DogBoy's Dog BlogDog boarding, training, daycare and wellness in the Austin area

Howdy, Dog Lover!

We also care for many dogs that are more heat sensitive than others. Short-nosed dogs (aka Brachycephalic dogs) like boxers, bulldogs, pugs and puggles are watched especially closely. The roof of their mouth acts like a radiator in a car – short snouts equal an inefficient cooling system.  Other dogs that overheat easily are the very large breeds, like our Pyrenees and mastiffs, as well as dogs on thyroid medications. Elderly dogs and those with heart conditions also have trouble with the heat as well as younger dogs. We keep an extra-close watch on these dogs when they’re here in summer months, and you will often see a well-behaved boarding dog spending time in the office when they need to be indoors more.

One of the things that makes DogBoy’s extra special is that the dogs we care for get to play outside in playgroups, hand-picked by staff who are trained in dog behavior. On an ideal day, that means they are outside for a full day’s play, whether they are here for daycare or boarding.  But your dog’s safety is our top priority, which means on days when the temperature or heat index is close to 100 or hotter, they can’t play outside all day without overheating.

So what do we do?

Well, when it’s this hot outside, we have to change things up a bit.  DogBoy’s kennels have always been designed to keep the cool in with reflective roofing and 4′ thick concrete slabs that hold on to the earth’s temperature.  We also have air-conditioned kennels, so dogs have a comfortable place to cool down.  To take advantage of the cooler times of day, the dogs get playtime in the morning.  And we start early!  We get the AC going in the kennels around 10 am, and when it starts to get hot around mid-day we bring the dogs inside for a rest and cool-down period. On days when we have lots of dogs on the property, we may also bring dogs into the office or to our beautiful and spacious Training and Wellness Center. After cooling off, we let the dogs out for potty breaks and shorter, supervised hikes.  While on hikes, we turn on the sprinklers and hose dogs down to help cool them off.  When boarding numbers are high, we limit day care, so everyone has dedicated space to cool down.

Our hard-working kennel staff makes sure that there is fresh, cool water in the buckets and kiddie pools, placed in the shade so your dogs can have a refreshing drink and cool themselves off with a splash if they want to. Our team refreshes these water sources again mid-day so that when the dogs come out after their rest break to play, they have plenty of clean cool water.

Thanks again for your questions, and keep ‘em coming.  We want you to travel worry-free, and enjoy your time away from your dog, while at work or on the road, with confidence that we’re taking care of all the details.  Enjoy these last few weeks of summer and we’ll see you again soon!

Stay cool,

DogGirl

P.S.  For those of you who want to know more about our old friend Mr. Blue, the pawthor of True Blue Leadership, who will be visiting DogBoy’s for an official Book Signing and Pawtography Event Tuesday, September 27th, check out his video:

Noodle is feeling patriotic today!

Howdy, Y’all!   Noodle Here.

My Mom and Dad are out celebrating the 4th of July without me this year, but I want you to know that that’s not necessarily a bad thing!  I’m holding down the fort at the Ranch (all 10 lbs of me), making sure all the other dogs have company, and I’m busy keep away the intruders in the tall grass (All grass is tall to me).

My mom says that the 4th of July is a real reason to celebrate.  Rumor has it, she’s visiting the home of a Navy pilot, who’s home for only a short visit near the end of a VERY long deployment.  I love snuggling on my mom’s lap while she’s reading her friend’s military spouse blog, Witty Little Secret.

Sometimes she laughs (fun for me), and sometimes she cries (good for her), but she always leaves with a better understanding of what it’s like to truly sacrifice for the sake of our country.

Okay, back to me and my cuddly self.  Did I mention I miss my mom?  There is one more thing I need you to know before tonight.  If your county doesn’t have a burn ban like Travis County does, and you actually get to go out and see fireworks tonight, do my four-legged friends a favor and DON’T bring them along.  I know you love to take us lots of places, and most times that’s a good thing!  But fireworks stress us out, so please keep us home indoors where it’s safe.  Windows closed, shades drawn, and music up are all things that will improve the mood.  If your pups have access to your back yard where the scary fireworks are, make sure their collars and tags are on, JUST IN CASE they feel the need to escape and go AWOL.  If you have time, download this really cool CD called Through a Dog’s Ear, it’s music just for me that is especially made to calm us down.  Here’s even more safety tips for dogs during fireworks.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July, dog friends, and come home soon, Mom!

