Blog

Dog Parks  -  Recently I posted on Facebook (www.facebook.com/caninecollege) a post about a rumor that was running through Facebook pages in October claiming pieces of cheese laced with nails and tainted water (laced with antifreeze) were being found in Dog Parks.  The rumors said these events had occurred in Chicago and Massachusetts but the stories appear to have been false.  The events did occurred in Buenes Aires.  Still – it screams for  us to address this potential problem and other potential Dog Park risks or dangers.

What could go wrong?  Lots!  Unsocial dogs to start with!  You may have socialized your dog but you don’t know about the other dogs at the park.   Do you know if the other dogs there are friendly?  Do they share well?  Do they know how to read what your dog is saying to them?  If they have not been socialized they might not! 

How about illness or disease?  Do you know if the other dogs there have had their vaccinations?  Okay, so let’s say the park does require updated vaccs for permits … okay, how about fecal testing?  How about Bordetella for Canine Cough?   Your dog can easily – easily catch something from just walking by another dog at the park who may not be in excellent health.   Your dog can easily walk in the fecal that has parasites in it – then your dog grooms himself at home and ….. voila!  Your dog now has a parasite. 

How about treats?  Are you that person who takes dog treats to the park to reward your dog for good behavior?  Be sure there isn’t a dog there that is food aggressive or toy aggressive dog at the park.   

I understand that some people have no choice but to take their dogs to the park to run on grass – great distances.  Just be sure you know who is at the park.  How do you do that?  Get to know the other owners who bring their dogs to the park especially if your dog makes a friend there.  What days and times of the day do they go to the park? 

Bottom line – know where you take your dog …… at Canine College we offer dog daycare and boarding.  We temperament test dogs that come here, we require vaccinations for dogs including Bordetella and fecal examinations.  Our staff is trained in pack management, breed specific behaviors and canine body language.  We are a safe – secure facility – nobody is going to be bringing in cheese laced with anything or tainting the water.  

Back on Campus:  Well, we are in the process of getting a new video on our homepage starring one of our favorite furry students and featuring many more.  We are getting a new air conditioning unit in the grooming room to help keep Linda and team cool while they clip away in the Dirty Hounds Grooming Salon.  And finally, we are installing over 20 new webcams.  There will be cameras inside, outside and all around!  You will be able to reserve a private dorm room with infrared camera options so you can check in on your furry student at night.     After all, when we travel that is usually when we start to get those pangs of “I miss XXXX”.   Whew!  It is a busy autumn with our final – and I mean final – builds for our new facility!

The Whole Dog Journal has a great article t his month about the ”Rabies Challenge Fund”.   Lifted right from their website:  The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust will determine the duration of immunity conveyed by rabies vaccines. The goal is to extend the required interval for rabies boosters to 5 and then to 7 years.  http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/

I confess, I often question the whole vaccination every year thing and lucky for me, my dog’s Veterinarian, Dr. Rozenbaum (Advanced Veterinary Medical Center) listens to my ranting and answers my questions.   Gracie and Remy get titer testing but we are, by law, required to get their Rabies vaccination as frequently as the State of Michigan requires us to (State requirements can vary from one, two or three years). 

Why bother?  The Whole Dog Journal listed many including but not limited to:

•  
  •  
    • Obsessive behaviors, self-mutilation, tail-chewing
    • Pica
    • Destructive behavior
    • Seizures, epilepsy
    • and many more …

The Rabies Challenge Fund is funded by animal lovers with an annual budget goal of $150,000.  they are currently in their fourth year of a seven year plan.  Check out their website to learn more or pick up the most recent edition of the Whole Dog Journal!

Back on Campus:  Yesterday was the Michigan Humane Society’s Mega March for Animals in Hart Plaza, Detroit!  Canine College was a Flagship Sponsor along with The Detroit Red Wings, BIGGBY Coffee, Comerica Bank and more.  Our team collected (drumroll) $8,143.99 exceeding our goal of $5,000!   Thank you – thank you – thank you.

We had bake sales, bottle return sales, Sue & Bre made some of their beautiful jewelry creations and donated them, Bre and Amber had an internal competition going to see who could get the most contributions (not really sure who won but it was great fun) our vendors donated some toys for donations and just darn generous customers who opened their wallets during a tough economic time.     We had some terrific team members including Terri who was the highest individual fundraiser for the entire march. Congratulations again, Terri!  Congratulations to our team and a big Congratulations to the Michigan Humane Society for another successful Mega March For Animals event!  Check out our Facebook page to see some photos:  www.facebook.com/caninecollge

Loyalty

Hard to say – they all “can” be if you ask me.   Ask which breeds are the least loyal and you usually will hear a dog’s name or someone will start another conversation about their ex who was a dirty dog ….  You get the idea.

The website Dogluvers.com lists the following Dog Breeds as loyal:  Brittany, Collie, Great Pyrenees, Komodor, Kuvasz, Mastiff (heard that a few times), Puli, Samoyed, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers and Spinone Italiano.    All are either Working, Pastorial (livestock guarding or mustering), Sporting or Herding Dogs with the exception of the Wheaten.  

We get a lot of dogs at Canine College and have watched them grow from 14 week old puppies to mature dogs.  Their loyalty matures – just like their body and mind as it is nurtured and developed.  

Which dog breeds are the most loyal?  I think that’s a silly question ….

Back on  Campus:   Congratulations to Amber who celebrates her 5 year anniversary today working at Canine College.   I often tell folks that when she walked  in the door 5 years ago for the interview, I groaned.  She looked so young just out of High School – so bubbly – I was really looking for  a more mature individual.  After talking with her for a bit, I offered her the job and she almost literally jumped at it!     Boy, was I lucky she walked in the door!  Hiring her was one of the best business decisions I ever made!  Congratulations Amber and thank you for everything you do!  Loyalty = Amber!