Our Last Days as Hoofs & Woofs

Hoofs and Woofs Pet Sitting has now become the new, Loudoun Pet Sitting Company! Be sure to visit http://www.loudounpetsitting.com/ to take a look at our new website and https://www.facebook.com/theLoudounPetSittingCo/ to follow us on Facebook and Blogger, as this page will not be active very soon.

We will be offering the same dedication and service to our clients, now with a new name. Thank you for your continued support!

Exciting News Coming In the New Year!

Happy New Year to all of our clients and their pets! Thank you for another wonderful year in 2017 and your continued support. We are thrilled to announce that big changes are in the works for this new year, so stay tuned to learn more as soon as the details are ready!

7 Ways to Make the Holidays Safer for Pets

"​Nothing can spoil holiday cheer like an emergency visit to a veterinary clinic. These seven tips can help prevent a holiday disaster with your pets." That's why we're sharing an article from the AVMA to help you prepare and be aware of things that can cause issues for your pets, to keep this year's holiday celebration happy and safe for everyone!

Click here to learn seven tips to help make the holidays safer for your pet! To learn more about our professional dog walking, farm sitting and pet sitting services visit: http://hoofsandwoofspets.com/

Top 10 Tips to Prepare Your Horse Farm for Winter

Even though the official first day of winter hasn't happened yet winter has begun and it's important to make sure that you have prepped your farm, no matter the size, for the long few months of cold ahead. We love our farm clients and want to help make this winter as easy as possible! In order to do that we are sharing this article from Farm Bureau Financial Services entitled 'Top 10 Tips to Prepare Your Farm for Winter.'

To learn more about our services visit: http://hoofsandwoofspets.com/

CHILLY DAWG! CARING FOR YOUR DOG THIS WINTER

Good morning,

Today we are sharing an article from Dogtrailia entitled 'Chilly Dawg! Caring for your dog this winter' which talks about some tips for keeping your pet healthy as the temperatures begin to drop.

"For us dog owners –  winter’s a time when our beloved babies need a little extra care. Despite the fact our domestic dogs have all evolved from wolves – it certainly doesn’t mean that they’re immune to the cold the way wolves are. In fact, hypothermia among dogs is more common than you’d think. Contrary to popular belief – a fur coat does not mean your dog is properly protected from the winter climate. Many breeds have lovely plush coats to touch and look at –  that are actually very poor insulators against the cold."

To learn more about some tips for keeping your dog warm this winter, like feeding them more protein in their diet, visit the article link here!  If you are in the Middleburg, Virginia or surrounding area and want some extra help caring for your pets this winter, give us a call!  Call or Text: 703-951-7387 or visit us online at: www.hoofsandwoofspets.com.

Things Your Dog is Thankful For

Thanksgiving is only a few days away and while we are all thankful for our pets we know that our pets are also thankful to us! Here are five fun suggestions of thanks from our pets, shared from a blog on Bella's House Sitting. Enjoy!

1.) Snuggles and Pets – I like way we cuddle in the bed or on the couch and the way you hold my head when you’re watching TV.  It doesn’t get much better than a warm lap and a soft blanket basked in the soft glow of the TV.  It makes happy when you scratch that special place behind my ear, oh yeah just like that!  It’s perfect.  Snuggling with you is really the best part of the day.

2.) Treats under the table – Now you may think I’m saying this one just to set you up for some Thanksgiving treats, but that’s not it at all (okay, well, maybe just a little bit).  But, really, I do love it when you let me sample your food!  I feel like a part of the family when I get to try what you’re eating and feel marvelous when you think of me at dinner time.

3.) Walks and Playtime – Sometimes all those treats at the table catch up with us and we need some exercise.  I love it when you take time out of our busy days to walk with me.  What I love even more is playing catch and tug a war with you.

4.) Car rides – Car rides with you are the best!  I love sticking my head out of the window and letting the breeze flow.  It’s even better when we’re taking a ride to the park where we can walk and play!

5,) Belly Rubs – Yeah yeah yeah, this one is my favorite.  I absolutely love it when I flop on by back and you rub and pat my belly.  It’s so comforting and I always feel like the most loved pup in the world.  It makes my day to know that you love me too!

If you are looking for a reliable, professional pet sitter then feel free to give us a call! Learn more about our midday visits and farm services at: www.hoofsandwoofspets.com

Black Friday Deals For Pets!

