Arnie & Grace Martinez are the owners of 2 Dogs & A Cat, LLC and are professional pet sitters dedicated to the quality of pet care by providing professional and knowledgeable pet care services that can be tailored to you and your pets’ needs.
We haven't had to personally train a puppy in over 18 years! Luckily, Charlie is eager to please. She whined a little, got up when she wasn't supposed to, & doesn't know how to sit on command. But despite that, she was paying attention. She did well when learning how to "wait" and walk beside me.
We took her on a family walk later in the day. I could see she was struggling with wanting to be next to her brother Bentley and listening to me. But she's smart enough to know that I come with treats! I am looking forward to continuing to train Charlie (and myself)...
Help sponsor us to run the Flight for Sight Fun Run & Walk on 6/7! We love that this event includes everything we are passionate about: dogs, local event, & running. We will run ONE MILE per $$DOLLAR donated (i.e. $30 donated, WE will run 30 miles in between both of us). Think BIG! Thanks in advance.
Guide Dogs of America helps provide guide dogs free of charge to blind individuals. With the gift of a guide dog, men and women are better able to pursue and achieve their goals, fulfill their dreams, and participate in their communities. Guide dogs not only provide the gift of increased independence, confidence, and mobility, but they also act as a trusted companion providing increased opportunities and social interaction. Help us make a difference in someone's life in the form of a loving, four legged partner. http://www.flightforsight.com/
Charlie (Charlotte) finally arrived! After months of deciding we were ready for another dog, she finally arrived. It took over 3 weeks of travel time due to the snow & road conditions. Poor puppy. She is calm, healthy 5 month old Lab/Shar Pei mix that is full of energy. Just what our other dog Bentley needed. He is smaller than her, but that doesn't stop him from bossing her around. Charlie is so good-natured that she doesn't seem to mind. Our daughters are still adjusting to a jumping dog. Next step training!
Grace Martinez 2 Dogs & A Cat
www.2dogsandacat.net
It’s been 17 years since I had a puppy.Bella was my first dog.My husband & I got her from a man giving
away free puppies.She was our “entry”
child after being newly-married.She
reminded me of “Little Ann” from Where the Red Fern Grows.We did everything wrong.We let her sleep with us, get on the couch,
and eat our leftovers.We didn’t
socialize her enough – that was our biggest mistake.A year later we got Reno from a shelter, he
was about 4 months old. He was awkward, and didn’t know how to control his
moving limbs.He was the newfound energy
Bella needed.She quickly showed him the
ropes and we continued with our bad habits.It became apparent that we needed to change our ways when we moved to
another state and they showed signs of aggression.We found a great boarding facility that
taught us how to be better parents.Soon
after, moving and “fixing” our parental issues, we decided it was time to start
a human family.But we felt bad about
commuting and leaving our dogs home alone.That’s when I decided to start a pet care business.It was the perfect scenario, one of us would
be home with our dogs and child & the other would pet sit.Since then we have had two other human
children.Bella & Reno lived long,
happy, meaningful lives and sadly passed away about 3 years ago.It took us over a year to decide whether our
hearts would be open to having another dog.We visited the shelters for some time, never finding a good match –
until one day, my friend called me & told me MY DOG was at the shelter.We quickly rushed over to find a shaggy, disheveled
mini-Schnauzer who had been abandoned most of his life.Bentley was 4 at the time and made the
perfect addition to our family – he was full of spunk and our middle daughter
immediately claimed him as hers.Bentley
is now 6 and we have been looking for some time for another dog.Our family has not felt complete.I randomly saw a Facebook post about some
puppies needing a home and knew THAT puppy was mine.We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of
“Charlotte” aka Charley, a mixed Lab/Sharpei.She is in Texas at a rescue and should be transported to us by
February.I know in my heart that she is
the missing piece.Bella & Reno can
never be replaced, but Charley can fill the missing piece in my family.
It's that time of the year when you start putting up the Christmas Tree. .
Christmas Tree Tips:
1. Place your Christmas tree in a corner, preferably blocked from your pet. Try putting something at the bottom of the tree that will create noise if they jump on the tree.
2. Make sure to hang tinsel out of your pet's reach. Ingesting tinsel can potentially block their intestines. .
3. Do not put lights on the tree's lower branches to avoid having your pet get tangled in the lights or get shocked by biting through the wire.
