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Did you know that January is ‘walk your dog’ month? During the winter, it’s easy to get in a rut and not spend as much time outside. If you and your dog have the right gear, taking a winter stroll can be something to look forward to, rather than a chore. Here are five essentials to make winter dog-walking a breeze! 

 

1. Waterproof boots/ shoes

A nice, durable pair of boots isn’t only a good thing for us as people, but for our pets too! Although many dogs get through fine without them, others can really benefit from them. For example, older dogs not only tend to get cold easier, but they don’t always have the best traction on the ice. Having that rubber layer on the bottom of their foot can really lend a helping hand when walking across a slippery surface. Not to mention, boots will keep the snow and ice from                                                    getting packed into their paw pads!

 

 

2. Winter coat 

         Now, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know we need coats in the winter. But what about our dogs? Of course a big Great White Pyrenees wouldn’t need a coat, as they are made for the snow! On the other hand though, a short-haired chihuahua would be shaking like a leaf in freezing temps. There are many different kinds of coats that you can choose from, that way you can find what fits best for your pup! Pictured above is an insulated, water resistant dog parka. Although this kind of coat is a bit more on the expensive end, they are well worth it as they can last a lifetime! 

 

 

           3. Reflective Gear

          Wearing reflective gear ensures that you and your dog will be seen when traveling in the dark. This is especially prominent in the winter because there are less daylight hours. There are many different things you can choose from including reflective vests, flashing pet blinkers, reflective leads, etc. Whether you’re taking a hike through the woods or just a walk around your neighborhood, it’s never a bad idea to have one extra safety precaution!  

 

         4. Pet Friendly Ice Melt

          Because of all of the snow, many people start putting salt down in the winter. Something a lot of people don’t realize is how harsh most chemical ice-melts really are. They can damage lawns, sidewalks, etc. If it can damage the sidewalk, it wouldn’t have any trouble irritating your pets paws. Choosing a non-toxic, pet-friendly ice melt is definitely the way to go to protect your furry friend!

 

 

 

       5. Travel-size First Aid Kit

          Last but not least, a travel size first aid kit. Although this is good to have year round, there is more risk for your dog to slip or fall in the winter time. Ice can also become very sharp and could cut or split paw pads. In moments like this, when you could be pretty far from home, it’s a huge relief to be prepared with supplies on hand. You know what they always say, better safe than sorry! 

 

 

 

          As you can see, this list is compiled based off of pet safety, and anything that can help you and your pet get through this winter. Dog safety as pet owners is of course our top priority, and it is our duty to make sure we are prepared for what is to come. Now get out there and have a snow-filled adventure with your mind at ease! 

Puppies are just the best, aren’t they? Who doesn’t love a cute, happy, little puppy face?! Although they are undeniably adorable, they can be a real handful. There are many things one should consider before rushing to adopt a puppy. You want to make sure you are prepared to take on another full-time job. Here are a few things you should think about if you’re going to adopt a puppy! 

 

       What kind of dog you get is one, if not the most, important thing for you to think about before adopting. In fact, it is crucial that you do your research on different breeds to help you determine what will best fit into your life. For example, a 10-pound Chihuahua would be fine living in a small apartment. However, a 180-pound English Mastiff would need much more space. You also want to look at the breed’s coat-type, because some dog’s coats will require regular maintenance. Dogs with tight-curly coats must be brushed out regularly, or they can end up with some painful matting that will eventually have to be shaved off. On the other hand, short/straight-haired dogs require little to no grooming maintenance, aside from the usual bathing and nail trimming. 

 

     The next thing you should definitely consider is your lifestyle. Do you have a demanding job that calls for you to work long hours? Because to train a new puppy, you are going to need lots of time and patience. You also will have to make time to keep up with their vet appointments for annual vaccines and check-ups. Not to mention, most puppies can’t just be left home alone with no supervision. If you choose not to crate train, you will need someone there to watch them or find a doggie daycare/hotel that can watch them for you while you’re gone. It will make things much easier for you if you set these things up before you bring home your new pup!

