Filkins Kennel & Dog Training

14/06/2022

Dog boarding closed until August due to a plethora of baby animals on our property at the moment. 🥰
Training will resume in the fall!

01/03/2022

Dog Boarding space
Available April, 2022

01/12/2021

Boarding and Training spots FULL though December!
See y’all in 2022!

12/11/2021

December Availability:

🐾 Pet Boarding

🐾 Dog Training Lessons

Contact us to schedule! 🙂

26/08/2021

Booking now for September and October!

🐶 Boarding for dogs and small pets.

🐶 Obedience Dog Training

23/08/2021

Training spot available starting in September!

Obedience lessons in Suffolk, VA

Contact for more info.

19/08/2021

We all know dogs need exercise for their bodies, but what can we do for exercise for their minds?

The best exercise you can provide for your dog’s body and brain is training of course!

Building a teaching relationship and training your dog’s brain to enjoy learning and working is in both your interests for a symbiotic life together.

When your dog isn’t actively training, resting, or just doing dog stuff, you can provide him with safe mind and body enriching activities. In fact, I highly recommend enrichment activities for home management when your dog isn’t actively training with you. These activities will help stimulate your dogs’ brain and give him the release he needs to be able to relax.

Toys alone often won’t do the trick. Yes, spending 30 seconds pulling the stuffing out of a toy is fun for your dog! And enriching - but it can also be dangerous if the fabric is ingested.

The RIGHT activities are important, as well as appropriate supervision and knowledge of how your dog engages with various toys/treats.

Here are some of the FOOD enrichment activities I recommend for helping your dog calm in his kennel and at home.

Lick mat (frozen)
Stuffed Kong (frozen)
Stuffed Buffalo horn
Treat puzzle
Puzzle ball
Snuffle mat
Stuffed Kong wobbler
Stuffed hol-ee roller ball
Shred box

Most of these are great for calm in the kennel, but will always depend upon your dog’s natural inclination and where he is in training. Never leave your dog unattended with an object he could eat.

Alternate these food based activities to keep your dog interested and engaged and have fun! 🙌

16/08/2021

PSA Facebook no longer allows business REVIEWS for pages with under 2,000 likes. I’ll be working on getting some references up on my website ASAP. I have reviews, they just don’t show up.

07/08/2021

Booked full for August!

One BOARDING spot available for September!

21/07/2021

Just a reminder that we also board small pets!

Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and rats all welcomed. 🥰 We are experienced rabbit owners (from Netherland Dwarf to Flemish Giant!) and keep all small animals indoors with central air conditioning and separate for safety, comfort and health.

20/07/2021

Training reopened starting August 1!

03/08/2020

Beat overheating and enjoy an air-conditioned adventure with your dog this month. Here's a list of 30+ stores that allow your dog to join you while you shop - but be sure to call ahead, as some locations have different policy.

https://barkpost.com/life/dog-friendly-stores

"No, those shoes look ridiculous with that outfit. So.... can I eat 'em?"

30/07/2020

We're open again as of August 1! Send us a message to make an appointment for boarding or set up dog training!

We look forward to having you here to sit, stay and play!

13/06/2020

Why use a muzzle? And how 😉

25/03/2020

Temporarily closed due to Covid-19. We are doing our best to practice and will not be taking new clients until we can safely proceed. We are open for your questions and planning for future dog training and boarding needs via phone, Email or Facebook Messenger.

03/02/2020

Crate Training IS...

Safety: A place for your dog to relax where he is contained away from potentially life-threatening temptations, such as chewing your rug or getting into the garbage bin. His crate should also be HIS safe, quiet hideaway for when you have noisy guests or he just wants to rest without disruption.

Convenience: Kennel your dog when you are at work, while having the carpets cleaned, if you have over young noisy guests, repair-persons who may be dog-nervous, etc. If you have multiple pets, you understand that separating your dogs at some point is a necessary part of management and care, whether that be for individual exercise, training, grooming, etc. It is never inconvenient to have a crate trained dog!

Preparedness: Crate training your dog properly will prevent over-nervousness for stays at the groomer, vet, for travel, moving, evacuation, boarding or temporary stay with a friend or family member in the case of owner hospitalization. Imagine never or rarely having been contained and then being suddenly put in a crate in a new place during a time or great stress. I also recommend car kenneling for general vehicle safety as well as veterinary emergency preparedness.

Structure: Crate training is an opportunity to bond and practice structure and fun obedience with your dog! It is also an opportunity for the owner to practice behavior management. Whether you are working on house-breaking or wanting your dog to follow a household routine, the crate is your friend. Everyone needs a break sometimes, and your dog’s crate is an excellent “time-out” space between training lessons. Which brings us to...

Crate Training IS...

NOT punishment
NOT a replacement for training
NOT where your dog spends his whole life

Questions? Comments? You know what to do!

31/01/2020

February is almost here, and we're ready for you to start your next adventure with us! We are 100% family owned and operated, with a lifetime experience with dogs, big and small. We offer dog training from puppy through senior years, dog boarding and light grooming services. Contact us today!

30/01/2020

It's a new year, and while it may not be a "new you" there's always room for improvement.

If you hear clicking on your floors or deck instead of a soft padding, it's time to come in for a pawdicure!

Short nails are better for...

Posture, walking & running: Long nails force your dog to stand and move incorrectly, putting too much pressure in the wrong places.

Spine, hips, elbows, general paw health: Healthier movement means a stronger support system for the whole body.

Puppy joint and bone development: It's never too early to start - in fact, the sooner your begin regular grooming practices, the easier your dog will be with paw care in the future. And of course, your puppy needs healthy movement to grow correctly! Your puppy's PADS should walk firmly on the ground, without impeding nail or excessive getting in the way. Slipping and sliding instead of firm steps on the group weakens your puppy's growing joints.

Geriatric care: Even dogs who have lived long with unruly nails can benefit from proper nail and paw care moving forward. Improvements in posture can help achy hips and other preexisting join issues.

Healthier practices in paw care can help you avoid infections and catch problems early.

Plus, no one likes scratched up floors, doors and furniture.

Shoot us a message to make an appointment today and we'll get those paws trimmed, cleaned and nails under control.

31/12/2019

Happy New Year!
My next boarding opening is February, 2020.

15/11/2019

I have one training spot opening after the holidays. Bring your unruly pup in for foundational obedience or mature dog for advanced obedience to behavior modification. Shoot me a message now and we can start planning!

05/11/2019

Currently have 1-2 boarding spots open for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.

31/10/2019