Who Are The Real Pet Care Experts?

Have you listened to the pundits and financial gurus who are giving out advice to people who have lost their jobs?  Some of it is OK – but some of it is leaving me scratching my head in wonder.  Many are telling people to go into the pet care industry because it is recession-proof.  People love their pets, and they will always find a way to spend money on them, or so the logic goes.

The only problem with that advice is that it assumes everyone who has lost a job is equally qualified to care for your pets as the experts who have trained for years to understand animal behavior, health and socialization needs.  It appears that only veterinary care is exempt from this financial advice.  At least they understand that it takes years of training and education to become proficient in the medical branch of animal husbandry.  But what about the rest? Just this week I met a laid-off airline attendant who decided to make money by calling herself a pet nanny.  Nice title, but what are her qualifications?  I don’t think “I owned a pet once,” is sufficient!

Let’s compare day care for children and day care for dogs.  The people who run child care centers must be licensed by the state and demonstrate a level of proficiency in child care before they can open their doors.  There are training classes and continuing education requirements, and the facilities must be inspected.  No such requirements exist for pet day care.  Hang out a shingle and print some business cards, and you are in business.  You do not have to demonstrate any level of proficiency or knowlege about the different breeds or canine pack behavior.  You do not have to show that you know any training or socialization techniques.  You do not have to know when canine behavior is dangerous or simply play.  Nobody will inspect your facility and there are no guidelines or minimum requirements.  You just have to open your doors and market your services.

How about grooming and hair salons?  To be a cosmetologist you have to attend school, and apprentice in a licensed salon.  You have to practice on models, and learn the basics of hygienic practices.  The best stylists continue to attend training classes on everything from new styles to hair dying products, and the salons are regularly inspected.  To be a groomer, all you have to do is buy a clipper, and say you know how to trim dogs.  You are not required to be licensed, and facilities are not inspected.  You do not have to demonstrate any level of proficiency or knowlege.

OK – I am all for a free market system, and I do not begrudge anybody the right to earn a living in a legal manner.  But I also value my pets enough to want the people who care for them to know something about pet care, canine and feline health and socialization practices.  I do not want my terriers put into a group of dogs to “play.”  Terriers don’t play, they kill each other.  I don’t want my border collie expelled from a group just because she gets a little excited and starts nipping at the hocks of other dogs.  I want my pet care provider to understand this is normal border collie behavior (not aggression), and it can be channeled if you know some basic training techniques.  I don’t want my malamute introduced to a group with small dogs in it – he might think they are chew toys.  And my scared golden just needs some confidence-building and time to adapt. I want Cesar Millan, not a retired airline attendant!

In short, I want my pet care provider to understand canine and feline behaviors and health issues.  I want them to know enough about canine and feline stress and health issues to know if something is seriously wrong,  if a vet visit is necessary, or if a home remedy will be fine.  I want to be comfortable leaving my pets with experts.

You will hear a lot about people who love dogs, and want to take care of yours.  It is a buyer-beware world when it comes to pet care. They will try to persuade you with promises of care, “just like at home!”  Don’t be fooled.  Just because they tell you Rover sleeps in bed with them every night, does not make it true. Trust a facility and staff that promises safe, secure and healthy care – even if it does not look like home.

Cedar Creek Pet Resort is a locally owned business run by people who have combined experience of more than 100 years in pet care.  We promise your pet will be safe, secure and healthy when she stays here.  We offer more than marketing – we offer the best care at affordable prices.  Come talk to us! We know you will be happy.

Professional Grooming Keeps Pets Healthy!

Many people today think their pet’s vet is the source of all accurate information about dogs and cats – not just health information, but everything.  That is like expecting your family physician to know what the best teaching techniques are, where the best hotels are, who the best plumber is, and how to prepare the finest meals.  Vets and physicians are great at what they are trained to do, but we should not expect them to be experts in all aspects of our lives or our pets’ lives.

