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

While boarding, daycare and training will always be our primary focus here at DogBoy’s, we do our best to have a selection of quality food, treats, toys and food puzzles to keep you and your dogs happy. To make sure our wonderful two-legged and four-legged customers stay satisfied, we’re always looking to try out new items on our shelves. Here’s what’s new this fall at DogBoy’s:

DogBoy’s branded treats and merchandise

“Life’s uncertain-eat dessert first,” a wise person once said. So we have to tell you about the most exciting new thing we have at DogBoy’s-our very own branded treats and merchandise. Supplied by Healthpro Nutrition, a maker of quality dog treats, DogBoy’s brand treats come in turkey/sweet potato, cranberry/sweet potato, smoked salmon, and peanut butter flavors.

You can show your DogBoy’s pride by buying a leash with our familiar ranch dog silhouette logo. The leashes are six feet long and are made of sturdy nylon-perfect for walks or for use during a training class. We also are selling logo “leash links.” They attach to the hand loop of a leash (they also make pretty good key rings), and are perfect for attaching accessories such as hand sanitizer, bug spray and cleanup bags. All of these leash accessories are also available here in the office. Be completely prepared for your next walk and do it in style!

New High Quality Foods

Diet is so important to us here at DogBoy’s. From day one, we strive to educate our clients about how diet affects all aspects of a dog’s life, especially when it comes to behavior and overall health. And we know that our customers expect that when we offer dog food for sale, it will be food that meets our highest personal standards: free of fillers, and full of good protein, fruits, vegetables and other healthy ingredients. That’s why we’re excited to offer Life4K9 brand dry dog food, in both chicken and barley and lamb and barley varieties. A number of our staff have tried it; Jay reports that his dogs Graham and Hoosier both love the chicken and barley formula.

Toys

Last, but certainly not least, we have some fun new toys for sale. We have a line of fun-and tough-stuffed toys from Mighty Dog Toys. From cows and goats to possums and beavers, we have animals for large and small dogs alike. From Sprocket Pet Goods comes P:ECO the Penguin. P:ECO is the green dog toy, made entirely from organic and recycled materials. It’s the perfect toy for the green dog in your life.

Be sure to let us know how you like these new products. And if there’s something we’re not carrying that you’d like to see at DogBoy’s, let us know that too!

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