For a lot of people dogs are our our fur children and their welfare is as important to us as the rest of our family.

However some dogs are just not great at being left on their own and require attention and exercise throughout the day. For many dog owners leaving our dogs while we go to work is unavoidable. So aren’t always there to provide the constant supervision and interaction that our dogs would like, and for some dogs, need.

That’s why dog daycare services offer a great solution and maybe something worth considering. Dog day cares provide loads of benefits for your dog and you as an owner and here are a few that our Ellesmere branch can provide.

Exercise

For a dog getting the proper amount of exercise is not only a physical need but also a mental one. Dogs with limited amounts of social interaction and exercise can suffer with their mental health and display unwanted negative behaviors such as barking, chewing and even toileting in the house. Having a doggy day care provides the exercise to keep your dog calmer and happy at home. Because of all the interactions and activities your dogs will be ready for a quite evening.

Safety

Some dogs are allowed to roam feeling around the house and that’s always a concern for the dogs safety for example: electrical wires, get into the trash, destroying personal belongings, and no matter how mad we get, we make sure that they are okay. At the Ellesmere dog day care the a staff member will always be supervising your dog at all times. Keeping your dog safe is our number 1 priority and to know your dog is in good care you can put your mind to ease.

Peace of mind for owners

As an owner you may worry about your dog being home all day. It is common for most working people to be out for six hours a day (minimum) some for eight hours or longer. You may feel guilty for leaving your dog locked in the house for this amount of time for 5 days a week. By sending your dog to doggy daycare it will put your mind to rest to know your dog is being well cared for by professionals while your at work, or even going out with your family for the day

These are just three benefits of your dog attending a dog day care in Ellesmere. Contact our team here

Hopefully we will see you soon.

We are increasingly aware of our own mental health, but what about our dogs.

Dog can experience anxiety just like we can. Here at Animal Smart Ellesmere we have put together a summary of dog anxiety, what to look for and how to help your dog.

Dog anxiety can affect all breeds of dogs, but like humans each individual dog can be affected in different ways. Most dog experience some anxiety from time to time, however if disproportionate levels of anxiety are left unchecked, your dog could develop an anxiety disorder. Untreated dog anxiety can lead to negative behaviors and other issues.

As an pet owner in Ellesmere knowing what can cause your dog to have anxiety can then assist you to recognize and treat your dog.

Dog Anxiety: Causes

Dog anxiety can have a variety of causes.

Some of the most common causes of dog anxiety are:

• Fear
• Separation
• Aging

Fear-related anxiety can be caused by loud noises, strange people or animals, visual stimuli like hats or umbrellas, new or strange environments, specific situations — like the vet’s office or car rides — or surfaces like grass or wood floors. Although some dogs may only have brief reactions to these kind of stimuli, they may affect anxious dogs more consequentially.

Separation anxiety is estimated to affect around 14% of dogs. Dogs with separation anxiety are unable to find comfort when they are left alone or separated from members of their family. This anxiety often manifests itself in unwanted behaviors, such as going to the toilet in the house, chewing or destroying furniture and furnishings, and barking.

Age-related anxiety affects older dogs and can be associated with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). In dogs with CDS, memory, learning, perception, and awareness start to decline, similar to the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. This understandably leads to confusion and anxiety in older dogs.

What are the symptoms to look out for in your dog?

Dog Anxiety: Symptoms

There are several important symptoms to look out for:

• Aggression
• Toileting in the house
• Destructive behavior
• Depression
• Excessive barking
• Panting
• Pacing
• Restlessness
• Repetitive or compulsive behaviors

If you suspect that your dog is suffering from anxiety speaking to your vet is a good place to start.

Depending on the severity of your dogs symptoms could affect the treatment most suitable for your dog. In serious cases, your vet may decide that medication in most suitable.

If your dog is showing negative behvaiours while you are out, i.e. possibly separation anxiety, one of the first things you could consider is shortening the time your dog is left alone.

For example if you are out all day at work, you could use a dog walker to visit your dog, provide socialization, stimulation and exercise to your dog. Breaking up the time they are left alone and even possibly reducing some of the negative behaviours being displayed.

Our Animal Smart dog walkers in Ellesmere are all DBS checked, fully insured for your peace of mind.