4. Ornaments should also be kept out of reach to avoid possible chocking or injury from broken ornaments.
5. Clean up after pine needles that have fallen, they could puncture your pet's intestines if ingested.
We are thrilled to have updated our website. We made it more user-friendly and hope that current, past, and new clients will be able to get all the information they need to book our services.
If you (and your pet) would like to be featured on our website, please send us an email (with picture) for our testimonial section.
National Dog Prevention Bite Week is 5/19-25. Interaction with an aggressive dog can happen to anyone. Be prepared with our human products! We also sell stun guns (great deterrent!). www.mydamselpro.net/Grace
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US! In April 2001, we started this business because we saw a need inprofessional in-home pet care.At that time, we had 2 dogs & a cat (no human babies). Our pets taught uslessons on how to care for others, which we eventually used for caring for our three daughters.The life lessons you learn from your pets are incredible.Over the years, we have strived to perfect pet care.We value the relationships we have made with the countless pets (and their human counterparts).Although weno longer have our original dogs , we opened our hearts to our dog Bentley and continue to love our cat, Katie (15 years old!).We plan on continuing to provide pet care for many more years and look forward to new relationships (new business) as well as keeping our current clients happy!
I've always been an advocate of running with your dog. It's good exercise for you and for your dog! Plus it adds a safety factor of having a protector at your side.
Exercise guidelines aren't just for humans: Small dogs should get 15 to 20 minutes of exercise twice a day, and large dogs need two sessions of 30 to 40 minutes each.
Susan Nelson, clinical associate professor at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at Kansas State University in Manhattan, points out that the type of exercise should be tailored to the dog. "Running is good for dogs that are bigger and are in good shape, but how much running to do depends on the dog and how in shape it is," she says. "You can't run a basset hound like you would a Great Dane."
My dog Bentley is easily distracted on runs. If there are no squirrels or other dogs in sight, he is a fantastic runner! But unfortunately we live in an area where there are many squirrels and people and those people have dogs. So thus, my never-ending battle of "Bentley, leave it" goes on. I don't mind it much because it keeps me on my toes. I have to be more aware of my surroundings and look for things he has yet to see. I don't think I run that aware when I'm on my own. So, he is doing a great service to me. Bentley requires his own water bottle and bags for potty breaks. While I just require him, my handy phone, and my pepper spray.
I can't wait for the long days of summer to come so that we can spend countless days running to our favorite lookout spots. This summer will be epic, full of running with my best friend. I feel free when I run, able to clear my mind of my many obligations and only worry about my pace or that squirrel up ahead.
Giving Your Cat Peace And quiet
If you’re having guests over or are planning a party, make sure your cat has a quiet den to retreat to away from the crowd and somewhere dark that he can hide.
Plants and flowers
Poinsettias and amaryllis, mistletoe berries, holly berries and lilies are poisonous for cats. If you have them in the house, then keep them well out of your pet’s way.
Antifreeze warning
With the coldest winter weather possibly still ahead, car owners will be winter-proofing their vehicles by adding antifreeze. This substance needs careful handling because just a tiny amount of antifreeze can be fatal to cats if ingested.
Antifreeze tastes sweet and is particularly appealing to cats and dogs, who will invariably lick their paws after coming into contact with the substance. Seek immediate veterinary treatment if you suspect that your pet has come into contact with antifreeze. The first nine to 12 hours are critical, as after this period the toxic crystals will have already started to form on the animal’s kidneys. When buying antifreeze look out for less toxic products — those which contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Watch out for puddles of greenish-blue coloured liquid around the car, which would indicate that it is leaking antifreeze.
So SAD it’s winter
Animals get the winter blues too, according to veterinary charity PDSA who say that affected pets want to eat more, avoid exercise and are grumpier during the winter months. Elaine Pendlebury, Senior Veterinary Surgeon with PDSA says: “According to our poll, some pets display similar symptoms to the human disorder, SAD, which include fatigue, depressed mood and lack of energy.”
Ways to cheer your cat
Cardboard boxes can be used in many ways to provide entertainment for your kitty.
Create newspaper ‘tunnels’ for your cat to hide and play in.
Play with your pet each day and rotate toys.
Talk to and cuddle your cat.
A home truth about fleas
Spring and summer are perceived as the worst time of year for flea infestations, but be warned — fleas thrive in the winter too. Central heating provides a perfect all-weather breeding ground for these biting insects. To combat the problem, you need to use flea products all year round. Vet John Rosie of Vet-Medic says: “Because people are more relaxed as regards flea treatments at this time of year, the chance of getting a serious infestation is quite high.”
