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In This Issue

Check out DogBoy's New Photographers!

Nicole Mlakar Photography

Zoom Pet Photography

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Have You Heard the News?

You’ve read about it. You’ve watched it being built. That’s right; the doors are open at DogBoy’s Training and Wellness Center.  We'd like to send a big thank you to T.A. Todd Construction for all their hard work on this project!

Plan on joining us for the open house on Saturday, January 30th from 10 – 2. We’ve got lots to celebrate and you are the most important part of it. Watch your inbox for more details.

Photo: www.nicolemlakarphotography.com

Happy New Year from DogBoy’s Dog Ranch!

As children ‘round the world
hung their stockings with care, 
and  Santa squeezed down
each and every chimney,
Kennel Manager Marcella
found a moment to spare,
For sharing a magical story.

Then off the pups went
to their warm, snuggly beds,
With a gingerbread cookie in their bowl,
and a pat on their heads.
A heartfelt thanks from everyone here,
For trusting us with the pets you hold dear.

There are only a few spots left for the 2010 Holidays. Don’t be disappointed. Make your reservations today! 512-251-7600.

We Got the Power

DogBoy's has even more exciting news!  We have recently installed a 15 kw solar panel system from Longhorn Solar.  That's 65 solar panels!  Not only do our new solar panels take a serious chunk out of our electric bill, we will be reducing carbon emissions by 323 tons over the next 25 years.

What does 323 tons of CO2 look like? It’s the equivalent of 1,093,559 miles traveled in a small car, 410,955 miles travelled in an SUV, 665,155 miles flown in an airplane, 12,904 trees planted or the CO2 from trash and waste of 587 persons. Think about that the next time you flip on the lights.

We figure we’ve made a pretty healthy contribution to our community. It also means we’re getting half the power of three of our buildings direct from good ol' Texas sunshine. How does that feel? Fantastic!

An Unconventional Dog

Four years ago a veterinary technician was leaving for work when she saw her neighbor’s dog tied to the railing outside of their abandoned apartment. The dog wasn’t barking or making any kind of disturbance. She was just waiting for her family to return. That dog was Lily, a beautiful Anatolian Shepherd whose fate was in the hands of a compassionate stranger who just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

When her owners couldn’t be found, Lily was brought to the Austin Humane Society, a no-kill shelter, where on her first day it looked as if her luck had changed. A family was interested in Lily and had requested an introduction. But after meeting Lily, the family decided she wasn’t quite the dog that they were looking for.

Meanwhile Jeanne Bunker, an Austin psychotherapist, also had her eye on Lily. So when the family that had expressed an interest in Lily decided to adopt a different dog, Jeanne was thrilled to be next in line. Jeanne was impressed with Lily’s calm demeanor even in a noisy shelter environment. She recognized potential in Lily to be a wonderful therapy dog as well as a lifelong companion. That day Lily’s life changed forever when she found a home with Jeanne.

Jeanne knew that for Lily’s potential to be fully developed, help from a professional trainer was essential. She looked to DogBoy’s for guidance and enrolled in Level I Obedience led by Paula Baker Prince, CPDT, and DogBoy’s Director of Training. From Paula she learned to work with Lily’s loyal, independent spirit forming a bond that would serve them personally and professionally. Jeanne and Lily loved being in class and went on to take Level II Obedience.

Next, they enrolled in the Canine Good Citizen class with the goal of earning the CGC credential. This class proved to be more challenging as Lily had to work through fears of strange objects and sudden movements. Paula was the instructor for this class too, and set up an obstacle course of truly strange objects for Lily and Jeanne to negotiate. After some hard work, they were ready take, and pass, the CGC test.

Jeanne and Lily took the Out ‘n About class purely for fun – and it was a blast! They went all over town having great adventures which created more confidence in Lily and a stronger bond between Lily and Jeanne.
 

