...will be at The Good Dog Spot this Saturday, December 15th from 8 am to 3 pm. Get your pet's picture taken with or without a holiday theme!
There is no sitting fee and packages start at $30.
For more information or to view samples of their work, visit http://www.longleashllc.com/.
There are still grooming appointments available if you'd like a clean pet for your pictures - just call for an appointment - (413) 534-1333.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Santa Paws Pictures now online!
Santa Paws at The Good Dog Spot was a huge success!
Pictures are available (at a low resolution) for viewing in our Photo Gallery. The black and white prints as well as the color filter prints were such a nice addition - we decided to postpone ordering until our customers had had a chance to view and choose what they liked best. Just click on the Photo Gallery tab on our home page or use this link to view: http://www.gooddogspot.net/fhimage/index.php?path=./[4]%20Santa%20Paws/. Please call or email the office by Friday, December 7th to indicate your preference for your order. If we do not hear from you, we will use the standard color print.
A very big thank you to everyone who participated! It was a great kick off to our month long collection for the T J O'Connor shelter. There were some nice additions to our "Giving Tree" including dog food, treats, paper towels and bleach. It was also a nice addition to our fund drive to raise money for veterinary care. It's not too late to donate!! We'll be accepting contributions through to December 31st and our wonderful friends at the East Springfield Veterinary Clinic have agreed to match our fund drive which will provide twice the funds for veterinary care for animals in need.
We are so proud and so happy to have such wonderful customers!!
Pictures are available (at a low resolution) for viewing in our Photo Gallery. The black and white prints as well as the color filter prints were such a nice addition - we decided to postpone ordering until our customers had had a chance to view and choose what they liked best. Just click on the Photo Gallery tab on our home page or use this link to view: http://www.gooddogspot.net/fhimage/index.php?path=./[4]%20Santa%20Paws/. Please call or email the office by Friday, December 7th to indicate your preference for your order. If we do not hear from you, we will use the standard color print.
A very big thank you to everyone who participated! It was a great kick off to our month long collection for the T J O'Connor shelter. There were some nice additions to our "Giving Tree" including dog food, treats, paper towels and bleach. It was also a nice addition to our fund drive to raise money for veterinary care. It's not too late to donate!! We'll be accepting contributions through to December 31st and our wonderful friends at the East Springfield Veterinary Clinic have agreed to match our fund drive which will provide twice the funds for veterinary care for animals in need.We are so proud and so happy to have such wonderful customers!!
Friday, November 23, 2007
Pictures with Santa!
Santa Paws is coming to
Saturday, December 1st from 1 - 4 pm
Event Highlights:
- Pet Pictures with Santa!
- Gifts for pets and for pet people!
- Good Dog Spot Gift Certificates for the pet owner who has everything!
- Freshly baked dog treats from Fu Dog Chews!
- Refreshments!
- Plenty of holiday fun for everyone!
For more information, call (413) 534-1333 or email info@gooddogspot.net
We hope to see you there!!
Friday, October 26, 2007
The Good Dog Times
Volume 1, Issue 2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this Issue:
Fall is here (update)
Top 10 Halloween Safety Tips
Ask Your Groomer – Flea & Tick Prevention
Ask Your Groomer – Flea & Tick Prevention
Holiday Shelter Collection
When a Cup is Not a Cup
Pet Profile – Josh McClellan
Santa Paws!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fall is here!
What’s new at The Good Dog Spot…as always, there’s a lot going on here! Our daycare “kids” have been busy making colorful “pawprint-leaf trees” during daycare. They were hung for display throughout the reception area of our shop and then sent home for Moms and Dads.
A big party is planned for the daycare “kids” on Halloween day – Wednesday, October 31st. We’ll be bobbing for hotdogs, telling scary stories during naptime and, of course, a costume contest! All dogs attending daycare are encouraged to bring their Halloween costumes. Our neighbors will be stopping by for some “reverse trick-or-treat” – that is, they’ll visit us and give treats to the dogs. They’ll also be voting for their favorite costume. Don’t have a costume? Don’t worry – we’ve got a few extra, just in case!
“Santa Paws” will be visiting The Good Dog Spot on Saturday, December 1st – this is an event for pets and their people and is open to both daycare and grooming customers as well as the general public. Read through the newsletter for more updates about our holiday festivities.
Holiday Sleepovers are still available for dogs who attend daycare at least twice in the four weeks prior to their overnight stays. This means that they’re not necessarily daycare dogs (they could be grooming or training customers, too) but they have passed the daycare evaluation and they have spent some time with us and our group in order to learn the basic routine. We look forward to sharing the holidays with our “regulars” and ask that if you’re in need of lodging for your pet this holiday season, you act quickly, as space is limited and filling up fast.
A big party is planned for the daycare “kids” on Halloween day – Wednesday, October 31st. We’ll be bobbing for hotdogs, telling scary stories during naptime and, of course, a costume contest! All dogs attending daycare are encouraged to bring their Halloween costumes. Our neighbors will be stopping by for some “reverse trick-or-treat” – that is, they’ll visit us and give treats to the dogs. They’ll also be voting for their favorite costume. Don’t have a costume? Don’t worry – we’ve got a few extra, just in case!
“Santa Paws” will be visiting The Good Dog Spot on Saturday, December 1st – this is an event for pets and their people and is open to both daycare and grooming customers as well as the general public. Read through the newsletter for more updates about our holiday festivities.