Another option if you dog suffers from separation anxiety is to consider a dog day care. Our Animal Smart Ellesmere branch offer dog day care service.

If you like us have a family made up of various pets finding pet care for them when you go away can be challenging and costly.

House sitting services in Ellesmere offer a great option for families who like us have multiple pets.

Our house and pet sitting service offers complete peace of mind and minimal stress to your pets while you are away.

As owners of multiple pets, finding care for them while you go away on holiday can be challenging and costly. However with the Animal Smart Ellesmere house and pet sitting service, all your pets stay exactly where they are, in their own home and in their usual routine.

What’s more as we stay in your home while you are away, you have the added peace of mind that your home is secure, plants watered and bins put out.

Our house sitter will come to your home and meet you, to find out exactly what you require and what each one of your pets requires.

While you are away you will receive updates and when you return you will have a full overview of the care that’s been provided for your pets.

We care for all sorts of pets, from chickens, reptiles, goats, horses, dogs and cats…to name a few. So if you are a multiple pet owner our house and pet sitting service is a great option for your pets care. Whether you are away for 1 night or a month Animal Smart Ellesmere Pet Care can help

Dogs come in all shapes, sizes and energy levels! Sometimes as dog owners juggling our day to day and then fitting in enough time to exercise our dogs can be challenging.

That’s why at Animal Smart Ellesmere our dog walkers are able to slot in when you can’t. Our dog walking services in Ellesmere are flexible to meet both you and your dogs needs. We don’t insist that we come daily or even weekly, just whenever you need. We also cover Wem and Shrewsbury.

We will fit around you and your dogs individual needs tailoring our dog walks to exactly what your dog requires.

Our team is managed by a veterinary nurse and we have completed a pet first aid course. We are also DBS checked and fully insured for your peace of mind.

For owners who prefer, we also offer a dog day care service. We have 4 acres of secure land for your dogs to enjoy. They will come back happy, exercised and ready for a rest and cuddle from you!

We are knowledgeable about certain health conditions that may require consideration when exercising your dog and we’ve had specific training around certain medical conditions, such as arthritis and epilepsy, offering you confidence that your dog is in capable hands when being cared for by Animal Smart Ellesmere.

If you have never used us before, simply send us a message via the Contact Form and we will get back in touch to discuss your dogs needs and arrange an initial visit.

During the Initial visit we will get to know us better and it gives us an opportunity to meet you and your dog and find out exactly what it is you are looking for from your dog walker.

We look forward to meeting you soon.

We all love to spend time in the great outdoors and there’s nothing better than spending some quality time with exploring the beautiful North Wales countryside with our family and dogs.

There is no shortage of fantastic places around North Wales for dog walks and we have put together our top 4 dog walks.

Of course we are always keen to learn of new places to walk our dogs so if you have a great dog walking spot you would like to share we would love to hear from you on our Facebook Page

Chirk Castle dog walks

Chirk Castle was constructed by Roger Mortimer de Chirk in the last 13^th centaury. With a long tradition of dogs on the estate, dating back to medieval times when the family used to kennel wolf hounds, the 480 acre estate is a wonderful place for any 4 legged companion of explore.

Ty Mawr Country Park

Situated on the banks of the River Dee in the beautiful Vale of Llangollen the Ty Mawr Country Park is an outstanding place to walk our dogs. There are plenty of animals to meet, such as donkeys, pigs and goats, so this is a great place for all the family. Remember a picnic!

Nant Mill Wrexham Dog Walking

Nant Mill is located on the Clywedog Valley Trail, which offers a 6.5 mile walk through beautiful countryside, woodlands and alongside a river. This is a perfect place for our energetic dog walkers.

Talacre Beach Dog Walks

If you are looking for something a bit different, why not try Talacre beach is the place to go for an adventurous dog walk in Flintshire. Making up part of the North Wales extensive coastline, this is a popular visitor destination.

When out walking around our beautiful North Wales countryside, remember to follow the country code, respect farmland and animals and take a poo bag!

Looking for a dog walker in Ellesmere then get in touch with us. We can help with exercising your pooch.

As a pet owner at some point its more than likely you will need to leave your pet at home while you go out or away. This maybe in an emergency or for a planned trip where you pet can’t go. Having a pet sitter you can trust already planned and vetted is the best way to ensure a stress free time for both you and your pet.

