News from Dog Beach Dog Wash

Dog Beach Dog Wash News

Because your dogs deserve the best

November 2012

Upcoming Events

Our Holiday Schedule 2012:

* Thanksgiving, Thurs., Nov. 22,

8 am to 1 pm

(Coupon Books go on sale today)

* OB Holiday Parade, Sat., Dec. 1,
close at 4 pm

* Staff Holiday Party, Tues., Dec. 11,
    close at 6 pm
* Christmas Eve, Mon., Dec. 24,
    close at 6 pm
* Christmas Day, Tues., Dec. 25,
    8 am to 1 pm
* New Year's Eve., Mon., Dec. 31,
    close at 6 pm
All other days-- Regular Hours, 7 am to 9 pm

Home

Oct. 1, 2012 through Jan. 2, 2013 -- 14th Annual Iams Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive, sponsored by the Helen Woodward Animal Center and the Iam's pet food company, with 4,000 animal shelters participating throughout the United States and 22 other nations. This year's goal is to place 1.5 million orphan dogs and cats and other pets into forever, loving homes by the new year.

For a shelter or rescue group near you see

http://www.animalcenter.org/home4theholidays/

LabHarborlogo

Tues., Nov. 6 through Fri., Nov. 30, 2012 -- 7th Annual Labrador Harbor Online Auction, to raise funds to help Labrador Retrievers in need of medical care. Get a head start on your holiday shopping. Auction items include Disneyland and Sea World tickets, gift cards for local restaurants and entertainment venues, limited edition signed novels by Dean Koontz.

http://www.labradorharbor.org/events.html

Sat., Nov. 10 & Dec. 8, 2012, 9 to 11 a.m. -- Dog Beach Cleanup, with Friends of Dog Beach, at the pawprint entry to Dog Beach. Bags & gloves, plus toys & treats will be provided for you and your friendly dogs

Sat. & Sun., Nov. 10 & 11, and Nov. 17 & 18, 2012, 9 a.m-6 p.m. Saturdays, and 1-6 p.m. Sundays -- Colleen's Annual Custom Pet Photos at Dog Beach Dog Wash. A 30-min. photo session (up to 2 dogs, with or without guardians) for $40. Make your appointment now by calling us at (619) 523-1700. Hanukkah begins Dec. 8 and Christmas is 17 days later, so there's time to plan your holiday photos now.

http://www.custompetphotos.com/dogs.html

Mark & Musket

Thurs., Nov. 15, 2012, 1 p.m. -- Tales from the Barkside, featuring author Mark Carlson and his dog Musket, with excerpts from their humorous and inspirational book, Confessions of a Guide Dog: The Blonde Leading the Blind. At the Rancho Bernardo Branch Library, 17110 Bernardo Center Dr., San Diego 92128 (phone 858.538.8163). Presented by OASIS, you will hear how Guide Dogs are trained to do their job, how Mark and Musket met, and about their ongoing adventures. Free, for ages 18 & over.

SheltertoSoldier

Fri., Nov. 16, 2012, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. -- 1st Annual Paws 4 Troops, fundraising event for the nonprofit Shelter to Soldier, at Cafe Coyote in Old Town, 2461 San Diego Ave., San Diego 92110. Dog trainer and Ramona resident Graham Bloem started Shelter to Soldier to support veterans by pairing them with trained service dogs. $50 includes appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages.

http://specialtydogtraining.com/shelter-to-soldier/

Small Business Saturday

Sat., Nov. 24, 2012 -- Small Business Saturday, when people throughout America honor small, locally owned, independent businesses by showing support with early holiday shopping. Dog Beach Dog Wash will be serving free hot spiced cider, and offering 10% off on all toys sold that day. We offer free gift wrapping too.

Gaslamp Holiday Parade Sun., Dec. 9, 2012, 3 p.m. -- 5th Annual Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade, at Gaslamp Hilton Park, 4th & K streets, downtown San Diego, sponsored by Downtown Ace Hardware. Viewing is free. Early parade registration is $15 (day of, $20), and Pet Expo from 1 to 5 p.m. at Gaslamp Hilton Park

http://www.gaslamp.org/pet-parade

Greetings!

