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In This Issue

Training Building Update

Environmental Controls have been installed and we should be breaking ground officially this month!  Stay tuned next issue for more details and photos!

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Summer Seminar Series!

To beat the heat but still keep your mind fresh, DogBoy's will be offering a Summer Seminar Series with one-night seminars on all kinds of topics.  Most seminars are $30 (CGC Refresher is $50) and must be prepaid to hold your spot. Hope to see you there!

Date   Time            Class                                                              Trainer(s)

6/22    7:30 PM      Recall Refresher                                               Rebecca
6/23    7:00 PM      Babies & Dogs                                                  Marcella
6/28    7:30 PM      Basic Obedience Refresher                             Paula & Amanda
7/7      7:30 PM      Puppy Party!  Socialization & Basic Manners     Marcella & Amanda
7/8      7:30 PM      Basic Obedience Refresher                                   Paula
7/9      7:00 PM      Traveling with Your Dog                              Sandra & Amanda
7/13    7:30 PM      Games Class                                                     Rebecca
7/14    7:00 PM      Adding a Dog to the Family                              Sandra & Paula
7/15    7:00 PM      Dealing with Problem Behaviors                           Rebecca
7/21    7:30 PM      Basic Obedience Refresher                            Sandra & Amanda
7/22    7:00 PM      Canine Body Language - Is it Really Agression?      Rebecca
7/28    7:00 PM      Dog Parks                                                         Sandra
8/3      7:00 PM      Babies & Dogs                                                 Rebecca
8/3      7:30 PM      Two Night CGC Refresher - Night 1                      Paula
8/4      7:00 PM      Camping, Hiking & Backpacking with Your Dog       Sandra
8/5      7:00 PM      Diet & Nutrition                                                  Paula
8/6      7:00 PM      Kids & Dogs                                                      Marcella
8/6      7:30 PM      Two Night CGC Refresher - Night 2                       Paula
8/10    7:00 PM      Play: Dog-Dog & Dog-Owner                          Sandra & Amanda
8/11    7:00 PM      Stress in Our Dogs                                        Rebecca & Paula
8/12    7:30 PM      Basic Obedience Refresher                                   Sandra

If you are interested in attending one of our summer seminars, please contact us! 

Is Buddy Pulling Your Chain?

Does your dog pull while on leash? While it's no fun to have Buddy pull, there are some tools to help make leash walking pleasant for all. There are some great products we recommend and some that we hate to see on dogs.

Premier's Easy Walk Harness is fabulous and most dogs adjust to it quickly. This harness discourages pulling with a chest strap that functions by steering your dog sideways when they pull. It looks like a traditional harness, but the leash attaches in front at the chest.  There are no straps around the delicate neck area to cause any damage, choking or discomfort. We also recommend the Gentle Leader Head collar. This is great for hard core pullers but does require some adjustment time and training.

Some of the tools we do NOT recommend are choke collars (chain or nylon) and prong collars (metal or plastic). While these help keep a dog's pulling in check, they work by tightening and causing discomfort to our dogs. Many dogs soon start to associate the things they see at the time of the pain (other dogs, people, children, bike riders, joggers, etc.) as the source for their pain. This easily translates into Buddy becoming reactive on leash. 

These types of collars can also cause severe damage to the trachea, vocal chords and can even cause paralysis in the front legs.  At DogBoy's, we don't allow choke or prong collars on the property during your pup's stay because they can get caught on fences (and we don't like them!).   In an effort to show you a better way, we'd like to offer you $2 off any of our collars and halters if you give us your choke or pinch collar. 

Still unsure or need some guidance on what may (or may not) be the best tool for you and Buddy? Let our knowledgeable, trained staff help. We're more than happy to help get you and Buddy out walking, pull-free!
 

Staff Dog of the Month - Lucy Simmons

This month's Staff Dog of the Month is Lucy, owned by our core kennel staffer and upcoming trainer Amanda Simmons.  Amanda adopted Lucy from Heart of Texas Lab Rescue. On June 19th, she will celebrate 3 years of having Lucy in her life. Amanda & Lucy will celebrate this day with a hike, lots of belly rubs and treats. So you may be asking yourself why Lucy was selected as the first staff dog of the month?  Well, besides the fact that Amanda came up with this idea for the monthly newsletter, Lucy is an incredibly sweet, goofy, smart and loving pet who Amanda can't imagine life without.

