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A word about our scottsdale pet sitting and dog walking clients…

Being a dog walker in Scottsdale during the winter has got to be one of the best jobs in the country. No snow to deal with. No black ice. No freezing temperatures. The sun is almost always shinning and the pets are always excited to see us. We get to play with them, love on them, and break up their day. It is the best job!

We keep to whatever routine you would like. No two houses are the same. We learn each pet’s vocabulary. Why? You never know how important it is to know the lingo until you pet sit for an old army vet and his dog. The dog goes potty only on command and the word is “Go Sh&*” Yeah… No two households are the same!

Puppy sitting is one of our favorite services. Not only is puppy breath one of the best smells in the world, but we also get to watch them grow up and get to see the world through their innocent eyes (and ok, their nose too!) Our office manager has been with the company since he was 7 weeks old, so we know a lot about puppies and have lots of articles written for your learning pleasure as well!

By not charging by time like most other pet sitting companies, it really allows us to get down and enjoy our visits with our clients. emphasis on the importance of a quality service, and not quantity has proven to be the key to being successful in communities like McDowell Mountain Ranch, Scottsdale Ranch, DC Ranch, and all of North Scottsdale. In McDowell Mountain Ranch alone, we have a client on almost every street and know all the guards, and gate codes. WOW huh? Lacy, (pictured above) visits Jewel multiple times a week. Can you believe that 5 min before that picture was taken, Jewel was barking and showing her teeth to Lacy?

Our elderly clients are especially important to us as we know that sometimes they need that extra bit of help. Sometimes it takes them longer than the younger pups to find that perfect spot to go potty or feel the urge. Sometimes, they just like to sun bath like you see Shasta doing above… whatever it is, there is never any clock ticking in the background. Having four “Bella’s” (employees)running around North Scottsdale makes it so we are not just one person running around frantically.

We love all our two and four legged clients and just wanted to give you a glimpse on what makes BELLA’S THE BEST. A phrase we coined a Looooooooong time ago. The ONLY company in time that is ONE PRICE, FULL SERVICE, QUALITY SERVICE.

Important facts to know about pet food.

At Bella’s House & Pet Sitting, it is really important to me to surround myself with nationally known experts. I learned about Sabine at a national pet sitting conference 5 years ago and quickly became great virtual friends with her. She has a site called www.dogfoodproject.com and an extensive background in pet nutrition. I asked her to guest blog for Bella’s and here is a really interesting article that will hopefully get your juices flowing about what you are really feeding your pet. Is it Morton’s or is it McDonald’s every day?

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I’m often asked what the “worst” ingredients in commercial pet food are. It’s very difficult to limit my warnings to a specific number of the unhealthy aspects of poor quality commercial foods, but…

* “Generic” animal ingredients that are not defined by species of origin (e.g. meat and bone meal or animal fat vs. lamb meal or chicken fat),
* Large amounts of plant-based protein fillers (such as corn gluten, soy meal, rice protein concentrate),
* Animal and plant based byproducts (poultry byproducts, peanut hulls),
* Chemical additives and preservatives (propylene glycol, BHA/BHT/TBHQ, ethoxyquin),
* Artificial colors (Red 40, Blue 2 etc.), and
* Sweeteners (sorbitol, fructose, molasses)

…all rank at the very top of things to avoid.

I know this sounds terribly cynical, but sadly there is no way of ever truly knowing all the details about ingredient quality in store bought foods, especially since not everything that is in the food must actually be declared in the ingredient list, which is why I encourage pet owners to do their homework and thoroughly investigate the food products before they buy. Examples for things that do not need to be listed are additives added to an ingredient by a supplier (such as a preservative to a type of fat or meat meal for example) before it is sold, or anything that may function as a so-called “processing aid”.

When choosing a food, I highly recommend focusing on these more important characteristics than gimmicks like a highly varied ingredient list, bits of fruits and veggies, or various “holistic” supplements. Fruits and vegetables are nutritionally much more valuable if you add them fresh to your dog’s diet, and your dog will benefit more from a specifically tailored supplementation program, with dosages that actually offer a therapeutic effect, rather than “all in one” formulas that try to be all things to all people, and of which manufacturers claim they are the “magic solution” to every ailment.

What’s most important to me is to mention that while there is no such thing as a “cheap” high quality food, a big price tag doesn’t automatically mean that you get a good product. There are some highly-touted so-called “national brands” that vets like to recommend, which are made with poor quality ingredients, and they cost just as much as really good foods made by smaller, independent companies. As a general rule, expect to pay about a dollar per pound or more for a high quality product though.
For more details, please refer to
“Identifying Better Products”

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=betterproducts

–
Sabine Contreras
Canine Care & Nutrition Consultant
Creating Healthy Lifestyles for Canines
BetterDogCare.com – DogFoodProject.com

Rocco’s brother and sister need a home BAD!

You all know my Rocco the Rockstar… well his brother and sister in Tucson need your help.

Their parents are getting a divorce, and they can’t keep them in the new house. ( I know, I know… I would have found a place where my kids can come too.)

In any case – They need your help. These Boarder Collie/Australian Shepard mixes were rescued from the desert. Remember this story? These kids already could have died in the desert once…and then Tasha saved the litter. Now, they are needing a home again.

PLEASE BE AWARE: That is is not becasue they are bad dogs or ill trained. It is the humans who can no longer care for them. These dogs are GREAT DOGS. Heck, they are Rocco’s brother and sister… of course they are!

So…. Please read. Please pass on. You know that I don’t post this stuff too much so please press SHARE on FB or TWEET it out as a favor to not only Rocco, but me as well.
Thank you in advance.

Here is their story: ” Please help! Need a good home or foster home for 2 rescued puppies (8 months old). They currently live in Tuscon and the current owners are going through an unseen situation and can’t keep them. These puppies were rescued from a cave in the desert of Arizona. We prefer to have them stay together. Shanti is female (brown) and Mojo (Black and white) is male. They have had all their shots, been spayed and neutered, and have graduated from a prestigious puppy school! They love to go for walks and are very playful. Since they are rescues, they take a little time to warm up to other people and pets. These puppies have been thru a lot since they were born, so we want to make sure they go to a great home where they will get the attention they deserve. They are absolutely great and will make lovable pets!”

Shanti and Mojo

Guessing on Rocco’s size these pups are less than 40 lbs and won’t get too much bigger than 50lbs.

Rocco is the best gift I have ever been given and I know that the new parents of these two will feel the same way.

CONTACT BELLA: 480-330-4552 if you or anyone you know would like these pups.

[Video] Cat Sitting, Scottsdale | Pet Sitting for Tiggy

Introducing TIGGY!!!! Making his YouTube debut! Tiggy has been our McDowell Mountain Ranch client for a few years and is always a pleasure to pet sit for. He has so much personality and Bella’s always has fun with him!

[Video] Does your dog drink responsibly?

As a huge supporter of our Yappy Hours, Bowser Beer is the best treat to give your pups when you want them to join in on the fun with you. While pet sitting in Scottsdale, we give them out to some of our clients in celebration of events in their lives. I love the product, Rocco the Rock Star loves the product, and many of our clients love the product.

Want to know why? Watch this RAWsome video!

For more information go to: http://bowserbeer.com/

Pet Sitting, Dog Walking, Scottsdale, AZ

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