Cotten's Sunset Kennels

09/10/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Flank Sucking In Dogs

A few weeks ago John and I went out to a local campground to see my sister and her husband for dinner. They had Rin, their younger German Shepherd with them camping. But as most campgrounds are in August, there were lots of other campers and dogs at the campground. This included some campers right next to them with a smaller dog that looked to be a miniature Australian Shepherd but was clearly very dog aggressive. Needless to say, it was a bit stressful for my sister's dog. I kept watching that dog who was endlessly trying to start things with Rin. To their credit, the owners of the dog did try to stop his bad behavior most of the time. But it was certainly an ongoing situation.

The barking and lunging of the neighboring dog certainly put some stress on Rin, making him seem anxious. He is a dog friendly guy so he really just wanted to be able to meet the other dog. Anyway, eventually he settled down with us sitting around him and we noticed that he began to suck on his flank. And this is when John and I learned about flank sucking, as my sister explained to us that her vet had diagnosed him with this.

Flank sucking is a type of canine compulsive disorder (CCD) that is most often seen in Doberman Pinschers. It is characterized by a dog holding in its mouth, or sucking, a piece of its own flank skin. It is a repetitive act that is related to other nonnutritive sucking behaviors, such as blanket sucking. While seemingly harmless, it can lead to skin, hair, and behavioral issues if not managed properly.

It turns out that flank sucking is believed to be brought on my stress, anxiety or boredom in dogs. Typically it starts as a coping strategy, as the action releases relaxing endorphins. Sometimes it can become obsessive and chronic, creating a cycle of behavior, as anxiety relief is brought from the activity, and then the anxiety returns which leads again to the activity. Dogs with high anxiety might need only minor triggers once the behavior has become habitual. Flank sucking can usually be successfully managed by consistent therapy.

Treatment for this disorder is the same as for other CCDs, and can involve both medication and behavioral techniques. Often, this condition requires lifelong management, but control of symptoms is possible. A balanced diet can be important in helping to modify the behavior. Also, medications can be prescribed to help control the symptoms.

In addition, behavior and environmental modifications can help by removing stress that causes the behavior. You would want to understand what your dog's stress triggers are, what might frustrate your dog and the kind of structure that is present in day to day activities and whether there are factors that reinforce this behavior.

Some ways to help minimize this may include:
-Consistently maintaining a daily routine for your dog that includes feeding, playing, walking and sleeping
-Provide social interactions on a regular basis
-Create a restful area for times between social interactions that contains mentally-stimulating items to maintain interest, such as stimulating toys, chew toys, and objects with hidden foods
-Remove or avoid your dog’s stress triggers or frustrating activities
-Do not punish behavior, as it can lead to further anxiety
-Give rewards when desirable behaviors are exhibited
-Ensure your dog gets plenty of exercise, at least 60 to 90 minutes per day for large dogs
-Play calming audio or video recordings while your dog is left alone if he suffers from separation anxiety

You basically will need to always anticipate and reduce your dog’s triggers, and learn how to recognize the behavior and redirect when necessary. Successful management usually needs lifelong attention. Do any of you own a flank sucking dog?

If so, you may want to consider some basic obedience training. John and I took the month of August off from offering group lessons due to being busy with boarding dogs at the kennel and felt we just needed a break. But we are back to training and tonight will be week two of our September Basic Obedience Training.

If you have any training or boarding needs be sure to give us a call at 231-845-0550 to discuss what options might be a good fit for you and your dog.

08/27/2025

A big THANK YOU to all of our wonderful clients for their vote of confidence in making us the Voter’s Choice for Pet Boarding! We appreciate each and every one of you!

07/30/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Do Dogs Remember People?

John and I recently attended a birthday party with family and friends who were in town camping. When we arrived at the campground we were happily greeted by someone who we instantly recognized. Who remembers the dog Matilda? She was with us for many months after being surrendered. John put a lot of time into training her and I spent a lot of time just loving on her and exposing her to our dogs etc.

The greeting that we received from Matilda made me think she certainly remembers us. But have you ever stopped to ponder how dog memory works? Do dogs have memories like people do? And, if so, how long is a dog’s memory? It’s only natural to wonder if dogs can reminisce about past events. And though research on dog memory seems limited in my research, there’s growing evidence showing that dogs can learn and recall words, commands, people, and places.

