As we approach almost the fourth month of quarantine, you may be looking at your dog and thinking, “Man, we really have got to get out of this funk.” Creating new habits and a healthy environment is essential for keeping yourself (and your pup) sane during these odd times. Many pet owners have claimed their pets are responding differently to their owners being at home all the time. Michael Waters’ article on Vox stated, “Some pets are growing clingy, others are pouncing on exercise equipment, gliding across countertops, or hiding in corners and shooting their owners concerned stares.” In order to combat these new strange behaviors, here is a list of activities (Tiki approved of course!) that you and your furry companion can do to keep each other busy.
- Exercise, exercise, exercise!
Staying active during this time is as beneficial for you as it is for your pet! If you’re going on walks, make sure to social distance (6 ft.), but even if you prefer to stay inside, there’s still so much you can do! Stretch and do some yoga, move the furniture around and play tug-o-war, or, if you have a backyard, run around with them and play chase. A little bit of exercise everyday could help you and your pup stick to a schedule and routine.
- Play some mind games!
Mental stimulation! We all need it, and so do our dogs. If you ever find yourself lounging on the couch- watching tv with nothing to do- look up how to teach your dog some tricks. There are so many helpful YouTube videos and articles online. It can be a great use of your time and also a fun way to impress your friends! (Take it from Tiki- he loves doing some tricks with us and showing off to other people too!)
- Baking dog treats!
Rosanna Pansino is an expert baker on YouTube, and has a very informative video on how to make DIY Dog Treats at home. The products she uses are all organic, and she offers substitute ingredients for any allergies your dog may have. Watch her video and give it a try for yourself! Baking these treats keeps your mind busy and will make your dog incredibly happy. https://youtu.be/l3Mb9RyW3V4
- Get creative!
Set up an agility course for your pup using everyday household objects! Examples include using boxes, laundry hampers, blankets, tunnels, and small forts for your dog to explore. Mix it up and even get your kids involved! Train them with treats and positive reinforcement. It’ll be a fun experience for everyone involved. (Safety permitted.)
Take some time out of your day to enforce some new habits into you and your dog’s lives, and everyday will start to feel a little more productive. Exercise, Watch YouTube videos for inspiration, and mix things up at home. In the end you and your dog will enjoy the new changes, and learn more about each other in the process.
Tired of your pup begging for your sweet Easter treats? This year, save the trouble by getting them their very own Easter basket! It’s super simple and your furry friend is bound to love it. Here’s how to make the perfect doggie Easter basket in just a few simple steps!
1. Pick out an Easter themed basket.
There are so many different options for what you can use to hold all of your pup’s goodies. The most common options are wooden or plastic baskets. You can find each kind in lots of different colors and prints and most are very affordable. Pick whatever fits your their personality best!
2. Add treats.
You can add a bag of your pup’s favorite treats, or you can go for some Easter-themed snacks. There are so many recipes online for dog friendly cookies, peeps, cakes, etc. You also have the option to stop by a local dog bakery, where they have lots of customizable treats in different flavors, shapes, and sizes!
3. Get some fun toys.
During holiday seasons, many pet shops come out with cute festive toys you can pick up if you’re really in the holiday spirit. A new chew toy or plush bear is sure to brighten your doggie’s day!
4. Grab some festive Easter accessories.
Choose a festive new collar or bandana for your pup to wear on Easter Day. A fancy bow or a cool new leash would also make a great addition to their basket.
5. Break out the plastic Easter eggs to make it all come together.
Grab some plastic eggs and put some milk bones or small snacks inside. You can add as many or as little as you would like, and for even more fun; you can hide them later and have doggie Easter egg hunt!
Now you have the perfect DIY dog friendly Easter basket! Check out Tiki’s Easter basket this year!
What’s inside? Two bags of his favorite treats, two Easter bandanas, two cute toys, and lastly we added plastic Easter eggs with milk bones inside!
**Tag us on Facebook or Instagram to show us your doggie’s Easter basket this year!
Instagram: @gooddogindy
Facebook: Good Dog Hotel and Spa
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!
