Happy Birthday Luke!

Luke was born on Valentine's Day so we had a special party for him and his puppy pals. Homemade dog cookies and Frosty Paws treats for everyone! Luke was a great host!

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Snow and ice getting your pup down??

Doggie Den pals are just what he or she needs! Safe from the soiled snow and ice that plague your yard, s/he can play all day long in our clean, cheerful environment with like-minded pals. Here, take a look!

Ringo the Australian Shep, Lily the Standard Poodle, Cody the lab mix, Fenway the beagle and Gunner the adorable bulldog hardly take breaks:















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Happy Valentine's Day!

Zack is our Valentine Boy - he's February Dog of the Month because he's the sweetest, most lovey guy we have. His favorite words are "cuddle" and "eat".
Isn't he a hunk??



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Puppy Mill Raid to the Rescue

February 2009

American Humane Provides Emergency Sheltering for Dogs Seized From a Tennessee Puppy Mill Today

Puppy mills are large-scale breeding operations where animals often live in filthy conditions that foster disease and frequently suffer from the absence of even basic veterinary care. That certainly describes the conditions in which more than 250 dogs were found this morning, when the White County, Tenn., sheriff’s department initiated a raid on a puppy mill.
Right now, a dozen of our Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ responders are in Tennessee, providing emergency sheltering for the seized animals. Several of our responders were on-site during the raid, while others prepared and staffed the emergency shelter to accommodate the dogs being transported to safety. The overall effort is being led by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), which is managing operations in the puppy mill investigation by the sheriff’s department. ASPCA disclosed that the dogs suffered from “...little to no food or water, lack of proper ventilation in enclosed areas, and feces encrusted pens. Conditions such as matting, sores, mange, poor teeth, abscesses, and a host of other medical conditions are prevalent.”
You Can Help!
Our highly trained staff and Red Star volunteer responders are working tirelessly to ensure that these poor animals are properly cared for in preparation for eventual adoption into safe, loving homes. Your donation today will help us continue these vital operations and prepare for our next animal emergency deployment. Please give what you can to stop the suffering of innocent animals!
Because this operation is a legal case, additional details are pending. However, a local newspaper, The Expositor, reported this afternoon: “The animals being rescued were housed in the residence and multiple buildings on the property. The dogs are small breed under 20 pounds, including Boston and Jack Russell terriers, Pomeranians, Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas, poodles, miniature Pinschers, and Schnauzers. The animals were examined immediately on the scene, with those needing emergency care transferred to White County veterinarians, who lent their services. The rest of the animals were transported to a temporary emergency shelter staffed by the American Humane Association.”
We’ll keep you updated as more details can be released!


Donate now to make a difference for helpless animal victims of disasters -- from puppy mills to hurricanes to wildfires.


All images courtesy of http://www.spartaexpositor.com/
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Our mission is to prevent cruelty, abuse, neglect and exploitation of children and animals and to assure that their interests and well-being are fully, effectively and humanely guaranteed by an aware and caring society.
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American Humane meets the strong, comprehensive standards of the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, has been awarded the Independent Charities of America "Best In America" Seal of Approval and has met the stringent standards for financial efficiency and accountability required by the American Institute of Philanthropy to qualify as a Top-Rated Charity.


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Play time for Gunner: Before and After

Gunner is our newest English bulldog. He's a terrific puppy - plays flat out yet doesn't get on the other pups' nerves. Gunner was made for doggie daycare! Check out these dog links!

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Help, it's a puppy invasion!

Here, some of our small dogs welcome Maria to their play area. The "danger" signs on the wall are to prevent humans from reaching over the plexiglass partition to touch the big dogs in their adjacent play area. The little ones have a couch, soft beds on top of crates and inside them, lots of toys and dishes of fresh, cool water on the floor. Best of all they have their very own cushioned windowseat! The crates stay open for optional breaks, but some of the pups play from dawn to dusk!

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In love with cold weather

Now, here's a dog who loves winter! Even the frigid temps in New England (rarely gets into high 20's and is often below 0!) don't discourage her. She's Bounce, a Bernese Mountain dog and January is her favorite month. Of course, she lives indoors so even she can't endure these temps for long periods of time, but for 10 or 15 minutes she runs around like a delirious puppy!

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Cleo the Great (Dane)

Cleo is one sweet Dane! She's taller than most kids, and has a deep, serious bark.. but she's a wuss. She loves leaning up against you and gazing into your eyes as you give her a good rub. Cody (the yellow lab behind her) is one of her pals because, like her, he prefers people and easy-going canines. Both are terrified of the little ones, especially if they yap. Cleo does think it's strange that Cody likes to retrieve toys, though. If you throw a toy for her, she just looks at you as if you'd taken leave of your senses.

