​Do you come home to destructiveness or a hyper hound?  Or perhaps your dog(s) gives you the "sad eyes" as you are heading out the door.  Or maybe you feel guilt stricken at times because you have to leave your dog home alone all day while you are at work.  There are many ways that you can enrich your pets life while they are home alone.  Here are some that 4-Legged Friends Pet Services LLC recommends;
 
1) Provide them with a Hallow toy with delicious ingredients stuffed inside or another one of the many food dispensing toys that are available.  Dogs by nature are scavengers so have them work for their food rather than eat it out of a food bowl.  A hallow/food dispensing toy provides them with mental work which can help keep them busy when you can't be there.  This is a good enrichment option for dogs that need to be crated but may not be suitable for multi pet households for varying reasons.  In addition to using these toys as a way to deliver your dog(s) their meals they can also be filled with treats.  4-Legged Friends Pet Services all time favorite is the Kong.  If you have a dog that excels at chewing and dismantling of toys we recommend the Extreme Kong.  Be creative when stuffing your  kongs.  A favorite for my dogs is a frozen peanut butter, pumpkin, banana mixture stuffed in a kong.  Better yet freeze the stuffed kong for a longer lasting treat.  Other food dispensing toys that 4-Legged Friends recommends is the Kong Wobble, Kong Stuff a Ball, Buster Food Cube, and the Nina Ottosson Interactive Dog Toy. 
 
2) Scavenger Hunt: Scatter hidden treats around your home or pet's living area for your pooch to find while you are not home.  In the beginning make the hides very easy and than greadually work up to making the hides more difficult.  If your dog has access to stairs hide treats upstairs to incorporate a little more exercise into this enrichment option.  A word of caution be mindful where you do hide treats so that your valuables are not inadvertently destroyed in the excitement of the search.  Also, may not be suitable for some multi-pet households. 
 
3) Puzzle toys can be a ton of fun for your dog(s) and really gets their brains working.  4-Legged Friends highly recommends the Nina Ottosson puzzles.  For my own dogs they need puzzles that are more durable as they get really excited about their puzzles so I always opt for the wooden Nina Ottosson puzzles.  Trixie makes a few puzzle options as well; Trixie Mad Scientist Dog Toy, Trixie Chess Game or Trixie Move-2-Win Dog Toy.   Some of 4-Legged Friends favorite puzzles are Nina Ottosens's Dog Spinny, Dog Tornado, and Dog Brick.  I would recommend starting with an easy one and than introducing more difficult ones so that your dog doesn't give up on playing the game.
 
4) Give them something to chew on.  Be sure it is not something that they can't chew pieces off of or choke on.  If your dog is a crazy chewer like mine this activity may be left best to times when you can supervise them.  4-Legged Friends Pet Services recommends always monitor your dog chewing on a particular object prior to leaving them alone with it.
 
5) Hire a professional pet sitter for a dog walking or playtime visit.   This is a great option for families that have to leave their canine companions home alone especially for an extended period of time during the day.  It can help alleviate the boredom of being home alone and provide enough exercise so that they are in need of a nap after their afternoon fun-filled visit.  It can be very beneficial for young dogs that have a lot of energy.  If you are in Hagerstown, Maryland call 4-Legged Friends Pet Services to learn more about the different options that we offer.
 
6) Get your dog a furry companion.  This may be a good option for a select few homes.  It is important that the human family members truly want another canine companion as this option can possibly have as many challenges as it does benefits.  Adding another canine companion into your home is a commitment and requires more time, work and monetary funds.  If all goes well another furry companion can provide your existing dog with company while you are not home and they can also help tire each other out. On the downside another canine companion can mean "double trouble" or a duo that may not be very compatible for each other. 
 
7) Provide them with new toys or toys they only can have when your away and rotate the toys to keep them interesting. 
 
8) Make a busy bucket for your dog.  This is a fun and creative approach to keeping your canine companion busy while alone.  There are no rules to making a busy bucket for your dog.  One approach would be to have treats at the bottom, favorite toys & hand towels, layer it and pack tightly to keep your dog busy and entertained.  This would be a great option for some households but may not be suitable for multiple pet households or for dogs that are likely or have a history of ingesting inedible objects. 
 