 

     Lastly, you will just want to make sure your home is ready to welcome a puppy. Puppies are curious, and they will more than likely be ready to get into stuff. You will want to puppy-proof your home to ensure his or her safety. This means keeping the trash put away, covering electrical cords, getting rid of any poisonous plants, etc. Also, if you have children or other pets, you will want to make sure they are ready to welcome a new pet into the home. It’s never a bad idea to educate yourself on the proper ways to introduce a new pup to your family, that way you can have peace of mind when leaving them alone together. Other than that, you will just need the basic dog supplies such as water/food bowls, toys, bedding, etc. Now you’re on your way to bringing home your new furry friend!  

 

    By no means is this written to deter you from adopting a puppy, puppies are great and they truly become part of your family. It is more so to simply educate on the fact the puppies aren’t just all fun and games. There is a lot of responsibility and work that comes with bringing home a new fur baby. As long as you are prepared, things will be great. To bring things to an end, we’d like to feature a few of the new puppies we’ve recently met here at Good Dog! 

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We’re always proud of our handsome Boris, but lately we’re particularly proud. Boris is one of our daycare superstars — a handsome English Cream who’s always friendly to pups and people alike. Almost 3 years old, Boris has been working diligently on training…Even when he’s incredibly excited for daycare, he puts behavior first and will “sit” and “stay” until we give the go-ahead. So it didn’t surprise us when mom Marie told us he passed his therapy dog certification. We couldn’t think of a better pup to serve others! Since he’s such a handsome boy, we’ve included a handful of pics from his therapy dog photoshoot. (Side note: our love of Boris is rivaled only by our love for his brother Cletus, the adorable terrier mix in the tennis court photo. Click on any pic for a full slideshow.)



For our third installment on popular dog breeds, we showcase Boxers. Boxers are consistently listed among the top 10 most popular breeds in the country — and they’re a hit here at Good Dog too. We have about 200 registered as clients, and that doesn’t include our boxer mixes!






Boxers originated in Germany, where they were working dogs bred for hunting. (Their incredibly strong jaws could hold prey until the hunter/master was able to retrieve it.) Some believe the breed got its name from the way they play — by standing on their back lacks and batting their paws, which looks like doggie boxing. They usually weigh between 55 and 70 pounds — and we’ve seen them all, from our petite Gemma (pictured below) who weighs in at 45, to big man Kramer who tops the scales at 130!




Boxers often come in fawn or brindle coloring, with white markings called flash. (This is why many people refer to white boxers as “ultra flashy.”) Black boxers don’t exist — if you happen to see one, it is either a very dark brindle or a mixed breed. Their short smooth coat makes for easy grooming, so they just require the usual nail trim and bath. Some owners do take advantage of our shed-x treatment, which reduces the heavy shedding that occurs during season changes.






Boxers are one of many brachycephalic breeds, which means they have a short muzzle and flat face. This trait adds serious cuteness points, but it also has a downside. With hot temperatures, the short muzzle makes it difficult to pant, which is a dog’s main cooling mechanism. For this reason, boxers shouldn’t be “outside” dogs. If they’re outdoors on a warm day, they should be given plenty of water and shade breaks.



Boxers have a strong desire for companionship, which is always on display in daycare. Many of our boxers love to play until they konk out, then they find a staffer’s comfy lap for napping (see our adorable evidence below). The breed requires plenty of attention and thrives in an environment where they have lots of play time and exercise.






Training is a must for boxers. Some can be a bit stubborn, and their energy, speed and size can make them a handful. Our trainer Adam Moos recommends training early and consistently. It may take a lot of patience, but boxers respond to lots of practice, repetition and consistency. Ada,usually focuses on basic training commands, keeping things simple and easy, and breaking things down step-by-step. The results are impressive and can make life much easier for the dog and owner.


