FURRY FRIENDS INN & DOG DAY CARE
1008 Ruggles Road B0P 1R0 Middleton, NS, Canada

I was at the pet store a couple of weeks ago with my filthy little German Shepherd, who was covered head to toe in dried mud. A woman stopped and looked in disg...ust. "Yuck! How do you let your dogs get so dirty?!" to which I responded, "She had a lot of fun. I'll bathe her when we get home." She was still disgusted and looked at me as if I had 3 heads. "I don't even let my dogs off leash in our fenced in back yard if there is even one patch of mud. I don't want any of that in my house." The woman gave my sweet little Khaos another sickened glance before proceeding to the front of the store. I kissed my filthy dog on the head and shook it off and went on with my day. But I didn't stop thinking about it. The woman had a big bag of Large Breed Puppy food in her carriage and a keychain that said "doodle mom", which got me thinking too hard about these poor dogs she owns, who undoubtedly need a lot of exercise, being cooped up in the house and unable to run and play in their fenced in back yard. For how long? All spring? All winter? All summer? Why even own dogs? I thought about this conversation again today, weeks later, as I was cleaning my house. I was mopping the floor of the dog room when all of a sudden 3 muddy dogs trampled through and made a giant mess all over again. And in the middle of laughing about it, it occured to me, that even though they create so much more work for me on a regular basis, I wouldn't change anything about my life or my dogs. When I obtained each of these dogs, I fully understood the commitment it takes. I understood the vast amounts of fur I would have to clean up every day. I knew that my house would never be spotless no matter how many hours I spend cleaning. I knew that I would never wear a clean article of clothing ever again. I knew that my wallet would never be full. But when I sit back and watch my three happy dogs romp around through the mud and then jump on my couch, shake off loads of fur and dirt on my freshly vacuumed floor, or knock things over and break them because they're playing too hard, it makes me realize that their happiness is what keeps me happy. Their drooly tongues hanging out on my lap is what fills my heart. Being surrounded by these creatures every minute of my life is what keeps me going. Caring for them, spoiling them, loving them, and putting them first before anything else is why I'm on this planet. I miss out on a lot of things because of them. I lose a lot of money and time and relationships because of them. They frustrate me, they make me cry, they get in the way, they break things. But not once in my life, have I EVER regretted any of them. It was my decision to dedicate my life to these dogs. I made a promise to each of them when they were still tiny enough to fit in my hands, that I would love them and guide them through life until their very last breath. And there is nothing that could ever get in the way of that. I think we can all agree that dogs are not here with us long enough. They have such limited time here on the planet. We go through our crazy, busy lives every day stressing about work, making weekend plans, scrolling through our phones, talking with our friends and family. All while our dogs have one focus in life: us. They wait for us all day to come home from work. They watch you scroll through your phone for hours while you ignore their attempts to bring you their favorite toy. They curl up next to you and show you unconditional love that no human could ever offer you, no matter what you look like or how you're feeling. Some day, you'll come home from work to an empty house. Some day, you'll look up from your phone and your dog won't be there with his favorite toy in his mouth. Some day, you'll lay in bed without your warm furry friend to comfort you. So don't waste any time. Don't take any minute for granted. Throw the ball. Walk your dog. Let him run free. I don't care if it's muddy or it's pouring. I don't care if it's a blizzard. Let your dog dig that hole, you can fill it in later. Let him rip up the cardboard box, you can clean it up. Broken things can be replaced, your dog can’t. Your TV show can wait, your dog is here now. Buy him a new toy when he breaks his. Get him his own fancy collar. Buy him the comfiest bed. And when he lays down next to you at night, no matter how furry or smelly he may be, hold him close. Because some day, he will be nothing but a memory.

Wild bunch this afternoon

This year we have been offering dog walking. Your dog can now come to daycare and have a private on leash walk. Or I can go to your house. Working on loose leash walking and reactivity. Here are some of our happy customers. Pm for prices and availability.