Love, Noodle

If you’ve lived in Texas any length of time, you’ve probably come to see that passing bills when the Legislature is in session doesn’t resemble the old Schoolhouse Rock classic “I’m Just a Bill” so much as a brutal contact sport. The current session is just about over and has had no shortage of controversial bills, some of which have even made national news like House Bill 1451, better known as the Puppy Mill Bill. You can read the text of the bill and all amendments, and see more, at the Texas Legislature Online. The bill would require licensing and inspection for any facility having more than 11 breeding female dogs or cats, mandating humane conditions such as proper ventilation, food, water, and enough space.

Passions have run high on both sides. Supporting the bill is Texas Humane Legislation Network. Opposing it is the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance.  Our aim here is to present both sides as fairly as possible.

It is undeniable that something needs to be done to curb the problem of puppy mills in Texas. We here at DogBoy’s have seen the tragic health and temperament consequences of puppy mill dogs, as well as the heroic efforts of customers who have helped rescue these dogs to give them the best and most dignified life possible. It is a wonderful thing to rescue a dog in need of a home from a good shelter or rescue group, but responsible breeders produce good pets as well. Unfortunately, not enough people investigate where they are buying their puppies from, or simply may not know what separates a good breeder from a disreputable one.  We covered this in part in a previous blog entry, “Getting A New Dog.”

Opponents  of HB 1451, led by the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance, say that the aim of the bill is to eliminate commercial pet breeding altogether, in service of a radical agenda that seeks to eliminate meat eating and pet ownership.  Additionally, RPOA says that the bill would be the first step down a a path which would prohibit livestock farming; hunting, trapping and fishing; zoos, rodeos and circuses. There have also been claims that the bill would dictate training methods, especially for hunting dogs.  In light of that, it is worth noting that State Rep.  David Simpson of Longview, a leading opponent of the bill in the legislature, received approximately $500 from the NRA and another $300 from the Texas Deer Association in the period covering the 2010 campaign (view Rep. Simpson’s filings online at the Texas Ethics Commission’s website). Furthermore, opponents of HB 1451 say that existing state and federal standards and anti-cruelty laws are more than adequate to police puppy mills.

On the other side, supporters of HB 1451—led by the Texas Humane Legislation Network argue that criticism of the bill is overblown or outright false. In their FAQ section covering HB 1451, THLN asserts the following: that only commercial breeders with 11 or more intact female animals which ALSO sell the offspring of those females will be subject to the bill’s licensing requirements and standards, and subject to inspection. Boarding facilities like DogBoy’s would not be affected; trainers would not be affected; so-called “hobby breeders” who may only have one or two litters in a year would not be affected. THLN also argues that the inspection and standards give the state the leverage to seize animals before they die from neglect, instead of charging the people responsible for animal cruelty after it’s too late.

As with many bills the Legislature considers, the good intentions behind the puppy mill bill have been lost in a system that seems to value controversy over sober analysis. Hopefully we were able to shed some light on this subject, and we’ll be sure to follow up on HB 1451 if anything new develops.

Howdy, Dog Lover!

Noodle Doodle can be a Little Napoleon.

Most of our dogs are perfect angels, right?  I know Noodle is!  Well, the truth is, Noodle can sometimes be a pill around strangers who come in the house.

Occasionally, dogs who are great with their owners can be less angelic in public, and can sometimes even snap or bite.  Of course, we can help if you are experiencing this behavior.

But in honor of National Dog Bite Prevention week, I thought it might also be helpful to hear some tips from world-famous trainer, Victoria Stilwell.

Take a listen to this AVMA Animal Tracks podcast, and get tips on preventing dog bites.  Victoria gives advice about teaching your dog WHAT to do, when you encounter a situation that makes your dog uncomfortable, and a few things you can do to prevent your dog from biting at home and in public.

For more information about National Dog Bite Prevention Week, visit the AVMA website.  Until then, socialize your dog as much as you can – we can help with that too!

Take it easy,

DogGirl

Kids & Dogs can coexist peacefully!

This past Monday, DogBoy and I ventured off the Ranch with our well-seasoned dog trainer of almost 10 years, Rebecca Andrews.  We were on a mission to educate the children of Dessau Elementary School for their local Career Day.  One of our own kids goes to this school, so this career day was a special treat for us.  We brought along Rebecca’s faithful sidekick, Murphy.

