Summer Daycare Parties at Morris K9 Campus

Are you looking for something fun for your pooch to do this summer? Join Morris K9 Campus as we celebrate summer one day every week with our themed daycare parties!  Beginning June 21 through the end of summer, we are hosting doggie daycare parties for your pooch where they will be able to enjoy the day with friends and participate in various activities. As the weather gets warmer, bring your dog to daycare to cool off in our climate controlled facility. Mark your calendars for these special summer daycare days! The schedule and weekly themes are below:

Friday, June 21^st: National Dog Party Day & First Day of Summer

            Your pooch can join us as we celebrate National Dog Day while kicking off the first official day of summer! Your dog will get the opportunity to romp around in a ball pit, use their sniffers to play guess the pail and even participate in a fun game of summer themed musical chairs! Since it’s the first day of summer, your dog will receive a frozen “pupcicle” treat and create their own paw painting masterpiece that they get to take home!

Thursday, June 27: “Field” Day

            Everyone remembers field day in grade school. Now it’s your pooch’s turn to compete to be top dog! Pups will be divided into teams where they will be playing a bunch of field day games. Your dog will take their turn in kick ball, battle in a classic game of tug of war and show off their obedience skills in a variety of relay races. The competition is always friendly here because everyone is a winner at Morris K9 Campus!

Wednesday, July 3: Fourth of July Party

            Your pup can celebrate the fourth of July a day early with us in our dog friendly celebration of Independence Day! This party is the perfect all-American party: we are kicking off the holiday with a cook out, where your dog will feast on hot dog treats  and dog beer! There will be plenty of other activities to keep your pooch busy, from a bubble machine to sprinklers aimed to keep your pooch cool during the summer heat! That’s not all, there is a prize wheel in the lobby for you. Come in and give it a spin to see what goodies you can win to kick of the holiday!

Monday, July 8: Pirate Day

            Argh matey! Have your four-legged friend join us for this day of pirate fun! Your dog will get to do what every pirate is always trying to do: search for some “booty,” while playing a find-the-treat game that helps your pooch use their mind. Once they find their hidden treasure, they will get to “walk the plank” on agility equipment and go for a dip in non-shark infested waters.

Tuesday, July 16: Tricks and Games Day

            Do you have a smart dog that is always doing some crazy trick that makes you laugh? This day is perfect for you pooch! Your dog will work with both an agility instructor and a dog trainer to hone new skills or polish up some old ones. In addition to working on the basics, our instructors will be hosting a slam dunk contest showing off your dog’s new skills as well as working on fun tricks like roll over and crawl!

Friday, July 26: Pool Party

            Are you looking to play hooky and spend the day at the pool? While you are lounging by the pool, drop your dog off for a summer pool party as well! The pools will be out all day so your four-legged friend can take a refreshing dip at their own leisure. And no pool party is complete without a game of dog limbo or a game of beach ball volleyball!

Wednesday, July 31: Mutt Mania: Mutt’s Day

            It’s time for your pooch to strut their mutt! We are celebrating National Mutt Day with a bunch of fun activities for your mixed breed dog.  Your pup with get to try out their skills with an All-American agility contest, and will also get the opportunity to shake their tails with a doggie dance party. Make sure you check out our Facebook page on Mutt Day to play our guess the mutt breed contest to see if you can guess what types of dogs we have in daycare.

Monday, August 5: Picnic Day

            We are going on a picnic and your pooch invited! We are packing up our baskets and headed to play fun picnic games. Your dog will participate in games like badminton and dog Frisbee. As with all picnics, there will be plenty of snacks for your pooch to much on throughout the day.

Wednesday, August 14: Camping Day

            Does your dog want to have s’more fun? Have your pooch come sit around the fire because we are going camping! Your dog will get to enjoy the outdoors with a fun nature hike, and when the pups are tired out everyone will sit around the imitation campfire for a dog sing along as well as roasted doggie s’mores.

Tuesday, August 20: Doodle Day

Calling All Doodles, Poodles, Labs and Golden Retrievers! Your pooch will participate in a “doodle dash,” have fun practicing their soccer skills with “golden goals,” try out the agility jumps while playing “leaping labs” and splash around in the pool doing the “poodle paddle!” This day is designed with our doodle friends in mind, but is great for any dog no matter what breed they are.