According to some veterinarians who have studied this, they believe it's safe to say that dogs do remember specific things; such as where they buried bones in the backyard to a dog whose person has been deployed for many months. The recognition upon their return can be instant and deep.

Which reminded me of the times that John was deployed with the US Army for up to 13 months at a time. The first time he came home from that long deployment we were living on the Army post at Ft Riley. We decided to have John stay outside in the yard and I would let our two dogs out. I can't begin to explain the reaction that John's dog Britt had upon either seeing or smelling him. She went crazy! She didn't bark, she didn't growl, she simply screamed! So much in fact that a person driving down the street thought that she had somehow hit our dog! I have never seen a dog so happy and excited to see someone.

And so it makes me wonder, did Britt recognize John by sight or was it more by smell? According to experts, with some dog breeds having 100 million scent receptors (way more than the measly five million or so that humans possess), dog noses can capture a lot of information.

In many ways, scent is akin to language for dogs. One expert said that the similarities between dog and human brain wiring indicate there could be a connection between smell and a memory. And because dogs have such an impressive sense of smell, a big part of their memory could also be scent-based.

So back to our original question: Do dogs possess memories of us like we do of them? According to some research, the answer is a (qualified) yes. In general, dogs display relatively poor short-term memory. According to National Geographic, one 2014 study found that dogs tend to forget arbitrary events within two minutes. However, when it comes to events or stimuli that affect their survival — such as where to find food or the scent of a predator — dogs can form long-term associative memories.

So that means when your dog seems super happy to see you at the end of the day, it’s not your imagination. Your dog does remember you! But it has more to do with the food, shelter, and safety your dog associates with you than any particular heart-warming memory. Perhaps Matilda remembers John more from all of the feeding he did rather than the training he did with her. Either way, she was certainly happy to see John. And the memory that I have of John coming home from Iraq and Britt seeing him will forever be with me. It still brings tears to my eyes at how happy she was.

It was great to see how well Matilda is doing and how much she is loved. Sometimes dealing with difficult situations is just simply the right thing to do. And getting Matilda placed with such wonderful owners was challenging we are very happy that she is where she is.

Cotten's Sunset Kennels is taking the month of August off from training. We decided that we just simply needed a break. If you are interested in Basic Obedience Training please give us a call at 231-845-0550. Our next class will start in September. And of course don't forget to make your boarding reservations for any upcoming trips you may have planned. Have a wonderful day and we hope your dog greets you each day with as much enthusiasm as what Matilda did!

By the way, this photo that I have of Matilda is from 2022 and I have to say that Matilda of today looks so much better! She clearly is a very happy and thriving dog!

07/23/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Why Consistency Is Important

Consistency may be the hardest part of dog training. A dog that has good obedience doesn’t always have good household manners unless you teach them. And you need to teach them daily to build successful muscle memory. This is the message that we tell our clients when they are done with our four weeks of dog training. And this is why we continue to let you come back to dog training any time for free - consistency matters!

Dogs that know and understand commands are far less likely to jump on visitors, counter surf, get in the trash or chew on inappropriate objects. It requires enforcing rules, adding structure and continued effort on your part to teach your dog what to do and what not to do. And what does that mean? It means that you need to be consistent with your training all of the time. When they break command you need to be on top of it and correct it. Some people consider this mean and want their dog to like them so they don’t want to follow through with these rules and structure. But that doesn't work with dogs.

If you have gotten to this point with your dog it's not too late to go back and fix things. Simply pick a date to reset your habits and put dog training first on your list. We encourage owners to make it part of your daily routine. Every interaction you have with your dog is a teaching moment, so consistency is important.

Start by practicing commands in different parts of the house and yard and add in distractions as your dog is ready. Practicing daily is important in this process. Holding your dog accountable is critical and usually the toughest part for owners to implement. Practicing duration is helpful as you teach your dog what behaviors are acceptable. We tell all of our clients that a simple 15 minutes a day is the minimum that you need to train your dog effectively.