Something you may be surprised to hear: Professional dog trainers spend no amount of time making sure their dog knows they are the dominant one. #TheMoreYouKn...ow #SnackFeederNotAPackLeader See more

A huge thank you and Merry Christmas to our wonderful friends, families and clients.

I have a dog that doesn’t love kids. He simply doesn’t. As a young dog, he backed away if they tried to touch him. You know what the best thing I’ve done for h...im? Something that took me many, many years and dogs to learn? I respected his feeling. I saw and I learned. He doesn’t want to be pet by kids. And that’s okay. So I advocated for him. I stood up for his needs. And The results where as i expected. I have a dog that now, can stress free co exist with kids. He can work around them, he can work for them. And he very well knows, I’ve got his back and no kid will make him feel uncomfortable because I’ll stand up for him. You know where we often go wrong with our dogs? We force them to be okay with everything. We feel the need that they love everyone and every dog. We push the issue upon them. Sometimes you get a dog that gets over it. But then, more often than not, you get a dog that learns that they must escalate to make the scary thing go away. Had I let jasper get pet by kids. Force him to interact, I’d very likely get a dog that instead of shying away, a dog that growls, barks and snaps. Because he never would have had someone stand up for him, so he must do so on his own. Instead I took Jasper’s feeling to heart. And I make it clear to him that I had his back. So guys, it’s okay if your dog doesn’t love everyone or every dog. Trust me. It doesn’t mean your dog can’t co exist around those he/she are unsure of. And if your dog has learned that escalating and being reactive is the answer I can help you, help your dog. -Elise & her best black dog.

Holiday hours are the same as usual. 24- 8-10am 25-closed 26- 8-10 am 31- 8-10 am... 1 -closed Merry Christmas!!

Just had a xmas cancellation. Here is your last minute chance to book your dog in for the holidays.

I always thought, when it came to my dog, I needed to do more. When my first dog had behavioral issues I thought he needed more exercise... More training More mental stimulation More interactive toys. What I never realized was He was really good at DOING things. But the skill he lacked The one that got us in trouble ALLTHETIME Was the skill of doing NOTHING. He didn’t know how relax. And all I did was keep him busy. Listen I don’t care if your dog is reactive, or if you have a dog that you are competing with in dog sports Teach them how to do nothing. Teach them how to chill out How to relax And for the really busy dogs Make them practice it often. Your sanity and theirs will thank you

We had to say good by last week to one of our regular day care goers. They moved back home to cb. So that opens up a spot for someone new. If your pooch would like to join us 3-5 days a week please send us a message

Thank you, Jennifer Bell et al :) Learn to Train Without Pain in the "Do No Harm" Dog Training and Behavior Manual. It's easy when you know what to look for and how to communicate with your dog in a language they can understand. Available here gumroad.com/l/trainingmanual

Dog training is a marathon, not a sprint. We see a lot of puppies who come through classes where their owners want to walk away at the end of a 6 week class wi...th a finished dog. I wish I could tell you that is what will happen. And maybe for some people it does. But raising a puppy is a journey. Nothing happens fast. Just because they did something today doesn't mean that it will happen again tomorrow. There are a lot of different developmental stages in those first 2 years of life!! Enjoy your puppy and let them be silly. Be consistent in your guidance and boundaries. It's about the journey, not the destination!

