Heart of Paws Pet Care & Training LLC

29/07/2024

Katie and I got stuck in a maze of sprinklers 😂 Sweet girl was a trooper. But we got cooled off at least!

30/06/2024

This is Pepper, a senior mixed breed. She was abused as a puppy and is still feeling the trauma from that. Even now, in her loving home, she still flinches every time she is touched and pet. Animal abuse trauma is real and sad.
♥️
I have earned her trust as her pet sitter. She now gets excited to see me, asks for pets, and gives me kisses. 🥹This is why I do what I do. I love helping fearful dogs whether that is watching them while their parents are away or working on behavior modification as a dog trainer. Abused and/or fearful dogs just need love and patience.

25/06/2024

I can’t say this enough…And I’ll say it again because I keep seeing people walking their dogs, tongues hanging out and panting. IT IS TOO HOT FOR YOUR DOGS TO GO ON WALKS AND/OR PLAY OUTSIDE!!! Please keep this chart in mind. Not only will their paws burn, but they can suffer from heat stroke.
🔥
Signs of heat stroke include:
- elevated breathing rate
- excessive panting
- dry gums
- vomiting
- drooling
- lethargy
- uncoordinated movements
- seizures
🔥 Dogs can get heat stroke in as little as 15 minutes! Death in only an hour! Please, please, please keep your dogs inside. Only short potty breaks.
🔥 Short-nosed and flat-faced breeds are at a higher risk!

23/06/2024

Happy enjoying a roll in the grass, away from the hot sidewalk. I get to watch her while her family is at the beach!
REMEMBER!!! It is too hot to walk your dogs! It’s 100° You don’t want your beloved dog to get heat stroke which is a serious medical emergency.

20/06/2024

☀️🔥It’s in the 90’s, going to reach close to 100° this weekend here in NJ. Remember, in extreme heat don’t keep your dogs outside for more than 5 minutes. Keep them in the grass, off the hot pavement, and make sure they have access to cold water. Your dog can play inside, away from the risk of heat stroke!

16/06/2024

Great tips for when your pup grabs something!

11/06/2024

I'm accepting new dog training clients! As a fear-free and positive trainer, your dog's well-being and bond with you is my number one priority.
- Basic training $75/hour
- Fear/aggression behavior modification $100/hour

I'm also available for pet photography sessions! I can come to your home or your favorite park/location. *Horses and farm animals too!*
- Candid/home portraits $250/1.5 hours
- Park/location portraits $500/2.5 hours
- Last moments portraits $250/1-1.5 hours
- A Day in The Life session $1500/5 hours
*Includes toys/treats, travel up to 30 miles, and personal online gallery.

24/05/2024

Walk? Katie said “no, I want to lay in the grass” haha

22/05/2024

Dog walking client, Maysa, enjoying the cool floor and belly rubs after our walk 🥰

21/05/2024

Happy girl drooling and waiting for her after walk cookie 😂🥰

20/05/2024

How cute is Katie? All she wanted to do was lay in the grass 😂

19/05/2024

Finn enjoying the sunshine after a day of rain! ☀️🌼

Going away for Memorial Day and need a pet sitter? I still have availability! Reach out to schedule a free and meet greet in time for next weekend. I can care for your dogs, cats, bunnies, etc!

07/05/2024

Tip Tuesday number 5!
When training basic cues with your dog, it can be helpful adding hand signals. For example: hand raised, palm out ✋🏻 for “wait” and/or “stay”. Missed the fact? Check out last Friday’s post for the corresponding fact!

03/05/2024

Did you know?
Dogs can read and understand the communication behind body language and hand gestures. This comes in handy. Stay tuned for Tip Tuesday to learn how!

If you’re located in South Jersey, check my website (link in bio) to learn more about my services!

24/04/2024

Birthday girl Maysa!!
I got to see and walk this sweet girl on her birthday. That always makes me happy when I get to see a pup/pet on their birthday 🥰

16/04/2024

Fun hack for your dog or cat’s enrichment!

05/04/2024

Fun fact! Dogs and cats don’t actually see all in black and white. They can see different shades of blue and yellow. Their vision isn’t totally bland after all!