We often hear that the dogs do wonderful at home but when they come to class or go out in public, they forgot everything they learned. There is a solution to this problem - practice more often in public so your dog can learn to generalize the commands to various locations. Dog training shouldn't always happen at home. We recommend our group lessons for this reason - dogs learn quickly to respond to training with chaos going on around them. That's an important aspect of training - you need your dog to listen to you anywhere.

Once you have some basic training done with your dog you can begin to take them other places to again, do some training. Maybe take them to a dog-friendly place like Lowes or Tractor Supply. You don't even need to go into the establishment, simply put your dog on a "down" command outside the door of the store and watch people come and go. Also, if you want better behavior when people come over, you need to invite people over to practice.

Your dogs will never get better if you don’t practice often. The goal of this post is CONSISTENCY. If you only have someone over once a month or less, your dog will never get better with visitors since they can’t learn the muscle memory needed to be successful.

The bottom line is that you have to change your habits if you want to set your dog up for success. But your training habits need to be consistent. Create a schedule and plan how you will work with your dog each day. Put that training time on your schedule so it happens every day. Any time you interact with your dog do a bit of training. It can be that simple.

The more time, patience and consistency you invest in your dog early, the easier it will be as they get older. Keep in mind that if you act angry, frustrated and impatient, your dog will sense that and your training time will be wasted. Dogs gravitate to calm, confident and positive energy.

Tonight is the last week of training for our July Basic Obedience Class. We hope that every dog and owner go home with their newly trained dogs and keep consistent with the training.

If you have a need for dog training give us a call at 231-845-0550 to discuss different options that we offer. Also, don't forget to make your boarding reservations with us for any upcoming trips you may have. And lastly, go and enjoy your dog!

07/22/2025

07/18/2025

ATTENTION:
Our next Basic Obedience Group Lessons will start on September 3rd as we are taking the month of August off from training dogs. After four years of offering these lessons almost every month we just need a break. Thank you for your understanding. If you want to sign up for the September class give us a call at 231-845-0550.

07/16/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Why Recall Is One Of The Most Important Commands To Teach Your Dog

Have you ever been blown off by your dog when you have called them to come back to you? And by that I mean that they clearly hear you calling them with whatever command you use for recall, but they simply ignore you. Let me share something with you - dogs make mistakes. Even dog trainer's dogs. Ask us how we know! 🤣

In our Basic Obedience Training classes we teach the recall command of "here" to the dogs and owners. We use "here" as opposed to "come" as this is a bit of a stronger command to shout out when needed and it also carries better on the wind; meaning your dog can be further away and still hear you.

Having your dog understand and respond to a strong recall can literally save their life. You never know when your dog is going to get into a situation where you need them to come back to you not only immediately but also quickly. A good recall isn't having your dog meander back to you; it's having them come back to you at a run.

To create a strong recall, we must reinforce this behavior consistently and, crucially, avoid any form of punishment when our dogs finally come back to us. This is where many dog owners inadvertently undermine their training. It’s a common scenario: a dog gets loose, the owner spends ten minutes chasing after them, and when the dog finally returns, the owner, relieved but frustrated, scolds the dog.

From the dog’s perspective, this is confusing. They’ve made the effort to come back, only to be met with anger or disappointment. What the owner is really teaching at that moment is that coming back is something to be avoided because it leads to punishment or an unpleasant experience. This can make the dog hesitant to respond the next time they hear the recall command.

Instead, each time your dog comes back to you, it’s important to reward them—even if their return wasn’t as quick as you’d like. Praise, treats, or a favorite toy can make a world of difference in maintaining a positive association. This way, your dog learns that responding to recall always leads to something good, building a strong, reliable response over time. And this is important!

Recall is not just about getting your dog to respond to a cue. It’s about creating a clear and positive relationship with that cue so your dog knows what to do and feels happy doing it. With the right approach, you can help your dog understand that coming back to you is always the best choice. Through positive reinforcement, consistency, and lots of patience, you can build a recall that stands the test of time and ensures your dog's safety in every situation.

So next time your dog comes back when called, don’t forget to celebrate that little victory. It’s one more step toward a life where you and your dog can explore the world together with confidence and trust.

Tonight is week three of our Basic Obedience Class and we are excited to see everyone this week and to hear about how the training is going. We teach the recall command on our last week of training as we dedicate most of that last class to the recall.

