| How to Dog Sit Posted: 18 Mar 2021 05:00 PM PDT If you have a friend or a family member with a dog, you may have been asked to pet sit for them. While it can sound a little intimidating, watching someone's dog while they're away can be fun for both you and the animal! Make sure you get all the information you need before their owner leaves to make dog sitting a positive experience for you and the pup. [Edit]Basic Information - Decide whether to dog sit at your house or the owner's. If you're going to bring the dog to your house, make sure you have a pet-friendly home where the dog can run around and play. If you have any pets of your own, consider whether or not they'll be okay with a new dog in their environment.[1]
- If you're going to dog sit at the owner's house, talk to them about whether you'll be spending the night or just stopping by once or twice throughout the day.
- Make sure you get a key to the owner's home if you plan on going over there.
- Dog sitting is usually easiest if you keep the dog in their own home. They'll be more comfortable in their own environment and you won't have to worry about transporting them anywhere.
- You can also talk about how much you'd like to be paid. Most dog sitters make around $35 per night, but that can change based on how often you're going over and how many pets are in the home.[2]
- Write down the owner's contact info and emergency information. Get the name and number of the dog's vet and any emergency vet services in the area. Make sure the owner has your contact info, too, just in case they need to get ahold of you.[3]
- In the US, the number for animal poison control is (888) 426-4435. You can call this number if the dog eats something that they shouldn't have.
- Ask about the dog's dietary needs. Talk about portions, where the food is kept, and how much the dog can eat every day. You can also ask about their treats and any allergies the dog has.[4]
- Never feed a dog chocolate, grapes, milk, cheese, onions, nuts, garlic, yeasted bread, avocados, or anything with caffeine. If the owners haven't given their okay, don't feed the dog anything other than their own food.[5]
- Talk about the dog's exercise routine. Younger dogs and puppies might need multiple walks and playtime every day, while older dogs may need a little less attention. Talk to the owner about their dog's schedule to see what you need to do for them every day.[6]
- The dog might have toys and games that they like to play, too.
- If you're going to walk the dog, make sure you know where their leash and harness are. That way, you can walk them safely without a chance of them getting loose.
- If you plan on taking the dog out in public, ask the owner about how they are around other animals and kids. If the dog is aggressive or nervous around other people, you may want to stick to less populated areas.
- Meet the dog before you start dog sitting. Some dogs are aggressive, don't like strangers, or have a lot of medical needs. If you can, try to go over to the house at least once to meet the dog and learn more about them. If you don't think you can handle the dog, it's okay to say no.[7]
- Most dogs will be shy or nervous when meeting a new person, so don't take it personally!
- Start out slow when you first meet the dog by offering them your hand to sniff. After they've checked you out a little bit, go in for a pat on the head.
[Edit]Supplies - Feed the dog using their own food and dish. Make sure you know where their food is and how much to give them. Try not to feed the dog using anything other than their own dog food, or it could upset their stomach.[8]
- The dog might eat dry food, wet food, or a mixture of both.
- Bring along toys and treats to play with the dog. If the dog is allowed to have treats, you can pick some up at your local pet store along with a few toys. If you show up with fun things, there's a higher chance the dog will like you![9]
- Tennis balls, frisbees, and tug-o-war toys are all great ones for dogs of any size.
- Check in with the owner before giving the dog any treats. Some dogs have allergies or sensitive stomachs, which won't be any fun to deal with while you're pet sitting.
- Use a leash and harness for walks. If you plan on taking the dog out for a walk, make sure you know where their leash and harness are. Always use their own harness in the dog's size so they can't slip out and escape while you're out with them.[10]
- Some dogs may go on walks using a leash and a collar, which is fine too.
- Don't forget to bring poop bags!
- Let the dog get comfortable with you on their own terms. When you first meet the dog, just act natural and let them come to you. Don't try to immediately handle the dog, and don't stare at them. If you're relaxed, the dog will be more likely to relax around you.[11]
- Try tossing treats onto the ground. That will make the dog more comfortable than if you try to feed them by hand.[12]
- Stick to the dog's normal feeding schedule. Dogs are very routine-based, and they'll be confused if they get fed early or late. Try to feed them based on the schedule they're used to so they don't get too hungry.[13]
- Most dogs get fed a morning meal and an evening meal, but this can change based on the dog and the owner.
- Walk the dog and play with them to get their energy out. Dogs get bored if they're sitting at home for too long. Make sure you walk them, play with them, and give them lots of treats (if they can have any).[14]
- Younger dogs and puppies need a lot of attention throughout the day. Older dogs may be content with sleeping or resting on their own for a while.
