FACTS K9

17/07/2023

Sad news, we lost a wonderful old dog today. While I was shocked she had made it through winter but she seemed determined to be my little friend as I went about the day doing chores around the place. Even blind, she always seemed to know where I was. Friday she was even happy to have chicken hearts and beef for supper, so though she had another IVE , once she got up and wanted supper I thought she had rallied again. But the last days I knew the time was near and she slipped away this morning.

Not very often you get a dog who is so good with puppies; also, a real asset when teaching reactive rover classes as she NEVER reacted back, always stayed neutral, and even passed her test and was a demo dog in Therapy dog workshops.

Her greatest joy was swimming, snacking and fetching her ball. I hope she is doing that somewhere now , running free from pain or disease that comes for our elderly dogs. 16 years here, forever in our hearts. Say hi to Suzi and Jovi for us Apple.

10/05/2023

Tales of a very old dog.
I thought for sure it was her last winter, Apple being a very very old dog now, but she came through. I hesitated to groom her thinking it was too much for her, her health and mental acuity was failing. Encouraged to try by a friend and colleague, I figured, ride or die, she needed to be made comfortable or let go. It was a hack job for sure, quick, pre shave, deep cleansing bath, air dry and home to bed. No extra clipping no sc******ng, just whack of hair as quick as possible and get her home.
She began to build liver ascites and went off her food. Just when I thought it was time to say good bye... the supplements I started her on and change of food(finally got her to eat raw again) and she has rallied once again. Tolerates the puppies that visit, interested in what I am doing again, follows me around the quonset, and actually heard my voice the other day and now hears me if I yell really loud, she will now respond to her name. And the liver ascites have dissipated. Yes I know its only a matter of time, she is after all beyond the years she should have been here. But as long as she wants to eat and interact I will keep her comfortable till the day she takes her last sleep.

04/05/2023

Just 2 of the litter of Standard Poodle Puppies available from Lakeside Doodles, Poodles and Retrievers. Go check them out. All parents are owned by Tracy and live with the family. They are tested for nice temperament and health. Lovely dogs looking for families.
Lakeside Doodles, Poodles and Retrievers for more information or www.lakesidepuppies.ca

08/04/2023

I got a "special delivery" for an Easter surprise. These lovely 'visitors' came to get spruced up for Spring. The top 2 came as support for each other , at the same time. One turned out to be a fair-weather friend in that , while one of them provided support for the other while in the tub and on the grooming table, the other one, who shall stay unamed to protect the guilty retriever😉(rhymes with 'nutter') bailed on her friend and stayed by the door sleeping when it was the other guy's turn. Following those visitors a lovely old Goldie came to get a touch up as well.

03/04/2023

So when folks ask, "hey, how come you don't post many videos of your dogs etc?" , may I present Exhibit A. ...today I attempted to get approx 1 min of video of a friend running her dog at the show; trying to see the gaiting of the dog. This brilliant marvel is what I achieved. Your honor, the defense rests its case. Sigh.

09/02/2023

Featuring a day inf the life of a dog groomer. Prestige Dog Grooming School - Calgary campus

THIS! THIS RIGHT HERE!
They say a picture paints a 1000 words. The story is here for all to see.
Prestige School mission and Prestige staff following through. Instructors that bring a passion for the industry and the clients., and a dedication to pass that on to our students.
Yuki(whom her colleagues refer to as "a treasure" , which she is) , and various staff members worked with patience and kindness on this very anxious boy to complete a much needed groom.
Here they are both pictured taking a much needed break.
A photo that encapsulates kindess, dedication, patience, and showcases the experience to know when its time to take a pause.
If you are looking for a top-of-the-line education- unique to the industry, and dedicated to helping you be the best you can be in the field of dog grooming, call us today to set up a tour or to talk about how our programs could be for you.

16/01/2023

Sometimes you get "the look" , but then its all over , and nice clean doggie feels much better. Or at least I told her that!!!

09/01/2023

We are excited to offer this lovely 9month old pup for placement in a pet home. While she originally came in to our Service Dog in Training program for A.A.T.A , the decision has been made that she would be far happier in a settled pet home. She does not particularily enjoy car rides and is much better suited to acreage life.
She is kind and gentle, enjoys other dogs, cats , kids and people and will make a lovely family or companion dog for a country setting. Please DM for details.

12/12/2022

Some eally nice sturdy intelligent pups, Mom is a really solid , even-tempered St. Bernard, Dad a moyen(small/med) poodle. Both adults good with other animals and even silly chickens. Pups raised with kids and other animals. Looking for homes. PM for details.

25/11/2022

A very very old doggie wishes the young fella best of luck in his show this weekend.

19/11/2022

17/11/2022

While someone definitely needs a groom, more important however, someone needs to learn to chill, relax (even go to sleep as in the photo) but not expect the human end of the leash to give constant attention. Just go to your quiet, relax place - there's a good dog!

12/11/2022

Welcome K9 Jet. Here for a wellness stay. We will get those problematic ears and teeth sorted out as well as get some basic manners solidified. While her people did give her a "creative groom' , we have all decided that she will be a good candidate for our grooming students to do some tweaking to her home-done groom. Owners admitted that poodle grooming was not their thing but they did at least keep her from becoming too matted. With a porti tail, cavy feet and a creative headpiece, they certainly gave her an ecletic groom.

