Friday, December 31, 2010

))) Here comes 2011 ! (((


2010 was a good year but I'm definitely ready to hail in 2011! Thank you for being such marvelous customers and supporting Fort Fido Doggie Daycare.

Have a joyous and safe New Year's Celebration. I wish everyone much happiness and prosperity for the upcoming year.

I'll leave you with two clips from today. By the way, our new buddy Cooper started playing today, score!





Cheers,

-Grant
P.S. If you are looking for something fun to do tomorrow, head over to the little town of Olalla (right outside of Gig Harbor), specifically the Olalla Bridge. At Noon there is an exciting Polar Bear Jump and bonfire. It's entertaining to watch all the nuts jump into the freezing cold lol... I was one of them two years ago but I only need to be in water that cold once in my life. :)

Thursday, December 30, 2010

New Pal Cooper!


Cooper came into Fort Fido bright and early this morning. Although he didn't bust out as much as we had hoped, his assessment went well. This guy is going to be a player, we just know it. Cooper is a very sweet dog and we really liked him. He is a nine month old, twenty pound, all black, Pug. He'll be in tomorrow, hopefully getting a bigger kick out of the Medium Roll this time around.

Take it easy,

-Grant
P.S. Here is a good link for tomorrow night: New Year's Eve Pet Safety Tips

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

BioBags are in!


Customers have been asking us to get BioBags and we just got some in. If you haven't already heard about them, read on, they are very cool!
BioBag is the world's first fully certified compostable poop bag. They meet ASTM D6400 specs and California Law regarding environmental claims of plastic bag manufacturers. BioBags are made from GMO Free starch, veggie oil and the world's first patented polymer. No polyethylene is used in the production process. They are 100% compostable and meet BPI requirements.

Long story short, these pooper bags rock! Grab a box to try and let us know how you like them. A 50 bag box is going for $9.99 at The Fort.

Cheers,

-Grant

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Dapper Dempsey



Dempsey has been coming to Fort Fido regularly since the beginning of 2008! He is a very personable, 75 pound, almost five year old, Boxer mix. Dempsey is awesome, he hangouts in the Big Roll and takes on all comers. One of our most calm and balanced, Dempsey is a key player in the Large pack. Every once in awhile he'll get into mischief and the way he sits just has to be seen to believe (sorry, no picture)... He sits on his butt, upright, like a human would hahaha! His owners are super cool, they keep him on a great routine and understand dogs well.

Take care,

-Grant
P.S. By the way, the guy with the pipe in the picture is Dempsey's brother Dino. He sure looks like a character! Thanks for sending us that photo.

Monday, December 27, 2010

The Cave of the Yellow Dog


Alright, we are back! I hope everyone had a great Holiday, we sure did!

One of the things my family and I did was watch a movie. After seeing The Story of the Weeping Camel, it's director, Byambasure Davaa, had me hooked! I rented The Cave of the Yellow Dog (her next film, almost a sequel to the Weeping Camel) and this is what we watched.

Everyone really enjoyed it, I highly recommend both films! They are quite touching, raw and real, not scripted but not documentaries either. You could call these movies "feel-goods" and they are fine for the whole family.

Have a good day!

-Grant

Thursday, December 23, 2010

*** Holiday Picture Post 2010 ***

Woo hoo! I've been excited about showing you guys all of the great Holiday Pet Photos we have received this year. They are really fun and we love getting them. If you click on a picture it will enlarge, you can also find out the name of the dog that way. Here ya go:



















Thank you to all of our wonderful customers (and their amazing K9 sidekicks) for EVERYTHING! You have all been so great and supportive of us and The Fort. We truly appreciate your business. Please have a safe and Happy Holiday.

Sincerely,

Grant, David, Nancy & the rest of the Fort Fido Staff (Hope, Gary, Tim, Austin & Stacy).

P.S. Don't let our happy pooches get too many goodies this weekend or they'll be tearing us up on Monday hahaha. ;)

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Take a peek at the fun


This first clip is of Bella the Great Dane, and Louis the Olde English Bulldogge. They may not look like a "matched" pair, but the two of them are great buddies here at daycare.


