Nauset Kennels

Kirsten and I are on a much needed, much anticipated trip to Ireland. Kirsten has been working like crazy trying to get all her ducks in a row. My parents are staying home with the kids, and for anyone who either knows my folks or has read this blog before, you know where our animals will be while we are away – the kennel!

Hoot, Scout and Pecan are all booked into camp for the next two weeks, and while our kids are beside themselves, my parents are doing little dances around the house, happy that they don’t have those extra chores associated with the animals. As I was cleaning out the litter box, my dad looked on with disgust and said, very firmly, “Thank you. Thank you so much for not making me do that.”

It’s nice for us to know that we can go away and our kids are in good hands. It’s even better knowing that our business is in good hands. And it’s a trifecta knowing that our kids, our business, and our animals are all taken good care of while we are gone.

And for those of you who wonder, yes, our pets are treated just like everyone else’s. And in many ways, they even act like your pets. Hoot is cautious by nature, and will take a few days acclimating to the cat room. She might peek her head out. What will probably really draw her out will be when one of the girls goes into the cat room and sits patiently on the floor waiting for her to come out of hiding.

Pecan, well, Pecan is in dog heaven. He is on the dog equivalent of speed from his excitement. Give him friends to wrestle with (he really likes Ruby) and he is good to go. He’ll probably lose weight from being so amped up all the time, even though the girls will be super attentive to his eating habits, noting when he eats, how much or how little he eats, and all that.

And then there’s our special needs girl, Scout. She makes it well known how little she enjoys the kennel. Funny isn’t it? The kennel owners’ dog doesn’t like the kennel. She usually ends up making herself sick in some way. It’s as if she does it out of spite, saying to us, “Okay Mommy. If you’re not going to be here with me, then you will pay.” And by pay, Scout does mean literally and figuratively! The girls will work very hard to try to make her happy, but since Scout won’t be happy at the kennel, they will also work hard to ensure she stays healthy.

They will all have different experiences, just like your animals do. The best part is, when we get home, they will be so happy to see us! Well, Hoot and Scout will be. Pecan will be counting down the hours until he gets to go play again.

Does anyone reading this remember the movie with John Travolta where he plays a young man with an immune problem and he can only go out in a bubble? (Yes, I know I just dated myself with that reference!)

This past weekend, we  encountered a dog whose parents would like it to live in a bubble. Well, I doubt that they would really like the actual bubble concept, but figuratively, this is what they were asking us to do.

“Please make sure he is socialized with as many other dogs as possible, but we don’t want any scratches, scrapes, punctures or anything like that. Oh, and I only want him playing with other puppies.”

The last time I watched a group of puppies playing together I remember them pulling, tugging, scratching, yipping and all of those cute, adorable things puppies do to each other.  Ouch, those tiny, little teeth are SHARP! and can do some damage all in the name of fun. And those nails. My goodness, puppy nails are sharp. Those little guys roll around, pulling on an ear, gnawing on a leg, and just generally learning how to play together. When someone yelps, you can see the offender pull back a bit, as though surprised. Sometimes, a nip is returned as a warning. Puppies play hard.

As I listened to the customer’s wish list, I thought of the movie. At one point, this silly image of a dog rolling across the yard in a bubble actually went through my mind and I had to suppress a giggle. Finally, Kirsten explained to them that they can’t have it both ways. If the dog is going to play and be socialized, which they want, there is always the possibility of scrapes, scratches and more. She reminded them that we certainly don’t want that, nor do we encourage it, but things do happen. And so, with some hesitation and crossed fingers, we all took a chance and practiced some puppy socialization. Although he still needs a lot of practice and time playing with others, a bubble isn’t what he needs. While we never want anything bad, even in a small way, to happen to our dog babies, we have to realize that sometimes things will happen. And yes, we need to teach our dogs how to play appropriately, just like we teach our kids how to play appropriately with others. While we teach them, they are learning. If a dog doesn’t like another dog in its face, it lets her know to back off. As social pack animals, this is how they learn. Without a bubble.

