Trimming Your Dogs Toenails… What You Need to Know to Do It Safely!

Toenail Trims…  Most dogs don’t like this task, as someone, at sometime has probably cut one too short and pinched the quick.. (the soft, nerve and blood filled core of the nail,) causing pain and a little bleeding. So I am here to tell you what you need to know to do it safely.

MaxShadow showing off his toy and his teeth

In Dogs with white toenails, it’s pretty easy to spot where the quick is… it’s kind of pinkish in color and the dead nail is really white. If your dog has black toenails, you can’t easily identify the quick.  However, if you can hold the paw in your hand with the pads facing up, you can easily locate a groove running along the bottom of the nail, from the tip, where it is very well defined to the toe where it becomes wider and more shallow until it disappears completely into the live nail. This groove, signifies the dead portion of the nail. i.e. the part you want to cut into. The part with the groove has no blood vessel and no nerve endings. The only way you’ll hurt your dog by cutting into the area with the groove, is if you accidentally pull his toe hairs. (Very easy to do on long coated dogs.)

It’s always a good idea to get your dog used to having his or her feet handled at a young age and to desensitize them to the clippers.  I prefer the guilottine clippers that have two blades that come together and meet in the middle, because they take less hand strength to operate. Make certain they’re sharp… if they’re not, throw them out… These things are inexpensive and trust me, you’d rather have new, sharp ones, that deal with a cracked nail caused by an old crummy pair.

Start off by having your dog sit next to you, holding his paws one at a time, firmly and feeding treats…. if this goes well… play with the toes during the next session (while still feeding treats.) Work your way up until you’re actually holding and activating the clippers without placing them on the nails. When you get to the point that you can do all of this and your dog is still relaxed, then it’s time to try the real thing.

It’s usually a good idea to have a partner there to help restrain the dog if needed, but if you’ve done your homework as stated above, you may not even need that. Of course always have some quik stop stypic powder on hand, (I like the kind with benzocaine,) just in case you clippers slip a little.

If you’re nervous, your dog will sense this and pull away… you may have to practice putting the clippers in position without clipping to build your confidence.  Having a friend there can help with moral support.

Don’t try to take too much off the first time… Note where that groove is and only take off the very tip of the nail… You can come back and do it again next week… it’ll help both you and the dog gain confidence in your ability to trim their nails. With repeated trimmings, the nerves will begin to recede in even the longest of nails, allowing you to trim them even shorter than you could’ve done on the first attempt.

Start with the back feet, dogs seem more receptive to having their back feet played with…  and even if you only get one paw or one toe done at a session, you’re making process!

Dremel tools also work great, but generate a lot of heat. If using a Dremel, only keep it in contact with the nail for about one or two seconds at a time…  and once again, watch out for toe and foot hair! Long hair and quick spinning objects do not mix well.

The other option is that you can bring the dog to us and during their regularly scheduled daycare, boarding or training session, we’ll sneak in a nail trim for only $10

This will be easier for us if you’ve done your desensitization exercises listed above…

Until next time, go play ball and have some fun!

Kerri — The Alpha Dogs’ Wife

Part III Choosing the Right Doggy Daycare for you dog!

Some suggested questions to ask your potential dog boarding or daycare facility:

• What kind of experience do their employees have with dogs in a pack environment?
• What makes them qualified to supervise a group of dogs at play?

Looks like some one's been digging in the snow! (He Had FUN!)

• How do they introduce your dog?

Do they just throw them in with the other dogs or do they take the time to     slowly integrate the new member and make certain that your dog is  ready?

Is the dog play facility indoors or outdoors?

This is entirely up to you, both have their good points. Some dogs do better in an outdoors environment and won’t go potty indoors. Personally, I don’t care if my dog gets dirty, I just want them to have fun. However I do not want my dog getting used to going potty indoors. If the daycare is located indoors, do the dogs have access to the outdoors to relieve themselves?

• Where will the dogs sleep at night? If Free-Range, How do they choose your dogs’ roommates?

• What is the staff to dog ratio? (These requirements will vary with dog size and energy levels. 1:12 or 1:15 is okay as long as staff members are physically capable, experienced and carry radios so they can quickly get help if needed.)

