What are the opening hours?

Monday 7:30am - 9am 3:30pm - 5:30pm Tuesday 7:30am - 9am 3:30pm - 5:30pm Wednesday 7:30am - 9am 3:30pm - 5:30pm Thursday 7:30am - 9am 3:30pm - 5:30pm Friday 7:30am - 9am 3:30pm - 5:30pm Saturday 7:30am - 9am 3:30pm - 5:30pm Sunday 7:30am - 9am 3:30pm - 5:30pm

Cotten's Sunset Kennels

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Ludington, MI
Cotten's Sunset Kennels

Cotten's Sunset Kennels Cotten's Sunset Kennel's offers safe, trustworthy and fun dog and cat boarding, allowing their owner

Proof of the following vaccinations required to board your dog/s with us: Rabies, DHLP-PV, Bordatella, and Canine Influenza

Cats are required to have proof of vaccination for: Rabies, Distemper

03/23/2025

In honor of National Puppy Day…….

All puppies are spoken for and going to great homes!

03/21/2025

Dog-pile!
Happy Friday!!

03/20/2025

Even though it doesn’t seem like it today!

03/19/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Ten Interesting Facts About Puppies

As most of you have probably seen, we have a new litter of Coton de Tulear puppies. They turn one week old today. Having a litter of puppies is a lot of work. I haven't gotten a lot of sleep in the last week and today I have been up since 3:00 AM with a crying puppy. But it's very rewarding to raise a litter of puppies and well worth the work.

Most people can't resist wanting to snuggle with a cute puppy. But beyond their adorableness, there are many fascinating tidbits to learn about these amazing furry friends. Let's dive into some facts that you may not be aware of.

1) Puppies are blind and deaf at birth. And there's a good reason for this - dogs are typically pregnant for only about two months. This shorter gestation period is a result of evolution; in the wild, a pregnant dog could not catch fast prey and contribute to the pack. Therefore, as dogs evolved, the less time they spent pregnant—the faster they could get back to hunting, according to Psychology Today. Pups don't open their eyes and ears until about two weeks of age.

2) Puppies have baby teeth. Like many newborn mammals, puppies are born completely toothless. At 2 to 4 weeks of age, a puppy's 28 baby teeth will start to come in. Around 12 to 16 weeks old, those baby teeth fall out, and by the time pups are 6 months old, they should be sporting a set of 42 adult teeth.

3) Puppies spend most of the day snoozing. Which is great for their moms and the breeders! They sleep up to 15 to 20 hours in a day. The American Kennel Club strongly advises dog owners to resist the urge to disturb napping puppies, because sleep is critical for a young canine's developing brain, muscles, and immune system.

4) When sleeping, puppies typically shake or twitch. Puppies' nervous systems are still developing, and these movements help build muscle and form the connections necessary for motor coordination. And just like humans, dogs dream, and these dreams can manifest as twitching and movements during sleep. Sometimes they look like popcorn popping when they are sleeping!

5) Some dog breeds have bigger litters than others. As a general rule, smaller breeds tend to have smaller litters, while bigger dogs give birth to more puppies. Our Coton who is about ten pounds, had a litter of three puppies with each weighing between 6-7 ounces.

6) Some puppies are born green. Yes this is true! In rare cases, the fur of a light-haired puppy can get stained by biliverdin, a green pigment found in dog placentas. It's not permanent, though. The green hue gradually disappears over the course of a few weeks.

7) Puppies don't find your yawns contagious. Ever notice that when somebody yawns, other people may follow suit? Contagious yawning, thought to be a sign of empathy, affects humans, baboons, chimps, and yes, dogs. However, young canines aren't susceptible to catching yawns from birth. In a 2012 study, Swedish researchers took a group of 35 dogs between 4 and 14 months old on closely monitored play dates, feigning yawns in front of each individual animal. Dogs that were less than 7 months old didn't react, yet many of the older dogs would respond with a yawn of their own. This pattern mirrors what happens with humans—children don't pick up the habit of contagious yawning until around age 4, when they start to develop social skills like empathy. These results suggest that dogs, too, may develop empathy over the course of their puppyhood.

8) All puppies are born with blue eyes. Because their eyes lack melanin—the pigment that determines eye color—puppies are born with blue eyes. While some puppies will retain the blue eye color for life, other pups' eyes will begin to show hints of their permanent color at around three to four weeks of age. It could take as long as three months for the color to fully develop however.

