 |
 |
|
|
In the s-PAW-tlight: Happy Fourth of July!
Here comes summer! Although the sun is making a rather slow appearance around our region this year, we are all anxious for it to get here. In last summer’s edition of Pawsitiviely Paradise, we covered general safety tips for the Fourth of July. Leaving the radio playing, turning on an extra fan to help block out noise, and keeping all doors and windows locked are always smart ideas to help reduce your pet’s stress during the Fourth. But, what do we do at Paradise?
The Fourth of July is one of our busiest holidays. All of the kids are finally out of school, and nicer weather is almost guaranteed. Many of our customers say this weekend is “the official kick off to summer”. This year is no different. We book up very quickly for the Fourth of July, it’s always best to plan early to make sure your pet has a reservation.
To ensure everyone’s safety, including our staff members, we try and get all of the additional activities done in the morning before the BBQ’s and fireworks start. Our exercise staff comes in bright and early to complete your pets’ activities before the first sounds of fireworks. Our very attentive kennel staff, while busy caring for our boarders, pay close attention for signs of any pet in distress due to the noise. We do have one kennel building that is mostly sound proof and can be used for any size dog that may not take well to the Fourth of July celebrations. We leave the radios in each building turned up, playing classical music. As the evening shift comes to an end we bring out our big fans to help generate a little extra white noise to drown out the outdoor sounds. Even though fireworks are illegal in the city of Woodinville, our facility lies in unincorporated Snohomish County. Our neighbors are generally respectful of the law, and being on 13 acres of property, we are a bit removed from the action. We do not allow fireworks on our property. If you are especially worried about your pet during what can be a very noisy and scary holiday for pets, talk to your vet ahead of time about prescription calming medications and tranquilizers. We do have some over-the-counter, herbal, anti-anxiety medication available for purchase in our lobby that work well in easing stress.
Although our office will be closed, our staff members are still here taking care of our boarders and insuring everyone’s comfort and safety during this holiday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Business Hours
Mon-Fri 8am to 6:30pm
Saturday 8am to 1pm
Sunday 12pm to 6pm
Touring Hours
11am to 1pm
Monday through Saturday
425/483-DOGS (3647)
www.paradisepetlodge.com
10324 Paradise Lake Road
Woodinville, WA 98077
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grooming 101
If you are like many of the pet owners who come through the grooming salon doors at Paradise, you may have noticed a little more hair left behind by your pet. Dust bunnies of dog hair are growing bigger and bigger, and you and your Swiffer just can’t keep up. Shedding can be one of the biggest nuisances to deal with during warm summer weather. Shedding usually occurs for one of two reasons: eliminating dead hair allowing a new coat to grow in; and seasonal temperature changes that enable your dog to grow coat for warmth or shed coat to keep cool. A common myth is thinking that longer-coated dogs shed more than short coated dogs. While there is some truth in this statement, some of the Labradors that come into our salon have enough hair to fill our vacuum cleaner.
In between your dog’s appointments to our grooming salon, start some good grooming habits at home to help eliminate the excess hair that sticks to your clothing and furniture creating a mess around the house. The first step is to get the right tools. Specific breeds require more strict grooming methods than others. For basic at home coat care, a good shampoo is the best place to start. There are many different types of shampoos designed for each type of coat. Choose one that best fits your dogs’ needs. Ask one of our professional grooming staff members which shampoo they would recommend for your dogs’ coat. Keeping a bottle of dog shampoo on hand is always a good idea, even if you don’t bathe your dog at home regularly. You never know when they are going to take an opportunity to roll in something stinky!
The right brush can make any grooming job a little easier. Short-coated dogs benefit from natural bristles, while long and curly-coated dogs need a pin brush. Slicker brushes can be great on any coat and help remove excess hair and tangles, especially when used on longer-coated dogs and those prone to shedding. A steel-tooth comb is also a wise addition to your grooming kit and can help work out tangles. Owners of dogs with thick coats may also want to invest in a good de-shedding tool like a coat rake: designed to grab and pull away hair that is barely hanging on, decreasing the likelihood of shedding. If you notice your pet is constantly shedding despite your daily brushing attempts, come into our salon for a 15 minute shed-less treatment.