Did you know there are 150 different dog breeds registered with the American Kennel Club — and some say more than 800 worldwide? The types of pups we see most often at Good Dog are a pretty close reflection of our national numbers, so we thought we’d share some inside info on a few of our most popular breeds. First up: Labs!





Labs are consistently one of the most popular dogs in the United States, and the same goes for Good Dog. We have around 750 labs in our system, and that doesn’t even include lab mixes! These are great family dogs — smart, willing to please, and dependable. Originally from Great Britain, where they were bred for fishing and hunting, labs can vary greatly in size. Take two of our regulars as an example: Our yellow lab Lilly, who is 10 months old, weighs in at 40 pounds, while Voodoo, an 11-month-old black lab, is a whopping 100 pounds!



We usually have about five labs in our building everyday. Most visit us for daycare, which is perfect for their high energy level and need for exercise. Some of our best behaved labs not only get full days of daycare, but also long walks and runs at home. Our five-year-old chocolate lab Charlotte (we call her Char-bo), has been a daycare regular since 2008 but also does running and biking with her mom at home.


Labs are also known to eat anything and everything in sight — something our staff see on a regular basis. Clyde, a daycare fixture full of personality and energy, is know for his stomach of steel. And his partner in crime Chloe, a three-year-old black lab, has a nose to match — she sniffs out food in the best of hiding places. Chloe also has the smarts of a lab and uses them to play pranks our daycare staff (such as stealing walkie-talkies off hips and secretly moving mop buckets around the room). Labs are often ranked among the top 10 smartest breeds of dogs. Left without training they can be too smart for their own good.





Our on-site trainer, Adam Moos, recommends training labs early and focusing on energy control. With such a high energy level, it’s best to focus on keeping them calm. Adam also says their puppy playfulness lasts longer than most dogs … It may take about five or six years for most labs to mellow out.



When it comes to grooming, labs are relatively low-maintenance. They tend to blow out their coat about twice a year (during the spring and fall), though some never stop shedding. Like most working dogs, labs have a weather-resistant double coat that keeps them cool in the summer and warm in winter. For this reason, our groomers don’t recommend complete shaving. The hair that keeps the heat in also keeps the heat out, so if you’re looking to keep your lab cool, shaving isn’t an option. Our groomers do recommend our shed-x treatment for every groom, which involves a special shampoo that loosens the fur, a good blowout, and a special brushing process that removes lots of undercoat.


Labs are popular for good reason … They’re sweet, funny and loving creatures. If you’re looking to add one to your family, remember they require plenty of exercise and are very smart. So start your training early, and have plenty of lint rollers ready.

Hello all!

We’re the Daycare Doodle Duo known as Darwin and Wally.






We look and act so much alike that we may as well be twins, but we’re actually half-brothers born a year apart. At 3 years of age, Darwin is naturally the more mature and well mannered pooch. Wally, on the other hand, is a 2-year-old wild child who earned the nickname ‘pigpen’ for his love of rolling in mud and destroying any toy in sight.






We’ve been visiting Good Dog for daycare (and the occasional hotel stay) since 2009, and in our humble opinion, daycare is the best invention since bacon! When mom drops us at Good Dog, we can’t wait to trot through those doors and say ‘hello’ to everyone in sight. The daycare staff says we’re inseparable and do just about everything in unison — we even take our mid-day naps together. (There’s no better pillow than a fluffy doodle, so it just makes sense to cuddle with each other!)





We stick together back at home too, whether we’re hiking, swimming, or playing frisbee (our most favorite game ever). Darwin is better at catching, while Wally plays pretty solid defense by tackling and stealing. At the end of each game, however, we always come to an agreement and run around carrying the frisbee together.






Our favorite person in the whole world is our momma. Not only is she a great dog mom to us, but she fosters shelter dogs and helps them find forever homes. She just started doing this a few months ago, and believe it or not, every one of our foster siblings has been adopted by wonderful families!! We’re currently caring for Odis, our fifth foster-sib, and we try hard to be the best possible brothers by setting a good example. Mom says we’re very welcoming and have the ability to bring even the most timid dogs out of their shell.






