Sierra is a joy to have as a member of our daycare regulars. She is calm and even tempered and serves as an excellent dog to introduce the new guys to. She fits right in with the gang and enjoys hanging out with her special friends Cosmo and Riley. She loves getting spunky with the younger females and has her favorite hangout spot on the ramp of our Puppy Playground equipment when she just wants to chill out and sunbathe.

Sierra loves to go for rides and whenever possible her family takes her with them. If someone says to her “You want to go for a ride?”, her ears perk up and she runs to the front door sitting and waiting. RaeAnn tells us that she thinks that Sierra knows exactly what days are daycare days since on these days she will sit in front of the door and not let you anyone out without her. When Sierra had a hot spot this past summer that was taking a long time to heal, rendering her unable to go to The Crate Escape for her daycare days, RaeAnn had a terrible time trying to get out of the house without her. She had to play the game in which she ran between front and back doors to just try to get out without Sierra. After so many weeks of that Sierra was getting more and more persistent and finally her Mom called us to see if it was at all possible to have her come anyways with her E-collar on, which was not a problem, and we all enjoyed Sierra’s company behind the desk with us.

She is crazy about her pool at home and will submerge until her entire head and body are under, then bob up to see what’s happening. She spends a lot of her summertime daycare days playing in the pool with her pals.

Sierra gets along well with everyone and all other animals..although she has a habit of chasing and trying to catch birds–but they are a bit too quick for her.

She enjoys catching Frisbees but doesn’t bring them back freely..she prefers to catch and chew. She has a full toy box with many treasured stuffed “babies” that she freely drags around the house or into the car whenever possible. She will pull the stuffing out of a “baby” as soon as she gets it but then will drag it around until it gets so yucky that her mom throws it away.

“Helping” with the laundry is a favorite past-time and she often runs off with socks and washcloths! Hysterically, she loves cold hard cash..preferably the bigger bills. This is a big joke in her family. There have been a couple of times now that she has sniffed out gifts under the tree or envelopes on their holiday tree that contain cash and then they had to make a mad dash to get them from her. She is very good at keep away. She also helped herself to a couple of twenty dollar bills when her Mom was putting together a fundraiser. RaeAnn had the forms and money on the table and she walked away for a moment. Then low and behold Sierra was nonchalantly lying on the floor in the midst of shredded twenties.

She and Connor are inseparable. If he is home she goes room to room with him, sleeps with him and she often serves as his headrest while they watch TV together. It’s truly a pleasure for RaeAnn to witness these precious moments.

Sierra is a sweet and loving girl but when her cousins (a bernese, a king charles spaniel and a lab–all boys) give her any grief she just gives them a good growl to let them know she has had enough and that’s all it takes!

Riley aka ” the Ri-guy” is a lovable guy at daycare. He gets along great with all the other dogs.  He’s always happy and he never seems to have a bad day.  He enjoys hanging out with his old time buddies, such as Sierra, Buddy, and Cosmo.  He likes playing in the snow in the winter and playing in the pools in the summer. Riley is one of the leaders of The Crate Escape’s A Cappella group and he loves to get everyone around him to join in the singing.

Riley loves the attention he gets from the staff and he is so very savvy about getting the focus turned to him when he feels that he is not in the spotlight. Although Riley has mellowed out in his older years, he was quite the pip as a pup.  He definitely had a knack for getting into things that he wasn’t supposed to get into and eating anything disgusting that he could find.  He was a master thief of squirt bottles, paperwork, gloves, etc. To this day, he’ll still find something inappropriate to steal, he’ll start playing with a rock or a piece of ice, or he will nibble on staff member’s clothing.  He still makes it a point to be noticed albeit in a more subtle manner than he did as a pup.

When Riley’s Mom was undergoing cancer treatment, Riley always wanted to be close to her and he gave her the much needed motivation every day to get outside. Once during this time, Suzanne and Riley went into the woods and Suzanne ran out of steam.  A walk that should have taken 45 minutes ended up being at least twice as long because Suzanne had to keep stopping to rest.  Riley never left her side and was so patient.  Suzanne was not worried because she knew that Riley was there for her.  She is thankful that Riley is neither aggressive nor submissive but she is certain that he would protect her with all he is worth if she were ever in danger.  He’s the best!

