The House Of Poppi

12/01/2024

Can you believe we waited seventeen days to mention p**p? That’s gotta be some kind of record for us! Your dog’s p**p may or may not have a lot to say. If it’s brown, formed into log shapes, firm but not rock hard, everything’s probably tip top. ⁣
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• If stools become mushier throughout the day, it’s a good idea to have it checked. If the result is negative, it’s time to change the diet.⁣
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• If you notice white flecks they may have worms so 📞 the vet. ⁣
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• It should be brown. If it’s yellow, green or dark black speak with your vet (dark black may be an emergency if other symptoms are present).⁣
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• Mucous is a sign of intestinal inflammation and is often a symptom of IBD if recurring. Time for a diet change and supplementation to ease inflammation! If you only see it from time to time, keep a journal of everything they eat each day, then compare the days prior after each incident to identify the culprit. ⁣
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• If what comes out is more voluminous than what went in, this is a sign their current diet isn’t working for them. ⁣
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• Rock hard crumbly p**ps (often seen with some raw diets) are not pleasant to pass. In this case, you should consider adding more veg/fibre to the diet and choosing formulas with less bone/bone that is finely ground. If this describes the stool of your kibble-fed dog, they’re likely dehydrated. Please consider adding some fresh, moisture-rich toppers (meat and veg) at mealtime (see Dec 14).⁣
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•Intermittent diarrhea can be many things and must be checked out. When the runs come and go, owners usually assume that food or dietary indiscretions are to blame, but the cause can actually be Giardia, an intestinal parasite. ⁣
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•If the stool contains undigested grass and food, this could be a sign the GI tract is not only unhappy, but also not functioning perfectly. If there’s no medical reason your vet can identify, let’s talk diet!⁣
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• If your pup passes normal logs with a flat edge on them, please talk to your vet right away because this indicates a growth in the colon. ⁣
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Make stool tests part of your annual exams (see Dec 3) and keep a mental or physical journal of abnormal movements. ⁣

15/12/2023

09/03/2023

What Are Your Dog Walking Tips?

Do you let your dog sniff around on walks? Are you having trouble mastering the walk with your dog? Share your experience with us in the comments below! What Not to Do When Walking Your Dog?

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for both you and your furry friend, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Don’t use a retractable leash: Retractable leashes can be dangerous because they are easy to get tangled and can cause injuries to both you and your dog.
2. Don’t walk your dog off-leash in public places: To keep your dog safe, don’t let him or her off-leash in public places. Even if your dog is well-trained and obedient, it’s not safe to let them off-leash in public places.
3. Don’t walk your dog during extreme heat or cold: It’s important to protect your dog from heat stroke and hypothermia during extreme temperatures.
4. Don’t use punishment-based training methods: Using punishment-based training methods can damage your relationship with your dog, which is why it’s best to avoid them.
5. Don’t ignore your dog’s body language: Be aware of your dog’s body language and adjust your walking pace or route accordingly if you notice any changes in behavior.
6. Don’t force your dog to interact with other dogs or people: Some dogs are more social than others, but it’s important to respect your dog’s boundaries and don’t force them to interact with other dogs or people if they’re not comfortable doing so.

So what about you? Do you have any additional dog walking tips to add?

09/03/2023

The benefits of walking your dog are many. It provides exercise, mental stimulation, and socialization for your dog. It promotes a healthy lifestyle by improving behavior and reducing stress. Taking regular walks can also help to improve health by increasing bone density and strengthening muscles in the body.

06/03/2023

FAQ
Not Letting Your Dog Sniff and Explore on Walks

Did you know as humans we have five or six million scent receptors in our noses, but dogs have up to 300 million, depending on the breed. They also have a far larger area of their brain devoted to their sense of smell, as well as a Jacobson’s organ that helps them detect normally undetectable odors such as pheromones. All of this adds up to a sense of smell that is at least 10,000 times greater than a human’s. It’s almost impossible for us to imagine the complexity of the information they gather with their noses.

Dogs experience the world through their noses, and just as we might want to look around to take in the scenery, they want to smell all their environment has to offer. Dragging your dog away from an interesting scent, or asking him to heel the entire way around the block, prevents him from truly taking in everything around him and diminishes the mental stimulation a walk can provide.

