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The Lucky Dog Newsletter
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Before You Give a Living Present......
Every year at this time we hear of well meaning individuals surprising friends or family with the gift of a puppy or kitten. It's no accident that a month or two after the holidays our humane organizations and rescue groups are deluged by living gifts whose novelty has worn off. A pet is a big responsibility, and the adoption of an animal is not to be taken lightly. The timing of pet adoption, the type of pet chosen, and the expense of it's care, should be the personal choice of the new pet owner. It seems a bit bah-humbug to say, but well intentioned folks should not assume they are aware and understand all the facts of pet selection for an individual or family.
Along with personal choice, the welfare of the pet should be taken into consideration. The holidays are a hectic time of year, with a general disruption of a family's normal lifestyle. Potentially hazardous decorations and treats are everywhere, and children are very excited and often not well behaved. Now throw a undisciplined puppy or kitten into the mix and you have real chaos, not to mention a very confused animal. If the gift is a puppy, housebreaking techniques are more difficult during cold or snowy weather. If the gift is a kitten, a hard lesson is often learned; kittens love to climb Christmas trees!
Make it clear to all (in a friendly manner) that the gift of a pet at holiday time is not welcomed for many reasons. Choose a calm, uncomplicated period such as spring time to adopt, and let all family members in on the fun of choosing the perfect pet for your lifestyle!
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| Contact Us |
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4401 Mark Dabling Blvd
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907
719-599-9663
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2801 Janitell Rd
Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80906
719-527-9663 |
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New Payment Policy at Lucky Dog! We Think You'll Like It!
Beginning December 1, 2008 our client's Lucky Dog canine care dollars will have new flexibility. Previously, the purchase of daycare packages credited money to the client for use towards daycare days only. Our new policy allows customers to "load" their Lucky Dog Cash Card with dollars that can be used for any purpose; daycare, boarding, obedience training, grooming or retail. What's really great about this policy change is that it allows clients to take advantage of lower dog daycare package prices, but use the money anyway they like!
Example: A ten day daycare package costs $160.00, and lowers the cost of daycare to $16.00 per day. A client can now credit $160.00 to their Lucky Dog Cash Card, take advantage of the lower $16.00 per day daycare, but use that $160.00 for any purpose. The client account will be tracked on a written card held at Lucky Dog, and debited each time a service is used or retail purchase made. The same applies for the 30 day package daycare package which lowers the cost of daycare to $15.00 per day!
Clients may only purchase one Cash Card at a time, and must initial the card after each purchase. The new policy activates upon purchase of your first Cash Card (previously purchased daycare packages cannot be converted to cash card dollars).The new system also serves as a speedy check out when picking a dog up from daycare, boarding or grooming - if there is credit on your Card all we need are your initials to confirm the purchase!
For more information call or visit Lucky Dog.
Holiday training tip:
Dog barking his head off at holiday guests? Remember,yelling at him makes him think you are joining in on the barkfest! To interrupt the barking pattern, make a distracting noise; when he stops the barking reward the quiet. ALWAYS reward the quiet, not the barking!
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| Great Employees!
 Ronda Jenkins
Ronda joined Lucky Dog Resorts in October 2007 as a dog guardian, and soon began apprenticing as a dog trainer with Angie Neal. Ronda now does all the canine evaluations for daycare and boarding at Lucky Dog Central. In late October Ronda was promoted to Resort Manager of Lucky Dog Central!
In her spare time Ronda likes to hike and ski, and spend time with family and friends. When asked about her favorite dog breeds, Ronda had a hard time deciding between Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds and Mastiffs! Sounds like Ronda likes to run with the big dogs......!
In the evenings Ronda assists trainer Angie Neal with puppy classes and the Levels obedience program at Lucky Dog Central.
Congratulations on a well deserved promotion, Ronda!
Meow,meow,meow,meow....
Pussy cat, pussy cat where have you been?
Our multi-level cat condos provide a clean, well ventilated place for cats to board. Jumping between levels provides much needed exercise, or level access can be blocked off for felines requiring less activity.
Lucky Cat boarding is now open. Space is limited...please call today for more information, 527-9663. | |
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Focus On The Breed
Ay, Chihuahua!
Big eyes, big ears and big attitude! All are accurate descriptions of this diminutive breed, whose origin is thought to be Asian rather than Mexican. The Chihuahua may have been brought to Mexico by Spanish settlers, and was then named for the state of Chihuahua, Mexico.
The preferred size of the Chihuahua is 6-10 inches tall, but some do grow as tall as 12 to 15 inches. Weight by American standards is no more than 6 pounds, but British standards state a preference for those dogs weighing 2-4 pounds. By both standards, all other qualities being equal, the smaller dog is thought to have the better conformation. Keep in mind that pet quality Chihuahuas can range well above these preferred size standards. The proper body type for the Chihuahua is fine boned, and muscular. Almost all colors are recognized as acceptable, solids or combinations, except merle, which is genetically linked to health problems. Coats may be long or short haired.