Holiday Sleepovers are still available for dogs who attend daycare at least twice in the four weeks prior to their overnight stays. This means that they’re not necessarily daycare dogs (they could be grooming or training customers, too) but they have passed the daycare evaluation and they have spent some time with us and our group in order to learn the basic routine. We look forward to sharing the holidays with our “regulars” and ask that if you’re in need of lodging for your pet this holiday season, you act quickly, as space is limited and filling up fast.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No Scaredy Cats this Halloween: Top 10 Safety Tips for Pet Parents
Attention, companion animal caretakers! The ASPCA would like to call your attention to these common-sense precautions that’ll help keep your pets safe and stress-free this time of year.
1. No tricks, no treats: That bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed. If you suspect your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, yet they can produce gastrointestinal upset should pets ingest them. Intestinal blockage could even occur if large pieces are ingested.
3. Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.
4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise extreme caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.
5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume can cause undue stress.
6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe or bark. Keep a look out for small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces on the costume that your pet could choke on.
7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not obstruct her vision in any way. Even the sweetest animals can get snappy when they can't see.
8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.
9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.
10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and become lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip increase the chances that he or she will be returned to you.
The above information is from www.aspca.org
1. No tricks, no treats: That bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed. If you suspect your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, yet they can produce gastrointestinal upset should pets ingest them. Intestinal blockage could even occur if large pieces are ingested.
3. Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.
4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise extreme caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.
5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume can cause undue stress.
6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe or bark. Keep a look out for small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces on the costume that your pet could choke on.
7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not obstruct her vision in any way. Even the sweetest animals can get snappy when they can't see.
8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.
9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.
10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and become lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip increase the chances that he or she will be returned to you.
The above information is from www.aspca.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Josh continues to impress all our customers with his enormous size and sweet disposition! People asked, “Is that a bear?” or “Is that a pony?” The answer to both is “No, it’s Josh – our gentle giant!” Little dogs love to climb on him when he’s laying down and medium sized dogs try to use him as a stepstool – to see what’s going on outside our window. The bottom line is that all the daycare dogs love Josh – and we do, too!
Josh is a very observant boy – he’ll frequently bark to let us know when something is new or out of place and he seems to know the exact minute his Mom and Dad come to pick him up! Sometimes he doesn’t want to leave at the end of fun day and waits for Lisa to kiss him good-bye.
Josh was our very first daycare dog and he continues to be our biggest daycare dog. He attends daycare several times a week and also enjoys being pampered in our Grooming ‘Spaw’ on a regular basis.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ask Your Groomer
Q. Is Flea and Tick prevention necessary all year?
A. Absolutely! Flea and tick preventative should be used all year. With the abnormally warm weather this fall, there is more wildlife activity and a greater chance of your pet coming in contact with both fleas and ticks while outside. Also, as cooler weather sets in, fleas tend to seek shelter and look for warmer places. The colder weather does inhibit their breeding, but does not stop it.
The best way to avoid a flea infestation is to use year round flea and tick preventative. There are several brands but the most well known are Frontline and Advantage/Advantix. Careful attention must be given to directions and label warnings especially in households with small children or other animals.
If your pet does get fleas, it is important to treat your home as well as the animal so the infestation does not reoccur. Think about it – if you put your clean, flea-free pet back into a flea infested area – what’s to stop the fleas from hopping right back on? Frequent vacuuming and keeping your pets’ bedding clean can help but the best way to rid your house of fleas is with flea bombs. We recommend bombing your house while your pet is with us, receiving his/her flea bath. You may also want to consider using an outdoor spray to kill fleas and other insects in your yard.
If you have other questions regarding flea and tick prevention, please feel free to call me at 534-1333 and I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.
~Lisa A Peloquin
A. Absolutely! Flea and tick preventative should be used all year. With the abnormally warm weather this fall, there is more wildlife activity and a greater chance of your pet coming in contact with both fleas and ticks while outside. Also, as cooler weather sets in, fleas tend to seek shelter and look for warmer places. The colder weather does inhibit their breeding, but does not stop it.
The best way to avoid a flea infestation is to use year round flea and tick preventative. There are several brands but the most well known are Frontline and Advantage/Advantix. Careful attention must be given to directions and label warnings especially in households with small children or other animals.
If your pet does get fleas, it is important to treat your home as well as the animal so the infestation does not reoccur. Think about it – if you put your clean, flea-free pet back into a flea infested area – what’s to stop the fleas from hopping right back on? Frequent vacuuming and keeping your pets’ bedding clean can help but the best way to rid your house of fleas is with flea bombs. We recommend bombing your house while your pet is with us, receiving his/her flea bath. You may also want to consider using an outdoor spray to kill fleas and other insects in your yard.
If you have other questions regarding flea and tick prevention, please feel free to call me at 534-1333 and I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.
~Lisa A Peloquin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Holiday Shelter Drive
This holiday season, The Good Dog Spot would like to do something to help the dogs and cats less fortunate than ours.
You can help by adding a dollar (or more) to your grooming or daycare bill each time you visit The Good Dog Spot from November 19th through December 24th!
Our hope is to find a local veterinarian willing to match the amount of money we raise and donate much needed veterinary care to the local shelters.