Trevor, a Bull Terrier mix, was tearing it up in the medium roll. I caught a clip of him playing with Soffee, a French Bugon (a mix of French Bulldog, Pug, and Boston Terrier)

Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog featuring Christmas pictures of several Fort Fido pups. If you haven't brought in a Christmas/Santa picture, and you would like it to be on the blog, it isn't too late! You can e-mail the pictures, or bring in a copy for us to scan tonight or tomorrow morning, and we'll make sure to include it.

Happy Holidays, everyone! Thanks for your continued support of everybody here at Fort Fido.

-Hope

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Happy Hunter and Other Friends

Hunter is always ready to play with his friends upstairs. He is a cheerful little Maltese/Shih Tzu mix, whose motto could be "ain't nothin' gonna break my stride!" Here is a clip of him playing with his buddies Gracie Ann (a miniature poodle) and Frizzy (a Labradoodle). Gracie Ann always loves a good romp. Frizzy, who is still just a puppy, loves to play with just about anyone. These three were all a good match.



Meanwhile downstairs, Taylor (a Weimaraner) was busy playing with Sofie (a mixed breed), but Labrador Daphne and Cocker-mix Buddy couldn't resist getting in on the fun.



I'll see you all again, bright and early tomorrow!

-Hope

Monday, December 20, 2010

Clips and some new news

There was all kinds of fun to be had this morning!

In this first clip, baby Boxer Stella and Rat Terrier mix Koji tore it up! Though very different in age, they are almost exactly the same size.


Here, Abby the Goldendoodle wants to play with Happy, a Samoyed, and she won't take no for an answer!


Upstairs, we saw brothers Buster and Smokey playing with a fiesty little Japanese Chin named Charlie.


Here are some neat news links to check out:

Dalmatian saved from icy water These rescuers deserve a big thanks, and warm holiday wishes for their efforts.

Officer and dog both fine after chase You have to be pretty desperate to think it's a good idea to kick a police K-9!

Dog in Germany gives birth to 17 puppies That's a lot of babies!

Injured dog's selflessness draws tears
This dog put her job as mother first, taking care of her new pups (and an adopted kitten) even though she was badly injured from a hit-and-run.

Only five more days until Christmas!

-Hope


P.S. -- Here's a link to some information about a pet food recall. Kumpi has still never been subject to a recall.

Kroger recalls dog and cat food after contamination fears

Saturday, December 18, 2010

I found out something pretty interesting today. Although pointsettias get a bad rap for being "poisonous," they are in fact a great deal less poisonous than other common holiday plants. Now, you shouldn't go eating a pointsettia salad (they can still cause drooling, vomiting, and/or diarrhea in pets), but they aren't half so dangerous as mistletoe. Mistletoe may cause gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular collapse, dyspnea, bradycardia, erratic behavior, vomiting, diarrhea, and low blood pressure in pets. So keep that hanging high off the ground!

In other news, here's a look at the daycare from today. There was a lot of action!




Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

-Hope

Friday, December 17, 2010

Another round of clips and news

One from the Big Roll featuring Happy and Dempsey, these two sure get along well.



Today in the Medium Roll, we had a hodgepodge of happy go lucky K9's. You can see Gabe playing great with the new Boxer pup Stella.




In the news today I found a few neat articles: Ask Dog Lady: Don't chew out beagle over bad habits, Puppy Love During Finals? & One more mess for Obama: Cleaning up after the dog.

Have a nice weekend,

-Grant
P.S. I'll be back Thursday for our holiday picture post (Bring me in your photos to scan!). For the meantime, Fort Fido Manager Hope will be taking the reigns.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Three From The Little Roll

Another nice day at The Fort. What a bunch of cuties in that darn Little Roll upstairs... You can spot Beija, Buzz, Elvis, Henry, Jaeger, Lucy, Oreo, Oskar, Sammy, Seamus and Tazzie. What great names!