9) Puppies can have identical twins. However, scientists don't know exactly how common twin puppies are. It wasn't until 2016 that Kurt de Cramer, a South African veterinarian, noticed something unusual while performing a C-section on a pregnant Irish wolfhound. Normally, every puppy gets its own placenta, yet de Cramer noticed that two of the seven pups in this litter shared a single placenta. Testing later verified that the puppies were genetically identical. It was the first confirmed case of identical twin puppies in the world.

10) Looking at puppies can make you more productive. I found this very fascinating. In a 2012 research experiment participants were asked to look at pictures from one of three categories: tasty food snapshots, pictures of adult animals, or photos of puppies and kittens. Then, they were asked to play a board game that required lots of precision. As it turned out, people who'd just seen puppies and kittens had an easier time concentrating on the task at hand than study subjects who saw other types of images. Maybe we all need puppies in our offices! Or at least photos of puppies.

I hope you enjoyed reading some of these facts about puppies. National Puppy Day is coming up on Sunday, March 23rd. If you need some inspiration cleaning your house I will post puppy photos on Sunday!

Tonight we are on week three of our Basic Obedience Training class and as always we are excited to see our 2-legged and 4-legged clients and hear how much progress they have made in the last week. If you have a need for boarding your dog or getting in some good training give us a call at 231-845-0550. And as always, enjoy your dog!

03/13/2025

Cottens Sunset Kennels is pleased to announce the arrival of our St Paddy’s Day Coton de Tulear puppies! Two females and a male, all doing great! More photos once they don’t look like white mice! 🤣🐶

03/12/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
It's Skunk Season

It seems that our long winter may finally be over and spring is here. It sounds like many of us and our dogs are enjoying the warmer temperatures and sunshine. But along with all of this comes skunk season.

So first, a some basic information on skunks. Skunks do not hibernate, but when the weather turns colder, they do enter a state called torpor. They spend most of the winter inactive, living off the fat stores that they built up during the summer and fall. On winter days when the weather warms up enough, skunks do become temporarily active to do some foraging, but when the weather cools down again, they return to their dormant state until the temperature stays consistently high in the spring.

One of the primary reasons why skunks become more active in the spring is because it is mating season. A female skunk only mates once per year, while male skunks may mate with several different females. A female skunk who is not interested in mating may spray her unwanted suitor, so the skunk smell may be more prevalent during this time of year.

After a female skunk has mated, she starts looking for a new den in which to raise her babies. Female skunks usually do not give birth in the dens they used to spend the winter. Skunks are burrowers that like to build dens underneath a sturdy existing structure, which could be a large rock or a fallen log but is just as likely to be a porch, deck, or shed. If you see piles of dirt near these structures that you did not make, it is a sign that you have unwanted visitors.

In our basic obedience training we teach some important commands that can help prevent your dog from being sprayed by a skunk. However, many dogs get sprayed by skunks each year. And knowing how to deal with it is very important for both you and your dog.

First and foremost, you want to be sure that your dog is okay. Skunk spray is a very noxious substance, so a direct hit to their eyes or mouth may require a visit to your vet. You want to first check to be sure that your dog hasn't had this happen. The signs will be obvious, like extreme drooling, vomiting or red, puffy eyes.

Once you determine that your dog is smelly but otherwise okay it's time to move on to the next step, which is typically a bath. But it's important to know that skunk spray has a way of getting WORSE when it gets wet. DO NOT WET YOUR DOG FIRST. Also, it is a myth that tomato juice will help.

You will want to use some type of commercial de-skunk shampoo if you have it and put that directly on the dog BEFORE getting them wet. If you do not have a commercial product we feel that the best recipe for skunk spray is the following:

Mix 3 to 4 parts 3% hydrogen peroxide to 1 part baking soda, along with a teaspoon or so of DAWN dish detergent, and apply the mixture to your dog while it’s still bubbling.

Again, do not get your dog wet before applying this! Also, be very careful not to get this solution in your dog's eyes or mouth. And know that the peroxide may bleach your dog's fur a bit if they are a darker color. Let this solution sit on your dog for a few minutes and then rinse really well. Then you can give your dog a second bath using regular dog shampoo to be sure you rinse all the homemade solution off your dog and leave them with a pleasant shampoo-y scent.