We recently had a customer drop off his cat before a long, overseas trip. As usual, we asked about the unforseen emergency and how he would like us to proceed. Laughing a wry laugh, he said something about really only having about $100 for any such emergency so that makes it an easy decision.

Interestingly, I feel that this crazy economic time almost takes some of that pressure off of pet owners. When you don’t have money to spend on procedures, you don’t have the added pressure of trying to care for your ill pet while at the same time worrying about how in the world to pay for it.

Don’t get me wrong; in no way am I saying that a lack of money makes the process easier. However, for anyone who has ever been in that situation of having a very sick pet and wondering how to pay for it, not having the money decides for you. If you do have the money, at what point are you spending too much? When Scout was so sick, as the bill reached astronomic proportions, I would secretly worry and wonder if our credit card would go through. And then, what if it didn’t??? Would I have to look at the receptionist and say, “I’m sorry, but I don’t have any more money for this? I know we’ve put the dog through however many days of hospitalization and numerous tests and an exploratory, but we’ve run out of money.” When she was so sick, it was easy to say yes to the tests, to anything that would make her better. But then, each visit got harder. Would the hospital think less of us for finally saying that we couldn’t spend anymore on our dog? We own a kennel, for gosh sakes! How would that be perceived? And poor Scout; her last days would be filled with poking and prodding, not peace and love.

Another friend who has a lot more money than I do, said he would spend any amount to make his dog better. Some of my friends with less in the bank avoid the issue by avoiding the vet. If the pet is acting ill, then they try to make it comfortable and hope for the best. Others throw all reason away and yes everything that might prove to be a cure or an answer, only to then find themselves up to their eyeballs in debt.

My suggestion is to actually consider your options before anything happens, even for those of you with pet insurance. How much is reasonable to spend? At what point do you say no more, both financially and physically (thinking of the pet). Have these conversations before your emotions are involved, remembering that emergency vet care is expensive. If you and your spouse or partner are having trouble reaching a decision, do some research and talk with your vet about common veterinary expenses and those more common emergency vet expenses (cancer, renal failure, bloat, etc.). Have the serious conversation now. While you can never fully plan for anything, at least have something to work from, as opposed to sheer emotion.

We had to scratch our heads this morning when someone brought it to our attention that they saw a posting on Craig’s List about kennel cough and our facilities. We scratched our heads for a number of reasons, particularly the fact that we haven’t been contacted by any of our clients to let us know that their dog has kennel cough, nor have we ourselves noticed anything (we often are the first to notice and will let our customers know if we suspect a case of kennel cough).

Hmmm…a disgruntled customer? An angry neighbor? We won’t know because this person posted anonymously on Craig’s List. If you suspect your dog has kennel cough, call the kennel or day care facility directly. Posting anonymously to Craig’s List doesn’t allow us to address your concerns, nor does it allow us to follow a procedure we have in place to track kennel cough. As my friend Karen would say, “Put on your big girl panties and call us. Don’t hide behind anonymous postings!” (Sorry for offending anyone, but unless your job is in jeopardy or your family is at risk, own up to any criticisms or comments.)

I would like to thank you though for the opportunity to do another informative blog! Sometimes I need an idea, so thank you for that!

We have indeed suffered through cases of kennel cough throughout our almost forty years of business. In fact, three summers ago we even shut down our facility for two weeks to try to clear it out. Sixteen years ago, I knew of kennel cough, since it has always been a required vaccine, but didn’t ever hear of it. In fact, we were somewhat lax about the vaccine, even letting people have their dogs vaccinated the same day the dog was due to come in for boarding.

Like everything, kennel cough seems to have changed a bit though, and we are indeed seeing more cases of it in our area. Typically when we have it, other areas of the Cape will have it as well, usually in pockets. And, like the flu or a cold, it can be mild to severe in the numbers of dogs it affects. In certain areas of the country, veterinarians require the vaccine to be given every six months due to a higher incidence rate in that area. Here, the vaccine is usually an annual vaccine, but it depends on your vet.

