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In This Issue

Wellness Appointments for your Pups

Massage on Fridays

Chiropractic, Wednesdays and Fridays

Share the wealth!

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New Rubber Floors Easy on Dogs

Our new Training and Wellness Center now has rubber flooring and our dogs and trainers are excited! This special floor provides traction (no more dogs sliding while trying to do a perfect Sit/Stay), a nice cushy surface for joints and reduces noise. Best of all, the rubber is made from recycled tires!  We are having fun bringing some of the dogs over during day care for hang out time at Chelsea's Place.  Indoor classes are also proving to be lots of fun and no longer weather dependent!  Please let us know if you'd like a tour - We're happy to show you around. 

Contributed by Paula Baker Prince

DogBoy's Special Events

Fri 3/26, 7 pm - Movie Night - Join us for lots of barking fun - This month, we'll be showing Lady and the Tramp.  Cost is FREE, but please RSVP.  Spaghetti & Meatballs will be provided!  Sign me up!

Sat 3/27 10 am - Greyhound Pets of America Speed Alley! $5 donation to clock your dog with a radar gun!  Healthy dogs of any breed are invited, and money goes toward veterinary care for GPA's incoming and foster greyhounds.  No reservations required!

Sat 4/17 9 am - Mighty Texas Dog Walk - For the last twelve years, DogBoy's has teamed up with the Texas Hearing & Service Dogs to raise funds for this wonderful charity and break a Guinness World Record for the "Largest Dog Walk." DogBoy's will be there with fruit and collecter's edition stickers to give away. Come early, wag hard, and be proud to be a part of something bigger than us all.

Wed 4/21 - Photo Shoots with Jay Herman of Zoom  Pet Photography.  Jay Herman will be here doing abbreviated photo shoots at a discount off his normal rate to capture your dogs in their element - playing at the ranch!  Cost is $75 for the first dog, and $25 for each additional pup.  Sign me up.

Sun 4/25 1 pm - 5 pm - Canine Freestyle with Shari Heino.  This workshop will provide an introduction to canine freestyle as well as an introduction to clicker training. Participants will come away with some basic freestyles moves and some cool new tricks! There are only 10 spots, so contact us today to sign up or learn more.

AHS Partnership - Slurps and Licks Abound

We sure are having fun with our visitor pups from the Austin Humane Society !  Pebbles here is still up for adoption, but our first visitor Lexi has found her forever home!  Last Friday, a big group of us went to the AHS for a full tour.  It was amazing to see all the work that goes in to taking in, caring for and adopting out over 3,000 dogs and cats a year!  We are honored to help out and this has truly been a win-win for everyone involved.

AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program

The CGC program was started in 1989 and stresses responsible pet ownership and basic good manners for dogs in the community. A dog who passes the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club . The 10-steps include “real world” situations like accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, accepting a vet check, loose leash walking, walking through a crowd, sit and down on cue and staying in place, coming when called, reaction to another dog, reaction to distraction and supervised separation. Our group training class helps prepare students for the actual test which is given in the final class. Classes are held at DogBoy’s as well as various parks around Austin and Pflugerville. This program helps assure that the dogs we love are welcomed and well-respected members of our community. And who doesn’t want that for their dog?

I’ve attached a picture of a student in my current Level I/CGC Combo class. Darwin waits patiently on a park bench during the supervised 3-minute separation.

Contributed by Amanda Simmons

Doctor Oz & Canine Obesity

For years DogBoy's has been trying to educate its clients about the importance of a healthy lifestyle for our canine companions. We get so excited as we see this message getting more attention in the dog community! Recently on The Dr. Oz Show , the doctor had an overweight chihuahua named Kilo as his guest on the show. Dr. Oz, along with a veterinarian, discussed the dangers of pet obesity and how it drastically shortened a dog's life. His suggestions? The same things we have been saying for years:

1. Instead of a bowl, use a food puzzle to feed your dog. Not only does this help with portion control, but it gives your pup the mental stimulus she needs.

2. Skip the "doggie junk food" (treats high in corn, sugar, wheat, and by-products) and feed your dog healthy snacks like baby carrots, blueberries and celery. Also, give Fido positive reinforcement instead of dipping into the treat jar! Not only will it help his health, but it will improve the relationship between the two of you.

3. Exercise!!! We hope that every dog owner has the time and opportunity for long walks or games of fetch. But, if you are finding yourself too busy lately to put in the miles, sign your dog up for regular doggie day care or short boarding stays at DogBoy's. Not only does your dog have a TON of fun, but it helps keep her fit and trim too!

We hope the next time you visit the vet, you hear that your dog is in IDEAL body condition.  Let us know if we can help!

Contributed by Jenny Stedman
 

Paula's Picks - Wisdom Panel DNA Kits

We all have a little Irish in us on St. Patrick's Day, but what about our dogs? Ever wonder if your dog has a little Irish Setter or Terrier in him? Would you like to know? Soon, you can. We will begin carrying the Wisdom Panel Insights DNA Dog Test so you can find out what breeds Clancy may be.

And while it would be fun and interesting to satisfy our own curiosity, knowing what breeds constitute our dog's genetic make-up can help us be more proactive with our dog's health when talking to our vet. Did you know that certain breeds may be more predisposed to skin allergies such as Goldens, Schnauzers and some Terriers? And small breeds like Chihuahuas, Boston Terriers and Yorkies are prone to luxating patellas or dislocating knee caps. Also knowing our dog's breeds is useful in submitting official documents used by our insurance companies, housing associations and landlords. Most importantly, knowing will help us set our own expectations of our dog.

With over 170 breeds identified by the Wisdom Panel and a high accuracy rate, we no longer have to guess at what Clancy's parentage is.

Contributed by Paula Baker Prince
 

Toxic House Plants

Spring is just around the corner. It is a time to enjoy the longer days and sunny weather that we Texans love. It is a time to dust off our outdoor gear and enjoy the weather. It is also a time when many chose to beautify our homes and yards with plants. Did you know, houseplants were one of the top 10 poisons in 2009 according to the ASPCA?

Lilies, tulips, azaleas, and many more common plants can cause serious health risks for your canine friends. Lilies can cause severe kidney damage even from the ingestion of small quantities. A simple Google search will bring up websites that have lists of toxic plants. Some, like the ASPCA, even have identifying photos in case you are not sure what plants you have in your area. What do you do if your dog ate a poisonous plant? Contact your local veterinarian or the ASPCA 24 hour poison control hotline at 888-426-4435.

So remember when planting this spring the flowers may be beautiful but they could also be toxic to our four legged friends.  A little research can go a long way to providing a safe haven for your pets.

Contributed by Julia Olczak

DogBoy's and Go Local

You heard it right.  We're now a part of the Go Local Austin loyalty card program!  There are currently 225 local participating businesses who will give discounts off of your purchases.  This keeps money in our local economy and supports our local mom & pops (like DogBoy's!).  We have Go Local cards for sale for only $10, and we can't think of a better way to celebrate the uniqueness that is Austin.  Go local cards are also available in Williamson County, Boulder, Portland and Atlanta, so you can use your Go Local Austin card when you visit their local businesses as well. Okay, please form a straight line here!  No pushing!!