We will have a Holiday Giving Tree in our reception area, where customers can select an item that they wish to donate (such as dog food, cat food, cleaning supplies and gift cards to Walmart, Target, Staples, etc). We will accept these items until December 24th – at which time we will pack up the items and bring them to the shelters – just in time for Santa Paws to spread some holiday cheer to our friends in need!
We will have a Holiday Giving Tree in our reception area, where customers can select an item that they wish to donate (such as dog food, cat food, cleaning supplies and gift cards to Walmart, Target, Staples, etc). We will accept these items until December 24th – at which time we will pack up the items and bring them to the shelters – just in time for Santa Paws to spread some holiday cheer to our friends in need!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When A Cup is Not A Cup
Many pet owners try to be careful about how much they feed their pet. They attempt to follow the feeding suggestion on the pet food bag or what has been recommended by their veterinarian. Unfortunately, when measuring the food, the proper measuring device is not always used. A standard measuring cup actually contains 8 ounces. Take the time now to check how much your pet food "cup" really holds.
Above information from www.peteducation.com
Above information from www.peteducation.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pet Profile - Josh McClellan
Breed: Newfoundland
Age: 1 year
Veterinarian: South Hadley Veterinary Clinic
Favorite Activity: Playing in the pool!
~Owned & Loved by Diane & Bill McClellan~
Age: 1 year
Veterinarian: South Hadley Veterinary Clinic
Favorite Activity: Playing in the pool!
~Owned & Loved by Diane & Bill McClellan~
Josh continues to impress all our customers with his enormous size and sweet disposition! People asked, “Is that a bear?” or “Is that a pony?” The answer to both is “No, it’s Josh – our gentle giant!” Little dogs love to climb on him when he’s laying down and medium sized dogs try to use him as a stepstool – to see what’s going on outside our window. The bottom line is that all the daycare dogs love Josh – and we do, too!
Josh is a very observant boy – he’ll frequently bark to let us know when something is new or out of place and he seems to know the exact minute his Mom and Dad come to pick him up! Sometimes he doesn’t want to leave at the end of fun day and waits for Lisa to kiss him good-bye.
Josh was our very first daycare dog and he continues to be our biggest daycare dog. He attends daycare several times a week and also enjoys being pampered in our Grooming ‘Spaw’ on a regular basis.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did You Know…
Everyone at The Good Dog Spot has gone through or is going through the ABKA Educational Program? There are 3 levels: Certified Pet Care Technician, Advanced Certified Pet Care Technician and Certified Kennel Operator (CKO). Elizabeth Powers is currently the only CKO in Western Mass and Lisa Peloquin is on her way to becoming the 2nd CKO in the Western Mass area.
Learn more at http://www.abka.com/
Everyone at The Good Dog Spot has gone through or is going through the ABKA Educational Program? There are 3 levels: Certified Pet Care Technician, Advanced Certified Pet Care Technician and Certified Kennel Operator (CKO). Elizabeth Powers is currently the only CKO in Western Mass and Lisa Peloquin is on her way to becoming the 2nd CKO in the Western Mass area.
Learn more at http://www.abka.com/
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Pet 1st Aid & CPR Class
Saturday, Nov. 3rd: We feel it is important for pet owners and pet care providers to be prepared to provide proper care for their pets in an emergency and we invite you to become certified in Pet First Aid & CPR and to learn how to prepare for your pet in a time of crisis. Taught by the American Red Cross and hosted by the Good Dog Spot, Inc. All attendees receive certificate of completion and Pet 1st Aid book. Class is from 9 am - 1 pm and refreshments will be served. For more information or to register, contact The Good Dog Spot at (413) 534-1333.
Picture is from the CPR & 1st Aid Class held on June 9, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
Tricks & Games Workshop - Oct. 27th
Have some fun with your dog! A variety of tricks will be covered including roll over, play dead and put your toys away are among the possibilities. Dogs do not need to have any formal training experience, however all dogs must be good with other dogs.
Join this exciting, fun-filled class – you & your dog will love it!
To register or to receive more information, please call 413-534-1333 or visit
About the Instructor: Shannon Fitzgerald has more than 25 years of experience in training and educating dogs and their humans. Her goal and mission is to share her extensive knowledge of canine behavior, obedience training, trick training, therapy dog training, show training, and behavior modification in order to build strong canine and human partnerships built on trust, love, and respect – relationships that last a lifetime. Shannon established Leading the Way dog training in 1992 to share her passion for dogs and to achieve the mission outlined above. As a proud parent of two wonderful children, Shannon feels strongly that dogs should live in harmony with the entire family.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Dog Training Workshop on Sept. 29
Come - The first time! Workshop at The Good Dog Spot in Chicopee MA.
Saturday September 29th from 11 am to 2 pm
$75 per person
The single toughest, most critical, most asked about and most paid for command in the dog training world. Learn the techniquest to teach your dog to come when you call - EVERY TIME! Also beneficial for owners whose dogs come but are having trouble around distractions and want some coaching.
To register or to receive more information, please call 413-534-1333 or visit www.gooddogspot.net
About the instructor: Shannon Fitzgerald has more than 25 years of experience in training and educating dogs and their humans. Her goal and mission is to share her extensive knowledge of canine behavior, obedience training, trick training, therapy dog training, show training, and behavior modification in order to build strong canine and human partnerships built on trust, love, and respect – relationships that last a lifetime. Shannon established Leading the Way dog training in 1992 to share her passion for dogs and to achieve the mission outlined above. As a proud parent of two wonderful children, Shannon feels strongly that dogs should live in harmony with the entire family.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Attention School Teachers!!
