At Nina’s Nannies for Pets we are always keen to highlight companies who we feel, may be of interest to our clients and pet owners. Hanne Grice is the owner of a company called ‘Walk the Dog’, which is based in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. She is certified in canine psychology, canine behaviour and development at advanced level and a certified NLP practitioner.
Hanne is also certified in canine psychology, canine behaviour, care and development at advanced level and a certified NLP practitioner who helps dog owners with problems from the minor to the extreme (e.g.) pulling on the lead, excessive barking, separation anxiety, phobias and obsessions, aggression towards dogs, and towards humans. She also visits your home and consults on a 1-1 basis. Owners receive back up support for life. She is also a member of the APDT, ABS, ASAB, ABMA, UFAW, PAACT, JFIDL and certified in cat behaviour and Canine Touch at foundation level.
For further information you can visit Hanne’s website http://www.doglistener.tv/
SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2009
By ADMIN
I cannot believe just how the time flies and how I have neglected my blog of late!
Harriet (our little kitten from Cats Protection), is growing into a 
beautiful cat and was nutered last week. Always a worrying time, but she has recovered well and thankfully won’t be adding further strain to rescue centres, by producing her own kittens.
We have continued to expand our pet sitting service and despite the recession have had our busiest year yet. In fact we are still recruiting for live in pet sitters/couples in the London, Wiltshire and Devon areas, so if you are interested, please do get in touch.
We have been extremely active on Twitter and you can follow us here or join our new Facebook page, where you can join in some extremely interesting debates and meet like minded people.
New members to our pet sitting team are Adrienne Hasler from Woodford Green in Essex. I hope that Adrienne will very much enjoy her time with us and is due to start in the New Year.
The office has been extremely busy since our little kitten arrived, so I have had little time to further add to my blog. However, we have had some interesting developments!
Harry had been playing with his new toys, when he appeared to have a problem with his back left leg. As a precaution we took him along to our vets for a quick check up. It was then that we discovered that he was in fact, a she, so Harry is now Harriet!
She is a little darling and already we cannot imagine life without her. On first introduction, Luika was terrified and fell over himself trying to make a quick getaway. He could not understand why this little ball of fluff was making such a fuss! After all, he was only trying to be friendly! Ed, our other cat, was a little alarmed at our new addition and seemed more than a little annoyed when she discovered that Harri was still there the next day!
All in all, things have settled nicely. Harriet is now very accepting of Luika and Ed is tolerating her presence. We certainly have come a long way in two weeks and tomorrow she has her bloods checked and is being microchiped.
APRIL 29TH, 2009
By ADMIN
Losing our beloved Melody had a drastic impact on our lives and has been as painful as losing a human family member. Melody was unique. She was stubborn and naughty, with selective hearing, and just a tiny bit dim! Well, at least that was what she wanted us to believe! When we adopted her, along with her sister Edna (Ed for short), we had no idea of the impact she would have on our lives.
Within days of her arrival, she had fallen into our kitchen bin three times, within weeks made a hole in our brand new bed but within minutes she had quite literally stolen our hearts. So the shock of losing her to kidney failure was immeasurable. She died in Doug’s arms and in buried in our garden, where we have placed a Dahlia in her name.
Harry our new kitten
Melody will always be irreplaceable, but Doug in particular was desperate for another little long haired female, but having Luika and Melody we felt that a kitten would fit into our family just right and so our search began.
We visited numerous rescue shelters, yet the kittens we saw were either the wrong sex, reserved, or short haired. Just when we thought to give up, I took a call from a local veterinary surgery to say that a gentleman had just left the details of a litter of kittens, one of whom was long haired, black and white, male who looked adorable. Of course I made contact straight away and a visit was arranged for that very evening.
It was love at first sight. As you can see he is absolutely adorable, but at six weeks, is too young to leave his mother and siblings. Since the mother cat was adopted from the Cat’s Protection, we have to undergo a home check which is taking place next Monday. It is all a little daunting when undergoing a suitability test, but we passed our RSPCA check with flying colours, so are hoping to do the same with the Cat’s Protection.
