DogGirl is now officially a Certified Pet Care Technician! http://ping.fm/WdwGA

DogGirl Returns!

I have returned from the Pet Care Services Association Conference in Orlando inspired, excited and ready to implement everything I learned.  Victoria Stilwell (from Animal Planet's It's Me or the Dog) was our keynote speaker, and what a treat it was to meet her and hear her speak about the positive dog training movement.  So many people in our industry still rely on "old school" methods of training - choke, pinch and shock collars - and I long for that to change.  Victoria made some excellent points: that those methods work, but they work at the expense of trust and a strong bond between owner and dog.  Dogs should behave out of a desire to please, and not out of fear of punishment.  Using that choke chain or pinch collar tells that dog that the one person he depends on for love, food and support cannot be trusted.  It breaks down the bond that we try so hard to build.  Our dogs deserve so much better, don't they?  I was honored to be in her presence, and so grateful to have her at our conference.

I met so many wonderful people, learned so much, and came back with so many ideas about how to make DogBoy's even better than it already is.  I believe wholeheartedly in what we do, but there is always room for improvement!  So stay tuned for new and exiting changes.  And not to worry!  The acreage and the playtime are staying put.  All the things you love about DogBoy's are here to stay.

My side trip to upstate NY was also a real treat.  I continued learning, got to see the leaves change and finally got my dog (and cat) fix!  The NY Sheep and Wool fest was overwhelming, and I hope to return to do it all again someday.  I got to stay at a Buddhist monastery, visit an Elk Farm, and got a doggie facial!  A big thank you to my friends and family for entertaining me, and filling me with love and support. 

How Time Flies!

Just three weeks ago, I spoke to a regional group from the PCSA about social networking - I told them that they should update their own blogs every couple of days, with a minimum of weekly.  I wish I would listen to my own advice!

Our Training & Wellness Center (fondly nicknamed The Playhouse) is going up so quickly, that every time I take a picture of it, it changes before I can even post the news to you!  We are so pleased with the way it is coming.

We even snuck in a little class on a drizzly day - super cool!

This week, I am headed to Orlando, FL for my first official Board of Directors meeting, and the annual PCSA Fall Convention & Expo - I'm sure my head will be spinning in less than a week!  From there, I will head to the NY Sheep & Wool Fest to visit friends and family and shop for yarn till I drop (my other love).  I am really looking forward to the trip and will hopefully report to you while I'm gone. 

Until then, can I just say how much I love my job?  Each time I am in the office, I meet a client who professes their love for DogBoy's, and I get to love on their dog while we chat about their lives, their kids, and their favorite things to do with their furry best friends.  If I had less work to do, I could just sit in the office all day and chat with customers.  It's my absolute favorite part of what I do.  Thank you for all the wonderful feedback!

Here We Grow!

DogBoy's growth spurt has begun! As you can see, the building is progressing nicely! The entire frame was built in a day - very impressive! Electricity has been hooked up and the driveway is poured. We are so excited! Our thanks to T.A. Todd Construction for all their hard work!

Today I made contact with the Texas Veterinary Medical Association to make sure we're doing everything by the book as far as adding wellness services. We will hopefully meet with them in the next few weeks to make sure we're getting off to a great start. With the help of great vets like Dr. Susan Culp, I'm sure we can make it happen!

In other news, I was elected to the PCSA (Pet Care Services Association) Board of Directors yesterday! My position starts January 1st, and I will find out more soon regarding what all it entails, but the PCSA oversees 3,000 pet care facilities nationwide (some outside the US as well) and that will mean lots of work and responsibility for me! I'm excited for the challenge, and committed to staying focused on my family both at home and at DogBoy's at the same time. I am so grateful for all the support I have received regarding this new adventure. I can't tell you how much it means to me.

DogBoy's has Cats!

Did you know we have a couple of kitties on the property? I know, I know. We don't do any cat boarding (yet), but we do have two cats that we spayed/neutered and rehomed on the ranch.

Midnight and Sunny live in our barn and eat mice at night. We have learned over time that when we're extra generous with their food, they kill more mice. They even bring them up to the gate of the kennel, like an offering! Too cute. I know there are probably little mice lovers out there reading this, but at the ranch, they eat the dog food and chew through sheetrock (literally!). Poisons are unsafe for dogs, and sticky traps are just plain mean. Lowering our mouse populaton also has seemed to lower our snake population, which was growing in recent months due to all the increased nearby construction in our neighborhood. So all around, its good for everyone (-except the mice. Sorry, guys!).

Dock Diving Mission Accomplished!

This weekend, I got a last minute invite (Thanks, Jeanne!) to go to a dock diving competition in Houston. It was SO COOL!!! Dogs running full speed off a 40' dock and jumping as far as they can into a 40' pool just to get their favorite squeaky toy!

I spoke with the dock diving team, and they said it was easy to get started. There is a team in Houston, but if I want, we can start one in Austin - there are already folks that are doing it in our town. Sweet!


But here is the absolute best part about dock diving: ANY DOG CAN DO IT! That's right, puppies, geriatrics, full breeds, mutts, deaf dogs, three leggers, you name it. If you have a dog, you can participate!


There is a whole new world opening up to me, and I can't wait to find out more about it! If you would like to join me at DogBoy's and learn to dock dive, let me know! For more info, visit the Dock Dogs website.

Delco Tour

Recently, DogBoy's hosted a field trip for the entire 2nd grade from Delco Primary School.



We had 200 kids visit over two days!

We started off with a safety talk, discussing what to do if approached by a dog you don't know, how to ask permission when you want to pet a dog you don't know, and where to pet a dog safely. Next, we took a tour of the kennels and walked all around the property. We finished off with a demonstration of some agility tricks performed by our staff dogs, Noodle, Bug, and Murphy.

The kids had a blast, and although we were completely worn out by the end, so did we! Hope to do it again someday! If you would like to schedule a group tour, just contact us.