Tonight we begin week two of our March Basic Obedience Training. We are looking forward to seeing all of our clients and hearing how their first week of training went. We will also begin to teach some commands that will help clients and their dogs avoid being sprayed by a skunk!

Give us a call at 231-845-0550 for all of your dog training and boarding needs. And as always, enjoy your dogs!

03/10/2025

*******ATTENTION*******

Effective April 1st we will be increasing our rates to the following:

Dogs will be $33/night for boarding
Second dogs in a family will be $28/night
Please note that we do not charge you more if you pick up in the morning or afternoon.
Cats will be $33/night with second cats in a family $28/night.

ALL RESERVATIONS THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY MADE WILL BE HONORED AT OUR CURRENT RATES,NO MATTER THE DATE. THIS INCLUDES ALL OF THE SPRING BREAK RESERVATIONS WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

We have held off on raising our rates as long as we can, hoping not to have to do this. But it's very difficult to run a small business right now with all of the price increases of everything else. One way that our customers can help with this is to let us know as far in advance of any cancellations, allowing us to open a spot for someone else. We thank you for your understanding and loyalty to Cotten's Sunset Kennels. Enjoy your dogs! And cats!

03/05/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Teaching New Tricks To Your Dog

Tonight we start our first session in our March Basic Obedience Training classes. In our training we teach you and your dog the most important commands that you will need to use on a consistent basis. One of the commands that we do not teach is the "sit" command. Why? Because it is typically one command that most people have taught their dog before coming to our training. And we don't want to waste your time on it. Your time and money is important to us so we focus on different commands that you may not know how to teach.

But teaching your dog additional tricks such as shake, roll over, spin, beg, or take a bow, is a great way to provide your pet with mental stimulation and physical activity. It is also a good way for you to bond with your dog while reinforcing basic commands that you use daily. Plus, it's a lot of fun to show off your dog's tricks to friends.

We pride ourselves in being able to train dogs to the level that we do however, you don't have to be a professional dog trainer to teach your puppy or adult dog a variety of cute, amusing, and useful tricks—even a first-time dog owner can do it. Below are some ideas on other tricks/commands that you may want to teach your dog.

And remember, dogs of all ages can learn new tricks, so don’t assume that you can only train a puppy. Keep the training sessions short and enjoyable for both you and your pet, use positive reinforcement techniques that include plenty of rewards, and be patient, gentle, and consistent.

I personally don't really need to teach my Coton de Tulear dogs this trick and they would love nothing more than to do this a million times throughout the day - teaching a dog to kiss. This is probably one of the easiest tricks to teach your dog. By putting a little treat on your cheek and adding the command, you'll soon be able to get all the affection you want from your dog on demand! Another benefit of teaching your dog to kiss on cue is that is can help you prevent unwanted licking. Maybe, but that argument isn't strong enough for me to teach my dogs this trick!

If you have a dog that is a hobby barker (we own one of these) then training your dog to speak might be fun and it potentially help to solve this common behavior problem. Some dog trainers recommend using the "speak" and "quiet" commands to put an end to excessive barking. Putting these on command allows your dog to bark in certain situations, and allows you to have control over when the barking should start and stop.

Another command that we don't train in our classes but might be helpful is the "back up" command. This dog trick may be useful in a variety of situations. Once your dog knows how to back up on command, you can use it to keep them from rushing out the door, crowding you at the refrigerator, or just to entertain your friends. Back up is fairly simple to teach a dog. All you need is some patience and a handful of treats. You can quickly train a dog to back up a few steps when you give the command.

Teaching your dog to "shake" hands (or paws actually) is another popular trick to teach your dog. This is an easy dog trick that you can usually train a dog to do in a few short training sessions. Most dogs naturally like using their paws and will enjoy the positive attention they get when doing this trick.

Teaching the "spin" command is also popular. By holding a treat near your dog's nose, you can easily lure them into a spin. If you want to add some difficulty to this dog trick, you can teach your dog to spin in a specific direction. You'll amaze your friends when you show them how your dog can tell the difference between left and right.

Most people train a dog to "roll over" in several small parts and work up to getting them to roll over all the way. It may take some effort to train a dog to do this trick, but it is well worth it. It's lots of fun, and it also serves as a building block for several other dog tricks, such as playing dead.