We will be featuring a new staff dog each month. So stay tuned each month to hear about another staff dog like the spunky red head who just qualified for her canine good citizen certification, the old lady of the group who just kicked cancer or the little lady who just became a member of Travis County Search and Rescue.
 

Money Saving Pet Care Ideas

With the economy in the poop scooper, we thought you might appreciate some tips on how you might save some money with your pets this year. 
This first one may surprise you: 

  1. Stick with high quality foods - Yes, these premium foods cost more up front, but they will save you money in the long run.  Higher quality foods prevent vet visits for skin allergies, yeasty ears, obesity and other issues related to feeding a poor diet.  I know grocery store brands are cheap, but how would you feel if you ate Taco Bell every day? 
  2. Commit to keep your pet - Would you believe it?  People are actually giving their pets away claiming they're too expensive!  A 30lb. bag of good dog food can last a 70 lb. dog a month.  At $40 per bag that works out to $1.33 a day.  We know times are tough, but you can trim $1.33 a day from your budget to feed your dog!  Besides that, having a pet can lower your blood pressure and stress levels, keeping YOUR medical costs down!
  3. Ask your vet if there are generic medications available for the meds your pets take regularly.  DogBoy did and saved over $50 a month!
  4. Wash and sew up old dog toys so they can be reused instead of buying new.  Craft stores sell pillow stuffing and quilt batting that work great for restuffing old squeaky stuffed animals.
  5. Buy or use old inexpensive blankets for dog beds.  Folded up, they provide lots of cushion, and can be washed easily.
  6. Brush your dog's teeth regularly to cut down on the need for teeth cleaning.
  7. Get training help before you're desperate.  Training a dog early can prevent destructive chewing, counter surfing, housetraining issues, and less destruction means less to replace around your house!

Photo by Amber Temkin Photography

Summer Safety Tips

With summer quickly approaching, we like to remind you of important things to keep in mind during the hottest months of the year:

  1. Keep your dog on a good flea preventative, and preferably a tick preventative as well.  Frontline Plus protects against both.  Shoo!TAG™ is the revolutionary, non-toxic “tag” that uses electromagnetic frequencies to create a protective barrier from pests that lasts up to 4 months!  We hope to be carrying these very soon.
  2. Make sure your pet has plenty of shade and fresh cool water.  Don't leave that water dish out in the sun! 
  3. Put sunscreen on pink noses and white dogs.  Dogs get sunburned too!
  4. Never leave your dog in a car, especially when it's hot outside.  Did we say never?  We mean NEVER EVER!
  5. Watch short snouted, overweight, medicated and elderly dogs closely for heat exhaustion and heat stroke.  Signs that your dog is in trouble include a bell-shaped tongue, heavy panting, weakness, confusion or inattention, vomiting or diarrhea and sometimes bleeding. With heat stroke there may be obvious paleness or graying to the gums, shallowing of the breathing efforts and eventually slowed or absent breathing efforts, vomiting and diarrhea that may be bloody and finally seizures or coma. Temperatures above 105 degrees Fahrenheit are dangerous.  Our thanks to vetinfo.com for this valuable info on heat stress/stroke.

Photo by Paige Morrison Photography 

All Paws - Canine Massage Now Available

Kristi McGrath, physical therapist, licensed massage therapist and long time client of DogBoy's has been treating pets with myofascial release therapy.  Kristi's goal is to keep your pet healthy and active.  Myofascial release relieves pain and restores motion for your pet:

What is Fascia?

Fascia is a tough connective tissue which spreads throughout the body in a three dimensional web from nose to tail without interruption.  Trauma (such as acute injury to the hip, spine or knee, including surgery), or inflammation (due to arthritis or other chronic conditions) can cause a binding down of fascia resulting in excessive pressure to nerves, blood vessels, muscles, joint structures and organs.  These restrictions can lead to pain, dysfunction, and lack of mobility for your pet.

The John F. Barnes Myofascial Release approach is safe, gentle and consistently effective in producting positive and lasting results for your pet.  Myofascial release is a very effective hands-on technique which provides sustained pressure into myofascial restrictions to eliminate pain, tightness and to restore motion.

Kristi is available to clients of DogBoy's by appointment.  If you are interested in the beneficial and healing properties of massage for your dog, please contact Kristi. 

DogBoy's Car Decals are Back!

You've been waiting a long time.  We finally have decals available for your car, so you can display your dog's favorite place to play proudly!  These custom decals are available for $9.95, and can hold up to 4 names on one decal.  Call today to order yours!.