If your dog is like many we see in our salon, they fear the nail trimmers. To help ease your pet into having their feet handled and touched, start by massaging their feet daily. Spread their toes out and carefully massage between them, push gently on their paw pads, and feel their toenails. Doing this on a regular basis can help when it comes time to trim their nails by showing them that having their feet touched isn’t so scary. Nail trimmers are best kept sharp. Choose scissor or guillotine style, size appropriate to your dog. Start by trimming small amounts of the end of the nail; trimming too much off the nail can lead to “quicking” of the nail. Quicking occurs when a nail is trimmed too short to the point of bleeding. Dog’s toe nails contain nerve endings and blood vessels that are more easily visible, therefore avoidable, in dogs with clear toenails. Use extra caution to avoid quicking if your dog has black toenails. If you accidentally quick your dogs nails, have a clotting agent on hand to control the bleeding. A styptic pencil or powder works best, but at-home items such as baking soda, cinnamon or bar soap can help stop the bleeding as well. If nail trimming at home proves to be too difficult, our grooming staff may be better suited for the job. Our salon staff has mastered distraction techniques and has the experience and tools available to successfully complete the task!
Last but not least for your pets’ grooming kit, don’t forget items for the ears and teeth! Include pet friendly toothpaste and a toothbrush made especially for dogs. Cleaner teeth can lead to a longer healthier life for your pet and a less expensive dental cleaning from your vet. Ear cleaning solution and cotton balls can help relieve gunky buildup and yeast from forming inside your dog’s ears. Cotton balls can also be helpful during the bathing process; helping to keep excess water out and if needed, reducing noise from the blow dryer. Ear cleaning is always included in all grooming services in our salon. We also offer teeth brushing and oral PlaqClnz treatments to help eliminate tartar build up.
Now that your kit has the right tools, make sure to keep everything together. It is helpful to have a tote or caddy containing these items so they are all kept in one place. A few other items to include are towels, a blow dryer with a low temperature setting, treats to encourage good grooming behavior, a good attitude and lots of patience.
Maintaining a healthy coat at home between grooming appointments to our salon will help your pet feel and look better. Don’t forget to prebook your pets’ grooming appointments. By booking appointments in advance your pet will get to enjoy a free Spa facial and paw treatment!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Client Spotlight: Max, Nittany and Charley
Two of our regular boarding and grooming customers are Max the Jack Russell Terrier and Nittany the Shih Tzu. They have been coming to Paradise for pampering for quite some time and always indulge in a trip to the grooming salon before going home. Nittany, being 18 years old, takes a little extra time and care during the grooming process and usually ends up sitting in our stylists’ laps during her hair cut. Max on the other hand is perfectly happy standing still and being spoiled. After their always busy stay with us, Max and Nittany make a stop at our salon, their mom and dad comment, “by leaving grooming 'up to the professionals' it provides the care they need and has also simplified our lives. They come home smelling great with toenails trimmed!”
Max is usually very active during his stay, getting 2 or 3 individual play secessions daily, along with a spa activity. “Max loves his fun swims!”, Bri points out, and “he is able to play and have fun, all while burning lots of energy out”. Being a Jack Russell Terrier, Max is always on the go, while his companion, Nittany would much prefer to partake in a nice long nap in their suite. In regards to Max’s massage sessions, Bri adds, “Max prefers to be on my lap while he receives his 30 minute relaxation massage. He fulfills my snuggling quota for the day and ensures that I get plenty of Max kisses too.”
Max and Nittany’s parents recently brought home a new King Charles Cavaliere puppy, named Charley. We are all so excited to get to meet her and have the opportunity to spoil her during their next vacation with us. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Staff Spotlight: Alicia
Alicia has been part of the Paradise Pet Lodge family for 6 years, starting her employment with us as a dog walker. Growing up in Snohomish with a house full of dogs, cats and some farm animals too, she always knew she had a passion and a love for animals. After graduating from Snohomish High School, she moved onto the world of massage, graduating from Spectrum Center School of Massage 2009.
Alicia now spends most of her time with us as a front office staff member, showing off her amazing smile to every customer who comes through our front doors. She also spends time in kennel interacting with many of our boarders on a daily basis. Her own very bouncy and energetic, Australian Cattle Dog, Rowdy, keeps her plenty busy when she is not at work.
We want to send out big congratulations to Alicia, who just this last weekend, became engaged to her sweetie of more than 3 years! We wish you happiness, love and lots of pets! |
|
 |
Cool Summer!
Cool down in summer weather with an all natural, Paradise made pet smoothie! For one of our more popular choices, we combine peanut butter, yogurt and bananas into a creamy frozen treat your pets will love. Each serving is $1.50. Request one for your pet at check-in!
Don't Forget!
Summer reservations are filling up quickly, weekend reservations especially, so don’t wait to get your pets’ vacation reserved! Call our office today!
|
|
|
|
|