Take it easy,

-Grant

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Links found


(Hahaha too funny! This picture had me rolling, Santa Sheltie Baking!)


Cassidy the dog and his new leg! (Pretty neat, bionic!)

Where does Fido go when he dies? (May not be for everyone but I thought it was interesting, especially since it popped up on CNN's main page a few days ago.)

Holiday pet safety tips! (Always good to know.)

Dog tossed into traffic is in good condition. (What are some people thinking? Or not thinking...)

Vick wants second chance to own a dog.
(Right... Give me a break!)

Have a great day!

-Grant

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Fort Fido Lobby Etiquette


Here are some tips to keep a safe and friendly environment for people and pets in the Fort Fido lobby:

Ask the owner (or a Fort Fido staff member) before approaching ANY dog.

Keep your dog on leash, near you and under your control at all times. Be conscious of your dog's conduct and whereabouts.

Remember that dogs can act very different "on leash". It is best to not allow your dog to greet other dogs in the lobby.

If there is room (AKA no other dogs around) please feel free to show us your tricks for a treat!

:) Thank You!

Take care,

-Grant

Monday, December 13, 2010

Hanz Hawk




What a rad doo our buddy Hanz has hehehe! Punk Rock!

Happy Monday,

-Grant

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Playtime!

Check out these clips from today! Even after a long week, these guys had plenty of energy left to romp around today.





-Hope

Friday, December 10, 2010

Sibling Rivalry!

Today I spotted a couple pairs of "siblings" tearing it up in the medium roll.

Trevor and Daphne love to play together. Even when they are at daycare, with lots of dogs to play with, they always take some time to romp together.


Lila and Blue are no different. Once they start playing together, they only have eyes for each other. In this clip, Koji tries to get in on the fun, but the girls are too busy on their own!


Have a good weekend,
Hope

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Funny Holiday Pet Photos !

Check these out... Found the link on Digg, pretty funny! CLICK HERE!

Cheers,

-Grant

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Baby Boxer Stella tears it up!

Check out Stella entertaining her new friends Bella and Niko in the Medium Roll. She sure is doing great, one happy puppy!





Take it easy,

-Grant

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

New Toys and Treats in!




Woo Hoo! Come check them out, found some really good ones... I'm a big fan of the "Skinneeez" line.

We were busy beavers today. Gotta fly, take care,

-Grant

Saturday, December 4, 2010

A clip or two

Here's a peek at the action at Fort Fido today. Dogs of all shapes and sizes got to play together today, and it was really fun to see how they all interacted.





Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Hope

Friday, December 3, 2010

Stylin' Stella



This morning we welcomed another new addition to our pack-- an adorable three-month-old Boxer named Stella. She's starting daycare at the perfect time for optimum socialization, and will probably grow up into a very well-rounded dog. She was eager to meet the other dogs, and wasn't shy about playing with them either. When she gets a little bigger, Stella will probably head over to the Big Roll with the other Boxers that attend daycare at the Fort. For now, though, this 15-pound pup is enjoying her time in the Medium Roll.

We're excited to see her back on Monday!

-Hope

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Bouncing Bazi !


Please welcome Bazi! He is a two year old, fifty-five pound, black, Standard Poodle that had his assessment this morning. Bazi went right into the Big Roll (most of our male Standard Poodles start there, they are not a dainty breed lol) but wasn't sure what to make of it at first... Then, one of his good buddies, and a Fort Fido regular, named Raleigh showed up. From that point it was game on for Bazi! He played nicely, had a great time and all in all had a superb first day (we even got a clip of him). Way to go! We hope to see Bazi again soon.

Cheers,

-Grant

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

More S.A. Stuff

Separation Anxiety seems to be the topic of discussion around here at The Fort. I'm sure you've already read my take on it as it pertains to daycare dogs (If not, here you go 1, 2, 3)...

I thought you may be interested in checking out some other views on the topic. These articles are very good, thorough and somewhat similar to mine. Take a look!

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/separationanxiety.htm

http://www.wagntrain.com/SeparationAnx.htm

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/separation_anxiety.html

Something I just learned (from the 1st article) is that S.A. is the second most common reason why dogs are euthanized or given up by their owners. Sad but true!