Although Riley clearly loves just being in the world, and he is an amazingly happy guy, he really does live for the water.  If he could be in it 24/7 he would. When his Mom takes him swimming, he does not need her to throw sticks into the water.  He just takes himself for a swim and comes out when he is good and ready.

Moby is a character.  He was highly anxious and has been a bit of a pill since day one.  He could be described as a grumpy old man even when he was just a puppy.

He was a ball of nerves when he first started coming to The Crate Escape, Too but we worked with him patiently and low and behold he is a very different dog with us today.  In the past, we had to be sure to warn all new staff that Moby could be a fear biter and that they should be very careful and patient when trying to move or interact with him but today he’s a truly happy and trusting dog with us and readily accepts all new staff.  He is ssooooo cute and it makes my day when I walk in to The Crate Escape, Too and see him get up on his hind legs and pump his front legs up and down to greet me.

Moby’s mom tells us that when they say “Moby…..let’s go see your friends.” his face lights up and he runs into the car, his nosed pressed up to glass, ready to come see us.

Moby is what the staff calls a “stud muffin”.  He has a whole entourage of girlfriends, really too many to name, but these are a few of his favorites: Alice, Lacey, Lily J., Rosie A., and Ginny. At our daycare everyone knows Moby and they all rush to greet him upon his arrival, especially his best buds Ike, Paco, and Oliver. He is truly the “King of the Little Dogs”.  When he enters the play areas at The Crate Escape, Too all the other dogs just know to open up a slide for him so he can perch at the highest spot to watch over the gang.

Each one of us, staff and dogs alike, lights up when Moby comes to daycare. He is a recurrent guest for overnight boarding and he loves the one on one cuddles he gets specifically his belly rubs. He is also quite the retriever.  Moby is very smart and knows a lot of tricks and he loves to show them off for a treat or two.  He was one of the first dogs that we tried our Puzzle Time games on and, of course, he did great.

At The Crate Escape, Too we are proud that our patience with Moby’s fears helped him do a complete 360 and we are always happy to see his smiling face.

Tara was on-hand to witness Zane’s transformation from Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde.  We were all nicely walking in the park the first evening that she and her dog, Gigi, arrived, when all of a sudden Zane turned into a ground sniffing and pulling maniac when up ahead two people on horses were seen riding by.  Now everyone is probably wondering why I don’t have some high value treats on me when walking with Zane. That way I could get him to focus on me and ignore the big distractions.  Well, here’s the added problem, Zane has been tested for food allergies and he is allergic to beef, chicken, pork, lamb, turkey, duck, rabbit, venison, rice, soybean, sugar beet, and green pea.  So I am limited to feeding him a diet containing goat or pheasant as the protein source which I have been able to find in commercially prepared raw diets but how can I find a source that is portable?? His raw food would surely turn to mush in no time at all.  Does anyone know of a local source of either of these two meats? If so, please add a comment to let me know.  Anyways, stuff like biscuits and cheese are just not valuable enough to him.  With that said, Zane and I will be enrolling in our trainer, Bill Grant’s next “Come Here-Yes, I Mean Now” Class that begins on Saturday Oct. 22 and I am confident that Bill will have some great advice despite our recent discoveries.  Until then, the long leash will remain attached to Zane at all times on our outdoor adventures despite the strange looks I may receive from other people with dogs off leash.   Being a dog care provider I, all too often, hear of dogs that were allowed to be off leash before they had mastered  a truly reliable recall and had not survived the outcome.  It’s a very sad situation. Zane is lucky enough to get tons of off leash play with his friends at The Crate Escape and The Crate Escape, Too as well as quality walks with his family on leash.  I’ll keep you posted on our progress.  You might be interested in this class as well some of the other classes that start October 21 in South Burlington and on October 22 in Richmond: Puppy Kindergarten and Reactive Rover. Be sure to check out our website for more detailed information about each class. Check out this previous blog: (The Value of Dog Training) to read more about the Zones Training drop-in classes that we offer every week.

