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Help Your Dog Avoid These Outdoor Garden Dangers Our experienced Sparky Steps team is committed to helping your dog enjoy the great outdoors safely. As pet lovers, we understand that canines are curious creatures who tend to explore the world with their noses. Is your pooch a serial sniffer, or even an occasional nibbler? Remember, certain popular plants and outdoor gardening materials could potentially pose a risk — especially during the spring and summer months. Here’s our short list so you can help your furry friend steer clear.   Cocoa Bean Mulch General Appearance: Dark brown chips with a yummy...

Pupparazzi: Five Tips for Perfect Pet Photos These days, everybody wants to snap a perfect pet photo to upload to Facebook or Instagram. But many times, photographing that perfect picture seems challenging. If the idea of a pooch photo shoot fills you with dread, read on to learn more about how to capture a shot that is truly share-worthy! Camera Shy: Be sure to slowly introduce your dog to your camera and the sounds it might make. Sometimes new sounds, like that of a camera shutter clicking, can frighten dogs. Some dogs also become super interested in the camera itself...

5 Tips for Juggling Work and Your Dog More than half of households own pets in the United States, and dogs are the most popular choice of animal companion. In the last 10 years, dog ownership has jumped 29 percent, according to a Research and Markets report. Some dog owners have schedules that allow them to spend most of their time with their furry friends, but a lot of people work full-time and have to leave their dog at home. This can be a tough situation. Dogs are social, active animals that need time to run, play, and be with...

Is That Normal? 10 Common Cat Behaviors You Should Know About Here at Sparky Steps, we know that all cats have their adorable personalities and none of them are afraid to show it. Every individual cat flaunts its unique personality, but that doesn’t stop all cats from sharing common behaviors. If you have always wondered why your cat acts the way they do, we have you covered.   Scratching Anything and Everything This is one of the most annoying common cat behaviors that owners have to deal with especially if your cat chooses something like a couch or drapes to...

The 3 Best Ways to Help Your Dog Lose Weight The statistics are shocking; approximately 56% of dogs and 60% of cats were classified as clinically overweight or obese by their veterinary healthcare professional.<1> That equals approximately 50.2 million dogs and 56.5 million cats in the United States that are too heavy for their good health. You may have heard about Chubbs the 29-pound cat who was recently in the headlines.<2> His large girth made it uncomfortable for him to move freely, and he was so big that he couldn't fit into a kennel. The extra weight made him susceptible...