Maybe I'll be done talking about S.A. for awhile it's giving me symptoms, hahaha just kidding!

Take care,

-Grant

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

You gotta see this!


One of our very first customers emailed me this picture slide show/story.

Check out Bi Bi's dramatic rescue. It is intense and has a happy ending!

Take it easy,

-Grant
P.S. If you are getting any holiday pet photos taken this year please be sure to bring us in a copy! You can bring us a hard copy, email us a copy or let us scan one real quick! We love them, they'll be posted on our blog before Christmas. :)

Monday, November 29, 2010

Dog Tricks & Beer!


Hahaha...

Rainer's parents, Colin and Joyce, emailed me this wonderful link:

Useful Dog Tricks

It is absolutely amazing, thanks guys!

New 'dog only' beer hits shelves What will they think of next?

How to train a dog to get a beer from the fridge
too funny!

Last but not least, Awesome beer fetching dog.

Hope everyone had a good Holiday, we did! Welcome back to Monday!

-Grant

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Congratulations, Daphne!

You might remember reading about Daphne on her assessment day. She has been slow to warm up to the idea of playing, though she has been a great greeter and calm companion. Today, though, she did a complete 180 from her usual self and was busting out the moves! She played hard all morning, with any dog who was willing. Check out a couple clips!





It's always really exciting when a dog starts to play and have more fun here at the Fort. Sometimes it takes a few minutes, and sometimes it can take days, weeks, or months before a dog is in the right "place" to bust out. The right mix of other dogs, and an increased confidence level help a dog to come out of its shell. While the first part can be random, you can help your dog to be more confident by keeping a regular routine and by following the other separation anxiety tips that Grant wrote out for us.

-Hope

P.S.- If you decide to get Santa pictures with your dog, be sure that you bring in a copy so that we can scan it and put it up here on the blog!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

I may be a little late but...


A friend of Fort Fido's, Barbara Rivers, sent me in some great cold weather tips for pet owners. Thanks Barb! Check them out:


Keep Pets Safe During Stormy, Cold Weather

· Wind gusts and flying objects can injure or frighten pets. Take precautions
to keep your companion animals safe and secure.

· Dogs and cats may run away or get disoriented when fences blow down,
objects fall or fly in the wind or the noise of a big gust frightens them.

· Bring your pet inside during the storm and watch them when let outside.

· Check all fencing and lock all gates.

· Bring your pet inside when the temperature drops to 32 degrees with the
wind-chill factor.

· Dogs and cats can get frost bitten ears, nose, and feet if left outside.

· If your pet must be kept outside:
-Provide a dry, elevated dog house with clean dry bedding and a flap over the opening to keep
drafts out. A doghouse should allow your dog to comfortably sit and lay down but small enough
to hold in its body heat.
-Make sure the water bowl does not freeze. Heated water bowls are available.
-Outdoor pets need more calories to produce body heat.

· Keep antifreeze, salt and other household and garage poisons away from
pets.

· Make sure a cat has not crawled under your car seeking shelter and warmth
near the engine. Tap on hood before starting the engine.

· Large Animals need winter care too:
-Provide a wind break and/or shelter for horses and livestock to block wind and rain
-Make sure horses and other livestock have clean, dry bedding.
-Make sure water in trough does not freeze.

· Be sure you know important emergency numbers.


Just a reminder, we will be closed tomorrow, Thursday November 25th and Friday November 26th. We will be open for business this Saturday, November 27th.

Everyone out there have a marvelous Thanksgiving... We all have so much to be thankful for, good times! :)

Cheers,

-Grant

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Separation Anxiety Part 3

Today is the conclusion of my little ditty on S.A. you can view Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Create a schedule for your dog and stick to it!

This will really pay off if you can do it (it will also help solve many other common issues like potty training). Although dog's are resilient, they thrive on routine. To me, the more rigid, the better.