You're Back to School.....but where's your dog??
The Good Dog Spot, located on Old James Street at the Chicopee/South Hadley line, welcomes the opportunity to provide top quality care and education for your “canine kids” while you’re busy taking care of the area’s “human kids”! We'd be happy to arrange pick up and drop off services right at your school!
Offering services such as Dog Daycare, Pet Grooming, Obedience Training and Transportation Services via The Pet Taxi, The Good Dog Spot truly is the place to be for good dogs in Western Massachusetts! Our staff are all certified in Pet 1st Aid and CPR through the American Red Cross and are also Certified Pet Care Technicians through ABKA, the national trade association for the Pet Care industry.
Did you know that Dog Daycare helps reinforce appropriate interactions with humans and other dogs? It also can help in dealing with dog who are shy or suffer from separation anxiety. Daycare benefits owners by offering a solution to help exercise dogs, strengthen commands in an off leash setting and help curb destructive chewing due to boredom and loneliness.
For the month of September, we will be offering FREE daycare evaluations to all teachers and school staff. If you would like copies of the flyer pictured above to pass out at your school or if there is some way we can assist you, please contact us at (413) 534-1333. Also, feel free to visit our website at www.gooddogspot.net and remember, It’s always a great day at The Good Dog Spot!
Did you know that Dog Daycare helps reinforce appropriate interactions with humans and other dogs? It also can help in dealing with dog who are shy or suffer from separation anxiety. Daycare benefits owners by offering a solution to help exercise dogs, strengthen commands in an off leash setting and help curb destructive chewing due to boredom and loneliness.
For the month of September, we will be offering FREE daycare evaluations to all teachers and school staff. If you would like copies of the flyer pictured above to pass out at your school or if there is some way we can assist you, please contact us at (413) 534-1333. Also, feel free to visit our website at www.gooddogspot.net and remember, It’s always a great day at The Good Dog Spot!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The Pet Taxi Has Arrived!
Strapped for time?
The Good Dog Spot can pick up and deliver your pet! Our Pet Taxi is equipped with Pet Seatbelts as well as crates and can accommodate up to four canine guests at one time. You can utilize the Pet Taxi for transportation to and/or from any of the following:
The Good Dog Spot can pick up and deliver your pet! Our Pet Taxi is equipped with Pet Seatbelts as well as crates and can accommodate up to four canine guests at one time. You can utilize the Pet Taxi for transportation to and/or from any of the following:
- Grooming Appointments
- Daycare (weekly rates available)
- Overnight Stays
- Veterinarian Appointments (wait time add’l)
- Or anywhere your pet needs to go!
The cost is $18.00 roundtrip within a 10 mile radius of The Good Dog Spot. Do you live further away? We’d be happy to give you a personalized transportation quote. Call us at (413) 534-1333.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
The Good Dog Times
Volume 1, Issue 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome to the first edition of The Good Dog Times – the official newsletter of Chicopee’s premier Dog Daycare & Pet Grooming “Spaw”.
The Good Dog Spot, Inc. opened its doors officially in January of 2007 – and boy does time fly! With a steady group of repeat customers and a continuous flow of new ones, we’ve had a very successful 7 months and are looking forward to many, many years of caring for all the good dogs (and cats) in Western Massachusetts!
The Good Dog Times will be a quarterly newsletter, containing pet related articles, a Pet Profile of one of our customers as well as info on upcoming pet-related events, updates on our business and the services we provide and coupons for goods & services offered at The Good Dog Spot.
We will be featuring an “Ask Your Groomer” column that will feature questions from our customers. If you have a grooming related question, please mail it to:
The Good Dog Spot
40 Old James Street
Chicopee MA 01020
Or email it to:
Info@gooddogspot.net
So, without further adieu, enjoy your first issue of The Good Dog Times and remember...
Pet Profile
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome to the first edition of The Good Dog Times – the official newsletter of Chicopee’s premier Dog Daycare & Pet Grooming “Spaw”.
The Good Dog Spot, Inc. opened its doors officially in January of 2007 – and boy does time fly! With a steady group of repeat customers and a continuous flow of new ones, we’ve had a very successful 7 months and are looking forward to many, many years of caring for all the good dogs (and cats) in Western Massachusetts!
The Good Dog Times will be a quarterly newsletter, containing pet related articles, a Pet Profile of one of our customers as well as info on upcoming pet-related events, updates on our business and the services we provide and coupons for goods & services offered at The Good Dog Spot.
We will be featuring an “Ask Your Groomer” column that will feature questions from our customers. If you have a grooming related question, please mail it to:
The Good Dog Spot
40 Old James Street
Chicopee MA 01020
Or email it to:
Info@gooddogspot.net
So, without further adieu, enjoy your first issue of The Good Dog Times and remember...
It's Alway
s a Great Day at
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inside This Issue
Welcome!
Your Bags Are Packed…
Ask Your Groomer – Pets can get sunburned, too
The Pet Taxi is Here!
Pet Profile – Taz Fleury
Wellness Pet Foods
Welcome!
Your Bags Are Packed…
Ask Your Groomer – Pets can get sunburned, too
The Pet Taxi is Here!
Pet Profile – Taz Fleury
Wellness Pet Foods
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your Bags Are Packed....But What About His?