Your friends are sure to be blown away when you hold your finger like a gun, say "bang," and your dog falls to the floor to play dead. Although it looks impressive, it's not as hard as you might think to train a dog to play dead, especially if you have already trained them to roll over. It just takes time and patience.

Teaching your dog to "jump" is great for agility training or everyday fun. For agility training, you can set up hurdles that your dog will need to jump over. Or, for fun, you can teach your dog to jump into your arms. Work on this trick gradually so your dog will feel confident and won’t get hurt. And this trick obviously depends on the size of the dog!

Lastly, "fetch" is a game that many dogs love to play, but your dog might not know how to do it without some training. With some basic techniques, you can teach your dog to fetch so they will retrieve something and bring it to you, whether it’s an object across the room or a ball you threw across the backyard.

So with the hopefully warmer weather coming soon these are some additional tricks/commands that you might want to consider teaching your dog. Remember dogs love to learn new things and no dog is ever too old to learn.

If you have a dog that could use some basic obedience give us a call at 231-845-0550 to discuss the various training plans that we offer. And remember that we are here for all of your boarding needs. However, we are full for Spring Break and have a waiting list currently. Lastly, enjoy your dogs!

And share with us other tricks that you may have taught your dog!

03/01/2025

Here is another idea on how to get better at trimming your dog's nails, which was the article I wrote on Wednesday.

02/26/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
The Do's And Don'ts Of Clipping Your Dog's Nails

John asked me to write and article on this a few weeks ago. We get a lot of clients telling us that it's almost impossible for them to clip their dog's nails. Trimming your dog’s nails isn’t simply a cosmetic procedure. It plays an important role in your dog’s health and general comfort, therefore, making nail trimming an essential part of being a pet owner.

However, there are a few tricks and things you need to know about how to cut a dog's nails to make your job easier and keep your four-legged friend safe and comfortable. So, let's dive into some ways to make trimming their nails a success.

First, you need to understand and know if your dog's nails are ready for a trim. One of the most important things to remember when cutting your dog’s nails is to avoid clipping the quick. The quick are blood vessels inside your dog’s nail (you more than likely will be able to see it if your dog has lighter claws), and trimming into these will not only cause bleeding, but also be painful for your dog. Anyone who has accidentally cut into the quick probably remembers this!

Regular trimming will cause the quick to recede, meaning less chance of that blood vessel being damaged. The best way to avoid this is to never clip above where the nail curves. Both front legs and back legs should be regularly checked both to see if they’re due for a clip, and also to monitor the foot and nail health of your pup. Long nails can lead to a variety of issues. When your dog’s nails hit the floor, it affects the way your dog walks. It puts pressure on their foot and leg structure, which can have both short and long term affects, like injury and arthritis. The curved nature of a dog’s nail also means that it can grow back into the foot pads, which is an extremely painful thing for your dog.

So, how often should your cut their nails? Typically, you should trim your dog’s nails approximately every month or 3-4 weeks. Dogs who spend most of their time outside may get away with getting their nails trimmed less, as walking on hard ground will help wear down their claws naturally. This also applies to dogs who may go on long runs/walks with their owners. A good rule of thumb (or paw) is if you can hear you dog’s nails clicking against the ground as they walk, its time to give them a trim. Or at least check to see if it's time.

Can dogs feel their nails being trimmed? Just like us, dogs don’t have any nerves in the nail itself, so as long as you don’t hit the quick, you won’t cause any pain. Dogs are smart animals, so they won’t be completely oblivious that you’re up to something, but so long as they understand they won’t get hurt, it will be a painless procedure. Your dog may pull their paw away out of confusion at first, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re in pain. Stay calm, use positive reassurance and be patient until your dog is comfortable. Often I allow the dog to pull their paw away from me for a few times so that they learn that I am not going to hurt them. After a few times they typically give up and don't mind me holding their paw.

The best way to set your dog up for success on nail trimming is to gradually introduce it to them. When we have a new litter of puppies I begin trimming their tiny nails with a small human nail clipper. Often I get them to fall asleep on my lap and then do the trimming. Or I simply wrap them up in a blanket like a burrito and trim each foot slowly. They seem to like the feeling of being wrapped up in the blanket. The biggest thing is that you want to be sure that they understand they are not in danger.

