National Train Your Dog Month - Tips

National Train Your Dog Month

Here are ten great training tips to help you and your pet have a relaxing training experience!

1. Listen to your dog
  If your dog is showing signs of stress (lip licking, panting without being hot/exerted, tucked tail, half moon eyes), then maybe a break is in order. Your pet is trying to communicate with you that they are uncomfortable or stressed. 

2. Give them tons of affection!

  It's easy to let out frustration when a dog isn't quite grasping the training, but many owners forget to reinforce the good things! Be generous with praise! This helps build a positive relationship and a stronger bond, which will result in the pet wanting to please you by doing well in training! It's okay to be over the top with your affection!

3. Is your pet enjoying the reward?

   Treats are a great way to reward a pet. You don't need to buy high-priced treats that have "all dogs love them" plastered all over the bag. Use a special treat that you know your dog absolutely loves. Pieces of cheese, hot dogs, and peanut butter are among favorites! Small soft treats are especially great for training.

4. Say no to saying no!
    It's okay to say "no" sometimes, but it's not very effective in training. Be specific with commands. If your dog is jumping to greet people, instead of shouting "NO!" try calmly saying "sit" or "down." If you just say "no" the dog may think you want them to jump higher or to the left instead of the right. When you give your dog a specific command the dog knows exactly what you expect from him/her.   

5. Consistency is key!

   Make sure everyone in the household is on the same page. If you plan on attending a training class, take the family with you. If you are training at home, make a list of commands to put in a common space. If you taught your dog "down" and someone else is saying "lay," this can create inconsistencies and confusion in the training. Get everyone on board for your dog's success!

6. Make obtainable goals!
    You probably didn't become an expert in your profession or hobby over night. Don't expect your dog to perfect their training in one day. Learning takes time! "Normal" dog behaviors such as barking and digging will likely take more time to correct. You must also factor in the amount of time the pet was allowed to exhibit a behavior. If the dog was always allowed to jump on visitor's, then the behavior could take longer to correct. All behavior can be changed, some habits just take longer to change! Be patient and understanding. 

  

7. Feed them brain food!

   Never underestimate the power of high-quality food! Get a food with the appropriate amount of protein. Higher energy dogs need more protein than less active dogs. If you ate fast food that was high in fat and low in protein, you may feel sluggish and find it hard to focus. The same applies to dogs! In addition, the money you spend on better food will save you money on vet bills and will likely add time to your pet's life.

8. You get what you train, not what you want!
   Negative reinforcement is rampant in pet ownership. Has your dog ever been barking and you gave them a bone or toy to try to quiet them? If you have ever caved to your dog to get them to stop a behavior, you're actually rewarding them for that behavior! They learn that their pesky behavior will get them what they want out of you. Every interaction with your pet is a training opportunity. An easy solution is giving the dog a command before a reward. If the dog barks, ask him/her to "lay down" or "sit," then reward them for listening to the command.

 

9. Rewards are not bribery!
   Treats are the easiest form of reward. Why not?! They work wonders! Make sure that the reward produces the treat; the treat should not produce the behavior

 

10. Let freedom ring!

   A dog should gradually earn freedom. A common mistake is giving the dog total freedom right from the start. This can often result in potty accidents and destructive chewing. Use training crates for safe zones for your dog and block off other rooms in the house. Once your dog's behavior begins to change, gradually let them explore more areas of the house. 

NYE Bow Wow Bash!

NYE Bow Wow Bash

We're excited to be hosting our 4th annual Bow-Wow bash! If you have a New Year's Eve party to go to, this is the perfect opportunity to let your pup party too! The dogs will enjoy supervised play times all night long, complete with fun activities like bubbles and a "hot tub!" Your pup will be going home ready for a long nap, giving you time to recover too!

Drop off hours for this event (with daycare included!) will be our regular holiday hours from 7am to 2pm. Additional drop off hours for just the event will be 4pm-6pm. The dogs will play from 10pm to 6am, with a one hour rest time. Pick up time will be New Year's day from 9am to 10am. Lodging can be added for an additional charge. Appointments must be made in advanced. 

Call today to secure your pup's chance to party!

Benefits of Senior Pets

Benefits of Senior Pets

 
     Their affection is timeless. Their devotion is ageless. Their love is furever! November is National Adopt a Senior Pet month, and we're celebrating by doing a special article about the benefits of adopting a senior pet! Here are our top ten benefits of adopting a senior pet!

     If you're looking for very specific attributes, such as "good with children and other pets" or a pet that has a verified good health history then adopting an older pet could be your best option! When you adopt an older pet, you can "custom order" all of the qualities that you are searching for in your furever friend!

     If you have a favorite breed, chances are there is a rescue somewhere near you that rescues that specific breed. You'll be able to get a purebred pet, while still rescuing a displaced animal! It's a win-win for everyone!

