Cotten's Sunset Kennels

01/08/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
How To Dog Proof Your Kitchen

The holidays are finally past us and we are excited to see what 2025 brings us. For many, they may have gotten a new puppy for Christmas. Is your home ready for a new puppy? If you have had dogs in the past you certainly have learned how quickly your house can turn into one big chew toy. Curious dogs and puppies seem to discover all sorts of things that we may not think about. So we are going to discuss how to dog proof your kitchen today.

Before we get into kitchen specifics let's look at three things that you should consider when dog proofing a room. Dogs investigate the world through their nose and mouth, making them vacuums on four legs. If you take into consideration a dog's point of view, literally, you are more likely to notice things that may become an unintentional danger to your canine best friend.

1) What Is In Your Dog's Line Of Sight?
When evaluating a room in your home for safety, you should be looking at your dog's vantage point; how tall is your dog and where is their line of sight? Assessing your home from the height of your dog can help you identify unsafe objects that may grab their attention. For instance, you might be surprised to find that your new glasses that you placed on your bedside table is at a perfect height for your puppy to snag. Just ask John! Small items that can be easily reached should be removed and placed in safe locations like drawers or closets that cannot be opened by your dog.

2) Does Your Dog Jump Up on Things?
If you have a dog that can easily jump up on things or is a climber, consider removing furniture items that may pose a danger. Chairs that move when jumped on can swing back and damage other items in your home as well as injure your dog. Or even end tables that have breakable family heirlooms or glass picture frames can become safety hazards in no time for a dog that follows his nose and will put his paws up on furniture.

3) Where Does Your Dog Like To Nap?
Does your dog like a comfy spot on the couch? Does he prefer to snuggle up on a blanket? The position of those items is an important consideration when dog proofing your home. Blankets, dog beds, or rugs should never be placed near electrical cords or outlets, fans, fireplaces, or heaters as they can quickly become dangerous. We do recommend crating your dogs, and especially puppies when you can't have eyes on them. I have heard too many stories of things that dogs have ingested while their owner wasn't looking.

So on to the kitchen! Kitchens are full of not-dog-friendly items such as food, medications and cleaning supplies. Kitchens offer your dog the most chances to find, and consume, things they shouldn't. But once they are dog-proofed, kitchens can make great doggie hangouts. Below are some suggestions on how to make your kitchen a dog safe zone:

1) Keep medications stored in cabinets that can be locked or on high, secure shelves.

2) Keep all food off of counters and store in containers with tightly closed lids. And be aware that some dogs can find ways to get into containers. If you have a dog that you think may do this do not leave containers on the counter.

3) Consider installing child proof latches on low cabinets.

4) Keep garbage in pet-safe trash containers that lock via a pedal mechanism. If you have a pull out trash bin consider putting some type of lever on it that you can lock when needed.

5) And if you don't want your dog in your kitchen consider installing baby gates and pet gates that prevent access to the kitchen.

6) Lastly, know what foods are poisonous to dogs and be sure not to leave them out on the counter. Some of the foods that are dangerous to your dog include chocolate, grapes, artificial sweeteners, onions and garlic, caffeine, and alcohol.

If your dog does get into something that could be toxic be sure to call your veterinarian immediately. They can tell you if it's an emergency or not.

Our January Basic Obedience Class starts tonight. We are looking forward to meeting our new clients and pups and also see some of our returning clients! If you are interested in some training for your dog give us a call to discuss various options that we offer. And of course we are here for all of your boarding needs while you travel. 231-845-0550

01/03/2025

Happiness is…..
Boarding two of the dogs that you bred! It’s so nice to be able to hear and see how they are doing!

01/01/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
New Year Resolutions vs New Goals For You and Your Pet

Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year's Eve. If you are like me, you maybe have put a small amount of thought into whether or not you should set some New Year's resolutions. Here's the thing - about 90% of people give up on their New Year's resolutions within the first few weeks of the year! It seems that most people fail at this because their goals are unrealistic or they demand perfection. And they typically leave no room for error, thus making us fail.