Perhaps I should provide a definition of kennel cough. Kennel cough is a respiratory infection caused by both bacteria and viruses. It is rarely serious, but should be treated by a veterinarian. While there is a vaccine, like our human vaccines, it only covers so many strains of kennel cough, so yes, your dog can still get kennel cough even though she has been vaccinated. Signs of kennel cough are pretty simple: a hacking cough or “hard sneezing” like sound. Watch this video for an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx7tveHyFqk

Some vets treat kennel cough with antibiotics, while others take a wait and see approach. On our end, we require all our boarding and day care pets to be vaccinated for kennel cough, following manufacturer’s guidelines that the dog be inoculated seven to ten days prior to boarding (I can’t tell you how many customers we have to turn away because of this policy). If we receive a phone call from a customer or suspect a dog staying with us has kennel cough, we start tracking. All employees are notified to keep an eye out for any potential new cases. From there, we keep an eye on a dog we suspect might have the cough if it is actually with us and will often call the vet immediately as a precaution. If  we find that there are more than three confirmed cases, we start to let our customers know, focusing specifically on any pets for which the illness might actually be worse for them (puppies, elderly, ill, etc.). Our cleaning regime is stepped up to include bleach – bleaching the floors, the walls, the runs, sponges and cleaning towels, toys, the vacuum filters, the vacuum, the wash, etc. Our cleaning routine, while already at a high standard, is the main focus if we suspect any type of bug, not just kennel cough. We will also lime our play yards and let them sit a few days. And yes, we will even shut down our operations if need be. The wonderful thing about our new facility is that we can now shut down just the affected side if necessary.

We certainly don’t try to hide kennel cough from anyone. In fact, we even call around to other kennels and day cares in the area to inquire about their dogs, so we certainly put it out there so customers can decide what to do.

Kennel cough is a part of running a kennel, just like coughs and colds are a part of running a school or a day care. Some dogs will get it, others won’t. Most will have mild cases, but a few won’t. We’ve even known families of dogs where one will get it and another will not. If you suspect, call. Be responsible and let your kennel or day care know. Keep your pet away from other dogs until you are sure he isn’t coughing on anyone else. Call your vet. And don’t be ashamed and feel the need to post anonymous postings on Craig’s List! You aren’t helping anyone by fomenting anger (yes, some of our customers and our employees are angry at your post) and fear. Be informed and take corrective measures to insure the safety of your dog and others.

For more information, check out the following sites. They are all pretty similar in what they say, but are presented from various angles – boarding dogs, training dogs, day care, etc.

http://www.kennelcoughindogs.com/

http://dogs.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Kennel_Cough

http://www.workingdogs.com/deboerken_cough.htm

http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=11339267 (just a note – this one is fascinating because the owner of this facility doesn’t even require the vaccine!)

Within the last week, we’ve had at least five panicked phone calls from dog owners whose friends have bailed on them at the last minute for pet sitting. This weekend just so happens to be Columbus Day Weekend, a particularly busy weekend at the kennel.

For some of these panicked people, we’ve been able to accommodate them. A couple of people had to, as the saying goes, punt. We couldn’t take their dog because (s)he isn’t current on vaccinations necessary for boarding. More likely than not, another friend stepped up to the plate, or, a weekend away got postponed or cancelled.

Friends can certainly provide fabulous pet care while you are gone. A good friend of mine recently helped another friend by taking her dog for two weeks. She proved to be a fabulous pet sitter, even keeping a journal complete with pictures of Jerzey’s activities. Short of a major health problem, this friend of mine would never have considered cancelling on Jerzey’s owners.

Unfortunately, too many people out there do have things that come up causing them to cancel on their commitment to a friend. While I am not passing judgement on these people, I am suggesting that you have a back-up plan for your pet.

A reputable pet sitter or a kennel can provide such back up. This is our business, it is what we do. Unless your pet is sick or seriously injured, we don’t turn you away. A reputable pet sitter can even help with the above situations to a point.

Many of you are probably saying, “Well, we’ve never had problems with our neighbors watching the dog for us.” And that is great. Unfortunately, I am writing this because too many people do run into issues with their friends or neighbors as pet sitters.

