Texas Ruff House Blog

Tricks and Treats for a Safe Halloween   Halloween is almost here and while it’s a fun and festive time for us, humans, we want to be mindful of our pets and make sure they’re enjoying it too! Our pet sitters and dog walkers at Texas Ruff House are sharing their best tips for a happy and safe Halloween celebration with your dog or cat.   Beware of Noisy Knocks and Strangers Halloween can be spooky for pets not used to seeing humans dress up in costumes, and just the busy night full of new people, smells, and sounds could make them nervous. This is especially the case with pets that have stranger danger or are wary of new people in general. Because you can expect to have a lot of strangers knocking on your door come Halloween, you want to establish a space where your pet will feel safe during trick-or-treating. This can be in a room further away from the front door with a work-to-eat toy or treat dispenser to keep your pet busy! As a precaution, you want to make sure your dog ...

  Pro Tips For New Pet Parents   Whether you are a first-time pet owner or haven’t had a dog or cat for a while, bringing home a new furry friend can be exciting yet challenging! While this is especially the case with puppies, kittens, seniors, and special needs animals, all pets and pet owners go through an adjustment period in the beginning. At Texas Ruff House, we get lots of questions from our clients in Pflugerville, TX and the surrounding areas of Round Rock, Georgetown, Hutto, and North Austin about health, behavior, and everything under the sun! Once you get into a routine that works for you and your dog or cat, you will find that the challenges you go through will actually help you become a better pet owner! When is the right time to call the vet? As new pet parents, we may constantly find ourselves questioning whether something is normal all the time. It’s very common for pet owners to overreact and run to the vet for an issue that can be managed...

How You Can Get Involved with Animal Rescues Besides Adopting or Fostering   As pet parents and pet care providers, it’s only natural that we have compassion for animals in need. There are thousands of animal welfare organizations in the United States alone, and millions of dogs and cats that need help each year. The numbers may be overwhelming, but every minute volunteered, dollar donated, and effort contributed makes a difference. Because it’s not always obvious how to get started, our team of pet sitters and dog walkers at Texas Ruff House made a list of easy ways you can get involved with local shelters and nonprofits.   1. Fundraiser Events Rescues operate based on the generosity of donors. To raise funds, rescues organize events for paid admission. Your ticket fee helps cover animal care costs such as critical medical bills, food, essential supplies, and shelter; as well as programs like spay/neuter clinics, vaccinations, and training. The next time you see an upcoming ...

Introducing Conan of Texas Ruff House Hello furiends! Conan here, resident Top Dog at Texas Ruff House, reporting for duty. Our team of pet care professionals have been holding the spotlight on the blog for quite some time, and now it’s my turn to show you how we run things at Texas Ruff House!   But first, please allow me to introduce myself properly. I’m a handsome terrier mix, otherwise known as a mutt, as my origins are quite the mystery. The human behind the operations at Texas Ruff House, Carla Tittle, adopted me when I was under a year old. I was a street dog up until that time, but I like to think that I’ve always been a good boy. My family would describe as quiet and calm and always up for whatever they are doing – I’m a real pack dog!         A while after I arrived at my forever home, my humans noticed that I was having some issues around men because I would be fearful around them. I would communicate this by barking and not allowing men to touch me....

  New Pet Parenting Tips Courtesy of Texas Ruff House If you’re reading this, chances are that you or someone in your life has gotten a new pet in the last 18 months. In fact, pet ownership in the U.S. rose from 67% of households to an all-time high of 70% last year, according to the American Pet Products Association. That’s over 11 million households that brought home a furry companion in 2020. If you are a first-time pet parent or haven’t had a puppy or a kitten in a long time, it’s likely you did a lot of research online and asked questions on Facebook to troubleshoot along the way.   Our team of pet sitters and dog walkers at Texas Ruff House are experts in pet care and get a lot of great questions from our clients about health, nutrition, product recommendations, and services. We’re sharing essential things that new pet parents need to know and our favorite resources to help you care for your pet! Health Care for Pets Pet health is a top priority. It’s important that your...