So instead of setting some crazy resolutions that may never take shape, consider focusing on one small manageable action. Doing this with your pet may help you be more successful and also more fun for both of you. Below are a few ideas of things you might want to consider.

Get More Exercise
Exercise is critical to maintaining a healthy pet. And most of us have a tendency to pack on pounds over the holidays. Make a commitment to increase both the physical and mental health of you and your dog by going on regular daily walks. A lot of mental stimulation occurs for a dog on their daily walk, and also makes them calmer. We tell all of our training clients to walk their dog a minimum of 15 minutes a day. We should all be able to squeeze in 15 minutes for our pets and ourselves!

Better Eating Habits
The majority of American cats and dogs are overweight to obese, and it’s a hefty problem. Excess weight can cause health issues ranging from arthritis, diabetes, and respiratory disorders to cancer, certain skin and liver diseases and kidney dysfunction. We think we are being nice and caring when we feed our dogs table scraps. However, they can cause serious health problems in your pet, from diarrhea to pancreatitis. Instead consider giving your dog healthier snack options like carrots or apples. And feed a good quality kibble for your pet—the best that you can afford. The better the food, the better their health, skin & coat, and less mess to pick up!

Teach An Old or New Dog New Tricks
We often get asked how old is too old for dog training. And the answer is simply there is no answer to that. All dogs can learn new things. Stimulating your pet’s mind & challenging them is one of the keys to fulfillment and improved health. Just like humans, they can learn new behaviors and skills throughout their life. Spending just a few short minutes each day working on training with your pet (using positive reinforcement) is a simple way to help improve both your pet's manners and their quality of life. Maybe consider attending our dog training classes. Not only can they help put an end to various behavior problems, but many dogs also enjoy the challenge and the bonding time gained from attending these classes with their owners. We now allow anyone who has attended our training to continue to come the following months. It's an awesome social hour for both them and their dogs!

Update Your Pet's Identification
This is an easy one that each of us can do. It's similar to changing the batteries in your smoke detectors! Statistics show that one in three pets will become lost at some point in their life. No pet owner ever wants to be in a situation where their pet has wandered away. By keeping their pet ID up to date you can at least be sure that they will be returned to you quickly. Having your phone number on your dog's ID tag will help get them back to you. Check their tags and if needed get them updated.

Be A Good Neighbor
It shouldn't need to be said, but pick up your dog's poo when on walks. Not cleaning up after pets can lead to diseases spreading all over your neighborhood. Also, many people seem to think it’s perfectly fine to allow their pets to roam. Not only is it illegal for dogs to be at-large, but thousands of strays end up in shelters. Be considerate—your neighbors may not want your dog, or even your cat, in their yard. Make sure they are properly contained in your own yard.

Happy New Year! We are thankful for all of you and are looking forward to a great 2025! Next week we begin our January Basic Obedience Class. If you feel that you and your dog could benefit from some training give us a call at 231-845-0550. I believe we have one or two spots still open in this class. And of course if you are heading out of town be sure to make your boarding reservation. 231-845-0550

12/31/2024

Be safe!

These companies are offering FREE rides/tows on New Year’s Eve. Please take advantage of these services and arrive at your destination safely. 🚕

Many thanks to these sponsors:
Abrahamson's Towing
Auto Ranch LLC
Downtown Ludington Board
Fiers Towing & Recovery LLC
Judy’s Rides LLC
The Leeward Initiative
Ludington Bay Brewing Company
Ludington Beverage
Oceana Auto, LLC
Pure Ludington
Ludington Daily News
Ludington Police Department
Mason County Sheriff’s Office
Michigan State Police
Scottville Police Department
WKLA
102.7 WMOM
Snyder's Shoes
Sister Bees
Red Rooster Coffee & Community
Avenue's End Mini-Mall

12/31/2024

Just a quick reminder to keep your pets safe tonight as there will be fireworks. At a minimum make sure your phone number is on them.
Have a Happy and Safe New Year!