What is pet sitting? Pet sitting is a pet care service where your pet stays in your home. No need to transport your pet anywhere.

Animal Smart pet sitting in Ellesmere offers a minimal stress solution to pet care. By keeping your pet in it familiar surroundings and within it’s usual routine, usually means that the pet stays much more relaxed while being cared for by someone else.

Traditional kennels and catteries are not always the best option for some pets or some owners, if this is you then considering a pet sitting service may well offer you a more suited option for you.

Pet sitting offers a great solution for multi-pet households, rescue dogs and stressy or nervous cats who do not enjoy the traditional dog kennels and catteries in Ellesmere and Shrewsbury option.

Before booking an Animal Smart Ellesmere pet sitter for the first time, we would come and meet you. This is what we call an Initial Visit.

During an initial visit, we would come to your home at a time that’s convenient for you. This is your opportunity to ask us as many questions as you need to feel assured we are right for your pet.

This is also our opportunity to get to know you, meet your pet and get to know exactly the care you require. And importantly that we are comfortable providing that care.

Only after this initial visit and providing that everyone is comfortable, would we go on to register you as a client and book the pet sitting visit.

We do not have any registration or upfront booking fees, you simply pay for each days care after its been provided.

Our pet sitting team also covers the surrounding areas, so if you live around Ellesmere, Wem or Shrewsbury then please contact us as we may cover your area too.

Please contact us through our Contact Form which you can find here

The amount of exercise that is needed for your dog depends on several factors. This is our Animal Smart Ellesmere quick guide to dog exercise.

One important factor to consider is his type of breed. Every breed has varying amounts of energy and combined with age and medical status, the amount of exercise your dog requires will vary, and also change over the years as your dog ages. Animal Smart dog walkers in Ellesmere will adapt the amount of exercise your dog gets to their individual circumstances.

How much exercise also depends on his unique energy level and his personality. Your dog’s breed has an effect on his need for proper exercise.  Examples of breeds that require plenty of dog exercise are hunting dogs, herding dogs, and sled dogs.  These breed have high energy levels and were developed for tireless activity.

An older dog would need less exercise than a younger dog.  Although exercise should be restricted and controlled in younger growing dogs as too much exercise in larger breeds can cause injury to the growing bones. Our dog walkers will tailor the amount and type of exercise your dog gets. For example throwing balls for a hour to a large breed young dog is likely to have damaging effects on their joints.  

Another factor to consider in recognizing how much exercise your pet needs is whether he is the only pet in the house or if there is another dog or cat that he can exercise and play with.

The amount of exercise does not depend on the size of your dog.  Small dogs do not necessarily need less exercise than large dogs.  Some large dogs and especially some of the giant breed do not require much exercise. 

In fact, many of the large and giant breeds would rather just be relaxed and still in one corner while a toy Chihuahua and many other small breeds can be a rocket on four legs just waiting to attack, thus require more dog exercise.  While a Mastiff may only need a short walk around the neighborhood, give a Jack Russell Terrier three miles of dog exercise and he would still want to keep going.

Just as humans need regular exercise to maintain a healthy physical and mental state of well being, frequent dog exercise is vital in order for your dogs to stay happy and healthy.  And like humans, dogs get the most health as well as mental benefits from dog exercise only if it is done extensively, not just a quick run to the park. 

Also, if you notice your dog panting during his dog exercise, do not mistake this in thinking that he is tired and that it is time to stop the dog exercise.  Dogs pant as a way of cooling themselves, much like when we sweat.  A panting dog does not mean that he is out of breath and gasping for air.

To discuss your dog walking in Ellesmere needs get in touch with our team.

We are delighted to now be offering pet sitting in Ellesmere! At Animal Smart Ellesmere, we understand that a lot of pet owners don’t like to leave their beloved family pets alone at home when they go to work on holiday.  

Whether your concern is the possibility of getting quality services related to dog walking in Ellesmere or pet sitting in Ellesmere, Animal Smart Ellesmere has got you covered! Here are some of the benefits of using the new pet sitting service. 

