Keke’s Bed and Barkfast, LLC

05/19/2023

Thank you all so much for your support but we are officially permanently closed! 💚

03/19/2023

Not listening outside of the home is a very big issue.

There are so many distractions for your dog outside...new smells, sights, movement...other people and other animals including dogs.
Many dogs struggle to listen to the "basics" in these environments and yet we expect them to.

If you really want to help with this take a step back.

Get those basics in while slowly expanding those distractions.
If you go from your home to a park......that may be too much for your dog....so start outside your own house in your yard...or just on your street away from your house a few metres.

Let your dog be your guide to this.
They will tell you they are distracted by their focus and actions...so help them by not increasing those distractions until you can have focus in the slightly distracting areas....build on that.

All of this when done well builds confidence in your dog.

Help them in these environments....they need you to limit these and not increase until they are ready...there is no rush for this.

You will also need distance from distractions....too close and your dog will likely not listen.

Remember to PRAISE when your dog has done well....it is really difficult for some dogs to listen to you when there is so much going on around....when they do well, show them.

03/19/2023

Happy Sunday! Have a GOLDEN week! ☀️
DAYCARE CLIENTS:
We are only open Monday and Tuesday this week. We have company coming! 🥰

03/18/2023

I slacked on pictures today.. But here is a cutie we have right now! Weller 💚💚

03/15/2023

JUST A REMINDER I AM 100% BOOKED SPRING BREAK! I appreciate y’all sending everyone my way but I cannot keep anymore dogs that week. 😊
I will look like this by time it’s over!

03/15/2023

Nothing like a golden kiss! 💓

03/15/2023

03/14/2023

When that sun creeps out for a minute we take advantage!

03/12/2023

Daycare clients:
Open Monday through Thursday this week!
Reminder:
Closed March 22nd-27th
Closed April 3rd-6th
Looks like we will get a little outside time this week.

03/09/2023

Drum roll please...
PAJAMA DAY! 🌟 💤 🛌

03/09/2023

Good to know. We feed Purina Pro Plan! 🙏🏻

03/09/2023

Dolly is ready for pajama day!

03/08/2023

Sun is out just a little!

03/06/2023

Full house today! Two popped in for daycare and two of them are boarding with me. 😁
Friendly group right here!

03/06/2023

03/06/2023

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

03/06/2023

Happy Professional Pet Sitters Week™!

This annual observance was first introduced by PSI in 1995, and this year marks the 29th celebration of PSI's Professional Pet Sitters Week.

This annual observance honors professional pet-care providers, seeks to educate the pet-owning public about the advantages of professional in-home pet care and encourages pet-loving entrepreneurs to explore professional pet sitting as a viable career.

👉Learn more at www.petsit.com/ppsweek

03/06/2023

Reminder:
Daycare is closed Tuesday the 7th

03/04/2023

Oh my gosh!!!!!
Our backyard will be fixed VERY SOON!!
We need good weather!

Finally, less mud and NO sand! We’re ready for green grass and ROCK! 😁😁

*we removed our family pool last year and it left a mess*

03/03/2023

My dogs barely made it this morning. 😂🤣

03/02/2023

The sun fooled us for a minute. 😅 the long haired dogs love the weather though 😂

03/01/2023

Reminder! Next week on March 9th it is Pajama Day! 💕

Daycare clients!
Save the date:
March 9th will be Pajama Day 🎉
I will take their pictures with treats that morning and then I will remove their pajamas for nap time. 😊

03/01/2023

We love hanging with the dogs!! 🥰

03/01/2023

Appeasement Licking.
This is always a difficult subject as often this is something which is misread or dismissed as affection or "kisses".

Not ALL licking is appeasement licking, appeasement licking is usually paired with other stress signals or calming signals....and I know that may be tricky for some to notice.

Licking is completely normal for dogs. It can be a healthy and socially acceptable behaviour between other dogs. It is relaxing, soothing and can be displayed for many reasons.
However appeasement licking can also be shown to other dogs, even ones they know and live with.

Licking can be used as a greeting, a show of affection and can also be a sign of a deep bond, seeking more information and tasting.....so absolutely your dog can lick you as a sign of affection.....there is no question of that.🙂

However...sometimes others can misconstrue or misread these signals.

If you are in any doubt over why your dog licks either you or another dog...video the interaction.
Watch that video and look for tell tale signs of stress (some are mentioned in the graphic).