Summer is here and with it comes vacation season. Finding a good place for your pet to stay while you’re out of town can be a daunting task. Is it clean? Is it secure? Is the staff knowledgeable? Friendly?
Put your worries aside because Overnight Stays have arrived at The Good Dog Spot!
Starting in August, you will now have the option of leaving your dog at The Good Dog Spot while you’re away on vacation. This is not your ordinary kennel – in fact, there are no kennel runs here! Each overnight guest will play during the day with the other daycare dogs and have his or her own private Dog Den to rest in during nap time and to sleep in at night. In order for your pet to stay over, he or she will have to have passed the Daycare Evaluation and attend daycare at least twice during the four weeks prior to his or her stay. This is to ensure that your pet will play well with the other dogs and will remain familiar with the daily routine as well as the staff who care for them while in daycare.
The Good Dog Spot is owned and operated by Elizabeth Powers and Lisa Peloquin. Both women have years of experience in the pet care industry and are certified in Pet First Aid and CPR through the American Red Cross. Elizabeth is currently the only ABKA Certified Kennel Operator (CKO) in Western Massachusetts and providing peace of mind for the parents of overnight guests is her passion! Lisa’s expertise lies in the grooming and dog behavior areas. Daycare “kids” love her – in fact, sometimes they won’t leave until she has given them one last hug and good bye pat! Lisa is an experienced groomer, an ABKA Advanced Certified Pet Care Technician and is currently studying to join her business partner as the second CKO in Western Mass.
Your dog’s going to love sleeping over at The Good Dog Spot and you will love the peace of mind that comes with knowing that he or she is in loving, capable hands. For more information, call us at (413) 534-1333. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Put your worries aside because Overnight Stays have arrived at The Good Dog Spot!
Starting in August, you will now have the option of leaving your dog at The Good Dog Spot while you’re away on vacation. This is not your ordinary kennel – in fact, there are no kennel runs here! Each overnight guest will play during the day with the other daycare dogs and have his or her own private Dog Den to rest in during nap time and to sleep in at night. In order for your pet to stay over, he or she will have to have passed the Daycare Evaluation and attend daycare at least twice during the four weeks prior to his or her stay. This is to ensure that your pet will play well with the other dogs and will remain familiar with the daily routine as well as the staff who care for them while in daycare.
The Good Dog Spot is owned and operated by Elizabeth Powers and Lisa Peloquin. Both women have years of experience in the pet care industry and are certified in Pet First Aid and CPR through the American Red Cross. Elizabeth is currently the only ABKA Certified Kennel Operator (CKO) in Western Massachusetts and providing peace of mind for the parents of overnight guests is her passion! Lisa’s expertise lies in the grooming and dog behavior areas. Daycare “kids” love her – in fact, sometimes they won’t leave until she has given them one last hug and good bye pat! Lisa is an experienced groomer, an ABKA Advanced Certified Pet Care Technician and is currently studying to join her business partner as the second CKO in Western Mass.
Your dog’s going to love sleeping over at The Good Dog Spot and you will love the peace of mind that comes with knowing that he or she is in loving, capable hands. For more information, call us at (413) 534-1333. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ask Your Groomer
Q. Can my pet get sunburned?
A. Yes, dogs and cats can get sunburned.
Dogs who have no pigment on their nose can develop 'nasal solar dermatitis’, a condition caused by a hypersensitivity to the sun. Pets (especially cats) with white ears are prone to develop sunburn on the tips and edges of the ears.
Pets with very short or thin hair can also develop sunburn where the skin is exposed. So whether your pet has naturally short hair or you’ve chosen to have him or her sport a nice “summer cut” to keep cool, it is wise to keep him or her out of direct summer sun, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is at its strongest.
Sunscreens (SPF should be 15 or greater), containing titanium dioxide as the active ingredient should be used to prevent sunburn.
As with humans, animals with skin that has been sunburned are more likely to develop skin cancer, so protection from sunburn is extremely important.
The Good Dog Spot recognizes the importance of proper skin care for pets and now carries a line of sunscreen developed specifically for pets. It comes in a convenient spray bottle for easy and even coverage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A. Yes, dogs and cats can get sunburned.
Dogs who have no pigment on their nose can develop 'nasal solar dermatitis’, a condition caused by a hypersensitivity to the sun. Pets (especially cats) with white ears are prone to develop sunburn on the tips and edges of the ears.
Pets with very short or thin hair can also develop sunburn where the skin is exposed. So whether your pet has naturally short hair or you’ve chosen to have him or her sport a nice “summer cut” to keep cool, it is wise to keep him or her out of direct summer sun, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is at its strongest.
Sunscreens (SPF should be 15 or greater), containing titanium dioxide as the active ingredient should be used to prevent sunburn.
As with humans, animals with skin that has been sunburned are more likely to develop skin cancer, so protection from sunburn is extremely important.
The Good Dog Spot recognizes the importance of proper skin care for pets and now carries a line of sunscreen developed specifically for pets. It comes in a convenient spray bottle for easy and even coverage.
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Strapped for time?
The Good Dog Spot can pick up and deliver your pet! Our Pet Taxi is equipped with Pet Seatbelts as well as crates and can accommodate up to four canine guests at one time. You can utilize the Pet Taxi for transportation to and/or from any of the following:
Grooming Appointments
Daycare (weekly rates available)
Overnight Stays
Veterinarian Appointments (wait time add’l)
Or anywhere your pet needs to go!
