Mark Ruark Dog Training LLC

07/20/2022

Frustration can cause negative reaction. Stop. Take a deep breath. Remember your dog does not wake up in the morning plotting out ways to annoy you. S/He loves you, and is struggling to understand what you want.

05/28/2022

Your pets are like family. Don’t forget about Fido 🐕 and Fifi 🐈 when putting together your emergency evacuation plan. Some of the things to consider in your go-bag in case you need to evacuate.

✅ A selfie with 🐶🐱in case you get separated
✅ Medicine & sanitation/grooming items
✅ Pet food
✅ Collar with an ID & a leash

✅ Familiar items such as a favorite toy or blanket to keep them calm

Find more Ready helpful tips --> https://www.ready.gov/pets



📸 BLM Alaska Fire Service

12/16/2021

12/06/2021

Nice article on caring for your pup during the winter months - https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/15-winter-care-tips-for-your-dog/

Winter can be a fun time for your dog, but it can also pose a few risks. Use these winter safety tips to protect your dog all winter long.

11/24/2021

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving! Please keep your pets safe.

11/20/2021

Holidays are near - people will be traveling. If you are leaving your pet home, be sure to find a reliable pet sitter to care for your pet while you are away. Many dogs go missing while owners are on vacation. Look for someone that is experienced, and be sure to check references - not just someone unknown on social media or places like rover.com. Dogs can be confused and frightened when left behind, and may bolt out an open door or gate, looking for their owners.

11/12/2021

Have a wonderful and SAFE Thanksgiving for you AND your pets!

10/14/2021

❤

10/07/2021

Support our local shelter!

08/19/2021

08/19/2021

08/19/2021

This is from Mark - "The sun has set on my Eagle County dog training days! Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your lives and for the amazing and unforgettable opportunities you all have given me for more than 25 years. It has been an honor that I will never forget.

Julia and I have moved my training business to Big Piney, Wyoming, and I still have my cell phone number. Kathy Kosierowski will be taking over the training facility in Edwards, along with the old business phone number. Her direct number is 970-331-7570. Please giver her a call for your training needs.

We will miss all of you, and wish you all the best!" ~ Mark

07/22/2021

It's still hot out there! Please remember that leaving your pet in a hot car can be deadly! Here is a good reminder from our Advisory Committee:

"We’ve all done it. You run into Walmart for that last minute bag of ice, and get distracted. Before you know, that 5 minute trip turns into 30 minutes or longer.
Every year pets will die from being left in hot vehicles. When outside temperatures reach 90 degrees, within 30 minutes the interior of the vehicle can reach a deadly 124 degrees. Short nosed breeds such as boxers and bulldogs are extremely prone to overheating, due to the short length of the nasal cavity devoted to temperature regulation.

Summer heat provides a variety of other dangers to pets in addition to hot cars. Dehydration, sunburn, hot pavement, and hiking during hot weather. In a matter of minutes a dog may become overheated while exercising, playing or just by being in the heat with no water or shade. Heat exhaustion can quickly become a life-threatening heatstroke.
In short, our pets need extra care and protection during the warm summer months, even here in the high country. Please be safe and consider leaving your pets home."

07/22/2021

What happens if you see a dog in a hot car?

On August 9, 2017, a “hot car immunity law” went into effect (www.Colorado.gov HB17-1179). However, before you take ANY action you must follow specific protocol:

-Ensure the vehicle is not a law-enforcement vehicle.
-Have a reasonable belief that the person or animal inside the vehicle is in imminent danger of death or of suffering serious bodily injury.
-Animal is defined as cat or dog—this law does not apply to livestock.
-Verify that the vehicle is locked and that forcible entry is necessary.
-Make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or operator of the vehicle.
-Contact law enforcement or other first-responder agency prior to forcibly entering the vehicle, and do not interfere with the actions of any such responding law-enforcement agency.
-Use no more force than reasonably necessary to enter the locked vehicle.
-Remain with the at-risk person or animal in a safe location close to the vehicle until law enforcement or other first responder arrives at the scene.
-If the person rendering assistance has to leave the scene before the owner or operator of the vehicle returns, prior to leaving the scene, the person rendering assistance shall leave a notice on the vehicle with his or her name and contact information and the name and location, if any, of the facility to which he or she took the at-risk person or animal. Also prior to leaving the scene, the person rendering assistance shall contact law enforcement, animal control or other first responder to provide them with the same information.

07/17/2021

Keeping your pets safe this summer is something important to us all - here's 8 tips to help you and your pet have the most fun possible this summer!

