Abby, Oskar, & Agnes

Abby was our teeny tiny, cute little assessment from Thursday! She's only three months old, and has a lot of personality and spunk. Abby is a Shih Tzu that only weighs two pounds... We knew from the moment she entered our Small Dog Program, that she was going to make a great addition to The Fort. She had some pep in her step, as she playfully trotted over to Maisy; the first dog we introduced her to. Her tail was wagging up a storm! We were able to catch her Dog Speak on video, check her out below!

If your heart didn't melt from watching that video, these photos should do the trick!

We will be seeing Abby again for boarding next week! She's also going to come in certain days out of the month, to bring her in for some daycare fun, and socialization! We look forward to seeing her return.

This adorable Dachshund  was one of our assessments from today! He's six years old, weighs around nineteen pounds and joined our Small Dog Program. It was clear that this wasn't his first time at the rodeo... Oskar has had previous experience with being at other Daycares before. He was quick to explore our picnic table and scope out the place!

Agnes also assessed and joined our Small Dog Program today- as she's Oskar's younger sister... This little girl is only ten months old, and weighs a whole of six pounds! Can you guess what type of dog she is? Agnes is a Chinese Crested, having more hair than this breed typically does. She was a little nervous at first since she hasn't really had much interaction with dogs her size, besides her brother. As the morning progressed we noticed her opening up a bit, and start to gain confidence as she was greeting dogs by sniffing their butts. In the dog world, sniffing another dog's butt should be the first thing they do when they greet each other. It's how they pick up on scent the best, and remember who the dog is if they've met before. It's proper dog etiquette; just like shaking someones hand when you meet them for the first time, is expected.

All three of these dogs are welcome to come back for more Fort Fido fun, whenever they want.

Happy Friday all,

~Shaunnte'

Danny & Zoe

Today we welcomed Danny and Zoe, two cute Dachshunds. Danny is a short-haired Dachshund while Zoe is a long-haired Dachshund. These two pups were excited to begin their day with us. They went up the stairs and into our Small Dog Program. Within our Small Dog Program, both Danny & Zoe explored the Small Dog Program to their hearts content. After their expedition of the program, Danny began to romp about as the other dogs entered. Zoe took a slower route, but warmed up and began to have fun too. They both looked like they had a blast here and we are looking forward to seeing Danny & Zoe return for more fun times soon!

Have a wonderful day,
- Zach

Beautiful Barney

Today we welcomed Barney. Barney is a beautiful (and soft) 8 year-old, 23 lbs., Dachshund. I may be partial to Dachshund's because I have one, but that doesn't mean I can bypass Barney's assessment (darn!). We still had to make sure that Barney would be a good fit here at The Fort. Barney seemed like he was ready for a new adventure as soon as he arrived and strolled right into our Small Dog Program. Barney spent his time meeting the others and learning what Fort Fido is all about. I am looking forward to seeing Barney's cute face again.

Have a wonderful Labor Day,
- Zach

Gigi, Mundy, Cedar Rose, & Tucker

We started Tuesday morning's assessment with three Dachshunds trotting through our door; our hearts melted instantly when we caught site of them. Gigi, Mundy, and Cedar Rose are all very unique, happy dogs that were all rescued by their owner five or more years ago. 

    Gigi is eight years old and weighs eleven pounds. 
We instantly noticed her 
very sweet, relaxed
personality and how much
she loves her sister, Cedar Rose. Those two were like peas in a pod.

Mundy  is sixteen years

old and weighs thirteen pounds.

This sweet little guy 

has the cutest button eyes,

 and loves to lick and show 

his affection. 

And last but not least, let me introduce you to Cedar Rose. Cedar Rose weighs  nine pounds and just turned tweleve years old. This confident girl was the one I was talking about earlier, who Gigi adores.

Gigi, Mundy, and Cedar Rose are welcome back to The Fort any time. 

Have a good evening,

~Shaunte

Today, we got a chance to check out Tucker. Tucker is a 4 month-old schnoodle (that's Schnauzer & Poodle mix), not to be confused with schnitzel (lol). Tucker is a happy little pup whom is just beginning to learn how to play fair and socialize. We found him to be a quick-study. We hope to see Tucker again soon.

Enjoy the rest of your day,
- Zach

Dawson & Barkley

This morning we welcomed Dawson & Barkley. Dawson is a 9 year-old dachshund cutie (of course, having a dachshund myself I'm partial). He wandered into Fort Fido this morning with his tail up and sniffer sniffing. In typical dachshund fashion he entered the small roll fearlessly. I adored having Dawson here today.

Barkley is a charming 5 year-old Schnauzer mix. Barkley came into Fort Fido ready to meet some other pups. Soon after entering the small roll, Barkley introduced himself and became acquainted with the rest of the pack.