·      Reduced risk of getting sick

One of the reasons most pet owners opt for pet sitting services in Ellesmere over the option of driving their pet to a boarding facility is that there’s less risk of their furry bestie getting infected. Since a boarding facility usually houses different pets, there’s a good chance that you will return to pick a sick pet since quite a number of animal diseases are highly contagious. But when you hire a pet sitter, your pet will be taken care of alone without coming into contact with other sick dogs, greatly reducing the risk of illness. 

·      Less stress for your pet

Many pets tend to get anxious and stressed when they’re taken out of an environment they’re familiar with, and this could make them restless, attempt to escape, lose appetite and even exhibit destructive behaviors. If your pet is afraid of traveling, it makes perfect sense to use Animal Smart petting sitting in Ellesmere. Your pet will feel safe and secure because the look and feel of the environment are the same. 

·      Maintain a routine 

Pets are typically creatures of routine and may become stressed, confused, and sick if there’s a change in the routine they’re accustomed to. This is another excellent reason to use pet sitting service in Ellesmere since a pet sitter allows your pets to maintain a routine with which they’re most comfortable and secure. Whether your pet’s routine includes dog walking Ellesmere or being fed or given medication at a specific time, a professional pet sitter from Animal Smart ensure that your furry friend sticks to the routine as closely as possible. 

·      Get pampered

Sure, you will find great people at boarding facilities that will promise quality playtime with your pet, but there’s a limit to the attention they can give your pet since they have several other pets to look after. In contrast, consider how comfortable your pet will be at home in the care of a professional pet sitter, giving him undivided attention. Your pet will be spoiled with plenty of TLC that he deserves and to the high standards you expect.

·      Enjoy yourself

Leaving a pet behind for quick weekend getaway is never easy as most pet owners continually worry about whether their four-legged friends are excited or scared, relaxed or stressed, happy, or sad. This can make it hard to enjoy yourself while you’re away since you’re unsure about the state of your pet. However, a pet sitter from Animal Smart Pet Care can give you the assurance that your pet is in safe hands, and even provide you with updates in the form of emails, text messages and video calls. With this, you can kick back and relax, knowing that your pet is being well taken care of by a professional pet sitter. 

Finally

If you’re looking to travel out of town for the weekend or take a long holiday and you need a reputable pet sitting service Ellesmere Animal Smart can help look after your pets. You can expect the peace of mind that comes from hiring a professional, loving pet sitter. Arrange your pet care with us.

If you are you a working dog owner in Ellesmere who goes to work or perhaps someone who needs a helping hand exercising your dog then our Animal Smart Ellemere team are here to help.

We have the perfect solution to keeping your 4 legged best friend healthy and happy.

Here at Animal Smart Ellemsere we are offering dog walking services in Ellesmere, Wem and the surrounding areas.  Meaning you no longer have to fret at work that your dog has been locked up all day, on his own and not been out to the loo.

We know that there is a lot to consider when deciding on who should care for and walk your dogs so we have put together some key tips on what to look out for.

Our tips for finding the right dog walker in Ellesmere for you:-

• Knowledge and experience that meets your dogs needs. Finding the right dog walker for your dogs individual needs is important. Your dog may have a medical condition, require medication or be recovering from surgery. Finding a dog walker in Ellesmere that is suitably trained and has the knowledge required to provide the right type of care for your dog is a major consideration.

• Trustworthiness is a huge consideration when letting someone into your home to collect your dog to be walked. Not only are you entrusting your family dog and best friend to a stranger, you are likely to be giving them full and unsupervised access to your house and belongings. Having peace of mind knowing you can trust the person implicitly will prevent any unnecessary worry or stress.

• Ensure the dog walker has the relevant experience suitable for the requirements of your dog and that they have insurance and have been police (DBS) checked. You can ask to see these certificates.

• A reputable dog walker should be willing to meet you and your dog and answer any questions you may have before providing any dog walking service for you. To help you decide if our team are right for you and your dog, Animal Smart Ellesmere offer a free initial meeting so you can get to meet us before you entrust your dog into our care. 

• On an initial meet, a dog walker should ask lots of questions about your dog and how they like to be walked and cared for. This initial meeting is also a good opportunity to see how your dog gets on with the dog walker. If you are not entirely satisfied don’t book.

There are various independents and national companies offering dog walking services in Ellesmere choosing the right person for you and your dog is super important.

Arrange your Initial Meeting with Animal Smart Ellesmere