The cost is $18.00 roundtrip within a 15 mile radius of The Good Dog Spot. Do you live further away? We’d be happy to give you a personalized transportation quote. Call us at (413) 534-1333.
Grooming Appointments
Daycare (weekly rates available)
Overnight Stays
Veterinarian Appointments (wait time add’l)
Or anywhere your pet needs to go!
The cost is $18.00 roundtrip within a 15 mile radius of The Good Dog Spot. Do you live further away? We’d be happy to give you a personalized transportation quote. Call us at (413) 534-1333.
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Daycare Referral Program
Pet Parents are encouraged to tell a friend!
If your referral attends four days, your pet gets a free day at The Good Dog Spot! There is no limit to the amount of referrals you can make, just make sure that when your referral enrolls their pet in daycare, they indicate that you referred them to The Good Dog Spot.
Free referral days are not transferable.
If your referral attends four days, your pet gets a free day at The Good Dog Spot! There is no limit to the amount of referrals you can make, just make sure that when your referral enrolls their pet in daycare, they indicate that you referred them to The Good Dog Spot.
Free referral days are not transferable.
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Pet Profile
Taz Fleury
Breed: Silky Terrier
Age: 8 months
Veterinarian: East Springfield Veterinary Clinic
Favorite Activity: Flirting with the big dogs
~Owned & Loved by Kathy & Don Fleury~
Taz may only be half the size of most of the daycare dogs, but shhhh – don’t tell her! Taz thinks she’s just as big as they are – and that she calls the shots! Taz loves to play tag and tug with her friends and, as you can see from the picture above, she loves swimming in our pool, too! And yes, that is a bikini she’s wearing! Though she’s primarily sweet, affectionate and well behaved, don’t let her fool you. She has earned her name – Taz (after the Tazmanian Devil)!
Taz attends daycare twice a week and her parents utilize the Pet Taxi Services to get her to and from The Good Dog Spot.
Breed: Silky Terrier
Age: 8 months
Veterinarian: East Springfield Veterinary Clinic
Favorite Activity: Flirting with the big dogs
~Owned & Loved by Kathy & Don Fleury~
Taz may only be half the size of most of the daycare dogs, but shhhh – don’t tell her! Taz thinks she’s just as big as they are – and that she calls the shots! Taz loves to play tag and tug with her friends and, as you can see from the picture above, she loves swimming in our pool, too! And yes, that is a bikini she’s wearing! Though she’s primarily sweet, affectionate and well behaved, don’t let her fool you. She has earned her name – Taz (after the Tazmanian Devil)!
Taz attends daycare twice a week and her parents utilize the Pet Taxi Services to get her to and from The Good Dog Spot.
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Wellness Brand Pet Foods Arrive at The Good Dog Spot!
The massive pet food recall recently prompted much research and consideration into addressing the issue of selecting a healthy, natural, high-quality pet food. After exploring several options, The Good Dog Spot has decided to carry Wellness Brand Pet Foods. The Wellness Lamb formula will constitute the “house diet” for Overnight Guests. Several varieties of dry and canned foods as well as treats are available for purchase. Wellness Brand Pet Foods were among the few foods not affected by the recall.
Below is information from the Wellness website (www.omhpet.com) about their products and philosophies. Read on. If you have any questions or would like a free sample, please stop by the shop! There is also a $10.00 rebate available when you purchase of a 10+ lb. bag of dry food before July 31st.
The Wellness Way
At Wellness®, we believe that a thoughtful approach to nutrition is the foundation of wellbeing. Every ingredient in our Wellness natural food recipes is carefully chosen for its nutritional benefits providing just what your faithful friend needs for a happier, healthier, longer life. That's why all Wellness dog food formulas are free from meat by-products, animal fats, potential allergens like corn, soy and wheat as well as artificial colors, flavorings or preservatives.
We've made it our mission for almost a decade to offer natural, healthful, great-tasting alternatives in pet nutrition. Over the years, we have helped thousands of pets and people discover the difference choosing Wellness can make. And that's something we're proud of because we're not just nutritionists- we are pet owners and pet lovers too.
Our Ingredient Philosophy
If you read our ingredients they probably sound familiar. That's because they are the same quality you would feed to your own family. Why should pets be an exception? Each ingredient in our recipes is thoughtfully chosen for its nutritional benefits, providing just what pets need for a happier, healthier, longer life.
WHAT GOES IN
Highly Digestible, Beneficial, Human-Grade Ingredients
Quality Protein Sources for Strong Muscles
Wholesome Grains for Healthy Fiber and Energy
Full Rainbow of Fruits & Vegetables for Antioxidant Protection
Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids for Skin & Coat Health
Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Joint Health
Taurine for Heart Health
WHAT STAYS OUT
Inferior Quality, Nutritionless or Potentially Allergenic Ingredients
No Meat By-Products
No Rendered Animal Fats
No White Rice
No Corn
No Dairy or Egg
No Soy
No Artificial Preservatives
No Wheat
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Did You Know....
As members of ABKA – the national trade association for the pet care industry – The Good Dog Spot adheres to a strict Code of Ethics and Pet Owners’ Bill of Rights.
Learrn more at http://www.abka.com/
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Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Reiki Classes for Pet Owners!