1. Stay inside and bake yummy treats!
This one you can never go wrong with. Our furry friends are always up for a tasty treat! Instead of going out in the cold, hang out with your pup inside and get to baking. There are tons of cool recipes on the internet for easy, affordable, home-made dog treats. For example, you could whip up some savory bacon-peanut butter bones, or some sweet pupcakes!
2. Make some DIY Christmas Ornaments! 
For a fun way to do something festive with your pup, create some cool Christmas tree decorations together! Like in the picture above, you could make a salt-dough puppy paw print ornament. It’s super easy, all you need is some dough, and a furry puppy paw! These are even more special, because you will have something to remind you of your best friend, forever.
3. Take a snow-filled hike! 
Although we may not always be super excited to embrace the cold, our dogs love it! Dogs love to investigate and sniff out new environments. With snow, comes new smells, textures, and temperatures. Hence why they enjoy rolling in it/ running through it so much. Snow is just one big toy for them to play with!
4. Take pictures with Santa! 
During the holiday season, there are lots of places you can take your pups to get pictures made with Santa! How cute is that? Some pictures turn out totally adorable, and others will make you laugh for days. Either way, it makes for a great picture, and it would also create some awesome memories too!
5. Cuddles and a movie marathon! 
Although this may be the most simple on the list, it still is a great way to spend the day with your pup. Believe it or not, some dogs really enjoy watching T.V. Netflix even offers a variety of dog movies such as ‘Bolt’, ‘Hotel for Dogs’, ‘Benji’, and many more! So turn on a good movie, get the snacks, and cuddle up with your dog for the day.
These are just a few of the fun things you can do with your pup this winter! At the end of the day, your dog really just enjoys any time he/she gets to spend with you. It’s simple. We don’t always think about it, but our dog’s worlds revolve around us. Even if they don’t need too much to be happy, we should still take the time out of our day to spend a little quality time with them. Whether that’s inside or outside, your dog will love it either way! It’s the thought that counts, and they will be forever grateful for the time spent.
Approximately 6.5 million animals enter U.S shelters each year. More times than not, these animals aren’t young and lively anymore. Many of them are senior pets, who probably once had homes and families, and could have ended up homeless for various reasons. When we think about bringing home a new pet, we often think of a tiny, fuzzy kitten or a fluffy, energetic puppy. But, why don’t we ever think of bringing home an older pet? Sure, they may be going a little gray and they may not have all the energy in the world, but a lot of us can probably say the same. They still have so much love to give, and just like the rest of us, they simply just want to be loved. November is adopt a senior pet month! Here at Good Dog, we have many senior dogs who come in to visit us. We wanted to highlight a few reasons why adopting a senior dog can be a rewarding, great experience. Not to mention, we also wanted to give a few of our very own senior residents some shine.
1. Old dogs can still learn new tricks! It’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. In fact, a lot of times older dogs can be easier to train than puppies, due to their ability to focus for a longer period of time. Consistency is really the only thing that matters when teaching anyone something new! (Consistently giving treats that is.)
-Molly, the 14 year old Blue Heeler! She still loves to play fetch and she also enjoys bath time.
2. Senior dogs often already have basic training. Most senior dogs have already been potty trained, and many of them know basic commands like sit, stay, shake, etc. Teaching a new puppy these things can take a lot of time and energy that many people just don’t have.
-Buddy, the 14 year old chow-lab mix! He is one of our regulars in daycare! He still comes at least once a week.
3. Older dogs are more calm, and less energetic. Once dogs come out of their puppy stage, they tend to calm down quite a bit. This means fewer chewed up shoes, and less destroyed furniture. This also means they will be less needy in terms of wanting to play, or go on walks 24/7. If you have children, older dogs tend to be more calm which typically results in them doing better with kids as well!
-Bug and Sophie, the 14 year old pug sisters! They love to cuddle up together for naps.
4. Senior dogs already have set personalities and temperaments. Senior dogs are already who they are going to be. You won’t have to worry about any surprises. They already have their set personalities, whether that be shy, calm, outgoing, or friendly. What you see is what you get. With that being said, this will make it easier to assess how he/she may fit into your lifestyle.
