Are You Prepared if Your Dog Suffers from Hearing Loss?

This week is Deaf Dog Awareness Week. As dogs start getting older, signs of their age tend to begin to show. One thing that a lot of dogs will face in their lifetime is a loss of hearing.  Most owners who have hearing dogs don’t fully realize that a good amount of their dogs will have hearing loss at some point in their lifetime. It’s best to prepare yourself and your dog in case anything were to happen to your dogs hearing.

Practice Hand Signals with your Pup

As your dog gets older it is best to start incorporating basic hand signals for common commands. Sit, down and come would be good commands to have hand signals for. As your dog begins to age, adding a hand signal in addition to the words would assure that if your dogs hearing did start to go, you would still have basic commands to use.

Have Patience

It can sometimes be difficult to realize your dogs hearing is going until it is almost gone, but remember to have patience with your pooch. You undoubtedly will have to teach your dog some new things in order to get their attention, for example since a recall is such a verbal command, a flashlight can be used during a recall with a deaf dog. Don’t lose your cool if you get frustrated easily; remember that your dog is going through a huge change as well.

Always Make your Presence Known

Your pooch will no longer be able to hear you when you enter the room, so it is important to make your presence known so you don’t startle them. A tap on their back or flicking on and off the light switch is a great way to let your dog know you have entered the room.

Reward your Dog with Food and Physical Affection

Since deaf dogs can’t hear you, it’s important to reward them with food and physical affection. When learning their new commands use food instead of verbal praise, this way your dog is actually being rewarded for what they are doing. As you continue through your training a nice belly rub or a rub behind the ears will do nicely for your pooch.

For dogs that live long lives, deafness can be inevitable for some of them. If you are prepared for it to happen, it can make the transition easier for you and your pooch. Be patient with your dog and remember that there are so many great resources out there if your dog is deaf, a trainer will be able to customize your training for your deaf dog. There are also many great internet sites and support groups, like DeafDogsRock.com, which is a great community of owners with deaf dogs, that provides great information about living with a deaf dog.

 

Dog Safety: Dog Bite Prevention

This week is national bite prevention week, and according to the American Veterinary Medical Association 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States alone. If you know how to read a dog’s signs and educate young children on how to properly greet a dog, those numbers could significantly change. There are two things that every owner should consider when their dog encounters a situation with new people or situations that make them nervous. Remember that you are your dog’s voice, and you must interpret what the dog is trying to tell you.

One: Remember to be your dog’s advocate. Know when they look stressed, and be ready to remove them for the situation when necessary. Most dog bites are preventable and dogs show signs before resorting to biting. Look out for signs of stress in your dog that could lead to them eventually to biting. A great reference for this an article about reading stress signs in your dog. Don’t be afraid to appear like the “bad guy” in situations. This just means you are being an advocate for your pooch and you are making sure you don’t make the dog feel like they have to handle the situation themselves.  Preventing a negative incident is as simple as taking your dog away from a situation or not allowing someone to meet your dog.

Two keep in mind that, every dog has the right to say no. Know that every dog has a certain limit; know that no matter how squishy your dog is there may be a person that frightens your dog when they meet. If your dog is saying “no,” you have to respect that. You don’t want to force your pooch to meet people in situations where they are clearly trying to get away. Read your dog’s body language and let your dog be able to tell you, “no I don’t want to meet that person.”

It is important to educate yourself on ways to prevent dog bites, which would include knowing the proper way of greeting a dog. If you have young children it is also important to make sure that they know how to properly greet a dog as well. The more we educate ourselves and others on proper dog etiquette, the more efficient we will be at preventing dog bites. 

How to stop your dog from jumping: Week two of our March de-stressing tips

Do you dread people coming to your house because you don’t know how to get your dog to stop jumping? We are here to help! Continuing our March theme of giving you some helpful de-stressing tips, we are focusing on jumping.

The behaviors your dog displays when meeting another person can be just as important as the behaviors they display when meeting another dog. Before you scold Fido for jumping on people, it’s important to establish your rules for jumping. Decide what you want to allow your dog to do, and stick with it. Once you determine whether or not you will allow your dog to jump, you can begin training.