However, I think one of the best things you can do for your new puppy and even your adult dog is that any time they are on your lap grab their foot. Don't try to trim their nails. Just simply grab their foot. Get them used to you doing that and learning that you aren't going to hurt them. Then, once your dog is comfortable with you holding their paws, pick up their foot firmly yet gently. Use your thumb to push the paw pad and push your forefinger forward to help extend the nail. Only clip the very tip of the claw, and don’t forget about the dewclaws on the inner side of the paw if your dog has them. Then you can reward your dog for being good, either with a verbal "good dog" or a small treat.

So here are a few things that you do NOT want to do when trying to trim nails. First, don't try to rush through it. Yes, it's not always a pleasant thing to do but taking your time and staying calm will really help. Also, don't force your dog into an uncomfortable position. And certainly don't clip too much at once. It's much better to clip a little bit at a time. Lastly, if you sense your dog is stressed or uncomfortable be sure and give them a break. You want to be sure that your dog trusts you and what you are doing.

We hope this helps the next time you need to tackle your dog's nail clipping. Next week we begin our March Basic Obedience Training. That class is full and we are taking reservations for our April class. Give us a call at 231-845-0550 to sign up for training or for all of your boarding needs.

02/20/2025

Truth! 🤣

02/19/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Ten Facts You May Not Know About Dogs

As I was searching for information for an article to write today on a completely different topic I came across a short list of ten facts that people may not know about dogs. Some of them I found interesting so I decided to do a bit of research on it. Below is what I learned:

1) Most of us are aware of the term "puppy dog eyes" and even as humans sometimes try to emulate the look. But the truth is, those heart-melting expressions haven’t always been part of the canine anatomy. According to several studies I read, dogs have been able to develop facial muscles over years of domestication that allow their eyebrows to move inward and upward, allowing them to better communicate with humans. Some say they have even evolved to better manipulate us humans! We may own a few dogs that have mastered this!

2) The first dog to walk around the world walked approximately 25,000 miles and finished in 2022. The owner, Tom Turcich, became the 10th person to walk around the world and his companion, Savannah, became the first dog. Tom and Savannah traveled together for seven years to accomplish this. Savannah, a chow mix, was adopted from an animal shelter few months into Tom's travels.

3) Dogs Don't Have Functional Collarbones. In humans, collarbones, or clavicles, connect our shoulders to our torsos. As someone who has broken their clavicle, it's certainly an important bone in our bodies. In dogs, the shoulder blades connect to the rest of their bodies only by muscle and tissue. Dogs do have rudimentary “collarbones” made mostly of cartilage that are less than a centimeter in length and don’t articulate with the rest of the skeleton.

4) Any Idea On the World Record Of Tennis Balls In A Dogs Mouth? I was shocked to read that it is SIX! According to the Guinness World Records, a golden retriever named Finley set the record in New York in 2020. Please don't try this with your dog!

5) All Dogs Have Belly Buttons. In humans it's typically easy to spot our belly buttons. In dogs however, it can be harder. Just as most mammals, dogs’ belly buttons are scars from where they were attached to the umbilical cord in the womb. The mother typically chews the umbilical cord to free her puppies when they are born, leaving an umbilical cord stump that dries up and falls off within a few days. Unlike humans, dog belly buttons are more of an oval scar than a round innie or outie.

6) Do You Know The Oldest Dog Breed? I had no clue so I found this very interesting. While many believe the Akita Inu is the oldest breed of dog, some scientific studies suggest that the Basenji emerged first. Prehistoric cave paintings dating back as far as 6,000BC show images of Basenji, but these are far more modern than the Akita remains discovered at the Kamikuroiwa Rock Shelter site. As genetic research continues, we can expect more insights into when the first domesticated dog came into existence and what its role was in ancient civilizations.

7) Male Dogs Have A Bone In Their Pen*ses. It's called the baculum.

8) Dogs Prefer To P**p When Aligned With The Earth's Magnetic Field. I think I have touched on this a bit in an earlier article. In a 2013 study, researchers found that dogs are sensitive to variations in the Earth’s magnetic field and prefer to p**p along the north-south axis. Researchers observed 70 dogs representing 37 different breeds in a free roaming environment over the course of two years. Apparently, they also avoided p**ping along the east-west axis altogether. The reason remains unclear. And I will now probably watch my dogs closer every time they p**p!