Jeanne’s patients have also benefited from a relationship with Lily. In addition to a warm greeting, Lily intuitively senses the emotions of clients, offering her calm, supportive presence to those that want it. While it may be considered unconventional to bring a dog into a therapeutic environment, Lily’s contribution to Jeanne’s practice is undeniable.

Whether it was hard times or overwhelming circumstances that caused Lily’s first family to abandon her, we’ll never know for certain. But we do know that she continues to inspire those that know her not only to be better pet guardians, but to be better human beings.

For more information about Jeanne’s practice, check out her website at  www.bunkertherapy.com.

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Paula’s Picks: Your Dog’s New Year Resolutions

Okay, maybe dogs don’t make resolutions, but getting them involved with ours can make achieving them a lot more fun. This is a perfect time for you and Fido to lose some weight, get in shape, or try something new like one of the many classes offered at DogBoy’s.

Check out our diet sheet to jumpstart your pup’s nutritional choices. Remember, feeding a high-quality, nutritionally dense food requires smaller portions – good to know for keeping your dog’s waistline in check. Feeding out of a puzzle-type toy – like a Kong, Kibble Nibble or Treatstik will help slow down a chow-hound’s ways and keep them entertained at the same time.

For a healthy, delicious, low-calorie snack try sharing your fruits and veggies.  You do eat fruits and vegetables, don’t you?  Did you know that dogs like apples, blueberries, bananas, melons, carrots, asparagus, and even zucchini!  Experiment, your dog’s tastes may surprise you.  But remember, grapes, raisins and onions are only for us to enjoy.

Just as important as a healthy diet is -- you guessed it – exercise. Austin is a great city to get out and walk with your dog. Our training classes can help with those leash skills if your dog would rather take you for a walk!  As we start a new year and a new decade, let’s make it a healthy one for the entire family. 

Paula Baker Prince, CPDT
DogBoy’s Director of Training

Staff Spotlight: Vincent’s Heart

Have you ever wondered, “Why do dogs put up with humans?” Take Vincent, the dog that belongs to kennel staff member Shay Poznich and her family. According to Shay, “Vincent is the truest green card dog," referring to the DogBoy’s system of evaluating compatible dogs.  "He can go anywhere.”

Vincent, named after the famous artist who cut off an ear, started his life in less than perfect circumstances. The people in his early months clearly let him down. He was the victim of serious abuse and neglect. But we don’t dwell on those times because it is obvious when you meet Vincent that those days have long been forgotten. Perhaps there isn’t room for sadness or fear when your days are spent running on the fifteen acres of heaven that we call DogBoy’s.

Today, Vincent loves his life and his family that is made up of Shay, her husband and their two children as well as his canine siblings, Hazel and Rupert. He has Level I Obedience under his belt and keeps his mind sharp by working on food puzzles in the evenings. But it’s his heart that inspires us to see the possibilities of today rather than dwell on the disappointments of yesterday.

Without a doubt Vincent stumbled upon good fortune the day he met Shay. But to hear it from Shay and her family, they are the lucky ones.

Pardon our Dust

Just as construction on the training and wellness center has been winding down, we’ve ramped up our efforts on some of the less glamorous work around DogBoy’s. Building better fences and improving the efficiency of our kennels ensures the safety and comfort of your pets whether they are here for a day or for several weeks. While we have to be flexible to accommodate the workers, rest assured the playtime for the pups is never interrupted!

photo: www.nicolemlakarphotography.com

I Wish I Had a Camera

If you’ve ever tried to capture your pup on camera only to get a glimpse of a tail or an empty frame, you’ll appreciate the pros that create the photos we enjoy around DogBoy’s.

Photo: Zoom Pet Photography 

 

 

You’ll be seeing more of these talented artists’ work in the coming months on the website. Check out Jay Herman’s action shots at www.zoompetphotography.com,
and Nicole Mlakar’s portraits at www.nicolemlakarphotography.com.

We are thrilled to have such great talent among us!

Photo: Nicole Mlakar Photography