The main rule of training is just as important for you to follow as it is for your pooch: You cannot be selective about who your pup can and can't jump on. It’s no okay to praise and pet your dog when they jump on you, for example, but punish them when they jump on grandma.

The most important part of teaching your dog not to jump is to remove any type of attention when they do. Even when you tell a dog “no,” they are still getting some sort of attention from you. Your dog doesn’t care whether or not the attention is negative or positive, as long as they are getting attention. When your dog jumps, it’s best to turn your body around 180 degrees, face away from them and ignore them. This removes the attention they are used to getting and discourages jumping.  Here is a short clip of staff member Caitlyn demonstrating the 180 turn and asking for a sit before petting:

It is crucial that you do not overreact when your dog does jump. If your dog is jumping on you, sniffing and giving you love and you respond by shouting in their face or putting your knee up, you are actually rewarding the wrong behavior and giving your dog the attention they are craving. Believe it or not, this encourages the jumping! The only effective way to respond to jumping is to remove all reinforcement by turning your back, walking away, or giving the dog a time out.

If you do have a dog that you allow to jump, it’s important to take steps to prevent your dog from jumping on someone that they shouldn’t. When grandma comes to visit, ask for a different behavior out of your dog, such as a sit, or prevent them from jumping by curbing the leash. There are ways of managing the situation when you can’t do anything else. You just have to choose the one that works for you.

Morris K9 Campus works on building “no jumping” skills in our Level 02: Impulse Control class. Register your dog for a pet training membership today.

                                         

Morris K9 Campus Levels Training Information

How Do I House-Train My Newly Adopted Dog?

Unfortunately dogs typically don’t come from shelters or breeders house-trained, and it is important to immediately begin working on the behavior once you get your new dog home. It is also unreasonable to think that a dog coming from rescue, that is stated as house-trained, will immediately come into your home knowing what to do. The sooner you can put your pooch on a potty schedule the higher the success rate will be.

A dog that is not house-trained is the number one reason why dogs are returned or end up in shelters. However, house-training is something with a little structure can usually be solved; it is up to the owner to implement the right tools. When potty training your dog, it is important to keep long term goals in mind, whether your goal is to train your dog to make it a few hours or longer period of time while at work. Once you have a specific goal in mind, you can then put a plan in place to obtain it.

Creating and following a schedule will help them be successful. Dogs tend to do things routinely so a schedule is essential. This means feeding your dog at the same time every day, as well as potty them at the same time every day. When you begin potty training it’s important to notice trends, so for example if your dog eats at the same time every day, chances are they will use the bathroom at the same time as well. It’s important to also realize that puppies will not be able to hold it as long as adult dogs, and no adult dog should be expected to hold it longer than six hours.

Remember that the crate is your friend; a crate can be a great tool that can help facilitate potty training. It gives the dog the capacity to physically and reasonably build their ability to “hold” their urges. However, dog doors are not your friend; they are not the solution to your house-training problem, they might be the reason for it. Dog doors give no structure to your dog’s potty plan and it can be an unsafe situation when a dog is outside unsupervised.

Your dog counts on you to set them up for success. Be realistic about your expectations and understand that adjusting to a new home, new routine, and new lifestyle takes time. Plus, Morris K9 Campus is always here to help!

Chew on This

Is your dog a destructive chewer, ruining everything you own? Hopefully this week’s De-Stress Fest will help relax you. It’s all too easy for your dog to be the reason you stress out. For the month of March, every week we will be taking a look at common ways that your dog can stress you out, and help solve them. This week we are taking a look at destructive chewing and ways that you can help occupy your pooch.

When a dog is chewing, one reason can be a lack of exercise. Every dog has a different energy level and therefore needs a different amount of exercise. If your dog is excessively chewing at home, getting out could do them a lot of good. It’s important to create an exercise plan that sets a minimum amount of time each week that will be devoted to your dogs exercise schedule. Consistency is key in order to keep your dog active. Just because you consistently bring your dog to the park one week, and keep them home the next because of the bad weather, doesn’t mean your dog is getting an adequate amount of exercise. Daycare can be a great option that allows your dog to be social with other dogs, while allowing them to expend their energy. 

