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More Dogs Are Lost.......
on Independence Day than any other day of the year, due to their fear of fireworks. Ironically, this is a day that is fun and exciting for the human population, and sometimes we forget that our dogs may not share our enthusiasm. As a matter of fact, the noise created by the fireworks and bursts of light can scare a dog senseless.....literally! Dogs have been known to jump fences, bolt through electric barriers, crash through plate glass windows, and run into traffic in an effort to escape the perceived danger.
To keep your dog comfortable this 4th of July, follow a few basic guidelines:
- Do not take your dog to fireworks displays!
- Make sure he has access to a "safe place" and toss him an occasional treat to reinforce his comfort
- Turn on the radio or TV to help block out the intruding noise from fireworks
- Act confident, upbeat, and unexcited. Your dog will take cues from you, and if he perceives unusual behavior from his family, it will scare him even more!
- Move him to a friend's home, or his boarding kennel if you live close to a fireworks display site, or to avoid exposure to firecracker usage in your neighborhood
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| Contact Us |
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4401 Mark Dabling Blvd
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907
719-599-9663
or
2801 Janitell Rd
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
719-527-9663
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A German Saint Arrives In Colorado Springs!
Lucky Dog Service Manager, Eden Davis Meets St.Evie in Denver!
With an air of excitement befitting a royal visit, the giant custom made crate was unlatched and out stepped Evie, a 153 pound St. Bernard just off the plane from Frankfurt Germany! Her arrival marked the first pick-up of a pooch by a member of the Lucky Dog staff at Denver International Airport! Evie's escorts from Lucky Dog, Service Manager Eden Davis and General Manager, Debi Ropes-Stevenson were waiting to deliver her, crate and all, to her new temporary home at the Lucky Dog Central location. Unbelievably pristine but a little thirsty, Evie looked as though she had walked into the crate 12 minutes, not 12 hours, before! She managed to impress quite a few employees at the Lufthansa cargo pick up point, including some folks, just passing by. Most comments: "That is one big dog!" Big, friendly and very sweet, we might add.
Evie is a German bred St Bernard and a member of the Bell family. Her dad, David, has been transferred from Germany to Colorado Springs. For logistical reasons, Evie had to make the journey alone and land in Denver rather than the Springs. She was transported during the 12 hour flight in a specially designed crate. A credit to Germany carpentry, both crate and Evie arrived via Lufthansa airlines without a scratch!
Safely strapped into the back of Service Manager Eden's pick-up truck (the only vehicle that could hold the crate short of renting a U-Haul) the crew of Lucky Dog managed to outrun a thunderstorm in Denver, and Evie was safely (and dryly) delivered to Lucky Dog.
Evie settled in nicely to the Lucky Dog routine until the day she was finally reunited with her family, and transported to her new home in the Springs. What a good dog!
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Trainer's Corner
If your dog is involved in training classes at Lucky Dog you have probably met with one or more of our training apprentices. Led by Angie Neal, CDBC, the apprenticeship program is designed for those interested in the positive reinforcement dog training field.
Angie's apprentices work at Lucky Dog within her classes, and private sessions with clients at Lucky Dog, and in client's homes. They also work with Lucky Dog's foster dog program and help to train foster dogs temporarily living at Lucky Dog. These dogs have particular problems associated with having to adjust to numerous homes, unhealthy diets and in some cases abuse. The apprentices learn from the dogs and the dogs are trained; training helps the dogs find forever homes.
Apprentices receive guidance in obtaining professional accreditations after the required number of hours and preparations to qualify are completed. These future trainers may eventually become trainers themselves and carry on the positive reinforcement training legacy!
The Lucky Dog Apprentices:
Deb Bickel
Jessica Casper
Don Howard
Jennifer Madden
Cara Marshall
Kelly Miller
Michelle Von Fange
Laurie Vokes
Cristina Wade
Sheila Wiley
There is currently a waiting list for this fee based program. If you are interested in more information please contact debi@bealuckydog.com
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Meet the New Lucky Dog Central Groomer!