Some dogs seem to be ruled by their noses and think of nothing else while on a scent trail. Proper training can help regain their focus when out on a walk. Consider teaching cues like “Watch me” or “Leave it” to take their minds off the smell and put their attention back on you. Reward short bursts of heeling or loose leash walking with frequent sniffing sessions to help foster good walking behavior.

06/03/2023

FAQ
What are the Benefits of Walking Your Dog?

Walking your dog can be a lot of fun for both you. Some of the most notable benefits include:
1. Physical fitness: Regular walks help to maintain a healthy weight and promote physical fitness for both the dog and the owner.
2. Mental stimulation: Walking provides mental stimulation for dogs, and help s to prevent boredom and behavior problems.
3. Socialization: Walking allows dogs to socialize with other dogs and people, which is important for their emotional well-being.
4. Bonding: Walking with your dog is a great way to bond with your furry friend and strengthen the relationship between the two of you.
5. Stress relief: Walking with your dog can be a great way to relieve stress, by providing an opportunity for quiet time and exercise.
6. Better behavior: Regular walks can improve your dog’s behavior, such as reducing excessive barking, digging, and destructive behavior.
7. Training: Walking provides an opportunity for training and reinforcing good behavior, such as leash manners and obedience commands.
8. Good for mental health: Walking your dog can be a great way to boost mental health, by reducing anxiety and depression.
9. Helps with the sense of smell: Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, and walking allows them to explore and use their sense of smell, which is an important part of their mental and physical well-being.
10. Helps with overall health: Regular walks can help to improve cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, and improve overall well-being.
11. Improves sleep: Regular walks can help to improve sleep quality, both for the dog and the owner.
12. Increases lifespan: Regular walks can help to increase the lifespan of dogs, by promoting physical and mental well-being.
13. Provides an opportunity to meet new people: Walking your dog is a great way to meet new people, especially in dog-friendly areas or dog parks.

06/03/2023

FAQ
Exercising fur babies

If you’re not sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some dog walking tips which will help you take full control of your pet’s health and well-being.

Walking a dog is an activity that provides exercise, socialization, and mental stimulation for both the dog and its owner. Regular dog walking can help you maintain a healthy weight, boost your physical fitness, provide mental stimulation and reduce behavior problems, as well as provide a great opportunity to bond with your pet.

Having a safe and enjoyable walk with your dog is easier when you have the right equipment, set realistic expectations, take safety precautions, provide training and socialization and understand how to make the most of your walks.

06/03/2023

FAQ
Dog pee/f***s messaging...

Where dogs choose to go to the bathroom is an important decision. It’s not just about relieving themselves, it’s about communicating with the world-at-large.

Dogs use their urine to signal their presence to other dogs. And in turn, smelling other dogs’ urine tells a dog all about the other canines in the community, including their gender, age, and health. This system of pee-mail keeps dogs up-to-date on what’s happening in their neighborhood.

While on a walk, dogs want to sniff out all the places other dogs have gone to the bathroom, so they can leave a fresh deposit on top. This is the equivalent of human graffiti, saying, “Rover was here.” Male dogs specifically will lift their back leg as high as possible to get their urine up to the nose level of other dogs.

If the urine or f***s isn’t enough of a message, dogs sometimes scratch the ground with their feet to further emphasize their signal. Along with leaving an additional visual cue, they use special glands between their toes to leave extra scents on the ground as they scratch, adding even more impact to the scent mark.

All of this sniffing and scratching requires concentration and time. Giving your dog the opportunity to sniff the pee-mail and leave messages of his own will help him get the most out of his walks. If you want to keep your walk brief, or limit the areas your dog does his business, consider teaching him potty cues. This will let you tell him when and where you would like him to go.

17/02/2023

Hi my name is Joe (Pops) and a new dog walker! Back in my very early teenage years, I walked and sat for many of my neighbors pets. Now recently retired from the corporate world not much has changed except no longer in my teens. The House of Poppi Pet Services’ is q***r run and serving the Leslieville community. My goal is to make your days easier by making sure your pets enjoy great days that include exercise and caring companionship. I am committed to providing clients (you) with full peace of mind by keeping my canine first aid & CPR certification up-to-date and regularly will seek out both educational and professional development opportunities. I take pride on running a service that is committed to taking the best care of both human and canine clients. When not wearing out your dog, I can be found playing and walking with my 3 dogs or working in my gardens or just chilling outside listening to some good music.