One of the worst feelings in the world is when I have to inform someone that those certain types of "kisses" do not come from a place of affection but can be from a place of fear, mistrust and stress.

03/01/2023

Recall is important!

We've hear lots of opinions about off leash dogs-we're wondering where you fall on the scale? Does your dog go off leash? If so, where and most important- do they have a reliable recall?
Lets take a little poll using the corresponding responses:

LIKE: My dog can recall reliably around distractions (including from dogs and people)

LOVE: My dog can recall to me, but not when there are distractions

CARE: My dog is still working on recall, so I use a long line or practice in appropriate areas

LAUGH: My dog does not recall well so we do not go off leash

WOW: Other

We're interested to learn about you and your dogs!

02/28/2023

DAYCARE CLIENTS:
Closed Tuesday March 7th

02/28/2023

I wish every day was like this.

02/27/2023

The wind isn’t stopping us but the hole in our pool did 🥲 I’ll have to go get another!

02/26/2023

Dogs remember. 💚💚💚
I haven’t seen Bo since last summer I believe🥰

02/25/2023

Maverick is here for the weekend! 💚

02/25/2023

Truth!

02/24/2023

My heart is melting!!!! 💕💕💕

02/24/2023

How has your business changed you? 🔀Running a business is a process of constant growth and change. We do not exist, or run our company in a vacuum, so we must constantly adapt and evolve to client’s needs. This means exposing ourselves to new ways of thinking, trainings, books, and deepening of personal relationships.

It is a constant, iterative process of taking small steps every single day. So, when we look up 10 years later, we are not the same as we are today. We take intentional steps to grow.

Emily, with Pet Sitting and Care by Emily, shared her story and how she provides exceptional pet care, in episode 363. Click here:
➡️ petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/363

02/23/2023

My dachshund is the worst!

Window reactivity....highly problematic and stressful for everyone. This "game" is responsible for high levels of anxiety and stress to many dogs.
Barking is NOT the only sign your dog is being stressed by this repeated action....it is just that barking is far more noticeable to some people.....the anxiety/stress started a long time before.

Many dogs will wait and wait and wait......finally they are "rewarded" for that fixation with a fleeting glimpse of whatever they react to.
People
Cars
Dogs
Birds
Neighbours
Cycles
Wind moving a tree....there are many individual triggers.

They may race around the house in a pattern to another window to view and react again......then when out of view, back to the original spot to wait...and wait some more.

This IS a highly damaging "game" for dogs.

Many people with anxious dogs may not actually realise their dogs do this when they are out of the house.....as it may not happen when you or the family are home.
You may have a highly anxious dog but are completely unsure why. Set up a camera and watch while you are gone for a few hours.

There are many ways to help this.
Baby gates.
These limit movement and are one solution (but easily jumped by larger dogs).
The "easiest" solution is window film.....not a popular solution for some people. Blinds and curtains are often ineffective as dogs will position themselves to watch through/under or around them. Watch the height of chairs your dog may use to peer over the film....think about ways to prevent that, you may need to move furniture around.
Aesthetically it may not be appealing for some, or the film has to be incredibly high if the triggers are birds. Some people are reluctant to use film as a solution especially if they have a fantastic view..... but make no mistake.....this very rarely gets better by itself.

It can also get a WHOLE lot worse.

Reactivity can morphs outwards and what once was a reaction to dogs passing has now involved birds also....or cars....or cars and now cyclists and people.

The film may work well for some but there is a big caution sign at the bottom of the graphic.....for a small amount of dogs blocking view can be incredibly stressful....and a SMALL amount of dogs can find themselves in an even MORE stressful environment.

Try the film....it can be a miracle solution but PLEASE get a trainer in if this causes other issues.
Highly stressed dogs need help quickly.

Enjoy the difference and peace...because your dog absolutely will.

02/23/2023

I’ll let them dry off before they go home 😂

02/23/2023

10000000% FULL FOR SPRING BREAK!!!!!
I will be closing daycare that week.
I will have 9 dogs I’m boarding. 😳😱

I am still taking deposits for your summer vacations!
I believe I have ONE spot left the week of the 4th of July!

Our backyard will be fixed in a few weeks. We are replacing the sand with dirt and rock. We hope this fixes our mud issue for the most part. 😵‍💫😁