Daniel LaBrache
Daniel has been with Lucky Dog for about 3 weeks and has done a great job so far! He learned his trade 8 years ago at Mid Town Grooming in Austin Texas. Daniel is a true wizard with his scissors and actually enjoys all over scissor cuts! He is especially fond of terriers having grown up with the Scottish variety. In his spare time, Daniel plays in a band, writes poetry and enjoys time in the outdoors.
Welcome Dan!
Blue Fox Photography will be at Lucky Dog Central on the afternoon of July 9th to photograph our client's dogs. If you would like to have your dog photographed please let us know when you drop off for daycare, or call and we will give you a time to come in. Photos will be taken between 12 PM and 3 PM, and will be available for online viewing. There is a $25 deposit required at the time the photo is taken, which applies to photo purchases. Please note that cropping takes place after the photos are ordered, so proofs online may show the hands or feet of those helping to hold the dogs. These will not appear in the finished photo! | |
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Who's Your Daddy?
Canine Genetic Testing
 My dog Darcy is a strange looking creature. She resembles a Schnauzer, but her body is not right and neither is her tail. If you look at her eyes, she looks a little like a human in a gorilla suit - scary thought, but there it is. Her heritage has been the subject of speculation, but there is no real way to know her breed makeup....or is there?
We can now discover our dog's genetic background with DNA testing. The growing availability of high tech DNA testing, along with the declining cost of the test, are driving dog owners to their vets for the answer to the age old question; who's my doggy's daddy (and mommy and great uncle Shadow?) Years ago, scientists began putting together a DNA "roadmap" from thousands of dogs to create a breed data base. Out of the 157 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, 134 can be identified by the testing. This makes the odds of identifying your dogs heritage pretty good!
Along with the obvious, the DNA test can help determine:
- Potential for breed related problems
- Certify identification of a sire
- Identify imported breeding stock
- Confirm which pups belong to a sire in cases of multi-sire breedings
All that is needed is a swab from the inside of the dog's mouth, a test performed by your veterinarian, and a few weeks later you've got your answer! I have decided to have Darcy swabbed and announce her lineage in a future Newsletter. Anyone who would like to venture a guess going by the picture above, or in person (let me know when you'd like to see her in the flesh) can contact either location of Lucky Dog. If you get it right, your dog will win two days of daycare or a free night of boarding. In the event of a tie, a name will be drawn from the group of winners (keep in mind that there may be more than two breeds involved in the Darcy mystery.) The winner will be announced in our newsletter, along with Darcy's heritage. I know you will all be on the edge of your seat waiting to hear:)
(By the way, Darcy originally came from the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak region about 7 years ago. Nothing is known about her breed background, except that she is obviously part Schnauzer.)
Debi Ropes-Stevenson
General Manager, Lucky Dog Resort
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One Day Only Office Hour Change
Lucky Dog is having it's annual summer employee summer party on July 25th. We will change our drop off and pick-up office hours for that Saturday ONLY.
July 25, 2009 Office hours
8-11 AM
1-3 PM
Again, this is for July 25th office staff only. Our dog care guardian staff will maintain our normal dog care routine. Thank you!
Debi Ropes-Stevenson 
Lucky Dog Resorts |
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Why does your dog like toys that squeak?
Theory is that the dog's wild ancestors sought out game by listening for a squeak. Having captured their dinner, a hungry dog liked the sound of the squeak during the kill - the squeak became the Pavlovian signal for the meal he was about to enjoy!
Squeaky toys are fun and nobody has to die:)
SAVE 20% ON ANY TOY THAT SQUEAKS! |
| Offer Expires: July 31,2009 - Offer good at either Lucky Dog location!
Help the environment by NOT printing this coupon, just mention it at the front desk. |
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