The official blog of Playful Pooch, your number one choice for dog boarding and daycare in the Denver area. http://www.playfulpoochusa.com Are you having trouble coming up with a name for your dog? Here are a few wacky names to give you inspiration. These are actual names given by owners to their dogs. You can read about them at the following link: http://www.petinsurance.com/wackypetnames/2015-dog-names/ Baron Von Furry Pants Artoo Dogtoo Rosie Picklebottom Parker the Barker Abigail Carmichael Spartacus Smiley Cyrus Nutmeg Spice O' Paris Abraham Lincoln Continental Bizkit Au Chocolat Scuddles Unterfuss http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=63 Playful Pooch is proud to announce that its Gold Standard of Accreditation has recently been extended by the Colorado Association of Dog Daycare (CADD). What exactly does this mean for you? Well, CADD encourages its members to reach for a "a standard of excellence beyond the requirements for state licensure". The regular, or standard, licensure covers facility-related criteria, such as "construction materials, space requirements and sanitation, but not behavioral evaluation of client dogs, or staff experience and training." Each of these criterion is described in detail on CADD's website, which can be accessed at www.coloradodogdaycares.org. The Gold Standard Accreditation is awarded to "demonstrate [a] a facility's commitment to provide the highest level of professional dog management and care." There is an extensive application process that is required in order to receive this designation. The criteria for the accreditation go as follows: Behavioral assessment standards for client dogsStaff training protocolPrimary staff trainer qualificationsContinuing education requirementsAnnual pet first aid training This is just another example of how The Pooch constantly strives to provide your pet the best in care in a safe and clean environment! http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=60 As evidence of our ongoing commitment to our customers and their pets, Playful Pooch was named a winner of a Gold Star Certificate from BBB (Better Business Bureau) Denver/Boulder, 2012 - for having no complaints in a three-year period! http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=66 Here at Playful Pooch our goal is to provide a holistic approach to our dog care, by providing a safe, clean and fun place to socialize and exercise during the day, a warm and comfortable place to sleep at night, and bathing services to make sure your pooch goes home nice and clean. Our high quality food, treat and snack selections help round out our line of services for your pooch. http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=56 Denver has had several outbreaks of canine influenza and bordetella in the past few years. Therefore dog owners must take every precaution to reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses by properly vaccinating for Bordetella every six months and Canine Influenza once a year along with Rabies and DHPP. Due to Denver being considered a high risk area, national veterinarian associations, researchers at Cornell University and most local veterinarians strongly recommend this level of vaccinations. Owners must also watch for any signs of respiratory illness with their dog or from any other dogs they come in contact with. Respiratory illnesses are spread between dogs in public places in the same way as humans coming in contact with contagious people in public places. Dogs are at a higher risk of exposure by going to dog parks, pet food stores, groomers and other places where dogs may not be properly vaccinated. As owners of Playful Pooch, we are diligent about reviewing vaccination records and taking a conservative approach to their administration. We require current Rabies and DHPP and Bordetella every six months and Canine Influenza once a year. The initial Canine Influenza requires two vaccinations around three weeks apart, then once a year thereafter. http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=74 Our outside color cams are installed so you can watch your pal splash and play in the pools in the summer or plow through the snow in the winter. Check out our new indoor "snout cam" for up close views of those playful pooches! We also have color cams for inside play when the weather is wet and dreary outside, http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=68 Who doesn't want a beautiful, weed free lawn, dog owners should be aware that many commercial-made weed killers use chemicals that can be harmful to your pet. As a result, it is a good idea to read the instructions for applying it properly and keeping children, dogs and other pets away for the proper amount of time. However, there are many ways to kill weeds that will also do the job well, without endangering your dog. For the most part, these methods are simple, cost effective and work as well as any chemcially-made weed killer on the market. One of the best ways to kill weeds naturally and keep them from coming back is using salt. A pinch of salt placed at the base of a weed will leach into the soil, upset the pH balance of the plant and effectively kill it. Salt dirt or gravel drives heavily, and weed growth will be contained for many months. Sugar can be added to your salt mix, as well as some chopped up chili peppers to prevent your favorite pet from eating what you've placed on the ground. It works the same way as regular salt, and you