Lets take a moment to talk about genetics. I just got off a call with someone who got a cane corso and his dog bit the gardener who came into the yard unannoun...ced and a friend who did the same. Now he wants to rehome or euthanize the dog. He said, he didnt raise him like that.... Theres this little catch phrase that gets thrown around, its all now theyre raised. Well, thats not quite true. Look at 8 week old Kelpie or Border Collie pups herding ducks or lambs without any training, or pointers naturally on point when they see a bird. These are things that breeders have carefully selected for over time. Genetics also greatly impact a dogs nerves and environmental stability. Sure you can do a lot as a handler to try and shape and guide a dogs genetic drives or tendencies to a certain degree, but in my opinion when it comes to breed specific traits and solid or weak nerves In a dog, genetics will always win and come through. When selecting a dog, please dont choose the cane corso because it looks bad ass, or the border collie because you heard its the smartest breed, or a Malinois because its a police dog breed. These dogs have real needs and drives that must be satisfied, and if you cant provide those things, select a different dog. When rescuing, remember if you get a puppy theres no telling how the dog will end up by 3 years of age, so be prepared for unknown genetic drives and traits to be expressed as a dog develops. I truly believe if people talked more about genetics, people might be better matched with the dogs they either purchase or rescue. See more

Loose Lead walking. Lots of people complain about their dogs pulling and ask for advice about harnesses and training methods. Some harness manufacturers and tr...ainers have posted YouTube videos of training techniques to get the dog walking nicely. Mostly these techniques involve negative reinforcement and/or negative punishment contingencies, often relying on pressure from the equipment, and in my experience they all have two things in common. Firstly some dogs find them really annoying and secondly they mostly dont work and to the extent that they do they can create a compliant but shut down dog. So based on my experience with my dog, who started out as a chronic puller, and my observations of others, Ive reached a few conclusions about loose lead walking: - it takes time - its not about the equipment - its more about the relationship and the history of reinforcing many behaviours. . - it needs to be a conversation where each party gets heard some of the time and each party gets what they want some of the time (ok the dog should get what they want more of the time). - taking a medium/large active dog for a long walk somewhere interesting on a 6ft leash can be very frustrating for the dog. Like asking a human friend on a scenic walk and insisting they wear a blindfold. A long lead for a small dog and a long line for larger dogs allows for more freedom. - A well fitted harness that the dog finds comfortable is essential. Avoid any harness that purports to discourage pulling and has a tightening mechanism. A solid front attachment point may be useful to begin with. - in the learning phase you can make yourself a post when you need to but try not to pull on the equipment. - be really generous and pay all the behaviours you like eg check ins. - teach a solid recall and positive interrupter. - Teach close walking as a separate behaviour for crossing roads etc. - Teach a release cue. - Loose lead walking is a complex package of behaviours. It is not just a diluted version of heeling. Heeling should be thought of as a distinct behaviour with its own cue. - learn to walk a bit faster. - observe your dog and the environment closely but stay relaxed. - stay ahead of the game by avoiding triggers, curve away or change direction to set your dog up for success. - be patient (but interesting to your dog). - have fun with your dog. This is what it looks like for me and Ali now. This footage is from an hour long walk and the whole walk was pretty much like this. Ali started out as a chronic puller.

Meme Saturday... fantastic quote from Dr. Carolina Glvez Vidal.

So much to do but first I have to move him. We might have to wait a little longer.

Happy Dog Day!!! We need some more practice with our group photo. Haha

Happy National Dog Day!

Why we dont have a dog door

Your Dog is Not a Baby! Todays culture is absolutely ruining dogs and as behaviourists we are seeing more and more preventable problems appearing not only at ou...r facilities but in the public domain too! People are treating their dogs like children, and no matter how much you say it, or what you believe, they are not children. They are dogs... An apex predator with forty two teeth in their head and a bite pressure that can break bones. They deserve treating like dogs! Somehow treating your dog like a dog has become a taboo subject and its because of the warped, snowflake generation thats flooding the industry. Cant say no to a dog. Cant go in cold weather with a dog. Cant let a dog get muddy. Cant give a dog a job. Cant feed a dog raw meat. If your dog is in shape its too skinny. We are walking around in a world where giving your dog a job is cruel beyond belief but having a dog 30kg overweight with diabetes falling out of its ears is absolutely fine. Its warped and twisted and wrong. They are dogs! Treat them as dogs. You cannot take any pristine animal on this earth and pretend that its a baby. Oh hello, this is my whale, he is my baby. It doesnt work like that, and if you respect the dog, it doesnt work with them either. We have to push back on this snowflake mentality because it is literally killing dogs. Dogs are dying every day purely because nobody told them what rules they were supposed to follow or because they werent given a job they so desperately wanted. Lets start honouring our dogs for the absolutely amazing creatures they are. Dogs are magnificent, majestic, intelligent, robust. For me, they are the best animal on the planet so lets stop killing them and treat them for exactly what they are. Honour your dog.

