Paw Pals Pet Sitting

Dog Walking & Pet Sitting in Northern VA

(703) 345-1695
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Reading Dog Body Language: the Keys to Preventing Dog Bites

May 18, 2015 by Mary Telesz

Paw-Pals-Dog-Emotions-300x168Dog’s, like humans, have a vast array of feelings. To name a few dogs can love, dislike, be anxious, be happy, and be sad. It is reading these feelings that can help you prevent being bit by a dog.

First and foremost there are a few key social boundaries humans need to understand about dogs. For instance, DO NOT touch a dog that is sleeping, chewing on a toy or bone, eating or caring for young. Most bog bites happen when a dog is startled, frightened or threatened. Be cautious of dogs behind fences, on leads, are running loose, or are barking. Unfamiliar dogs should always be approached slowly and with caution.Paw-Pals-Playing-Dog-300x200

There are key indicators in a dog’s body language that can alert you to the potential of being bit.  For instance, you might want to keep a safe distance between yourself and a dog if you notice their body is tense, they have a tail stiff, their ears are pulled back, they have furrowed brow, they are flicking their tongue, backing away and are intensely staring at you. This is telling you that the dog is uncomfortable and if pushed further may feel the need to protect itself resulting in a bite. A key to remember is that if you are in this situation DO NOT turn and run. This will signal the dog to give chase and make the situation worse. Instead, remain motionless with your hands at your sides. Break eye contact with the dog and wait until they lose interest in you and proceed to back away slowly. I
Paw-Pals-Dog-Behavior-600x283n the event that the dog does attack put forth your jacket, purse or any object that you have on your person to act as a barrier. If you are knocked to the ground by an attacking dog curl into a ball to protect your head and lay motionless. Movement will only make the attack last longer.

Dogs make wonderful companions. With that being said respect their feelings. Give them their space when they need it because let’s face it we all have bad days. Here’s to safe doggy handling. #NationalDogBitePreventionWeekPaw-Pals-National-Dog-Bite-Prevention-Week (1)

Filed Under: Pet Safety

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Office Location

Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

professional dog walking software

Office Hours

Monday
9am - 5pm
Tuesday
9am - 5pm
Wednesday
9am - 5pm
Thursday
9am - 5pm
Friday
9am - 5pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Areas Served

Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 22151
Clifton – 20124
Fairfax – 22030, 22033
Fairfax Station – 22039
Manassas – 20109, 20110, 20111
Reston – 20191, 20190

Google Rating
5.0
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
5.0
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
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