     There are often not many surprises when adopting an older pet; what you see is exactly what you're adopting. The coat, general overall health, and size are already determined. When adopting a young animal, colors and patterns on the coat may change, health issues specific to a breed may arise, and size is always the biggest surprise! When adopting an older pet, there's no need to worry about any of those surprises!

     In addition to owners being able to hand pick favorable qualities, older pets also have developed refined petiquette. Senior pets have years of experience living with a family and being socialized, unlike excitable puppies that are still learning manners. Many older pets will know basic obedience such as sit, stay, and down. They may even know a few tricks! Many are house trained and it takes them less than a few hours to learn the new house rules.

     Contrary to the old saying, you can teach an old dog new tricks. Adult dogs have been living socialized with people for most, if not all, of their lives. They are keen to understanding humans and what we expect. They also have a higher ability to focus compared to their puppy counterparts. Older dogs are more attentive and eager to please.

     Because they've lived in other homes, older pets understand that everything in the house is not theirs to chew on. Dogs, much like people, go through various stages in life, including a "terrible toddler" stage. Older pups won't likely be chewing your electronics or shoes, and your older kitty won't be too curious about potted plants and shredding your keepsakes.

     Older pets are extremely relaxing to spend time with because they are so well behaved. They also have had plenty of years to perfect the art of cuddling! You won't have to worry about copious amounts of training, or finding ways to burn of extensive amounts of puppy energy. That gives you time to focus on nothing but positive time to do special and relaxing things with your furbaby.

     Senior pets are perfect companions for senior citizens. Older pets are much calmer and much more accepting (and usually prefer) to relax all day long. Young pets need a great deal of attention and exercise. The company of senior pets is often very comforting for senior citizens that may night have the energy to look after a young pet. Older pets are completely content walking through life at a slow pace!

     Adopted senior pets are thankful for your compassion. Older pets seem to have a sense that you gave them another chance when no one else would. Owner-pet bonds form instantly with older adopted pets because the animal shows the owner a higher level of regard and loyalty.

     You get to be the hero! People that adopt older animals feel a certain pride and purpose, and they should! Adopting an older pet means opening your home to a hard-to-place pet and giving them another shot at being part of a loving family.

Parker's Pointers for Halloween

Parker's Pointers

Halloween Edition

          Halloween is one of my favorite holidays! There are so many decorations to get into and bat around. Fake cob webs? ATTACK! Those wonderful decorative corn stalks? KNOCK 'EM DOWN! You get my point. Around the holidays there are often various new and exciting things for your pets to explore and play with. While I love all of those new "toys," my least favorite thing is all of the monsters that sound like they ate children coming to the door! There's so many, they're so loud, and so spooky! This means you must be cautious with decorations and when trick-or-treaters come knocking on the door. In this edition of Parker's Pointers, I'll give you tips to make Halloween purrrrfect for you and your pets.

          While we, as your pets, have the absolute cutest faces and have mastered the art of begging, the bowl of candy is only for the trick-or-treaters to dip into. Candies can be very dangerous, and even fatal, for many of us. Dark chocolates and candies containing Xylitol are especially dangerous for animals! If your pet pulled a Houdini and made some candy vanish, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Center at 1-888-426-4435 immediately. If you can't help but to drop us some seasonal treats try making or buying pet-friendly pumpkin products! Pumpkin is actually has many health benefits for pets. Check out some fun pumpkin treat recipes by clicking here! 

          Curiosity isn't just a trait us cats carry; all animals are curious, especially when new things are introduced into the home. Be careful with decorative plants like squash and corn. We may want to nibble those and doing so could upset our tummies. Likewise, be cautious with placement of wires and cords to electrical decorations. These make perfect floss for us when we have those delicious treats you made us stuck between our teeth, so chewing on them seems like a good idea to us at the time! This can cause injury and may even be fatal if we receive a nasty electrical shock or burn! Jack-O-Lanterns with real candles can also be very dangerous and curious kittens run a high risk of being burned. Try replacing that candle with an electric tea-lite candle; it will last longer and be much safer.
          Costumes are certainly a very fun part of the holiday....for humans. Costumes for pets can agitate and stress us out quite a bit. You may certainly be laughing, but we're not! If you decide to dress your pet up, make sure they are comfortable being in the costume in the first place. If they are, be certain there are no dangling parts that can easily be chewed off and eaten. If your pet prefers their "birthday suit" but you insist they be festive, try festive painting stencils on them with non-toxic colored hair spray or hair chalk. Many groomers now offer this as a fun option, so check with yours.   

          Lastly, those monsters knocking at the door and ringing the doorbell all night can be terrifying for some of us. Close your pets into a quiet secluded room in your house to minimize our stress. Don't forget our pumpkin treats! If you are unable to give us our own room be very careful not to let us dart out while you're opening the door for trick-or-treaters. Be sure we have our proper identification on in the case we do make it outside! A microchip and ID tags can be a lifesaver during this hectic holiday.
          I hope these pointers help keep you and your pets have a great and safe holiday. You can also get the most out of Halloween for your pet by bringing them to Pampered Pets Bed and Biscuit for any of our exciting Halloween activities that we will be doing all week! Check out the complete list of Halloween activities here. Remember, don't forget our pumpkin treats!