If you like to hit the Monon Trail, you’ll probably see us out walking with mom and maybe some friends as well. You can’t miss us since we usually bring pals along — you’ll see four or more dogs (including two big handsome doodles) running and having a blast along the trail!



Now back to our Good Dog life. We know we’re coming to daycare when mom says “do you want to go to school?” in the morning. Our answer is always a resounding “yes!” followed by jumping and running toward the door with tails a-wagging. It’s always a different story coming home … we look like knocked-out zombies after a full day of play!






We’ve pretty much done it all at Good Dog: boarding, daycare, grooming, and even some training with Adam. We had a few training sessions with our old foster-sis Keara, who learned a ton of basic doggie manners so she’d be prepared for her forever family. Meanwhile the two of us learned how to behave like the true gentlemen we strive to be. We love Adam … he is so good at reminding us about our training lessons when he watches over us in daycare. Although don’t tell him we told you this, but sometimes our minds just want to focus on playtime!



That’s all we have for now, and we hope you enjoyed reading a little bit about us. Next time you’re at Good Dog, be sure to peek in the observation window. If you see two twin doodles attached at the hip, you’ll know it’s us!!

Hey Everyone!




My name is Chloe and I am a 3 year old Black Lab. I’m an old regular here, I have been coming here since 2010!




I was born in New Hampshire, that’s where my Mom fell in love with a Black Lab named Cassie. They wanted one just like her they said so that’s how they got me, Cassie is my dog mom! When I’m at home I’m just as playful as I am here, I love to wrestle and play tag!



You may have seen me recently in the Yearbook Poll where I was voted Class Clown and I sure love living up to that title, but more on that later! Most of the time I come I’m here for Daycare, that is my favorite thing about Good Dog! I love pulling pranks on all the staff members in there, it makes the other dogs laugh! Most of the time I just do little things like steal their walkies, tip over the water cooler, or grab the roll of paper towels and RUN!! See all these little jokes I pull keep the Daycare workers on their toes and it always makes them laugh. You see, Labs instinctively enjoy holding objects, even hands or arms in their mouths, which they can very gentle (a Labrador can carry an egg in its mouth without breaking it), so that is my excuse for always grabbing things from the staff! Did you also know that female Labs are known to be more independent than males which is describes me to a T, independent!!




I do also enjoy a nice vacation once and awhile in the luxury hotel suites here! I get all set up with lots of Daycare during the day to wipe me out then I come back to my room with some nice cozy blankets and settle down for the night. Most of the time my Mom also likes to get me a bath and brush before I come home to! The groomers here are awesome. They also embrace my wild side and after a little playing around I will stay still for them to get that nice brush out after my wash that feels so good! My Mom also signed us up for a couple lessons with Adam Moos the trainer here where he taught me some basic manners. My Mom does a great job with me, she always has me sit before we come in the door and before I can go back and play.



When I’m not having a Good Dog vacation I love vacationing up in Michigan and playing in the lakes. I am definitely a lake dog! Well that’s all I have for now, I’m currently here on one of my vacations for a few days. I think I see Mary, time to go steal her walkie!!



Hi everyone! My name is Emmy.







I’m a very pretty 10-month-old Australian Shepherd, and as you can see by my pictures, my unique markings make me stand out in the crowd. I get lots of attention for my good looks, and I love every minute of it!



Back at home I have a sister (a very sweet chihuahua mix named Reba) and we’re quite the pair. My parents adopted me back in August — and my new family is everything I could ask for. I love to chase squirrels around our yard and would dig a hole to China if my parents let me. My naughtiest habit is playing with the water bowl in daycare … I know it’s not “good girl” behavior, but the daycare staff just laughs because I look so darn cute doing it!