Treats above are sold at Morris K9 Campus.

It’s important to have the proper tools for the proper situations. For example it is important to introduce your dog to toys that they are allowed to chew on, such as antlers , himalayan chews, stuffed bones or Kongs. This can keep your dog occupied and distracted from chewing on the furniture or other household items. It’s also important to make sure you have tools in place when you leave the house. Interactive toys are great, and keep your dog occupied while you are gone. However it is important to only allow your dog to have these types of things when you are not there. When you leave the house get the toy out, and when you come home put the toy away. It puts a value on the toy which can make your dog more interested in it. Eliminating your dog’s behavior that is stressful to you is crucial; it will allow you to live a better life for both you and your dog.

For more information about Morris K9 Campus's Daycare please follow this link http://morrisk9campus.com/daycare.asp

Dog Training

Wrapping up the final week of Responsible Pet Owner Month, it’s time to take a look at what Morris K9 Campus believes it one of the most important things any dog owner can do for their pooch, dog training. Whether training your dog in group lessons, or in private sessions, it is important for your dog regardless of age or breed to go through training in order for them to become an outstanding dog. With training it is important that your dog begins training before you encounter an issue. It is very common that people only bring their dogs to training once they start having an issue, but if you bring your dog before you can correct issues before they even happen.

Training can greatly improve your dog’s behavior and can dramatically improve your dog’s quality of life. When you have a dog that is well trained, it allows you to bring your dog out into situations that you couldn’t have before. Dog training is important because it puts the tools that you need in place, and they are there when you need to use them. It’s important to learn how to properly motivate your dog, to make sure that you aren’t giving anything away for free and that you know what properly motives your dog.

Morris K9 Campus offers classes multiple times during the week, where the methods that we used are designed for all breeds and age of dogs.

Being a responsible pet owner means learning the proper skills in order for your dog to have the best quality of life possible. A great life for a dog starts with a good basics of training that allows your dog to do so much more. Morris K9 Campus offers a variety of different training options for you and your pooch including, group classes, private lessons, boot camp and much more. Whatever type of dog you have the perfect program is waiting for you.

Remember that being a responsible pet owner, isn’t just about one thing. It’s a combination of skills and tools that you use in order to make your dogs quality of life as high as possible. It also means not only respecting the needs of your dog, but respecting the needs of other dogs and humans. Hopefully this month gave you tips in order for you to become a more responsible pet owner.

This Sunday, February 24, Morris K9 Campus hosts a Pet Training Orientation from 5:00-6:00pm. Register at http://www.morrisk9campus.com/levels.asp.

Canine Etiquette

Responsible Pet Owner month continues and this week is a look at canine etiquette, with a focus on space etiquette and proper greetings involving your dog and other dogs. Have you ever walked your dog around the neighborhood when you suddenly encounter another dog and were not quite sure what to do?

When encountering another dog on a walk or in public and your dog is excited, usually you want to let the dogs meet. It’s important to remember that just because you have a friendly dog, doesn’t mean that every dog that you encounter will be friendly and want to meet your dog. Part of being a responsible dog owner means handling situations where your dog encounters other dogs appropriately. The biggest chance you are taking by letting your dog meet another dog on leash is assuming that the other dog wants to meet your dog.

DINOS, Dogs in Need of Space, is aimed at teaching people that it is their responsibility to ask permission before their dog approaches another dog. They also stress that just because your dog or another dog may need space, doesn’t make them a bad dog, they just need a little room. There is also the Yellow Dog Project which is an organization trying to get all dog owners to put a yellow ribbon on your dog’s leash to let other people know you have a dog that needs space.

If you do have permission for your dog to meet another dog on a walk, it is important that you take the proper steps in order for the greeting to go smoothly.

1. When meeting on leash, you have to make sure that you have a dog that responds very well to their name, as well as a command like leave it.

2. It is also good to put a command on the action of your dog being allowed to meet another dog, such as “ go say hello,” so the dog knows it’s okay to meet the other dog.

3. It’s also very important to make sure that you only allow your dog to greet another when your dog is calm. An overexcited dog is more likely to react inappropriately to the situation.