Friday, August 30: Fall Back into School

            The summer has flown by so fast; a new school year will begin at last. Your pooch is invited to get back into the school routine with a party fit for studious pups. Your dog will study hard as they learn basic commands with classroom lessons. However, there’s always a room for a little fun! Your pooch will enjoy the day by bobbing for treats and playing with all of their friends as they head back to school. 

Dates are filling up fast, so make sure you make a daycare party reservation for your pet today!  If your dog is not a daycare member, call us today at 973-252-5100 to book your free ½ day evaluation.

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I'm Trapped and I Can't Get Out-What to do when you and your dog are in a confined area

Every dog needs a certain amount of space. This means you need to assess what your dog needs in the moment and take into account any prior history.

When taking your dog in public it’s easy to run into situations where your dog can feel confined and trapped. Whether it be in the waiting room at the vets office or in the lobby of your dogs training school, knowing how to properly deal with the situation is important.

Removing your pooch from the confined situation is always the recommended first option. When in a confined situation, make sure you know where the exits are located to make sure that you are not trapping your dog. It’s your job to provide your dog with the proper space before the problem arises.

Both dogs pictured are wearing Freedom No-Pull Harnesses and short leashes providing more control for their handlers.  While both dogs are alert and aware of each other this situation is going well.

If you know that a certain situation, like waiting in your vet’s office lobby for your appointment or waiting for a daycare attendant to escort your dog into the playroom may cause an issue, prepare and have a plan before you and your dog enter. The proper equipment is an essential tool to help manage this circumstance.  A standard 4 to 6 foot leash will help you better control your dog in a confined situation, so it is better to leave the Flexi leash at home. Do you use a No-Pull Harness or Gentle Leader for training class or walks through the neighborhood?  Then you should absolutely be using them in a situation where you would need more control.  How about treats?  If you can do some focus work before stepping foot in the environment you are on the road to a successful visit.  Are you more worried about other animals versus your own or your dog gets stressed when other dogs are barking?  Use your treats and play some obedience game to get them to focus on you rather than what is causing them discomfort.

A waiting area can be a scary place for a dog and owner

Another important aspect if you see a negative situation forming would be to make sure you do not translate to them through your body language that there is a cause for concern rather communicate to the lobby receptionist that you’ll wait outside until it is your turn or leave your dog in the car (assuming the temperature allows) until the lobby is clear.

It’s important to remember that you are responsible for your dog’s well-being and should not be setting your dog up by putting them in a scary situation. Becoming educated about your dog’s body language and reactions are important as we always want to set up our dogs for success.  If you are not sure what to do or cannot interpret what you are seeing consult a professional for help from your educated Morris K9 Campus staff. Visit our website www.morrisk9campus.com or call us at 973-252-5100 to find out what we can do for you and your pet. 

What is a Pet Therapy Dog?

The benefits of having a therapy dogs seem to be endless. Morris K9 Campus along with Creature Comfort Pet Therapy have developed a class aimed at helping to prepare your pooch to become a therapy dog. Once your dog is a certified therapy dog, they can visit a variety of places such as schools and nursing homes. Studies have shown that dogs have a calming effect on people which can help reduce stress and assist in opening up communications.

Therapy dogs are often confused with service dogs, but the two duties are vastly different. Service dogs are trained to focus on one specific person for a particular disability. Therapy dogs work with more than one person or groups for a variety of reasons. A therapy dog is considered a pet, and the owner and dog volunteer their time in order to help others. A service dog is not considered a pet, they are working dogs, which is the reason they are allowed in places, such as restaurants or other places that have “no pet” policies.
The Pet Therapy Prep class at Morris K9 Campus, partners with Creature Comfort Pet Therapy, and is a four-week course. It includes three weeks of instruction, followed by your dog’s evaluation with Creature Comfort.

Abbie Stuttard is the Daycare Manager at Morris K9 Campus, and is currently enrolled in the Pet Therapy Prep course. Abbie is hoping to find a positive outlet that really highlights her dog’s love of people. She said, “Livvy is a 6 ½ year old Shepherd mix that I rescued at 3 months. From the moment I rescued her, she always had a love for people, tall and short, old and young. Since joining Morris K9 Campus and going through pet training and agility, I wanted to find her something that truly makes her happy and can give joy to others.”

Over the course of the next month we will follow Livvy’s progress through the Pet Therapy Prep class.

It's Our Four Year Anniversary. Come Celebrate with Us!

