The dog walk…..depending on many factors this can be something that you look forward to, or something you dread. For your dog, it’s likely the best part about his or her day. When we walk dogs in Elmhurst, IL and the surrounding suburbs, we get excited! This is because we know how to make a dog walk a fun and safe experience, and it starts with the proper harness.

It’s no secret that a dog’s excitement for exploration can cause the canine to tug and pull during his or her walk. A dog tugging, pulling and potentially trespassing will then cause the owner to redirect the dog’s attention by pulling back. This is where tension occurs. This tension can occur on the dogs neck and throat, causing him or her to gasp for air. In addition, tension builds between the dog and the owner. The dog’s instincts have taken owner and he wants to explore, but the owner pulling back on the leash creates a game of tug-o-war that ultimately leads to an unpleasant experience for both. That’s why Cassie Cares always recommends using a dog harness if one is available when taking your dog for their walk.

The correct dog harness acts as a compromise for you and your dog. The owner receives more control of the dog and can redirect the dog’s path and attention without causing stress on the dog’s neck. This allows the owner to let the dog explore during the walk, and allows the owner more control to help the dog avoid forbidden areas or unwanted pieces of food on the sidewalk. It’s important to give your dog a bit of freedom during their walk. They need to use their nose to explore the world around them, which will provide enrichment. It’s equally important to know that a dog may take their freedom a bit too far and they will need their attention refocused. With the correct harness, you can refocus their attention without potentially harming their throat and neck area.

The Easy Walk® harness is a very common dog harness and will gently discourage your dog from pulling on the leash. The harness clips to the front of the chest, and when your dog attempts to pull, the harness will force their body to turn which stops pulling before it happens. The harness allows for easy fitting adjustments and there's no choking or gagging involved when your redirect your dog’s attention. Just quickly snap the buckles on the belly and you’re ready for comfortable exploration.

The Easy Walk® harness is best for medium to large dogs and for dogs that need frequent walks because it’s easy to take on and off quickly and without hassle. For more information on this harness click here.

The Gentle Leader® is designed to reduce leash pulling and other unwanted dog behaviors. It has a unique design and fits around your dog’s nose so your dog’s attention can be quickly redirected if he is lunging or jumping at a nearby pedestrian. The Gentle Leader® provides immediate, gentle control during walks by redirecting the head and body without putting pressure on your dog’s throat.

This harness will only work on dogs with protruding snouts, so if you own a Pug this is probably not the best choice for you. In addition, if during your walks you find your dog is jumping and lunging at people or other dogs, this harness will allow for betting training and is effective for teaching your dog to heel. Your dog will take a little time to get used to this harness, but the results are life changing and will result in more productive and enjoyable walks. 

Here’s a helpful instructional video that shows you how to put on a Gentle Leader®

When using a Step-In or Step-Through harness make sure to locate the single buckle first. That buckle signifies the top of the harness and the part that will end up on the dog’s back after the harness is correctly put on your dog. Lay the harness on the ground, help your dog step into each hole of the harness and clip the buckle on his or her back. Make sure that the harness isn’t skin tight and there is a little bit of space between the harness and the dog. This harness is best for dogs who are not huge pullers but would still benefit from a sturdy harness. 

This harness is another common everyday walker harness and works for dogs of all shapes and sizes, just make sure to measure your dog’s stomach and neck before you make a final purchase.

Here’s a great video which takes you through each step of putting on this type of harness.

With proper research and correct measurements, you can find the harness that works best for you and your dog. This way a walk can be a more enjoyable experience all around and the perfect compromise of comfort and exploration. At Cassie Cares Pet Sitting, we have experience using all three of these harnesses and are comfortable using them when taking your dog for a walk. If you’re interested in speaking with us about walking your furry family member in Elmhurst, IL or one of the nearby suburbs, please fill-out the form below to setup a free consultation.

Cassie Care’s is growing in the right direction and due to high demand of sits and walks we have hired our first sitter/walker to help us fill our high demand. 

Deborah is a perfect fit for Cassie Cares because her loves for animals easily shines through in everything she does! Deborah has over 14 years of dog care experience and she has fostered dogs for the Golden Retriever rescue, As Good As Gold. Her passion for caring for dogs and cats and commitment to volunteer work is why we love her and we’re excited that she is part of our team!