If you are interested in learning more about our dog training give us a call at 231-845-0550 as we offer several options for training. Also, if you have an upcoming trip planned don't forget to make your boarding reservation with us. Enjoy your dog!

07/09/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Summer Heat And Your Dog

Summer seems to have finally arrived! This week it's been cool in the mornings and heating up later in the day. But last week we have hot humid days that seemed to last forever. We know that as July marches forward the warmer days will be here and we need to be mindful of our dogs during those hot days. Why? Because dogs are prone to overheating and this can result in a life-threatening emergency called heatstroke, which is caused by prolonged exposure to hot or humid environments, and it occurs more often during the summer months of course.

If you are wondering how you can prevent your dog from developing heatstroke and other heat-related injuries read on.

Following are some strategies that can be used to keep your dogs cool during warmer weather:

1) Limit activity to the cooler times of the day

-While the most direct sunlight occurs around noon, the day will be the hottest towards late afternoon, around 3-5 p.m. Plan for walks in the early morning or evening hours to avoid the hottest times of the day.

2)Provide access to shady areas

-Staying in the shade will help avoid excessive heat from direct sunlight.

3) Avoid strenuous exercise

-Strenuous exercise should be especially avoided during the hottest parts of the day, very humid days and during the early summer when pets may not yet be acclimated to the higher temperatures.

4) Keep indoors when there are extreme temperatures

-In extreme temperatures, high humidity or on days when there is a dramatic temperature change, it may be best to keep pets cool indoors, ideally with air conditioning or fans.

5) Offer frequent water breaks

-Always be sure to bring water and a collapsible bowl with you when you take your dog out and about, and remember to provide frequent opportunities for your dog to have a drink of water. Swimming pools or sprinklers are also effective tools to keep pups cool.

6) Use caution on hot asphalt and pavement

-Blacktop retains a lot of heat and can be much hotter than the ambient temperatures. While the pads on dogs’ paw are a lot tougher than our skin, they can still suffer burns from walking on hot pavement. If you cannot put your own hand or stand barefoot on the pavement for about 10 seconds, then it is likely too hot for your dog to walk on too.

7 )Never leave your dog in a car unattended

-Cracking the windows is not an effective way to keep the car cool. For example, even if it is only 70 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the temperature inside of the car can increase by 40 degrees in an hour. This can happen even more quickly, since the majority of the temperature increase occurs during the first 15-30 minutes. While you may be tempted to leave them in a running, air-conditioned car, it is unsafe to leave dogs unattended in running cars.

Tonight is week two of our Basic Obedience Class and we are looking forward to seeing how the first week of homework has gone. We have already heard from one client that her dog was walking so much better and ignoring other dogs and strollers etc on their walks so it's always rewarding to hear how well dogs are progressing.

In addition, we are pretty busy this summer with our boarding of dogs. So if you have an upcoming trip planned don't forget to make a reservation for your dog/cat with us. Now go and enjoy your dogs!

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July! Please have a safe and fun holiday and keep your pets inside and safe!

07/02/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Last 4th Of July Post!

Yes, it's another post about the 4th of July and your pets! But it's important. Why? Because July 5 is ranked as the single highest intake day for stray dogs nationwide. Again, stray dog intakes surge during the 4th of July week! Animal shelter and rescues see July 5th as the single highest intake day for stray dogs nationwide.

The last two weeks we have written articles about how to prepare and avoid issues with your dog or cat over this holiday. So today's article is going to be short but important. Following are some natural ingredients that you can look for in treats that can help to keep your animals calm. However, it's important to note that their effectiveness may vary depending on the individual dog and the specific situation in which they are used.

Some common active ingredients include:

-L-THEANINE: Amino acid found in green tea and some mushrooms that has been shown to reduce anxiety in some dogs
-VALERIAN ROOT: Herb with sedating properties that has been used to treat sleep issues and anxiety in people and dogs
-CHAMOMILE: Popular herb used for calming properties and to reduce anxiety
-PASSIONFLOWER: Herb traditionally used for anxiety and to help with sleep
-PHEROMONES: These can mimic the calming feelings of a nursing mother to her puppies
-MELATONIN: Hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycle and may ease anxiety in dogs

So if you are concerned that your animal may be stressed during the days leading up to and after the 4th of July look for treats with those ingredients. In addition, be sure and exercise your dog prior to this which helps keep them calm. We want all dogs to get through the holiday with the least amount of stress.