We all know that Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away and that means time spent with family, friends and of course our pets! It also means another Black Friday is coming and the potential to save is at hand! For those of you who love a great deal, especially when buying items for your pets, we are sharing with you some Black Friday 2017 pet sale items so you can plan your shopping accordingly! Have fun!

https://blackfriday.com/categories/pets 

Going away to shop for Black Friday? Need someone to walk your pet while you are gone that day? Contact us to learn more about our pet sitting services and our holiday hours at, www.hoofsandwoofspets.com. 

Ask the Vet: Fruits and Veggies for Horses

Good afternoon,

Today's blog answers the question "Q: I love giving my horse special treats, so I was wondering what kind of fruits and vegetables are safe to feed your horse?" You might think you know what is safe to give your four-legged love, but you want to be sure to avoid other complications from upset digestive systems! To learn more in a quick read visit the article here: http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-experts/horse-vet-advice/2017/fruits-and-veggies-for-horses.aspx

Copyright: DiLor

Want to learn more about us? Hoofs and Woofs offers full-service pet sitting for horses, ponies, dogs, cats, fish, birds, pigs, bunnies and much more! We specialize in giving superior custom care to pets, whether for a day or an extended period of time.  At Hoofs and Woofs, we know that our animals are a part of our family, and we are dedicated to providing excellent service for peace of mind of pet parents! Take a look at our site for more information: www.hoofsandwoofspets.com

Halloween Safety Tips

Tomorrow is Halloween!! We are excited however it's important to maintain a safe holiday environment for your pets! "Halloween can be the spookiest night of the year, but keeping your pets safe doesn’t have to be tricky. The ASPCA recommends taking these simple, common sense precautions to keep your pet happy and healthy all the way to November 1."

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/halloween-safety-tips

Preparing Your Horse for Winter

Good afternoon pet lovers,

Believe it or not winter will be here before you know it. Today's article is for our farm and equestrian clients. We know that running a farm of any size, takes a lot of work. This article from Smartpak entitled 'Preparing Your Horse for Winter' talks about some of the four most important things to prepare for as winter approaches: Nutrition, Exercise, Blanketing & Health. Click on the article link above to learn more. And if you're looking for a professional to help take care of your horses this winter while you have to be away, contact us today! http://hoofsandwoofspets.com/

Holidays Are Coming Up! Book Now!

Good afternoon pet lovers!

As you know we offer many services to our clients, including overnight visits during holidays! With just a $5-$10 holiday surcharge you can travel to visit friends and family and know that your beloved pets are safe and happy at home with one of our caring sitters. With October halfway over and Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah right around the corner, now is the time to start planning your holiday pet sitting schedule!

To learn more about our professional pet sitting services in Middleburg, VA or to schedule your initial consultation, visit: http://hoofsandwoofspets.com/

Did you know? Licensed, Bonded, and Insured!

Good afternoon pet lovers!

Did you know that here at Hoofs & Woofs Pet Sitting we take our jobs very seriously and are licensed, bonded and insured? What does that mean exactly? Well, for you it means that you can rest easy knowing that your pets are in the safe hands of reliable professionals. But for others interested in the business here is a breakdown of each term, according to https://wallethacks.com/licensed-bonded-insured/.  If you can find relief in knowing that we are fully covered, please call us today at: #703-951-7387

"What does it mean to be Licensed?
If you've ever hired someone to do work, chances are you've seen these words - what does it really mean to be licensed, bonded, and insured? Find out and why it's VERY important!For some professions, you need to get a license before you can perform that function.

For example, Cosmetology is the study of beauty treatments – skin, hair, cosmetics, manicure/pedicures, waxing, laser treatments, etc. If you've ever gotten a haircut, chances are you've seen the license prominently framed on the shelf.

That's because every state requires a license in part because there are often dangerous chemicals involved in cosmetology. My simple haircut requires just a trimmer, comb, and a pair of scissors but there are a lot of chemicals involved in other treatments (tons of chemicals when you talk about hair smoothing, nails, perms).

With most licenses, you are required to complete a certain number of training hours, pass a test, and maintain that training. In many cases, you have to remain affiliated with a licensed company (so for a hairdresser, a licensed salon/barbershop) too.

When we recently had some 80′ poplars cut down, we found a licensed tree professional and they had their license number printed on the side of the truck. It's also printed on any materials (including coupons), so you can look them up on their Maryland website. Always look up the license!

Remember, this is not an indication of expertise (we've all had bad haircuts!). This is just a signal that they've done the minimum necessary to work in that profession in the state you're in.

What does it mean to be Bonded?
Bonded means that there's a bonding company that has money set aside for claims against the company or individual. This is typically required by the government as part of the licensing process.

The company will buy a bond, the money that's set aside, from a surety bond company because the state requires it. The company buying the bond is known as the principal, the surety is the bond company that backs the bond with a line of credit, and the obligee is the government (or entity that requires it).