Since we are looking to fill dates on our schedule, we are offering 10% off of your next bill if you successfully refer a new client to us! ​

Ask your friends, family and co-workers if they need a dog/cat sit or dog walk and have them contact Cassie via email at cassiecares1@gmail.com. If they sign up for our service, you’ll get 10% off of your next bill! It’s an easy way to help a friend and save some cash.

It’s possible that Deborah may be sitting or walking your furry family member in the future. If she does, we will make sure you are notified in advance and that Deborah has shadowed Cassie on a sit or walk with your dog or cat beforehand.

If you're interested in joining the team, please click this link to learn how to apply!

In 2018, Cassie Cares Professional Pet Sitting decided to make an intentional change in our professional pet sitting business and realized that volunteering more of our time to causes and charities would help make this year more fulfilling.

While browsing Facebook, we read about ALIVE Rescue’s Shelter Shiver event and their plan to build the “Big Barn”, which would be their next animal shelter location. We knew this was a cause that Cassie Cares should contribute to and with the help of Cassie Cares awesome clients; we could raise enough money to help make a difference.

Thanks to the donations of Cassie’s family and pet sitting clients we were able to raise $565 and be named a top contributor at this year’s Shelter Shiver! But, the mission wasn’t over just yet………..

The reason why this event is named the Shelter Shiver is because members from each donation team are obligated to jump into Lake Michigan on a cold Saturday morning in January. So without much effort, Cassie was able to convince her brother and her boyfriend to take the plunge with her and help spread awareness for this amazing animal shelter.  

Pictured below is an action photo of Cassie’s brother, her boyfriend and Cassie herself reluctantly sprinting into the cold tundra of Lake Michigan!

After Cassie’s pet sitting team survived the Shelter Shiver they traveled to the after-party at a nearby bar to play JENGA, eat greasy pizza and celebrate with all of the other teams! Cassie was quoted saying….
 
“I can’t thank everyone enough for this amazing experience, and I’m so glad we were able to contribute to ALIVE Rescue’s total donation collection of almost $94,000 for the homeless animals in Chicago. This helped me start 2018 in the right way.” 

The great people at ALIVE Rescue didn't waste any time and already took in four animals from a home exposed to the parvovirus.  One of the four dogs/puppies they took in is a paralyzed puppy named LaCroix.  

Check him out here! 

Every one of Cassie’s clients helped make this save possible. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much!

Cassie Cares Professional Pet Sitting is looking hire independent contractors to help sit dogs and cats and walk dogs in Elmhurst, Illinois and the surrounding suburbs.

Cassie Cares Pet Sitting is applicably named after Cassie’s passion for caring for all animals. This pet sitting business was built around the mindset of “The Safety and Happiness of Your Pet Comes First”. Please do not apply to this position, if your number one motive isn’t based around the care and safety of dogs and cats. If your core values do not align with ours, this pet sitting position isn’t for you.

As a In-Home Pet Sitter or Dog Walker (Independent Contractor) for Cassie Cares pet sitting, you will be assigned dog & cat sits or dog walks to complete.  You will begin by being properly introduced to the owner and dog or cat before you designated assignment begins. 

After introduction, we recommend completing the designated pet sit or dog walk in a proper and respectful manner and then  reporting completion of the work to Cassie.

Client’s property and pets will be handled with the utmost care and the contractor will act professionally at all times.

We recommend your time be spent performing the following tasks:

• Sitting dogs and cats or walking dogs
• Reporting progress to Cassie
• Tracking and sharing a report on revenue, clients and miles traveled 

Support or suggestions will be given for all responsibilities. 
​

Please apply with the following

• Resume
• 2 references we can contact

Please send application to info@cassiecares.org

Please Note 

This position has an upfront cost for Pet Sitter's Insurance and Limited Liability Insurance. We cannot hire an Independent Contractor without the proper insurance in place. After 3-4 months of work Cassie Cares will reimburse the Independent Contractor for their upfront pet sitting insurance fee.

