Blog — Category_Dogs

It Turns Out Sleeping with the Dogs Might Not Be So Bad After All Many pet owners start out with a staunch “no dogs allowed on the bed” rule. Some stick to it, but many succumb to puppy eyes and the promise of cuddling. While personal preference dictates whether or not dogs get to sleep with you in the bed, there is some debate in the scientific community about the benefits. In 2017, Mayo Clinic Proceedings released a study that pointed to a correlation between sleeping with dogs and negative effects on health and sleep quality, according to Newsweek. People...

9 Ways to Keep Pets Safe from Coyotes Here at Sparky Steps, our animal-loving pet care team is out walking dogs all the time. We also offer in-home pet sitting, so we visit all sorts of home environments. And no matter where we go, we often hear stories about coyote sightings. According to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, coyotes are traditionally most active in rural areas during nighttime and early morning hours. But with ongoing development happening across the greater Chicagoland area, coyotes are sometimes displaced from their natural habitat. So you may spot them in lots of...

New Year’s Resolutions for you and your dog The new year is nearly upon us. We here at Sparky Steps will always look back upon the year with pleasure, as this was the year that our organization launched, and we were able to gain the best clients around the Chicagoland area. It is our hope that the new year will prove to be even more productive, eventful and fun. To start things off on the right foot, we put our heads together to come up with some New Year’s resolutions we think would benefit everyone!   Exercise more! Pups need...

Holiday Gifts Your Dog Will Love The most magical time of the year is back! For many of us in the Chicagoland area, the holiday season is in full force -- and so is the mad dash to find the perfect gifts for our loved ones to share in the holiday cheer! Included on that list, of course, are our ever-joyous canine companions. But how do we find the perfect gift? Sparky Steps is here to help, with some holiday gift ideas we’re sure your pup will love! Dog Bones - Dogs sure do love gnawing on those bone treats!...

Dog Friendly Holiday Spots With Thanksgiving just barely over, the holiday season is officially in full swing throughout Chicago. From holiday markets to outdoor ice skating rinks, the city is bustling with seasonal activities and brightly-lit displays. While all of us here at Sparky Steps are very excited, we would also love to bring our canine companions along for the ride. But unfortunately, many places have restrictions on whether furry friends are allowed to join in on the fun. To make this holiday season simpler for everyone involved, we’ve compiled a list of a few places our pups can tag...