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!

National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 18-24, 2014

Statistics show that every year there are over 4,500,000 dog bites each year with at least 800,000 resulting in need of medical attention. Unfortunately, most of these bites deal with children and result in an average of 400,000 children being treated for dog bites annually.

One thing to remember is no dog is exempt from biting. Even a small dog can bite and cause serious injuries. National Dog Bite Prevention Week, sponsored by American Veterinary Medical Association, is designed to help bring awareness and teach the public how to prevent dog bites. Several things can be done to protect you and your family including the following:

• Always make sure one's dog is on a leash when outdoors. This will help ensure the owner has better control of their dog and a bite is less likely to happen. While out of the house, avoid putting the dog in situations where they may feel threatened or be subject to teasing. Make sure your dog will understand and obey basic commands before having out in the general public. Make sure you spay/neuter your pet, keep them up-to-date on all vaccinations (including rabies), and exercise your pet regularly. Most importantly, never allow a child to handle a dog without adult supervision.
• Be sure to educate your children about the safety of dogs even if you currently do not have a dog in your household. Children should know to exercise caution when approaching a dog that is unknown to them. Be sure your children also know how important it is to seek permission from the dog's owner before approaching them.
• If you are unsure about a dog's temperament, avoid situations where you may run past a dog giving the dog a reason to become excited or possibly aggressive. Never put yourself in a situation where you are disturbing a dog that is sleeping, taking care of puppies, or eating. If a dog makes one feel threatened, stay still and most of all, remain calm!

A number of things can be done to prevent dog bites such as proper dog/owner training and making sure the pet has great socialization skills. Having proper information and education about dogs, and their specific breeds, are the best ways to prevent dog bites.