Pawsfully yours,
Parker Sr.

Happy Howl-O-Ween!

Oct. 27th - 31st

Monday, Oct. 27th
Bobbing for Tennis Balls
The dogs will be bobbing for tennis balls in the pool! 

Tuesday, Oct. 28th
Monster Madness
We will be taking photos of your pets, digitally altering them to look like spooky monsters, and emailing you a high resolution copy! Photos will also be posted to Facebook.

Wednesday, Oct. 29th
Pumpkin Art
Your pup will decorate real pumpkins! Your pet's paw print pumpkin will be sent home with you to show off!

Thursday, Oct. 30th
Straw Maze
This event is a favorite among the dogs! We let them run through and explore the Haunted Straw Maze.

Friday, Oct 31st
Costume Contest
Be sure to dress you pet up in their best Halloween costume! Pictures will be taken and sent home with you. We will also put the photos on Facebook and let our fans vote on their favorite costume. The top 3 dogs will get prizes!


Photos will be taken at all of the events and posted onto our Facebook page. Stop by or call today to reserve a spot for your pet!
Fort Wayne: (260) 489 - PETS (7387)
Napoleon:    (419) 592 - PETS (7387)

Pets of the Month - Napoleon, OH 

Jack & Jill Daycare Guest of the Month		Gracie Guest of the Month
Jack and Jill are 5 year old Manchesters that come for Daycare. They have been coming to Pampered Pets Bed and Biscuit since 2010. They come for both daycare and lodging. They love going on long walks and mingling with their friends!		Gracie is a Mini Labradoodle and is almost 4 years old. When she stays with us, she loves to bring a toy or her blanket to you! She has a cute, sweet, and feisty personality. Gracie is a dual player, which means she can play with small and large groups. She has the energy to play with big dogs and the sweetness to play with the small dogs.

Pets of the Month - Fort Wayne, IN 

Emma & Watkins Schlegel Daycare Guest of the Month		Nacho & Charlie Cummings Guest of the Month
Emma is a one and a half year old female Husky mix. Watkins is a three year old male Shepherd mix. They are usually in the large dog "Kooky Canine" group. Emma is best friends with Murphy, a shepherd mix. Watkins is best friends with Peyton, a Weimaraner. They love to play tug and wrestle.		Nacho is a two and a half year old male Chihuahua. Charlie is a four and a half year old male Pit Bull mix. They both love lots of attention from our staff here at PPBB. Nacho in particular loves to cuddle. They love to play in daycare, especially with each other, and are super sweet and friendly.

Dog-Tober is here!

Dog-Tober

National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

Photo courtesy of Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control

"The number of dogs and cats euthanized every year has gone down, but annually there are about 2.7 million healthy shelter dogs and cats who aren't adopted." -www.humanesociety.org Photo courtesy of Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control

1. When considering a new addition to your family, consider adopting from your local animal shelter or pet rescues. Often, rescue pets are more affordable and come with the "whole package," like vaccines, training, socialization, free vet check ups, trial bags of food, microchips and much more! Check with your local rescue or shelter to see what their adoptions offer!

2. We all have a favorite breed, and that's okay! Today, there are many specialized rescues for various breeds. Try resources like Petfinder and The Shelter Pet Project to search for exactly what you want! You can enter gender, breed, age, and much more.

3. Shelter pets are screened and tested for good health. Many shelters and rescues provide a spay/neuter program and vaccinations, if the pet is the appropriate age. Check with your rescue to see what is included in your adoption.

4. Shelter pets are also screened for good behavior. Many dogs are tested for aggression, both with food and toys.

5. Some shelters or rescues will help with training! Pet parenting classes are becoming more popular, and some shelters even offer free classes for new pet parents.

6. Consider adopting older pets. Older pets have "been around the block" and know a thing or two about pleasing their pet parents. Usually, less training is required with pets that have outgrown their juvenile years.

7. We're all pet lovers, and if we all wish we could adopt them all! If you aren't able to open your home permanently to a new fur-child consider fostering or volunteering for a local rescue or shelter. Check with your local rescues and shelters for specific volunteer and foster home opportunities. You'll get the benefit of the cuddles and the heart-warming feeling of helping animals.


8. Consider donating to your favorite rescue or shelter. Donations don't always need to be monetary, either. If your pet has old supplies they don't use anymore, the shelter pets would love new toys and beds. There are also pet food pantries that accept food donations.

9. Pampered Pets in Fort Wayne is celebrating Adopt a National Dog month by beginning a new sponsorship with Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control. We will be offering free spa baths for any dog adopted from ACC, within the first 10 days of adoption! We are also sponsoring one very special dog each month and offering special offers and gifts to be redeemed at the Pampered Pets Fort Wayne location! Stop in to ACC today, or check our Facebook, to meet the lucky dog and see the exclusive offer!