Helping Victims of Hurricane Sandy

Our hearts go out to the millions of East Coast residents severely affected by Hurricane Sandy, and to all the animals in pet stores, shelters and rescue groups still suffering from the loss of heat and electricity, lost homes, and even death.

Fireman helping dog lost in Hurricane Sandy

No matter where you live, there are ways to help out this season of Thanksgiving.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

is rescuing pets, providing veterinary care, and proving supplies to animal shelters and families in the hardest hit areas. You can donate to their rescue efforts at

http://bit.ly/U5YR9J

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF)

helps veterinarians hit by the storm and to provide medical care to animal victims during and after disasters.

http://bit.ly/WBv0HN

The Best Friends Animal Society

is coordinating and delivering donations, transporting animals to non-affected areas, and helping staff the pet portion of the Sussex County, N.J. evacuatiion shelter. To contribute supplies to the NYC volunteer coordinator, contact tammyh@bestfriends.org or visit their website at

http://www.bestfriends.org/sandyrelief/

Easing Your Dog's Fear of Nail Trimming

Most dogs dislike having their paws handled, or their nails trimmed, but it's necessary every 4 to 6 weeks to keep them comfortable and to protect your floors and tender skin.

It can be a more pleasant experience once they become accustomed to regular nail trims, and it gets easier the younger the dog is when you start handling their paws.

If you hear your dog's nails clicking on the floor or pavement, you've waited too long to trim them. Dog paws with long nails

Nails that grow too long can cause problems such as splayed feet, ingrown nails, and hip and joint issues. Long nails can also get caught on rocks or carpets and torn as the dog moves.

If your dog doesn't like his feet touched, plan to make it extremely rewarding for him when you do handle them. Have a supply of yummy "high value" treats handy (pieces of hot dog, cheese, chicken - not dry, crunchy biscuits), and each time you touch a foot, treat your dog. Eventually, he will let you handle and hold his paws -- especially if he anticipates a tasty treat reward.

Dog nails can grow at uneven rates, and most dogs that walk on concrete will wear the back ones down as they push off. This leaves long front nails, and long dew claws if left untrimmed.

There are several kinds of tools available to trim dogs' nails including

If you use any of these tools, make sure the blades are sharp or you will squeeze the nail before cutting, causing major discomfort to the dog. Replace the tool every year or so.

Our favorite tool is the Dremel®, with coarse sanding bands: Dremel with coarse sanding band

The nail has a blood White nail showing the quick

supply,
surrounded by
nerves,
called the "quick." If you cut too close, the quick will bleed and the injured nerves will hurt the dog -- making trimming the next time even more difficult.

The Dremel makes trimming safer, since the quick becomes visible even on black nails, before being nicked. If the nail does bleed, a bit of styptic powder and pressure will stop the bleeding in a couple of minutes.

Finish the nail trim with a hand file (coarse acrylic nail file works best) to smooth any rough edges, give your dog a treat, and you're done. If your dog grows impatient with nail trims, try doing just one paw a week.

Don't forget to trim the dew claws (the vestigial claw on the inside of the foot) if they weren't removed when your dog was a puppy. If neglected, they can grow into the dog's skin. Some dogs (such as the St. Bernard and Great Pyrenees) carry the recessive gene for double dew claws.

Dog Wash Nail Trim with Dremel & Sling

At Dog Beach Dog Wash, the well-being of your pet is of utmost importance to us. We'll happily trim your dogs' nails for you, everyday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., using a sling to safely restrain the dog, and the Dremel to comfortably shorten the nails. If the noise of the Dremel annoys your dog, we offer the "Happy Hoodie" to cover the ears and help suppress the noise. Dog treats are, of course, included.

Happy Thanksgiving

Jane & Mindy (with Chipper, Juno & Zydeco)

"If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans"

~ James Herriot