Dear Scampers People –

It must be the onset of Spring. The weather is constantly changing – one moment we have blue skies, and the next it’s pouring! On days like this, we do our best to dodge the raindrops when we bring the pooches out for their potty breaks, and they don’t seem to mind too much. If it gets really wet, they let us know a little sooner that it’s time to go back inside. We’ve also noticed that when the weather is as changeable as this, it tends to be unsettling for the dogs too, and they get a little barkier than usual, so if it seems extra noisy to you, that’s likely the reason.

Reminder: Reservations Highly Recommended
Things have been hoppin’ around Scampers lately, and we’re all absolutely delighted about that. Still, with the number of campers that have been attending, we are most concerned about maintaining safety so we ask for advance notice of your plans to bring your pooches. We have a few drop in slots available for emergencies, but, if you can, please let us know when you’ll be coming. A “Reply” to this email works very well, as does a quick phone call.

RIP Scampers Flip Video Camera
We are so sad that our Flip Video camera finally gave up the ghost – apparently we dropped it just one too many times! While we search for a replacement (it seems they’ve gone out of production!), we’d love it if you’d post some of your favorite shots of your favorite pooches on the Scampers Facebook page. We’ll be posting some stills soon too.

Keeping the Campers Healthy!
Please keep in mind that dogs at daycare are a lot like kids at daycare – it’s possible for them to share germs! If your dog is unwell, please bring him or her to your veterinarian. Once your vet has given clearance, we’re delighted to have your dog back among the other campers.

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.

Reminder: Pick Ups and Drop Offs – The Doggy Do Si Do
You are all aware of our “airlock” safety gate at our front door – it limits the possibility of even the most agile of Scampers Campers scrambling out the door.

There are other safety issues associated with pick-ups and drop-offs that you should be aware of. While all of our dogs possess wonderful personalities, we recognize that: first, some pairings are less ideal and unplanned meetings could escalate into aggression; second, some dogs enjoy jumping up on people; third, confusion increases the possibility of a frantic dog finding his way through the airlock.

If you have been in the reception area at the same time as another family, you may also have seen Leash Aggression or Barrier Frustration. These are two common behavior issues where normally lovely pooches become very agitated at being prevented from reaching the object of their curiosity or concern – and it’s best if we keep it that way, as dogs who are very good play pals during the course of their Scampers day can become quite aggressive toward each other under this circumstance.

To avoid these kinds of issues, we try to choreograph the exchange such that there is only one dog or family of dogs in the reception area at a time while we work through our pick-ups and drop-offs. Please forgive us if there are busy times when you’ll need to wait a moment or two, and know that it is best for the safety of every dog and their humans.

Pooch Needs a Spruce-Up? Chris Sugarbaker of Cut-’N-Run – Next Visit is Tuesday, March 6th
Chris will be at Scampers for his bi-weekly grooming visit on Tuesday, March 6th. 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.

Stina Hughes and
Linda Olsen, Partners