1. 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 Never leave your pet in a parked car. It could be deadly. The temperature in a parked car can soar to 160 degrees within minutes, even with the windows left slightly open.
2. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 With the hotter weather, families and their pets are outside more often, increasing the chances of a pet getting lost. Make sure your pets are microchipped and always wear proper identification.
3. 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Provide plenty of clean, cool drinking water at all times.
4. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 When outdoors, be sure your dog has adequate shade and ventilation.
5. 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 If a pet is overcome by heat (detected by excessive panting, heavy salivating, and/or immobility), provide cool water compresses to lower his body temperature, then contact a veterinarian. Never immerse a pet in ice-cold water, it may cause shock.
6. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱 Clip long or matted coats short to help your pet stay cool, but remember that pets, like people, can get sunburned too and coats should not be too short.
7. 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 Carefully go over your pet’s body at least once a week to check for fleas, ticks, ear mites, and tiny bumps or cuts. Bring your pet to the vet for a summer check-up and use a good flea and tick repellent recommended by your vet.
8. 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘆 Exercise pets in the morning or evening when it’s cooler. Remember, dog pads burn easily, so avoid hot surfaces such as asphalt on hot days.

Info from the American Veterinary Medical Association

06/12/2021

Heat wave coming this week - please be extra careful with your pets, whether walking your pup on hot pavement or leaving them in the car while you run errands. Please just consider leaving them home until it cools down!

06/04/2021

Just a reminder as our temperatures rise -

05/09/2021

Happy Mother's Day, to all the 2-legged and 4-legged Moms!

05/04/2021

With warmer weather approaching, we wanted to take a quick minute to mention Heartworm disease and how important it is to protect your pet against it. Here is some great info from one of our Advisory Committee members, Dr. Julie Alt:

Heartworm disease is caused by Dirofilaria immitis. The life cycle
begins when a mosquito bites an infected dog. The immature parasite(microfilaria) develops into the infective stage in the mosquito in 10-14 days. The mosquito then transmits the disease by biting another dog. Although we don’t necessarily have the climate (prolonged warm temperatures) in our mountains required for development of the infective stage, man-made microclimates do exist here that can favor transmission. Because we live in a community to which animals frequently translocate from heartworm endemic regions, heartworm disease is becoming more of a problem. All it takes is one mosquito to bite one infected dog, in the correct microclimate to start the cycle. Once the infective stage is injected into a new host dog, the following larval stages develop and migrate through the host’s body until they become mature adult worms, living in the blood vessels of the heart
and lungs. The sexually mature adults are present 4 months post
infection and circulating microfilaria can be found 6-9 months post
infection. In the early stages, dogs do not show symptoms, but as the worm size and burden increases, so do the symptoms progress and, if not treated, can lead to death.

It is much better and easier to prevent this disease than it is to treat. Treatment is prolonged, very expensive, potentially dangerous, and the presence of heartworms can cause irreversible damage to the heart, lungs and other organs. Prevention is as simple as a monthly oral or 6-12 monthly injectable medication. Plus most heartworm preventatives contain anti-parasitics that can help maintain your dog’s intestinal health as well.

Testing must be done prior to starting preventatives. A dog with
potential for exposure should have a second test 6 months later.
Puppies should be started on heartworm preventative right away and do not require testing till 7 months of age. Please have this discussion with your veterinarian, especially as we get into the warmer seasons and as we start to travel again.

Visit www.heartwormsociety.org for more info!

05/01/2021

This is a great article with some really good information! We know retractable leashes are super popular, but there are much better (and safer) alternatives!!

https://hartpets.org/10-reasons-not-to-use-a-retractable-leash/

04/25/2021

As we head into windy season, we need to take extra precaution with our pets. Double check gates and doors, be sure your pet is wearing a collar and id, and has been microchipped. Pets can become especially nervous and anxious with the sound of the wind!

04/15/2021

It's Animal Control Officers Appreciation Week! Big shout out to our hard working Animal Control Officers! They work hard, are very dedicated to helping our animals, and often don't get the appreciation they deserve. Thank you for serving our community!

04/10/2021

Our free rescue classes are back! Advanced reservations are required, but free to any locals that have rescued a dog from a shelter or rescue group. We look forward to seeing you!

Eagle Valley Humane Society's Adopted Dog Training Class is free and last for 5 weeks. Please join us with your new family member!

04/03/2021

Happy Easter! Wishing you all a wonderful Easter and Passover Season!

02/03/2021

Rabies in Eagle County - please be sure your pets are vaccinated.

Rabies spreads primarily through the bite of rabid animals. It usually is fatal in humans once symptoms appear. Treatment is available if administered quickly.

01/06/2021

😛

12/31/2020

Wishing all a healthy and happy New Year!

12/03/2020

Our hearts are heavy as we say "goodbye" to this amazing pup - Shiloh, you left us too soon and we all wish we had more time with you. You'll always be in our hearts.