12/27/2024

Good morning and Happy Friday! Today we are going to ask our customers to do us a favor. If you have used our services for boarding, training or puppy purchase please consider leaving us a review. This helps us to grow our business. And it only takes a few minutes!

https://g.page/r/CQqmaPvQswryEAE/review

12/25/2024

We hope each and every one of you have a wonderful holiday season. We are very grateful for your loyalty and support of our small business. We couldn’t do it without you and your pets! Enjoy the day and your dogs! Merry Christmas!🎄

12/24/2024

12/20/2024

Truth for some! Be safe out there today.

12/18/2024

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Be A Good Person and Enjoy Your Dog!

No article today as we have family in town visiting and driving them back to Grand Rapids Airport this morning.

12/15/2024

“Enjoy your dogs!”

12/13/2024

John and I are very humbled to have been a part of this wonderful award from the Ludington Police Department. We are happy to be a part of a wonderful non-profit group that continues to help our community. We are looking forward to 2025!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15H4PN69jc/

During the annual LPD Awards Committee meeting, the committee reviews award nominations based on specific criteria established in policy. Two of the award nominations reviewed this year were not for LPD officers or staff, but for citizens, who demonstrated support and commitment to our officers, staff, and community, beyond what could ever be asked or expected.

Today, LPD officers and staff were very proud to present the 2024 Ludington Police Department Citizen Recognition Award to the Board of Directors of Friends of Ludington Police. The Friends of Ludington Police were a key partner in the fundraising efforts for and creation of the LPD K9 Unit. Additionally, Friends of Ludington Police have provided funding for Visa gift cards so that our officers can better serve those in our community who have a need.

The officers and staff of Ludington Police Department extend our sincere appreciation to the board of directors of Friends of Ludington Police for all they do for LPD, and our community.

12/12/2024

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Hypothermia In Dogs - How to Recognize and Respond

Yes, it's Thursday and I am putting out the Wednesday Wisdom a day late. With our power going off and on yesterday it meant the internet kept going on and off, even with the house generator. So I didn't want to lose what I was working on to decided to wait a day. Hopefully with the cold and winds today I won't lose this as I am working on it!

With the much colder weather today I think talking about hypothermia in dogs is a good and timely idea. While you decide today on how you are going to keep yourself warm and safe you should do that for your dog as well.

So what exactly is hypothermia in dogs? The formal definition of hypothermia is when the animal’s body temperature drops below the normal healthy range. For dogs, a healthy body temperature is between 100-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. While there can be some slight variations between dogs, a body temperature of 98 degrees Fahrenheit or lower is considered truly hypothermic.

Typically the cause of hypothermia in dogs is caused by outside factors but it can also be from internal factors. Most of us probably think of hypothermia as the result of exposure to the cold. This usually requires prolonged exposure where an animal is outside for long periods of time without access to shelter or proper protective layers to keep warm. There is an increased risk of hypothermia in dogs with wet fur, a lack of body fat, and in animals that are especially young, elderly, or otherwise medically compromised.

However, hypothermia can also result from certain health conditions that affect the body’s ability to maintain a normal body temperature, as well as from certain medications and/or toxins. A common example is hypothermia from certain sedatives, anesthetic drugs, and surgical procedures. Risk factors for hypothermia include prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, especially if there are wet conditions like freezing rain or snow.

As most of you know, some dog breeds are built for the cold, while other breeds that have very short coats, no fur at all, limited body fat, and/or are small such as miniature and toy breeds, may be more susceptible to hypothermia as they lose more heat from their bodies. In addition very young puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with certain medical conditions including hypothyroidism, heart disease, and/or kidney disease may also be at risk for low body temperature.

Symptoms of Hypothermia In Dogs:

Hypothermia in dogs starts with more mild signs and becomes more severe over time. Early signs include:
-Shivering
-Cold or Pale Extremities
-Dogs Seeking Warmth
It is important to notice the early signs and intervene quickly to avoid more serious complications. Early signs of hypothermia include the body’s attempt to conserve heat and prevent additional heat loss.