Of course, everyone wants to pet Murphy.  He’s the local favorite greeter at DogBoy’s.  He’s easy going, always ready for a belly rub, and wonderful with kids.  But besides teaching kids what it’s like to run a dog ranch or be a dog trainer, we felt pretty strongly that there are other important things that kids need to know about dogs.  We’re all kids on the inside (right?), so I thought I’d share these things with you too:

How to greet a dog you don’t know:

1. ALWAYS Ask permission! Not all dogs like kids (or people, for that matter), so it’s always a good idea to ask first.

2. Approach with your body sideways (perpendicular) to the dog.  This lets him/her know that you pose no threat, and squat down to his or her level, looking away.  Watch the dog’s body language to see if the pup is eager to meet you or not.  Lick your lips or yawn, even scratch your belly.  These area all calming signals that put dogs at ease.  If you see the dog back up or give you the “whale eye”, back away and give the dog space.

3. Let the dog smell you first.  I prefer an open hand, but some people advocate protecting your fingers…

4. Pet the dog on the chin or chest – not on top of the head or on his back.  Never hug a dog you don’t know!  Even most of our own dogs don’t love the hugging and kissing that we do.

Murphy is a certified Canine Good Citizen

We also discussed what to do if you see a dog running towards you with no owner present:

1. BE A TREE! Stand still with your arms down and look straight ahead.  Don’t look at, talk to or touch the dog, as this will engage him.  Whatever you do, DO NOT RUN.  The dog will chase you and the dog will catch you!

2. If you get knocked down, tuck in your knees, and protect your head with your arms.  Close your hands into fists and cover your neck and ears.  If the dog does mean you harm, these are areas you want to protect.  It is unlikely that this would happen, but it’s good to know what to do if it does!

Finally, we discussed all the different types of jobs dogs have, and what every pet dogs needs at home:

Food, Water, Shelter, Love and Exercise!
(Shots and Spay/Neuter too!)

We had a blast, of course we were a huge hit with the kids, and DogBoy’s is headed back to another school to do the same thing tomorrow.  Who doesn’t want to grow up and play with dogs?  We have the best job in the whole wide world!

So if you know a kid, or a parent with kids, pass these tips along.  Next week is Dog Bite Prevention Week, so let’s all do our part to keep everyone safe!

Until then, keep those tails wagging!

DogGirl

Piers shows he can "Leave It" with treats on both paws

If you’ve been a DogBoy’s client for any length of time, odds are good that we’ve shared our views on the importance of diet and the ingredients that go into your dog’s food. Most of us don’t think twice about limiting, say, our children’s sugar intake. After seeing my 4 year-old rampage through a store after he shared my milk shake the other day, I was forcibly reminded of why that is a good idea!  Unfortunately, dog food manufacturers—especially the large companies—aren’t exactly forthcoming about the ingredients they use and can hide unhealthy ingredients behind jargon that can leave even the most conscientious dog owner scratching their head.

One solution is to make your own dog food from raw ingredients.  Several of the DogBoy’s team do this, particularly our Director of Training, Paula Baker Prince. It is probably the best way to ensure that your dog’s diet contains the best possible ingredients.

If you think you might want to try home-made dog food, but want to try something maybe a little less intimidating first, you can always try to make your own dog treats.  Maria Carlson, an old friend of mine, has been making her own treats for years. She says that books, blogs, even online recipe sites like Allrecipes.com are great places to look for easy to make (but yummy) dog treats.  To get you started, the DogBoy’s Dog Blog presents three tasty treat recipes that will put a smile on the face (and a wag in the tail) of your favorite four-legged friends.

Our first two recipes come courtesy of Marg Pedroza, whose dog Lily is a regular daycare and Chelsea’s Charm School client.  Marg knows that wheat flour isn’t the best thing for dogs—they tend to process it like sugar.  Marg uses oat or potato flour but there other good alternatives out there, such as spelt or even garbanzo bean flour.