-Bully, the almost 12 year old French Bulldog! He still comes to daycare all the time! (Even if his time here is mostly spent sleeping.)
5. Adopting an older dog is saving a life. Many times dogs over the age of five are overlooked. The odds for them aren’t always great. Some of these dogs will live in a shelter for the rest of their days. It’s important to remember that older dogs need a home just as badly as the young ones. It is a heroic thing to find beauty and love in what others wouldn’t even think twice about.
-Tipper, the almost 10 year old chihuahua-beagle mix! She is the best to snuggle with!
These are just a few of the many reasons why adopting an older dog can be the right choice for a lot of us. Everyone deserves a home and a family, no matter how young, old, big, or small. With all the cute puppies around, I think it can be easy for us to forget about the older dogs. That is why we wanted to bring awareness to adopt a senior pet month! Next time you are looking to bring home a new pet, consider taking home a senior pet. Take it from Tiki, who is a senior himself, that the old guys are just the best!
– Our very own Tiki, the 11 year old pug-poodle mix! Tiki loves his human and doggie friends and he likes to play with his toys.
Each and every dog has their own unique story. Here at Good Dog, we see hundreds of different dogs, from towering Great Danes to tiny chihuahuas. They all come from different backgrounds and homes, and their owners always have fun stories to tell. Unfortunately, not all dogs have a great start, but there is so much beauty in what we as people can do to better a dogs life. As many of you know, we have a furry little pug-poodle mix named Tiki, who has been our mascot for Good Dog for eight years! We always get so many questions about him, and we figured it would only be right to outline his inspiring journey for you all. Tiki’s story; who he is, his accident, and his recovery.
People are always so intrigued by Tiki, as he is a scruffy little old man, with a huge underbite, who just hangs out on our desk in the front lobby. He is always there to greet everyone as soon as they come in, and he is not the least bit shy. He is very much known for running around demanding attention. Many would say he lives the perfect doggie life, because all day long he gets numerous treats and all kinds of affection. If you know Tiki, you know that he is extremely vocal and makes the strangest noises when he gets excited. One thing for sure is that Good Dog would not be the same without our beloved Tiki. He is hilarious and truly one of a kind. In the eight years that he has been with us, he has changed so many of our lives for the better. I think I can speak for all of us when I say, Tiki makes coming to work so much more enjoyable. I mean, who wouldn’t want a cute little dog by their side all day while they work? Now, how did we get tiki you may be asking? It all started back in September of 2011. Michelle, who is one of the managers for Good Dog, was off for the day and she had an appointment scheduled at a beauty salon to have her hair styled. As she was waiting in the front lobby, one of the stylists rushed in exclaiming to her co-workers, “I am so sorry i’m late! I just saw a dog get hit by a car!”
After hearing this, Michelle, who has worked with dogs for years, and has many of her own, of course started to tune in at this point. The stylist goes on to say that she couldn’t keep him due to having two boxers at home, so she just took him to a nearby vet to see what they could do. Michelle at this point explains to her that she works for Good Dog, and she would love to help out, as we have had many rescues. So, she gives the stylist her number and waits to hear back. Not too long after, she ends up reaching out to Michelle. She tells her that Tiki had a broken hip and he was going to have to stay at the vet for quite some time. If you are a pet owner, you know how expensive things can get when you make trips to the vet. Although the stylist had no money to pay for him to essentially live at the vet for a while to recover, that’s when a miracle happened. A woman was standing at the front when Tiki was dropped off, and she had selflessly offered to pay. For it all! Thanks to her, Tiki was given a second chance, and was able to live there for a month. They called him ‘Neil’, before he was ever our Tiki. Before we knew it, it was time for him to come to what would become his forever home. He arrived for the first time at Good Dog, on October 10th, 2011.
To be continued….
Spring break and Easter are upon us and our hotel will be full for the next few weeks. This means both hotel and daycare will be busy every day, but especially during the weekends.
Hotel Drop-Off:
- Our lobby will be hectic, if you have a plane to catch we recommend you arrive early to ensure a smooth check-in.
