Rufdogs Training & Canine Services

06/18/2024

12/20/2023

Please share Tater - he’s bunking at Rufdogs but needs a family. He’s a sweet sweet boy who has been searching for his people for so long now.

Hey everyone it’s Tater again, please keep sharing so I can hopefully find my people or at least a place to crash for the holidays in the meantime.
Here’s my important info…
Looking for all of your help for our own little Christmas miracle. Help us get Tater into his home and family to stay. We have temporary arrangements currently with a boarding facility and need help getting Tater into a home. Tater’s needs: -work from home/retired/ability to be with him majority of the time. -Dogs are possible but requires slow intros and integration.-NO cats, kids or other animals. -People willing to put in the work to help him. Link for Adoption Application. https://www.benevolentbullyrescue.com/adopt

08/01/2023

A story with a happy ending hits you in the heart but is also a great reminder why life jackets are vital to your dogs safety on the water.

Thanks to a red life-jacket and the community banding together, a mini-Australian shepherd named Maggie was safely returned after falling overboard in Georgian Bay.

07/13/2023

Shout out to Rosemary at Positively Obedient Canines for the awesome Scenting Class - The Nose Knows.
Ida & I leaned a lot and had a blast doing it.

07/03/2023

Beyond the Basics - Our fun filled class designed for keeping your dog busy learning the basics of agility, scenting and obedience.
-Start date Thursday July 13.
-Session runs for 8 weeks and the cost is $310.75.
To join please email [email protected]

06/05/2023

We’ve had a couple of spots become available for the next sessions of our Rufdogs Family Basics. Set to start this week.

Spots in both Tuesday or Wednesday 6:30-7:30pm.
Classes run for 8 Weeks
Cost $275.00 + HST

Contact by phone at 519-994-0013 to join.

05/08/2023

Proud Dog mum Brag - Ida and I finally completed our first training class last month. While the original plan was to do tons of training with my “working” boxer Ida, her health issues and the pandemic slowed us down. Big shout out to our Vet Nickey Brown and the amazing staff at Campus Estates Animal Hospital for all the care and support.

04/30/2023

Oops - Our Website is currently “on vacation” while we make some updates. Please call/text us at 519-994-0013 or send a direct email to [email protected].

Fingers and paws crossed our refreshed website will be available soon with better ways to connect and keep track of services.

11/10/2022

Hello All - as we move into November please note that Rufdogs Boarding is Fully Booked until January 3, 2023.

We are still accepting cancellation/wait spots for current Rufdogs (boarding or training) clients.

To be added to the wait list please email me directly at [email protected]. Please include dates requested, preferred drop off and pick up times as well as a copy of your doggo’s current vaccines.

07/06/2022

Dear Rufdogs Current and Future Clients

A quick note of gratitude to the many clients who have been trusting me to care for your dogs in boarding. As well as my training clients who work super hard to learn new skills with their dogs. Thank you for the support, word of mouth referrals and awesome positive feedback.

Like many businesses right now - Rufdogs is experiencing a very high volume of request for boarding and training. I am now at Full Capacity for Boarding until August 27, 2022.

For New Client boarding request after August 27 - please call me directly at 519-994-0013.

For Current Clients - if you have an urgent boarding need please call me directly. Don’t leave a message - call back until you reach me.

While I’m doing my best, I can not keep up with the volume of messages across multiple platforms so if you email, text, message or phone me and don’t hear back within 72hrs - Please call back.

For Group Training -
Group Classes will continue to run with new ones starting this month for Family Basics as well as the Beyond the Basics intro to sports.

For Individual Training -
I will be Pausing New Training Clients Intake for the remainder of July. You can send a request but I may not be able to respond until the end of July at the earliest. Current training clients can always call if you have urgent training or behaviour concern.

Again Big Thanks to my clients, community, family and friends for keeping me busy doing what I love.

06/05/2022

03/31/2022

We are currently having issues with both sending and receiving email. Please call or text 519-994-0013 to contact Rufdogs. Post will be removed once technical issues are resolved.

10/20/2021

Rufdogs will be closed Fri Oct 22 - Sun Oct 24

Scheduled training classes remain Open.

As a certified trainer (Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers) I am required to commit to continuing education to remain certified which is what I’ll be up this weekend.

09/14/2021

Always a great blog to keep track of - this one pertains to “kennel cough” and includes a reporting function for those interested

For the past year or more, we've been trying to track infectious upper respiratory tract disease ('canine infectious respiratory disease syndrome', CIRDC,

09/08/2021

As the summer season starts to wane and we say “see you next year” to our seasonal and visiting friends and clients - Rufdogs (the dogs, Gramma Pat and Me) want to say Thank You for all the awesome supportive encouragement both personally and business wise.

It’s been a tough year and half and we aren’t quite through the challenges we have faced with the Covid -19 pandemic but it hasn’t all been tough days so let’s celebrate the many training and boarding clients who have worked and played hard with me and my canine crew.

