DogBoy's Dog Blog

This is a repost of an article we printed in 2011. The info is still important to remember each and every winter - Enjoy!

She is your pet's doctor, your trusted expert in your pet's medical care. But how do you find the best vet for your pet? Here are our tips for making sure the veterinarian you choose is the best fit for you and your pet.

We have all done it.  Our cute, little furry friend is practically smiling at us from beneath the kitchen table.  The ears are perked and the tail is wagging.  We know what our dog is after.  Just a tiny tidbit from dinner would be delightful, right?  What could it hurt?  It is just a bite or two after all. 

The magic? That feeling you get when you see or feel something that you can't explain. DogBoy's is just a name and it is just a place. The magic is in the people who work here. The "magic" started in the early 1990's. I was not feeling any magic at my job in advertising. They were right at school, "Advertising is hard, cut-throat, demanding and has little reward. You are only as good as your last ad." My mind and body said, "Screw that," and I began to ask myself what I really wanted to do, what I loved doing and how that was going to support me financially.

Food puzzle toys are a way of life here in the DogBoy’s Training Department.  Why do we advocate their use?  They are great for reducing anxiety and stress.  Puzzle toys give our dogs mental stimulation and allow them to problem solve.  Including food puzzle toys as part of your feeding routine also builds confidence for dogs that are shy. Using a puzzle toy instead of just a bowl slows down dogs that tend to inhale their supper.

1. At DogBoy’s!
1. Classes: Take a class with your dog. You learn a lot, have fun, and get some extremely good bonding time with your dog.
2. Private Dog Park: Enjoy the off leash dog park experience with fewer worries. Fenced in. All dogs are evaluated and screened by our knowledgeable staff. Clean drinking water for your dogs. Hose to rinse them off afterward, or schedule a bath.
2. Field trip!
1. Walk the State Capitol Grounds & soak up some local history.
2. Arboretum- Take a walk around the shops, get some lunch from Blue Baker or some ice cream from Amy’s and sit outside with your dog. Check out the duck pond.
3. The Domain- Walk around the shops (many of which are dog friendly and you can take him/her in with you).
4. Zilker Botanical Gardens- Enjoy beautiful plants and shady paths on a walk with your dog.
5. South Congress- get some food from the trailers, window shop, and people watch.
6. Concert in the park- bring your dog!
7. Movies in the park- bring 'em!
8. Whole Foods Downtown I’ve been told any store that doesn’t have a service animals only sign on the front window/door is free game to walk around inside with your dog. If an employee asks you to leave, no big deal, kindly leave!
9. Warehouse district- walk around and eat on the porch somewhere. Lunch Breakfast Dinner- many places with outdoor seating will allow you to eat with your dog, ask!
10. JW Properties has a list of dog friendly places (We’ve been to others as well where we asked and they were cool with it)
3. Local Dog Friendly Parks - Hiking + Water + Other Dogs = FUN!
   *Be advised: Not all dogs that are taken to off leash dog park areas are well behaved, and sometimes are not friendly.
1. Red Bud Isle
2. Barton Creek Greenbelt
3. Walnut Creek
4. Auditorium Shores/Town Lake
4. Dog Events Are fun
1. Dogtober Fest
2. Mighty Texas Dog Walk (link to last year's walk)
3. Austin's 5K & 10K races- many that your dog can run alongside of you!

Some pups just can't wait to get to the Ranch!  Follow these easy steps to becoming a customer at the best boarding, daycare and training facility in the Austin area:

You may have already heard that DogBoy’s is switching to a new software this weekend.  All of our records, reservations, and other data will be moving from our old software to a new, more dynamic system. We’re very excited for this switch, and we hope you’ll like the changes in the coming weeks and months. While our staff has had training for this software, we also will be learning a lot as we go.  What does this mean for you in the short term?

• Filling the food and water bowls
• Exercise
• Puppy clean-up
• Grooming

• a collar and name tag
• a leash
• a crate
• water and food bowls
• toys

Your collar and name tag are a must for your new puppy. A name tag will allow your puppy to be returned to you if they manage to get out, even with the extra precaution of a microchip. Be sure it has the dog's name and your cell phone.  More than one phone number is good too!  When choosing a collar, avoid painful collars like choke chains and shock collars. Instead choose a leather collar or nylon Martingale-style collar that will stay on but not choke your new puppy.  Our favorite collar is the Premier Collar.

When buying a leash, choose a leash that is 4'-6' long and non-retractable.  Retractable leashes can cause harm to you, your dog, and the people around you if your dog gets tangled up or causes someone to trip.  A great leash/harness for walking is called the Easy Walk Harness.  It controls pulling naturally, using the dog's center of gravity.

Dogs enjoy having a den that is their 'safety' area.  This is what a crate is for: a place that is solely theirs to eat and rest. Think of your puppy's adult size when buying a crate; they will still use it when fully-grown and need room to stand up, turn around, and lie down.

Non-breakable, dishwasher-safe, non-slip bowls are best for both water and food. Clean both bowls regularly.

From your puppy's point of view, the most important supply you can buy is toys! Look for toys that not only provide a firm surface to chew on but also exercise their minds, such as Kong rubber puzzle toys. Instead of rawhide chews, supply your puppy with hollow bones that you can stuff with cheese or peanut butter.

Training

Training is a must to turn your puppy into a healthy, happy member of the family. DogBoy's offers Foundations class to puppies 5 months and older, where our knowledgeable and experienced staff will teach you as well as your puppy. For the littlest ones, our 5-week Puppy Rotation Class will allow you to start any time.

Preparing for Puppy by following these steps will be easy and stress-free, so enjoy your new family member!

For more help, check out The Puppy Primer, by Patricia McConnell.

• Orijen - it's pricey because of the quality of the ingredients, so anytime you can get it at a discounted rate that's great.


• California Natural - it's what we feed in the kennel, a good place to start since it is not as pricey as my other recommendations and doesn't have a ton of ingredients so it's easy on sensitive tummies.


• Natural Balance roll - the turkey formula is the best for treating with, it doesn't crumble like the other formulas. It's what we use in classes for training treats.


• Taste of the Wild - it's a nice grain-free option for dogs with allergies or sensitive tummies.


• Honest Kitchen - an easy way to feed a raw diets, you just add warm water and it's done!