It's time for a celebration! Morris K9 Campus is excited to celebrate our four-year daycare anniversary this Friday, November 16. There will be a party in the lobby including a prize wheel, to pick up some Morris K9 Campus gear. There will also be light refreshments, so whether you're bringing your dog to daycare or not, stop in and say "hi.”

In four years, the daycare program has grown tremendously. It can be one of the most rewarding things for your pooch. From the socialization skills your dog will develop, to the benefit of knowing your dog will be happy all day, it is definitely worth it!

Since Morris K9 Campus opened, we've expanded and added different programs for your four-legged friend. From our bathing services, to the treadmill, to the recent addition of play and train. We are continuing to stay on top of new developments in the dog world in order to provide the best service to you and your dog.

Stop by this Friday and help us celebrate, as we commemorate four years of daycare!

Your Invited to Our Back to School Open House!



Would your dog make a good therapy dog?

Come find out if your dog would make a good therapy dog on September 23, from 1 to 3pm at Morris K9 Campus. Morris K9 Campus will host an open house, featuring, "Creature Comfort," a pet therapy organization. Creature Comfort will answer questions you have on what your dog needs to qualify. So if you are curious, visit us on Sunday to find out more information.

Creature Comfort Pet Therapy commenced in 2011. Their mission is to “provide a network of dependable, caring volunteers dedicated to sharing their pets love by visiting people in need of comfort and company.”

The Creature Comfort program only requires a one-time workshop, which after you complete, your dog will be evaluated to see if you both qualify. Once your pooch has been accepted as a therapy dog, they are able to coordinate visits for you and your dog, at places such as hospitals, schools, senior centers, just to name a few.

Pet therapy is used to help patients with a number of different issues. It has been shown to lower blood pressure, decrease depression and anxiety, speed the healing process, as well as other great benefits. Animals are used for therapy, because they can be viewed as less threatening, and are used as a source of positive interaction. Not only does pet therapy strengthen the bond between you and your dog, it also gives your dog a very important job.

In addition to the presentation by the pet therapy program, the open house will be an opportunity to meet our staff and find out more about our obedience training, agility and dog daycare. Tours of our facility will be given as well as FREE giveaways!

Recognizing Recall



PLAY AND TRAIN AT MORRIS K9 CAMPUS!

Our Play and Train program is designed so that your dog can play the day away while learning new commands and training skills. The only requirement is that your dog has been approved for daycare! Two of our most popular Play and Train skills are loose leash walking and "come" (getting the dog to recall).

  


Cleo and Lauren attention and focus.

 

LOOSE LEASH



There are many important steps that lead to having a dog with good leash skills. First, you want your dog's attention and focus to be on you. In order to accomplish this there are games you can play with your dog, such as name game. All it entails is you getting your dog's attention with the food and saying his/her name as the food follows from your eye line to your dogs.



      

Cleo and Lauren loose leash walking.



    

Next, you want to teach your dog where to walk. You cannot get upset for having a dog that doesn't walk properly if you have never showed them the right way to do it. In order to do this, pick which side (left or right) you would like your dog to walk on. Always practice walking with your dog on that side.







  

"COME"

"Come" is the most important thing you can teach your dog. It is literally a life saver. When teaching "come" you want to make sure your dog is always successful. This means starting off easy. You always want to use an enthusiastic tone! Your dog is not going to want to come to you if you are using the same voice as when he/she gets in trouble. You have to be more exciting than whatever it is you are calling your dog away from.

 Jack has a great recall in group, this is an advanced skill! 

To inquire more about Play and Train, please call 973.252.5100 or visit our website.  If your dog does not prefer the company of other dogs we offer an alternative Train and Fitness program!

Find us on Facebook: Morris K9 Campus!



ALLIE ADVANCES IN PET TRAINING AND TRIES AGILITY!

This week Allie participated in our daytime Level Training classes! Allie began in Level 1 group training where she began with basic attention skills. These key skills are very important for Allie. Commands that are taught in Level 1 include 'sit', 'down', and name recognition. She picked up these skills so fast, she was able to be quickly moved up to Level 2! In Level 2 we continue with her loose leash walking, she is picking up stay very well, and her 'come' is fantastic!

We also introduced Allie to agility! She loved the tunnel as you can see from the video! We think she would be a great agility dog!

Allie is up for adoption through Eleventh Hour. Please call 973-664-0865 or visit Eleventh Hour's website for more information about her.