We look forward to seeing Dawson and Barkley return soon.
Have a nice day,
- Zach

Mighty Marty

Get a load of this good-looking fella, Marty, that we assessed today. He is a chipper, ten year old, eighteen pound, red colored, Standard Dachshund. Marty breezed into Fort Fido this morning, upbeat and without a care. Even before getting upstairs to the Little Roll, he was happily sniffing about and wagging his tail. Once in the play area, Marty continued to explore his surroundings. Straight from the get go, he seemed pretty content with his new digs. As time went on and other canines arrived, Marty acted as if he'd already been hanging out with them lol. He wasn't overly concerned with playing or interacting much, yet he was social enough to stay calm and balanced around the group. It's not Marty's "first time at the rodeo" so to speak. He looks and acts quite spry for the mature, ten years old, that he is. He did well amongst the high-energy youngins', that make up the majority of the Little Roll's pack. Marty is welcome to attend The Fort whenever he'd like. Swell job my man, see ya soon!

Cheers,

-Grant

A Tip-top Trio

We were certainly "busy beavers" this morning... Fort Fido welcomed three newcomers in for their assessments!

Get to know the mini-pack that is Maye Maye, Milo, and Otis.

Maye Maye is a six year old, twenty pound, beige and white colored, Lhasa Apso/Cocker Spaniel Mix. She did well upstairs, in the Little Roll, and seemed to dig the experience. Maye Maye's a smart canine that reminds us a bit of Fort regular, Mimi.

Milo is a five year old, twenty-five pound, brindle marked, Dachshund Mix. He's a sharp looking dog that also did a good job here today, with his "sister" Maye Maye, in the Little Roll. Milo was very watchful over his "mini-pack" members. He too, enjoyed his stay.

Last but certainly not least, was Otis. He is a five year old, thirty-two pound, beige colored, Pomeranian Mix. Now Otis seemed to have the most "big brother" energy, out of the trio. He watched over his "siblings", as a big brother traditionally would. He socialized well, and was quite eager to meet with incoming pack members. Although none of the three dogs played too much, as it can be a lot to take in on a first day... Otis, was definitely the most active. He frolicked and meandered about the Little Roll play area in high spirits.

Maye Maye, Milo, and Otis are welcome to come back to Fort Fido anytime. We plan on meeting with them again soon.

This isn't too "action packed", but in the following clip, you can spot each member of the "trio".

Cheers,

-Grant
P.S. Milo, his name is pronounced M-Y-L-O-W, not to be confused with M-E-E-L-O-W lol! Just like the "Milo" from one of my favorite pet-movies.

Puperton & Roscoe

Meet Pupperton and Roscoe! They had their assessments yesterday. Pupperton is a five year old, seventeen pound, tan and white colored, Chihuahua. Roscoe is a one year old, twelve pound, brown and black colored, German Shepard/ Dachshund Mix.

Both Pupperton and Roscoe hung out in Fort Fido's Little Roll. It was a new experience for them, so they weren't exactly sure what to make of it all. All in all, they did just fine. Although there wasn't tons of play involved, they seemed to relax into the pack a bit as the morning progressed. Given time and consistency, we believe Pupperton and Roscoe will began to get much more out of The Fort. For now, these two cuties are welcome anytime. Good job boys, we'll see ya again soon!

Take care,

-Grant

Trick or treat!

       Just like humans, dogs need to find different ways of stimulating their brains. Besides daycare of course, one of the ways to help deal with high energy dogs, or any dog for that matter is to set them loose on a Treat Puzzle. This type of puzzle helps the dog feel accomplished and entertained while earning it's treat. These are important things for the pup's mental health (which is just as important to our canine friends as their physical health) as it creates an avenue of stimulation that is natural in the way it makes your pup "hunt", instead of just being presented with his or her meal. 

 

 

Here we have Miller, one of The Fort's good friends, setting a prime example of how to play with his treat puzzle, and having a blast doing so!! His particular puzzle hides the snacks under the "paws", which Miller will have to pull out of the base in order to his reward. A great game and a healthy way to keep them preoccupied.    

  

One fairly common treat puzzle is the Kong, many of you have seen and maybe even used them before. By loading the Kongs up with the variety of treats made specifically to be placed inside the toy, Or anything healthy you could think your dog would enjoy, Such as this recipe using Apple, Pumpkin, and kibble. Or for a more sophisticated pallet, we have this scrumptious looking recipe.  Your pup could spend anywhere from 10-15 minutes all the way up to an hour, trying to get at those delicious goodies!

 

Being able to distract your dog, with something fun for them to do, even for just a couple minutes can be a lifesaver sometimes, but a joy to watch every time.