won't have to worry about your pet's health. Sprinkling cornmeal into cracks and crevices will control weeds in hard-to-reach places. No need to pull them up anymore, just put some cornmeal into the cracks, and the weeds will soon be gone. Another way to kill weeds immediately is to douse them with boiling water. This is an age old remedy for intrusive weeds, and about as natural as it gets. This may not be the best spot weed killer of the bunch, because if there is any run off to the sides as you pour, it will kill everything around it, but boiling water is a good solution for large areas. Consider drenching cracks or crevices with boiling water and then lay cornmeal into them as a double whammy. Be careful, as scalding water can seriously burn your skin. Another timeless and natural weed killer is vinegar. The acids in vinegar, although mild to us, are killers for weeds. Target the base of the weed so the vinegar can get into the root system and kill the weed. An effective vinegar solution of 1 gallon of white vinegar, 1 cup of sale and 1 tsp of dishwashing liquid works as as an effective and safe week killer. Spray the mixture on offending weeds to kill them without harming your dogs, kids or other pets. Once again, be careful where you spray, as this mixture is very strong and will kill any kind of plant it comes into contact with. The aboved information comes from an eHow Home article contributed by Dale Yalanovsky. http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=65 Such a rare sight of Jackson actually resting for a minute or two. He loves to play non-stop with all the younger active dogs, but guess he even gets tired at times. Show us your pearlies Jackson! http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=73 After two long years of negotiation, planning and approval, we have completed the installation of a fire sprinkler system throughout our facility. This system was voluntary on our part and not required, but our goal has always been to provide the highest level of safety for all of our pals that visit. Most dog facilities in Denver are located in older industrial buildings that are not required to have fire sprinklers, therefore this was always our ultimate goal. To complete this on our 4th Anniversary here at The Pooch was very excitiing for all of us. We know you too will feel it was an important addition to the safety and well-being of your dog during their visit. http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=67 If you were to ask your dog what he wants to do today, what do you think that he would say? Here are some tips we believe are what most dogs want in an ideal day: First, they want plenty of time to play! Plenty of good quality sleep time - even 16 to 18 hours per day. Lots of clean fresh water changed daily. Good quality AAFCO approved food made for their stage of life. Lots of opportunities to go to the bathroom - ideally at least every 6 to 8 hours. A warm safe place to be. To be loved. by Dr. Debra Primovic at PetPlace.com If you find that you cannot always provide your best friend these items consistently, bring him or her to The Pooch where we take care of your dog like one of our own! http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=55 If you are new to Denver, never knew such regulations even existed or have just forgotten what those regulations covered, the City and County of Denver has various laws to protect the health and safety of both people and pets within its jurisdiction. Chapter 8 (Animals) of Title II of the Denver Revised Municipal Code contains several regulations that are worthy of mention if you are a dog (or cat) owner. Each municipality may have its own or different requirements, so its best to check your city's ordinances pertaining to pet ownership. 8-16 Leash Law It shall be unlawful for any owner, possessor or person who keeps any dog to permit the same to run at large. 8-32 Vaccination Required It shall be unlawful for any person who owns or harbors any dog or cat in the city to fail to have such dog or cat vaccinated for rabies. 8-61 License Required It shall be unlawful for the owner, possessor or keeper of any dog or cat over the age of six (6) months to keep, maintain, house or have in possession within the city a dog or cat without first having obtained a license for such dog or cat. 8-71 Spay andamp; Neutering Required It shall be unlawful to own, possess or keep in the city any dog or cat over the age of six (6) months that has not been spayed or neutered except as provided in section 8-72 (Exceptions). Please refer to Section 8 (Animals) of the Denver Revised Municipal Code for more information as it pertains to your particular situation. You may also want to check out the following website: www.denvergov.org/animalcare http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=54 Canine Cancer affects one out of every three dogs, so it's something that pertains to all dog owners. Luckily, through a major research project by the National Institute of Health, the complete mapping of the genome sequence of the dog has been completed. With this research, we can not only learn more about fighting cancer in canines, but humans as well. Nearly half of dogs aged 10 years or older are victims of cancer and that is why early detection is essential. Routinely examine your dog for any physical or behavioral abnormalities and have your dog checked out by your veterinarian regularly as well. Things to watch for include: Abnormal