When it comes to proper etiquette while walking your dog, not only is your dog’s interaction with other people and dogs important, but also being aware of leash etiquette. It is crucial that you obey local leash laws, if your dog is off leash in an area where leashes are required, it’s not only illegal, but you are also putting the safety of everyone else in jeopardy including your own dog.

It is important that you and your dog exhibit proper etiquette when in public, and as a dog owner it is your responsibility to show them how. Check back next week for another way to become a more responsible pet owner.

Sources:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilita/6577001349/in/photostream

http://dogsinneedofspace.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dinos_psa_poster.jpg

http://www.theyellowdogproject.com/The_Yellow_Dog_Project/Home.html

Health and Nutrition of Your Canine

With February being Responsible Pet Owner Month, this week the focus will be the health and nutrition of your four-legged friend.

When a dog is overweight it poses a serious health risk for the pooch. Not only are they more susceptible to seriously health problems, it can vastly cut your dog’s life short. These problems can be greatly reduced if you focus on your dogs health and nutrition. This way you improve their quality of life and possibly increase their life span.

Dogs aren’t able to control what they are eating themselves, so it is the responsibility of the pet owner to make those decisions for them. It is crucial that they are eating something that is nutritious, healthy and beneficial to them. Just remember that spending an extra few dollars on a high quality dog food can save you hundreds of dollars in medical bills. According to PetMd.com, a recent survey indicates over 50 percent of America's pet population is overweight or obese. Just like people, overweight dogs can face a litany of health issues. The potentially devastating consequences of obesity include:

• Trouble breathing

• Greater risk for heat stroke

• Pancreatitis

• Diabetes

• Orthopedic concerns

• Compromised immune system

• Reduction in life span

• Mammary tumors (particularly in un-spayed females)

• Skin conditions

• Heart problems

• High blood pressure

If you are feeding your dog dry food, The Whole Dog Journal recently published a list of their “approved dry dog foods of 2013.” Their list this year of dry food has expanded to what you can find at your local pet store, instead of having to only go to a pet specialty store. The Whole Dog Journal sites the reason for the change is due to consumer demand. Dog owners want better dog food and the pet food industry listened. Visit our lobby to ask for your copy of the approved list of food.

Treats can be a great reward for your dog, but remember that,” treat” implies that a dog doesn’t get it regularly. Treats should be used in great moderation, and if you are rewarding your dog every day, make sure that the treats that you are giving your dog are healthy and falls appropriately in their diet.

Just like humans, it is important for your dog to get the appropriate amount of exercise, in order to maintain a well balanced and healthy lifestyle. Whether you take your dog on a brisk walk, or taking a specialty class with your dog, exercise can be extremely beneficial to your dog.

Keep your dog on a well balanced diet and having a good exercise plan. It is up to you to keep them on the right track. Once again, if you would like to see the Whole Dog Journal’s approved Dog Food List for 2013, please visit our Lobby so we can give you a copy! Check back next week as we continue to look at how you can be a responsible pet owner.


Sources:
- http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/16_2/features/Top-Quality-Dry-Dog-Food-Review-2013_20688-1.html

- http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/overweight-dogs-and-canine-weight-loss-diets?page=3

February is Responsible Pet Owner Month

February is responsible pet owner month, and to kick it off we are starting with your young four-legged friends.

So you just brought your new puppy home. The question is what makes a responsible pet owner and what can you do to allow your canine friend to live their best life? It is important to realize owning a dog is a long term commitment and should not be taken lightly. It’s also important to choose the right type of dog that is conducive your life style. Consider the time you have and the space available as well. Make sure you are prepared at home before bringing a new dog home.

Socialization is a key because as a puppy your dog will gain experiences that will determine what type temperament your dog will have as an adult. Morris K9 Campus offers a free puppy class on Saturdays, which is aimed at providing your dog a place where they will be introduced to anything that they may encounter in their adult life. It’s not only important to socialize your dog, but it’s extremely important to socialize your dog properly. The free puppy class provides the opportunity, to social your pooch in a controlled setting.

Puppy Dos and Don’ts:

Do:

• Do Train: Begin training your dog when they are a puppy, it’s better to train so you don’t have problems, rather than beginning once the problem occurs.