- Secure the dog when you leave the house. If the dog owner has left you instructions on where to put the dog when you leave, make sure you do it! Dogs have a tendency to get anxious when they're alone, so they may need to be put in a crate or a separate area of the house when you're gone.[15]
- This could be a crate, an exercise pen, a separate room, or behind a baby gate.
- Not every dog needs to be secured, especially older dogs. If the owner didn't mention anything about putting them away, don't worry about it.
- Call the owner if anything goes wrong. If you have questions about the dog, if they get lost, or if they run away, call their owner right away. They may be able to help you find a solution to your problem.[16]
- It's not likely that a problem will happen when you're dog sitting, so you don't have to worry about it the whole time! It's important to be prepared just in case, though.
- Take the dog to an emergency vet if they get sick or in an accident. It's always good to be prepared for the worst. If the dog you're watching loses consciousness, has a seizure, or gets into an accident, take them to a 24-hour emergency vet right away.[17]
- If you end up taking the dog to a vet, contact the owners, too. They'll probably want to know that something is wrong.
- If you're watching a younger dog, ask the owner if you can help work on their training with them.
[Edit]Warnings - Take the dog to a vet if you notice anything wrong with them.
- Call animal poison control at (888) 426-4435 if the dog eats anything they aren't supposed to.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make Dippy Eggs Posted: 18 Mar 2021 09:00 AM PDT Dippy eggs with toast soldiers are a classic British breakfast. To make this nursery favorite, soft boil a few eggs so the yolks are still runny. Set the eggs into egg cups and toast a few slices of bread. Then, cut the toast into strips and have fun dunking them into the dippy eggs. Playing with your food has never tasted so good! [Edit]Ingredients - 2 large eggs
- 2 slices of bread
- Butter, to serve
Makes 2 servings [Edit]Making the Soft-Boiled Eggs - Bring 2 eggs to room temperature. Take the eggs out of the refrigerator and set them on the counter for 20 to 30 minutes before you cook them. Bringing the eggs to room temperature may prevent them from cracking when you cook them.[1]
- If you don't have time to set the eggs out until they're at room temperature, hold the eggs under warm running water for about 30 seconds.
- Pour of water into a pot and bring it to a boil. Set a pot on the stove and pour in enough water to come up the side of the pot. Then, turn the burner to high so the water begins to boil vigorously.[2] and crack 1 egg into an oven-safe ramekin. Bake the egg for 15 to 18 minutes or until the egg has just set.}}
- Avoid adding salt to the water because it can make the texture of your eggs become rubbery.
- Turn the burner to medium and lower the eggs into the water. It's important to reduce the heat to a rapid simmer or the eggs will crack when you put them in the pot. Set the room temperature eggs on a slotted spoon and carefully lower them into the simmering water.[3]
- Simmer the eggs for 4 to 5 minutes. Set a timer for 4 minutes if you like your dippy eggs to be very runny. For eggs that are slightly more set, set the timer for a total of 5 minutes. Leave the eggs to simmer with the lid off of the pot.[4]
- If you cook the eggs for more than 5 minutes, the yolks will be too hard to dip the toast into.
- Transfer the eggs to egg cups. Turn off the burner and use the slotted spoon to lift the soft-boiled eggs out of the water. Set them on a towel to air dry for a minute and then place each egg into an egg cup. Position the egg so the narrow end is at the top.[5]
- If you don't have egg cups, put the eggs in shot glasses or a small dish filled with uncooked rice.
- Slice off the top quarter of the egg to access the yolk. Although there are a lot of kitchen gadgets designed to neatly slice the cap off of a soft-boiled egg, you can use a knife. Carefully run the edge of the knife around the top quarter of the egg so you can slice through it. Discard the cap.[6]
- Use a sharp knife so the egg doesn't tear as much when you cut it.
[Edit]Toasting the Bread - Put 2 slices of bread into the toaster. Use your favorite type of bread, such as white bread, sourdough, whole grain, or rye. Keep in mind that thicker slices of bread will hold up better when you dunk them into the dippy egg.[7]
- If you're making the dippy eggs and toast for kids, they might want you to cut the crusts off of the bread.
- Toast the bread slices until they're golden brown. Adjust the setting on your toaster and push down on the lever. Heat the bread until each slice is golden brown on each side.[8]
- Spread butter over the slices and cut them into strips. Remove the toast and spread as much butter on them as you like. Then, take a sharp knife and carefully cut each slice into long strips that are wide.[9]
- Dip the toast strips into the dippy egg. Poke a strip of the toast into the egg yolk and eat it. Keep dipping strips into the egg until you've finished the dippy egg. If you'd like, you can use a spoon to scoop out the rest of the egg once you've finished the toast strips.[10]
- Enjoy the dippy eggs with toast right away since the toast will become soft as it sits.