• What is their maximum occupancy? (This should coincide with the staff to dog ratio)

• Does the staff provide both love and leadership?

The good dog daycare is a lot like the daycare for kids there are rules that must be reinforced such as no bullying, no humping & no biting. A good facility will offer both leadership and love.

• What kind of corrections do they use for bad or unwanted behavior?        A good facility will tell you that the correction will vary depending upon the dog and the infraction. Some dogs respond very well to vocal corrections and some dogs will cower at a strong “No” If the staff can’t tell the difference, it may not be the right facility for your dog.

• Do they correct for excessive barking? If so how? Answers will vary from facility to facility. Some facilities use water and spray bottles on barking dogs. Some facilities use bark collars. Our facility chooses to use vocal corrections, gentle touches and body language to get our point across.

• Are there age/size/health requirements? Which Vaccinations are required? Are Titers accepted?

Titers are blood antibody tests performed by your veterinarian. (Great for dogs that are sensitive to or allergic to components used in vaccinations.)

• Are there Breed restrictions? If not than do they hold certain breeds to higher standards than others?

Not all of us like enforcing breed restrictions, but this is fair question… not all Pitt Bulls or Rottweilers are vicious animals, (very few are,) but they are big and strong and physically capable of causing injury; (As are Great Danes, Labrador Retrievers and even Standard Poodles.) It is important that the staff members be physically capable of separating dogs in case of an altercation. If they’re not physically capable of breaking up a conflict, they should enforce some type of breed or size restrictions and /or have additional staff to ensure safety.

• Do they require behavioral evaluations prior to accepting reservations? Accept recommendations from other facilities?

• What happens in the event that you can’t get there before closing time? Grace period? Extra fees? Is overnight care an option?

• Are the fences sturdy and secure? Easy to climb?  (I once heard of a daycare in a busy area having their temporary fencing knocked over and all of the dogs running off into traffic!!!)

• What happens if your dog is injured? Do they have a relationship with a local veterinarian? What are their notification procedures and policies?

• Do they have a Dog Trainer on staff?

Having a Dog Trainer on staff is very helpful if unwanted or bizarre behaviors crop up during a boarding or daycare stay. An experienced trainer will know how to keep the problem from escalating.

• Do they require fecal tests? This helps protect your dog from being exposed to parasites and bacterial infections, of course this is not foolproof, but it is an added layer of protection.

• What is access like to the play yards? Are there several doors or gates between the play area and the outside world? Or can just anyone get in?

As you can see, the options for daycare and boarding are as vast as the breeds of dogs they serve. To find the facility that will best serve the needs of your dog, we recommend that you and your dog pay a visit to a couple different places. Observe your dog. He or she will let you know when you’ve found the one that best suits his idea of fun, as well as his personality and his physical and emotional needs.

These are not meant to be a “Black and White” list of correct answers…  but a guideline… each dog is an individual and what’s right for one dog, may not be right for your dog…  let your dog guide you on this one.  Only he or she will know what truly makes them happy.

 

Kerri — The Alpha Dogs’ Wife

Steve & Kerri Pinkston own and operate Adventure Dog Ranch.  A Free-Range, Boarding, Daycare and Training facility located in Marysville, WA.  For more information about their facility please visit http://www.AdventureDogRanch.com

Choosing the Right Dog Boarding or Daycare facility for your pet: Part II of III

Choosing the Right Dog Boarding or Daycare facility for your pet:  Part II of III

8 things to look for when you tour a potential boarding facility or doggy daycare.

Grace and Wrigley (Malamutes) Enjoy a Romp in the Snow at Adventure Dog Ranch

• Odors:  Does it smell clean and fresh? Or does it smell like, well like a kennel? (Since a dog’s smell-er is roughly 10000 times more powerful than yours, we want the facility not to stink of urine and feces, but it shouldn’t stink like a hospital either.. although if the floors are mopped frequently, there may be detectable odors of disinfectant in the air.)

• Is it clean?  Do you see piles of feces lying around the rooms or play area? (Area’s should be clean of piles & puddles and any new piles should be so fresh they have steam coming off of them!)

• Do the employees act like they enjoy the company dogs? (Too much love isn’t always a good thing as pandering to a nervous dog can actually encourage nervous behavior. Look for solid leadership which means encouraging wanted behaviors and discouraging unwanted behaviors such as jumping up on people.)

