Diamond in the Ruff Pet Spa

11/07/2024

Rawhide, particularly the Xmas stocking type things, are no bueno for your dog. As cute as they are, resist the urge!

10/22/2024

A nice outline on how to create a perfect high anxiety dog :-) 😂

(Obviously joking - this is exactly what you DONT want to do)

•Pet your dog, all the time
•Talk to your dog, all the time
•Allow your dog to follow you, all the time
•Allow your dog to be on your lap or laying on your feet, all the time
•Pet, soothe, comfort your dog when it whines or barks for attention...or is simply anxious
•Allow your dog to demand affection/interactions
•Be emotionally dependent on your dog to the point that unhealthy dependency and interactions are no longer noticed
•Allow your dog to do whatever it wants, whenever it wants—aka, provide no structure, rules, or accountability
•Foster an environment of chaos, stress, and anxiety
•Refuse to train and pattern calmness
•Refuse to crate train your dog
•Refuse to correct your dog when inappropriate behavior occurs
•Refuse to train your dog how to be independent/alone by using a “Place” command, “Downstay, and/or “away” time in the crate
•Let your dog out of the crate when it whines or barks
•Avoid training or anything that makes your dog temporarily uncomfortable or unhappy—in other words, cater to your dog’s every desire/need, designing your life around your dog, rather than having your dog fit into yours
•And many, many more...

Basically, baby, soothe, allow, enable, disable, lean on, omit teaching necessary life skills, prioritize what feels good for you rather than what does good for your dog, and through this master plan of leadership-free chaos, and systematic cultivation of creating a toxic dependency between dog and human...you’ll ensure that when you leave, your dog will be a true emotional mess, because you haven’t prepared them to be calm, obedient, strong, resilient, robust, independent, and alone.

10/21/2024

You may have heard of the Tibetan Terrier, you may even have one. But did you know about their history? Each breed has their own story, so here’s a little piece of the Tibetan Terriers 😌

We suppose that entering a monastic life in Tibet was different for each individual, but we came across an account we found fascinating. In every Tibetan family that had five sons or more, one was compelled by law to be a lama, or monk, and this was never more compulsory than when a child exhibited any of the “sacred signs of Buddha.” At the age of seven, a child was placed in a lamasery chosen by their parents, and it was typically one nearest the town where they lived. Their child remained there the rest of his or her life – and yes, we said “her. In some regions of Tibet, lamaseries exited for women. They were far outnumbered by those for men, but both genders were bound by the strictest vows of celibacy and chastity.

One can only presume that the Tibetan Terriers bred and kept as companions and watchdogs by the Lamas for over 2,000 years became close companions, particularly since Tibetan Buddhism holds that dogs are the last reincarnation before rebirth as human. Dogs that didn’t live in the lamasery, but in packs around the monasteries survived from handouts by the monks. TTs that did live with the monks served as all-round herding dogs and protectors. The monks treated these dogs with the highest respect, almost as if they were children – perhaps one reason the dogs were often called “the little people” by the villagers. They were believed to be a good luck symbols for traveling, and accompanied nomadic herdsmen throughout the rough terrain of their native land.

The breed also herded the village’s livestock, and in the summer, their coats would be shorn and mixed with sheep wool to create clothing worn by families of the village. The Tibetan Terrier was therefore a valuable and contributing member of society in not just in lamaseries, but in small Tibetan villages.

Photo shared by Cynthia Dodson‎ was taken of a young monk and his dog in 2005 at the Lingzhi Dzong in Bhutan very close to the border with Tibet.

10/21/2024

ANOTHER training class at Diamond in the Ruff! Mary’s previous class got filled so quickly that she wanted to offer another one! SOOOOO, get to signing up! Dedicate ONE HOUR a week to class with your dog - you know you can do it. Excessively barking? Counter surfing? Bad leash manners? Jumping? Take the class. Build your relationship with your dog WHILE having fun 🐾 I still know if a number of my custies who could use this class 😏 DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! Use the code or visit her website www.maryalversondogs.com to sign up!

10/15/2024

Lucky being lucky 🍀 he’s so boopable 🥰

09/13/2024

DOG TRAINING CLASSES AT DITR!

I wouldn’t vouch for someone if I didn’t believe in their skills and knowledge. Mary is an awesome trainer and this class is all about basic manners! Which, from what I know about my customers, could be very beneficial to MANY of you! 😜 incessant barking, pulling on the leash, counter surfing, etc. If you’re having trouble with anything, you should 100% sign up!