Severe Signs Of Hypothermia In Dogs:

-Body temperature of

12/09/2024

Our tree is currently in 2nd place! Please consider voting for us. All proceeds go to United Way!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Asm4b73ma/?mibextid=WC7FNe

🎄 Monday Voting Update! 🎄

The results are in after the first weekend, and the competition is heating up! Our top 10 trees have claimed their spots, with the #1 tree taking an early (and SIZABLE) lead! Will they hold their spot, or will another favorite catch up?

Keep the votes coming all week long and support your favorite tree! Voting goes until Sunday, December 15th!🎉

1. Tree #41: Men's Wednesday Night Dining Group - 1,450 votes
2. Tree #4: Cotten's Sunset Kennels - 70 votes
3. Tree #19: Ludington Early Childhood Center - 59 votes
4. Tree #18: Fraternal Order of Eagles Ludington Aerie 1354 - 58 votes
5. Tree #35: Britter's Twisted Whisk, LLC - 35 votes
6: Tree #36: Stix Bar - 31 votes
7. Tree #3: Cluck Bucket - Downtown - 30 votes
8: Tree #46: Western Land Services - 27 votes
9: Tree #9: Horizon Financial - 26 votes
10: Tree #24: All Occasions Events & Floral, LLC - 24 Votes

We are also excited to announce that we have all the photos of the trees up on our website! If you're out of town or can't make it out to Stix this week, you can see the trees and vote at https://www.masoncountyuw.org/festivaloftrees

12/09/2024

And snuggly dogs of course!

12/04/2024

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
The Benefits of a K9 Unit For Police Departments

If you attended the Aglow On The Avenue Parade which was held last Saturday in Ludington you may have seen the new K9 Unit for Ludington Police Department. Bella and her officer/handler Officer Brian Sanders were in the parade on Saturday. John and I are involved with the non-profit Friends of Ludington Police which helped raise funds for LPD to get a K9 Unit. It's been a very fun and educational experience for both of us. There is a lot that goes into getting a K9 Unit.

There are many professional advantages to launching a K9 program. While moist of Hollywood depicts K9s as vicious beasts usually used for attacking criminals. detaining criminals only accounts for 5% of the K9s responsibilities. I found this very interesting. So, what do K9s do on a regular day, and how does it benefit the department overall? Below are some areas that they are typically used in.

Scent and Detection

A K9s keen sense of smell helps them to detect items that a human officer might miss, especially drugs and bombs. With training, K9s can even sniff out drugs that are sealed in plastic. K9s can also be used to search for flammables and explosives. And a positive indication from a K9 is legal grounds to establish probable cause for a search.

Tracking

K9s are often used to track missing persons in a search and rescue. Once a dog is given a piece of an item with the scent of a specific person, they can lead the police down the path that person took. This is also useful when tracking down suspects or escaped convicts. K9s can quickly lead teams down the right way. During a pursuit or search and rescue mission, every minute counts, so having this extra knowledge is invaluable.

Community Events

Just as we did with an Aglow Parade, it's very common to have K9 units at local community events. These well-trained and adorable employees help to bond community members with their local police officers. Kids and families may be more likely to approach and engage with a police officer that has a friendly dog nearby. This was part of the consideration when selecting the new K9 for Ludington; it needed to be friendly towards community members.

Special Events

Often K9s are brought to special community events for security reasons. This is mostly for the public's safety.

Visits to Pediatric Patients in Hospitals

Sometimes K9 units are brought to hospitals and medical care units to visit pediatric patients with long term health issues. K9s can be used to hopefully bring some joy to the kids and their families who are going through these difficult situations.

Officer Safety

There are times when a K9 unit is needed to attack a suspect. Due to their ability to move fast, K9s can be used to take down a suspect. However, this is usually a very small portion of a K9s overall role. An apprehension bite is the last resort when it comes to an arrest or a confrontation. But it can certainly help keep an officer safe.

We are excited to have K9 Bella as part of the Ludington Police Department. You will see Officer Sanders and Bella around in our community working to keep everyone safe.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Don't forget, if you are planning to travel for Christmas or New Year's and need to board your dog, give us a call to make your reservation. We expect to be completely full over the holidays and don't want to turn anyone away if possible. 231-845-0550