The Dog and Bone News

Every dog owner wants to raise a well-adjusted, happy, and confident dog. Socialization is key to this process; it introduces and accustoms your dog to other animals, people, experiences, sounds, and exciting stimuli. Experiences such as these will help your dog put their best paw forward and lets them enjoy a rich and rewarding life. What Exactly Does "Socialization" Mean? So what is socialization, and why is it so important? Socialization doesn`t just start and end by putting dogs together in a room and allowing them to play. It is a lifelong process that includes any un-isolated activity your dog does. It can range from playing with other animals, to properly interacting with people and children, to being able to calmly hear loud trucks pass by. As a dog-owner, you will constantly have opportunities to expose your dog to new situations and build on their socializing skill set everyday. Benefits of Socialization The benefits of healthy dog socialization are numerous:  Socializing means learning to learn. Well-socialized dogs can better handle unfamiliar situations and experiences. Your dog becomes confident, secure, and generally has less stress. Dogs begin to better read other dog's body language, allowing them to enjoy playtime more and more. Increased self-awareness means your dog becomes gentler and more sensitive around children. Housebreaking your dog gets easier and easier. Lack of aggression, biting, and nipping. Helps to tame jumping and over-excitement.  Companionship is critical to the well-being of your pet, and socialization is the key to giving your dog the necessary skills he or she needs to enjoy this companionship throughout their life. How to Better Socialize Your Dog Socialization is a process, and as such there are many ways that you can improve the way your dogs gets socialized. Some of the recommendations we've developed are:  Be the alpha.  Dogs want to be led by a pack leader, and you allow your dog to relax and enjoy socializing if he or she knows they have an alpha pack leader they can look to when they are unsure. When you're the alpha, your dog doesn't need to fulfill that role and can just focus on fun and play. Letting your dog be the pack leader can further lead to bad habits and defensive or aggressive behavior. Start early. Recommendations from veterinarians vary, but the range generally falls within 4-12 weeks to start socializing your puppy. Be cautious with starting too early though, as you want to ensure your pup is properly vaccinated before introducing them to other dogs. Start slow. It can be overwhelming for puppies or newly socialized dogs to be put into a pack situation, which can then lead to negative associations with socializing. One-on-one play dates in safe and controlled environments helps build your dog's initial skillset. Positive reinforcement. Reward your dog when he or she does something correct: praise, play, treat, or pet. Use negative reinforcement appropriately. Use strict and consistent language to help correct any bad behavior. If that fails, then simply remove your dog from play situations if he or she continues to behave inappropriately. Never hit your dog - it is unproductive and your dog begins associating negativity and fear from socializing. Use your dog's name consistently. Teach your dog that his or her name means "pay attention and look at me." Reward your dog enthusiastically with pets or a treat when they come to you. Avoid using your dog's name in an angry tone to reprimand them as you want your dog to associate their name with good things. Be patient. Again, socialization is a process and not every dog will learn as fast as other dogs. Enjoy the experience of socializing with your dog and enjoy the daily improvements you will see in your dog's behavior as you socialize them more and more.  How Sturgeon County Kennels Can Help Sturgeon County Kennels understands the importance of doing socialization right. We can help be a part of your dog's socialization process in two main ways: Dog Boarding Servicess Dogs staying at Sturgeon County Kennels will have many opportunities to socialize with other dogs. We feature 4 play areas, and we can pick and choose dogs of similar size, temperament, and age to socialize together. Depending on the dogs, group sizes can range from 2 dogs to 10! The staff at Sturgeon County Kennels are trained to socialize dogs and we have many years of experience in choosing which dogs to socialize together. We also constantly supervise the dogs for maximum safety. You can rest easy knowing that your dog is getting all the benefits of socialization in a safe and secure environment. Take a look at our first-time visitor's guide for more information about kenneling your dog. Doggy Day Care Sturgeon County Kennels also offers doggy day care to customers in Sturgeon County, the Edmonton area, and beyond. Bring your dog for the day and we will socialize him or her with the other dogs at the kennel. This is a great way for your dog to spend the day while you are at work, or for something new to do on the weekend. We almost always have great dogs at the kennel to play and socialize with; give us a call today to book an appointment!

Dog owners are consistently faced with the question of what to do with their dogs when travel, illness, or other emergencies disrupt normal care. Fortunately, the services of professional boarding kennels with knowledgeable and passionate kennel operators can provide safe and secure solutions.Sturgeon County Kennels is one such solution. In order to make sure that the kennel experience is rewarding for both you and your dog, we have prepared a guide for your first visit. This guide will help you understand what to bring, what is optional, and refresh you on the required vaccinations.After reading, you can spend your time away knowing your dog is comfortable and receiving the best care possible. The Gear to BringSturgeon County Kennels recommends bringing the following:  BedA bed is a great way to remind your dog of home and to keep them comfortable during their visit. Including a small blanket that smells like home is another great addition. We strongly recommend beds with removable linings to help us wash the bed as they tend to get dirty from time to time from normal use. FoodChanges in a dog’s diet can cause their stomachs to become upset, which can take away from play time and cleanliness. Keeping to the same diet provides a sense of familiarity and will help ensure they are feeling 100% during their time at the kennel.  Optional itemsThe following items can be brought at your discretion:  TreatsBringing treats is up to you. Treats are a great way to give your dog a little happiness boost throughout their day. Chew ToysKeep your dog occupied throughout the slow times of the kennel by giving them something to chew on. Make sure chew toys are sturdy to minimize choking hazard when small bits get broken off. BowlsSturgeon County Kennels has standard bowls that we use that help prevent tipping and are easy to wash. Unless you have a slow-feed bowl, it is generally easier to use one of our bowls, which also helps us avoid any unwanted mix ups. Personal itemsFeel free to bring additional items that will remind your dog of home. Sometimes this includes a familiar piece of clothing or a favorite toy.  VaccinationsSturgeon County Kennels requires the following proof of vaccination:  DHPPDHPP stands for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, Parainfluenza. This is a standard shot that generally lasts for 3 years after the 1-year booster is first received. Some combinations include DHLPP, DHLPPC, DA2LPPC, which are a 5-in-1, 6-in-1, or 7-in-1 vaccination, respectively. All these vaccinations are accepted, but only DHPP is required. BordetellaAlso known as kennel cough, Bordetella is a contagious flu-like syndrome that causes dogs to cough. Symptoms last for approximately 2 weeks. Similar to the flu-shot that humans receive in October, a Bordetella vaccination greatly reduces the risk of infection but does not guarantee it. Vaccines are effective for one year. RabiesRabies is a fatal viral disease that affects dogs and many other mammals. Vaccination is required before bringing your dog to the kennel and lasts for either 1 or 3 years, depending on the vaccination.  Additional tipsWe have additional tips to make sure your dog has the best kennel experience possible:  Label everything! This helps keep your dog’s stuff together and keeps everything organized. Special needs We have a fridge and a microwave to prepare special diets, so please don’t hesitate to ask about any special needs. Book a tour! We are proud of our kennel and are more than happy to walk you through our facility and explain what life is like everyday at the kennel. Try us out! We welcome first time dogs to stay with us for a day or two to come socialize with other dogs and familiarize themselves with the kennel. This can help ease their stress on a long visit as they better understand the day-to-day life at the kennel.  We are always looking to find ways to make our visitor’s experience better and better. By bringing the above items to the kennel, you will help us give your dog a great experience. Take a look at our frequently asked questions section for additional information about staying at Sturgeon County Kennels, and give us a call if you have any additional questions or concerns!