Salmon Treats a  la Lily

1 can salmon (pink)

½  cup chopped parsley, or 1 bunch fresh

3 eggs, shells included

½ cup ground sesame seeds

½  cup ground flaxseeds

(NOTE: Coffee grinders work great for grinding the seeds)

2 to 3 cups potato flour

Preparation & Cooking

Marg says “Put these ingredients in a food processor and mix VERY WELL. Pour potato flour through the opening while the processor is on. Use 2-3 cups until dough forms to consistency of a pie crust and rolls into a ball—now it’s ready to take out. Dump it onto a potato-floured counter or kneading board.  Knead more flour into the dough and when it’s rolled out to a cookie-dough like consistency, roll it out one last time to about a ¼-inch think. Use a knife or pizza cutter to make small squares; you can also use cookie cutters if you want to be fancy. Bake on a greased or papered cookie sheet (you will probably need 2)  at 375 for 20 minutes. Turn and rotate the cookie sheets and bake for about 10 more minutes.

If cooked until crisp, you can store these biscuits at room temp for 1-2 weeks.

Sweet Salmon Aux Pommes

Ingredients:

2 medium sweet potatoes (can also substitute one can of cooked plain pumpkin)

1 can of salmon

2 ½ cups non-wheat flour (oat flour works especially well)

1 tablespoon flaxseeds (optional)

Directions:

Boil the sweet potatoes approximately 20-30 minutes until done. You should be able to easily stick a fork in them and break them apart. Put the potatoes into a food processor, add the salmon and set to “pulse.” When the salmon and sweet potato mixture is combined, add 1 cup of flour and process until smooth, then add the next cup of flour and repeat, repeating again with the last ½ cup. If adding flaxseeds, add at the end. They’ll give the treats an extra nutty flavor with the added benefit of more Omega-3 fatty acids (especially good for the skin and coat). Using a tablespoon, make “drop” cookies on a greased cookie sheet, evening out with the back of the spoon.

Bake at 425 for 30 minutes or until brown. Refrigerate.

Maria Carlson of Elkhart, Indiana and  proud doggie mom of Ruby, was kind enough to share her favorite recipe—heartily endorsed by Ruby for its bacon-y goodness!

Ruby Snacks:

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1 cup milk

½ cup water

1 teaspoon salt

10 tablespoons melted bacon fat

5 cups of flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Beat eggs in a large bowl; stir in milk, salt, and bacon fat until well-blended. Gradually stir in flour to make a stiff dough. Pinch off pieces of the dough and roll into 2-inch balls. Place on prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 35-40 minutes and cool on racks. Store in a covered container in the fridge.

Three great recipes to get you started! If you try any (or all) of them, please let us know how they turned out. Better yet, snap a picture of the results and share them on our Facebook page. And if you and your dogs have other great recipes, don’t keep those to yourself either!  Feel free to add them in the comments section below.

Rise and shine, Bunny Lover!

This weekend is filled with special goodies for you, and for Mother Earth too!

The Office front garden is planted with Easter Eggs, each filled with a special treat just for you.  Pick one to find out what you win!

Also today in honor of Earth Day, DogBoy’s will be donating 5% of your purchases to 6 non-profits committed to protecting the environment.  Visit AustinGive5.comfor more information on how you can help.

Just a reminder, DogBoy’s will be closed Easter Sunday to customers, but our kennel staff will still be here taking excellent care of your pups.

Easter Weekend Tips to remember:

• Keep your dog away from the chocolate – it can be poisonous to them, or at the least cause a lot of digestive upset.
• Boiled eggs (even colored) are fine, shell and all.  Just make sure they are fresh.  Break them up for the little pups.  If you hide one, make sure your dog finds it!
• Keep Easter grass and cellophane wrappers out of reach of dogs – they can cause intestinal blockage (and I know you don’t want to spend your holiday in the animal ER!).
• Easter Lillies can be toxic, especially to cats, so keep them up high.
• Finally, artificial sweeteners like Xylitol (found in many sugar-free candies) are poisonous to dogs, so keep those Easter baskets up high, and out of paw’s reach.

Have a safe and hoppy Holiday, everyone!

DogGirl

Photo by Emken Photography

Recently, I asked you to submit your testimonials.  I was overwhelmed with heartwarming letters and thank you’s all over the web.  I couldn’t stop smiling for weeks!  Without a doubt, our cup runneth over, so I felt it only appropriate to share some of them with you.

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Our dog Moab is such an important part of our family and the only place we trust to board him is Dog Boys.  His is now 6 and has been going to DogBoy’s since he was 6 months old.  He gets so excited as we turn onto the street to enter into DogBoy’s and is always a happy and tired pup when we pick him up.  The staff  is wonderful and we love that the animals get to play outside all day long.   Thank you DogBoy’s for providing such a wonderful service to allow us to feel comfortable leaving our best buddy with you.

