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

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

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!

In Flash’s words as told to his owner Sharon:

Rebecca and her boy Murphy

My primary trainer-Rebecca-is very nice and very smart and teaches me many things.

I receive treats for being a “good boy” such as when I walk politely on a leash around the big fields at DogBoy’s, jump through the tire on the agility field, come when called and even when I am relaxing quietly-how cool is that?

Rebecca must think that I am very handsome and a good performer because she films me during our training sessions and shows the videos to my owner.

I have met many trainers who play fun games with me and help me learn to trust people.

I am also meeting some lovely canine ladies so I can improve my doggie socialization skills.

There are always plenty of friendly faces to kiss, fun places to explore and new smells to investigate.

I can’t wait until it’s time to go to Charm School again!

Yours truly,

Flash

Flash

Mikey and Charlie Bear

As a member of a household of two dogs and an energetic toddler, one of the most satisfying things for me since my son’s birth three years ago has been watching his developing relationship with our dogs, and to see the love he has for all dogs in general. And yet, I also have to be watchful. Though I know and trust my dogs, any dog (it can’t be emphasized enough) should never be left alone with a small child, even for a minute. We’ve all seen the tragic results of ignoring this essential rule all too often on the news. Even the sweetest dogs have their limits, and as resilient as newborns and infants can be, it is easy for a dog to injure them without even intending to do so.

Short of this, countless dogs are re-homed or surrendered to a shelter because of the arrival of a new child. But think about it from their perspective. Your dog’s life and routine have been suddenly upended. This new noisy, smelly…thing…is suddenly the center of attention and their humans have little energy left over for favorite activities like games or walks, or even a good belly rub. It is stressful for your dog, and your dog will let you know it.

Here at DogBoy’s, one of the one night seminars we offer is one specifically for expectant dog parents, “Welcoming the New Human Arrival.” Our wonderful training staff goes over all the do’s, don’ts, whys and wherefores of introducing a new two-legged member into your household that already has four-legged ones. Here are some general tips, which are only the beginning of what the seminar covers:

DO: Encourage your dog to start investigating baby furniture and toys as you receive them and begin setting them up in the weeks before your child’s arrival. Reward him when he does. You can start building positive associations with the baby even before her arrival.

DO: Decide ahead of time what your boundaries are when it comes to your dog’s interaction with your child. Is sniffing OK? What about a lick? Knowing ahead of time will let you be consistent from the day you bring baby home from the hospital.

DO: Start reducing your dog’s status before your child’s arrival. That means start doing things like not letting your dog sleep in the bed or bedroom and for smaller dogs, not carrying them around—that elevates their status. Status is everything to a dog and any changes in it need to be handled with care.

DON’T: Let anyone else shoo your dogs off baby if that is something you’re okay with. You don’t want your dogs to think coming around their new housemate will bring punishment. You also don’t want them to be confused by mixed messages.

DON’T: Freak out if your dog growls. First, it’s important to know why he’s doing it. Second, a growl is a dog’s warning; a warning you will want to have as your child gets older and begins testing the limits of the dog’s tolerance for herself. The last thing you want to do is take that warning away and leave a bite as your dog’s only recourse.

And finally…

DO: Make time for your dog. It’s probably the most difficult thing to do when a new child comes into the house, especially in those first few months of multiple late night feedings and diaper changes. Still, the sacrifice will be worth it. If you can, take advantage of visits by family and friends to carve out some time with your dog while they are giving baby lots of attention. Your dog—and eventually your child—will thank you!

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UPDATE: Congratulations to the Butler Bulldogs, who made it all the way to the final game against Duke and gave the mighty Blue Devils a run for their money. Go Bulldogs!

by Jay Robison

photo by Nicole Mlakar Photography

It’s been a week and I’m just catching my breath to tell you all about our big Open House weekend. What a wonderful time it was - celebrating with family, friends and staff. We’re still smiling about it!

We kicked off the weekend with a pre-party, taking time to thank our builder, our bankers, our local vets, and many of the others who made this project possible. We decided to give the Training & Wellness Center an informal nickname, Chelsea’s Place after our first dog, Chelsea Garbo. She’s the reason we got into this business, after all!

We also announced some BIG news. We have made a committment to a formal partnership with the Austin Humane Society! We are SO excited about giving back to the Austin pet community, and can’t wait to get started. DogBoy’s will be helping out some of their more active dogs - who really need to get out and run! We’re giving a free evaluation and day of day care for up to three shelter dogs per week. In exchange, DogBoy’s will have the honor of a dedicated run at the AHS, and will get to be a big part of their annual Rags to Wags gala. We just love the work that the AHS does, and we’re so proud to be a partner with them.

I’d like to say a big THANK YOU to Nicole Mlakar-Livingston of Nicole Mlakar Photography for shooting the pre-party and Saturday’s Open House. For even more of her great pics, you can read her blog. We’re really looking forward to working with Nicole more in 2010!

I’d also like to send big hugs and thank you’s to my mom, dad & sister for all their help with Friday’s event. We couldn’t have pulled off such a wonderful evening without their help!