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Gabe enjoys the sun and the view and Murphy and Sam Become New Friends

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New Doggie Den puppies

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's a time for new beginnings!

It's the dawn of a New Year!

HAPPY 2009!

Congratulations to all you new puppy owners out there! May your days with your adorable new family member be long and happy!

Susan, Jennifer, Maria and Angie send warm good wishes to dog lovers everywhere for a healthy, successful 2009. Special thanks to our loyal customers who send their wonderful pups to us for baths and makeovers and for play-filled days in our daycare center. We appreciate you entrusting your beloved companions to us time after time.

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Watch out for frostbite!

See these puppies all cuddled up on the sofa? This is most likely how you're dog has lived all of his/her life. Even if you adopted a stray who has lived on the street, he or she has adapted to life in warm temperatures. So be careful when your dog is outside in below freezing weather. PUP IS NOT PROTECTED FROM COLD AIR, COLD SURFACES OR WIND! Even if he or she might have been in a different life. A huskey who has worked as a sled dog in Alaska since puppyhood is protected and can endure extreme cold. A huskey who has lived in a centrally heated environment is NOT!



If, while outdoors, pup lifts or licks a paw, stops walking, whines, limps or look imploringly at you, he or she is probably in danger of frostbite. Don't assume it's just the sting of salt on the roads. And DON'T RUB THE PAD SURFACE as this can damage frostbitten skin. Get the dog to a heated area as quickly as possible. If s/he's small enough, carry him/her. If not coax pup to walk with you even if s/he limps. Sometimes overly cold dogs will lie down on a frozen road or snow path and refuse to move. In this case, if the dog's too large to carry, whip out your cell phone and call for help in the form of a heated automobile.



Sometimes putting the most painful pad next to your skin helps. Like slipping a paw into your glove or mitten, but don't rub! Your warm breath on the pads can also help. But main, get the dog's feet out of contact with the cold as quickly as possible.



Once your dog is back in a warm space, keep an eye out to see if licking, lifting or limping continues. If it does, consult a vet immediately.


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Dog Ownership is a HANDS-ON Job!!

It never ceases to amaze me the problems dogs can have without their owners noticing. I know people who aren't doggie fanatics don't fuss over their pups the way we do at The Doggie Den, but what comes into our grooming shop boggles the mind. It's now the busy holiday season, and many people who come in only get their dog groomed once or twice a year. In those cases, skin and coat problems tend to be well entrenched.

Day before yesterday, an owner brought us his bichon complaining that the dog scratched constantly. Maria (our groomer) turned him over and his belly was literally ALIVE! It was moving in a truly creepy way. Hundreds of thousands of fleas infested his belly, chest and bum. And who knows how many elsewhere? We soaped him up 3 times with our strongest flea shampoo, then disinfected the entire shop, especially the tub where we bathed him. I simply could not believe that anyone touching him would not have noticed the zillions of creatures moving around in his coat! We sent him home with Frontline and did our best to convince the owner to flea-bomb his home.

Shortly before that, a lab owner came in complaining that his dog stank. We also smelled the "dead things" odor. The owner thought pup must have rolled on a dead animal in the woods. When Maria went to take off his collar there was a wide band of horribly diseased skin and surface tissue underneath with no coat covering it at all. LOTS of dead tissue, which is what was causing the odor. Furious, Maria did manage not to turn to the owner and smack him upside the head. Imagine the suffering that poor lab endured while his family saw him as "fine!" Maria bathed and debrided the area with a medicinal shampoo. The odor went away and the dog looked as though he'd died and gone to heaven. Now you tell me, how the hell did no one in his family ever look under his collar in all those weeks?? Because it took weeks (if not longer) for the problem to reach this point. Was no one giving him an occasional scratch behind the ears??

Well, we rinsed and dried the dog and exacted a promise from the owner that he would take him to a vet immediately. Who knows if he did.

So, please, GET YOUR HANDS INTO YOUR DOG'S COAT! Often and everywhere. Scratch the area under his collar (it itches even if there are no skin problems; it ALWAYS itches). Give his ears a good, gentle rub. Put her on her belly and rub her chest and abdomen. Scratch the area on the inside of her back legs/haunches. Examine his bum for fecal staining or deposits and cut them out carefully with scissors if necessary. Give his underarms (front legs) a good scratch. And if you only have a second, well, scratch her back!!