Nikki McCormick

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Confessions of a Training Junkie

“Yes, I must admit it, I just can’t seem to let a “semester” go by without taking another training class at Dog Boys Dog Ranch! As one class draws to a close, I eagerly scan the website for new postings and opportunities to bond and train with my dogs. We’ve taken puppy classes, basic and advanced obedience, and fun classes like agility and rally-obedience. When I jokingly told the director of training that I was running out of classes, I promptly found fresh offerings to consider. They LISTEN at Dog Boys! I drive 40 minutes each way to go to Dog Boys because I believe there is no better place to take my “kids”, whether for training, overnight boarding, or day care. Go Dog Boys!”

– Carole Cameron (Bear, Koko, Dakota, and Mika too)

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My husband and I are so thankful that we discovered DogBoy’s!  Our two dogs have stayed there many times, either for just a night or two or as long as nine days.  We always know that we can be at ease while out of town, because our dogs are so well cared for.  The farm-like setting of DogBoy’s is awesome.  It allows for the dogs to get great exercise, and we really enjoy getting the briefing from the great staff on the dogs’ activities and behavior when we pick them up.  I have recommended DogBoy’s to all of my dog-loving friends and co-workers without hesitation and will continue to do so.

Thank you DogBoy’s for all you do,

Hollee and Dwayne Ganner

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I was introduced to the DogBoy world view by a friend and your place and staff are everything she described – and more.  Because you are even better in person!

I am so happy that I can look forward to my vacations and times I need to travel because I know Karmo has a home away from home.  He is always excited when we turn down the road to your place and comes back to me happy happy happy!  Even though I usually have to bring him in an extra day or two because I live in Fredericksburg, I never worry about him getting attention and love.

Thanks for all you do,

Gaylen Tips

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I love DogBoy’s and how they are able to keep my dog socialized.  I am not in a position to get another dog to train her to be around but I do like to keep her around other dogs.  DogBoy’s is the place!  They have playgroups that really tire the pups.  I love picking Tootsie up after a play day or boarding and having a “sleeping baby” the rest of the evening!  Sometimes the whole next day too.  Being in an agility class with Noodle was pretty great too!

Mona Corbett

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And finally…

My golden retriever puppy, Murphy, had a hard time finding friendly dogs to play with.  A helpful dog owner that lives near me told me about DogBoy’s, and I made a reservation right away.  It gave him a chance to make some friends, and get that social interaction that is so important. I have not yet boarded Murphy overnight, but he has had many wonderful playdays, and I always mention how much Murphy loves to come to DogBoy’s when I meet other dog owners.

Deborah Thompson

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You can find more great testimonials on our Facebook Notes Page.  Thank you, thank you for all the kudos, and we will continue to work hard to earn your praises!

Yep, we even teach kiddos about dogs.

Good behavior comes more easily to some dogs than others. Some just seem to get that they shouldn’t jump up; they walk beautifully on leash; they don’t bark and will sit, stay, and maybe even come on command with just a little work.  If you have such a dog, consider yourself blessed. You’ve won the doggie lottery! But you can still benefit from taking a class at DogBoy’s with one of our outstanding training staff.

It’s easy not to think much about training unless you have a specific issue or set of issues you want to work on with your dog. But any human-dog duo can benefit from taking a training class. “In training classes, they don’t so much teach the dog but teach the human to teach the dog, and always with a 100% positive-training method. On numerous occasions, staff have stayed long after class to help us with individual issues we’ve had,” says Jon Campbell, whose dogs Ali and now Guinness have been long-time regulars at DogBoy’s.

If you’ve never taken a class from DogBoy’s before, the place to start will be with a Level 1 obedience class. Even if you’ve taken a basic class before or if you feel your dog has a good grasp of beginning commands like “sit,” we cover so much more. Such as: how you set up your household; how you communicate with your dog, even if you don’t realize you are; dynamics of a multiple dog household and so much more. It is the foundation for all the more advanced classes we offer. And we offer many advanced classes.

Do you want your dog to be a therapy dog? There’s a class for that. A visit from a sweet, friendly dog brightens the day of many people in nursing homes and long-term medical care. Therapy dog programs usually require passing the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen program as a prerequisite, and our CGC class is focused on preparing you and your dog to take the Canine Good Citizen test at the end of the class.