9)Leave the Radio or TV on for your canine companion.  This enrichment option can prove very beneficial for dog(s) that live in close quarters to other families and can easily be implemented into multiple pet households without any challenges or risks.  4-Legged Friends recommends checking out Through a Dog's Ear, a compilation of music that has been clinically proven to relax dogs.  Nowadays, there are many TV options for dogs including channels that are completely devoted to them.  4-Legged Friends Pet Services recommends experimenting with TV shows but refraining from shows that give your dog(s) the opportunity to practice unwanted or concerning behaviors such as but not limited to chasing, barking, or reactive behavior.
 
10)Prior to leaving exercise them in some way.  A game of fetch, a brisk 20 minute walk, a game of tug, or some other game that gets their heart rate up can help with your hounds excess energy or can keep them tired and resting till the pet sitter or you arrive home.    
 
There are many ways to help keep your pup entertained & out of trouble when home alone and/or alleviate some of your pet parent guilt.  By trial and error figure out that your canine companion loves to do that can be safely implemented into your household. 

​Welcome to the 4-Legged Friends blog page!  4-Legged Friends will be celebrating 9 years of providing top notch dog training & pet sitting services this year. Since this is my first time ever writing a blog I couldn't help but feel that I should begin with a post on why I chose to become a professional dog trainer & pet sitter. Through the years of operating my business I have been provided the opportunities to learn from top leaders in the dog training & pet care industry, acquiring both knowledge & expertise, and most importantly have met the most amazing people & pets.  Through my articles I hope to provide valuable information to my readers.
 
It was in 2006 and during my 5th year of working in corporate America that I was really ready to make a huge change in my career path.  I wanted more than the satisfaction of a paycheck and wanted to feel passionate about what I was doing everyday.  Animals had always been a big part of my life and it was shortly after graduating college that I intensely explored the option of going to veterinary school after the lifelong goal of becoming a veterinarian. It wasn't until after my pre-vet orientation at Cornell and seeing first hand of what my studies would entail that I had second thoughts. I began to explore what options were available in pursuing a career working with animals where I could utilize my business and psychology degree .  As a volunteer for several years I really enjoyed taking care of animals and training them but the question of "Can I make a career out of doing what I really love" echoed in my mind.  I really loved the college courses geared towards animal learning, attending seminars on dog behavior and training and of course the thought of opening my own business.  How could I turn this passion into a reality? 
 
It was 10 years ago that I made the definitive decision to leave the comfort of my job and travel to a land unknown.  Despite the doubts and what-ifs, I embarked on a journey that not only has changed my career path but the person I am today.  In March 2007 my husband, Bryan, myself and our fur kids moved from Long Island, NY to Hagerstown, MD to begin a new chapter of our lives.  It was official 4-Legged Friends Pet Services was born! 
 
From day one I put my heart and soul into making 4-Legged Friends Pet Services a success.  Looking back into the past when I first opened the doors I never quite fully imagined where this new journey was going to take me.  It went beyond the original expectation of the joy and satisfaction I would experience when I opened the door to my client's home to be greeted by 4-Legged kids happy to see me each time I came for a visit.  There is no doubt that being greeted like you are their  newly founded best friend is one of the many perks to being a professional pet sitter but for me I also realize that it is also the incredible relationships I have built with so many of the fur kids we have in our care.  I feel so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to take care of and connect with so many pets, learning about each and everyone of them.  It provides me the opportunity to develop a close, special relationship with many animals that otherwise would not be possible.  I have also learned that not every pet is going to be thrilled with my company and have learned ways to help them earn my trust and connect with me.  We have one daily client whose dog sits in the window in anticipation of his walk and visit.  It really melts my heart to see him in the window especially given he was a little shy and unsure when I met him 8 years ago. 
 
One of the main reason's for choosing Hagerstown as the 4-Legged Friends Pet Services headquarters is so that I could focus on a year long apprenticeship with world renowned dog trainer, Pat Miller. I learned so much invaluable information and conquered one of my biggest life fears, public speaking.  I love being a professional dog trainer as much as being a professional pet sitter.  As a dog trainer I love helping dogs and people connect and build strong relationships by teaching them how to effectively communicate.  I love watching both the owner and dog grow through the entire process.  It is incredibly rewarding to provide people the tools they need to fully understand and enjoy their canine companions while also helping dog's understand what their humans want & expect from them.
 
The past 9 years have flown by and I can't imagine where I would be if I didn't chose 4-Legged Friends.  I am so happy I took that leap out of my comfort zone to find out.  It has been an incredible journey thus far and I for see it continuing into the future as 4-Legged Friends continues to grow and provide exceptional service.