• Do Take your Puppy Everywhere: Introduce your dog to as many social situations as possible, keep in mind that a well socialized dog doesn’t just mean a dog that plays well with other dogs, it includes interactions with different people and social situations.

• Do Puppy Proof your House: It’s important to puppy proof your house, sure that anything eye level and below if your dog is standing on its hind legs.

Don’t:

• Don’t Scold your Puppy: It’s important not to frighten your puppy, instead of scolding them for bad behaviors, teach them proper behaviors.

• Don’t Leave your Puppy at Home: An under socialized puppy, can create a fearful adult dog.

• Don’t Leave your Puppy Alone Unsupervised: It’s important that if you puppy is unsupervised they are kept in a crate. It makes sure that your puppy stays out of trouble, so you can breathe easy when you leave them home alone.
Remember that being a responsible dog owner is the key to having a good pooch. It’s important to find the right dog for your life style and it’s your responsibility to help your puppy become a great dog. All Febuary long we will be looking at ways to help people become more responsible pet owner, so check back next week for more advice.

It's a De-Stress Fest! Come Relax, Revive and Rejuvenate at Morris K9 Campus!

Need to de-stress and want to do it with your pooch? Morris K9 Campus is hosting a “De-Stress Fest,” for you and your dog on Friday, March 1st , so save the date. From 6-9 pm, head over with your pooch for a little R&R.

Doga

The fest will feature Doga (Yoga that is beneficial to both you and your dog). Doga is a great way to calm both you and your dog. Attending this event and class is the perfect way to get introduced to a new fitness routine that is becoming popular across the country.

Chair Massages

The event will also include other activities for you, from chair massages, and foot baths, glitter hair strands for you from Alora Spa. Your pups will get their own pampering with dog stenciling and retail goodies.

Dog Stenciling

Creature Comfort Pet Therapy will be in attendance, providing more information on how your pooch can become a pet therapy dog.

While you are here don’t miss the opportunity to enter for a chance to win a gift basket, valued at $100.

Bring your dog down and give them an opportunity to socialize with other canine friends, while you and your dog enjoy refreshments.

The event is for everyone and entry is free. The first 50 attendees will receive a goody bag, so get your friends together and bring your pooch on March 1st, where you all can relax, revive and rejuvenate! Call 973-252-5100 with questions.

Final Week of Pet Therapy Prep Class - How is it Going?

We practice down, stay, leave it and come!

This week is the last class before Abbie and Livvy test to become a Pet Therapy Team. This week was all about fine tuning some of the skills learned in previous classes. Abbie and Livvy are scheduled to take their evaluation test next week on January 26th.

Quickly, Abbie knew that one of her biggest challenges with Livvy was applying the command “leave it,” to anything that Livvy was supposed to ignore. “I practiced leave it a lot at home with dropping things on the floor while cooking and having treats nearby to reward Livvy when she didn’t try to eat anything off the floor.” says Abbie. It’s important to provide real-life situations as Pet Therapy teams volunteer in such places as schools and hospitals where there are certainly going to be things that are off-limits for dogs.

This week was also about building skills to be able to put multiple commends together, like in the video above, such as sit, down, stay, and come. Having a dog with an arsenal of reliable behaviors ultimately makes for a more well-rounded pet but can certainly make pet therapy visits much more enjoyable for the dog and owner. Abbie says, “I know Livvy has an excellent stay, adding distractions like people, treats, and toys was challenging but Livvy did great and I know this is an exercise that she would be able to do very well in any situation.”

We will be taking a week off so that Abbie and Livvy can continuing practicing, stay tuned for the results of their Creature Comfort Pet Therapy evaluation!

Week Two – Abbie and Livvy’s Pet Therapy Prep Class at Morris K9 Campus

This week we continue to follow the daycare manager Abbie and her six-year-old Shepherd mix Livvy through the pet therapy prep class, as they get another week closer to the evaluation. With the first class done, they have two more weeks to work on the skills necessary to make sure Livvy passes her Creature Comfort certification.

Livvy is introduced to the medical equipment.