MEET ALLIE POINTER

Inspired by Ginger, a Catahoula Leopard Dog who successfully went through a month long weight-loss challenge at our sister company (Morris Animal Inn), we decided it was our time at Morris K9 Campus to give back and improve the adoption chances of an already awesome rescue dog. Meet Allie, a young Pointer mix, currently up for adoption by Eleventh Hour Rescue.

Allie Pointer, as they call her, is a two-and-a-half years old. She was dropped off at a shelter in Tennessee with her six puppies, but it didn't take long for Eleventh Hour Rescue to pick her up and bring her to New Jersey. Since she made the journey, she has been in a foster home arranged by Eleventh Hour for the past two months. Allie is still looking for place she can call her forever home. 

From what we can see so far, Allie is a spunky, friendly, happy dog, but there are a few training areas that could use a little fine tuning to help Allie become an even better pet. That's where the Morris K9 Campus Boot Camp program is helpful. The program itself is a training service that runs for a month, Monday through Thursday, where the pooch receives personal attention from our dog trainer and support staff. The program is designed to implement and train important life skills that transforms an already great dog, into an outstanding one. Life skills can include anything from recalls (i.e. come), to loose leash walking, no jumping, sit quietly for petting. The goal is for the owner to pick two to three behaviors that they think their dog could use a little extra help on and we work to reinforce that behavior. The consistency of the program contributes to each dogs success.

With Allie, we noticed she needs to learn how to walk loosely on a leash. On her first day, she was fitted for a no pull SENSE-action harness  and began working on skills that would improve her on-leash habits. According to her foster mom, within the first day, her on-leash behavior had greatly improved. Her foster mom took her for a nice long walk on the 4th of July and said not only did Allie enjoy it thoroughly; she didn't pull her on their walk!

When Allie isn't polishing up her social skills, she enjoys fun romps with the other dogs at Morris K9 Campus, a benefit to almost any dog in Boot Camp; they get to spend quality time with other dogs that love to play. Allie is an outgoing pooch and loves to chase after toys!

With over three weeks left to go, Allie is sure to make improvements that will make her an even better companion, after all, who wouldn't want an already trained dog? We’ll let Allie take it from here to let you know how her Boot Camp sessions are going.

HOW DOGS CAN LEARN TO ADJUST THEIR PLAY STYLE

Dogs have different ways of playing and interacting with each other. Stereotypically, you could say that sporting breeds and retrievers have fun-loving, physical rowdy play styles or that the Terrier breed(s) vary in so many ways that you need to evaluate each breed for suitability in playing with other dogs. Though it can be easy to generalize a dog's play style by breed, what is most important is the dog's ability to adjust their play style to meet the needs of another dog. This can be key in determining how successful he or she might be in playing with other dogs.

For example, say we have a puppy named Fido. Fido is a rowdy, happy and confident five-month old Labrador Retriever puppy. Fido enjoys playing with other dogs by slamming into them at high speed, and wrestling (all normal puppy play behavior!) So how does daycare teach Fido to adjust his play style?

Let's say that in daycare today Fido decided to try to play with an adolescent dog named Spot. Spot is a one-year old mix breed dog who has been coming to daycare for six months and still very much loves to wrestle and body slam his friends. When Fido solicits play from Spot by play bowing, off they go! Both take turns wrestling and pinning each other on the floor playfully. Their play styles are very balanced, wiggly and well-matched. Fido has learned that Spot likes to play the same way as he does so Fido does not have to change his behavior to do so.

But Fido now decides he wants to play with another adult dog named Bowser. Bowser, a four-year old German Shepherd, has been coming to daycare for three years. Bowser loves the company of other dogs but would rather bounce around, run, or tug than have physical body contact with other dogs. Fido tries to get Bowser to play, by bowing, like he did with Spot, but it doesn’t work this time. Fido then decides to try barking in Bowser's face which not only doesn’t work because Bowser has turned in the opposite direction of Fido, but also involves the daycare attendant redirecting the puppy away from the adult dog so the barking stops. Fido has now learned that play bowing and barking doesn’t get this adult dog's attention. Fido's final try is to pick up a tug toy and show it to Bowser in a wiggly and excited manner. Bowser picks up the other end of the toy and off they go tugging and playing successfully for the next few minutes.

What’s the moral of the story?

Fido learned that in order to get what he wants, (play), he has to adjust his style based on the dog he plays with. Through consistent practice or by coming to daycare on a regular basis, Fido can take these experiences and apply them to any real world interactions with dogs he may encounter.

