DogBoy's Dog Blog

Here at DogBoy's Dog Ranch, we live and love dogs so much, and we are thankful every day that we get to do this job.  In the early days of DogBoy's, things where very different than now, but very much the same still.  We use to say that we "create wild-domesticated dog packs", meaning we would pick our play groups to run the same way that wild packs or wolves would run their pack...with a heirarchical social structure.  Although we now know this isn't necessarily the true way dogs "run" together, the basic idea still stands. The dog world has changed A LOT in the last 25 years and even more in the last 10 years.  One of the biggest changes is the explosion of dog parks around the country, especially in the super-dog friendly cities like Austin and the surrounding areas.

Visiting DogBoy's private dog park is a great way to spend some quality time with your dog. Whether visiting for a private reservation, or coming on the weekends as a dog park member, following these tips will help you have a safe visit and a fun time too! 

Not unlike parents, any dog owner is going to quickly become familiar with things that are toxic to dogs because just like kids, dogs love getting into things that are bad for them. It’s just a fact of life. Most of us know, for instance, to keep things like baker’s chocolate, antifreeze, and poinsettia plants up where our pups can’t get at them. But have you ever given much thought to sugar-free gum? What about sugar-free peppermints and breath mints?

There are so many options for leashes out there these days. As you can imagine, we see the whole gamut, from nylong to leather to flexi-lead, or retractable leashes. Retractable leashes have become a very popular item, often out of convenience, for dog owners. At DogBoy's Dog Ranch, we are not fans of the retractable leash, and we're here to educate you as to why not. Here are just some of the common concerns when using a retractable leash and why we discourage their use:

I have been avoiding putting my dog on any type of conventional flea preventative for a while. I do not personally agree with the harsh poisons found in them. They do, after all, KILL bugs and are thus pesticides. I’ve had a very hard time rationalizing their use, especially since my dog has remained flea free. My train of thought had been, “Why mess with it until there’s a need to really do something about them?” I have been warned by the vet a couple of times, however, that waiting until I do see fleas is the wrong route to take. Once the fleas are present, they will be difficult to get rid of from my pup and my home.

We’re getting into the hottest part of the summer—the “dog days”—and the question I get more than any other at this time of year working the front desk is: “What do you do when it gets so hot to prevent heat stress in the dogs?” That’s a good question, especially since we’ve already seen the thermometer hit 108 this year and we’re barely into July. Dog safety is a big concern for us on the Ranch, because these are your best friends we're caring for!

There were lots of little dog boys and dog girls at Graham Elementary this past Friday! Jon Campbell, Alice Akridge, client Mark Kay Bode, and I presented for Career Day the 3^rd year in a row. Graham Elementary is a National Blue Ribbon School  which means they have shown significant improvements in students’ academic achievements. It also means students are performing at high academic levels.

Summer’s here, and it’s time to start being conscious of the heat.  Not just in regards to ourselves, but also with our dogs. Most of us know when the heat’s getting to us, our children or our friends; do you know what to look for in your four-legged friends?