- Our most busy times of day are between 7-9 am and 5-7 pm.
- For a reminder of items you need to bring with you have a look at Tiki’s Check-In List http://bit.ly/1BWgVHD
Daycare Drop-Off:
- Spots in daycare will be limited, reservations are HIGHLY recommended.
- If you do not have a reservation, give us a call before heading over & we will be able to tell you if we have space.
Tilly is a 10-month-old boxer mix who is now spayed, up-to-date on shots and looking for her forever home. She was initially adopted quickly, but the sale of her adopters’ new home unfortunately fell through. She has been with us for quite some time, waiting for her rescuer, so we compiled a list of our favorite things about her … Here are our Top 10:
-Every dog in daycare loves her – she is one of the most social and playful pups!
-Her demeanor toward humans is shy, but loving and sweet.
-She has the biggest, most beautiful puppy-dog eyes.
-Loves companionship and is definitely ready to give her whole heart to her owner.
-Has the most beautiful brindle coat, to match those pretty eyes!
-While timid with people at first, once she gets to know you, she’s very loyal and loving.
-Her playful, energetic personality will make her the BEST sibling to any dog!
-She’s very sweet, smart and curious.
-Loves to lay her head in your hand, which makes your heart melt!
-Favorite activity is sunbathing, especially with another canine or human friend.
Hank’s previous owners were devastated to part with him, through no fault of his own, and he is long overdue for a new forever family. Hank is a 9-month-old hound mix who is neutered and up-to-date on shots. Our staff adores him, so we compiled a list of our Top 10 reasons to love him:
-Hanky is so smart – he already knows sit, lay down and is ready to learn more.
-Loves to run … we can see him making a runner VERY happy.
-He’ll do anything for a treat, so he’d make a great trick dog!
-Great to take on walks, but would rather lay in the sun with you.
-Loves to eat blackberries.
-Hank not only adores cuddling, he is great at it!
-Is fantastic in daycare and gets along great with dogs and humans.
-Loooooves taking baths…Imagine that!
-Adorably playful and energetic — he’s the quintessential playful pup!
-Loves kids, especially older ones (still has some “puppy energy” that could be too much for toddlers).
-Bonus #11, because Hank is too cute to limit our list to 10: He has the most beautiful puppy-dog eyes that can make anyone smile, even on your worst day. Plus we’re pretty sure he’s going to have them forever.
A year after adopting our stray Buddy, his parents sent us an update on his new life.
Rudy’s First Year
When we first met Rudy (his name was Buddy at the time), it was love at first sight. He’s so incredibly sweet and immediately took to us. During his first drive home, he laid nervously on the backseat, a little anxious of the whole “moving tin can” thing and certainly scared of the open windows. He was also terrified of our staircase at first, but treat by treat, he found the way to his bed upstairs. He’s a quick learner; he nailed sit, stay, and lay down immediately. Now, he gives the best “high fives” and can finally “speak,” with bonus command “louder” … It took about four months to hear his first bark!
This spring, we bought Rudy a pass to the dog park, and his personality really shines amongst the other dogs. He loves playing chase and is happiest when sprinting directly toward us from the farthest corner of the park, usually covered in mud. He continues to work on “fetch” and usually prefers a game of keep-away first. At home, he is a lover. He loves cuddling on the couch but has been known to suddenly attack his stuffed gator from afar. Every bone or large treat he receives is painstakingly hidden before it’s enjoyed. His favorite spots are inside the couch, under his bed, and corners. We’ve even found him under our pillows a time or two!
We anxiously waited for the right time to get a dog, so when the stars aligned to adopt Rudy, we felt like we won the lottery! He is playful and affectionate, loves to make us laugh, and always greets us at the door. Rudy has brought a lot of love into our home, and he helps us to be more active. It has been a great experience watching Rudy grow and learn. You are most likely to see his smiling face at the dog park, getting pets from strangers on the Monon, or hanging out of the car window with his tongue out, on the way to visit friends.
Thank you, Good Dog Hotel, for playing matchmaker! We couldn’t be happier.
Mandi, Brendan & Rudy