For good measure here is a video of what well-balanced play looks like. Both dogs have a physical, rough style of playing. They also both take turns being on the bottom and on top. And their bodies themselves, offer exaggerated movement with a loose and wiggly posture.

BEST OF THE BEST!

Special thanks are in order! We couldn't have done it without you! You spoke, or rather, voted, and they listened! This week, Morris K9 Campus was voted as the BEST PET CARE facility in the Randolph/Roxbury area for the Daily Record's BEST OF THE BEST 2012 READER'S CHOICE AWARDS! Thank you to everyone who voted!

We strive to meet our pet owners expectations and are always looking for more ways to increase options to meet your needs. That's why we are now offering 2 new daycare options; Play and Train and Train and Fitness which are available Monday through Friday.

PLAY AND TRAIN

This option allows your dog to play the day away while also teaching and reinforcing new commands and obedience skills. This option is great for families that have limited time to practice training exercises with their pet or for dogs that have taken pet training classes here or the equivalent at another school and need help reinforcing behaviors. Your canine companion will enjoy all the fun play of regular daycare with the added benefit of reinforced training which means you get to take home a better-behaved dog!

TRAIN AND FITNESS

This daytime training selection is perfect for dogs that aren't necessarily appropriate for daycare but need an exercise outlet and reinforcement of training. Your dog's cardio sessions can include a treadmill session, ball time, individual play time or group play. In addition, your pal will receive reinforcement of commands and obedience skills. Your pet will get fit and become better behaved, all in a day's work!

To learn more about our new daycare options call us at 973-252-5100!

We hope to keep providing you with the best of the best!

READING K9 BODY LANGUAGE

Pet owners play an important role in dog interactions and should consider themselves safety monitors and gate-keepers of the peace. Whether you have more than one dog in your household, you frequent dog parks or pass other canines on walks with your dog, the ability to understand and read canine body language is an essential skill to have for any dog owner.

Meet and Greet

When dogs play together, one of the most pivotal moments is the greeting. This will determine whether or not the two dogs will get along successfully. Can your dog tell who wants to be their friend and who doesn't? Can you? Daycare and group play is so important for your dog’s development because it provides multiple playmates with different experiences and communication skills.  A dog who plays regularly with other dogs can tell from the greeting ritual if the dog they're meeting is a friend or foe.   

What is an appropriate greeting? An appropriate greeting is rotating from sniffing the face, to sniffing the rear, sometimes doing this continually, and in circles for 10 to even 30 seconds.  An inappropriate greeting would be for another dog to come straight on, staring your dog directly in the face with no intent to sniff. Also inappropriate would be if another dog put their head or paw over your dog's shoulder without having said hello first.  The worst scenario is when a dog doesn't want to be sniffed! When this happens, your dog has two options: to understand that they have enough self confidence not to feel threatened in the "inappropriate" scenario and to not reciprocate equally negative behavior. Your dog may feel the need to communicate back to this "rude" dog.  This is when the human may need to step in. 

What You Should Know 

For the safety of the dogs, it is vital to recognize what both dogs are "saying to each other." Common stress signals to watch for are:
-Licking their lips with their tongue over and over again
-The hair on their back is raised. This can either mean, “I'm really excited" or "I'm a little nervous." 
-Ears pinned back
-Tucked tail
-Stiff body 

What You Can Do

Does your dog tend to approach other dogs the wrong way? It is absolutely possible to work on that and teach your furry companion proper greeting behavior.
1. Reward your dog for good behavior.  A simple comment like good boy/girl with some cuddly scratches can make a difference as well as a little treat.  Dogs understand they get a yummy treat when they do the right thing, so they will continue to do it.
2.  Redirect if the first meeting isn't going well. Is one dog more comfortable than the other?  Call the dog that's more confident away so the nervous dog can have a minute to get their bearings and then you can try the meeting again.

The video below demonstrates an appropriate greeting between Livvy (brown) and Hannah (brindle).While we don't reccommend having strange dogs meet on-leash, it is important to give you the right knowledge since this event is unavoidable. 