Even on week one, Abbie felt Livvy would make a great therapy dog. She said, “I can tell that she is low stressed in a high excitement environment,” which is good, but she added that Livvy still has a lot to work on in the two weeks leading up to her evaluation.

The benefit of the three-week course is to identify and fix any problem areas in order for both the owner and dog to succeed. Abbie mentioned Livvy needs to work on “Leave it,” especially with food, and “No jumping.” This is something they are continuing to focus on outside of class. “To teach her a different behavior gets her the attention that she wants. For example, Livvy has to be sitting or have four on the floor in order for anyone to pet her.”

Morris K9 Campus pet trainer Robin Lash, provides owners and their dogs with the tools they need to succeed, handing out weekly self evaluations detailing home instructions.

Livvy works on down and stay commands.

Since last week, Abbie says that Livvy’s behavior in class has improved greatly, commenting that she is “calmer in class than she was last week,” a trait that is essential in therapy dogs.

Next week is the final week of the prep class. Then they have one week to practice before the evaluation takes place through Creature Comfort Pet Therapy. We will continue to track Abbie and Livvy’s progress to let you know how they do.

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.

2012 Popular Dog Books

2012 has been a great year for books written about everyone’s four-legged friend, from underwater dogs, letters to dogs to numerous memoirs. Whether you want to fill your coffee table with award winning dog photos or you want to curl up next to a fire and read a heartwarming dog story, the dog world has a book for you.

  

A Letter to My Dog

Photographer Robin Layton had been taking photos of dogs for years, when it was suggested that she publish her photos in a book. A friend suggested, A Letter to My Dog, the idea took off and came to life. With the help of a few celebrity friends, including letters from Oprah, Tony Bennett and Chelsea Handler, to name a few, Layton comprised a book of stunning dog photos as well as heartfelt letters from owners to their dogs. A Letter to My Dog is an outstanding book that will make a great addition to any coffee table.

Underwater Dogs 

Award winning photographer Seth Casteel photographed over 80 dog portraits when creating this book. The photos capture the spirit and fun loving nature of these four-legged dogs underwater. Bubbles, paddling paws and expressive eyes are sure to keep you smiling as you flip through the photos of these expressive dogs.

Wallace
This book mentioned above was written by Jim Gorant. Jim Gorant made a name for himself back in 2010, writing for Sports Illustrated about the world of dogs. He published, The Lost Dogs, a book that chronicled the Michael Vick case. Wallace is the story of a Pit Bull rescued from the brink of being put down. Gorant tells the story of how Wallace comes back and not only changes the life of the people he encounters but also how he becomes a world champion flying disc.

If you’re looking for another great dog book to read, Petside.com published a list of the 10 best books from 2012, that featured everything from a dog mystery novel, to the memoir of an abandoned dog and the bond he shares with his new owner. So curl up with your pooch, grab yourself a book and stay warm, as you enjoy a dog book that is sure to warm your heart.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Pooch

The holidays are right around the corner, and if you’re still looking for a gift for your pooch, we have some great recommendations that will challenge your dogs mind and some toys that are just fun. So check out this list of holiday gifts that your pooch will love.


Rawhide Turkey Leg

This rawhide turkey leg is wrapped in sweet potato in order to give your pooch that long lasting fun. Stop by our retail shop in the lobby of Morris K9 Campus to pick up your last minute gift.

Plush Toy

These toys are great because they not only squeak, but they rattle, adding a whole new element to keep your dog interested. We also have a variety of plush toys available in our lobby for all of your holiday needs.

Barnacle

This puzzle toy will keep your pooch entertained for hours. The toy is a treat dispenser that makes your dog work for the reward. Not only will your pooch have fun, but it will helps exercise their mind. This toy is customizable to your dog’s skill level.

Picasso Pooch DIY Bed

http://www.petego.com/category/14/Sleep/product/219/PicassoPoochDIYBed

This dog bed is unique, because it comes with a set of markers that allows you to draw on your pooch’s bed. You can unleash your inner Picasso with the bed design. The design possibilities are endless.

Silhouette Dog Tattoos and iPhone Cases

https://www.steadfastfriends.com/

A gift for you or any dog lover! This company designs temporary dog tattoos in the silhouette of your dogs breed. Currently, they are expanding the line and adding iPhone cases, which also are adorned with the silhouette of your pooches breed. This is a gift you can feel good about. Ten percent of your purchase goes back to canine driven charities.