Tonight we begin our July Basic Obedience Classes. We are looking forward to meeting all of our new clients and working with them for the month. If you have any training needs be sure to reach out to us. We are currently taking reservations for our August and September classes.

We are completely booked for the 4th of July at our boarding facility. If you have travel plans this summer and are interested in boarding your dog give us a call at 231-845-0550 to make your reservations.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday! Go and enjoy your dogs.

06/26/2025

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For many people, pets are a cherished part of the family, and as animal lovers themselves, Allison and John Cotten, owners of Cotten’s Sunset Kennels, have created their business so

06/25/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
More 4th Of July Tips

We all feel the excitement coming - the BBQs, parades, art fairs and of course fireworks. Independence Day is filled with fun, sun, and celebrations for people, but it is filled with hazards for our four-legged family members. Read on for some important Fourth of July facts and how you can minimize the risks to your pet. Yes, we are talking about this again because it's important to us that all of our pets are kept safe during this holiday.

Fact #1:
MORE PETS ARE LOST ON THE 4TH OF JULY THAN ANY OTHER DAY OF THE YEAR. July 5 is the busiest day of the year for shelters, which may be why the month of June is National Pet Microchip Awareness Month. When animals get spooked, their fight-or-flight response often takes over and they flee and get lost. Consider these recommendations when making your holiday plans:

-Keep your pet indoors on the Fourth of July. Provide a long-lasting treat that will distract them from the noise and keep them comfortable while left alone.
-If you absolutely must bring your pet out with you, ensure he has an ID tag, his collar fits properly, and he is attached to a leash at all times. THIS IS IMPORTANT!
-Get your pet microchipped. This can be scheduled as a quick outpatient appointment with your veterinarian. If your pet is already microchipped make sure your contact info is updated.
-Take a photo of your pet, which will help your community identify him should he be lost and found.

Fact #2
PETS CAN BE DESENSITIZED TO THE LOUD NOISE OF FIREWORKS
Some pets have severe noise aversions, particularly to fireworks. You can help minimize this reactivity with the following preparations:

-If you know fireworks will be set off close to your home, consider taking your pet to another safe place, such as a family member or friend’s home or even to Cotten's Sunset Kennels, out in the country.
-In the weeks leading up to the 4th of July begin to play firework "music" that can be found on www.YouTube.com. Begin with it playing softly and slowly increase the volume.
-Try playing soft, relaxing music for your pet when loud noises are expected. We play music at our kennel for boarded animals.
-Consider over-the-counter oral supplements and appeasing pheromones that may alleviate minor noise aversions.
-Medications may be necessary to eliminate a pet’s severe anxiety associated with fireworks and other loud noises. If you know your pet has severe noise aversion, call your vet before the fireworks show so they can help.

Fact #3
POTENTIAL TOXINS ARE WITHIN A NOSE'S REACH
Alcohol, glow sticks, bug spray, and citronella products are commonly found at Fourth of July gatherings, and they can potentially harm our pets.

-Alcohol, which can taste sweet and be alluring to pets, is toxic to animals. Alcohol toxicity can manifest with signs of depression, weakness, or even coma.
-Glow sticks also may tantalize and grab your pet’s attention. While the iridescent substance inside these products is not typically highly toxic, ingestion can cause gastrointestinal upset and potential obstruction if large pieces are swallowed.
-Bug spray or citronella products should never be applied to your pet. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, excessive thirst, and neurologic signs. Inhalation of citronella oils can potentially cause aspiration pneumonia or other respiratory problems.

We want everyone to enjoy the 4th of July and that includes your pets. Please be sure to take appropriate actions to keep all of your pets safe during this holiday. As you know, the fireworks don't end on the 4th of July so you may need to follow this for a few or more days. Or you can simply board your dog at our kennel out in the country to give you peace of mind while you are enjoying the fireworks.

Tonight is our last night for the June Basic Obedience Classes. We are excited to see how each of the dogs is doing this week. It's amazing to reflect back at the first night and compare it to the last week of training. As always, go and enjoy your dogs. And keep them safe!