Bark City Doggy Daycare

Holidays are right around the corner! If you are traveling with your pet, it is always a good idea to pack a first aid kit. You never know what Fido might get into while away from home. A first aid kit will at least somewhat prepare you for whatever gets thrown your way. So what should you bring? Things I probably wouldn't think of until it's  after the fact...  Pet First Aid book Phone numbers and address of an emergency vet clinic in the area you are visiting. Phone number of your personal vet. Paperwork! All of your pet's vet records and a photograph of your pet. It's helpful to store these kinds of things in a waterproof bag.  Leash and a muzzle. The muzzle is in case your pet is injured and tries to bite you. DO NOT muzzle your dog if he is vomiting or choking.  Extra identification tags    Basic First Aid Supplies: gauze pads (non-stick!! Unless you want to be cutting fur.) adhesive tape antiseptic wipes blanket/ towels ...

Whether you just adopted a puppy or an adult dog, chances are you are going to have to house train your dog to do the business in the appropriate place. For most dogs, it will take 4-6 months to a year of diligence to potty train. But, depending upon your new dog's previous living conditions and already developed habits, it could take longer or they could already be trained! If you have a straight out of the womb puppy, you will need to begin potty training at about 12-16 weeks. Whatever the scenario, you are going to need: consistecy patience positive reinforcement When you first bring your new addition to the house, limit where he/she can roam. This will give you a more controlled environment and give your dog less options to use as a toilet. Then, follow these steps: Dog language for using the bathroom: Whining Circling Sniffing Barking and Scratching at the door  As training progresses, you can offer more freedom for your furry family member to roam aroun...

You just brought home a bundle of fuzziness that slept all day, but now this furball is running around, nipping, jumping and biting. OUCH! As a human, our first reaction is to think that this puppy is naughty and going to become an aggressive dog if we don't do something....and fast! Although, yes, biting needs to be dealt with, it does not necessarily mean you have a "bad apple". It means your puppy is in fact a canine. Puppies bite for a number of reasons: They could be teething and the biting action is relieving the itchiness of their teeth coming in. They are also learning how to play. If you watch puppies at a young age play in a pack, they bite. As they get older and their litter mates teach them that biting hurts through a yelp or cry, a puppy soon learns to be gentle. Puppies will also bite to get your attention, and it works! On the flip side, a puppy may bite if they are sick, hurt or just not socialized correctly. It is extremely important to pay attention t...

 The Holidays are right around the corner: Holiday shopping, meal planning, parties, guests, you name it. It can be a stressful time of year, especially for our furry family members. They don't know about holidays or what the big excitement is about, all they know is that energy is up and their human companions are stressed out. This in turn, causes them to be frantic and stressed out as well. Here are signs of stress in your animal companion: Loss of appetite Lack of energy and interest in things they used to love Lip licking and yawning Boisterous behavior  or excessive whining Hiding and cowering when you call to them Chewing on furniture and things they are not supposed to chew on when they haven't done that in ages. Velcro dog-- basically following you around EVERYWHERE and being right under your feet all the time. They seemed to have forgotten they are potty trained.  These behaviors could also be an underlying health problem. It's a good idea to tak...

  As pet parents, we are busy. Our typical day not only involves work & maybe two-legged family member responsibilities, but also feeding our four-legged members and making sure they receive proper mental & physical exercise. It's a lot! In the midst of it all, many pet parents forget to groom, brush & bathe their dogs on a consistent basis or at all. Grooming helps keep your dog's coat, skin, ears, paws, claws and sanitary areas clean. Without proper grooming, dead skin & dirt can easily pile up causing infections.  According to the American Kennel Club, most breeds should be groomed once a month. Some breeds need more. Let's break down the needs based on coat length: Short-haired dogs: Short-haired dogs should receive baths about once every 4-6 weeks & brushing should be minimal. Double coated dogs: These are the breeds of dogs that shed their undercoat seasonally. Brushing should be done 1-3 times a week and with a brush that goes through the undercoa...

 We have all heard the age old advice not to change your pet's food and that they should stay on their chosen pet food for the rest of their lives. Not True. Like humans, dogs change physiologically over time and their food needs to be adjusted every now and then to ensure proper nutrition. So, how can you tell if your dog is not getting enough nutrients (or too much) from their current dog food? Here are seven signs that it's time to change your dog's food: Changing your dog's current food can sometimes be a tricky task. It's hard to wade through all the different varieties out there. As an owner, sometimes it feels like you need a PhD in dog food just to figure out what works and doesn't work for your pet. Transitioning your dog's food must be done over a 7-10 day period. Starting with about a 20-25% "new" food mixed with the old. Gradually increase the percentage of new over the time span until the old food is phased out. Sometime...