Before you add a Chi, or any dog, to your family, understand the nature of the breed you are selecting. Chihuahuas demand attention and affection, are quite protective of their owners and their environment. They are thought to be "clannish" and prefer life with their own kind rather than other breeds. Chihuahuas love to burrow in clothing or blankets, so be careful where you sit! This little dog is prone to biting when frightened, and is quite jealous of his relationship with his owner. For these reasons this is not a breed recommended for homes with children, but are wonderful companions for adult apartment dwellers and the elderly.
With the release of the new Disney movie "Beverly Hills Chihuahua", we are bound to see a increase in this breed's popularity. Sadly, a repeat of the aftermath of "101 Dalmatians" is predicted (thousands adopted Dalmatians after seeing the movie without realizing Dals are quite a handful, and shelters soon filled with the breed). Please make sure this little spitfire of a dog is exactly the companion you had in mind before you open your home and heart to a Chihuahua! | |
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Care and Share for Pets
The importance of pets in our lives cannot be over estimated. Each year many Americans go hungry rather than deny food to a beloved pet.
To help support the pets of those less fortunate than ourselves, Lucky Dog is collecting non-perishable pet food items for Care and Share Food Bank of Southern Colorado. Donation boxes are set up in our lobbies, and with the help of our friends from 92.5 FM - The Peak, we can help ease the burden of pet food costs for deserving families this holiday season.
On Dec 10 our friends from the Peak FM will pay a visit to each Lucky Dog location to pick up all donated dog and cat food. We will have a few minutes on the radio to voice our appreciation for the donations. Please have all donations in our boxes by 10 AM on Dec 10 to insure it's collection on the when The Peak representatives arrive. Any and all dog and/or cat food is welcome as long as it is non-perishable. Lucky Dog will have extra food supplies on hand for purchase, or you may bring food from an outside source. Your generosity is appreciated!
Lucky Dog would like to send a special thanks to:
The Natural Balance Pet Food Co.
The Merrick Pet Food Company
The Employees of Lucky Dog Resorts
The Clients of Lucky Dog Central and South
Our Friends at 92.5 FM
"The Peak"
........for their and generous assistance and donations!
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Be Careful Out There....
The holidays are great, but hazards not normally found in our homes can be deadly for our pets. Here are a few things to watch out for:
Chocolate and alcohol - Pets (especially dogs) love both, and these substances are abundant around the holidays. Both can be deadly! Keep alcohol and chocolate out of reach of all pets and contact your vet if ingested.
Poinsettias - Not as deadly as once thought, but cats love to eat them and ingestion will cause a big tummy ache! Associated vomiting can lead to dehydration. If your poinsettia plant has been munched,
call your vet for advice.
Tinsel - Cats think tinsel is cool to play with! If swallowed, tinsel can get tangled up in the gut and cause real problems. Tinsel is not a necessity of life, and if you have a pet just don't use it!
Turkey "accessories" - Such as strings or skewers used to hold the turkey together, carving knives and other sharp objects are dangerous. Strings can get caught in the gut like tinsel, and the sharp objects coated in meat juice sometimes taste so good that a pet will cut up his mouth or worse, he may swallow bits of the blades. Don't under estimate what a dog can reach as he "counter surfs!" Keep all these things behind closed doors in the dishwasher or wash immediately and put away. Take that turkey skeleton right out to the trash!
Bones - Any bones that can shard, crack or sharpen are dangerous to pets. Do not give your dogs bones from pork or fowl products under any circumstances!
Pine Sap - Water in the base of the tree contains pine sap which can poison pets. If you put sugar in the water it's even more attractive. Cover the tree stand to prevent pets from drinking.
Dangerous externally:
Christmas trees - Cats like to climb them and dogs like to body slam them! Trees should be reinforced with a connection to the wall for support.
Ornaments - Broken, they can cut paws and small ornaments can be easily swallowed (cats in particular seem to enjoy swallowing ornaments!) Use big, unbreakable ornaments on your tree. Do not use popcorn, candy canes or any food on your tree - it just says "Come and get me!"
The best way to keep your pets happy over the holidays is to provide attention, observation and exercise. Give cats approved toys to play with and a day out at Lucky Dog is great for dogs needing to burn off energy!
The staff and management at Lucky Dog Resorts would like to wish our clients and their wonderful pets a very happy and safe holiday season!
See you next year for more fun, and possibly a surprise or two;)
Debi Ropes-Stevenson
General Manager Lucky Dog Resorts |
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| Save 10% On Any Christmas themed dog toy! |
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| Offer Expires: January 1, 2009 |
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