I’m happy to say that despite Luika being very noisy at the arrival of Healther, from the Cat’s Protection, we did indeed pass our home check and are collecting little Harry on Friday morning. Pictures and updates to follow.
MARCH 30TH, 2009
By ADMIN
When my husband was diagnosed with MS some 13 years ago, it was a shock, from which in some ways, we are still to recover. The problems that sprang immediately to mind were how his mobility would be affected, could we cope financially and would it affect our animals.
Having owned German Shepherd Dogs for the majority of our married life, we were used to the strenuous exercise and mental stimulation that this particular breed required. Zak (our GSD at that time), was a mere youngster and was already enjoying the prolonged walks and regular training that Doug provided. We were sailing into the unknown and as anyone who suffers from MS will testify, it is a relapsing remitting condition. This makes the symptoms variable and unpredictable, and you are forced to face the uncertainty of when new relapses will occur.
In the years that followed I noticed a big difference in my husband. In some respects his life with Zak became almost regimented. A strong bond between dog and owner had already been forged, but Doug had become to rely on the regularity of their walks and even lengthened their duration! Zak’s devotion was uncompromising and it was almost as though Zak’s presence increased Doug’s determination to remain well and throughout their years together our dog remained a real focus for him to retain his mobility. Despite setbacks, Zak’s walks took priority and remained so until we eventually lost him some 15 months ago to cancer.
Our grieving for Zak had pushed us both to our emotional edge, but I will always be mindful of the wonderful gift that our dog had given Doug and the determination to continue as normal a life as MS would allow.
We now have our fourth German Shepherd whom we have named Luika. Ironically he also has health problems, being diagnosed with cow hocks at an early age. This condition actually limits the amount of exercise that he can enjoy, which in some sense is a little comfort. I have now taken over the training, but Doug continues his walking duties, with all the enthusiasm and gusto he shared with Zak. Luika is but a year old, yet already I am beginning to see those early signs of blind devotion.
FEBRUARY 25TH, 2009
By ADMIN
Luika has been doing extremely well with his dog training, and this morning was no exception.
He runs freely with the bigger boys in class, but now when class begins he is starting to find his manners.
He has one particular friend, whom he constantly seeks out, so it is vital to keep class order that they remain apart. I am hoping to post some up to date photo’s after next weeks class.
Did I also mention that the Specialist has given Luika’s hips the all clear? Our appointment was a month ago now, and we were extremely apprehensive, but hugely relieved to when the examination confirmed that it was no more than a slight malformation of his back legs, which should not prove too much of a bother to him.
We have now increased his exercise and upped his socialisation, since this is extremely important for young dogs.
Stay tuned for our next installment.
DECEMBER 21ST, 2008
By ADMIN
Luika says cheese
As our last few bookings our confirmed and with Christmas almost upon on us, my thoughts at this time of the year, inevitably turn to those poor homeless pets who languishing in rescue shelters. No crackling fire to warm themselves upon, no hearty dinner or long Christmas walks. Just a cold empty kennel and maybe the odd glimpse of a Christmas tree, if their kennel, pod or cage happens to be situated by the reception area.
I watch with amusement as Melody and Edna paw at the brightly colour baubles that adorn our tree, and cannot stifle a giggle, as Luika tries in his own clumsy way to gate crash their game. In fact, that’s just what he did the other day and the tree quite literally crashed to the floor, tinsel and all! I rather think that he frightened himself the most, since the next few hours saw him eyeing the tree with suspicion rather than the source of his amusement.
Last Christmas our two cats enjoyed the festive period at the RSPCA shelter in Aylesbury. We had chosen them a week before and although we understood the policy of not allowing animals to be re homed over Christmas, we were extremely saddened to think of our two scamps sharing a small pod together, when they could be in the comfort of our warm home.
As Luika nuzzles my arm again in pursuit of another throw my Kong game, I decide that this year, all of our unwanted presents to be sold, with the proceeds going to a local animal charity. Now wouldn’t that be wonderful if all animal lovers followed our lead. If we all raised just £5.00 each, it would help rescue centres all over the country to buy a few extra cats of food, another box of biscuits, or even a few toys to keep their inmates busy until they too, can find their forever home for next Christmas.