For Example: Fido get's woken up out of his crate at 7:00am, he sits at the door and goes outside to potty, once his owner gives the command. He get's called back in for breakfast and sits before being allowed access to his morning grub. After breakfast, he goes for a half hour walk around the neighborhood at 8:00am. From 8:30am to 9:30am he may hang out in the living room with his favorite chew toy. At 9:30am he goes to Daycare at The Fort (sitting before he comes in the door of course) and get's picked up at 5:00pm. He get's fed his dinner at 5:30pm, sitting before being given the OK to chow down. From 6:00pm to 9:30pm Fido hangs out with the family. At 9:30pm he get's one last potty break and or romp in the yard before bedtime at 10:00pm.

Please note, this is just a rough example however I'm pretty sure you get my drift. It's a sample routine that makes dealing with Fido easier... It takes out the guess work. If you would like to go a bit more in depth with working out a schedule for your dog, talk to one of the Fort Fido staff members in person.

Pertaining to daycare, we have customers who bring their dog as little as one half day every other week but you know what? It's the same day, same time and the dog knows that he/she is going to The Fort and can't wait to play. This type of daycare schedule AKA consistency, assists the dog in finding it's groove with the pack. The opposite style, popping in randomly can have quite a different effect on a dog. Especially one prone to S.A. or combined with other bad owner habits. The dog never knows whether it's coming or going and can't relax because it's constantly worried about it's owner.

No rewards for bad behavior!

Let's make this one quite a bit more condensed and to the point. Here I sound like a broken record but BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR ACTIONS WITH YOUR DOG AT ALL TIMES. It is all about choice, do not allow yourself to "act a fool" or subconsciously reward a behavior that you swear you don't want your dog to do hahaha... I get that one all the time. Many times we do not realize we are doing anything wrong. That's fine for a moment but stop yourself, think and realize. Dog's take things literally! Everyone is smart enough to figure this stuff out. I've seen small children do better with their dog than their parents do!

Example: Fido jumps up on the counter, near the treat bowl, at doggie daycare. You scold him then give him a treat because he obviously wanted one.

Fido now thinks that if he jumps up on the counter he will get a treat after a scolding that basically means nothing, doh!

Example: Fido doesn't jump on the counter but you want to give him a treat. You make him sit and stay calmly, then hand him a treat.

Nice job, Fido now thinks that if he sits and wait's patiently he will get a treat. You've rewarded behavior that you want, good job owner! It is so very simple!

That about wraps it up for now. Please, if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask a Fort Fido staff member. We can get very busy but try our best to answer any questions that you have, do not be embarrassed to ask! When working with your pet, be confident, don't allows others to make fun of you or question your methods. If you have other people in your household make sure to get them on the same page. Don't let them undo your efforts.

The proof of success will be in your dog's ability to stay under your command in any and all situations regardless of others actions or behavior. This is the goal, total control at all times and a happy healthy pet! Also, remember to see the baby steps or little improvements along the way and have fun! Don't stress yourself out, just promise to do better and better each day for you and your dog! We can still get our human emotional needs met, we just need to better understand the differences of the K9 brain. Make your interactions with your dog on your terms, not theirs!

Brrr! See you around,

-Grant
P.S. Our friend Hope summed S.A. up nicely, "An independent dog is a happy dog. I suppose it feels nice to "feel needed" but not when being needed eats your couch!". Hahaha, awesome!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Last Friday's Assessment...



Meet Izzie! She is a four year old, 72 pound, Retriever Mix. She had her assessment on the morning of the 19th in the Big Roll... I've been too busy writing about S.A. and forgot to mention her! She did ok for her first day at The Fort. Her sis Zoey comes and really tears it up (plays well with the other dogs lol). We hope that Izzie will start doing the same.

Be safe on those roads, stay warm,

-Grant

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Saturday Interlude

In between the separation anxiety story, here are some clips of what went down on Saturday!

Gabriel was tearing it up, playing with anybody in sight. It seemed impossible to get a clip without him in it! He played with big dogs, and small dogs, slower dogs and faster dogs.







Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Hope

PS-- Here's a little Santa-Watch update! Get pictures of your pet with Santa Paws Saturday December 4th between 9am and 1pm at Windmill Village here in U.P. You can also get pictures with Santa at the Petco on Tacoma Mall Boulevard on December 4th and 11th.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Separation Anxiety PART 2

On yesterday's blog post, I explained a bit about Separation Anxiety in dogs, particularly daycare dogs. Today I wanted to begin discussing the subject more by offering you some tips that will help you and your pet overcome this disorder. In my opinion, these tips are so easy and the key to successfully ridding your dog (heck, maybe even your kid lol) of S.A. However they can be most difficult for us humans to do. :) Let's hop to it!

Be EXTREMELY conscious of your "Comings & Goings"

When you leave your dog ANYWHERE (home, work, it's crate/kennel, the car for a minute, DOGGIE DAYCARE or the groomer) DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT butter them up with affection. No kisses, cuddles or long good byes... Spin on your heels and leave, don't make eye contact with them or say anything! In doing this, you will portray to the K9 mind that your "Comings & Goings" mean nothing. You leaving shall not affect their mood or behavior.

When we do the opposite of this (by baby talking them, hugging them, whimpering and telling them everything is going to be OK, generally making a scene...) our dogs are literally thinking, "Holy cow, they are not OK right now, I need to worry about them!". Most of us tend to think that a dog's anxiety is them missing us and not wanting to be alone, it couldn't be further from the truth. They are worried about us because we act so wacky every time we leave them! They think we are having major issues that they need to try and resolve.

Coming home or picking your dog up from ANYWHERE should be no different. DO NOT greet them or acknowledge them right away! It is all about timing, anywhere from a few seconds to 15 minutes. Wait until your dog is displaying some behavior that you want (like sitting calmly) then go in for the hug and cuddles. Doing the opposite of this, you are basically rewarding your dog for acting like a maniac (jumping, howling, fidgeting, etc...) when you pick them up.

Make them do something for you! All the time!

This is quite simple, for example: Before you let your dog outside or through any type of doorway, make them sit and wait until you say it's OK. Before you give your dog a meal, make them sit and wait until you say it's OK. There are many positive things you can make your dog do for you. Those two things are a great start that will get you on the right track. Doing so will help your dog be more patient and attentive to you and your commands. They want to please!

Socialize them early

If you have a young puppy or are planning on getting one please socialize them early (before six months is key). Get them into doggie daycare, take them to the dog park and on walks frequently. Have them meet many different people (young, old, tall, short, etc...) with a goal of having them sit and stay calmly while being pet.

Dogs are pack animals and the K9 brain is very different from our own. Dogs thrive off of strong leadership. If they aren't getting it they will try their best to be the leader. Unfortunately this will lead to circumstances that we will not enjoy.

Some may think this is all a bit harsh but the opposite is what is harsh, fulfilling our needy little needs and not our dogs'. I'm not saying we can't love our pets, we need to love them more and strive to be in tune with them.

Be on the lookout for the conclusion, Separation Anxiety Part 3. It will give more insight and include even more helpful tips.

Have a great weekend!

-Grant

*Edit* Separation Anxiety PART 3

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Separation Anxiety PART 1

Today I wanted to touch on a topic that we deal with here at Fort Fido on a daily basis. The dreaded, Separation Anxiety in dogs!

Separation anxiety is a developmental stage during which the dog experiences anxiety when separated from the primary caregiver.

During daycare, many dogs with this ailment are relieved with help from the pack. The other pack members tend to having a calming/mood stabilizing effect over the sufferer, but not always!

The behavior associated with Separation Anxiety manifests in different ways. In Doggie Daycare, the main manifestation is an inability to relax or socialize "normally" with the pack. Instead of playing and interacting with the other pack members a dog may whine, bark, pace, howl and shake. It may even appear to be a bit of an "outcast" standing alone in the corner. Very well balanced members of the pack will pull out all the stops to get the individual out of it's shell.

Now, obviously, everyone wants their pet to get along well with the others at daycare by socializing and playing hard! That is the point, that way they come home tired and may be a bit easier to deal with.

