Cavorting K9s Retreat

09/08/2024

Bhahhahahhaaha! Too funny!

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12/07/2024

LOL!

12/06/2024

Love this article!

I am occasionally asked if I will take dogs to Board & Train but that is not me. I definitely loved teaching agility classes & still miss that but teaching agility classes was more about teaching the humans how to work with their dogs.

I have sent my own dogs away for herding training with people I trust but it requires me knowing what to do when they come back.

There are no quick fixes & unless you know what to do with them to maintain that training, whatever they may have learned can disappear quickly.

Lately there has been an increase, in my area anyway, in “Board and Train” businesses (B & T). You give them your dog for one, two, or three weeks, and get back a dog who is . . . what? Much better behaved? Perfect on leash walks, never jumps up, and only barks on cue? […]

01/06/2024

Your Saturday giggle.

25/05/2024

Bwahhahahahahahaa!

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23/05/2024

Did you know that it is estimated that there are over 500,000 dog bites annually in Canada? Of those, children aged 5 to 9 years are the most common dog bite victims.

We are excited to be a keynote speaker at this year's Airdrie Bark in the Park event! We will be doing a presentation for kids on how to interact safely with unknown dogs, as well as your own dog at home. Join us at noon on June 1st in Nose Creek Park for this free event to help keep kids and dogs safe!

There will also be agility demonstrations, food trucks, local vendors, and more!

Airdrie Bark in the Park

19/05/2024

Some days, I have great timing! Just heard a thunder clap & figured best to get the weekend dogs back into the kennel. Just got inside & suddenly hailed on us. Whew!

17/05/2024

I'm glad we're getting some rain - lawn is looking greener & not so crunchy. But I really HATE mud!!!

16/05/2024

None of my dogs sleep that soundly. LOL!

14/05/2024

Yay! I feel a little accomplished (but sore) today.

My friend Ray came over with his little utility trailer so we could load up about 80ft of older wood fence sections and lay them out as a deck for the dog's paddling pool! Now they won't have to go through the mud around the pool to get into the pool so maybe the water will stay cleaner for longer.

We had a few extra sections that made a bit of a cover for one corner of the "moat" (really, nothing else describes it better) that the dogs have dug in around my trailer. Now, just have to figure out something for the other corners.

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13/05/2024

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26/04/2024

LOL! This rings so true!

10/03/2024

This is cute & amazing!!

27/02/2024

There seems to be a particularly nasty version of kennel cough going around this year. We always recommend that kennel clients get vaccinated for bordatella, even though it is much like our flu shot & does not necessarily prevent getting the cough. It could reduce the symptoms & severity if your dog does catch it.

Unfortunately, it is an air born virus (so antibiotics do not work unless they get a secondary bacterial infection) and isolation is very hard to do in our kennel environment as we have the open play group concept & dogs do not stay in hermetically sealed rooms.

However, like getting the flu, we can do the same for the dogs as we do for ourselves. Here is a good website with some commen sense information for treating your dog if they come down with the virus.

Comfort your dog with these 6 kennel cough remedies that really work including honey & lemon, steam therapy, cough suppressants and more!

17/02/2024

Oh wouldn’t this be wonderful? 😆

10/01/2024

Very good advice about dog park etiquette.

Is the dog park right for you and your dog? Dog parks are always one of the things most dog trainers don’t like. Mostly because we see all the things! Some really bad things can happen at the dog park. But some good too. So let’s talk about it!

If your dog is:
Confident with other dogs.
Is a good listener
Friendly or neutral with people
Then he’s one of those dogs that probably loves the dog park!

If your dog is:
Nervous of other dogs
Smalll breed or tiny
A puppy
Nervous of people
Then you should use caution and common sense! Choosing your park based on wether they have a small dog area, or only going on quiet days will make a your trip more successful!

If your dog is:
Aggressive at all towards other dogs
Has bitten a person or dog
Has a high prey drive
Doesn’t listen
Is easily overstimulated
Then you should not be going to the dog park. Your dogs behavior will not only make your dog fail, but you are putting others at risk and that’s not okay.

It takes a certain kind of dog to enjoy the dog park- one that enjoys other dogs, is confident and wanting that interaction. Most dogs start out okay with other dogs in their face but it only takes one or two bad experiences for that to change! Also, lots of dogs outgrow the need for dog to dog interaction! If you notice your once super happy dog park dog isn’t having as much fun or is getting grumpy you may need to change your dog park habits! This is completely normal and isn’t something that can be ”trained” out of them.

As always- use caution at the dog park. Watch your dog, and other dogs too! Know some basic dog body language and have a plan as to how you might avoid a potential issue. My advice is always to keep moving. Don’t stand around and talk to your friends and ignore your dogs. bring good treats and randomly reward them for checking in too! Be responsible and remember it’s not your right to ruin someone else’s day by taking your naughty dog park dog to the dog park. 😉

08/01/2024

When I hear your car pull in the driveway, I jump up and search for my baby or my ball. I wait for you at the back door, tail wagging.
I don’t surrender the ball because that is not the point. The point is that I’m so happy you’re home, I am celebrating your arrival with a toy, that I will keep.
I know that no matter how thankless or crappy or stressful your day has been, you can’t help but smile at the sight of me.
I can see your face and your body soften. I think you must be awfully stiff when you’re away from me.
You and my other people will take turns burying your faces in my fur, whispering things you don’t tell the others.
My fur has absorbed a lot of tears. And laughter.
I’m meant to be with you my whole life. I only wish it were longer.
I make everything better.
God sure was smart when he made me.
copied

24/12/2023

More good tips for the season from one of our favourite pet stores!

🐶🐾During the holidays, we can get very busy and forget simple but very crucial things that may be hazardous towards our pets. There may be other things we just never really knew! This chart just quickly points out a few tips to keep your pet safe! Happy holidays! ❄️🎄🎅

20/12/2023

More good tips for the season from my friend Amanda!

As we head into the busiest time of the year here are 5 tips to make things just a bit easier over the holidays!

1. A Tired dog is a good dog. Make time to exercise the dog or at the very least tire them out mentally with some brain games!
2. Be Proactive. If you know your dog barks at the door or bolts out if you aren’t careful- put up a baby gate. Or crate the dog, or put them outside before guests arrive. Either use stuff like that as a training opportunity or put them away so they aren’t getting into trouble.
3. Keep food and snacks and such out of reach. Even the best behaved dog might not be able to resist something home-made on the edge of a counter! Sudden Fatty or rich foods can cause digestive upsets that might require vet care!
4. Be your dogs advocate. If your dog is afraid of children, or men, or the big guy in red- they magically won’t be better just because it’s Christmas. Don’t put your dog in a situation where it feels threatened or worried enough to use their teeth...
5. Its a great training opportunity! If you have the time extra time work on polite greetings, or stay, or even mat work! Lots of chances for that with people coming and going!

29/11/2023

Heads up pet pals!
Sharing from a Vet. Not sure where they found the info or if orally invested is the issue vs. eye drops.

26/11/2023

Your Sunday giggle! Hee hee.

16/11/2023

I have been writing about research studies of the nutritional value, safety, preservation and possible benefits of feeding a raw diet for more than 5 years. This research, conducted by multiple aca…

05/11/2023

True!

Don't forget to change your clocks back tonite!!

30/10/2023

Wise advice from my friend, Amanda.

Halloween is coming! Be prepared!