The pet care world is diverse and specialized.  In addition to veterinarians we have groomers, trainers, breeders, animal behaviorists and care-givers.  Each of these areas can be further specialized.  Take training, for example.  There are obedience classes (many levels), puppy kindergarten, problem behavior solutions, conformation training classes (many levels), therapy, good citizen, search and rescue and service dog training (many different kinds).  Trainers all specialize in an area, and each uses their own techniques based upon their personal experienc and success with a technique and different breeds.

Grooming is the same.  There are various levels of grooming skill.  Unfortunately the consumer has no good way to sort through which groomers are great, and which are just barely passable in their knowlege and skills.  We don’t have a uniform system, like many trades, that certifies levels of accomplishment.  In general, it is a buyer-beware system.

So why is this important?  After all, it’s just a haircut, and hair grows!

If that were true, I suppose it would not matter what skill level your groomer had.  Even in the human world there are $6 haircuts, and there are people who can fix $6 haircuts.  If it were truly only about looks the skill of your groomer would be less critical.

But a really good groomer provides more than just a haircut.  A good groomer sees your dog on a regular basis, and is often the first to notice when things are different or starting to go wrong.  Good groomers will spot skin problems, and nutritional deficiencies long before most pet owners or vets.  They can tell when the texture of the coat is changing or when the ears are becoming infected – indications of potential ly serious internal problems.  They are often the first to notice subtle behavioral changes that may be leading up to something more serious, like canine dementia or rage syndrome.  Good groomers will often suggest when to take your dog to a vet, and they can suggest some topics to ask your vet about.  Groomers are your first step of triage in keeping your pets healthy.

So how do you know who is a good groomer?  It’s not too difficult, really.  Ask them how long they have been a groomer, and how they were trained.  In general, the best groomers have been working the longest, and trained in an apprentice program. Good groomers know how to use scissors!  They do not shave everything.  Shaving is easy, scissoring is a highly skilled trade.  Good groomers spend time learning the appropriate trims for the various breeds, and they can make suggestions to you about what will look best on your pet.

Good groomers don’t hide mistakes.  Yes, good groomers will make mistakes, but not often.  And when they do, they point them out to you when you pick up your pet.  They will apologize, and ask to have another chance to do it better next time.

Good groomers will be honest with you.  If they can save your pet’s coat, they will tell you how they will do it, and suggest how much it might cost in dematting fees.  If they think dematting is going to be too painful for your pet, they will suggest clipping, and recommend how often to return to keep your pet’s coat in better shape.

Good groomers will tell you about the changes they think you should monitor, and will suggest when it’s time to see a vet or a training specialist. They will suggest when it’s time to put your older dog in a simpler trim, or when it’s impossible to trim nails without hurting your pet.

Grooming is more than just a pretty haircut, though I am a huge fan of making pets look nice!  They are your partners in health maintenance, too.  Choose your groomer carefully – your pets will thank you, and your neighbors will notice the difference!

What Breed Is Right for You?

Most people choose the dog they want based entirely upon how it looks.  This is rarely the best criteria, but it is certainly the most common.  In my 40 years of working with people and their pets I have seen many mismatches because the people looking for a pet did not spend enough time analyzing and thinking about the traits that were importnt in a pet, and those that were merely desireable.

My sister is a great example.  She has had many dogs, and up until her current choice, she ultimately grew to dislike most of them because they did not fit her lifestyle or personality.  She has had a Dalmation, a Yorkie, a Miniature Schnauzer and a Border Collie.  When she placed the Border Collie after only 4 months, I suggested she let me do an evaluation, and help her choose the right breed for her needs.  I had a series of questions that I asked her regarding her preferences in size, personality, coat type and activity level.  I wanted to know if she had color preferences, and how important shedding was.  I needed to know if there were any allergy or other health issues.  I also wanted her to be brutally honest about her own activity level, and whether or not she planned to travel with the dog or leave it in a kennel.