Do you want to do a fun activity with your dog that will get you both some exercise? There’s a class for that. Agility and Rally Obedience are human-dog sports that will really get you and your dog moving while deepening that bond and really improving your communication skill with your pooch. Our classes don’t emphasize competition, but if you decide you’d like to compete in Rally or Agility with your dog you’ll have a good head start.  Kari Trecker, who has taken Agility with her dog Freida, talked about another benefit of taking Agility or any other class with your pup—confidence building. In a review posted on Yelp!, Kari says “She [Freida] was so happy when she completed an obstacle!”

Do you want to help your children learn to handle your family dog and learn how to be safe with strange dogs? There’s a class for that. Family Dynamics, which has evolved from our former “Kids and Dogs” class, is geared toward children ages six to twelve with an eye towards helping them be respectful toward their own and other dogs.

Do you have a new puppy? There’s a class for that, too! Our Totally Puppy! class is for dogs ages 8 to 16 weeks (dogs must be able to finish the class by age 20 weeks). It is a constantly rotating four-week class with no set beginning or ending date. You can start any time and attend for four consecutive weeks. There is a golden window of opportunity at that age for your pup to gain maximum benefit from exposure to new dogs, people and places. Best of all, our Puppy Class helps you start off on the right paw with your family’s newest member.

Our mission at DogBoy’s is to help you have the happiest, healthiest, most well-adjusted dog possible, and our training classes are a big part of that mission. Our Certified Professional Dog Trainers will even arrange private lessons if you want to work on a specific issue with your dog. Please visit our website or call us for more information. Remember: training isn’t just for “bad” dogs!

Bundle up out there. It's about to get COLD!

One of my cousins lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, where her Air Force husband is currently stationed, and she was joking to me recently how a 35 degree day felt like a heat wave. In Austin, we’re more used to worrying about the heat than the cold, and for good reason: it can hit the 90s or higher in May and usually stays there in October. But as news of recent ice storms and our own chilly days and sub-freezing nights have reminded us, we can get cold here too, especially in January and February.

As they do in the summer, DogBoys’ dedicated and tireless kennel staff are on watch to make sure no dog is suffering in the cold while they come for boarding or daycare. Many of our regulars feel extra-frisky on nice crisp mornings and you can see them running and playing in our many playgroups. And if you can’t see them, you can certainly hear them!  These dogs are having a great time. But just as some dogs are particularly vulnerable to the heat, others feel the cold more. Questions about warmth in our kennel buildings is a common question this time of year. Rest assured—both of our kennels are heated and our larger, newer kennel building even has radiant heating in the floors. The older kennel has sliding doors in each of the runs that we shut at night to keep the heat in, and we put down blankets for everyone. Both kennels are fully climate controlled as well.  With all that, the dogs stay nice and toasty!

Many owners of short-haired breeds like Weimaraners, Viszlas, Greyhounds and Pointers will bring specially-made dog jackets on very cold days, and we welcome them. You can purchase them in many pet stores like our local Tomlinson’s or online; if you’re handy with a crochet hook or knitting needles, you can even make your own (Knitting Pattern Central has a great selection of free dog sweater patterns available for download). Either way, we are happy to put them on your dog but be warned—those sweaters can take a beating in playgroup!

What about when they’re at home? If your dogs are mostly indoor dogs, they’ll be fine. However, if we get snow, sleet or ice you will want to check between your dog’s pads to make sure none of that is stuck there. Even more importantly, salt and chemicals used to melt ice on roads and sidewalks can burn dogs’ pads, so you will want to wipe your dog’s feet off right away if you need to take a walk on any salted surfaces. You will also want to make sure antifreeze is stored where your dog can’t get at it.

If you have an outdoor dog, take care. If you have a cold weather breed like a husky or Malamute with a thick coat, they’ll probably be fine even on Austin’s coldest days. In fact, a husky who’s a daycare regular at DogBoy’s even prefers sleeping outside on chilly nights! Short-coated dogs, or older dogs with arthritis or other health issues should spend chilly nights indoors, as they will be more prone to hypothermia and, in extreme cold, frostbite.

As with Austin’s hot summers, dogs are vulnerable to the same effects of cold as we are. Odds are good that if you need to take precautions when the temperatures plunge, your dog will need them too. If you are coming for boarding or daycare, take a moment with us to warm yourself by the fire and have some hot chocolate or cider before going out again. Bundle up!