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Fun Activities to do with your dog when it's Snowing! Winter is truly a remarkable season and once it starts snowing it's time to do something! People often have mixed emotions about it, and so do dogs. Nevertheless, snow is a part of life in Chicago. As such, we here at Sparky Steps came up with some ideas for you and your fluffy friend to get the most out of this winter season. Here are the top five things to do with your dog in the snow.   Go for a walk This may sound like a no-brainer, but many...

How Cold is too Cold to Walk your Dog Winter is here! With temperatures consistently falling below freezing and a few too many days below 0℉, you may be wondering: How cold is too cold to walk your canine companion? Here at Sparky Steps, our policy is to limit walks to 15 minutes when the temperature dips below 20℉. We do this because our main concern is the safety of your pup in these extreme temperatures -- while keeping in mind their need to do their business and stretch their paws. Here are some things to consider when assessing whether...

Shelter Dogs: How Can We Help? Here at SparkySteps, it’s no surprise that we absolutely love dogs! When we heard that some of Chicago’s animal shelters were overcrowded to the point of possible euthanization, we just couldn’t believe it. We all know about how canine companions can enrich our lives, almost as much as we enrich theirs. But when thinking of adopting a dog, many wonder why they should look at shelters and rescues. So we’ve compiled a list of 4 reasons you should adopt a shelter dog, and 4 things you can do if you aren’t quite ready to adopt. Why...

Be Good to Your Pets and The Earth We, at Sparky Steps, are “dog walkers with a social mission” and we believe that quadrupeds deserve the best that life can offer, just like us bipeds. This means that we do our very best to research and bring products and information to you. We’ve compiled a list of websites and local brick and mortar shops that boast a myriad of eco-friendly products that can be checked off Fluffy’s holiday wish list. If your buddy loves soft and squishy, rubbery and bouncy, or ropes for playing tug of war, you’ll find a...

Our Holiday Favorites from Sparky Steps The holiday season is still going strong here in the Windy City. This is perhaps best accentuated by the freezing temperatures we’re currently experiencing (burr)! Earlier on, Sparky Steps provided our clients with a list of awesome holiday gifts we thought your pets would love. https://sparkysteps.com/holiday-gifts-dog-will-love/ .Now, it’s time to hear from you guys! What gifts did you get your dog or cat? Did you take cool pictures of them in elf and Santa costumes? Post them on your favorite social media platform and be sure to tag us! Use the hashtags #SparkySteps #SparkyHolidays...