August Bonus Article | North Valley Tips for Happy, Healthy Pets and Homes

Aug 20, 2026·By Train Station Pest Elimination

North Valley living means open trails, wide-open spaces, horse properties, and plenty of outdoor adventure with our four-legged family members.

It also means ticks.

Arizona’s brown dog tick is closely associated with dogs and the places dogs live. Unlike some ticks that depend heavily on wilderness habitat, brown dog ticks can survive around homes, kennels, patios, and other protected areas where dogs spend time. That makes a quick Pet Check after outdoor adventures a good Arizona habit.

Arizona Pet Check infographic showing a dog and common areas to check for ticks, including the ears, neck, back, and between the toes, with a reminder to ask your veterinarian about year-round tick protection.

Do the Arizona Pet Check

After a hike, trail walk, trip to the park, or other outdoor adventure, take a few minutes to check your dog carefully.

Pay special attention to:

Ears — Look inside and around the base of the ears.
Neck — Check beneath and around the collar.
Back — Run your hands slowly through the coat and feel for anything unusual.
Between the toes — Take a look around the paws and between the toes where something tiny can easily go unnoticed.

Ticks can attach in places you might miss during a quick pat after coming home. Finding them early can help protect your dog—and gives you a chance to notice whether your outdoor adventure may have brought an unwanted hitchhiker home.

Protect Your Pet Year-Round

The pest-control guy can treat your property. He isn't your dog's veterinarian. 😉

Talk with your veterinarian about the best tick prevention for your dog. Depending on your dog's age, health, lifestyle, and environment, your veterinarian may recommend options such as tick collars, oral preventatives, or topical treatments.

For North Valley dogs that regularly hike, explore desert trails, visit rural properties, or spend time around horses and other animals, year-round protection may be especially worth discussing with your vet.

Woman walking her dog on a North Valley desert trail at sunset, surrounded by saguaros, native desert plants, and rugged Arizona mountains.

Call or text Jason at Train Station Pest Elimination (TSPE) for an
overall safety assessment. I'll personally get back to you.
(480) 316-5612

When to Call a Pest Professional

Finding one tick on your dog doesn't automatically mean you have a tick infestation around your home.

But finding ticks repeatedly—on your pets, yourself, or around areas where your dog sleeps and spends time—is worth investigating.

Ticks can hide in protected cracks and crevices around homes, kennels, patios, dog runs, and outdoor resting areas. Once established, an infestation can be difficult to eliminate and may require more than one professional treatment.

If you're seeing repeated tick activity around your property, talk with a licensed pest-control professional about the situation and your treatment options.

And remember: pest control addresses the environment. Your veterinarian protects the pet. When ticks are involved, sometimes you need both sides of the equation.

Hike. Explore. Come home. Check the dog. 🐾