If you can sacrifice a whole ONE HOUR a week, you can do this class - plus, you’ll be building that important relationship and trust with your dog AND you’ll feel more like a team, and less like an exhausted parent and out of control child.

If you have any questions, reach out to or visit her website www.MaryAlverson.com for more info and to sign up. I hope to see that some of you guys signed up!

09/03/2024

Happy September everyone! I just wanted to put this out there for any current customers looking into getting another dog or people thinking about inquiring with us. As of 9/1/24 - we will not be accepting any dogs over 40 lbs and are no longer accepting doodles. After 15+ years, my body is sore and I have to put a limit on the size of the dogs I do.

So, if you are a current customer whose dog has passed, and you’re thinking of getting another dog, if it’s a doodle (poodle mixed with a golden, Bernese, old English sheepdog, or any other breed), or over 40 lbs full grown, we will unfortunately not be able to accommodate you.

As much as many won’t appreciate this new rule, it’s a necessary step for us to take and one that I feel is right for my personal beliefs when it comes to puppy mills and terrible breeders. I am more than happy to discuss this with anyone when you’re here, just ask 🙂

This rule may change in the future, but going forward, that is what it is. Thank you all for understanding and I hope everyone has a great week! We are closed this week in case anyone needed a reminder 🙂

The little queens for tax 🥰

EDIT: THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO EXISTING CUSTOMERS WHOSE DOGS COME TO ME. It would apply if existing customers got a new dog that was a doodle or over 40 lbs.

AND BY EXISTING CUSTOMERS I MEAN PEOPLE WHO ARE BOOKED ALREADY. If you haven’t been here in 6 months or more - you are a PREVIOUS customer and your dog is not grandfathered in.

08/22/2024

Guys! We’re taking much needed time off this September, so mark your calendars! This INCLUDES daycare! Cheers! 🎣

08/17/2024

MAKE SURE YOU USE PREVENTATIVE ON YOUR PETS. This is the first time in 10+ years I’ve seen fleas so often. The majority I’ve seen here have been dead (which means the preventative that pet is on, is working) but I wanted to let everyone know that they seem to be pretty prevalent this year and if they’re not on preventative, you can have an infestation within days. Luckily I haven’t seen any dogs that severe thanks to my customers being on a regular schedule and most on some kind of preventative. If you’d rather not put them on something, make sure to check their skin frequently. Particularly the warmer areas that the dog has a harder time scratching (private area, base of tail, armpits). Spread the word bc they’re out there!

08/09/2024

Did you know that pet grooming is a completely unregulated industry? There is no requirement for formal education, no required continuing education, and no required testing or certification?

Anyone and everyone can just pick up a pair of clippers and start advertising themselves as a groomer and charge people for a service they aren’t trained to perform.

It’s completely up to you, the owner, to do your research and make sure the person you are trusting with the health and safety of your pet is qualified to care for them.

Every groomer should be trained, and that very basic training takes months.

It takes years to truly master the ins and outs of grooming and everything that goes along with it.

Pet grooming is so much more than just a hair style.

*It’s knowing dog behavior and how to safely handle all the different personalities and quirks.

*It’s recognizing health conditions that would be better suited seeing a vet such as skin or ear infections.

*It’s being prepared for any and all emergencies that can happen, from seizures to allergic reactions, to nicks and cuts and quicked toenails without panicking.

*It’s knowing how to best deal with a variety of coat types properly.

*It’s being able to know when to stop a service on a particular dog due to behavior or health.

*It’s having the knowledge and patience to handle a different species while holding razor sharp clippers or 8 inch long scissors.

At the very least, the groomer you use should seek out continuing education to make sure they are current on the changes in the industry, from upgrades in products to tools that make the process easier for the pet and them.

They should be current on their pet cpr/first aid certification which needs repeated every couple of years.

They should be able to answer your grooming related questions with knowledge and confidence and if they don’t know the answer they should know where to find it.

They should have an emergency plan in place with a local veterinarian in case anything happens, because when working with animals it’s not a matter of if something happens, but when.

They should come recommended by other pet owners and pet professionals.

And it’s worth noting that there is nothing wrong with using a groomer that is still in training, but they should be working alongside an experienced groomer and under their direct supervision.

Ask the questions, after all you are paying them for a service. A groomer who has spent time and money to be as educated as possible is excited to share their knowledge!