This Dog Always Finds The Fluffiest Dogs In Daycare So She Can Nap On Them By @brigottfried

A border collie on a working farm seldom finds himself in trouble. They have a phenomenal ability to notice the smallest changes, the drive to eye stock and n...ip even the meanest of sheep. Yet, over 80 percent of clients we see with border collies in urban environments owners complain of chasing kids, cars, and being overly reactive to things in their environment... The traits that they are finding themselves struggling with are the very traits that sheepherders have bred for hundreds of years into the breed. The same goes for huskys.. seldom do we see owners running their huskies miles daily struggling with keeping them secure in their homes or destructive behaviors. Yet, the largest complaints we hear about these breeds are the very traits that make them incredibly suitable for the job they were bred for. Seldom do I hear a person who purchased a cane corso for estate protection complain about the steady, assertive and self assured guardian they have. As many of you know the number one breed we work with is cane corsos and yet we recieve calls almost daily of shocked owners when there 8 month old cane corso doesnt allow a guest into the home. The traits that a been selected in our dog breeds for centuries are most often the same behaviors that are reported to be "nuisance behaviors" in the home. This is why many breeders who are worth their weight dont let their puppy buyers select their own puppy. Instead they ask the puppy buyer what is it you are wanting in your pet. If they are wanting a soft family companion then they may select what might be considered a "washout" for the breed. If you are looking for a dog to be a family companion and a sport dog they may select an "average dog." If you are looking for a working dog they will select the most serious puppy. Written by Ahmia Black

Always let dogs come to you. Dont rush or force it.

Since Covid started we have been meeting people in the driveway or take your dog and food from your car. Same as during pick up so you dont have to come in. If we dont come out right away just honk your horn and we will be right there.

Couple of our Jack Russell puppies with their Momma

Couple of friendly faces you may recognize :)