Visit the retail section of our facility in order to select your last minute gift! Have a safe and happy holiday season! If you have any questions, please call us at 973-539-0377.

Get into shape for the New Year!

With the New Year right around the corner, people are already thinking about their New Year’s Resolutions. What better time than now to get a jump start on them? Health and fitness is not only important for you but also for your dog. Morris K9 Campus wants to help you achieve those goals by offering a variety of fitness classes for - not just you - but also for your pooch in the New Year.

There are a variety of different ways to keep your dog in shape: agility, having an active day in daycare and special dog fitness classes. According to petmd.com, 53% of dogs are considered overweight and obese, and an obese dog is more at risk for life threatening diseases. Getting and keeping your dog active is important, so why not try the doggie treadmill or bring them to daycare or agility class? We want your furry family member to stay active and have a long happy and healthy life.

If you are looking to get in shape for the New Year, Morris K9 Campus is offering a variety of programs. In the New Year, there will be classes ranging from Doga, with certified Yoga instructor Karin Stoetzer, to classes improving your agility fitness handling skills with Certified Personal trainer Rick Scarpulla.

So don’t wait until the New Year to start thinking about your resolutions, sign up for classes today and get a head start on your health for the upcoming year.

What Foods are Safe for Your Pooch

With Thanksgiving this week, you’re probably preparing to cook your Thanksgiving turkey, but it might leave you wondering what foods are safe for your pooch to feast on. Before you feed your dog their Thanksgiving feast, check out this list of what foods your dog can and can’t have.

If you’re looking to feed your dog Thanksgiving scraps, these foods mentioned below would be perfect. However, as all things everything should be consumed by your pooch in moderation, and we don’t recommend that your dog eats everything on the list.

Turkey: Cooked boneless Turkey can be great for your pooch, just make sure you leave off the skin so you avoid giving your dog too much extra fat.

Sweet Potatoes: You might be making a sweet potato casserole covered in marshmallows, but stick to the plain cooked kind for your dog.

Apple Slices: If your baking that Fall apple pie, your pooch can enjoy a few slices of fresh apple before you put them in the pie.

Mashed Potatoes: Your pooch might just love some mashed potatoes, plus they make a great stuffing for a Kong as well. Just leave out the gravy if it’s high fat content.

Vegetables: Plain veggies can be great for your dog, without the added butter. Corn, broccoli, string beans and carrots are great way to give your dog some nutrients.

Pumpkin: It can be great for your dog’s digestion after their Thanksgiving feast, but make sure you stay away from pumpkin pie and pumpkin filling, which both have sugar added.

Cranberries: They are proven to be great to help clear out your dogs’ urinary track, just watch the sugar in them to make sure your pooch isn’t getting too much.

Thanksgiving can be enjoyable for your dog, but keep their feast to a minimum. You shouldn’t over indulge your pooch.

For safety reasons, there are a few foods your dog should not eat. .

Turkey Bones: Bones that are not made for dogs can be disastrous for them. The cooked bones from your Turkey can splinter and cause your dog harm, and possibly an unscheduled trip to the vet. Stick to bones from the pet stores that are made for your pooch. You can even stop into Morris K9 Campus and get one of our holiday turkey legs made just for your pooch, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Stuffing: Everyone seems to love stuffing but it’s one of the worst things for your pooch at the dinner table. Most stuffing recipes contain onion, garlic and sage, three of the main things your dog should always stay away from, so keep your pet healthy and keep them away from the stuffing.

Desserts: Even though your four-legged friend might be begging for that last piece of pumpkin pie, they should stay away from all desserts. So don’t give into those puppy dog eyes and keep them away for the sweets.

You and your pooch can have a great Thanksgiving together, but if you want to keep your dog entertained when you are eating, make them a Kong stuffed with some of the dog safe Thanksgiving foods and let them enjoy while you are feasting yourself. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Sources:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/thanksgiving-safety-tips.aspx

http://www.dogster.com/the-scoop/thanksgiving-foods-safe-for-dogs

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!