Here’s to many more walks in the woods and a happy fall to all!  Enjoy it before the snow starts flying.

This September we are looking forward to starting a new round of training classes in addition to the Zones training that takes place every week.  Traditional classes will also be held at both locations: Puppy Kindergarten and Good Manners/ Middle School at our Richmond location on Saturdays and Reactive Rover and Come Here-Yes, I Mean Now at our South Burlington location on Friday evenings.  Now is a great time to get you and your dog up to speed on obedience and make life easier for you all.  So if you’ve been putting off working with your dog on some issues or just want to have a great time learning new skills, sign up today!  We are also excited about participating in the biggest dog party of the year – Shelburne Museum goes to the Dogs that’s coming up this Sunday September 18th.  It’s always a great time for everyone.  Why not join in on the fun and be sure to stop by our booth and say hello.

Now for the sad part.  Unfortunately quite a few of our clients have decided to leave snowy Vermont for places far and wide, from Alaska, to Kansas City and even to Costa Rica.  In this blog I’d like to spotlight and say goodbye to a few of our furry friends from both of The Crate Escape locations: Zeb Godfrey, Olli Corwin, Cairo Garbarino, Tucker Keefe, Tebow Lafferty, Sam Morris, and Sally Read.  We will truly miss them all and wish them the best of luck in their new locals.

Zeb

Zeb is a two year old Yellow Lab mix acquired at 12 weeks of age in Bakersfield. He first started coming to The Crate Escape, Too in July of 2010.  He is a bouncy guy with lots of energy and many friends, if they can keep up with him.  Despite all his exuberance he is quite the snuggle bug with the staff.

Olli

Olli is a female Golden Retriever who started coming to The Crate Escape, Too in March of 2009.  She was just a baby of 5 months and has since grown into a beautiful gal.  She is a sweetie who loves the pools and her best daycare buddy Rosie C.

Cairo

Cairo is an eight year old boxer who began his once per week visits with us at The Crate Escape in May of 2006. He has a ton of friends, male and female, young and old and only one nemesis – his neighbor Charlie T. : )

Tucker

Tucker is a two year old hound mix who started coming to our Richmond location as a pup and then transferred to our South Burlington location when his family moved.  He is very shy at first with strangers but it did not take him long to warm up and become a love bug with our staff.  He has made many friends, especially the girls, at both locations.

Tebow

Tebow is the big German Shepherd boy that graces the front of our website with his buddy, Buddy, the Berner.  He has made regular visits to us in Richmond since he was 4 months old.  Although particular with whom he made friends, Tebow loved his special girlfriends: Star, Sophie, and Abby and ,of course, his best bud Buddy.

Sally

Sally is a 1 year old Bull Terrier who’s been coming regularly to daycare in Richmond since December of last year.  Unfortunately, Sally’s mom, has had to give her up since she is moving into an assisted living facility in New York.  Sally’s a strong girl in a medium sized package who is not afraid to let her opinion be heard.  She had a slew of friends, mostly males such as Beau, Lucky, Nanuk, and Zane.  We wish Sally the best of luck in finding a new home with the right family.

Sam

Sam is an 8 month old Lab/German Short Haired Pointer mix.  He just showed up in the yard of his current home and has remained with them ever since.  He is the comedian at daycare always keeping the staff on their toes by stealing everything in sight.

Cairo

Cairo is an 8 year old boxer who began his once per week visits with us at The Crate Escape in May of 2006.  He has a ton of friends, male and female, young and old and only one nemesis-his neighbor Charlie T:)

Louie Ryan, also known as “The Magnificent”, Doctor Louie Russell-Ryan, and Louisimo (my nickname for him) is an 11 year old Jack Russell Terrier who has been one of our clients at the Richmond location since 2004. He is quite the temperamental guy but we all can’t help but love him.  Louie was rescued by Terry and Rebecca Ryan of Huntington in 2003, when they lived in Jacksonville, Florida. They found out about Louie, who was taken in by Russell Rescue and living in a foster home up until then, through a posting at the university where Terry worked. Having considered getting a dog for some time, they took the plunge and invited Louie over….…his first action was to nip Terry on the nose. 

