Waggin' in a Winter wonderland!

Alas, winter has arrived and is here to stay for a little while. In these cold winter months, it can be difficult to get your furry friend the exercise he or she needs. The Canine Club and Spa has rounded up a few ideas for you and your buddy to have a safe, fun, and active winter!

Keep your pet warm while outdoors

                   Short haired breeds need extra warmth outside in the winter months. Investing in a sweater or jacket for your short haired dog can be a good idea, especially if he or she is going to be spending any extended amount of time outside. Booties may also be a good idea if your dog likes to play in the snow to protect against frostbite.        

Take care of your doggy's feet 

Your pup's pads are likely to feel the wear and tear of winter, and it's best to routinely check your doggy's pads to make sure they aren't cracking/dry. Road and sidewalk salt can be a great irritant to your pup's pads, so it's a good idea to put some Vaseline (used a salt barrier) on all four pads before heading out for a walk. Also make sure to clean paws after the walk to remove any ice and debris caught between the toes. Make sure to regularly groom and perform nail trims at this time of year; maintenance is crucial. If you suspect your pal has a pad infection, you should seek a vet's care.

Keep your pet active

Arrange play dates, go for a jog/run, drop em off at the Canine Club, purchase a dog sled….whatever you need to do to make sure your pet gets enough exercise. Also keep in mind, your pet needs to be fed more in the winter months to keep up with all the exercise. 

Think outside the box

Not all activities are going to be outside. Winter can be a good time to work on training/agility. So pull out the peanut butter and milkbones and work on different commands! "Leave it" can be a good one, especially for curious dogs that like to roam near half-frozen lakes and sites of danger. Besides training, you can build your bond with your companion by doing good for your community. Volunteering in hospitals and nursing homes with your doggie is a real treat for those who are cooped up in the winter months.

ID TAGS

Unfortunately, dogs get lost most often in wintertime. It's a good idea not to let your dog roam around off-leash, since scents can easily be lost in the snow. Limiting your dog's off leash time in the winter as well as making sure your dog has id tags/contact info attached to his or her collar is a good precautionary step. 

Thanks for reading and let us know if you have any other wintertime tips!

A Dog's Life: Barkley the yellow lab

I perk up in the backseat as my super canine sense of direction tells me we are pulling into the Canine Club. I mean it really is my favorite place to go! (don’t tell grandma I said that, although her house is a close second)

I’m in the door as fast as I can be to greet Betsy and Steph and McKayla and a few other girlfriends that take care of me every day. Ok, Ok, I know I’m cute but enough of the butt scratches, I WANT TO SEE WHO’S HERE!!

LINDAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! I just knew she would be here today to take care of me, I JUST KNEW IT. And there’s Bear and Moose and and  Ernie and Jake and Kuna and Chloe and OK you get the idea. But hey it’s still early; I know more of my friends are going to be here soon. I’ll be out here awhile, checking out my favorite spots and making sure everyone knows I was there, if you know what I mean. I’m glad Carrie is out here to throw that tennis ball for me, I just can’t get enough!

Time to eat breakfast , my mom tries to feed me at home, but she gets me up so darn early I just am not ready for that today. So she packs a breakfast and Linda gives that to me about this time each day. But only if I bring one... If I eat at home, that’s OK too! I change my mind every day because I like to keep my mom on her toes; I know she loves that about me.

Yay! I get to go outside again!!! It must be cold out because I can hardly recognize Hannah under all those coats and hats and gloves and snow pants and ear  muffs  she has on. But I could be out here all day! Only my paws get cold after awhile but all my girlfriends keep an eye on them for me to make sure I go in for a break when I need to.

Time for a nap while the staff takes a lunch break. Well sometimes I nap, or sometimes I play with Lulu in my room. I like to have friends in my room when I am inside. Some of my other friends don’t and that’s ok too. It’s good to take a break in the day so that I can catch my breath and let the snow melt off my nose. It’s always a good time to remember to take a drink too. When I am outside, I am playing so hard that sometimes I forget! Kind of like how I forgot where I put that bone last week, until my mom found it in her shoe.

It’s my favorite time of day…… SWIM TIME!!! Abby lets me outside to go potty quick, and I hurry and fast as I can because I just can’t wait! I love love love love love the pool. Seriously LOVE IT! Some of my friends don’t like it as much as me. They are magic and move the pool inside when it is cold outside! I don’t think some of my friends like to swim inside. But that’s Okay. Most of them love to swim outside in the summer. Sadie is one of my best swim buddies. That girl could tread water for hours! And did I mention her beautiful yellow hair and long white teeth and the cleanest ears I’ve ever seen and…. Sorry about that. Got a little distracted there.

Well I got all dried off after my swim. I don’t mind the blow dryer but the grooming dryer kennel is the best place for a nap after a long swim. After that it’s another trip outside to see what everyone else has been up too.

David and Deana are out throwing the Frisbee for Murphy and Bella and I have just GOT to get in on that action. Run, Run, Run, Chase, Chase, Chase…. Holy cats what a day! Speaking of cats! They have a strange room that always has lots of cats in it. I don’t know why anyone would want that but, hey, whatever wags your tail!

I can tell it’s almost time to go home when I hear those mystery voices calling my friends names. Sometimes my friends know their mom or dad is here when the car pulls in the parking lot! They are really smart. They must have gone to Caninedergarden.

But then…. Wait… is it her?…… yep…. It’s…. MY MOM!!!!

On the way to the car I can’t help but wag my tail, I have so much to tell her about! I sit in the backseat and wait for treats but before I know it I am falling asleep to that new Justin Bieber song on the radio. I don’t know what anybody hears in that guy. I mean the things they play on the radio these days… what ever happened to the Baha Men? They were awesome.

Well, I will catch up with all you guys later and let you know the latest gossip at the CCS.

Woof for now,

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New for the New Year!!

New for the New Year!!

We are starting a new thing for The Canine Club and Spa in this New Year. Once a week we will be posting a new blog post about an array of exciting canine topics! Guest bloggers, the Canine Club management, and a variety of other sources will be the experts participating in the creation of each blog post. We welcome ideas from you, the reader; feel free to email us with what you would like to see in the blog.

We hope you enjoy the things that come out of this blog! The topics will be a variety of subjects, including events in the dog community, medical, and things just for fun!

We want to hear from you! What do you want to see in the blog next week?

Email us at: contactus@thecanineclubandspa.com

Rest, Relax, Have Fun!