So next time you stop in at The Fort, be sure to check out our wall-o-toys, to find a puzzle game that would work best for your pup. Here at Fort Fido we carry lots of Kong toys, along with balls that hold the treats until smushed a particular way very similar to the way that Kongs work.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check in on the fun come Monday :)

-Ryan

: Rad Rusty :

Fort Fido good-old-boy, Dempsey, has been the cornerstone of the Big Roll since his first days in 2008. He is one awesome dog, that has shown great prowess and leadership in the pack. His owners are also some of the best, and most loyal, customers. Thank you for your support over the years!

Anywho... Dempsey and the "Devlin Clan" have sworn in another member lol. Meet the radical little dude that is, Rusty! Rusty is a one year old, Chihuahua/Dachshund (maybe Corgi) Mix. Let me be the first to tell you... Rusty is one lucky dog! He couldn't have found a better situation, or better Forever Home. Recently rescued by the Devlins, Rusty was a bit under the weather at first. He was a stray dog for many moons. Then, after a couple of weeks with his new family; consisting of proper nutrition, love, and care, Rusty was feeling great, and was more than ready to take on the fun of The Fort. He met up with the Little Roll crew this morning and fit in with them seamlessly. Rusty thoroughly enjoyed socializing, and, was all about play. He wrestled it up with several different canines, taking quite a liking to Cortez. Rusty reminds us of Cortez a lot, he has a very similar sweet disposition. "Rad Rusty" passed his assessment with flying colors, and please note, the decision to pass him was not based on Dempsey's Legacy. This little fella is more than welcome, due solely to his actions, and on his own accord. Hahaha!

;)

Be well,

-Grant

Pretty In Pink

(She looks a lot like that actually... Hahaha!)

Decked out from head to toe in Pink, Zoe, was here today for her assessment. She is a sweet little, six year old, seventeen pound, dilute red colored, Miniature Dachshund. Zoe did well in our Little Roll and it was apparent that she had been around dogs before. Although she didn't venture into play, she seemed fairly comfortable during her stay and explored her play group a bit. Zoe is a very gentle and kind canine that Fort Fido looks forward to having in again. Excellent job today Zoe, we'll see you in a couple of weeks.

Have a wonderful day,

-Grant

Scouting it out

Take a gander at this fella...

Scout is a one year old, twenty-eight pound Black Labrador Retriever/Dachshund Mix that had his assessment this morning. Scout is an extremely good looking canine with a very sweet disposition. We had him in our Medium Roll where he didn't do half bad. Scout is a rescue dog who's past was marred by neglect. Now, however, thanks to his new owner Kevin, Scout is on the right track to optimal health and wellness. He didn't mind the other pack members but kept to himself. We'll be seeing Scout here at The Fort again soon. We hope that Dog Daycare will aid him in becoming more well rounded.


Enjoy that weather,

-Grant

Double Header Success

Woo-hoo! We are 5-0 for assessments this week. All of the new dogs have been exceptional.

This morning we met Buster and Rocky. Both were admirable young canines that had a lively time in our Medium Roll.

Meet Buster. He is a ten month old, fifty pound, German/Australian Shepherd Mix. Buster is all dog and has a strong look. He played briskly, straight from the get go. Buster spoke great "DOG" and found a best friend in Macs. He also enjoyed new dog, Rocky, immensely. We've said it before, sometimes, "opposites attract".



Now on to Rocky. He's a six month old, fifteen pound, Pug/Dachshund Mix. Talk about personality! Rocky has a spunky and energetic spirit. Like buster, he pretty much went straight to play once he got to the play area. Rocky attempted to get every dog to play with him and they pretty much did lol. Rocky liked Buster too, it was neat to see two newbies hit it off so well.

Buster and Rocky qualified to attend The Fort whenever they like. Hopefully we will see them regularly. They are the type of dogs that truly benefit from coming to Fort Fido. Who knows, maybe they'll be "down a notch" tonight as well, then their owners can also benefit.

;)

Take care,

-Grant
P.S. This just in, another new pup tries out tomorrow, what a week!

Assessment & Sad News

Lucas, October 2006

Harriet, October 2006

Our fourth assessment this week (Wow, busy busy!) was the super-cute Stuart. He is a four year old, twelve pound, Isabella Dachshund (a rare coloring). Stuart Little is currenty being fostered in a very loving home filled with great pups. Miller and Paisley are Stuart's new foster siblings, he couldn't ask for a better setup. This morning, we took Stuart upstairs to the Little Roll. He wasn't quite sure what to make of all the action yet had definitely been around dogs before. Stuart didn't play a whole heck of a lot but he interacted some and spoke decent "Dog Language". He had no problem telling rowdy youngins to give him some space... In a good way, meaning, he wasn't too harsh and exhibited good bite control. We believe this has been a good experience for Stuart and he may attend whenever he likes. His foster parents and future new parents can be comfortable knowing he is ok with little dogs off-leash. This is definitely a plus. There's no doubt in our minds that this pooch will find a warm/loving permanent home in a short amount of time. Even if it takes awhile, it won't matter, he'll be hard-pressed to find a better gig then the one he has now. :)

Now for some unfortunate news... Lucas and Harriet have been attending Fort Fido weekly for five years, let's just say, we know them well. They both just recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge after very long, healthy and active lives.