It seems most pet owners tend to only react to the visible signs and limit treatment to just their pets, which unfortunately means they are usually too late to prevent an invasion. “An effective treatment programme involves treating your home, not just your pet,” says John. It is also important to worm your cat if you discover he has fleas as some forms of tapeworm use fleas as intermediary hosts, which in turn are ingested by the animal when grooming so leading to infection by yet another unwanted parasite!
Excerpts from this article were previously published in Your Cat Magazine, Britian's best selling cat magazine.
We have had the unfortunate luck of not being able to hire staff that meets all of our needs. Since we cater to client's needs, we need someone who is flexible, willing to commute, good w/large or shy dogs, able to walk or jog with the dogs, and have reliable transportation.
We are very picky about who we hire because ultimately they represent our company. Our goal this year is to find someone that will travel to the Eastside and Seattle and meet the demands we have there. We are hopeful that we will find the right fit for us and our clients.
If you know of a perfect fit, do not hesitate to contact us!
At this time in the year, we would like to thank all of our loyal clients who have used our services. Because of you we are able to live our dream of being self-employed and fulfilled by our job. We are lucky enough to have a job that allows us to spend time with pets we care for, have a flexible schedule, and provides the income we need to live a good life.
With the addition of our third baby girl this year, we are especially thankful to our clients who gave us the flexibility to take some time off and on top of that, gave us us many warm wishes, gifts for the baby and for us. We are happy to know that we have built relationships that extend beyond pet care.
As we look onto next year, we are hoping to extend our company by hiring more employees but still providing excellent pet care. We look forward to a new year of prosperity and many welcoming wags when we visit!
Here is an interesting article on obesity and pets. 30 minutes of exercise a day is the minimum for a less destructive and healthier dog! We can help by scheduling dog walks or dog jogs on a weekly (weekdays) basis - your dog will thank you!
By Dorene Internicola
NEW YORK | Mon Oct 15, 2012 1:14am EDT
NEW YORK (Reuters) - As the obesity rate soars among Americans, their dogs are getting potbellied, too, encouraging fitness companies to come up with a range of equipment and classes to get pampered pets back into shape. From canine-tailored treadmills, to puppy pedometers and group fitness classes, there's no shortage of tools to trim and tone the sagging paunches of pooches.
As part of his fitness routine, Rocky, a rotund dachshund, traipses a mini-treadmill designed for small dogs.
"When Rocky first came to us, he looked like a small marine animal," said Dr. Dennis Arn, veterinarian at the Desert Inn Animal Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. "He's got a waistline now and his conditioning is significantly better."
Just like their owners, obesity affects pets' longevity and quality of life. About 53 percent of adult dogs are classified by their veterinarians as obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.
To combat the weighty issue, Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, Massachusetts, announced the creation of the nation's first obesity clinic last month, geared specially towards pets.
"If you can't lay your hands on them and feel the ribs pretty easily, they're obese," said Arn, adding that too many pet owners reward their charges with treats.
"As a blanket statement, a dog needs at least 30 minutes (of exercise) a day," said Geralynn Cada, who has been training dogs for more than 30 years. "A dog who is less active is less happy and has more health problems."
Cada, who is based in Nevada, teaches classes such as dog yoga, puppy Pilates, and a canine interval training course known as Retrieve and Burn.
Physical issues aside, dogs that are denied exercise often develop behavioral problems, she said. "A tired dog is a happy dog," Cada said. "If your dog gets bored, they'll search for purpose and that purpose will be to chew up your wallet."
CANINE CARDIO
To burn off her high-strung husky's extra enthusiasm as well as calories, Cada runs him regularly on his dog treadmill, dubbed the DogPACER. David Ezra, CEO of DogPACER, said he got the idea for the canine cardio machine after observing clients at his fitness centers.
"I thought, "Why not a treadmill for dogs?"" he said.
Hundreds of canine treadmills - which sell for $500 and come in regular and mini sizes - have been sold since they hit the market seven months ago.
"We've run over 1,000 dogs at this point," said Ezra, adding that 60 to 70 percent of the treadmills go to dog owners, including seniors whose health problems prevent them from exercising their animals. Others are purchased by grooming salons, veterinarians, police and government agencies, and animal rehabilitation centers.
