Blog — Category_Informational

Do's and Don'ts of Hiking the Trails with Your Dog When someone tells you to take a hike...do you jump at the chance? If you enjoy hitting the hiking trails whenever you can and would love the company of your canine sidekick, there are a few things you might need to think about before heading out. Of course, the first thing is: can your dog handle the rigors of a hike? If Barkley has spent the last several months on the couch, he's likely not ready to leap into action on the trail. Ease him into it. Take him for...

Bark To School I was running some errands over the weekend and felt a bit nostalgic when I walked past the school supply section. The colorful pens, notebooks, and folders reminded me of my days of back-to-school shopping. Now that kids are returning to their classrooms or to their home-schooled itineraries, it made me think – would you rather be homeschooled or attend a private/public school? Would you answer the same for your fur-baby? I interviewed people in the Chicagoland area to explore the reasons why people self-train (“homeschool”) their dogs or enroll them in puppy classes.   Self-Training Flexible...

The Value of Vaccinations We love our pets for so many reasons. They provide unconditional love, companionship, and stress release. They entertain us, cheer us up, and can be the perfect exercise pals. All these and more are reasons to vaccinate your furry friends. Vaccinations improve your pet’s overall quality of life and protect them from contagious and deadly diseases.   What are Vaccines? Vaccines promote protective immune responses in pets. They have two major benefits: Vaccinations are life-saving products (usually injections) that help prepare dogs, cats, and others to fight viruses and infections Vaccines can lessen the severity of...

Storm Stress? Five Hints to Soothe an Anxious Hound The Midwest can truly be a mixed bag of weather-related spectacles. Here at Sparky Steps, our dog walkers understand this firsthand. A single Chicago season might include everything from sudden windstorms, to driving rain, to thundersnow. Humans can prepare themselves – but when it comes to our prized pups, it’s tough to explain rough weather in advance. And if your dog is afraid of loud noises, even a brief summer squall could provoke a full-fledged canine panic attack. Fortunately, there are sensible steps you can take to help soothe, reassure and...

Safe Fresh Fruit and Veggie Treats August means fresh fruit and veggies abound in gardens and local farmer’s markets. While we may love tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, corn, and squash, our pups might find some of those foods difficult to digest. Read on to learn more about which fruits and veggies can be shared as an occasional treat!   Tomatoes Solanine is a substance found in the leaves and stem of the tomato plant and also in unripe, green tomatoes. Solanine is potentially harmful to dogs if it is ingested in large amounts. If your pup enjoys gardening with you,...