What was done right?
-Loose leashes by the two handlers (if the leash is tight this can sometimes cause an unwanted or unnatural repsonse from a dog because they are restrained)
-Relaxed and wiggly body language from both and alot of appropriate sniffing.
-Livvy, the older dog decided to end the greeting ritual first by going around mom's back, Hannah, who is still very young, read this "cut-off" signal perfectly and decided that she was done sniffing too. Hannah comes to daycare twice a week and practices these greeting skills on a regular basis. Livvy is owned by our daycare manager and assists with evaluating new dogs to join our daycare crew.


Well managed groups or play overseen by a person that understands canine body language and interactions can help a dog improve their communication skills and gain confidence. All of the daycare staff at Morris K9 Campus are trained in this skill  in order to ensure the safety of every pet and their success in the world of canine communication.

GETTING TO KNOW MORRIS K9 CAMPUS

You may be familiar with us. Maybe your dog comes to daycare everyday and knows from the movement of the car the exact moment you pull into our lot. Maybe you know us from our pet training memberships or our range and level of agility classes. Whatever your association with Morris K9 Campus, we guarantee we have more to show you. So sit back, relax and check out our wonderful new video filmed by the talented crew at Grey Sky Films and get to know us a little better.

Please feel free to share this with friends and family that might also benefit from everything

Morris K9 Campus has to offer in the New Year!!

SEPARATION ANXIETY

Though we previously addressed this topic in an earlier blog post, it is an issue that continuously plagues dog owners with a solution that seems to remain elusive. Not only do dogs experience distress when separated from their owners but the anxiety is easily transferred to the owner. We as dog owners feel terrible when leaving Fido. We are also forced to suffer through the frustrating side effects of separation anxiety, which can include, but is not limited to, chewed up furniture, relentless barking, digging and soiled household floors or furniture. This makes leaving your house a stressful time for you, as visions of torn carpet and shredded pillows dance in your head. Read on for tips to help solve this aggravating problem.

Photo Courtesy of cogdogblog

Confinement Isn’t Bad
Start by designating an area for your dog to hang out when you are gone, whether it is a crate, the kitchen, or an upstairs bedroom. Periodically confine your dog to this spot while you are home for 30 minutes, then an hour at a time. This ensures that your dog will not associate your absence with being isolated in this designated area and gives you the opportunity to check-in on your dog and observe his or her behavior. When your dog is being quiet and non-disruptive, reward your fuzzy friend with a tasty treat.

Treats and Toys Are Good!

It is essential to place your dog’s favorite toys and engaging, yet safe treats like a Kong filled with kibble in your dog’s confinement area when you leave the house. These pleasant items will keep your pup happy and occupied. Alone time can evolve into a special time of rest, relaxation, yummy snacks, and chew toy playtime that your dog will grow to appreciate.

Make Your Exits and Entrances Casual

Photo Courtesy of Cast A Line

When you leave the house, don't make a scene. Exit as serenely as possible when your dog is engaged in their chew toy or nibbling the kibble from their Kong. It may further help to take your dog on a walk before leaving so they are tired and more likely to relax in their confinement area. When coming back home, it is important to remember to remain calm and placid so as not to over-excite your dog. You don’t want your dog to associate your returns with party time because your dog will only dread your absence more. When you first enter your house, ignore your dog and wait to give him or her attention until they have calmed down. If your dog grabs a chew toy and occupies him or herself, that behavior should also be rewarded. Your dog is displaying independence. At that point you can acknowledge your pup and let him or her out of their crate or whatever room they have been confined to.

Patience is Key

Remember to never scold or physically harm your dog for exhibiting signs of anxiety. Instead, reward your dog when he or she displays calm behavior and shows signs of independence. If you want to avoid the situation altogether, consider bringing your dog to Morris K9 Campus for doggie daycare where your dog will be surrounded by people and other dogs throughout the day. Being a part of this regular pack will decrease their distress about being away from you.

INSURANCE FOR FIDO?

September is national Pet Insurance Month! In light of that, here are your options as a pet owner.

If you're reading this, then your dog or cat is probably a beloved member of your family and you want the best for them so you might have considered providing your pet with high quality healthcare throughout his or her life. Since we can't buy pet health insurance for our dog or cat when we really need it most, in an emergency, now is the time to examine the options to see if it can save us hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

YOUR OPTIONS
There are more and more pet health insurance options available to consumers each day. And like human health insurance, pet insurance coverage can vary widely. Classic pet health insurance is said to cover expensive, unplanned events. There are monthly premiums and a variety of deductible choices, different coverage levels, co-pays and caps that limit the total yearly or lifelong payouts. These policies may exclude older dogs, certain breeds, genetic conditions and pre-existing conditions. In addition, there are often discounts for covering multiple pets from the same household.