"Grooming facilities will throw the dog on (a treadmill) to de-stress them before grooming," he said, adding that dogs must be supervised and will initially be taken aback by the equipment.
Studies have shown that people who wear pedometers routinely walk more. Perhaps in that spirit, developers of Tagg, a pet location device, developed an activity monitor that makes it possible for owners to keep tabs on their dog's exercise.
"Tagg's combination of activity monitoring and GPS location tracking puts pet parents in control of their pet's well-being," Dave Vigil, president of Snaptracs Inc. which created Tagg, said in a statement.
Cada is so devoted to keeping animals fit, she has also devised ways to stimulate her dogs mentally. "I have them doing a mental obstacle course for me," she said. "I'll have them sit down, roll over, jump on and off the bed, and do all the tricks they know in a random order." The animals will also fetch and engage in a series of rapid-fire hand-to-paw high-fives. "It's like a test," she explained, "for a treat."
This is Nominee Spotlights, a series in which the Best of Western Washington chats with local business owners to get the inside scoop on everything good.
Like so many pet owners, Arnie and Grace Martinez felt badly and worried about leaving their two dogs and cat home alone all day while they put in long hours commuting and being at the office. Eventually, they decided the long hours away from home were not going to jive with a house filled with kids and dogs. That conversation sparked the idea to open their own pet sitting business: 2 Dogs and a Cat. What started as a part-time business in 2001 is now a full time job. We caught up with Grace to get the a glimpse into the pet sitting world.
How did you get your start in the pet sitting business? I have always loved dogs and cats. As mentioned before, we were in the need for a pet sitter. We couldn't find one that would meet our needs. We knew that we had good business sense and that our love for pets and the quality of care would be a great start.
Describe your role at the business We are a co-owner operation. I handle all the A/R, A/P, marketing, advertising, scheduling, communication with clients, and some pet sitting. My husband Arnie, does most of the visits.
How would you describe your clientele? Some clients have become dear friends and we are thankful for meeting them and their furry friends. We appreciate all of our clients and know that without them we couldn't be living our dream.
What about you - do you have any pets yourself? Of course! When we initially started we had two dogs & a cat. About two years ago, both of our original dogs passed. We were heartbroken. Luckily, our kids taught us the value of moving on and we opened our hearts to our newest dog Bentley. Our 14 year old cat, Katie is still with us. But unfortunately, due to her old age, she doesn't like change and refuses to like Bentley!
How do new customers find you? Referrals, word of mouth, social media, and church advertisement.
Do you offer any special services to specific types of animals? We tend to cater to pets that don't do well in boarding situations, aggressive, shy, elderly, and in need of medication.
Is there a time of year that is busier than others? End-of-the-year holidays tend to be the busiest for us. We are extremely booked during that time-frame.
What is your favorite animal that you have ever sat for? There are a few dogs that I look forward to visiting whenever there is a need because we have been visiting them for so long. They are a part of our extended furry family.
What's the best part of owning your own business? Even though we have been in business for almost 12 years, we are still learning. We are always trying to better serve our clients and their furry family by addressing issues as they come up and offering new services. We truly appreciate that we are self-employed, able to provide for our family, and doing something we truly love.
Dog and cat owners don’t pay the same amount for their four-legged family members. The ASPCA did a study on the average cost of owning a dog or a cat. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Small dog – $1,314 the first year, $580 per year after
Medium dog – $1,580 the first year, $695 per year after
Large dog – $1,843 the first year, $875 per year after
Cat – $1,035 the first year, $670 per year after
These totals include the following first-year costs: spay/neuter, other initial medical, collar/leash, litter box/scratching post for cats, cage/crate for large dogs, carrier bag for small dogs/cats, and training class for dogs. Annual expenses include food, recurring medical, litter for cats, licenses for dogs, toys/treats, health insurance, and miscellaneous.
Of course, those are averages – the ASPCA says, “You shouldn’t expect to pay less than this, and you should definitely be prepared to pay more. Don’t forget to factor in the costs of unexpected veterinary care, as well as boarding facilities, pet sitters and dog walkers, if you plan to use them.”
But what the ASPCA doesn’t mention is ways to trim expenses.