This 4 week series of Reiki Classes will include hands on people and pets. The instructor will also be offering to attune both pets and people. A copy of Reiki A Torch in Daylight, by Karyn Mitchell will be given to each participant. This book includes information on first attunement, history, knowledge and hand positions to treat oneself and others.
Classes will be held on Monday evenings at The Good Dog Spot from 6 pm – 8 pm, starting August 20th.
For more information or to register, please call 413-534-1333 or email info@gooddogspot.net
What is Reiki?
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not.
What happens in a treatment?
A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and well being. Many have reported miraculous results.
How does one learn Reiki?
An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an "attunement" given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve one's health and enhance the quality of life.
Classes will be held on Monday evenings at The Good Dog Spot from 6 pm – 8 pm, starting August 20th.
For more information or to register, please call 413-534-1333 or email info@gooddogspot.net
What is Reiki?
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not.
What happens in a treatment?
A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and well being. Many have reported miraculous results.
How does one learn Reiki?
An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an "attunement" given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve one's health and enhance the quality of life.
About the Instructor
Diane Tellier is a Reiki-Master/Teacher in both Usui and Karuna Reiki. She has been teaching Reiki both privately and at Holyoke Community College for 10 years. Diane is also a therapist in Massage, Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, CranialSacral Therapy, I.E.T., Hypnosis, and Past Life Regression.
The cost for this series of classes is $165.00.
Diane Tellier is a Reiki-Master/Teacher in both Usui and Karuna Reiki. She has been teaching Reiki both privately and at Holyoke Community College for 10 years. Diane is also a therapist in Massage, Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, CranialSacral Therapy, I.E.T., Hypnosis, and Past Life Regression.
The cost for this series of classes is $165.00.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Pet 1st Aid & CPR Class to be held in June
Saturday, June 9:
Elizabeth Powers and Lisa Peloquin, owners of The Good Dog Spot, Inc. feel it is important for pet owners and pet care providers to be prepared to provide proper care for their pets in an emergency. We invite you to become certified in Pet First Aid & CPR and to learn how to prepare for your pet in a time of crisis. Taught by the American Red Cross and hosted by the Good Dog Spot, Inc.
All attendees receive certificate of completion and Pet 1st Aid book. For more information, contact The Good Dog Spot at (413) 534-1333.
Elizabeth Powers and Lisa Peloquin, owners of The Good Dog Spot, Inc. feel it is important for pet owners and pet care providers to be prepared to provide proper care for their pets in an emergency. We invite you to become certified in Pet First Aid & CPR and to learn how to prepare for your pet in a time of crisis. Taught by the American Red Cross and hosted by the Good Dog Spot, Inc.
All attendees receive certificate of completion and Pet 1st Aid book. For more information, contact The Good Dog Spot at (413) 534-1333.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
"Trick Training" by Sarah Olmstead
Trick training is one of the most fun things dog and owner to do together once the dog understands basic obedience and will yield from pressure. My dog Charley knows twenty or so tricks and he LOVES them! Before I got Charley, I had no idea about how to teach tricks. There are lots of trick training books out there, but none of them told me the most important part: how to START. I've found three basic types of trick training: cueing, isolating and leading.
Cueing is used when your dog does something often and you want to put a name to the trick. Charley, for example, loved to roll on his back. I wanted to add a command "bang" to it to make him play dead. This is a perfect time to use cueing. Cueing is the easiest type of training in my opinion. All you need to do is get a clicker and some cookies and go sit on your couch! Then every time your dog does the behaviour, you click and give him a treat. Pretty soon, when he sees you with the clicker and cookies, he'll do the trick. That's when you can add a name to it. And, presto, you've got a trick-doing dog!
The next type of training is called Isolating. This is when your dog does a behaviour naturallly but not often enough to cue. For example, Charley (and most dogs) will occasionally "bow" as a stretch, to lay down or to play. When you isolate, you need to know what causes the behaviour (cause and effect) and then you need to find a way to create that behaviour. For me, I asked Charley to lay down backwards - that is, instead of sitting to lay down, I had him bow. I could also have gotten him in a play mode. Timing is key when Isolating - this is where a clicker is vital - because dogs can change their behaviour very quickly and you need to let them know exactly when they've done right. This can be one of the most frustrating types of training, but if you stick it out, it is well worth it!
The final type of trick training is called leading. You would use leading if your dog does not do the behaviour naturally at all. While cueing and isolating create the trick in full, leading breaks the trick into very small, easy steps. To lead a trick, you must combine behaviours. For example, when I taught Charley to do the "army crawl", I combined "lay down" and "come". He had to "come" while still "lying down". This type of training is done in baby steps; first he must move an inch, then a foot, then a yard. Today, he can crawl up to twenty feet across a room. Leading is also done more up-close, which means that the clicker is not usually as important as the treats.
It still takes some practice, but knowing how to teach the trick is the most important part of trick training. Remember that all dogs are individuals and that what is "normal" for one dog is "unnatural" for another. And the most important part of trick training is to HAVE FUN!
Enjoying dogs,
Sarah
Cueing is used when your dog does something often and you want to put a name to the trick. Charley, for example, loved to roll on his back. I wanted to add a command "bang" to it to make him play dead. This is a perfect time to use cueing. Cueing is the easiest type of training in my opinion. All you need to do is get a clicker and some cookies and go sit on your couch! Then every time your dog does the behaviour, you click and give him a treat. Pretty soon, when he sees you with the clicker and cookies, he'll do the trick. That's when you can add a name to it. And, presto, you've got a trick-doing dog!