Dogs need contact! They do it for each other in the wild. They often reciprocate by licking (grooming) your face. You think it's kisses, but for her, it's simply returning a favor. When I give my sheltie, Shuki, a good head and shoulders scratch she gets up on the back of the couch and cleans behind my ears! I have to remember to take my earrings off or she'll chew them!

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Halloween Watch-outs!!

It's a spooky, kooky, loupy time of the year! A time for dress-up and parties. Of course we'd like to have our dogs participate too. After all, they're family.

But there are hazards!

• Skip the sweets. Candy that contains the artificial sweetener xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar in dogs, which leads to depression, lack of coordination and seizures.
• Confiscate candy wrappers. Pets love to play with candy wrappers, but wrappers made of aluminum foil or cellophane can cause intestinal blockage and induce vomiting.
• Forego trick-or-treating. During trick-or-treating hours, keep dogs in a room away from the front door to keep them from stealing candy or escaping the safety of home. Make sure your pets are wearing a collar with identification tags in case they accidentally get loose.
• Beware of costumes. Halloween costumes should not limit a dog's movement, hearing, sight, or ability to breathe or bark. They should not pose a choking hazard. Consider festive Halloween bandanas as an alternative to costumes.
• Ditch the decorations. Pets can easily knock over jack-o'-lanterns and start a fire or simply get burned by candles when sniffing the openings. Chewed cords and wires from decorations can damage a pet's mouth or deliver a potentially lethal electric shock.

As always, if you suspect that your dog has been poisoned, call the ASPCA's 24-hour poison control hotline: 888-426-4435.

Reprinted from Pet Age magazine, October 2008

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http://www.lazydogcookies.com/
http://www.g4ventures.com/
http://www.pawsitivelygourmet.com/
http://www.appma.org/ (American Pet Products Assocition)
http://www.akc.org/ (American Kennel Club)
http://www.aspca.org/ (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)

Save A Dog Adoption Day at The Doggie Den

Save A Dog is an all-breed rescue

organization out of Framingham, MA.

On Sat. Oct. 4th they held a Meet and Greet at The Doggie Den.

Every dog had more than one someone who wanted to adopt him or her.

'Cause they were all unbelievably cute - and so adoptable!

CHECK OUT SAVE A DOG AT http://www.saveadog.org/

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Persistent Puppy Pushes the Envelope

WOULD SOMEONE GET THIS PUPPY OFF ME!!!

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Fall fleas and ticks

Ah, the cool, bright days of October! The kids are settled in school, moms and dads are adjusting to new schedules, and the leaves are turning. Best season of the year!

Fleas and ticks??? But it's COLD outside, especially at night. Right! So fleas and ticks are looking for a warm winter home. The ones that live in your lawn or garden, or on your porch are redoubling their efforts to hop onto any warm body that passes by, especially furry bodies. So pick through pup's and kitty's coats for ticks and signs of fleas (like black specks on the skin, red skin rashes or signs of excessive scratching).

The best idea is to continue using a spot-on product like Frontline Plus, Advantix, or Program right up until you've had several hard frosts in your area. In Massachusetts, at The Doggie Den, we keep our pups on Frontline Plus until Christmas, then we start up again in March.


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Back To School. Cut your pup some slack!

It's back to school time and the doggies feel the difference. Lenny here has his own homework to do, but lots of pups feel abandoned when the family schedule changes drastically. Often in the summer more family members are around more of the time. Now kids are in school all day, college students have gone away, and even those students who come home after school are busy with homework and getting their social lives back into gear.

Sometimes dogs who feel abandoned misbehave, like chewing furniture or other things, having accidents on the rug, howling when left alone, and digging holes in carpets or flooring. If your pup is alone during the school year, make sure he/she has lots of toys. Put treats in a kong or other toy that makes him or her work to get the goodies. Most of all, don't be surprised by the behavior and cut pup some slack! Lots of extra hugs and quality time when you can. Ask the kids to play with her or him when they get home from school.

But the best idea is: SEND YOUR DOG TO DAYCARE A COUPLE OF DAYS A WEEK!

We're taking fall registrations at The Doggie Den in Northboro, MA!
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Are There Poisonous Plants in Your Home?

As gardeners across the country say goodbye to summer, green thumbs and amateurs alike are scooping up houseplants to spice up the fall and winter months. They're also taking off their sunhats and dragging outdoor plans inside to protect them from upcoming dips in temperature. Plants are popular for their decorative, restorative, and air-cleaning properties, but many species are toxic to our curious furry friends. Soil and leaves attract dogs and cats who like to chew on vines and romp in the dirt. Here are some of the most poisonous best-sellers:

• Lilies, including stargazer, tiger and Easter lilies. "Even with very small ingestions, severe kidney damage can result," according to Dr. Steven Hansen, veterinary toxicologist.