08/24/2021

Hello Rufdogs Clients, Neighbours & Friends -

I’m posting a message today to let clients know we have a suspected case of what’s commonly called Kennel Cough here with a doggo in boarding.

While all dogs coming into boarding are required to have an up to date Bordetella Vaccine - dogs can still contract a respiratory infection even when fully vaccinated. Similar to humans who are vaccinated to protect us from influenza type viruses - the Bordetella vaccine offers the immune systems a “heads up” on how to deal with the real thing.

Please don’t panic - most dogs who shows signs of a respiratory infection will recover within a few days to 2 weeks. Some do require veterinary care so it is always best to check with your veterinary practice for guidance.

For more information of the signs and symptoms please speak with your veterinary clinic to understand and assess the risk for your own doggo. I have added a link for general information.

https://vcacanada.com/know-your-pet/kennel-cough-or-tracheobronchitis-in-dogs

Please note - Respiratory Infection are generally present in the dog population at any time of the year - cases have been seen at a number of boarding and daycare facility as well as at dog parks in the Southern Ontario region through the summer. This is a good time to discuss with your veterinarian and consider having your canine family member vaccinated.

Boarding and training will remain open while I continue to monitor the situation. Please know I am taking all necessary steps like disinfection and clean protocols to reduce and prevent the further spread through my facility. I am also keeping track of recent clients and will be contacting all clients who have bookings in the next 2 weeks.

Kennel cough is a broad term covering any infectious or contagious condition of dogs where coughing is one of the major clinical signs. It is also referred to as infectious tracheobronchitis. Several viruses and bacteria can cause kennel cough, often at the same time. Because the infection spreads w...

08/13/2021

Yesterday we celebrated Rufdogs very own - Ida - on her 1st Birthday. She has been informed by her dog brothers that her puppy license has expired and her shenanigans will no longer be tolerated!

Those who have met my wild gal know she is a determined and feisty boxer who feels everything strongly and often approaches life like a wrecking ball.

We have made progress in many areas - no longer steals toilet paper or tea towels, her recall is fabulous, and she continues to learn how to play less like a Rugby Flanker on a seek and destroy mission.

Like many of my clients - raising my puppy this past year has brought new and unexpected challenges but nevertheless we persevere and continue to practice and polish our skills together as a team.

To my fellow dog guardians of pups and adolescence doggo’s- hang in and keep up the learning together. Keep it simple and fun and hang on to your hats cause here comes Canine Adolescence.....and Happy 1st Birthday Boxnen’s Essence of Fire Red Ida better known as Idaho Potato or the Wild one.

06/11/2021

Grateful to get back into a real store today to practice some real life Mat work with Ida.

05/28/2021

Sharing some Gratitude that my work let’s me hang out with cuties like this guy. Cooper comes to day board while his family is at work all day.

05/17/2021

Ida real life Leave It

04/09/2021

Rufdogs Announcement

Pet Training is currently permitted to be open under the Ontario Governments Provincial Shutdown.

While we are permitted to open, I have made the decision using an abundance of caution that Rufdogs will be Pausing Indoor Group Classes until Friday April 23 rd.

Group Classes currently running will continue Outdoors Only and Weather Permitting.

Private Training will continue and be conducted primarily Outdoors Only and Weather Permitting

03/25/2021

Rudogs Ida says - Help keep things beautiful - and don’t forget to carry a bag for roadside “treasures”. Springs arrival is revealing many dog delights along our roadways. If you need help teaching your pup to “Leave it” give us a call.

03/06/2021

Rufdogs favourite colour is ...... RED!!!!

As of Monday March 8th - our health districts moves into the Red Zone of the Provincial Covid Framework. This means we can now meet in person for dog training!!

Clients currently waiting for their class to start or resume - I will be contacting you in the next couple of days. We have some new guidelines to implement to ensure the safety of all participants and class size and times will need to be adjusted to accommodate the regulations.

For prospective new clients - please contact me by phone if you are interested in joining a class or wish to book one on one private training.

02/13/2021

To All Rufdogs Training Clients - Due to the Provincial Shutdown we cannot resume training yet.

The North Bay / Parry District remains in full lockdown with the next update expected by Feb 22.

While Boarding remains open, dog training has been designated as non-essential.

Please know I am here to answer any questions or concerns you have while we wait to get together safely.

Melissa Ruf

12/19/2020

Rufdogs is excited to share we now have a heated indoor training space and are offering group classes and private training throughout the winter

10/01/2020

Zeke is a Cracker Jack fetching partner. To learn more about Zeke search for his forever home check him out at The Dog Rescuers Inc.

10/01/2020

When your foster mom goes away for a quick vacay so do you!! Zeke is having a ball at Rufdogs Canine Services 🐾❤️.

08/07/2020

With 2 weeks until Graduation Day - Rufdogs Training class students are working hard to polish their skills while making time for some play and socialization.

Next sessions to start soon .....please contact me for details.