• How does your dog react to the employees after getting to know them? Do they act afraid of the employees? Or can your dog hardly contain his excitement?

• How do they introduce your dog? Are they focused on your dogs comfort and taking their time to avoid conflicts or do they just toss them into the pack expecting them to “roll with it?”

• Are the staff members observant and watchful of subtle body language cues? Do they intervene when a dog begins dominating or humping another?

• Are there gates that can be closed to divide the play yard into multiple areas to accommodate different groups of dogs? (Sometimes it is necessary to divide the pack for safety reasons and/or control tempo and access. Size isn’t the only factor to consider when dividing the pack, it’s not an accurate barometer of behavior.

• Are there toys laying everywhere or do the staff members control “ownership” of the toys? (This is very important if one or more dogs show resource guarding behavior.)

Next Time: Some questions to ask of your potential daycare or boarding facility.

Kerri –The Alpha Dogs’ Wife

Steve & Kerri Pinkston own and operate Adventure Dog Ranch.  A Free-Range, Boarding, Daycare and Training facility located in Marysville, WA.  For more information about their facility please visit http://www.AdventureDogRanch.com

Choosing the Right Boarding/Daycare Facility for your pet: Part I of III

 

Pancho and Arti enjoy a "Snow Day"

Planning a family vacation used to leave a dog owner with a guilty conscious.

This is no longer the case. A trip to a boarding facility is no longer considered a sentence to “doggie Jail.” There are several new types of boarding facilities popping up all over the country, where they treat your dog as if they are on a vacation of his own.

Boarding Facilities & Doggie daycare’s come in as many different shapes & sizes as the different breeds of dogs they serve. From the conveniently located, indoor play areas tucked away in strip malls to the expansive outdoor environments such as ours, Dog Boarding and/or daycare is not one-size-fits-all. Which facility your dog will be the most comfortable in, depends a lot on how your dog was raised, his or her likes and dislikes & their life experiences so far.

Types of Facilities: “Spaws,” Traditional Kennels, Pet Sitters & Free-Range Facilities :

“Dog Spaws,” are often 5 star facilities where your dog can have everything from massages, T-Touch treatments, aromatherapy, acupuncture, grooming, gourmet meals and deluxe accommodations in an environment much closer to the canine equivalent of the Hilton rather than Motel 6. Definitely not how most of us picture a dog boarding facility. Since things tend to get chewed up in places like this, that expense is often, but not always, reflected in the nightly rates. But for some of us, there’s nothing too good for our furry family members. (These places tend to cater to toy breeds and may not always be a good fit for a chewy, hyperactive puppy.)

Traditional Kennels: Offer Limited exercise, little to no group play, chain link kennels and concrete dog runs. Often the most affordable of all facilities, unfortunately for energetic dogs, this isn’t their dream vacation. (Some offer other additional exercise, but it often costs $5 per 10 or 15 minutes of walking or play, which can quickly add up to costing more than the other available options.)

In Home Pet Sitting: This is a great option for dogs that don’t do well with other dogs or if you have other pets in addition to dogs. Some providers offer daily visits to your home or will camp out there, others will have your pet stay in their homes… the services offered and pricing varies greatly by provider. Some can accommodate dogs with serious health or behavior issues.  Pet Sitters international is a great place to start your search.

There are also affordable, Free-Range, ranch-style dog boarding alternatives like ours. (http://www.AdventureDogRanch.com) Free-Range Boarding facilities come complete with large, indoor or securely fenced, outdoor play areas, where dogs of all shapes, sizes and energy levels will get to socialize with other dogs. Many offer all day play and exercise for no additional charge, which is a big bonus for rambunctious dogs. Sleeping accommodations will vary by provider, but virtually everything is available… from Doggy slumber parties, where small groups of dogs share human sized bedrooms equipped with comfortable cots, blankets and dogs beds, to facilities with individual dog runs, crates and/or kennels.

Free-Range / Group Play… Dividing the Pack?