• English ivy contains triterpenoid saponins which can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation and diarrhea if eaten.


• Peace lily and pothos can cause irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue (peace lilies), and swelling of the GI tract (pothos).


• Oleander is one of the most poisonous plants to pets and people. It can lead to GI irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia and even death.

Keep the nibbler in your life safe from toxic foliage by placing all plants out of reach. Or better yet, choose a nontoxic alternative to brighten your home. For a list of safe plants, go to http://www.aspca.org/: (Aug. 29th, 2008 News Alert, "Most Popular Poisonous Plants) where there's an alphabetical listing of safe house plants. As always, if you think your pet has ingested something poisonous, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.

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www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=media_newsalert082908#1

Dogs and Their Humans on vacation

Shuki, Benny and I are vacationing with our friends Lilly (2 legged) and Livia (4-legged) in Provincetown, MA. and I want to pass on to you how dog-friendly this place is! It's a little fishing village turned resort where there are lots of hotels, condo rentals, and rooms in B&B's where well-behaved dogs are welcome. It's wonderful how disciplined the dog owners are at Bayshore by the Sea, where we're staying. Everyone works hard to keep their pups quiet and they pick up poop. You almost never see poop on condo property or on the streets and the town is restful. Bayshore is at 493 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA, 508-487.9133. We're right on the water with beach view from our condo; plus the ocean beach (Herring Cove or Race Point Beach) is a 5-minute drive and it's National Seashore so dogs are allowed there too! There's wi-fi (which is why I'm able to post while on vaca).

Lots of other dog friendly accomodations too. Check out http://www.bayshorechandler.com/. Plus you'll meet oodles of other dog owners while out walking Commercial St, the main shopping and eating route. Some outdoor cafes allow dogs and it's lovely sippling a latte while your pup indulges in dog watching!


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www.provincetown.com
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Fleas Fleas Fleas

Summer is winding down, but one little pest is still thriving in warm, humid parts of the country like New England. Fleas are hearty and nimble; when searching for a host they can jump up to 2 feet, 10,000 times in a row - that adds up to the length of 3 football fields! They can also cause troublesome health problems in dogs such as anemia, skin allergies and tapeworms. These legendary leapers are tough to fight, but here are some tips that will rub your dog the right way:

• Apply a monthly, veterinarian-approved anti-tick medication. Some of the good ones are Frontline Plus, Advantix, and Program. Don't miss a month, from March through November!!
• Know your enemy: confirm your pet has fleas by identifying signs such as tiny black spots on the skin. These are droppings, sometimes known as "flea dirt". Also watch for excessive scratching and scabs.
• Treat all of your pets, not just those who show outward signs of infestation.
• Thoroughly clean your house, including rugs, bedding and upholstery, and discard any used vacuum bags.
• Fleas love long grass and shady outdoor spots - remember to treat and maintain your yard as carefully as your house. Ask your vet about products for treating your yard.
• NEVER use medications intended for dogs on cats, or vice versa! Dr. Steven Hansen, veterinary toxicologist and ASPCA Senior Vice President, says, "Just a few drops of concentrated permethrin, present in many spot-on treatments for dogs, can be lethal to cats".

And enjoy an itch-free end of summer!

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Doggie Den Best of Northboro!

Thank you to the U.S. Local Business Association for naming us "best of Northboro" for dog daycare!!






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Sometimes we're covered with dogs!

We love being at the bottom of a friendly dogpile! And we get to do it lots!

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My bone!

Hello, my name is Shimi and this is MY bone! Mine. You've seen the seagulls in "Finding Nemo"? MINE! MINE! It's exhausting, but I will guard this bone until my people come pick me up to take me home. After all, it's............. you guessed it, MINE.

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Little guys stick together!

We're some of the smaller guys at The Doggie Den. At you can see we like to stick together. The pack that snoozes together cruises together! The only problem is, you can probably see this a human two-seater couch. It's very hard to find room up here at nap time, especially if somebody decides to streeeettttch out. So Here I am, Reilly the 2nd guy from the left, the puggle and the most handsome one of the bunch, and I have to sit up while they all sleep. It's just not fair. So after this picture is taken, I'm gonna lay down on top of Cosmo, the black and white rat terrier to my left. He'll just have to put up with it. I hope he doesn't squirm 'cause I'd like to get some shut eye.


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Hi! I'm Bobby and I LOVE DOGS!

I'm Bobby and I work at The Doggie Den when I'm not in class at Quinsigamund Community College. It's a great place to work 'cause the other employees are mellow and the dogs are the best!