WANT TO KNOW WHY THE LOW-COST, NUTRIENT-PACKED "SARDINE" IS A MUST ADD TO YOUR PETS DIET PLAN? THEN CHECK OUT THE "TOP 10" REASONS WHY! If youre like me, you...re always searching for an herb or whole food add that will help extend the life of your furry BFF. But if I told you one of these treasures was a small, salt-water, soft-boned, oil-rich, silvery fish that smells worse than most grandparents feet, would you still try it out? Hailed as one of the richest sources of omega-3, vitamin D and vitamin B-12 (to name a few), this whole food addition (which got its name from the Italian island of Sardinia) is called the sardine! I can hear the groaning now... "Sardines look and smell gross! most of you are probably saying. True, but if you check out my top 10 reasons why you should ignore the smell and fall in love, you wont regret it AND your pet will love you for it! Check out these 10 awesome reasons as to why this is a must-add: 1.) PROTEIN PACKED Your carnivorous dog and cat need protein for proper muscle and connective tissue development. Protein provides structure for skin, hair, joints, bones and nails to name a few! Sardines and fish, which are considered a high quality protein, are full of the essential amino acids your pets cannot produce and need from this type food. 2.) JOINT AND BONE SUPPORT Sardines are not only one of the most concentrated sources of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA for joint health, but they are packed with a rich source of bone-building and bone strengthening vitamin D! 3.) HEART HEALTH Sardines are an excellent source of vitamin B12, which promotes an overall cardiovascular well-being. Now tie in the DHA and EPA that are also found in the sardine and you have a cocktail of awesomeness aiding in heart health! 4.) BEATS UP ON CANCER Studies have shown that omega-3s found in the sardine can inhibit the formation of tumours and prevent cancer from metastasizing. They do this by inducing a process in cancer cells called apoptosis. Today, science is also showing that an ample source of vitamin D, from the sardine, may turn out to play an important role in the prevention of certain types of cancer as well. 5.) BRAIN HEALTH Studies in people show that supplementing with DHA (found in sardines), is beneficial in supporting cognitive health in aging brains. A study on beagle puppies found DHA improved cognitive learning and motor skills during the developmental stages. Therefore, sardines help sharpen your pets learning abilities, memory, eye function and psychomotor skills. 6.) HELPS RELIEVE ALLERGIES Research suggests that supplementing with fatty acids found in sardines, is useful in preventing atopy (allergies to inhaled substances such as pollens and molds) from developing in young animals. Also, because of the incredible anti-inflammatory properties that the sardines carry, they are a great add to help reduce the chronic redness and inflamed skin some pets experience from these allergies. 7.) CAN HELP YOUR PET LOSE WEIGHT The rich source of omega-3s found in the sardine can activate a type of protein that turns on fat-burning genes in your pets body! Used correctly, they can help slim down pudgy pets. 8.) POSITIVE EFFECTS AGAINST SEIZING PETS Research shows that the omega, packed in the sardine, contains potent anti-inflammatory properties that fight the inflammation mediators in epileptic patients while increasing seizure thresholds, in other words, helping to suppress attacks. 9.) KIDNEY SUPPORT A study on dogs found that while omega 6 supplementation accelerated the decline in kidney function of early stages of kidney disease, supplementing with omega-3 had protective effects. In human studies, it was found that people with long-term use of fish oil, like the oil found in sardines, slowed the loss of kidney function! 10.) MOOD IMPROVER AND ANTI-DEPRESSANT EPA and DHA found in sardines, according to research, can also improve mood. EPA from marine sources like sardines can decrease cytokines associated with depression. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TOXINS FOUND IN TODAYS FISH SUPPLY? ARENT SARDINES POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS? You see, sardines are a short lived fish. Therefore they dont have a lot of time to accumulate a ton of toxins from the water. They are at the bottom of the aquatic food chain as well, meaning they only feast on plankton. So they dont concentrate heavy metals, such as mercury, and contaminants as do other fish. OK, NOW FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION: HOW MUCH SARDINE SHOULD YOU FEED TO YOUR PET? Lets go to expert and pet food formulator, Steve Brown, for this one shall we? "The best canned sardines for dogs (and cats) are those in water with no salt added. Avoid sardines packed in soy, corn, sunflower, safflower, or other omega-6 rich oils. Use the entire can of sardines within two days after opening it, and refrigerate the open can, so that the fragile fats do not go rancid. Dont overdo it! EPA and DHA, like most nutrients, provide wonderful health benefits in small amounts, and are detrimental in excess amounts or without sufficient antioxidant protection. Here are my sardine recommendations for adult dogs. Feed twice this much to puppies and pregnant or lactating females. Dogs Weight 3.75-oz can sardines 5 lbs 1/4 can per week 15 lbs 1/2 can per week 25 lbs 5/8 can per week 50 lbs 1 can per week 100 lbs 1 3/4 cans per week A 3.75-ounce can of sardines has about 200 calories, so reduce the amount of dry food given on sardine days accordingly. Rule of thumb: One can of sardines in water has about the same number of calories as cup of most dog foods. For cats, no more than a 1/4 to maximum 1/2 a week. Remember to always check with your veterinarian for specific doses, and always practice variation, moderation and balance when introducing new foods to your pets. So go grab a clothes pin, plug your nose, and add some aquatic love to your pets bowls. Most will love you for it! Rodney Habib

Dogs need direction and trust not a bully. https://www.psychologytoday.com//dominant-alpha-humans-don