Some free-range places divide the dogs by size, others let play styles or energy levels determine their groupings, smaller facilities may not have to divide the pack at all… but there should always be a way to divide the pack if deemed necessary. Don’t get hung up on big dog / little dog arrangements or size limitations, it’s not always about size of the dog, it’s more often the energy of the dog that’s critical in assigning play groups. It is also the pack leaders’ responsibility to provide proper leadership and control the tempo of the pack by establishing rules for acceptable and unacceptable behavior. I’ve seen great friendships blossom from unusual pairings. (Ever seen a Malti-poo ride a St. Bernard? I have, they were Instant Soul mates.) All dog care facilities share one thing in common: We all want your pet to have a fun, safe and stress-free time.

Unfortunately, not every dog is well suited for this group interaction which is why good facilities require a behavior evaluation prior to accepting reservations for boarding. If you have a reactive pet, you may want to consider in home pet sitting. (http://www.PetSittersInternational.com)

Where a typical dog kennel will often require you to pay extra for virtually every 10 minutes of exercise, most free-range places include a good chunk of group playtime (if not all-day) for little or no extra charge.

So what is the difference between a traditional dog kennel and Free-Range?  There are many, but the biggest difference is probably exercise and socialization.  Some also offer extended services such as obedience and behavior modification training for additional fees.

Next time: 9 things to look for when you tour a potential boarding or daycare facility.

Kerri — (The Alpha Dogs’ Wife)

 

 

Steve & Kerri Pinkston own and operate Adventure Dog Ranch, a Free-Range, Boarding, Daycare and Training facility located in Marysville, WA. 

For more information about their facility please visit http://www.AdventureDogRanch.com   

Part II should be up in a few days!

 

Thanksgiving and Dogs

Java and Maxshadow enjoy a game of fetch at adventure dog ranch

I’m thankful everyday for the unconditional love and friendship my dogs provide me with. So I wanted to share with you a few Tips for a successful Holiday with your dog.

Exercise your dog early and often.  Extra exercise will help your dog deal with the stress and pressure that we all feel during family and holiday gatherings…  They don’t understand that something as simple as getting all of the dinner items to the table at the same time can put stress on their people…  all they know is that “Stress” has to go somewhere… the best way to relieve a dog’s anxiety is via exercise.  The old saying is true: A Tired Dog is a Good Dog

Control your environment:  You know your dog better than anyone else. You know his idiosyncrasies and odd behaviors. It’s also your job to keep your dog safe from all harm, (including well intending guests that want to sneak Fido a treat from under the table.)

Set ground rules with your guests long before they arrive. Explain that Fido is in training and that you’re trying to discourage your pet from jumping up on people and to please not reward that behavior by showing affection at inappropriate times.  Or explain that Fido’s on a diet and can’t have people food or that all treats must be earned and fed only from his dog bowl (to prevent future begging.)

Whatever your rules are, share them with your guests long before they arrive, and don’t be afraid to enforce these rules… it will make your dog much happier to be able to abide by the rules he or she already knows rather than try to figure out the new inconsistencies. 

Keep in mind that Dogs are master manipulators… with fuzzy little bodies and puppy dog eyes and it’s a strong individual that doesn’t cave in to his methods. Be Strong… Fido will respect you more for it.

Know Your Dog: If your dog is a known counter surfer, don’t leave him in a room unsupervised with the main course… also never leave unsupervised children alone with Fido.  It’s simply asking for trouble.  Same goes for dogs that like to get in the trash… There’s going to be a lot of temptation there so if you can’t control your dog (or your guests for that matter,) you must control your environment (move the trash can to an inaccessible area.)

If small children are going to be around and/or your dog doesn’t do well in crowds, you should always have a backup plan:  Provide a quiet retreat for your dog in case it all gets to be too much.  A small, quiet room or crate away from the hubbub. It should be a place away from the overwhelming good smells and boisterous football viewing, where Fido feels safe & secure and will be left alone. This is an important part of any plan when it comes to having well behaved pets. Just in case Fido needs a break from everything, but especially if he needs a break from those dangerous small children that pet, poke and tickle too much.

Feeding Time:   As dog trainers, we usually want to stick to our established routines.  This is the exception to the rule. Whether or not Fido is allowed a special holiday dinner, it’s probably wise to feed him before you sit down to dinner.  Feeding early should also help keep begging and whining down to a bare minimum.  Keep fatty stuff out of Fido’s bowl… there’s enough canine obesity out there already…  Remember, everything in moderation.  There’s not much worse way to end a holiday than with a trip to the vet or cleaning up diarrhea all night.