Here at The Crate Escape we laugh at Louie’s unpredictability with staff, as he has nipped at just about every staff member here at one time or another.  One minute he can be all sweet and lovey dovey with you and the next minute he will let you know that he changed his mind. All new staff is forewarned about Louie’s cantankerous nature. The Christmas card that we received last year from Louie read something like this: I love you. I hate you. I love you…Love, Louie. It was Louie to a tee.  With staff that he knows well he is a love bug and adores jumping up on their laps and licking their faces to death.  Louie has a general dislike of unfamiliar men, but he really likes Dan and enjoys it when Dan carries him like a baby, although he probably prefers that no one else know this about him.

While Louie does not like all other dogs that he meets, he does enjoy spending time with his special girlfriends such as Greta B. and Petra M. and Nickel, his favorite male dog.  Louie gets tons of staff attention when he is here for daycare or boarding with us, including lap time behind the counter and walks outside.  Louie loves manning the front counter but when there’s no action, he can usually be heard snoring on his bed and he loves being covered up with a blanket during the winter months.

At home Louie is a well-loved companion and friend who has not slowed down much despite his age. He loves to run and hike and has learned to skijor. 

Lola Lowery is a five year old labradoodle who first started coming to The Crate Escape, Too in April of 2007 after having attended our very first Open House. Lola is affectionately called Lolafalana by her owner’s after the actress and at The Crate Escape, Too we have somehow morphed her nickname into “Lola Fallola Doodle”.   The Lowery’s acquired Lola from a breeder in West Charleston, VT.  She was one of two puppies in the litter of 10 who fit the description that Dick and Susan’s daughter, Melissa, was looking for: a black female.  Lola was chosen because she had a cuter face than her sister.  Lola’s new family quickly discovered some problems with Lola. She could best be described as a Piranha puppy because she liked to bite and attack those around her.  She was brought to a dog psychologist for help and when the recommendations from the psychologist failed to help her behavior she was returned to the breeder for rehab for two weeks and came back a new dog.  Friends of the family were amazed at Lola’s transformation and questioned whether or not they were given the right dog back.

Lola had been kicked out of her previous daycare facility because of “too active behaviors.”  She, however, quickly became comfortable with The Crate Escape staff and canines when she first joined our daycare as a regular at about one year of age.  She was a dominant female who was full of energy but very loving and sweet to staff.  She did present us with quite a few challenges at first: squabbles with other females, an affinity towards eating rocks and other items, and barking, which we have managed to overcome.  Lola has come a long way and has outgrown all of her problem behaviors. Today she is a joy to be around and have at daycare.  She is friendly, outgoing, and listens well to the staff. In the summer, she loves wading and playing in the pools and in the winter she has a blast playing in the snow. She adores playing with her best boyfriend Rowdy.  Lola loves any one on one attention that she can get and really enjoys getting pampered on spa days.  Lola often goes home with Jamie, our Kennel Manager, when she boards with us and absolutely adores sleeping with Jamie’s cat, Bowie.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Lola has lived with Dick and Susan for fours years now ever since they kept Lola for one week when Melissa was away and fell in love with her despite previously questioning why anyone would possibly want a dog! She is proudly referred to as Dick and Susan’s grand doodle and enjoys boating with them in the summers with the breeze blowing in her face, playing in the snow banks in the winters, and getting her teeth brushed every night ( really-she sometimes even holds the brush!) .  Lola loves cuddling and getting tummy rubs, and loves her numerous stuffed animals. She is also quite fashionable, having a collection of 20 collars.

Lola recently had surgery to clean out an infection in her right ear and can’t get her ears wet so she has not been able to attend daycare lately.  We sure do miss her smiling face every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and are looking forward to her getting the green light to come back and play!