I’ve been coming to Good Dog since early September, and so far I’ve enjoyed everything they have to offer. I even met the nice trainer Adam Moos — he really helped me and my family with some “puppy basics.” I can be a little shy from time to time, but Adam taught me to come out of my shell.



When I’m lucky enough to get some daycare play, I enjoy leisurely watching all the silly pups run in circles! Sometimes I do some light jogging with the ladies while we gossip about the day’s events. Since I have a little dog at home, I like spending my time with the big dogs in daycare. My best friend is Heidi the Wheaten, and we can hang with the big dogs for hours!



And last but not least, I love staying in the Good Dog Hotel. I’m spending some vacation time in a roomy suite this week, and I even enjoyed a nice bath and brush with the groomers. With all of my Aussie fur, the brushing feels so good to me!



That’s all for now, but if you have any questions, just ask me. I may have only been here a few months, but I sure know the ropes!

Hi Everyone!!
My name is Gunner!

I’m a black Lab mix and I’m almost 3 1/2 years old! I’ve been coming to Good Dog Hotel & Spa since December of 2010 and I love it here!!


A day in my life at Good Dog, usually starts with a couple of hours in one of their luxurious suites. When I get here in the morning, I prefer to take a nap before the day’s events.


Then, my best friend Adam takes me out on the Monon Trail for a long and vigorous walk! During that walk, he teaches me how to walk on a lead properly, coaches me on how to behave around other dogs, reminds me how to sit and lay down, and all kinds of other cool tricks that I dog like me should know!!


I LOVE training with Adam!! He taught me how to be a “Gentleman Dog”and also taught my mommy how she can help me be a “Good Dog”. The staff here at Good Dog says that in all the time that I’ve trained with him, I’ve become a well-behaved and polite dog!


When Adam and I get back from our walk, I get to go play in daycare with all the other dogs!! I do best playing with the dogs in the afternoon after a vigorous walk. Even though I spent a lot of energy on my walk, I still have just enough to hang out with my friends. My best friend is Frankie, he’s a Doberman. Frankie and I play and hang out like boys do! I also like Juice; he’s a Black Lab like me, some say we almost look like twins!


That’s all for now!
Come meet Adam and I at Good Dog, we’d be happy to teach you some trick too!!
🙂

Meet Cooper & Cherie!!


Hi everyone!!! My name is Cooper Alegre!!



I’m a handsome Maltese-Yorkie mix and I’m just a little over 1 year old!! I’m a veteran at Good Dog Hotel & Spa, I’ve been staying in their luxurious hotel since I was just a tiny baby. My mommy also took me to the Training Academy here at Good Dog with their amazing trainer, Adam Moos. So not only am I a handsome little man, but I also know how to listen and be obedient!!! The staff at Good Dog fell in love with me INSTANTLY when they met me last summer!! I was just a tiny fluffy little man!!


Talking about cute & tiny babies… Let me introduce to you my brand new baby-sister: CHERIE!!!!

Cherie was born just 2 months ago and when my mommy brought her home, we became instant best friends!!!

This past week, Cherie & I have been staying at Good Dog Hotel and I’ve been a very good big brother to her! It’s Cherie’s very first stay here at the hotel, so I’ve been showing her the ropes!! Our mommy brought us two beds to sleep in, but we’ve been cuddling up together in just one bed, it keeps us warm and we like to keep each other company!!
🙂


And guess what?!?!?!?? The staff here fell in love all over again with my super cute tiny baby sister !!! During this past week, many of the staff members have brought us up to the front-desk to play with us and to take cute pictures of us!! Everyone just loves us so much; we’re very spoiled here, as we should be!
🙂


My baby sister will also get her very first professional bath this week before we go home!! I’ve already told her that it will all be okay!! Baths are a little scary the first time but I’m convinced that when she realizes how clean and pretty she’ll feel she’ll love it just as much as I do!!


Okay folks!! That’s all for now! Come see me at Good Dog Hotel, we love to be cuddled!!