Food Placement, Don’t ever put the following types of foods where Fido can get to them.

• Chocolate (especially dark chocolate)
• Onions (members of the onion and garlic families)
• Grapes / Raisins
• Anything with artificial sweetener Xylitol (sugarless gum etc…)

If you feel your dog has gotten into any of these items, call your veterinarian and/or poison control.

n  Kerri Pinkston

The Alpha Dogs’ Wife

Steve and Kerri Pinkston Own and Operate Adventure Dog Ranch, a cage-free boarding, daycare and training facility in Marysville, WA

 

Tales your dog’s tail can tell

Tales your dog’s tail can tell.

I post that I wrote is featured on Fido Friendly Magazines Blog…

Check it out!

Talking about YouTube – A doggy Christmas surprise – Karácsonyi kutyás meglepetés

Checkout This Cool Video

Featuring some very well trained dogs.

It makes me want to sing Christmas Carols…

                                                  Until Next time…  Ho, Ho, Ho

YouTube – A doggy Christmas surprise – Karácsonyi kutyás meglepetés
 

Is our vanity hurting dogs?

Welcome to the first installment of the Adventure Dog Blog. 

I originally thought that it would be nice to have a place where I can post the up and coming events, accomplishments and going’s-on for the Adventure Dog Ranch. That was the original plan…

 

Then I saw something that took me in a totally different direction. Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll fill you in on all the latest news eventually and if you need to get caught up on our old news you can always visit our announcements page at http://www.AdventureDogRanch.com/Announcements.aspx  

 

I like to think that I am open minded, honest to a fault and once in a while I actually believe I am  "Hip" or "With it."  (These are terms that obviously show how far out of touch I truly am.) When I saw this link,  http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/when-pet-owners-go-too-far-part-3/offbeat-news, not only did I realize that:

1.  I’ve gotten OLD.
2.  I have no fashion sense,
3.  Some people have become incredibly vain.

At first I was semi-amused, but the more I thought about it, the more disconcerted I became. What gives a human the right to "dye a dog?"

 

I do believe that dogs have a certain level of "self awareness." How much? Is anyones guess. Do they have the level of vanity that human’s have? Absolutely not. But I do think that they have a sense of pride. Can a dog subjected to the semi-torturous application of dyes; (Hey, I’ve had my hair done and been subjected to this beautification ritual and I’ll call it the way I see fit!) A dog  "re-designed" to resemble a CHICKEN; Can that dog have any pride in it’s "Dog-ness?"

 

My dogs all wear collars with assorted vaccination tags and I.D. tags & my dogs act proud each time I put their collars on. They get really excited when I add a new "Medal" (what I call ther vaccination tags or I.D. tag) to their medal collections. They’ve earned most of their "medals" through valor… Another shot=a new rabies tag. I think what I am seeing with this is the canine equivalence of PRIDE.

 

Does that poor canine creature, the one with the feathers and the fur extensions on her back, does she feel pride now?, I can only imagine the reaction she must’ve had to the results of that beautification procedure…  I can almost hear her distress!  "YIKES There’s a bird on my back and I can’t get it off!" (OK. Yikes isn’t normally in my vocabulary, but this is a family blog.) 

 

I’m Sorry, I think this has gone too far.  I don’t see pride in those faces, not the same kind of pride I see when I tell my lab "GOOD GIRL" for retriving the last leg of triple combo, where even I can’t remember where I threw the last bumper; I see frustration. I see embarasment.

 

Dogs do very well at mixing into our human world and in fact some of them thrive on making the best of every situation. They’re incredibly adaptable and theat’s one of their strongest features, they’re great listeners, companions, and they can bring out the best in people by showing us when we’re out of balance (and believe me if your idea of a great time is dyeing your dog purple, it’s time for a serious reality check.) 

 

People, Dogs need a time and place where they can just be dogs. I don’t think the beauty parlor is that place.

 

 

Kerri P.  Adventure Dog Ranch

 

 

 

I’d love to hear your comments or feedback so drop me a line @ kerri@AdventureDogRanch_.com (remove the underscore)  or post a note in the comments section!