First and foremost, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for a routine check-up being sure to bring a fresh fecal sample in with you to test for intestinal parasites. If you notice that your dog has been persistently licking, scratching and biting at himself, discuss this with your vet as your dog may be suffering from seasonal allergies.  Have your pooch tested for Heartworm and discuss preventatives for Heartworm, Fleas, and Ticks.  Dr Kruesi of Cold River Veterinary Center, a holistic practice in North Clarendon, VT recommends the following guidelines for Heartworm prevention in northern Vermont:

“1. Start a monthly heartworm preventive in the spring when the weather is warm enough to mow the lawn. Heartworm larvae are only transmitted to dogs through a mosquito bite. Administering a heartworm preventive in winter prior to the emergence of mosquitoes is a burden to the dog’s liver. These medications are not benign. Save them for the seasons when mosquitoes are actually present.

2. Continue a monthly heartworm preventive until late fall or when it gets too cold for mosquitoes to be active. With our rapidly changing weather systems it is appropriate to be in synch with local mosquito activity, rather than a calendar date. In addition, dogs living in the mountains may experience a short mosquito season compared to dogs living in low lying areas of the Champlain Valley.

3. There are always individual cases where dogs have a longer heartworm season than average: say a family pet that travels to Florida in the winter or a livestock guarding dog who is outdoors year round. Some small dogs with an entirely indoor lifestyle may have such a negligible risk of infection that no heartworm medication is indicated though good environmental management such as maintaining window screens is still important. Remember that bats consume large numbers of insect pests and we hope that the White Nose syndrome that is decimating the bat population will not lead to more mosquitoes.

4. As drug patents expire pharmaceutical companies come up with new formulations where 2 or more old drugs or pesticides are bundled into a single “new” veterinary product. I have a conservative view on this trend because there is a limit to the liver’s capacity to detoxify multiple synthetic drugs and pesticides at the same time. If we exceed a dog’s tolerance for pesticides or drugs there is more risk for liver and biliary tract pathology. If a dog needs a heartworm preventive, then limit the product to a single ingredient, rather than a combination product such as “Heartguard Plus” that combines a worming medication (pyrantel) with heartworm larvicide (ivermectin). Frankly not all dogs need a treatment for intestinal worms every month.

At Cold River Veterinary Center we have many clients who are cancer survivors, have friends or close relatives with cancer, or experienced the loss of a companion animal to cancer. Since the early 1980s when the ivermectin class of worming medications came into widespread use in livestock and small animals there has been a concurrent increase in fatty tumors (lipomas), cancers, and new diseases such as biliary mucocele. I do not have all the answers but do encourage clients to be careful administering persistent drugs and pesticides. For clients that do not want to use monthly heartworm medications we work out alternative plans using insect repellents and realistic risk assessment. For example, some clients may only need to use a heartworm preventive once, when camping with their dog. For my clients, an individual approach is the best medicine we can provide.”

Dr John Eustis of Orchard Veterinary Hospital in South Burlington, VT offers the following recommendation for choosing products for flea and tick prevention:

“It’s only April but Fleas and Ticks are already out.  Fleas, they’re a nuisance that get into your home, bite your pet and you, cause annoying allergies, but they don’t generally transmit diseases.  Ticks are MORE than a nuisance. They can transmit Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and other nasty diseases.  How do you get rid of them? It is much easier to prevent them than get rid of them using spot-on topicals, pills, collars, shampoos, sprays; the list goes on and on.  They all advertise that they are the best.   But are they safe for your pet?  Are they safe for you? Are they safe for your kids?

These are the questions that should and do go through your head when confronted by the myriad of flea and tick products that are now available.  It seems like every few months some new type of flea and tick product comes out.  Even veterinarians have trouble deciding which is best and we are constantly being bombarded with information about all the new offerings.  Basically, you can boil it all down to three questions about the product: Is it effective?  Is it safe? Is it easy to use?  Answer “yes” to all these questions and you’ve found your product.

Collars, shampoos and sprays:  Do they work?  Yes, for a short time.  Are they easy to use?  No.  Are they safe?  NO!  These products are commonly made with something called organophosphates (OP’s) such as chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, phosmet, naled, tetrachlorvinphos, diazinon and malathion.  In overdoses, OPs can kill people and pets. Even with normal use of flea-control products containing OPs, pets and children may be in danger.