9) Dogs Can Get Sunburned. I think most of us know this. Almost all dogs are at risk of getting sunburned, but dogs with short hair, light hair, and fair skin are more susceptible. The best way to protect your dog is to prevent them from spending too much time in direct sun exposure. You can also talk to your vet about doggy sunscreen.

10) One Of The Rarest Dog Breeds on Earth Is The Chinook. The Chinook is a sled dog originally bred in New Hampshire in the early 1900s. It is also New Hampshires official state dog. At one point, there were only 125 Chinooks in the world. They remain very rare, with only about 150 puppies born each year. Their size can vary widely. They are typically 23 to 25 inches tall and weigh 60 to 80 pounds. Chinooks are known for being healthy dogs with a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.

I hope you found some of these ten facts a bit interesting. If you have any suggestions on article topics that would you like to see please feel free to let us know. I feel like I have covered so many topics over the last few years so am curious if there are things out there that you may want more info on that I have not covered.

We will begin our March Basic Obedience Class in a few weeks and are looking forward to it. That class is full and we are taking reservations for our April and May classes now. So if you have a dog that could use some basic training give us a call at 231-845-0550 to get signed up. And as always, enjoy your dog!

02/17/2025

First, this isn’t necessarily true!

However, our Basic Obedience Training is built so that we train YOU to train your dog. Dogs love to learn new things and usually pick up on it very quickly. However, most of us don’t know where to start when training our dogs. That’s where we can help.

Cottens Sunset Kennels has been offering Basic Obedience Training almost every month for the past four years. We have a long list of happy customers.

If you feel that both you and your dog could use some help with training give us a call at 231-845-0550. Our next training begins in March.

02/12/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Crate Training - AGAIN!

Happy Wednesday. Lately we have been getting a lot of questions about crate training so John asked me to do another article on crate training. Most of this article has already appeared in another post but it's probably good for a refresher on crate training.

You should never say never to crate training. Why? Because it's important! Why is it important? Because you never know when there might be an emergency and you might need to crate your dog. Some examples might be fires, hurricanes, tornados and simply family emergencies just to name a few.

We are well aware that there are different opinions on crate training your dog. Some people feel that crate training your dog is cruel. That is untrue. Fact check! Crates aren't cruel when APPROPRIATELY USED! They in fact can be an excellent tool for the average dog owner. PROPER and POSITIVE crate training can provide many benefits to both you and your dog.
Below are some of our top reasons why we feel you should crate train your dog:
1) PROVIDES A SAFE SPACE: Dogs have a natural 'denning' instinct. Because of this, crates can provide a haven for your dog when they're feeling stressed or tired and need some downtime. If you have children, make sure they're aware when your dog is in their crate, whether by their own choice or yours, that it's out of bounds for them, and your dog must be left alone.
2) HELPS WITH HOUSE TRAINING: Crates are an excellent tool for house training. We recently sold one of our Coton puppies to a couple who asked us to keep the puppy for 60 days to begin some of his training. Guess what, we are using a crate to begin housebreaking him for his owners. Why? Because dogs and puppies don't like to do their business in their den. Therefore, an appropriately sized crate is handy to assist you in teaching your dog bladder and bowel control. When it's time for them to go to the bathroom, maybe after a nap, or first this in the morning, bring them towards the designated area in your backyard or p*e pad. Use positive reinforcement to reward them.
3) SAFER TRAVEL: Traveling in the car with your dog in a crate is far safer for both of you than having him loose in the car. The last thing you want is to look back in the rear-view mirror and see your pup flopping all over the place! Or perhaps getting in an accident and having him get loose. Having your dog in their crate will allow them to feel more comfortable and secure on longer trips.
4) SAFETY WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE EYES ON YOUR DOG: Having your dog resting comfortably in their crate while you're not able to supervise him is a bonus. Maybe you are cooking dinner or writing an article or working on renovations where your pup could cause safety issues just by being underfoot. Having them tucked safely away will give you peace of mind. Currently my dogs are on a "place" where they won't move off their beds but I could just have easily put them in their crates.
5) EASIER VET VISITS: Have you ever tried taking four puppies to the vet? Most of you probably have not. But let me tell you, it can be an experience! But having your puppies used to being in a crate/travel carrier makes it a bit less stressful. But another consideration is that accidents/emergencies happen. And what if your dog needed to spend the night at the vet clinic. Where do you think they will be? Either in a crate or a run; depending on your clinic.
6) LIMIT DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE AND YOUR DOG: Have you seen those 'dog shaming' videos on the internet? The ones where the owners come home to find their furniture in shambles? As funny as they are, incidents like these can be easily avoided. Leave your dog with a crate safe toy to chew on so they don't tear up the designer couch. It's far safer for your dog too!
7) EMERGENCY EVACUATION: First, our hearts go out to those affected by Hurricane Helene. I can not imagine what they are going through. But this is the never say never part. We never know when there may be an emergency and we need to evacuate. If you ever have to evacuate your home in case of an emergency, having a crate-trained dog is much easier. Whether you keep your dog with you, or they have to be handed over to carers, your pup will be better off in their crate. Your dog will be more relaxed with their blankets and toys with your scent on them. Otherwise, if left in an unfamiliar crate, this can cause undue stress.
Lastly, DO NOT MISUSE THE CRATE! There are some things to keep in mind while crate training your dog. First and foremost, do not use the crate as a punishment. Your dog's crate should be their haven. We often find our dogs resting in their crates with the doors wide open. Our dogs love their crates. And guess who else is starting to like their crate? The puppies! There are times when I will put them in a bigger crate together. And then sometimes we put them in separate crate by themselves. It's good for them and they are starting to enjoy it and take naps.
And of course never leave your dog in a crate for too long. It should not be used as a crutch so you can go hang out with friends for hours on end, especially if it's a puppy. They have small bladders and limited bladder control.