:( We are saddened by this news yet find feelings of happiness when we reflect on their lives. These two pooches were always up to something, many of their antics were quite comical. They were the old timers of the Big Roll but could handle any wiseguy or naive whippersnapper that came there way lol. In short, they were great dogs and we really enjoyed them.

Lucas and Harriet's owners are some of the best people you could find. They've loved these two dogs for years and have always took the very best care of them. They have also been extremely supportive of Fort Fido, even in our humble beginnings... Recommending us to several of their friends and associates. For this, we thank them wholeheartedly and apologize for their loss. Lucas, happened to be the oldest Bernese Mountain Dog that his Veterinarian had ever seen, twelve years old! How's that for awesome?

Enjoy your weekend,

-Grant
P.S. If you spot me at Puyallup's 7th annual Oktoberfest Northwest this weekend, do say hello, I'll do the same! ;)

Cute Miller Pic & Articles

Miller's owners (they also own Miss Paisley) sent me an outstanding photo of Mr.Miller. Here he is after a busy day of playing hard at The Fort. Hahaha Awesome! That is what we like to see, keep up the good work buddy! :) Thanks again for the photo.

(Out like a light!)

City offers to turn dog poo into gold (Sounds like a good plan, I should turn mine in lol, I'd be rich!)

Korean scientists produce glow in the dark dog (I'm not sure about this one... Not feeling it.)

Owney the postal dog officially has his day (Very cool looking stamp.)

Some dogpark prep tips

I've seen tons of these articles lately (obviously because it's summer in some places) and have already posted a few but here is another one:

Hot days are not dog days

Take care,

-Grant

Welcome Baxter

This morning we assessed Baxter. He is a six year old, nineteen pound, brown Dachshund. As a young pup, Baxter was a doggie daycare regular in Seattle. Now he is giving daycare another go here at The Fort. He headed upstairs to the Little Roll and did well. Baxter greeted the pack and browsed around, his tail wagged as more dogs came in, he seemed to enjoy himself. We hope to seem him start interacting more soon. Nice job today Baxter!

Cheers,

-Grant

Welcome Jaeger, a warning and a cool clip!

Jaeger was assessed this morning. Jaeger is a Black and Tan Dachshund, four years old and about 13 pounds. Although he isn't sure what to think of the fort yet, we hope to help him find his groove. He is one handsome weiner dog!

Rainier's mom brought the dangers of "Coco Mulch" to my attention. This is good info to know since we all want to keep our pets safe and gardening season is upon us. Thank you Joyce!

In other news, Rainier's dad informed me of this awesome YouTube video, I bring you, "Dog versus Deer". Incredible, thanks Colin!



Cheers,

-Grant

Chewy!

There is no doubt that this morning's assessment was a winner. The delightful Chewy started today and he did excellent! I'm partial to Aussie's and Sheltie's so that definitely helped him hahaha... He is a Tri-colored, Miniature Australian Shepherd mix, 28 pounds and eight months old. My guess is that the mix is Shetland Sheepdog but who knows? Check out some clips of Chewy below, he fell in love with our little Boston Terrier mix Sofee, she can give any dog a run for it's money!





Enjoy the sunshine this weekend,

-Grant
P.S. Mr. Teddy, a Shih Tzu/Daschund mix, is two years old today. Happy Birthday Ted!

Dachshunds on parade!

This funny little clip was taken yesterday. It shows three of our many Miniature Dachshunds, more commonly referred to as "Wiener Dogs" lol. First Miller, the fawn colored, waddles off. Not too far behind him Coco, a chocolate colored guy, heads the same way... Followed by Dixie who is a black and tan little gal. We are fortunate to have so many mini dachshunds at Fort Fido. In our expierenece they make delightful daycare dogs, even if they can get a bit too rowdy at times. :)



Cheers,

-Grant
P.S. If you are interested, this link goes to a page that talks all about Dachshund colors, patterns and Coat types. It is very informative and has pictures.

World's Oldest Dog Dies :(

Chanel, a Wirehaired Dachshund, died today at the ripe old age of 21. She was the world's oldest dog according to Guinness World Records. What a wonderful and long life! You can read more about it here.

In other news, there has been a Merrick Dog Treat recall, check it out. It's a fairly popular brand so I thought I'd help spread the word. Yuck!

Have a great weekend,

-Grant