Pills:  Do they work?  Yes, but only against fleas and only against fleas after they have bitten your pet.  Are they safe? Yes.  Are they easy to use?   Yes, but some of them have to be given daily which might make them not so easy to use.

Spot-on topicals:  Do they work?  Yes, if you buy a good quality product and follow the directions.  Remember, for any animal that goes outside a product must work on both fleas and ticks so be sure it does before you buy it.  Are they easy to use?  Yes.  Are they safe?  Yes, if you buy a good quality product.  Unfortunately there are products in the supermarket, pet shop and on the internet that are advertised as being “just like the products your veterinarian sells”.  Most are NOT!!  Many of these products are made with OP’s and can be very, very toxic to both your pets and you.  I strongly urge you NOT to use these products.  This is one of those instances where you absolutely get what you pay for.

If you have any questions about which product is right for you, please consult your veterinarian prior to purchasing any type.  You, your family and your pet will be safer.”

Spring is shedding season for most dogs.  Now is the time to start grooming your dog more often. Regular brushing can help prevent matted fur and helps to remove dirt and debris that can get stuck in your dog’s coat.  Schedule a trip to Shelly our professional groomer at The Crate Escape, Too or start your own routine to keep your dog looking and smelling great.  Give them a bath, clean their ears, trim their nails to prevent overgrown and torn nails, and clean their teeth. Our staff at both locations would also be happy to help you out with any grooming needs so give us a call today. Wipe your pet’s feet off when bringing them in from outside to remove dirt, pollen, and chemicals that can be ingested by them.

With the onset of spring comes the dreaded spring cleaning.  Be mindful that the use of these chemicals and cleaners can be harmful to your dog.  Be sure to keep them out of recently cleaned rooms until these cleaners have dried and always remember to store them out of your pet’s reach.

While doing spring cleaning for your home why not consider sprucing up your dog’s gear as well.  This can include things like: washing all your dog’s bedding, toys, and bowls, sorting through your dog’s toys discarding or repairing those in need, checking collars and leashes, and securing fencing in your yard.  Remember to check for tears in your screen doors and windows and repair them to prevent pets from escaping. Now is also a good time to go through your dog’s supply of treats and check for expiration dates.

Be sure that your dog is registered with your town and make sure that they are microchipped and always wear a flat buckle collar (no chokers) that has tags for identification in the event that they should wander off. 

Be aware that spring’s flowers and plants such as Easter lilies, rhododendron and azaleas can be hazardous to your dogs. Go to http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants to find out whether or not the plants in your garden and home are toxic to you pets. If you suspect that your dog may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, you can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.

Pay attention to where you let your dog run to avoid contact with lawn chemicals such as fertilizers and weed killers and pest poisons such as rat, mice, and ant killers. 

Everyone has heard the warning “Do not ever leave your dog in a parked car in warm weather” yet every year people do and pets die because of it.  Leave your dog at home or bring him to The Crate Escape or The Crate Escape, Too for a day of fun with his friends if you are going somewhere that pets are not welcome.  If you are heading to an outdoor concert or fair, please do not bring your dog.  These events can be extremely stressful to pets and you should avoid the temptation to bring your dog with you when you’ll be at outdoor events for long periods of time.

Even though many dogs love to stick their heads out the car window, please be aware that flying debris and insects can cause injuries to their eyes, inner ears, and that sudden stops and turns can also cause major injuries.  No matter how cute they look or happy they seem, do not allow them to do this.  Dogs in cars are safest when crated or secured by a specially designed seatbelt harness.  Never allow your dog to ride in the bed of a pick-up truck as this is extremely dangerous!!

Know the symptoms of heatstroke: heavy panting followed by huffing and puffing, staring, warm dry skin, rapid heartbeat, profuse salivation, vomiting or collapse.  These symptoms if left untreated will result in unconsciousness and death. In the event that you suspect your dog is suffering from heatstroke, immediately move him to a cool place, give him water, and immerse him in cool (NOT COLD) water while gently pouring more cool water over him.  Get your dog to the Vet immediately after cooling him.  Dogs with short noses such as bulldogs, boxers, and pugs can’t pant as efficiently as other dogs and are therefore more susceptible to heatstroke.  Young puppies, senior dogs, and those with respiratory and cardiovascular problems are also extremely susceptible to heat related stress.  Take extra precautions with these animals and do not allow them to overexert themselves.  Provide all outdoors dogs with plenty of shade and constant access to fresh cool water.