These are very, very clear signs of discomfort to a good dog trainer. These are very, very subtle signs to the average dog owner, and this is why so many owners... are surprised when their dogs bite. If your dog is uncomfortable and quiet, it is far more concerning than if your dog is uncomfortable and loud. This is one of the reasons why correction-based training can be so unsettling. It doesnt take the dogs emotional state into account, so the dog doesnt feel any better about the situation - they just lose their ability to communicate their need for space and become silently uncomfortable, leading to closer triggers, higher stress, and eventually, faster bites. Dont look for the loud or youll miss everything happening in the quiet. Know the signs, know what to look for, and teach your kids/family. #stopthe77 #speakingdogkids #familypawsparenteducation #shanabodylanguage #shanareactivity

Blue-green algae can be dangerous to you and your pets. It can produce toxins that can make you sick. If you think you see it in a lake or river, dont swim, d...rink, or let children or pets go in the water. Please tell us where you saw it by calling one of our local offices: https://novascotia.ca/nse/dept/regional-office-locations.asp. You shouldnt use untreated water from lakes or rivers for drinking water. It could be contaminated with toxins from blue-green algae. Learn more about blue-green algae at https://novascotia.ca//environmental-/blue-green-algae.asp. See more

Ive had conversations with a couple friends lately about what Consent in dogs can look like, and if they can understand consent. Well here you go: Bee got a ne...w PFD (personal flotation device? today, and before we can use it on a paddle board or kayak, she needs to know how to be lifted out of the water by the handle. I did two quick sessions to introduce her to that idea, using a toy to build good associations to that event. She has previously been taught to play with the toy, and when she spits it out at my feet shes ready for the next round. Once during this session she has a, Im not ready yet, moment, and holds onto the toy. So I play with her a bit longer, and after a bit longer shes able to say shes ready again. Freely Given, Reversable, Informed, Enthusiastic, Specific Consent! (The FRIES acronym.) She doesnt always get to opt in and opt out of procedures; for example tonight she tore her paws pads, and she didnt get to opt out of getting them wrapped. But giving her the ability to say yes and no to things that happen to her is so powerful. And it really helps her trust me when things /do/ just have to happen.

Weird. Weve had the same issue with our alarm system #monday #planetpaws #planetpawsdartmouth #welovedogs #welovepets #alarm

Saturdays Pet Peeve: Canine dominance, shock collars, uncredentialed "trainers" and other antiquated constructs that need to end. This week I had a behavior co...nsultation for a 2 year old Dalmatian mix, "Julio", who had a history of lunging and barking aggressively at unfamiliar people, biting one person a few months earlier. With permission, and with changed breed and name, I wanted to share something the owners/guardians noted in their history form. At the age of 1 year, Julio was enrolled in a group training class. He lunged and barked at the instructor, which surprised his owner as this was a new behavior. She petted and reassured Julio, but was stopped by the instructor, who said that petting/comforting would only make him worse through reinforcement of his behavior. Everyone in the class was instructed to put a remote control shock collar on their dogs, regardless of their behavior, and the collars were used throughout the group sessions. For Julio, specifically, the direction was to press the "vibrate" button as soon as he set his eyes on an unfamiliar person, escalating to "shock" if he didnt stop his behavior. The shock would be stopped once he looked calmer or shifted his eyes to the handler (a kind of negative reinforcement). The owner said that, with the shock collar, "Julio became more fearful of everything. The trainer [who had recommended the shock collar] suggested that his fears and anxieties were dominance issues." Julio, by the way, historically trembled and panted at the vet and groomer, and was extremely fearful of thunderstorms, fireworks and new things in his environment. He had broken out of crates as a puppy. So my thoughts and peeves are simple: 1. Fearful, reactive dogs are not confident, "alpha" dogs. They are worried dogs. 2. The entire construct of canine dominance related aggression to humans has been debunked and buried deep in the soil of behavioral mythology. 3. Positive punishment or negative reinforcement of anxiety- or fear-based behavior is not effective because anxiety and fear are not voluntary choices. They are emotions, rooted deeply in the dogs DNA, development and experience. Shock works by causing pain. Pressing a button to hurt a worried dog will only aggravate the worry and fear. 4. Reassuring a worried dog will not reinforce the worry or fear for the same reasons. Reinforcement doesnt apply because the fear is not a choice. Even better than reassurance is actively working to change the dogs emotional response to something that scares him -- but comforting wont hurt, either. It is so very important to check the credentials of anyone claiming to be a dog trainer or behavior consultant. Remember, there is no law stopping anyone from hanging up a dog training shingle, whether or not theyve "had lots of dogs growing up". It is very likely that a "trainer" who claims the fallacies stated above has no respected credentials at all. Julio is an anxious, insecure dog whose aggression is rooted in self-defense and nothing else. He is also a lucky dog, because his humans are now committed to helping him feel safe in this world. In addition to the behavior consultation, theyve started working with a credentialed, progressive, positive-reinforcement based trainer. #vetbehavior #vetbehaviordogs

