Soggy Dog Grooming

03/19/2025

Gizmo looking dapper!

03/18/2025

03/18/2025

Not long ago, dogs were valued primarily for the jobs they performed, such as hunting, herding livestock, and guarding property, all of which required boundless energy and a wariness of strangers. But “as more city dwellers adopt pets, and cultural shifts have led dogs and people to spend more time inside, some behaviors that made dogs appealing to our ancestors have become maladaptive,” Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods wrote in 2024. A dog wary of strangers is tough to take for a walk, for instance, and gets consigned to a fenced-in yard where it can’t spend its energy. https://theatln.tc/YWRfWeSv

“Dogs have gone from working all day and sleeping outside to relaxing on the couch and sleeping in our beds,” the authors write. “Thousands of years of domestication couldn’t prepare dogs for this abrupt transition.”

Dog owners have attempted to correct for this by picking a hypoallergenic breed, a smart breed, a breed that is supposedly good with children—but the main thing a breed usually tells you is what your dog will look like.

“Service dogs are the exception and the answer to the domestication puzzle,” Hare and Woods write. “For more than a century, service dogs have had to sit quietly in a café, calmly negotiate the stress and noise of urban life, and interact gently with children. They can do this not because they are smarter than pet dogs, but because ... service dogs are uniquely friendly. Unlike most pet dogs, service dogs are attracted to strangers, even as puppies. And increasing friendliness seems to have changed these dogs’ biology, just as it did thousands of years ago.”

“We believe these changes are the early signs of a third wave in dog domestication,” the authors continue. “If dog lovers shift their demand from a dog’s hair color and tail length to their comfort with strangers and new places, this friendliness could quickly ripple through the population and become amplified with each successive generation … A breeding program that prioritizes a friendly temperament could show results within just a few decades.”

In the meantime, as the third wave of domestication gets under way, humans must continue caring for the pets they have now.

🎨: Fine Art Images / Heritage Images / Getty

03/18/2025

Please give us and all your favorite local businesses a vote!! It really makes the staff feel appreciated!

🎉 The 2025 BEST of the BEST Contest is Here! 🎉

It’s time to celebrate the incredible people, businesses and services that make our communities shine! 🌟 It’s your chance to recognize those who make a real difference in our daily lives.

🗳 Vote now through April 15! Your voice decides the winners, so mark your calendar and make your vote count.
https://coloradocommunitymedia.secondstreetapp.com/Evergreen-Best-of-the-Best-2025/

03/18/2025

Sending the Schinner family all our love today. Ms Maggie crossed over yesterday. She was always the best girl at the shop, loved getting her hair done and kept her brothers in line! We will miss her so much❤️

03/18/2025

Walter looking dapper for spring!

03/17/2025

Although green for St Patrick’s day, Adonis’ bandana actually signifies his participation in a new cancer clinical trial at CSU! He is dog #2 for this cutting edge treatment. If you see him lazing around the shop give him a big hug. We are all wishing Adonis and his Kelly great success!

03/15/2025

Having been owned by a giant for 30 years, I can say they are a magnificent companion. However, they are a large, strong working dog and require a lot of attention, energy and patience for the first couple of years of their life.
HTZ is a wonderful organization

As the popularity of Giant Schnauzers has grown substantially over recent years, our breed is facing an overwhelming challenge with the number of Giants being rehomed. One breed rescue organization, HT-Z Giant Schnauzer Rescue, reports having a significant number of adoptable dogs currently in foster care – on par with how many Giants we might expect to show at our National Specialty.

A combination of factors brought us to this point:

▪️New owners who didn’t fully appreciate the commitment or expense they were taking on, the breed characteristics of a Giant Schnauzer that make them challenging, or who couldn’t invest the necessary time for training and socialization
▪️Irresponsible breeders producing puppies solely for profit (often without regard to health and temperament), not providing mentoring to their owners, and ultimately not accepting responsibility to take back any dog they produce
▪️Misinformation about the suitability of the breed for many homes

All are issues to be addressed through education or by other means, but in the short term, there are simply too many Giants in rescue needing homes today.

If you have done your research and have decided on a Giant as your next dog but aren’t finding one through a reputable breeder, please consider adopting one through an experienced, qualified rescue organization. This is a much better option than buying a puppy from an irresponsible breeder who just wants your money and won’t be there to support you for the life of the dog.

Of course, there are unknowns and certainly can be challenges with adopting a rescue. These risks need to be well understood and thoroughly considered beforehand, and a good rescue organization will be sure you are making an informed decision while they also provide ongoing coaching, advice, and the assurance that they will take the dog back if it doesn't work out. This is far better than finding a dog being rehomed on social media, as the rescue group should work to match you with a dog suited to your home and lifestyle. Online scams are prevalent, so adopting through a rescue group helps avoid many heartbreaking situations.