We are booking up for Thanksgiving and Christmas. And while we always encourage last minute phone calls because you just never know, we can’t always guarantee that your vacation will still be a go. If you don’t have a regular kennel or pet sitter that you use, let’s hope your neighbor or friend is as good as my friend Karen.

So you think you’re a responsible dog owner? Take this quick quiz to find out.

                   1. Is your dog up to date on all yearly vaccines?

                   2. Do you administer heartworm preventative?

                   3. Do you regularly brush your dog’s (or cat) teeth?

                   4. Is your dog within healthy weight guidelines?

                   5. Does your dog know basic training commands?

                   6. Is your dog wearing a collar with

                       current owner information?

                   7. Is your dog microchipped?

If you answered yes to all of the above, then kudos to you! You are responsible to your pet’s needs. 

Many of us would probably answer yes to some of the questions above, fully knowing that we should be answering yes to all of them. Quite honestly, our dogs teeth haven’t been brushed since, well, since ever! We absolutely know that we should be doing this, but we don’t. And I can’t even really tell you why we don’t!

We are working hard coordinating a day that will help us all be better dog owners, even those of you already ahead of the game. On September 26 from 12-4 we are hosting the AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day. Seminars, pet first-aid and CPR, raffles, and other fun things are planned to promote responsible dog ownership.

I have to admit that I originally said no to hosting this event. It was the last week in August and we were in the end of summer scramble with kids out of camp, but not in school. The kennel was still rocking and rolling and we were trying to put together a float for the Windmill Weekend parade. I didn’t feel confident that we could pull everyone together so quickly. However, Joanne correctly adjusted my opinion saying, “How can we not host this day?”

You see, we are also the “pound” for the wandering dogs in our area. And, by the very nature of our business, we see responsible and irresponsible dog ownership daily in many ways (including the fact that I don’t brush our dogs’ teeth!!). Some examples that really prompted us to host this event:

This summer, one of our local animal control officers brought in a dog that had been left in a hot car. The owner, angry and feeling affronted, could not understand why his dog was removed from his car. Another town continues to bring in the nicest set of dogs on a regular basis, who routinely wander from home and get picked up by the animal control officer. While we love having them visit, it is scary thinking that they might be hit by a car or something like that. And many of our dogs who board with us are a bit pudgy and like us, will suffer in the long-term from the extra weight.

Needless to say, I could go on and on with our reasons for hosting this event. I hope you can all join us, responsible pet owner or not  :)

Saturday, September 26, 2009 from 12-4 at Nauset Kennels, 2685 Nauset Road in Eastham. Call to pre-register for the Pet First-Aid/CPR class (offered from 11-3, for $45). Bring your dogs responsibly – on leash!! See you there!

We’ve been waiting patiently and the great folks at Landmark Fence here in Eastham helped us out (huge thank yous!) and installed the fence for our new play yard. Cape Cod Ready Mix poured the concrete trench that prevents dogs from being able to dig under the fencing. This yard is attached to the kennel and is used solely for boarding dogs.

The kennel play yard

More kennel play yard

As you can see, it is HUGE! So, how does it work? Well, we work very hard to try to get every dog out in the yard at some point in the day. This yard is supervised and we usually take groups of 2-6 dogs out at at time. Some get to stay out longer than others depending on how well they are getting along and if it’s a good mix. The dogs love the kiddie swim pool and the opportunity to roam around sniffing all the good doggie smells.

For those unsocial dogs, it can be a bit trickier, but we know that they love their time outdoor too, so we try like heck to get each one out.

Some dogs absolutely cannot go in this yard. Any dog who is actively looking for a way out will be brought back inside. A dog who is just making a huge ruckus cannot stay in the yard. Dogs who won’t come when called or run and play a game of chase when it is time to come in won’t go out again. And any dog who is a known escape artist is not allowed in the yard. We’ll let you know at the end of a visit if your dog falls into one of these categories.

We get a lot of requests from boarders and neighbors to use the yard. Unfortunately, the yard is only for kennel use. We need access to it and couldn’t possibly compete with the numbers of families asking to use the yard.

