Blog

Blog

Missing dog? How to find a lost pet quickly

It is a worry that's always in the back of your mind: what if your dog or cat goes missing? Especially if you plan to bring your pet to a sitter for home boarding or doggy daycare, you might be worried: what happens if your furry friend suddenly takes off? The good news is that you can do a lot to prevent your pet from getting lost in the first place. And what if your pet does get lost? Then we have an action plan ready for you to bring your pet home very fast. Here are our most important tips for pet owners and pet sitters

Read more

Why do dogs smell?

Yes, some dogs can smell a bit funny. In general, a healthy dog doesn't smell so bad. But if your dog's odour is starting to get really unpleasant, that might be a sign that something's wrong. In this article, we share with you everything about that typical dog scent and what to do if your dog gets a bit stinky.


Read more

Pet sitting rates: how much should I charge as a pet sitter?

If you want to find affordable pet care in your area, you can go to Pawshake to find dedicated pet sitters near you. But then you'll find out that the rates vary per pet sitter. What is a reasonable price for pet sitting? And how do you determine what exactly you should charge for dog boarding or cat sitting?:

Read more

First aid for cats: how to take care of a sick cat

You do everything you can to keep your cat happy and healthy - but at some point, just like us humans, your cat might get sick. Or adventurous cats can sometimes get themselves into trouble and suffer an injury. It's therefore really important that all cat owners and cat sitters can spot symptoms of illness or injury in a cat. What should you as a cat owner or cat sitter do in case of an emergency? How do you perform first aid on a cat? These are our emergency cat care tips:

Read more

How long can a dog be left alone?

Are you thinking of bringing a dog into your life and home? This is an exciting time but given work schedules and other time commitments you may wonder whether you will be able to take good care of this new family member. A question that comes up frequently is “What’s the maximum amount of time a dog can be left alone in a single stretch?”. Read on for the answer to that and other questions about living with a dog.

Read more

Introducing dogs to each other

Anyone who walks a dog every now and then knows how exciting it can be to meet another dog. Which body language signals should you pay attention to? And how do you ensure that a meeting runs smoothly? With these 5 tips, you can introduce your dog to a new friend in a safe and calm way!

Read more

The ideal pet sitter profile

If you are looking for dog walking services or doggy day care, it is important to choose a sitter that fits your situation perfectly. But what should you look for in a great petsitter profile? How do you make sure that you choose that reliable babysitter that fits your pet perfectly?



Read more

Celebrate the Year of the Dog!

Lunar New Year (also often known as the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival) is one of the world’s most bright, beautiful and exciting cultural celebrations. And in 2018 we are lucky enough to be entering the Year of the Dog!

Read more

Soothing your dog’s dry flakey skin

The cool, dry air in winter can really batter your skin – but did you know the same goes for your dog?

Read more

Christmas Gift Ideas

What to get for the pet or human who has everything? Get some inspiration here - these pressie ideas will bring a smile to everyone's face :-)

Read more

Christmas Dangers - keeping your pet safe.

Christmas Dangers - keeping your pet safe. teaser: Do you celebrate Christmas together with your pets? Awesome! Of course you can enjoy the holidays together, but beware of a few unexpected dangers that could even be life-threatening to your pet. But don't worry: prepare in advance and you will prevent any problems.

Read more

10 pets who want to wish you a Merry Christmas

Our Pawshake pets are spreading the festive cheer! These cuties are bound to make you go heart eyes...

Read more

Why do we use baby-talk on our pets?

Let’s all admit it – most of us pet fanatics on Pawshake have a special voice reserved for our pet...and there is an interesting reason behind why we use this goo-goo-gaa-gaa talk for our furry friend!

Read more

Why senior pets are the best pets of all

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month - which means it's time to celebrate our wonderfully cuddly older cats and dogs! Considering adopting a pet in the near future? Here, we break down a few senior pet myths and explore why you might should let a sweet senior pet into your heart and home.

Read more

Puppy sitting vs regular pet sitting – what’s the difference?

If you’ve never looked after a puppy before, or it’s been a while, then you need to know this – it’s fun, it’s full-on, and it’s definitely NOT a walk in the park.

Read more

Is it ok to dress my pet?

Halloween is frighteningly close and it’s time to get your costumes and sweets ready! But what about your pet….can they join in the festivities too?

Read more

DIY pet-friendly cleaning products

We can all agree that it isn’t ideal to expose your fur-kids (or yourself) to any unnecessary nasty chemicals! One solution is to make your own cleaning products. It’s simpler than you think! These recipes are quick, easy, actually do the job, are cheaper than store-bought and free from intense chemicals or perfumes.

Read more

Pets and paw-sitivity

Pet sitters and owners know that our furry friends can bring daily joy and comfort even in the toughest times. And it’s no surprise that new research shows that pets are way more important to long-term mental health than previously recognised.

Read more

30 ways to have a meaningful World Animal Day!

Obviously, our animals deserve the best every single day - no doubt that your own pets are very lucky to live in a warm, loving home. Yet October 4th is also a great day to celebrate ALL our four legged, furry, feathered and fishy companions, all over the world.

Read more

When should I take my pet to the vet?

If you own a pet or are a busy pet sitter, this question will eventually rear it's head....'am I being over-reactive, or is the pet in my care actually sick or injured?'

Read more

Caring for a senior pet.

We think there’s nothing more rewarding than having a sweet senior in your care, so they deserve every bit of love and attention they can get! But you need to be prepared for a totally different experience to that of pet sitting a young cat or dog.

Read more

Nervous about home security? House sitters to the rescue!

There are so many benefits to choosing a house sitting that we couldn’t possibly list them all, but here are a few to get you started!

Read more

A beach day with your dog!

The perfect beach day with a dog takes a little extra planning – so check out our handy guide before hitting the sand.

Read more

Does your dog really love you?

We pet people know in our heart of hearts that our dogs love us just as much as we love them. But how do you know your dog actually LOVES you in a way that transcends the basic, instinctive need for food and shelter? Here's how!

Read more

Protecting your pets from the sun

Just as we humans have to take care to not get burnt by harmful UVA and UVB rays when we’re catching some sun, we need to watch out for our pets too.

Read more

Cattle in summer – a warning for dog walkers!

A warning dog walkers and pet sitters - grazing cows are a common sight in the Irish countryside and at this time of year can pose a risk to you and your furry friend.

Read more

Moving house with a cat

Pawshake Marketing Manager Jess recently moved with her cat, Benjamin. Here are a few pieces of wisdom that she gained from the experience!

Read more

Signs of doggy stress that are easy to miss

Interpreting doggy language is usually easy enough….but as part of the Pawshake family, we hope you have that extra edge of knowledge to interpret the more subtle signs - whether you’re a dog sitter or dog owner.

Read more

When to say 'no thanks' after a meet and greet

Here are few issues that can be red flags if you are a pet sitter or pet owner….pay attention and take ownership over your decision, because you want to be sure you’ve found a purrfect pet-to-person match!

Read more

Pet-matching! Who is the best pet person for your pet?

We want to make sure everyone on Pawshake has the knowledge to make an informed choice about matching a pet with a pet sitter. Because a happy pet and happy pet sitter means a smooth and easy stay for everyone!

Read more