swellingsLumps in the crease of the legs or under the jawSores that won't healFoul breathWeight loss/poor appetite/difficulty eatingDifficulty breathingBleeding/unusual discharge from any orifice Mast Cell tumors are one of the most common types of cancers found on dogs, but Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers, Boston Terriers, Pugs, and Shar Peis have a particularly high rate of them. If you're an owner of one these breeds, be sure to take extra care of your pet. Some bumps are harmless, so when in doubt, be sure to have your vet x-ray any curious spots. Spaying and neutering also reduces your dog's risk of cancer. This is especially the case for uterine and breast/mammary cancer in females and testicular cancer in males. Breast cancer in dogs is fatal in about 50% of cases, according to the ASPCA, so be sure to keep this in mind. If your dog does develop cancer, do not despair, there is hope. Chemotherapy, albeit expensive, can be used effectively on canines. This can extend the life of your pet and, in some cases, provide a cure. There are, of course, the side effects, which include vomiting and nausea, but dogs rarely lose their fur from the treatment. The upside is that it "damages rapidly growing cancer cells in dogs, slowing or stopping their growth entirely". Since the treatment is so expensive (ranging from $200 to $2,000), you might want to think about a pet insurance policy when your dog is young and shows no signs of the disease. This may be wise especially if you have a high-risk breed like the ones mentioned above. Contact your veterinarian to see if they sell pet insurance or honor those of certain companies. It could be money well spent for you and your pooch! http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=62 We have been chosen as a Favorite Place on Google. Less than 1% of all businesses in the United States receive this special designation and it is based on the number of times our website is visited and our wonderful customer reviews. Thanks for helping us achieve this unique recognition! http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=58 Our dog Mollie was in the Mutts and Models event in May. This was a fund raiser for the Harrison Memorial Foundation, a not-for-profit veterinarian hospital located here in Denver. She trotted down the runway with Greg Nieto, from Channel 2 News. We thought she was the cutest dog in the show, but perhaps we are slightly prejudiced! The poor little girl seemed overwhelmed with all of the papparazzi flashing cameras in her face. Mollie has always acted like The Princess of the Pooch, and now she truly is! Watch for her video in our Video Gallery, COMING SOON! http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=45 Harvey came to us when he was only 10 weeks old, and attended our free Puppy Play on Saturdays. He now is over 4 months old and regularly attends our daycare and training programs and is doing great with all his friends. He is a perfect example of why it's important to start socializing your pooch at an early age. He's so tired when he goes home after a day at The Pooch, that he doesn't get into any mischief! Check out his video, Puppies Play Hard, in our Update/Blog section! http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=44 Liffey is a one-year old Golden Retriever that has a boyfriend named Henry. She follows him around like a love-struck teenager and Henry patiently accepts this adoration! Liffey was born blind but does extremely well in playtime. Her other senses guide her through the playground and she's never at a loss for friends to play with...especially if Henry is around! http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=30 Spartan is a 6 year old Australian Shepherd who loves to play with other Aussies. She does a great job herding the other dogs and tells them when they are out of line! One of her best buddies is a young black lab named Santi. http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=32 Olive puts the "playful" in Playful Pooch! She is a 1 1/2 year old Boxer who has been with us since she was about 6 months old. She loves playing with everyone, and won't take no for an answer! She never wears out, even after a long day of play at The Pooch! http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=27 Cody, a 5 year old Lab mix comes everyday for daycare and is one of everyone's favorites. He is extremely well behaved and loves jumping up in the playhouses to keep an eye on everyone. He has his favorite buddies, such as Henry and Hank and really loves hanging with the staff. Cody actually thinks he IS one of the staff and is always surprised when he goes back to play with the dogs, rather than helping one of us! http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=24 Charlie is a very friendly five year-old Maltese mix. He was very shy when he first came to visit, and would sit in the corner and watch everyone play. Now he runs in the door with his tail wagging and is ready to play all day with his small friends. http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=23 Roger, one of our regular daycare pals, is so excited when he arrives that his mom opens the car door and lets him run straight for our front door. He jumps up, hits the door way up high and slides all the way down because he REALLY wants to come in to play. Playing in the sprinklers and pools are his favorite things to do at The Pooch. http://www.playfulpoochusa.com/blogentry.php?id=8