Bark City Doggy Daycare

Summer is here and it's getting hot. Dogs don't sweat like humans do. The only way they lose heat is through the little pads of their feet or by panting. Therefore, it's really important to take extra measures to keep your pooch cool in the heat. 1. Exercise your dog in the early morning or evening when the temperatures are a bit cooler. 2. Give Fido a summer haircut! 3. Invest in a kiddie pool for your back yard. 4. Be mindful that pavement can get REALLY hot! Try not to have your dog walk or lay on pavement in the heat. Dog booties can help provide a barrier from heat on your dog's paws. This will help them remain cool and prevent heat blisters from hot pavement. 5. Ice pops! Not for you, but for the dog. Make sure they are specifically made for dogs. Human ice pops have too much sugar or may have ingredients that are poisonous for you dog. You can buy dog ice cream/ pops at certain retailers in your area or you can make them at home. We have a ton of re...

   Puppies are highly receptive to learning the first 16-weeks of their lives. But that doesn't mean a dog older than 16-weeks cannot be trained. To foster a well-behaved adult dog, it's crucial to address specific behaviors in puppies early on. Here are five of behaviors you should consider focusing on early in your dog's life:  Chewing:  Puppies will chew on things for a variety of reasons. Just like a human baby, your puppy may be teething and chewing on things provides relief. Another reason is that your puppy is bored and looking for exploration. To help your puppy, provide lots of chew toys & redirection when chewing on an unacceptable item. In addition, you will want to make sure your puppy is getting enough exercise-- physical and mental-- to allow their natural tendency to explore to be satisfied.  Biting:  When dogs play, they naturally nip at each other, and usually will let a play partner know when play is becoming too rough. One way a ...

4th of July-- Independence Day! It's a day where we humans BBQ, socialize, relax and explode things. For dogs, it is a time of pure scariness. Dogs don't associate all the noise and chaos as YAY! Whoohoo! Fun! Most dogs associate it with--> OMG, the world is ending. So, how can we humans make this nightmare a bit more bearable? Here are 10 safety tips for the 4th of July: First and foremost, right away in the morning, exercise your dog prior to all the activity . This exercise should be long enough to thoroughly wipe out your dog mentally and physically. A well exercised dog equals a calmer dog. After exercise, keep your pet (including cats) indoors during all the activity . The 4th of July is a shelter's busiest time of year, because pets go missing while trying to escape all the noise. Make sure your dog has a place to hide in the house if necessary. Leaving your dog in the car is not an option and can often escalate into more panic. Plus if it's hot out, l...

It's that time of year again: Everyone is walking around with tissues in their hands and pockets, eyes red and puffy, and in a Benadryl coma. ALLERGY SEASON. Humans are not the only ones to suffer. Dogs can too. Dog's exhibit seasonal allergies a little bit different than humans. Their symptoms are generally skin issues: allergic dermatitis. Your dog will be ITCHY. Fido will be scratching excessively, biting and chewing on spots of the body and rubbing against surfaces.  You may also notice that your dog's ears are chronically infected with rashes, yeast and bacteria. This will cause your dog to be constantly scratching the ears, head shaking and there will be hair loss around or on the ear.  Hot spots: These are localized areas of the skin that become red, scabby and infected.  Generalized redness: Puffy eyes, red oral tissue, red chin, red paws... Allergies are an immune system response. Canine's with an already weak immune system may develop respiratory issues ...

  When you bring a new baby home, everything changes. There will be new smells, new routines and a new human being! This can be incredibly overwhelming for our canine family members. Especially, if they were never introduced to babies or small children as a puppy. Dogs, like humans, need time to adjust to the changes, but there are things you can do to help your furry family member transition: 1. Provide your dog the space-- mentally & physically-- to adjust to the new baby: The crate is your dog's best friend. Remember, that dogs are naturally den dwellers. The crate should be your dog's sanctuary & should never be used for punishment. Additionally, when your children are older-- crawling age and up--there should be a non-negotiable rule: Absolutely no (human) children inside the crate. A crate is a place for the dog to escape & find serenity in all the chaos of family life.  2. Before The Baby Arrives-- Train, Train, Train: Teach and/or review basic commands bef...

Teaching your dog to "stay" is a handy skill when you are doing something and you don't want your four-legged friend all up in your business (or if you want to take cute photos of your dogs sitting politely on a tree stump). Safety wise, it's also one of the primary commands your dog should know. Before we begin on the actual steps, there are a few things you need to decide: Are you going to have your dog sitting or laying down when they "stay"? The more comfortable your dogs is, the longer they will actually stay. Example: sitting position will require more effort, but laying down may make your dog feel vulnerable. You need to assess the situation and your dog's temperament to decide what will be the best.  You need to decide on a "release" cue. This will be a word or action that tells your dog they no longer need to stay. When choosing a word, try to choose one that you do not use in everyday conversation. Otherwise, you may end up conf...