The Open House on Saturday was loads of fun too. We had our wonderful trainers doing demos on Agility and Rally Obedience. So impressive! Lisa Knaggs, Owner of Bark for Peace gave some great mini-classes on canine massage. She’s teaching her second class out at the ranch on Friday, 2/12 if you’d like to join us!

Marcella and I did three FULL tours and really enjoyed showing everyone around. Thanks to everyone who helped out and please come join us at Chelsea’s Place soon!

photo by Nicole Mlakar Photography

Long time no see! This last month has been a whirlwind. Our Training & Wellness Center is complete, the Open House is next Saturday (10 - 2 - please join us!), we’re busy with new fencing, signage, phone lines, furniture, and my iPhone has officially turned into a Pachinko machine. Bing-ba-bing-bing-bing!

We have visited some wonderful local vets this month, letting them know all about what we’re up to, and how we can all work together to improve pet care in our community. First we met with Dr. Carolyn Love of Love Pet Hospital, who gave us lots of great info on how to find local acupuncture vets and chiropractors (and vets) who are trained in animal chiropractic care. We also enjoyed meeting her Office Manager, Robin, who had some great stories to share.

Next was a great heart to heart with our own vet, Dr. Todd Riggan of White Rock Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Todd was excited about all the training classes we’re teaching, and gave us the name of the chiropractor who treats his pet patients. We are looking forward to learning more about him hopefully getting him out to treat pups at DogBoy’s as well. We love White Rock Vet!

Soon after we were knocking on the door of Dr. Neans and his super friendly crew at Central Texas Animal Hospital. It was great hearing stories of how much Dr. Neans has seen Pflugerville grow over the years, and brainstorming about how we can work together to help the community continue to understand the importance of spaying & neutering their pets. Thanks to Dr. Sameer Modak & their Office Manager Michelle for meeting with us as well.

Dr. Gudipally over at Pflugerville Animal Hospital introduced us to his super friendly long haired chihuahua named Levi, and a sweet kitty who’s name escapes me. His business is growing, and he’s now treating pets in two locations. Way to go!

Today, with DogBoy out of town, I visited our last two (but no less important) vets. Dr. Watson at Tech Ridge Pet Hospital has such a kind heart, and his staff was so welcoming to me. They even let me sit behind the front desk like one of their own. Dr. Watson was interested to learn more about diet and its affect on behavior, and we look forward to talking more about that! See our Diet Sheet if you’re curious to know more.

Finally, I got the sheer pleasure to meet Dr. Sutton at Hometown Animal Care. We laughed about the ups and downs of the boarding industry and he told me all about the up and coming Round Rock location of the Central Texas Veterinary Specialty Hospital. This second location (original is off Ben White, near Hwy 290 & 71) will be a specialty hospital by day and a top notch ER by night. We can’t wait for them to open! A big thanks to Cindy for giving me the grand tour.

We are so grateful to all our local vets, and can’t wait to work more closely with them in the coming year. What they all had in common was how open they were to our desire to bring alternative medicine to this area, and their sharing of the wonderful reputation we have built in this 15 years of business. Did I mention that? This is our 15th year!!! Woo Hoo! Get ready for a year of fun and lots of new adventures! Hope to see you at the Open House!

Doggirl Returns

I have returned from the Pet Care Services Association Conference in Orlando inspired, excited and ready to implement everything I learned. Victoria Stilwell (from Animal Planet’s It’s Me or the Dog) was our keynote speaker, and what a treat it was to meet her and hear her speak about the positive dog training movement.

So many people in our industry still rely on “old school” methods of training - choke, pinch and shock collars - and I long for that to change. Victoria made some excellent points: that those methods work, but they work at the expense of trust and a strong bond between owner and dog. Dogs should behave out of a desire to please, and not out of fear of punishment. Using that choke chain or pinch collar tells that dog that the one person he depends on for love, food and support cannot be trusted. It breaks down the bond that we try so hard to build. Our dogs deserve so much better, don’t they? I was honored to be in her presence, and so grateful to have her at our conference.

I met so many wonderful people, learned so much, and came back with so many ideas about how to make DogBoy’s even better than it already is. I believe wholeheartedly in what we do, but there is always room for improvement! So stay tuned for new and exiting changes. And not to worry! The acreage and the playtime are staying put. All the things you love about DogBoy’s are here to stay.

My side trip to upstate NY was also a real treat. I continued learning, got to see the leaves change and finally got my dog (and cat) fix! The NY Sheep and Wool fest was overwhelming, and I hope to return to do it all again someday. I got to stay at a Buddhist monastery, visit an Elk Farm, and got a doggie facial! A big thank you to my friends and family for entertaining me, and filling me with love and support.

Today, we got a visit from two ADORABLE puppies from Lucky Mutts. China and Java are Border Collie/Cattle dog mix sisters.

They are only 9 weeks old. They are the last two from a litter of seven, but Lucky Mutts must have saved the best for last, because these two girls are adorable!! Their foster mom is already teaching them how to sit and they’re catching on fast! If you would like more info on China or Java, just contact Lucky Mutts!

Lucky Mutts

PS. For those of you in the “business” of fostering animals, please take note that DogBoy’s gives a discounted rate for all foster dogs!