Many times, people do not correlate their actions during "dog interaction" with their dogs negative behavior. We often hear things like, "It's not me, it's the dog!", especially when conversing about Separation Anxiety. Unfortunately, here is the truth... It is rarely, if ever, pretty much NEVER, the dogs fault! It is us, the owners! We tend to humanize (yes, I'm guilty too) our animals by projecting our human thoughts and emotions on to our pets. Unfortunately, depending on the situation, this can have lasting negative effects on our K9 companions behavior without us even realizing it. To put it frankly, we liken it to mental abuse. As extreme as that sounds, it is what it is. The good news is that we can change how we interact with our dog.

On tomorrow's blog post I will be discussing some helpful tips on overcoming Separation Anxiety. Whether or not your dog has it, these tips will truly benefit the relationship you have with them. They will help you gain a better understanding of the doggie mind and help you get the most out of Doggie Daycare here at Fort Fido.

Take care,

-Grant

*Edit* Separation Anxiety Part 2, Part 3, other S.A. related articles!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Two Goodies

Finn & Sam (Big Roll)



Little Roll Ball Play



Stay dry out there!

-Grant

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Obedience Class Update & Links

(Hahaha, this looks a lot like a Dog I know...)


Mark your calendars... We have a new Basic Obedience and Leadership class starting up, after the Holidays, on January 18th 2011. If you are interested, checkout the Training Page of our site for more information.

Here are a couple of doggie links I found today: Now Your iPhone Could Save Your Dog's Life and What Are The 5 Best Dogs For Your Family?

Cheers,

-Grant

Monday, November 15, 2010

Bella Romeo Bash !

Bella and Romeo had an awesome time today in the Medium Roll, check it out!



Have a good day!

-Grant

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Some of today's fun

Here's a clip from the action today! You can see Gem (a Bernese Mountain Dog), Lila (a husky-mix), Blue (Lila's "sister,"and a lab mix), and Otto (a six-month-old Giant Schnauzer puppy).

Today was Otto's first day back after getting neutered about a week ago, and boy has he grown! He's right at that puppy stage where they seem to get a little bit bigger every day, and it was surprising to see how much he'd grown in just one week.

-Hope

PS-- Check out this amazing rescue story!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Handsome Hanz


This morning we assessed Hanz. He is a four year old, fourteen pound, salt and pepper colored, Miniature Schnauzer. Hanz didn't do half bad for his first day upstairs in the Little Roll. He played a little bit while scouting the area and meeting all the dogs. We hope to see Hanz "bust out" and interact even more... We have a feeling he will and he'll get his chance because he is coming back to Fort Fido soon!

Have a great weekend! I got leaves to rake lol...

-Grant

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Plum Tuckered



Meet Tucker, he is a nine month old, twenty-four pound, chocolate and white, Australian Labradoodle. He had his assessment this morning and boy is he a sharp looking pup. Tucker did a great job today in the Medium Roll and was quite a pleasure to have at The Fort. We are delighted to be seeing him again shortly. Awesome job Tucker!

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to all who have served.

Take care,

-Grant

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

A Heck of a Henry!


Henry had his assessment today. He is a dashing little six month old, eleven pound, Bolognese. Henry is already proving to be an outstanding daycare dog! He wasted no time upstairs in the Little Roll going straight into play. We are very pleased with Henry's social skills and can't wait for him to attend Fort Fido more often. Nice job!

Take it easy,

-Grant
P.S. Two good snippets I found: You may remember this pooch, Dog that 'came back to life' gets new home & British Special Forces Deploy 'Dogs of War'.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Hot Dogs!!




Buster and Smokey are two litter mates that assessed this morning. Checkout these two cuties... Buster and Smokey are five month old, seven pound, Male, Wire haired Miniature Dachshunds. Buster was a bit more adventurous then his brother Smokey. Both dogs explored their environment and did fine for their first day at The Fort. They will become two great additions to the Little Roll upstairs.

Cheers,

-Grant