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Go slow: Dogs at Play

Wouldn't your dog like to have fun this summer ??

Of course s/he would!!!

Call Susan at 508-393-6970 for a FREE daycare evaluation for your dog.

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Buyer Beware! Unsafe Daycares

There are lots of veterinarians, groomers and kennel owners who decide to add dog daycare to their service offerings. Some are qualified to manage dogs in packs, but many are not. And many create environments that look cute but could be dangerous to your dog! Experienced daycare providers know that:

1. Every surface in the environment must be securely affixed, washable and disinfectable. None should be porous, loose, or permeable. No plaster (they'll eat it), curtains or hangings (they'll pee and vomit on them and tear them up); or ornate beds (they'll chew and swallow pieces).

2. No matter how well you supervise dogs at play, they're going to get into things they're not supposed to - so make sure there's nothing "verboten" in their environment.

3. The only objects the dogs have access to should be industry-approved toys and equipment. Beds and crates, for example must be washed and disinfected every day!

4. Toys should be examined DAILY to make sure they are not damaged or broken in such a way that a canine guest could get a piece lodged in his or her throat or intestines. For example rope toys made of string are a big no-no.

and last but not least

4. If it's too cute it's probably not a safe environment!

Some daycare play areas, for example, include fabric hangings that can be ripped and eaten; they also hold odors, bacteria and viruses. Rubber or other relatively porous flooring also retains germs and odors and can be dug or chewed up. Many daycare environments are designed to charm people, but are not right for dogs.

At The Doggie Den, all of our play areas are surrounded by sparkling clean ceramic tile walls. The floors are non-slip industrial pvc tiling that cannot be ripped up or chewed. Our toys are those recommended for daycare providers by the American Pet Care Association. Our beds and crates are also industry approved. The couches in the play areas are covered by removable, washable covers and are disinfected frequently.

Come see for yourself ! The Doggie Den is truly the best dog daycare in central Massachusetts.

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The Well-Groomed Dog

At The Doggie Den Maria grooms your dog the way you like! Tell her what you want and she'll do it! Our prices are all-inclusive: a high end, all natural shampooing, a blow-dry, a haircut to your specs, trimmed or filed nails, and clean ears. For example meet Roxy, a lhasa apso that a customer brought to our salon all matted and messy. She was too embarassed for us to photograph her in that condition! The customer had been ill and unable to brush Roxy, so she needed Maria's help. Maria patiently dematted. bathed, conditioned and brushed Roxy's coat; and here's how she looked when she went home!

And here's a poodle when he arrived:

And here he is, ready to go home! (There's more light in the "before" picture, so it looks like a different dog from the "after", but it's the same guy!) Notice how much more self confidently he stands once he looks like a pro!

So would your pup like a makeover? Of course he would! Give us a call: 508-393-6970.

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Ouch! Hot Tops!

Today I was at the bank and I saw a young man walking a fidgety black lab puppy from the bank across the blacktop to his car. It was about 90 degrees outside with bright sun beating down on the blacktop all day. I reached down to touch it and it was too hot for me to put my palm down flat. Imagine what it was like for that puppy!! And his owner was disciplining him for resisting.

This is one of my PET PEEVES. I know it's unintended cruelty but it still makes me crazy. July and August are months that can hurt doggie paws. Road and sidewalk surfaces get extremely hot and dogs will often not complain until their pads are actually burned. At The Doggie Den, our parking lot is blacktopped, so we recommend that customers pull right up to the door to avoid a hot trot. You might want to do the same wherever there's blacktop. Paw burns are one of the most unnoticed doggie discomforts of the summer!

Blacktop is the worst culprit, so if you can find a concrete, brick or light colored stone surface to walk your dog, go for it. If you must cross hot blacktop, do it quickly! Or better yet. CARRY YOUR DOG! Never stand with your dog on a hot surface. Of course, the best solution is to walk your pup on grass or dirt where your town or city permits. And it's always a good idea in extreme temps (hot or cold) to check your dog's paws frequently. Know their usual color and look for unusually dark or uneven spots.

If your dog whines, limps, or licks his or her pads after a walk, it's possible he or she has been burned. Ice down all four paws as best you can and call your vet right away!