• Consider getting a kiddie pool for your yard so that your dog can cool-off in the summer.  If you bring your dog along while boating and enjoying other water sports consider purchasing a life jacket for them.  Check out our retail sections at both our locations for items specifically geared toward caring for your pet during the summer months.
• Fair skinned dogs are likely to get sunburned when outside for any length of time on sunny days.  Ask your veterinarian about sunscreen products that are safe to apply on your dog.

Why not refresh your training skills with your dog as the weather warms up.  It’s never too late to brush up on proper leash walking, and commands such as “come” and “leave it” are imperative in keeping your dog safe outdoors.  The Crate Escape and The Crate Escape, Too offer some great training classes with Bill Grant of Ultimate Companions Dog Training.  Give us a call today to find out more.

Here’s to a great summer for you and lots of woofs and wags to your dogs!

Rosie Carpenter

Rosie Carpenter is a sweet and lovable Golden Retriever who first started coming to The Crate Escape, Too in June of 2007 at about 3 months of age.  Rosie’s family got her from Crangold Kennels in Charlotte and she was named after her mom Judy’s grandmother who was so pleased to be “honored” in this way.

She was one of the very first puppies at the South Burlington location and we were able to watch her grow into the wonderful dog that she is today.  We did sometimes have our work cut out for us as Rosie C. loved to grab and eat everything in sight including rocks, towels, and other unmentionables.  She and her buddy Kira were a pair that worked together as a team to take off and play tug of war and ultimately destroy other dog’s collars including her own.

 Rosie loves playing in the pools in the summer and gets so excited when the hose comes out that she has to be removed from the yard as we fill the pools otherwise they would have no water in them.  At daycare she is fond of sunbathing and is not afraid to be very vocal with other dogs who dare to interrupt her while enjoying this pastime.  She also adores laying right in front of the fan on hot summer days inside. She is a true Vermonter who loves her snow-yes, she thinks it is hers.  She also takes pleasure in her spa days and totally enjoys the attention she gets when being bathed, brushed and dried.  Unlike other stars, Rosie loves the paparazzi.  Whenever the camera comes out she finds her way toward it.  She mastered her holiday photos and was a joy to work with.

Rosie has since grown out of grabbing everything in sight but still insists on being the first dog who gets to meet all new people, all new dogs, and to be the first dog to go in or out. She is a master at sitting and waiting at the door to get into daycare and she has since taken new dogs under her wing to show them the ropes at daycare.  Olli C. another Golden can attest to this and whenever the two are together, they are inseparable.

It has been truly our pleasure to have Rosie as one of our regulars.

Rosie Breiner

Rosie joined the Breiner family in 2002 when she was two years old. Her mom Zoe and her sister were taking care of their elderly mother who had just lost her old sweet dog.  Knowing that their mother would not be happy without a dog but realizing that she would definitely not be able to deal with a puppy, Zoe decided to glance through the ads in the paper and saw a listing for a 2 year old spayed female Boston Terrier.  Zoe was astounded as for all her life she had listened to her mother talk about the Boston Terriers that lived next door to her when she was a child and how much she loved them.  Although they always had dogs growing up, they never had a purebred.  Zoe called the number listed and it turns out that the person who had Rosie was a breeder who had taken in Rosie because her owner had died.  She asked about her characteristics and told the breeder that she needed a dog that was in “move-in” condition as a companion for an older person and be ok with children as well.  The breeder said that she had not observed any bad habits and that the dog she had taken in was very playful and seemed to have an adaptable personality.

So Zoe and her sister decided to buy her for their mother and from day one, Rosie formerly Susie, understood her job and devoted herself to Zoe’s mom.  Since Zoe spent a lot of time helping out her mother, Rosie soon became her responsibility.  When her mother had to move to assisted living in 2005, Rosie went home with Zoe.  She again adapted easily into her new life and has been a wonderful pet ever since.  Rosie loves to fetch a ball, go for walks, tear apart stuffed toys, and follows Zoe wherever she goes.