1. Vet bills
The ASPCA says cats and dogs should see a vet at least once a year. The first year (when they usually require the most shots) is slightly more expensive. For example, they say vet bills for a medium-size dog break down like this:
Recurring medical – $235
Other initial medicine – $70
Spaying or neutering – $200
TOTAL – $505
You might reduce some of those costs by comparison shopping for vets. B be sure to compare the costs of both regular visits and emergency ones.
You can also reduce your costs by shopping around for cheaper medicines. Target and Kroger offer $4 generic pet meds.
Some owners use pet health insurance to save money on their vet bills – both expected and unexpected – but it’s not cheap. The ASPCA says health insurance for a cat runs about $175 a year.
2. Food and supplies
The ASPCA says that the average yearly cost of food and supplies for a large dog like mine breaks down like this:
Food – $235
Toys and treats – $75
TOTAL – $310
Try shopping online for discounts.
3. Grooming and training
According to the ASPCA, training and grooming for a small dog breaks down like this:
Long hair grooming – $264
Training class – $110
TOTAL - $374
WebMD Pets has great one-minute training videos featuring a certified dog trainer. You won’t learn everything you need to know, but it’s helpful to watch the techniques in action.
Petfinder has a training section that covers everything from behavioral problems to basic dog tricks.
If you’re looking for grooming advice, check out:
Grooming FAQ from the ASPCA
How to Groom a Dog from Beneful
Grooming Your Dog’s Hair with Clippers from Dummies.com
Bottom line? Animals aren’t cheap, but as with two-legged family members, where there’s a will to save, there’s a way. But even if your dog or cat does end up costing a little more than expected, they’ll still do something no other purchase will: pay you back a thousandfold in companionship, loyalty, devotion, and fun.
Here is a great article on helping kids cope with pet loss (excerpts only):
Whether expected or not, the death of a beloved family pet often leaves families feeling sad and unprepared. For families with young kids, a pet’s passing may be the first time parents discuss death with their children.
Few parents know how to approach this challenging topic, particularly with very young children. “Developmentally, children of this age do not understand the finality or permanence of death,” says Kate Munson, a Seattle counselor whose specialties include pet loss.
Munson urges parents to use straightforward and simple language when a pet dies. Parents can tell children, for example, “The pet’s body stopped working.” They should use concrete words like “dead, died or dying,” Munson says.
It’s not their fault
Even with simple, direct, to-the-point information, parents can expect misunderstandings. Preschool-age children are still learning the forces of cause and effect, and may believe they’re responsible for their pet’s death. “If anything happens to a pet and it dies, the child may very well think that he or she did something wrong,” says Wallace Sife, Ph.D., a Brooklyn-based psychotherapist, author of The Loss of a Pet, and founder of the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement . Reassure children they did nothing wrong, he stresses.
And don’t lie. “Resist the temptation to say the pet went to live with a family in the country,” says Ann R. Howie, a Lacey-area counselor with expertise in human-animal interaction. Concocting tall tales can create even more problems. Let’s say the child wants to visit the pet or asks why another family gets to keep it. Euphemisms such as “went to sleep” or “put to sleep” don’t work well, either. They can confuse kids (what does that really mean, after all?) and can cause them to fear going to sleep, Munson says.
What to share
While experts favor honesty and openness, pet euthanasia presents an exceptionally difficult challenge for parents. Some parents may choose not to go into detail with their children, but simply say that a pet died.
“Euthanasia is a difficult concept for adults to grasp, let alone young children,” Howie says. A child’s age and maturity level, as well as the pet’s health status, may dictate how much parents decide to share.
First experience with death
The way parents handle the death of a family pet can have lasting effects.
“The first experience with death is usually with a pet,” Sife says. “It could be a turtle, it could be a goldfish, or it could be a dog or a cat.” And this first encounter “shapes how we will approach and view future deaths,” says Munson.
Helping kids deal with the grief from the death of a pet
• Don’t feel you need to hide your own sadness; children learn from and model adults’ emotions.
• Be open to providing comfort and answering questions about the pet’s death; these needs may pop up at any time, even long after the pet has died.
• If children show interest, help them draw pictures of their
• pet or make a scrapbook of memories. Talk with them during the process.
• Establish a family remembrance of your pet; a specific place, a special time or something you do together as a family to memorialize your lost friend.
• Take it slowly when considering a new pet; make sure everyone is ready. http://www.parentmap.com/article/when-a-pet-dies-helping-your-child-cope
Helping kids deal with the grief from the death of a pet