DogBoy's Dog Blog

When I was twelve years old, my parents decided it was time for me to have a dog of my own. I couldn’t be more excited! We went through the newspaper and found the perfect dog:a Wirehaired Fox Terrier. We were so excited to have this brand new family member, and yet we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into!

Dogs are Social...
Dogs are very social beings, not only with us but with other dogs as well. It’s important for our dogs to spend time with other dogs. By interacting with others, dogs get exercise, the ability to socialize, mental stimulation, and play can be just plain old fun. 

Dog parks allow us the opportunity to have our dogs off-leash, get exercise and enjoy the company of other dogs. Knowing what to be aware of when dogs are playing can mean the difference between a safe, fun time, and our dogs learning unwanted behaviors, becoming injured or having traumatic experiences. Safe dog play generally consists of two dogs both participating and playing in a similar style.

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:

DogBoy's is a proud member of Go Local Austin, a great loyalty card, where you can get discounts at participating local businesses all over Austin.  In fact, Go Local cards work even at other cities where Go Local does business.

This was reprinted with permission from Don Hanson of Green Acres Kennel Shop.  Don is the moderator of Kennel-L, an email list for pet care facility operators.

As owners, operators and employees of boarding kennels and daycares we are entrusted with the care of our client’s pets, which in many cases are also our client’s best friends. Our treatment of those pets should be as kind and compassionate as the care we would provide to our own best friends or our own children. If you wouldn’t or shouldn’t do something to an infant, you shouldn’t be doing it to a pet. Spraying them with squirt bottles, or shocking them with electronic collars is not “pet friendly,” is unlikely to resolve the real problem, and is totally unnecessary. Most pets that act out at a kennel do so out of fear, frustration and stress. Intimidating or punishing them is only going to increase their stress.

Being Pet Friendly means we NEVER use, recommend, sell, or rent the following: remote shock collars, underground fence systems using shock or citronella, anti-bark collars using electric shock or citronella, choke collars, or prong collars.

As we offer training classes or behavior consultation services we are committed to using positive reinforcement based training.

We continue our education on pet care and behavior and understand that dominance is an outdated construct that has done far more harm than good and proactively educate our clients on this matter.

Thankfully, at DogBoy's Dog Ranch, you can rest assured that we are a pet friendly facility, and will always be a pet friendly facility!

Here are some websites and articles that are good reference for the positive pet friendly movement:

AVSAB Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in the Behavior of Animals - http://tiny.cc/BoliX

AVSAB Position Statement on the Use of Punishment for the Behavior Modification of Animals - http://tiny.cc/p5jYg

AVSAB Letter Expressing Concerns About the reality TV Show “The Dog Whisperer” - http://tinyurl.com/m7zhs6

Vets on Behavior Proclaim Never Use Shock Collars - http://www.goodnewsforpets.com/Articles.asp?ID=147#

Dr. Mech’s Paper – Alpha Status, Dominance and Division of Labor in Wolf Packs - http://tiny.cc/ycQeU

Truly Dog Friendly web site - http://www.trulydogfriendly.com/trulydogfriendly/blog/

If you'd like to know more about what makes DogBoy's a pet friendly facility, come for a group tour, Saturday's at Noon. 

Painful dog training products have been on the market for years as a quick fix for people who want fast results for problem dogs. This includes shock collars, choke chains, pinch and prong collars.  The trainers here at DogBoy's Dog Ranch, and many other trainers across the country, advise against these practices as they can harm the welfare of your dog and destroy his relationship with you.

When a number of our regular clients were asked the question, "Who benefits the most from dog training, the person or the pup?", the resounding response was the person.That's easy, right? Post classes and a commitment to practice, the human has a dog they can control. One that is more obedient and even more enjoyable to have around. The dog owner wins, hands down.