- If you use larger eggs, add an extra minute to the cooking time. For smaller eggs, reduce the cooking time by 30 seconds to 1 minute.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Slotted spoon
- Pot
- Toaster
- Knife
- Egg cup
- Timer
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Tone Legs While Sitting Posted: 18 Mar 2021 01:00 AM PDT If you work while sitting down, you might spend a large part of your day immobile. However, just because you work from a desk doesn't mean you can't get some exercise in! There are a variety of workouts you can do while seated that will tone your legs and lower body. If you make a habit of toning every few days at work, you'll notice big changes fast. [Edit]Rotate your ankles. - Lift up one leg and slowly rotate your ankle clockwise. Keep rotating for about 5 seconds, then switch to rotating counterclockwise. Repeat the rotation at least 10 times on both feet.[1]
- This will help tone your lower legs and increase your ankle flexibility.
- If you don't want to count, set a timer for 1 minute instead.
[Edit]Do a few leg circles. - Sit up straight and slowly lift one leg up. Keeping your pelvis still, rotate your leg in small, controlled, clockwise circles until your leg muscles are fatigued (usually about 30 seconds). Then, do counterclockwise circles until your leg is tired. Put your leg back on the floor and repeat with the other leg.[2]
- This works the hips and pelvis.
- Once your leg muscles are better developed, try doing larger and/or faster circles.
[Edit]Try leg extensions. - Sit up straight in your chair and lift one leg in front of you. Make a 90-degree angle with your body as you hold your leg up for about 4 seconds. Repeat this exercise 10 times on each leg.[3]
- Breathe out as you lift your leg up, then breathe in as you lower it back down.
[Edit]Do upper leg lifts. - Sit up straight in your chair and slowly lift one leg in front. Keeping your leg raised at a 90-degree angle to your body, flex your thigh to move your leg up and down about in the air. Do this 10 times, then lower your leg down and then repeat it on the other side.[4]
- Try not to let your raised foot touch the floor during your 10 reps.
- This is a great quad exercise to help you tone and shape your thighs.
- If you're having trouble balancing, put your hands on your hips.
[Edit]Squeeze your glutes. - Lean forward in your chair at a 45-degree angle. Squeeze your glute muscles together and hold the squeeze for a few seconds, then release. Try doing about 15 to 20 reps to start.[5]
- As you build your muscles, you can try alternating between each glute or holding the squeeze for longer.
[Edit]Try a seated march. - Sit up straight with your feet flat on the ground. Lift up one knee at a time like you're marching in place, but keep your rear flat on the seat. Do the march for about 1 minute, alternating between legs as you go.[6]
- Keep your core engaged to hold the right position for this workout.
- As you get stronger, try to lift your knees up higher and increase your tempo.
[Edit]Do miniature squats. - Stand up from your chair and put your hands on your thighs for balance. Lower down toward your chair until you can feel the squat in your glutes and thighs, then lower yourself back down. Repeat the squat 12 times.[7]
- If your chair has wheels, don't try this exercise! Use a sturdy chair that won't roll backward underneath you.
- Try to always keep your knees over your feet to hold the proper form.
- Take off your shoes and sit up straight with both feet on the floor. Lift one foot off the ground, then write the alphabet in the air with your big toe. When you're done, repeat that with your other foot.[8]
- This helps build your quadricep muscles as well as the muscles in your lower legs and feet.
- As you get stronger, try doing the alphabet multiple times on each foot.
[Edit]Grip small objects with your toes. - Take your shoes off and place 10 small objects (like marbles) on the ground. Use your toes to pick up the marbles one by one and place them into a cup or a bowl. Repeat this on both feet at least once.[9]
- This exercise helps strengthen your feet and calf muscles at the same time.
- You can also use pens, binder clips, or buttons.
[Edit]Stretch your hamstrings. - Sit up on the edge of your chair with your legs out in front of you. Slowly lower your chest down toward your thighs to stretch both of your hamstrings. Hold the stretch for about 10 seconds, then slowly lift your chest back up.[10]
- Try to stretch your legs every time you work out to avoid cramps or muscle aches.
- Only lower down as far as you can go without any pain. If it hurts, back up!
- Start off with smaller ranges of motion and fewer repetitions until you become more comfortable with the moves.
[Edit]Warnings - Stop for the day if you feel pinching, tingling, numbness, or sharp pains. It can take some time for your body to get used to certain exercises and it's dangerous to push yourself to the point of strain.[11]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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