Frequently Asked Questions

By: Tarraray Pet Retreat

Boarding FAQs

Here is a list of questions we have compiled based on our own needs as pet owners. There may be some areas that are of greater or lesser importance to you and your pet.

 

• Can you go in and have a tour of their facilities and meet the staff? If a tour is not offered……well I think we would both agree that is definitely a red flag and it’s time to move on to the next boarding facility. When choosing a boarding facility, look at where your cat or dog will be sleeping and ensure you have a full inspection of the whole facility. Make sure that both the sleeping quarters and exercise areas are of adequate size and that they are separated from other animals properly.
• Ensure that the facilities are fully secure and air-conditioned
• Check what the facility feeds and ensure that they will meat any special requirements that your pet may have.
• Does the facility request that your animals are fully vaccinated in the appropriate time frames?
• Are the beds they provide for the animals extra thick and plush to give your pet a warm, cosy, secure feeling just like home?
• Is their staff made up of “True Animal Lovers”? A staff that truly loves animals! You want to know that they will treat your pet with as much love as you do.
• Do they provide the option of a one-on-one playtime with your pet and a staff member daily?
• Will your pet be exercised more than once daily and be safe and secure from other animals during this time?
• Does the facility provide a full service grooming during your pets stay, where you may include a bath, haircut, and nails trimmed?
• Does the facility have a veterinarian on call to assure that your dog is in the best of health or in case of an emergency?
• What hours is the facility open and what times are staff at the facility? A lot of establishments only have staff available morning and evening leaving pets unattended for extended periods.
• What is the security on the facility when staff are not at the premises?
• Do the facility charge extra for medications given?
• Does the facility allow me to bring my own bedding, toys and comforters for my pet?
• Last, but not least, will they be sure and give your pet lots of ‘belly rubs’ and 'cuddles', all the while going the extra mile to provide the highest quality care possible?

 

Remember that when dropping your dog or cat off at the dog boarder; try not to be too emotional. Your pet will feed off of your emotions and it will make an anxious time even worse.

 

Grooming FAQs

Proper grooming is an important part of pet care. It not only makes a companion animal look better, but contributes to his or her physiological and psychological health.

 

1. Grooming your dog or cat accomplishes much more than just making your pet's coat look nice and shiny. It will provide them with some "quality time" whilst combing, brushing, bathing and generally bonding with us.
2. We will be able to check your pet closely for any problems while grooming. We will examine the skin closely for signs of flea, ticks or skin irritations, and will look for any unusual problems with the coat such as mats, tangles, dandruff, etc. Mats and tangles can be carefully removed while grooming.
3. All pets have sensitive areas that need to be groomed a little more gently and carefully than others. By paying special attention to these areas, we will help make your pet more comfortable while being groomed, and they will not resist future grooming sessions.
4. We will let your dog sniff the brush and comb before grooming, and then talk to your pet in a reassuring tone while grooming. If the grooming procedure is made comfortable for your pet, they will begin to look forward to regular grooming sessions.

 

Shedding

Pet hair grows and dies just as human hair does.

 

Some pets — particularly hard-coated dog breeds such as Terriers and Poodles and cats such as Persians — hang on to their dead hair, thus requiring special grooming to remove it.

 

Other pets give it up quite readily, all over the house. - Another reason for regular grooming...

 

Double-coated pets generally drop their soft undercoats twice a year and lose their guard hairs once a year, although some individual pets might shed constantly or only every 10-12 months. Shedding can take anywhere from three weeks to two months.

 

A warm bath helps accelerate the process and daily (or twice-daily) grooming can help control clouds of hair that scurry into corners and under furniture.

 

Shedding is controlled by hormonal changes that are tied to photoperiod (day length) and is influenced by level of nutrition and general state of health. In addition to natural biennial shedding, a pet may drop its coat after surgery, x-rays under anaesthesia, and whelping.

 

Double-coated pets that shed heavily are; Dog Breeds such as: Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Keeshond, Siberian Husky, Samoyed, Norwegian Elkhound, Collie, Great Pyrenees, Kuvasz, Newfoundland, St. Bernard, English Toy Spaniel, Pomeranian, Belgian Shepherds, Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd, Smooth Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, and American Eskimo. The Dalmatian sheds constantly, and many dogs shed a moderate amount of hair.

 

Owners should be aware before purchase that a long-coated pet, purebred or mixed, will require grooming throughout its life. If the inclination to groom or the time to do so are not part of the plan, provisions should be made for professional coat care for the pet.

 

Health

Regular grooming is essential to your pet's health and well being. Regular combing and brushing will keep the coat clean and healthy. It will stimulate the skin, and allow the natural oils to circulate to the coat.

 

It will also allow us to carefully check for potentially serious problems. Check areas for hair loss, inflammations, unusual tenderness or lumps under the skin.

 

Constant scratching in a particular area may also be an indication of a problem. Check with your veterinarian about any unusual problems found.

 

Puppies & Kittens

Like children, puppies and kittens have short attention spans. They will require some special attention. Select a time when the puppy or kitten is less energetic. We will begin with short grooming sessions, five minutes or so. We will constantly talk to your puppy or kitten in a gentle, reassuring tone while grooming to make them feel comfortable.

 

We will check their ears, paws, teeth, and underside during the grooming procedure. This will, in time, make them accustomed to being handled and examined.

 

Eventually, they will be quite comfortable being groomed, and will look forward to these sessions.

 

Ears

Ear care is an important part of grooming. Ear infections can not only be painful, but lead to permanent hearing loss. The signs of a problem with a companion animal's ears include redness, constant scratching, head shaking and odour. The skin inside and on the flaps should be pale pink. If there is a foul odour and/or any red, brown or black skin, we will suggest to have a veterinarian examine your pet's ears.

 

Training FAQs

How old must a dog be to be trained?

If you are training your pet in the home you may start as soon as the puppy is home. If you are training your pet in the group you may start as early as 3 months and the puppy is fully vaccinated. If your pet is being boarded and trained we do accept dogs 12 weeks old or older. Shot records are required.

 

How old is too old for training?

If your dog has no visible hip problems and can run, jump, and play - they are a candidate for training.

 

Do you hit the dog in training?

No! Never hit your dog! There is a better way! The only touch involved is praise.

 

How much time is involved in training a dog?

20-30 minutes a day for a limited time will change your pet's behaviour.

 

I'm still not sure whether I need my dog trained?

We strongly recommend that all dogs be trained in obedience. History has shown us that the vast majority of people who were unsure about having their dog trained are extremely glad they did once they saw the benefits obtained from owning an obedience trained dog.

 

Will my children be able to control the dog?

Generally most children over 10 can easily administer all the commands. We have had children as young as 5 effectively control obedience trained dogs.

 

Can my dog be trained?

All dogs are able to be completely obedience trained. It just goes down to how much time you wish to put into the dog. Don't forget we are not just training the dog but also you.