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Homage to Daphne

This morning I posted a picture of my new Sheltie puppy without stating the obvious. My beautiful Daphne has died. In fact she died a year ago (May 2007) and I guess I've been in mourning ever since. Haven't felt like posting on this blog since then. I've never had a connection to any living being like the one I had with Daphne. We just knew what each other needed without any adoo. She died with the same quiet dignity with which she lived: one day I picked her up to give her the subcutaneous fluids that she had needed since developing kidney disease, and she just sighed and rested her head on my chest. It took me a couple of beats to realize she was gone. Out of respect for who she was to me, I sat holding her for quite a while, thinking perhaps it would help her process of passing. I have no idea if dog's have souls or if they go on to something else when they die. But I hope that Daphne's spirit stays with us, for she was the most generous, accepting, and forgiving creature I've ever met.

Goodbye, Daphne, love. Thank you for sharing your life with me. You were the sugar in my bowl.

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Meet Shannon, The Doggie Den obedience trainer

Hi, I'm Shannon, The Doggie Den's lead obedience trainer, and these are my two spoiled huskeys. I do evening and weekend obedience classes, or I can meet with you in your home if there are problems you want to solve. We have a good time in class while we learn our commands and take some time for the dogs to play with each other. To sign up for one of my classes check out the schedule at www.thedoggieden.net/training. Remember well-trained dogs are much more fun to live with! Hope to see you soon!

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Susan's new puppy "Shuki" at 4 months

Meet Shuki, The Doggie Den's newest puppy. Susan bought her in March; she's the first puppy Susan's ever gotten from a breeder, hence her name: Shuki means "marketplace" in Hebrew. Shuki adapted to the playgroups at The Doggie Den without missing a beat. She loves to run around inviting others to chase her. If that doesn't work, she jumps on someone's back and bites their ears. Luckily she's gentle or she'd be in trouble! She's smart, funny and a ball to live with. Go Shelties!

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My name is Chloe and I'm the cutest Yorkshire Terrier who ever lived. I come to The Doggie Den to gain some perspective... on how lucky I am. I mean these dogs are not attractive. Not like me. I guess it was just fate.

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It's Flea Season Again!!

Whether or not you actually see fleas on your dog, they may be there. Scratching, scabs and dark specs, or "flea dirt" on her skin can all be signs that she has become the unwitting host for a family of fleas. During their 6 to 12 month life span a pair of fleas can produce millions of offspring. Hardy offspring, at that: fleas have survived millions of years in a variety of environments, so wherever you live, check your dog!

Fleas can carry tapeworms too. If you notice small white rice-like things in your pet's feces or in the hair around her anus, she probably has tapeworms, which means she may also have fleas. In advanced cases, she may be lethargic and her lips and gums may turn pale. Take her to a vet immediately if she has any of these symptoms.

Battling flea infestation requires PATIENCE and PERSEVERANCE, so put on your armor and get to it! Because the presence of fleas indicates that your pup's coat also hides flea eggs, it will take at least three to four weeks to completely rid her and her environment of this pesky parasite. Different flea products work in different ways, having varying levels of effectiveness; and they kill different flea stages (eggs, larvae and/or adults). You'll need to use a product that has been proven to kill in all the stages, or use a combination of products at the same time to be effective.

Shampoos, powders, and sprays will usually kill the adult fleas on your pup. Using a flea comb regularly will help too. But more adults may be lurking in your home or yard, and eggs or larvae may be laying in wait as well. You'll need to rid your house of fleas by vacuuming and washing pup's bedding once a week, and using a disinfectant on washable surfaces; and an insecticide or insect growth regulator in cracks and crevices. Sometimes foggers are recommended every two to four weeks.

When using chemical products be very careful. You may be providing too much of a potentially toxic chemical if you use, say, a flea shampoo and a fogger that contain the same active ingredient. Always check with your veterinarian before beginning your war on fleas. To assist you with clearing your home of these parasites, you may want to hire a professional exterminator. Your vet may know someone who's experienced with flea infestations.

In recent years, flea control has made great advances. Today there are liquid products which you apply to pup's skin on the back of her neck (so she can't lick the chemical). These products, such as Frontline, K9Advantix, Programme and Advantage, let you treat your pet once a month. The medication enters the bloodstream through the skin and makes flea (and tick) bites toxic without harming your pet. Some of them also create an odor which is undetectable to us but repels fleas and ticks so they don't get into pup's coat in the first place. Be very careful to use these products as directed; some may be effective for dogs, but toxic to cats. Also, you need to wash your hands thoroughly after applying the medication, and make sure children don't touch the affected on your pet area until it dries.

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Poisoned dog foods

There's been a ton of reaction to the pet food contamination that has been sickening and killing our furry friends, so I've resisted adding my two cents 'til now. But after the initial hullabaloo, the blogging, emailing, and press coverage have quieted down, and that's too bad. Because pets are getting ill and dying at the same or a greater rate than earlier in the crisis. Reporting is spotty, so it's hard to know just how many animals have been affected. But the early reporting was just the tip of the iceberg! Huge quantities of harmful substances have found their way into pet food ingredients. And 90% of the big commercial brands use the same suppliers!! That means that almost ALL of them bought from the Chinese supplier of wheat gluten whose inventory contained melamine.

