years because as her teacher, it was always a challenge to stay one
step ahead of her to avoid unwanted behavior.

While I still see Aidan on a weekly basis, I miss our daily
discoveries together as we had experienced them frequently during his
human parent’s vacation. So when he and I had a moment recently it
was especially gratifying. We (all three Shelties and me) were
soaking up the sun in the backyard sitting in a circle savoring ice
water and ice cubes. After quenching our thirst, we were just
relaxing, watching the wildlife and smelling what the wind brought our
way. Aidan was sitting at my side, when I felt his little paw come
softly down on my arm and I when I glanced his direction he was
already staring at me. We sat looking into each other’s eyes,
connecting on a new level, appreciating one another differently. The
human mother in me could not resist scooping him up in my arms then
lying down on my back with him sitting on top of me.

It was a gentle, loving moment as we continued to look at one another,
with me stroking his head as he laid his head down not four inches
from my face. It was a precious moment I will never forget, because
he had achieved a sense of peace and relaxation quite seemingly on his
own. Holding him, I rolled us both over on our sides, spooning, as it
were, just being, existing in this small space, in that one quiet
moment. Then as quickly as it began, it ended, as he squirmed away
and found the next newest thing. But in that brie moment of treasure,
I realized I had found something new yet still very familiar.
A sense of joy and accomplishment for having made a positive
difference in another being’s welfare. Albeit “just” a dog to most,
but not to me because Aidan has been an unexpected gift of my own
self- discovery to a new path of joyous, rewarding work. So once
again, while the teacher is leading, the student is doing the real
teaching.

Mi scusi, parla poodle?

Last weekend I was able to help a sweet, young, gorgeous standard poodle get from a neglected situation to a safe foster home by being part of a transport team. I fell in love with this sweet girl on the drive from Kenosha to Milwaukee, but honestly, I had fallen hard before I ever met her. Her story was not unique-neglected, poor vet care, on and on and on.
My heart broke to hear her story and even though we don't "need" another dog, I felt in my heart of hearts that she NEEDED us.
Since bringing a new pet into the house is a family decision, I wanted the entire family to be on board, I called upon my good friend, Kate Solisti-a renowned author and wealth of information on wellness, nutrition and communication. For years I've been admiring her work and include much of her literature in our meet and greet packages as a conversation starter to educating pet parents on whats best to feed our beloved animals. I was excited to speak with her and hear her thoughts on the matter.
While I understand that any companion animal speaks a language unbeknownst to me, I wasn't aware that particular breeds have a language amongst their specific breed, hence, "Poodle." Dixe and Jackson are in love. All one has to do is watch them for a half an hour and you will see that the respect and admiration they have for each other is undeniable. Dixie is goo goo gah gah over Jackson. And why shouldn't she be? He's what we call at the Thomas household "A chocolate love chunk." She is miserable when he gets groomed and she's not around him.....so, in all fairness, what was I thinking---potentially bringing another woman into the equation? It would be like adding a new, hot, younger woman to my marriage. I DON'T THINK SO! :-)
This past week Dixie has been giving me strong signals, and I've been reading them loud and clear. She has been by my side, starring at me. She has been following me more than usual. She has looked into my eyes with her big brown ones and told me that she is upset. And thank goodness I heard her.
When Kate did the conversation, and she was speaking with Dixie, Dixie told her that she would "try" but had reservations. As soon as Kate told her that the deal was off the table, Dixie LITERALLY started to flick her paws, which Kate told me was a sign of releasing tension and anxiety, much like shaking out or taking a big, deep breath. Miss Dixie was going to be fine....she would continue to have her big love chunk all to herself.
I trust that the wonderful rescue which is fostering her will find an outstanding home. Fluffy Dog Rescue is a class act and even though we won't be that home, I feel good in my decision and blessed that my friend Kate could help out.
With that being said.....if you are thinking of adopting......something to think about is using the gifts of a communicator.
The investment is slim in comparison to the potential upheaval in your household.