Sydney and Melbourne’s Best Dog-Friendly Eateries

It’s always great to get outdoors and enjoy a brisk walk or a meandering stroll with our four legged friend.  It’s even better coupled with a coffee in hand!

Many cafes across Australia are now embracing the dog loving community and opening their doors to our fur pals. The realisation that pets are now showered with human-like adoration is one that will see many pup-loving businesses become popular spots for the vast pet loving community.

Here are some of the best dog friendly cafes in Sydney and Melbourne to get you started, but we’d love to hear your favourites from around the country –  share your faves with us on Facebook. Continue reading “Sydney and Melbourne’s Best Dog-Friendly Eateries”

3 Life Lessons Your Pet Will Teach You

Mindahome.com.au February Blog

Sometimes it almost feels as if the months and years go by in the blink of an eye. We all know the old adage ‘stop and smell the roses’, but with work, family and life in general getting busier and busier, the idea of ‘stopping’ doesn’t seem to resonate in today’s world.

Our pet pals though, have this magic ability. They offer us unconditional love, affection and attention and whenever we spend time with them, we do take time to appreciate the best things in life.

Often, life lessons come packaged up in a ball of fluff and fur and give us perspective about what’s important and how best to make the most of every day. Continue reading “3 Life Lessons Your Pet Will Teach You”

Top 10 Things To Do With Your Pet Pal This Year

Top 10 Pet Tips

Just like any relationship, the strength of the bond with your fur-friend is only as good as the effort you put in. Spending time with your pet is one thing, but spending quality time with your furry, feline, feathery and even scaly friend can be something different all together.

Like us, dogs can become bored easily so making play time fun is important for you, and your pet, to ensure you get the most out of your time together. Simple things such as playing catch or reading to your pet are great ways to show your pet you care, but changing the play routine will make sure your pet continues to be stimulated both mentally and physically so they don’t stray into mischievous habits. It also ensures you look forward to these moments just as much as your fur-kid, rather than considering it a ‘tick the box’ activity. Continue reading “Top 10 Things To Do With Your Pet Pal This Year”

7 Signs Your Cat May be Stressed

7 Signs Your Cat May Be Stressed

Cats are quite reserved creatures and rarely let on exactly how they might be feeling, so it would be hard to recognise whether your feline friend is suffering from stress and anxiety.

We spoke with our friend and experienced animal behaviourist, Dr Jo Rhigetti from Pet Problems Solved, about the signs that we should be looking for to tell if our cat needs some help.

7 Signs Your Cat May be Suffering from Stress Continue reading “7 Signs Your Cat May be Stressed”

Dealing with Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Dog separation Anxiety

Dealing with Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Our canine friends can sometimes experience separation anxiety when they’re away from us. It’s a common problem and one that can be addressed from a young pup age. Thanks to our friend Katrina from Kat’s 4 Dogs, we now have a few tips to help us condition our dog pals able to cope with being  left on their own.

Create Distance:

Use a play pen and a crate to create distance for your puppy at home. Although we want to shower our new pup with affection – almost always! – resist the temptation to overindulge and use the play pen to contain your pup and prevent over bonding. If your pup cries when you leave the room, resist the urge to go running back, because that will show them that crying isn’t a signal for you to be together.

Set Your Authority:

We often feel guilty about leaving our dog when we have to go out for a while or go to work. When the guilt gets us down, we tend to overcompensate by giving our pets extra attention, and rewareds even if they have been naughty in the house or yard. Sometimes just putting your dog in the backyard and not allowing her to follow you around the house will help. Continue reading “Dealing with Separation Anxiety in Dogs”

Doggy Cake for Your Best Friend

Our dogs are more than companions, they are our fitness motivators, our stress relievers, our confidants and our best friends.

For many of us, our dogs have a special place in our hearts and what better way to celebrate this bond and friendship than with a cake!

Whether it’s your dog’s birthday, adoption day or just because, setting aside some time to celebrate the bond we share with our pets is a great way to show you care. Continue reading “Doggy Cake for Your Best Friend”

4 Tips to Guarantee A House and Pet Sitting Call Back

Many of the home owners that we speak with comment about how impressed they are with the house and pet sitters who come to stay in their homes. The personalised care for their pets, the upkeep of their homes and the little touches they find when they return, all leave lasting memories of the house and pet sitter and are the difference between a one-time sit and the start of a long-term friendship.

Here are some of the ways that house and pet sitters are making their mark to secure call backs and word-of-mouth referrals. Continue reading “4 Tips to Guarantee A House and Pet Sitting Call Back”

Enjoy Your Independence as a House and Pet Sitter

Housing affordability in Australia continues to be a hot topic, especially for young Aussies looking to live independently of family.

Moving out of home is a rite of passage for every young person. There comes a time when you want to make your own choices, live life the way you want and, most importantly, have your own space.

But what if you wanted to live in or close to the bustling, cosmopolitan centres of one of Australia’s metropolitan cites? What if the savings you built up from part-time work doesn’t quite set you up to dive into the world of home ownership? What if you don’t want to settle down in a place until you’re sure that it’s right for you? Continue reading “Enjoy Your Independence as a House and Pet Sitter”

4 Things That Will Test Your Comfort Zone This Winter

Australians have a remarkable sense of curiosity that attracts us to new life experiences or opportunities to live life in someone else’s shoes.

So many Australians are drawn to the house and pet sitting lifestyle every year – whether for a short break away or for extended periods – all because it offers great opportunity to get off the usual tourist trail to discover more about the places you visit. Continue reading “4 Things That Will Test Your Comfort Zone This Winter”

Travel the Country – and the World! – as a House and Pet Sitter

Travelling as a house and pet sitter presents many opportunities to save money, see more and live in places you wouldn’t often get the chance to experience.

For one house and pet sitting couple, Brittnay and Jay, the lifestyle has allowed them to not only explore parts of Australia, but travel the world to have some truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences, one of which was having the famous Bono as their neighbour! Continue reading “Travel the Country – and the World! – as a House and Pet Sitter”