Basic types of pet health insurance include:
• Wellness (preventative services like vaccines, check-ups, blood tests at set fee)

• Prescription drug

• Cancer treatment

• Alternative therapies

• Accidental death.

There is also a wide range of variations on these basic coverage types. From dental care and catastrophic care to acupuncture and lost pet recovery, pet health insurance options are out there for the taking. Of course, the costs for these plans vary significantly.

Veterinarian Tim Banker believes that although pet healthcare can effectively mitigate high-tech veterinary expenses, it is underutilized. One possible reason is the persistence of stories about insurance companies that fail to provide expected coverage. The minutia of paperwork involved in properly filing claims can result in missing payments. The good news is that vet offices are becoming more adept at properly filing these claims on their clients' behalf.

Here are recommendations for finding the right care for your pet:

1. Consider your pet's health, age, predisposition to accidents and risk of inherited diseases to help determine what level of coverage you need.

2. Get price quotes from each company that appears to offer the coverage your pet requires. Here are a few companies to consider: AKC Pet Healthcare Plan, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, Embrace Pet Insurance, Pet Assure Corporation, PetFirst Healthcare, PetHealth, Inc., Petplan USA, Pets Best Insurance, PurinaCare, Trupanion Pet Insurance,Veterinary Pet Insurance.

3. Ask your veterinarian which pet health insurance s/he recommends.

4. If your dog is diagnosed with a condition, make sure to renew coverage on time each year so it isn't excluded as a pre-existing condition.

With some careful pet health insurance research and planning, you and your pet can decide on the right choice.

PET PROOF YOUR HOUSE

By now, as a responsible pet parent, you know there are some basic foods you shouldn’t feed your canine because they are toxic to your dog’s digestive system like grapes, raisins, chocolate, and onions to name a few. But what about non-edible substances that Fido can’t seem to resist crunching on? You would think every item in your house had been doused in chicken scented perfume by your canine’s enthusiasm for objects ranging from socks to your child’s Barbie dolls. Though all dogs are capable of this behavior, Lab owners and puppy parents are far too familiar with this scenario. What can you do to prevent this curious and potentially hazardous habit?

Anticipation

Just as you baby-proof a house when you are expecting, it is crucial to dog-proof your house as well, especially if you have a puppy or a dog that is prone to nibbling foreign objects. If it’s easily accessible, your dog will find it. If you leave your nice leather shoes lying on the living room floor, chances are Fido will find it and view it as a chewy appetizer. Look over all the rooms you allow your dog in and view them as though you were wearing special K9 goggles. Notice objects lying around that are easy to get at and what could cause a potential hazard to your dog if eaten or swallowed. If you have kids, don’t allow them to leave their toys and playthings on the floor. Teach your children to pick up after themselves while simultaneously keeping your dog safe.

Engage
A bored dog can be a mischievous dog who will likely engage in unfavorable activities. These activities can include chewing household objects whether edible or not. Keep your dog happy and busy. Provide rubbery chew toys for your canine to nibble on that are large enough so that they can't be swallowed. Make sure to take time out of your day to play with your pup. Daily walks and exercise sessions are a perfect outlet for your dog. If your time is limited, simply drop your dog off at Morris K9 Campus for daycare and a day of fun and play. Register your dog for a treadmill session while at daycare for extra exercise and attention. Training will challenge your dog and provide him or her with mental stimulation. Morris K9 Campus offers training classes through a membership program that allows you to choose your schedule and move through the various levels at your own speed.
How Much Will It Cost?
If you’ve ever wondered what the cost of removing certain objects from your pet’s stomach would be based on the item, the American Kennel Club pet healthcare provider, Pet Partners Inc. has outlined the price of such expenditures. The following is a list of some of the objects dogs have eaten and the removal cost of each.                                                     

Toy $669                                                   

Sock $1,173

Snail Bait $146

Golf Balls $1,844

Dental Floss $3,590

Sources: Wyn and Mary Baruch, Ph.D Citizen Canine

What unusual objects has your dog eaten?

