FAQ'S

The Benefits of Daycare

Dogs are pack animals; as such they enjoy group interaction. By exposing a dog to others of his species will help him develop positive sound social skills which will in turn usually extend to humans and other species as well.
A socially well adjusted dog will become a solid citizen and a pleasurable experience for his family pack.
A further benefit of Daycare is the fact most dogs (specially the younger ones) can become bored if left home alone for extended periods of time. This can often make them develop unwanted destructive behaviours which can easily escalate to the point when an owner may have to consider giving up the dog.
That said, not all Daycare environments are alike,owners must be sure to carefully check out the Daycare selected in order to feel comfortable with the professionalism, expertise, hygiene and overalll management at the Daycare facility being considered.
Placing a dog in an improper Daycare environment can become potentially dangerous to the wellbeing of the dog and both emotionally and financially damaging to the owner.
I therefore strongly recommend the benefits of Daycare for most dogs.

Ruth Weintrop, DVM
LEASIDE ANIMAL CLINIC
1662 Bayview Avenue
Toronto ON, M4G 3C2
(416)481-1127

How often do I have to groom my dog?

A mindful dog owner will take pride in their dog's appearance and pay attention to proper grooming. Good grooming isn't just an esthetic matter, it plays a major role in the health and well being of your dog. Imagine what your life would be if you never brushed your hair or teeth, took a bath, cut your nails or cleaned out your ears! Now imagine one day you go to a place that pulls, pokes and prods your deadlocked hair, fuzzy teeth and cracking nails! Wouldn't it be a more enjoyable experience if you'd done some basic maintenance work (like everyday!) so when you go to the "salon and spa" you enjoy the experience and relax while someone pampers you and makes you beautiful!
Every dog needs bathing as some point. One criteria is that the dog should be "huggable." If the dog is too dirty or smelly to hug, it's time for a bath. A good starting formula is to bathe a dog once a month; less often if brushing regularly, and more often if the dog is frequently outside and the dog lays or plays in dirt. If the dog has a coat that requires brushing; brush BEFORE the bath!! Mats and tangles get tighter after they've been wet (like a wool sweater that's been in the dryer). Follow your veterinarian's and/or groomer's recommendation for a shampoo, or at least look for a high quality dog shampoo that contains a coat conditioner. It's also important not to use human shampoo since the PH levels in human shampoo versus canine shampoo are very different and can damage your dog's coat and skin condition.
Brushing and combing removes dead/loose hair, and spreads the natural oil, sebum, over the coat resulting in a glossy coat. Skin disease often affects sebum production resulting in either underproduction (a dry scaly coat), or overproduction (an oily, greasy coat). Both these symptoms merit a visit to your veterinarian. Possible causes could include skin parasites, nutritional problems or allergies among other problems. Gentle stroking with a comb or brush can also be a bonding experience with a dog. Take the time to untangle mats. Please don't try to cut them out as it is very easy to inadvertently cut the dog's skin, Leave the "de-matting" to a professional! Brush daily in order to reduce matting, but the minimum is once a week especially if you have a long or double coated breed. Ask your groomer to recommend the appropriate brush type to maintain your dog's coat for in between visits, and ask them to demonstrate the proper manner to brush your dog - there's more technique to proper brushing than you may think!

Breeds that have very demanding grooming requirements (i.e. poodles, maltese and yorkshire terriers) should see a groomer every 4-6 weeks. Breeds with slightly less demanding coats (i.e. shelties, golden retrievers and border collies) should go every 6-8 weeks. "Easy Care" coat types ( i.e. labrador retrievers, boxers and dobermans) also need grooming! Nails, ears, anal gland vacating, brushing and bathing, should be done on a regular basis.

Some breeds even have specific grooming needs. For instance a pug or bulldog that has folds of skin will need the "in between" skin cleaned out, disinfected, and dried so as to avoid bacterial infections from forming in the warm moist crevices of the skin. Talk to your veterinarian, groomer or breeder about the grooming requirements of your dog.

People who are concerned about the health and good grooming of their pets often schedule baths and/or brush outs every 2 weeks just to keep the coats in good condition so that grooming isn't an unpleasant or stressful affair.

Your groomer plays a big role in the life of your dog. They can detect potential problems, draw your attention to things you may want to consult your veterinarian for, and they help your pet lead a more comfortable, happy and healthy long life!

Chloe Py-MacBeth, Professional Show Groomer
The Original Dog House Inc.

Does my dog need training?

YES, YES, YES, and so do you! Whether you are intentionally teaching him or not, your canine friend is always learning—and this is true not just for puppies but also for adult dogs. If you do not teach your pet your rules, he will create his own. Training allows caregivers to safely and humanely control their dog's behavior.Too many dogs are given up after their normal, easily modifiable behaviors are allowed to become serious issues that translate into major problems. But it doesn't have to be this way. To prevent your dog from becoming a nuisance or unfortunate statistic, please consider taking your dog — as well as your family members — to The Original Dog House for Obedience or Behavior Modification training. A customized training program can be fun as well as a positive social activity for the entire family that will also help your dog become a well-behaved, safe, and valued family member.

Kevin Wu, Sr. Professional Trainer
The Original Dog House Inc.