Rosie B. started coming to The Crate Escape, Too in October of 2009 and we all fell in love with her.  When she’s here at daycare, she is the ultimate Queen B.  She is not afraid of anything or anyone. While she is often half asleep in the morning when she arrives, she is full of smiles and is happy to take a nap behind the counter before getting her energy up for the day.   She’s a feisty gal who loves to play with her friends especially the boys: Moby, Ike, and Ruger and she takes great pride in her ability to “yell” at the big dogs.  Like Rosie C. she loves a good soak in the pool and a little sunbathing afterwards.  Rosie B. absolutely loves playing ball with the staff and after retrieving it, she will throw it at the staff and yell at them until they acquiesce and throw it again.

Sadly, in 2010, Rosie had a mast cell tumor develop on her left ear. Blood work, x-rays and ultrasound showed that it had not spread. Part of her ear was surgically removed and they had clean margins around it.  After the surgery Rosie was back to her normal self enjoying all that life had to offer.

Recently Rosie hurt herself and started limping. Zoe went to get it checked and during the exam, they discovered a mass in a lymph node. Cells were aspirated and confirmed to be cancerous. She has completed a run of prednisone and is doing fine. Surgery is not an option because of the amount of tissue that would have to be removed. Zoe has decided not to pursue chemo or radiation because the side effects

are unbearable and the treatment is not all that effective. They will enjoy their time together as best that they can.  Our hearts go out to Zoe and Rosie. We know that Rosie is a tough little girl and that she will give this the fight of her life.  We love you Rosie B.!

Zane and I had been going to training classes with Bill Grant, our trainer, and he was excelling at everything in the class setting.  I met with Bill one Saturday morning after class, we discussed what was going on with him and Bill suggested a few things to work on with Zane before we went outside in the yard for Bill to experience first hand what he was doing. Bill said that Zane was a very confident dog and suspected that his antics resulted from a lack of respect on his part. The three biggest things he wanted me to implement right away with Zane were starting him on the Nothing in Life is for Free Training method for 1 week, teaching him how to “trade”, and playing tug of war with Zane frequently with the end result being that he always wins. Sure enough once we got outside, in no time at all, Zane demonstrated his wild behavior directed at me and also with Bill. Bill showed me how to use food and stop him about 10 feet away on his way back before he could use me as a tug toy.  This worked great and nothing has been more amazing and surprisingly fun as the Nothing in Life is Free method.  I can now go outside with Zane anytime, and play Frisbee with him and know that we will both have a great time.

Here’s how it works:  All the food Zane got fed each day was no longer put in a bowl and given to him.  Every kibble was given to him by hand and he was expected to do something for it such as sit, down, stay, etc.  Well, Zane is a big boy and gets 5 cups of food per day, usually split up into a morning and an evening meal.  That’s a lot of kibble to be hand-feeding and in my mind was going to be very time consuming.  However, I was determined to do what it took to get him to respect me and started the program the next day.  I enjoyed the constant training sessions with him and had to use small treats when the kibble ran out since he was always seeking me out and offering behaviors for a hand-out.  I took advantage of his attention to show him new things.  We had so much fun with it that I continued the program for 2 weeks and we have achieved amazing results.  He now knows how to catch a ball and return it to me, catch a Frisbee and return it to me, roll over, bounce on command, give each paw, and high fives on each side and best of all DOES NOT even try to use me as a tug toy in the yard!

If any of you are experiencing any issues with your dog, I recommend that you enroll in a training class such as those offered by Bill Grant of Ultimate Companions Dog Training and give the NILIF method a try.  The Nothing in Life is Free method is incredible because it can work to resolve a large number of problems. It can show an over-confident and demanding dog that the top position is not an option and that life is more fun without having to be on top. It can work to help a shy dog feel more relaxed and comfortable in knowing that his or her owner is in charge of everything. It also works with dogs that fall anywhere in between the two extremes with no major behavioral problems who just need a little bit of fine tuning. All your dog needs to start is knowledge of a few basic training commands.