Dear Scampers People –
Imagine this – today, we are hosting three Bernese Mountain Dogs (Darn, Zoey, you’re missing a fun day!) and three Vislas. They’re all having a great time schmoozing with their newfound “cousins”, and the other pooches they’re sharing that middle zone with. Meanwhile, in our back room, it’s Lab and Doodle heaven, and in our little dog space, there’s a gaggle of fluffy Bichon-mixes. We’ll see if we can get some video up onto our Facebook page this afternoon. Fun times for all, as always.
Congratulations to Parker, Pooch of the Month, December 2011!
And, the winner is … Parker, by a muzzle! Congratulations to Parker and his proud family — he has earned his spot on our wall of honor as Pooch of the Month!! Thanks to everyone who voted; watch for our next installment of Pooch of the Month in early January.
Holiday Gifting? Maybe we can help!
’Tis the season of giving! Consider Scampers Gift Certificates as a gift option for your friends with “best friends”. Scampers Gift Certificates are available in various denominations, and we’ll waive the temperament test fee for referrals. Let us know if you’d like us to make up personalized gift certificates for your friends – it’s quick and easy.
Why is that dog in a crate?
We had this question from a customer the other evening, and we realized that’s a question that others of you may have had too. At Scampers, we treat crate time as rest time. Many dogs find that the space inside a crate is quiet and private and gives them a few minutes to breathe and relax without having to feel on guard. You’ll often see a dog in a crate, and the door is wide open. Dogs who have been playing at a high level, or who are overstimulated by their environment for any other reason, can relax and find comfort in a few minutes of protected peace. Rest assured that we would never crate any dog who is not comfortable in that environment, and they’re never in a crate for very long.
Reminder: Reservations Time has Arrived
With Scampers Campers attending in the numbers we have been seeing recently, it’s all the more important that you please notify us in advance of your plans to bring your pooch. We do have some “drop in” space available, however, our roster must be limited by the number of staff we have on hand in order to maintain safe staff-to-camper ratios. For those of you whose pooches’ attendance does not follow a pattern, notification by phone or email works best – “Reply” to these Weekly Recap Messages to get your notification to both Stina and Linda by email.
Pawlogic’s One-on-One Private Training
Pawlogic is offering a great deal to Scampers Campers – Cathy is offering one-on-one private training for your dogs during their day at Scampers, in half hour time slots, and customized to your requirements. Your dog will come home with an itemized report card and maybe even some homework for you! You’ll also get a complimentary pass to drop in on one of the Pawlogic group classes. For more information on Pawlogic one-on-one training or the group classes, call Cathy at 425-443-5280.
Pooch Health – a Cooperative Effort
Please remember your role in protecting the health of your own dog as well as all the Scampers Campers. If your dog is displaying symptoms that warrant veterinary care, please ask your veterinarian if or when return to a daycare environment is appropriate. Also, as a reminder, we maintain a policy that all Scampers campers must have current vaccinations. Please keep your dog’s vaccinations current, and ask your veterinarian to forward a copy of any updated vaccination records to Scampers via fax. Finally, please ask your vet to place your dog on a 6-month reminder cycle for bordetella (kennel cough), letting them know that your dog participates in daycare.
Reminder: Flu Season – Canine Influenza
We’ve been hearing about the Canine Influenza Virus from local veterinarians lately. This is a highly contagious disease which spreads rapidly through coughing and sneezing, and which has been making its way across the continent. Luckily, there is a vaccination. We highly recommend that you talk to your veterinarian about vaccinating your dogs against H3N8 – Canine Influenza. Here are two articles – one from ABC News, and the other from the Center for Disease Control.
Pooch Needs a Spruce-Up? Chris Sugarbaker of Cut-’N-Run – Next Visit is this Tuesday, December 20th
Chris will be at Scampers for a grooming visit again on Tuesday, December 20th. If your dog needs some sprucing up, be sure to claim your dog’s spot with him right away – his schedule has filled up completely on more than one occasion.
Photos and Video
We are posting videos on YouTube as well as Facebook, Flickr and the Scampers Blog. Take a tour from time to time to see if there are any new shots of your pooch in action.
Stina Hughes and
Linda Olsen, Partners