​1. A Dog Should Have an Area Where They Can Be Off Leash

Every dog deserves their own area where they can be run free without a leash. A happy place where they can run, roll, jump and chase that squirrel! A space where they can smell, dig, and poop where they want. Now, a dog park is a great way to give your dog the opportunity to do these things and socialize with other dogs. However, going to the dog park is not something people can do every day. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a place right outside your house where you can play fetch, throw a Frisbee, and enjoy the outdoors with your pup? 
 

2. It Will Make Life Easier for You and Your Dog

Let’s start with a scenario.

You come home from work and need to take your dog outside because they have been holding their bladder for a long time and they have pent up energy from being stuck in your house all day.

You, on the other hand, are tired and a little annoyed from working all day. You wish the dog could take care of business outside on his own, but your backyard isn't fenced so you have to accompany the dog outside to monitor him or her.

Now, since the dog has a lot of stored energy, you take your dog on a walk and he or she is constantly pulling, speed walking, jumping, rolling etc. Whether the walk only consists of one of those things or all of them, it’s not how a proper dog walk should be. This makes for a very inconvenient scenario. 
 
Now, let’s take this scenario into consideration.

You get home from work, say hello to your pup and let him or her out into your fenced in backyard. Your dog has time to relieve his bladder, run around, roll in the grass and let loose for a little bit. While your dog is getting his or her crazies or "zoomies" out of his or her system, you have time to relax for a bit, have a snack or maybe a coffee.

Afterwards you and your pup are both calm and ready, then you can go on a nice walk where your dog is less crazy and you are less irritated. This also makes it easier when you need to feed your dog. When you come home from work, let your pup out to potty, come in and feed him or her and after your pup has digested their food, you can go on your walk.
 
I have walked plenty of puppies that do not have a fenced in backyard. The walk usually consists of jumping, rolling, pulling, laying down etc. Now, I understand this is normal puppy behavior and most puppies will grow out of this behavior eventually. However, if they had a backyard to do these things in, they may act more calmly on walks and understand that a walk is not playtime. I have also experienced a dog that would roll so much and have so much energy on a walk that the pup would nearly slip out of the harness. This can hurt the dog or cause them to get away from you on the walk.
 
 3. A Dog Walk Should Be a Unique Experience

​I believe a dog walk should be special and exciting each time you and your pup embark on one. You are able to take different routes and explore different areas. Your dog is able to experience different environments and smells.

By having to always take your pup out on a leash, it takes away from the excitement of a walk for both you and your pup. You will end up taking the same routes and going to the same places. Your dog needs change and new experiences in order to gain mental stimulation. Switching from backyard playtime to a walk to the park is a good way to give him or her an environment change and something to look forward to.
 
Overall, a backyard is a great place for your dog to have some off leash playtime and get their “zoomies” out of their system. It will also benefit the owner by creating more productive walks and a happier pup!

If you're interested in speaking to Cassie, please email her at cassiecares1@gmail.com! or click the button below to fill out a form.

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Cassie Cares Recommends In Home Pet Sitting

I realize that I have bias in this argument, but from my experiences most dogs prefer being watched the comfort of their home instead of being kept in an unknown facility for long hours of the day. I prefer to sit dog and cats in an area they find comfortable and familiar. It helps relive the stress and slight anxiety they may receive from being away from their owner, and keeps them in a regular routine.

​If I am sitting for your dog or cat they are going to feel like nothing has changed, they will be comforted and they will feel loved. During the time of their sit, my sole attention and focus will only be on your pet. No other pets will distract me from giving the required amount of affection your dog or cat needs.
 
In addition, keeping dogs and cats away from boarding kennels keep them less exposed to sicknesses or diseases. With canine influenza running rampant, why take that risk? It’s going to cost you more money in the long run if your furry family member gets sick and you have to take them to vet on a consistent basis.

The bottom line is that I can work with your budget to give your pet 100% of my time and care. There are ways to get 10% off your bill and I accept agreed upon payment plans. Don’t settle for mediocre service or care, do what’s right for your little loved one. 

If you would like to talk about having me possibly sit your dog or cat within the comfort of their own home, please click the button below and we can setup time to meet!