The next type of training is called Isolating. This is when your dog does a behaviour naturallly but not often enough to cue. For example, Charley (and most dogs) will occasionally "bow" as a stretch, to lay down or to play. When you isolate, you need to know what causes the behaviour (cause and effect) and then you need to find a way to create that behaviour. For me, I asked Charley to lay down backwards - that is, instead of sitting to lay down, I had him bow. I could also have gotten him in a play mode. Timing is key when Isolating - this is where a clicker is vital - because dogs can change their behaviour very quickly and you need to let them know exactly when they've done right. This can be one of the most frustrating types of training, but if you stick it out, it is well worth it!
The final type of trick training is called leading. You would use leading if your dog does not do the behaviour naturally at all. While cueing and isolating create the trick in full, leading breaks the trick into very small, easy steps. To lead a trick, you must combine behaviours. For example, when I taught Charley to do the "army crawl", I combined "lay down" and "come". He had to "come" while still "lying down". This type of training is done in baby steps; first he must move an inch, then a foot, then a yard. Today, he can crawl up to twenty feet across a room. Leading is also done more up-close, which means that the clicker is not usually as important as the treats.
It still takes some practice, but knowing how to teach the trick is the most important part of trick training. Remember that all dogs are individuals and that what is "normal" for one dog is "unnatural" for another. And the most important part of trick training is to HAVE FUN!
Enjoying dogs,
Sarah
Sarah heads up the training aspect of The Good Dog Spot. Her knowledge and expertise of dogs and their behaviours are a valuable asset to both training classes and daycare evaluations.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Opening Day Follies
Baseball has gone to the dogs!
Opening Day Follies at Chicopee’s Premier Dog Daycare & Pet “Spaw”
While Red Sox fans across Western Massachusetts watched or listened as the Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 14 to 3 at the season’s home opener, good dogs from the area were having their own kind of baseball fun at The Good Dog Spot, Inc., located at 40 Old James Street in Chicopee.
Daycare dogs at The Good Dog Spot, Inc. participated in baseball games, ate hot dogs and listened to the game during their nap/rest time. Each dog was given a souvenir Red Sox bandana and mini Red Sox helmet filled with Gourmet Herbal Dog Biscuits by Deb Rusenko (in the shape of baseballs) to take home with them. When asked about the day’s festivities, co-owners Elizabeth Powers and Lisa Peloquin just smile. “We love what we do!” says Peloquin, “and we love happy dogs. We wanted to do something fun and stimulating with the dogs and being New England natives, celebrating the Red Sox Home Opener was a no brainer! Our baseball games help reinforce basic commands such as ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ at the base and ‘come’ to the next base”
Powers states that the Opening Day Celebration is just one of many planned events for the dogs in their daycare. “We recently held an Easter Bone Hunt where our daycare attendees were allowed to search for hidden homemade Easter Bones. So many people think of their dogs as their children; our goal is operate as much like a child daycare as possible and this is just one way that we’re making that happen.”Opening Day Follies at Chicopee’s Premier Dog Daycare & Pet “Spaw”
While Red Sox fans across Western Massachusetts watched or listened as the Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 14 to 3 at the season’s home opener, good dogs from the area were having their own kind of baseball fun at The Good Dog Spot, Inc., located at 40 Old James Street in Chicopee.
Daycare dogs at The Good Dog Spot, Inc. participated in baseball games, ate hot dogs and listened to the game during their nap/rest time. Each dog was given a souvenir Red Sox bandana and mini Red Sox helmet filled with Gourmet Herbal Dog Biscuits by Deb Rusenko (in the shape of baseballs) to take home with them. When asked about the day’s festivities, co-owners Elizabeth Powers and Lisa Peloquin just smile. “We love what we do!” says Peloquin, “and we love happy dogs. We wanted to do something fun and stimulating with the dogs and being New England natives, celebrating the Red Sox Home Opener was a no brainer! Our baseball games help reinforce basic commands such as ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ at the base and ‘come’ to the next base”
Offering dog daycare, professional pet grooming at the “Pet Spaw” as well as training and socialization classes, The Good Dog Spot, Inc. is proving to be the spot to be for good dogs in the Pioneer Valley. The daycare facility consists of two indoor play areas and an outdoor play area, in order to help segregate the dogs according to size and play style. The “Pet Spaw” is outfitted with state-of-the-art grooming equipment including a HydroSurge bathing unit that provides a therapeutic massaging action during the bathing process. Grooming services are available for both dogs and cats and can be scheduled on their own or in conjunction with a daycare session.
Lisa Peloquin is an experienced pet groomer and an Advanced Certified Pet Care Technician (ACPCT). She is currently studying to become a certified pet dog trainer (CPDT). Elizabeth Powers is currently the only Certified Kennel Operator (CKO) in Western Massachusetts and also holds the role of Region 1 Director for ABKA, the national trade association for the pet care industry, of which the facility is a member. Both women are certified in Pet First Aid & CPR through the American Red Cross.
For more information on any of the services provided by The Good Dog Spot, Inc. or about the new line of Gourmet Herbal Dog Biscuits by Deb Rusenko, please call (413) 534-1333 or visit the website at www.gooddogspot.net
Friday, April 13, 2007
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Open House
Come meet the staff and tour the facilities February 17, from 1 - 4 pm....enter to win FREE grooming for your pet for an entire year!
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