Blog

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...

How to Keep Your Dog Comfortable All Winter With the temperature continuing to drop, we’re all bundling up and throwing on the layers to step outside. But are our dogs as cold as we are? Some of our furry friends are blessed with thick coats that protect them from the below-freezing temperatures, but many shorter or thinner haired dogs are just as cold as we are! Here are some tips to help your pup stay comfortable all through the not-so-mild Chicago winter.   Keeping Warm As a general rule of thumb, if you aren’t comfortable standing outside without a coat...

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...