We did a series of posts of what's in pet food and how to buy good pet food a year or so ago (please see our archives). That's because pet nutrition is something I get very excited about. Dogs are carnivores, and to a great extent, they can be omnivores. They basically need meat and fish, and can use grains and vegetables. So the ingredient list on a pet food package should start with meat or fish, NOT with grain or "water sufficient for processing"! The first ingredients on the list comprise 95% or so of the food. So there has to be high quality protein, at least for young dogs (older dogs can be healthy eating more grains and vegetables), right at the top of the list. Bone meal is acceptable protein if it's good quality product, meaning processed under sanitary conditions and relatively fresh. Discount dog foods buy up pallets of old bone meal that some distributor will move at a low price, so even if it appears on a supermarket brand label, don't buy the food. And don't buy a food whose first ingredient is a starch, like corn or corn meal. It's okay if corn appears as the 5th or 6th ingredient, but not before.

Besides the content, you need to know that the quality of the ingredients is acceptable. As I documented in my earlier series of posts, all of the supermarket brands are made in huge batches with the cheapest possible ingredients - for big conglomerates it's about a business model, not about pet nutrition. For heavens sakes, Walmart is quite outspoken about that. They tell us in their advertising that they're all about PRICE. They squeeze their suppliers to sell more and more cheaply to Walmart. Why in the world would you feed you best furry friend something you bought in Walmart??? The grains and vegetables in big chain supermarket brands are older and of poorer quality to start with than those in small batch foods. The fats and oils are more often than not rancid by-products of the food industry (like used fryer oil that sits around for months before being processed into pet food).

Remember, pet food ingredients are not protected the way human foods are. And gov't scrutiny of our food chain is woefully inadequate! Please, protect your pet. Notice that NO HEALTHY, SMALL BATCH PET FOOD HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH CONTAMINANTS! Not a single one! So here are some good foods. Go to your local pet store and ask for: Canidae, Merrick, Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul, O&M, Bill Jack, Prairie, Red Barn, Pet Naturals of Vermont, Fromm, Diamond Naturals, Precise, or Premium Edge. There are others. Just make sure of two things:

1. The food must be made in small batches (manufactured and packaged by the company on the label and not subcontracted to a big pet food processor). The only preservatives that appear on the package should be natural ones like vitamin E (tocopherals). Chemical preservatives are only necessary if the food spends many months getting from the mixing process to your pet's dish. And they can cause nervous system stress and allergic reactions of which you may not even be aware.

2. The food must contain only human grade ingredients. Lesser ingredients contain bacteria and virii that are not acceptable... and they're not all neutralized by the potent preservatives that big companies use.

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Seasonal allergies

In spite of the cold, drizzly weather that has afflicted us in the Northeast, allergy season is settling in, so get ready for the sneezing, itching, and scratching. Not just you, your dog too! Dogs commonly experience seasonal allergies, usually through dermatitis. Instead of sneezing and getting itchy, watery eyes, most dogs have allergic reactions on their skin.

Symptoms of allergic dermatitis include excessive scratching, licking and chewing of paws. Some dogs do get watery eyes too. Excessive scratching can be harmful, in that areas of raw skin are vulnerable to infection and parasites. Dermatitis can be relieved by using a moisturizing shampoo that's made for allergic dogs; allergy itch relief sprays and creams can also be helpful. If the raw spots don't heal quickly be sure to consult your veterinarian.

In addition to common allergens like pollen, fleas are one of the leading causes of dermatitis in dogs. Make sure that your pup is up to date on his/her flea and tick protection. Collars are not much help - use a liquid medication that you apply once monthly to the dog's skin on the back of his/her neck. Frontline Plus, Advantage, and Program are good ones. Read the package to make sure the medication kills fleas, ticks, AND THEIR EGGS. If the latter are not killed they can drop off into your carpets or furniture causing an infestation in your home.

It's also a good idea to make sure your pet is getting proper nutrition to keep his/her coat and skin and immune system healthy enough to resist irritants. The use of vitamins and supplements can help maintain a healthy coat, but the first step is to feed a high quality food that's produced with human grade ingredients and manufactured in small batches. That means no supermarket foods!!! Companies like Iams and Eukanuba have been bought up by huge conglomerates and are no longer premium foods. Go to a health-oriented pet store (not a large chain like PetCo) and get a food that specifies human grade ingredients and lists Omega 3 and 6 among the first 8 ingredients. If you want a healthy pet you need to read labels carefully, just as you should for your human family!