INDOOR GAMES FOR HOT SUMMER DAYS

Photo Courtesy of Soggydan

There are many joys to summer; the warm weather, more hours of sunlight, watermelon, lemonade, and days spent on sandy beaches. But unfortunately, there are also some drawbacks to these summer months as well. The humidity is so sticky you suddenly start sporting a new, not so nice hairstyle that consists of frizz and then some. Only being outside for 10 minutes can result in peeling sunburn and the heat can become so hot and oppressive you have trouble moving faster than a slug’s pace. All of a sudden, that house you wanted so desperately to escape in the winter months has become a cool refuge. Your dog agrees, but has started rummaging through the bathroom garbage as a source of entertainment. You however, may not find this quite as entertaining. Don’t worry, the following indoor games will amuse both you and your pooch while keeping you both comfortable and cool.

Hide and Seek

Have your dog locate his or her favorite toy by letting your fuzzbucket first sniff the toy and then hide it in another room. When your dog finds the toy reward him or her with a treat or praise and kisses. If your dog does not have a special toy and is more treat motivated, command your dog to sit and stay. Hide small bits of food around the room and have your dog use his or her nose and memory to find all of the delicious surprises. Reward with praise.

Magical Cups
Entertain your pup with your own magic show. On a carpeted floor for extra traction, line up three plastic cups and hide a treat under one of the cups. Have your pooch utilize their amazing olfactory senses to determine which of the three cups the tasty treat is hiding under. If your dog has a tendency to knock over the cups in a greedy haste to get at the goods, use something sturdier like mugs or small bowls.

Retrieve and Receive
It seems that every canine commercial or movie shows a dog triumphantly trotting with the morning newspaper clutched in his mouth to bring to the family as they enjoy breakfast, while birds chirp melodically outside in the background to herald the new day. Though we rarely see this in real life, it is absolutely possible to get your dog to retrieve things for you and will make your life a little easier. While allowing your dog to go out the front door without your supervision is risky and not recommended, you can always have your dog take the paper out to recycling or empty cardboard paper towel rods which are easy to grip in their doggie mouths as long as your recycling is indoors. Use praise, treats, and repetition.

Doggy Dancing

Throw on some tunes and get moving! Teach your dog some basic doggy dancing tricks at Morris K9 Campus’s Doggy Dancing Workshop on Sunday 7/10 from 11AM-1PM and practice them at home for some fun bonding time that is great for your dog’s mental stimulation and will impress all your friends.

If you are still looking for engrossing ways to keep your dog occupied in the steamy months ahead, don’t hesitate to stop by Morris K9 Campus where our line-up of interesting classes, fun weeks of daycare, and agility work will both physically and mentally engage your canine.

Classical Canines

Though we know the auditory range of dogs far exceeds our own hearing capabilities, what we often forget is just how acutely they hear sounds. As a result, noises that typically do not disturb us or that we have grown accustomed to, like the sound of thunder and fireworks, can have a much greater impact on the delicate ears of our dogs. It goes without saying that loud, excessive noise can be grating to our canines and is probably why dogs become frenzied and riled up when they hear rock, jazz, or rap music.

On the other end of the spectrum, new research shows that classical music has the opposite effect, and tends to calm canines. Lisa Spector, a classical pianist, noticed the soothing ramifications her piano practice had on her dog, a generally rambunctious pup that became noticeably calmer whenever she played. Approaching this subject with Sound Analyst, Joshua Leeds, the two developed a line of CDs designed for dogs, called Through a Dog’s Ear.

The CDs are an effort to provide anxious dogs with deep relaxation. They focus on classical music and break the music down with easy, slow melodies to follow in which the majority of the music is played by a single instrument: the piano. There are no rich harmonies or dynamic chord progressions to tickle the eardrums, just classical music in a pure, simplified form that provides easy listening for dogs and humans alike. The music is played an octave lower, which according to Spector, lowers dogs’ heart rate.

When interviewing the team behind this concept, the CBS Early Morning Show conducted their own experiment at a doggie daycare facility and found that when rock, jazz or rap music was played, the dogs became energized and when classical music was played, the dogs slowed down, some even curled up for a nap. A book with the same name, Through a Dog’s Ear, written and researched by Joshua Leeds and Susan Wagner, a veterinary neurologist, tackles the science behind the concept by illuminating the auditory world of our canine companions.

Morris K9 Campus actively applies this concept by understanding the importance of rest following activity and play. After the dogs have spent time romping around with their other canine pals, we allow them to rest to the sounds of calming and relaxing classical music. 

Do you use calming music for your dog at home? Tell us about it!

Sources:

http://www.throughadogsear.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zytCL33Mf2Q