The bond is meant to protect the consumer from the actions of the principal. It's different from insurance which protects the company.

For example, if you hired a cleaning company to come into your house and a worker damages something in the house, you would file a claim against the company. If the company fails to pay a valid claim, the bond would step in. From there, the surety would collect from the company – this protects the consumer by having this money set aside and not in full control of the company.

When an individual is bonded, it means something different. This is a thing for within a company and as a consumer this doesn't matter to you. This type of bond is known as a fidelity bond and it's a policy taken out by the company to protect it from its employees. This is often the case with employees that may deal with large sums of money. The company bonds the employee and if something were to happen, such as a theft, the bond would protect the employer from financial loss.

What does it mean to be Insured?
This is the easiest one to understand – it means they have insurance! This protects the company from things that might happen on the job – like if someone gets hurt. If a worker gets hurt on the job and they have insurance, the worker files a claim against that insurance. If the worker is just some random guy you hired to do odd jobs and he gets hurt, then you'll have to file a claim against your homeowner's insurance!

There's no central database of insurance policies, like there is for the license, so the provider will typically offer to give you a copy of their certificate of insurance. You should call the insurance company and confirm the policy matches what the certificate says."

Did You Know: Offering Transportation Services!

Good afternoon all,

Did you know that Hoofs & Woofs offers transportation services for your pets!? What does this mean? This means that if you have a busy work schedule, or inconsistent hours but need important vet care or a routine visit for your pet, we can take your pet to their veterinarian to save you the time and hassle!! Starting at only $20 you can have comfort knowing your pet can make it to their scheduled vet appointment on-time and with a safe, reliable handler.  Or, if you would prefer to be there for the vet appointment but don't have time to handle scheduled grooming appointments, we can do that too!

To learn more about our transportation services and other services we offer, visit http://hoofsandwoofspets.com

7 Farm Animals to Raise For Beginners

Thinking of fencing in your property and starting a small farm? Looking to raise a few new animals to add to your existing herd? Today we are sharing a great and informative article from morningchores.com entitled '7 Farm Animals to Raise (And 1 Not) for Beginners.' This great article goes into the pros and cons of these adorable creatures and talks about things like predator factor and lifespan.  If you are thinking about creating your own little farm paradise at home, then this article is for you! Take a look below and click on the article link to learn more.

https://morningchores.com/best-farm-animals/

If you are in Middleburg, Virginia or surrounding area and looking for a professional, affordable and reliable pet sitter to come take care of your farm animals while you are away, contact us today! We offer full-service pet sitting for horses, ponies, dogs, cats, fish, birds, pigs, bunnies and much more! We specialize in giving superior custom care to pets, whether for a day or an extended period of time.  http://hoofsandwoofspets.com/

Fun Idea: Design and Build A DIY “Palace” For Your Cat!

Well it's Monday and you might be drained from the weekend. So today we are sharing a fun idea for all of our cat clients out there... DIY Cat Palace!! Thanks to this creative article from thebestcatpage.com you can enjoy one artist's idea of her own DIY kitty palace. Learn more by visiting the link here. 

"Well, cat lovers, if you’re the type of kitty-cat mom or dad who goes to cat yoga classes, it’s time for you to step it up and create a palace for your furry little king or queen. We’re not talking about houses made of paper bags or cardboard boxes lined cheap shaggy carpeting — we’re talking full-on luxury. Make a home where your cat can run through endless rooms, hear the echo of her own meows under high ceilings, luxuriate on plush fabrics and get all cray on high-end scratching posts. It is very important to remember that a *true* palace isn’t complete without self portraits, so don’t forget to adorn the walls with oil paintings of your baby."

If you are looking for a reliable and professional pet sitter to come check in on your kitty palace contact us today! hoofsandwoofspets.com

The Year of the Goat!

Today we are sharing an article from the New York Times about why this year seems to be the year of the goat and why goats have become popular house pets. Because at Hoofs & Woofs, we love all pets!

"Goats have long been a popular subject of videos and online memes. There are fainting goats, screaming goats, goats in pajamas and goats with anger issues. There is a virtual game where the sole purpose of a goat is to wreck stuff and even a Tony Award-winning play by Edward Albee, “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?,” in which the lead character has an affair with the pet in question. But in the past few years, a swell of fun-loving billys has moved offline and into people’s backyards, living rooms and hastily-built barns. Indeed the number of registered Nigerian dwarf goats, beloved for their size and frisky good nature, has increased 7.5 percent in three years, according to the American Goat Society."  To read more of why this is the year of the goat, view the article here!