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Housetraining your puppy

One of the most common complaints we get from customers who're inquiring about training is that puppy persists in doing his business in the house. There are lots of different ways to dissuade him from this smelly habit, but the quickest way is to use positive reinforcement. Dogs have an easier time understanding what we DO want than they do sorting out our angry outbursts.

For example, if your puppy pees or poops indoors it does no good to yell at him, hit him, or rub his nose in it. All that tells him is that his human goes nuts when he relieves himself. You want him to think, "Gee, I have to go, better tell my human". And you're teaching him to think, "Gee I have to go, better get as far away from my human as possible 'cause she has a weird aggression problem".

The alternative? Watch your puppy closely and when he starts to squat, interrupt his action with a single loud noise that makes him pause, rush him outside and praise him lavishly when he finishes his business. A treat doesn't hurt, either.

If you miss him going into squat, don't cry over spilled..... um, pee. Don't say anything to him, just clean it up, and ignore any attempt to play with you while you're down there on the floor cursing silently.

And oh, BTW, the reverse is true. Rewarding a puppy for doing something undesirable is as foolish as punishing him for doing something in all innocence. Also, if he poops indoors and looks at you "guiltily", that's not guilt, it's fear. He's expecting you to yell or hit or whatever. Again, just IGNORE MISTAKES, and watch more carefully next time. Better yet, take him out at logical times, like after eating or drinking.

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How to make your dog walk nicely

We're expecting a nor'easter in Massachusetts today, March 16th! It's supposed to dump around 6 inches of snow, maybe more. NEVERTHELESS... it's spring, tomorrow is Saint Patrick's Day, and the weather is bound to turn mild one of these days.

Mild weather makes us want to be outdoors - people and dogs! We all know that walking is great exercise and you would think that leash walking the pup would be a preferred springtime activity. Too often, though, we won't walk with our dogs because their on-leash behavior is awful. They pull and jerk us around. So some of us get retractable leashes thinking the dog will get some exercise and it will be less unpleasant for us. WRONG ANSWER. Retractables give your dog license to be out of control which is the problem with her on-leash behavior in the first place. And whose job is it to get pup under control? You guessed it! Someone once said, "When I see a dog behaving badly I look at the other end of the leash".

A tip: dogs need strenuous exercise, especially young ones. Pup will make a better walking partner if, while you're training her, you engage her in strenous activity before snapping on the leash. Try a few rounds of fetch in the yard - tennis ball, frisbee, whatever she'll chase. When she's panting and starting to slow down, snap on the leash and off you go.

All dogs need time to sniff and mark trees along the walking route, so allow them to do so. However, YOU are the one who should decide when that's okay and when it's not. I live on a pretty street where people love to walk their dogs and I'm always seeing owners who take their cues from the dog. Of course, this teaches the dog that she can do what she wants, because you will follow her lead. Don't allow that behavior!

It will take time and patience but you can teach her to look for cues from you as to what's next. Pat Miller, in her column "Good Dog Walking" in the March 2007 issue of The Whole Dog Journal, recommends using a clicker and treats to reward pup when she is walking nicely beside you on a loose leash. Begin by using the command, "Let's walk". This means that pup can do a little sniffing, peeing and exploring as long as she is not pulling on the leash.

Holding the clicker in your left hand and the treats in your right, move forward. When pup is beside you, click and treat. Bring your right hand around to her mouth. You don't want her to move around in front of you to get the treat. Click frequently in the beginning for being close enough that the leash hangs loosely between the two of you. Before long, she will realize that the treat comes when she is close by your left side. When she pulls out ahead of you, stop. Be a tree. Refuse to budge until she turns around to look back at you. As she does so, the leash will slacken. Click and treat.

If that doesn't work, back up slowly, increasing the pressure on the leash. As soon as she moves toward you, click and treat. When she has learned to stay close enough so that the leash is always slack you can begin to teach the "heel" command, which is a precise position next to your left leg used in close quarters of while walking among a group of people and dogs.

Don't give up! It's not safe for your dog or for you for her to ever get the idea that she's the one making decisions. You have to be the "alpha dog". Making the effort to be the leader is just part of having a pet dog.

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This is Mitzie, the grande dame of The Doggie Den. She's elderly and quite bossy. We try to respect her wishes but sometimes we get it wrong and does she ever let us know!! We love her dearly - she comes to daycare almost every day.

Mitzie is our March Dog of the Month.
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