If you are new to the breed, adopting a rescue is a great way to learn about the breed with the bonus of a team of experienced volunteers coaching you along the way. In addition to receiving the unconditional love of a Giant and gaining a lifetime friend, there is another upside to bringing an adult Giant into your life – you get to skip over both the "puppy piranha" and the “obnoxious teenager” phases of Giant development! Lastly, if you haven’t decided or aren’t quite ready to make a long-term commitment to adopt, you might instead consider fostering a rescue Giant. Truly the best way to understand the breed is by spending time with one, and by fostering a Giant you will be making a life-saving contribution while you learn.

*** GSCA does not participate directly in rescue, nor does it endorse any particular rescue groups including breed-specific organizations. As is the case when selecting a responsible breeder, every prospective rescue adopter needs to do their due diligence on both the individual dog and the associated rescue organization.

03/15/2025

Scout’s ready for some St Patrick’s day festivities!

03/14/2025

PLEASE....if you found this little guy around Floyd Hill yesterday, or if you see him, please reach out. His name is Cabo, he is 13, and he is so loved.
Call: 720-202-0688

03/13/2025

Mr Gus looking handsome!

03/12/2025

It’s puppy season! Rafa’s first big boy haircut!

03/05/2025

Little Ms. Nina got her first big girl haircut! Adorable

03/01/2025

I hope everyone enjoys the sunshine this weekend as much as Windy!

02/28/2025

It’s really difficult to get 4 dachshunds to look in the same direction😂

02/27/2025

Pretty Layla is dreaming of summer!

02/26/2025

02/21/2025

Just an FYI, from the state agricultural department:
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Infections in Domestic Cats

Fourteen cases of Influenza A (HPAI H5N1) have been diagnosed in felines in Colorado since May 2024. Ten of these cases were in domestic cats, while four cases were in exotic big cats. Information detailing routes of exposure for affected cats can be found in CDPHE’s current guidance document for veterinarians. A complete list of U.S. mammal HPAI detections can be found on USDA’s website. Two of the most recent cases in domestic cats were indoor only cats that had exposure to raw poultry meat (chicken, turkey). While most confirmed cases in domestic cats have resulted in death, one cat in Colorado has survived the acute illness. A history of raw pet food consumption in this case prompted H5N1 testing in this cat.

Samples of the commercial raw diet fed to the surviving domestic cat have been tested and confirmed to be positive for HPAI virus through PCR testing. Virus isolation testing is still pending to confirm virus viability, and the FDA is working to investigate the source. To mitigate HPAI exposure to companion animals, CDA and CDPHE recommend against feeding raw poultry products, especially to cats, and emphasize the need for caution when handling any raw poultry.

In cats, the clinical course has typically followed a similar pattern: initial non-specific symptoms of lethargy and inappetence, fever, sometimes followed by respiratory signs, and nearly always culminating in progressive neurologic signs and death.

Several of the feline cases were tested for rabies preceding diagnosis with H5N1 infection due to the indistinguishable presentation once neurologic signs presented. HPAI H5N1 infection should be considered in domestic felines even if all of the risk factors or clinical signs are not present.

While HPAI has been identified in several wild canids, the current risk to domestic dogs is unknown at this time. Globally, reported infections in dogs have been rare and dogs seem less susceptible to the virus than cats. It is still advisable to avoid feeding raw poultry products to dogs as well.

Information for Veterinarians

Comprehensive information regarding risk factors, prevention and control measures, sample collection and testing information, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and staff health monitoring can be found in CDPHE’s Guidance for Veterinarians Assessing HPAI in Domestic Felines. Please review this document for full details to determine whether a case consultation is necessary.
Veterinarians can contact CDPHE for consultation or support for suspect cases: 303-692-2700 or [email protected]
Veterinarians can also contact the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (CSU VDL) for testing guidance for live or moribund cats: 970-297-1281
General HPAI updates can be found on the CDA website at: ag.colorado.gov/hpai

Disease Reporting

HPAI is a reportable disease in all species and must be reported at the time of suspicion. Reporting can be done by calling our office at (303) 869-9130 or by visiting our Reportable Diseases webpage and filling out a Reportable Disease Form.

Please note that if you report a suspected HPAI feline case to CDPHE, they will share that information with our office. HPAI in poultry, dairy cattle, or other livestock species must be reported directly to our office.
Reporting at the time of suspicion for diseases like HPAI is critical to initiate important tracing and monitoring activities in both humans and animals. CDA and CDPHE will coordinate with the reporting veterinarian and the laboratory to ensure that we have expedited diagnostics completed.

A delay in reporting can lead to a delay in necessary response measures which can compromise human and animal health.

Sincerely,

Dr. Eryn McGrath
Assistant State Veterinarian

HPAI in Poultry HPAI in Dairy Cattle HPAI in Humans Free PPE for Ag WorkersThe safety of our agricultural workers is of critical importance. CDA's Agricultural Worker Services program staff has been working with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to help provide free protective...