We also get a lot of questions about the cost. Our standard boarding fee includes the possibility of yard time. I say possibility because it is not a guarantee that every single dog will get out in the yard during a visit. For those owners who absolutely want their dogs to have yard time, we offer a 20 minute play time for $8.00. That time can be designated for walking on the bike trail, playing one-on-one with one of us, loving (what dog doesn’t love a good belly rub?), or socializing with a few good buddies. If you want your dog to be outside for the majority of the day, ask about doggie day care.

Gracie is one happy dog!

Bailey enjoys the group play times

We love our new yard and are loving the great weather that we’ve had! We’re sure you’ll find it “tail-waggin’good”!

As I entered checks on the deposit slip the other day, I happened to glance at the “For” line on one particular check. Usually people write things like, “Barney – bath.” Sometimes dates are jotted down or an invoice number is provided. This check was different though, and it so perfectly sums up why doggy day care is important and why people use it: “For: peace and quiet.”

“How perfectly simple!” I thought. From our end, we often see the purpose of day care as tiring out your pups. I’m sure that for most of you, this is the reason why you bring your dogs to day care. Some people have different reasons though, such as providing an owner with peace and quiet. Guilt probably plays a big role too; we feel guilty when we don’t have enough time for our dogs. For those of you who wonder what would prompt someone to bring their dog to day care, I’ve compiled a list of reasons, many provided by owners. Please let me know if I’ve there are any I’ve missed.

Why We Bring Our Dogs to Day Care

- “Peace and quiet” (as quoted from a check)

- Exercise

- Socialization

- To acquaint the dog with the kennel as an introduction to an overnight stay

- To allow the exterminators, painters, carpet cleaners, etc. time and space to work at your house

-”Because, while I love my dog, he drives me crazy!” (quoted from an actual customer, not the same customer who wrote about peace and quiet though)

- Guilt over working so much that the dog isn’t getting out

- “To allow me rest after my medical treatments”

- “So I can get ready for our party and not have the dog in the way”

- and along the same lines as the above, “Because our guests aren’t dog people.”

I can’t say that any reason given has surprised me yet, but I live by the mantra of “Never say never.”

Summer is hoping someone will join in the fun

Asa

Sampson hangs out at day care

For most dogs, length of stay can be relevant if you are going away for a month or so. There are many factors to consider.

Has your dog boarded before? If not, we would definitely recommend a trial run of at least two nights. See how that goes, but remember that he or she might take few times to get used to boarding. The trial run also allows the kennel staff the opportunity to evaluate your pet, and guide you in your decision. Our first priority is the well being of your pet.

Do you feel confident in the kennel staff? We want to allay all of your fears and answer all of your questions ahead of time. We welcome a visit and look forward to sharing our information with you.

Are you going to be able to enjoy yourself on vacation? We welcome phone calls and emails from clients who are away from their babies. We are happy to email photos or updates and have even fielded international calls for our guests. Not much surprises us! In addition to finding out how you can get info about your dog while you are away, find out how the staff handles dogs that might not be boarding as well as expected. We find that, when appropriate, the dog will settle down when paired with a buddy. We will also give the dog extra time and attention, sometimes even letting the dog “hang out” with us during the day.

Overall, most dogs do very well with boarding, even for two weeks or more. If it’s feasible, extra play times or love sessions can be very beneficial. Many dogs do very well in the play yards; however, not every dog wants to play all the time. The walk guarantees exercise and one-on-one time.

Does the kennel have experience with long-term boarding? We’ve had dogs and cats that spend the winter with us while their owners are doing the snowbird thing. We have had dogs and cats who have moved in and set up shop. And then there was Harry, one of our boarders who ended up living out the rest of his years (six) with us.

One final note: there are differing opinions on whether or not pets have a concept of time. We are not here to debate this issue. However, in our experience, they will always let us know when it is time to eat and go out. After a day of doggy day care or after a month of boarding the reception will always be the same when their owners pick them up.

If only they could talk…