12/11/2022

The moment you realize the drawbacks of really rewarding the dog for finding value in "close" to you. NOT when there are snowshoes on you silly dog. She followed right in the path I trod in the snowshoes and managed to step on them every second step. Sheesh.

30/10/2022

Lots of desheds this time of year . Owners like these dogs very natural, and we must never touch the golden tail, so we don't...but its okay to give a little pants trim and tidy straggles. Toys are fun when you find them! Coats clean and deshed and time to go home.

05/10/2022

It may look like chickens, but these crazy animals so love the dog's training field so they are henceforth known as distracted dog training devices! Then off for our long walk and found a new dugout, most of the dogs are in the water in that pic and this one needed to shake it off on me of course. Puppy working on recalls in the field when all big dogs off running. She is doing very well!

25/09/2022

FACTSK9 is sad to report that a long time client has now passed over the rainbow bridge. She was a lovely old BC who had a lovely life with a lovely family. I know she will be greatly missed. Goodbye dear Shadow,you will be greatly missed!

09/09/2022

Groomer/Trainer etc. rant: So often folks will book into a new groomer/trainer and once there complain about how bad the last groomertrainer was! I normally don't entertain this talk and shut it down quickly as I know well from years of experience, as do all in any service type industry , one gets used to these Karen's that like to blame everyone but themselves. Basically, they are bullys!

Case in point: I don't normally take on new grooming clients without referrals any longer. So many either very matted , uncared for dogs that owners are obnoxious about when you suggest ways to help and you just facilitate their neglect by not holding them responsible, or very untrained dogs who are a risk to themselves or you. However, a client got my card and chatted with me about coming with their dog for a groom. My spidey senses went off as they launched into the awfulness of their "last experience". I shut this talk down of course, and made no commitment but just out of curiousity followed up on her story as I wanted to know if my feelings about this "story" were real.
Sure enough, turns out the dog was in such severe condition (and yes there were pictures to back it up) and had massive sores underneath the matts that the groomer had lit into them and told them they had better be seeing a vet or there would be follow up by animal control. My spidey senses once again held true. Groomer said they had never in their 10 year career seen anything like the neglect on this dog.
My point is , do not judge the groomer/vet/trainer etc based on someone's horror story. Do your own research. In this day and age, with so many lies flying around, do your own research!
Meanwhile, my girl sent me this pic of her recent vacay and I am enviously looking at it wishing I too, was in that forest!

08/09/2022

We currently have 3 campuses to choose from. If you are considering a career as a dog groomer, check us out!

25/08/2022

Here I guess he liked a dryer path ,

25/08/2022

Super proud of my daughter who has never treated her little dogs(previous dog who just passed away was a very small chihuahua who lived a life of outdoors , hiking , kayaking -passing away as a seniour with a life well lived) as frail furbabies but rather honored them as a species capable of so much more and thus even the little guys live a very robust and enriched life. This is her new fella and looks like he can handle whatever is in his path!

23/08/2022

WELP. The feeling when you realized what you just said, " Booth, get out of the pool and come for supper," was not said to a child,. Nor was it said to a grandchild. It was said to a dog! A nice dog, but still... this is how you now talk to the dogs. Sigh. That's all.

22/08/2022

and the Halloween aisle, no Chuckies, but still on the creep factor side!

22/08/2022

did a couple of novel things with our current SDiT, and though it was very intriguing, she adapted well and handled whatever I was throwing her way. Apparantly , hoomans do strange things and puppys just come along for the ride!

15/08/2022

Its time to retire from duty, old girl. You have been AMAZING as a therapy dog , a calming influence dog in my training classes , and a puppy raiser for countless puppies that came through various training programs at our home and kennel. But now you just get to rest and enjoy your last bit of journey with us here.

We have had a very difficult 10 days or so with old Apple . Things changed with her that led me to believe she had a stroke or IVD and it seemed to be touch and go. Though I knew she was not in pain, I wanted to ensure if she was leaving us , that she could be comfortable.

It was hand feeding-a lot of different foods were tried!; trying every naturopathic supplement I though would help; therapeutic massage (she really responded to that which I used to keep her circulation going when she couldn't really walk ,)and getting her up to drink and guiding her as her eye had disappeared inside her orb and her other eye is blind.

If I felt she was in pain or that she was done fighting, I would have made some hard decisions . But despite how she was struggling, I still felt some fight to go on and even in her disorientation she responded to my voice and just tried.

She responded also to the concoctions and massage and though we have a way to go, and she is unsteady on her feet still, she is eating happily and doing her rounds again though she will not be put with puppies or any of the big dogs anymore as she is too frail.

So her career as a wonderful helper dog is over, but her retirement in comfort and peace begins. And as soon as she is feeling a bit better , its off to the salon for a comfort groom too.

Good girl Apple , we'll do your sunset journey on your terms!

07/08/2022

A very very old, entitled, little shihtzu, stole the resting place of the visiting for boarding senior pom, so when I tried to get them to share the raised bed for a photo op, one old pom was having no part of that nonesense! Even though they share each other's space, water, food bowls, outdoor yard just for them and bones they find together, but share a raised bed for a photo, that was gonna be a firm NO. Crazy little old dogs!