03/04/2024

Here are my new updated pet sitting prices!
Reach out via here, Instagram, or my website to schedule a free meet and greet in time for your Spring getaway.

08/12/2023

Mini throwback to my clients on Thanksgiving weekend!
🐾 Pepper, Kitten, and Fat Cat
🐾 Floyd and Bella
🐾Willy

06/12/2023

As I’m sure you have heard, there is a new unknown respiratory illness spreading through dogs. It has now arrived in NJ.
Symptoms are similar to kennel cough but worse. Watch out for coughing, sneezing, throwing up, nasal discharge, and difficulty breathing. PLEASE be aware and monitor your dogs. Avoid dog parks, dog daycare, play dates, and boarding facilities. If you see any symptoms in your dogs, go to the vet ASAP as this illness progresses quickly.

As a pet care professional I am being vigilant about keeping my client’s pets safe. I am washing my hands after every visit/handling with dogs, and sanitizing my clothes and boots.

This is another reason to use an individual pet sitter instead of sending your dogs to a boarding facility, where germs and viruses spread quickly and easily because of the volume of animals in one space.

If you’re going away soon and need a sitter, please reach out! I offer multiple drop-in visits a day so your pup has the care and company they need, while staying in the comfort of their own home. No stress, no fear, no viruses!

Coughing in dogs may be easy to miss. Here's how to tell if your dog has a cough and tips to keep them safe as a mystery respiratory illness spreads in the U.S.

01/12/2023

Feeding in plain old bowls is a waste of an easy enrichment opportunity! Ditch your boring food bowl and make your pet’s meal time more entertaining and enriching by making it a game 🧩
My favorites are:
🧩Snuffle mats
🧩Classic Kong
🧩Outward Hound puzzles
🧩 PetSafe Egg-cersizer
🧩Lick mats

A conventional feeding bowl is the primary method that dog owners use to feed their dogs, but this may not encourage natural behaviors and may even exacerbate unwanted behaviors. This study aimed to compare a conventional feeding bowl to a feeding toy ...

28/11/2023

The first snow of the season! ❄️🌨️ Only lasted 10 minutes haha.

25/11/2023

As we get into the holiday season, let's remember that consent is a huge issue for dogs. For example, while you may know and trust your human framily and want to be close to them, your dog's boundaries may be different and they need your help. Your dog may need space and time to get acquainted or may not want to be there at all.

Dogs and people can learn to navigate consent in both directions:

- Entering a dog’s space bubble (including touch, sound, with body or devices.)

- Dog entering someone else’s space bubble (including touch, sound, etc.)

Dogs often enjoy touch and invite us to enter their space bubble for play or affection. Different dogs have a different bubble, ranging from -1 meter (“I want to crawl inside your belly and be your baby”) to hundreds of meters away (“All humans terrify me, please go away!”). The size of the space bubble is contextual, meaning that it changes based on the situation.

****
You can learn more about consent in my webinar, "Don't Just Grab the Pussycat" - school.grishastewart.com/courses/consent

As always, this webinar is included with a Diamond membership.

For Accessibility:

Image: cat rubbing top of head into the face of a Golden Retriever, who is lying down.

Text: "Consent is not a one-and-done. It’s an active flow of permission back and forth." - Grisha Stewart

02/11/2023

I’ve been on a break due to having surgery but now I’m back at it-walking, pet sitting, and training pets!

I’ve recently dropped in on this senior chocolate lab, Rock. His favorite thing is playing fetch! I got these cute photos of him, I just had to share. So photogenic!

21/10/2023

There isn't a single answer to this question because every dog is different.

12/10/2023

Pitbull Awareness Month!! ❤️ So many myths and misconceptions about them, but they are lovable giants.

October is Pitbull Awareness Month! 🐾❤️

06/10/2023

😂 Any dog parents have this issue?

Your Friday funny.

11/08/2023

25/07/2023

Steer clear of rope toys! We don’t want our pops swallowing string and getting an obstruction.

Yes. Dogs can tear them apart and swallow the threads, which can result in an obstruction and costly surgery.