Here at Hoofs & Woofs we welcome all animals into our pet sitting program...especially goats! We specialize in giving superior custom care to pets, whether for a day or an extended period of time.  At Hoofs and Woofs, we know that our animals are a part of our family, and we are dedicated to providing excellent service for peace of mind of pet parents!

To learn more about our services visit http://hoofsandwoofspets.com/

Finding Pets Who've Run Away From Shock

After Hurricane Harvey, many people may have lost their pets due to fear and shock from the events that occurred. We want to share this article which gives some more information about why pets run after a storm and how you can take some extra precautions to be reunited with them as safely as possible.

To view the article link click here.  

Solar Eclipse Pet Safety!

Good afternoon!

With just hours left to go for the Solar Eclipse here on the East Coast, we thought we would share this great blog post from neighbor, Walking Wetnoses.  Take a look!


As you have probably heard, in a matter of hours here on the East Coast we will get to experience a solar eclipse...how cool! For those of you who don't know what one is, according to NASA "Sometimes when the moon orbits Earth, it moves between the sun and Earth. When this happens, the moon blocks the light of the sun from reaching Earth. This causes an eclipse of the sun, or solar eclipse. During a solar eclipse, the moon casts a shadow onto Earth." We all have been warned to not look directly into the sun or to wear special protection glasses. However, the big question that seems to be buzzing around is 'what about our pets safety?'

Thanks to the good folks at Chewy.com, they have written up a quick article that we wanted to share with some pet safety tips.

"Dogs and cats, just like us, are at risk for damaging their retinas if staring at the eclipse,” warns Dr. Alison Birken, owner and DVM of Victoria Park Animal Hospital who recommends that all pets stay safely indoors during the hours of the solar eclipse. And Dr. Stephanie Liff, DVM, medical director of Pure Paws Vet Care of Hell’s Kitchen and Clinton Hill points out, “In general, with strange phenomenons in terms of the weather and lunar cycles, we can see strange and anxious behavior increase in our pets.” While animals typically know not to stare directly into the sun, “I recommend putting pets inside for the total solar eclipse,” relays Dr. Liff. “I think it’s always better to be safe than sorry."

To read the full article, click here: https://www.chewy.com/petcentral/total-solar-eclipse-2017-pet-safety-tips/

Remember to keep your pets safe and enjoy the eclipse if you are able to!!

Meet the Humans Behind Our Hoofs & Woofs: Last But Not Least!

Good morning!

We are wrapping up our 'Meet the Humans Behind Hoofs & Woofs' series today and last but certainly not least, is Lysa & Paul Clemens. Owners of Hoofs & Woofs and animal-lovers to the core!

"Raised in an animal-centric household, Lysa has had cats, dogs and horses (and 1 rat and 2 raccoons) in her family for her entire life. For almost 10 years, Lysa and Paul owned a large horse boarding facility in Middleburg, while they were both working as corporate executives. During that time, they were constantly seeking out dependable and genuinely caring sitters to take care of their furry clan while they were working and traveling. After deciding to escape from corporate America, they knew they wanted to focus on filling a need for busy pet parents to have peace of mind knowing that their fur-kids are happy and well taken care of when they can’t be at home. They assumed ownership of Hoofs and Woofs in 2016."

To learn more about Hoofs & Woofs and how we can serve your pets in the Middleburg area, visit: http://hoofsandwoofspets.com

Meet the Humans Behind Our Hoofs & Woofs: Kim C.

We still have a few fabulous pet sitters for you to meet so this week we are continuing our series where you can meet the people behind Hoofs & Woofs professional pet sitting. Up next is Kim C!

“Dog hair, cat hair, clump of hay in my own hair- would not have it any other way. My love for animals began at a very early age. There hasn’t been a time in my life when pets weren’t a “Dog hair, cat hair, clump of hay in my own hair- would not have it any other way. My love for animals began at a very early age. There hasn’t been a time in my life when pets weren’t a part of it. Moving to the area in 2000, I am proud to share a small abode on a local farm with a menagerie of animals. They are my heart and soul and have me wrapped around their paws. As an active volunteer for 3 rescues, I foster and drive transport. One of the most rewarding foster experiences happened 2 years ago, when I fostered for a deployed serviceman and was able to reunite them upon the soldier’s safe return. Being CPR/AED certified for humans, encouraged me to obtain the same knowledge for pets. A voracious reader, avid hiker, “wanna be chef/wine connoisseur,” learning to knit– all activities which include my family members with paws.” - Kim C.

To learn about our other professional pet sitters and our services in Middleburg, Virginia visit us online at: http://hoofsandwoofspets.com/