Happy Birthday to our favourite Julie, dog dancer, kennel worker, life saver and good friend.

Saturdays Pet Peeve: Using the sniff test to test friendliness in unfamiliar dogs. Recently, a father blogged about an incident in which his 10 year old son... was bitten on the face by a strangers dog. He and his son were hiking on a trail when they encountered another hiker with a leashed dog. Oliver asked to pet the dog and the owner suggested the sniff test. The dog licked his hand, so he petted the dog and it lunged, lacerating Olivers eyebrow. Any dog who isnt doing a slobbery, uncoordinated, full-body wag-dance when encountering a stranger might be ambivalent, socially reserved, worried or anxious. Actually, to be safest, lets include the slobbery wag-dancers, too. Why? 1. Dogs do not necessarily want to be touched by strangers, anymore than children (or we) want to be touched by strangers. 2. Inviting a dog to sniff your hand by standing still, staring and reaching towards her might be perceived as a threat, towards which the dog might respond by avoiding your hand, or biting you. If that perception is a possibility, why take a chance? 3. Aggression can be silent and stiff which looks a lot like calm and bites happen very fast. In the blink of an eye, a person is injured, and a dog is in serious trouble, for which he didnt ask. Dogs do choose to sniff people, dogs and things, as a way of exploration and identification. But sniffing is NOT an invitation to be stroked and patted. Somehow we have to rewrite the etiquette of interacting with unfamiliar dogs so that they arent put into a terrible position of being trapped on leash and forced to defend themselves. This alone would go far in reducing dog bites. On a hiking trail or sidewalk, its nice to smile at other people and comment on their dogs and children. You might even want to stop for a moment and have a conversation about how clever and good-looking they are. Then you and they can move on, all of you feeling enriched by the encounter, but also safe. #vetbehavior #vetbehaviordogs #dogbitesafety

As Spring starts, we are getting more and more phone calls about red bites on your dogs stomach. We wanted to give everyone this information, these are a type o...f fly bite, and dogs generally get them from laying in the grass. They look terrible, but usually do not bother the dogs. They heal quickly on their own, and do not require any treatment. These flies are usually around for a few weeks every spring and then go away. We hope this eases any worry that you may have had about your own dog! If you have any concerns please feel free to call the clinic for more information! See more

Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend get out and enjoy the sun today

Hang in there. Its almost Friday - if the days of the week even matter to you anymore @ FURRY FRIENDS INN & DOG DAY CARE

DIY nail clipping tips (pictures taken from google) for those who asked :) Each image will have a short description of the step-by-step process. Youll need nail clippers, a clotting powder, and treats. Hope this helps!

Hope everyone is doing well and gets to enjoy a bit of this sunshine today @ FURRY FRIENDS INN & DOG DAY CARE