In conclusion, when done correctly, crate training is just one great tool to help you properly train your dog. With consistency, patience and positive reinforcement, your dog will love its crate in no time!

Another reminder that if you are traveling at any time over spring break make sure to reserve space to board your dog/cat. I think we may have a few spots left to board dogs. Give us a call at 231-845-0550. Also, our March Basic Obedience Training class is getting full. So if you are needing some help in training your dog be sure and reserve your spot for March.

Address

2750 N. Stiles Road
Ludington, MI

Opening Hours

Monday	7:30am - 9am
	3:30pm - 5:30pm
Tuesday	7:30am - 9am
	3:30pm - 5:30pm
Wednesday	7:30am - 9am
	3:30pm - 5:30pm
Thursday	7:30am - 9am
	3:30pm - 5:30pm
Friday	7:30am - 9am
	3:30pm - 5:30pm
Saturday	7:30am - 9am
	3:30pm - 5:30pm
Sunday	7:30am - 9am
	3:30pm - 5:30pm

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https://www.sunset-kennels.com/

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Videos

“Flash” as they have named him went to his forever home today with his new owners. At only 17 weeks old he is doing great with his training and his new owners were impressed by how much he has learned so far. We are expecting great things from this little guy and look forward to getting updates on him from his owners.

Memorial Day

Off leash

WEDNESDAY WISDOM: How Much Is Too Much When It Comes To Training? Everyone needs a break at some point, including dog trainers! While we love to train dogs and find it very rewarding we also need some downtime. Dogs also need a break from training at times. Today we are going to discuss (briefly) how much is too much when it comes to training our dogs. Everyone agrees that training your dog is a good thing. Training helps to ensure you have a well-behaved dog that also bonds with their human owner. But we all know that too much of a good thing isn't always good. Spending too much time training your dog can be harmful and can even lead to undoing some of the training that you have done. There are several things to consider when training a dog. The first is the age of the dog. While we do recommend starting training when your dog is still a puppy we also believe that long and intense training sessions would be too much for a puppy. Puppies who get too much training early on may be obedient, but sometimes they obey grudgingly and fearfully, rather than being proud and eager to please their owners. The same can be said for senior dogs. We always say that old dogs can learn new tricks. But you also need to consider what is good for your dog and not overdo it. We all slow down as we age and we need to be sure not to push older dogs into too much exercise all at once. You don't want to cause any soreness or stiffness in an older dog. In our basic obedience classes we take things one step at a time. You don't want to overwhelm your dog with too much all at once. Dogs are like humans where we are limited on how much we can absorb during a set amount of time. If you have ever gone to a day of training you know what I mean, after eight hours of training you are exhausted from trying to absorb everything that is being thrown at you. You want to teach your dog one thing at a time and be sure your dog understands the new command completely. Then take a break before you in