After spending about an hour chatting with my sister, I suggested that she may want to consider a Cavalier King Charles as her next pet.  She immediately went on-line and looked up the breed, saw that she liked the look, and decided this might be a good choice.  I located a great breeder, and within 6 months she had an older Cavalier puppy.  And now she is finally “happy as a clam,” with her new partner!  We found the breed that is right for her, not the one others wanted her to buy or liked for themselves.  Cavaliers are not right for everyone, but it is a perfect match for my sister.

There are over 150 AKC recognized breeds, and there are great breeders for all of them.  But navigating the puppy-picking waters can be treacherous if you are not familiar with the breeds or the breeders.  I can spot a clever website for a not-so-good breeder a mile away, but I do not believe most puppy buyers know the difference between a fast-talker and a legitimate breeder.  They don’t know the right questions to ask, and they are often sucked into a transaction because they feel sorry for a pathetic-looking puppy.

Most of us will have our pets with us for 12-17 years.  It makes sense to find the right one.  It makes sense to get a well-bred, intentionally bred puppy from a quality breeder if you are going to spend that many years with your dog.

The experts at Cedar Creek Pet Resort would love to work with you the next time you are ready to add a new dog to your family.  Ask my sister how happy she is now that she finally has the breed that is right for her.  We found her the right puppy, and we can do the same for you when you are ready.  Call us.  Ask for Jackie or Leah.  We are happy to help.

Your dogs can’t talk, but they can communicate – so who is listening?

Most pet owners know that their pets are communicating with them.  Pets tell us when it’s time to eat, go outside, or get a tummy rub.  But what about the other people who are listening?  How well do they interpret what your dog is telling them?  Do the people you trust to care for your pets understand the language?

The pet care industry has become flooded with people who love animals, but have no clue about how to understand the language they speak.  And understanding the language of dogs and cats is critical if you are going to receive top-quality care.

Take PlayCare, for example.  How much background do the supervisors have in reading pack behavior?  Do they know the difference between play, pack-sorting and aggression?  Do they know what breeds are likely to get along, and which are likely to be a problem?  Dogs speak a language that is foreign to most people.  It takes years of study and work with animals to begin to sort out the different behaviors and postures exhibited by dogs in a pack environment.  Not all dogs want the company of other dogs – unless you consider fighting good company.  Terriers and working dogs come from environments where they are the sole provider of a service for humans.  Other dogs are more of a nuisance than good company for them.

And mixed breeds add a whole different dimension.  What about the terrier sporting dog mixes?  Who knows what these dogs will do around other dogs?  The terrier part will want to kill them, and the sporting part will want to play toss-retrieve with them.  Learning how to read dog behavior and posturing is critical in mixed breeds where their backgrounds are unknown.

As the number of doggy daycares has expanded, the quality of the supervision has diminished.  Injuries, and even deaths, can occur if the supervising staff are not adequately trained.  This happened in Milwaukee just a few weeks ago.  We do not know if this situation could have been prevented, but we do know it illustrates the importance of working with trained providers who know how to read dog behaviors.

Experience matters.  At Cedar Creek Pet Resort we want to work with you to make sure your individual pet receives exactly the right kind of care for their individual needs.  We are all dog whisperers here – with combined pet-care experience of over 100 years.  Let us help you design the best grooming, PlayCare and boarding experience for your individual pet.  They don’t talk, but we know how to listen – and watch.  We want to get to know your pet – and you!  Come in for a visit and talk with our pet-care consultants.  You’ll see the difference.

Remembering Why I Started Breeding – A Great One Died Today

Ch Hundeleben Viagara Promise, AKA “Woody” died at age 13 early this morning.  He was my first standard wirehaired dachshund, and he set the standard for me.  After finishiing in the top 10 of his breed in 2003, he retired to live with my daughter, Andrea.  Andrea later took one of his puppies, Violet, who completed her championship, and is now working on becoming a therapy dog.

 

As I reflected on Woody’s life and death, I became acutely aware of why I started breeding dogs in the beginning – and why it is still the best thing I do.  I love the process of creating, with intention and purpose, these wonderful creatures that make our lives so much richer.  With intention and purpose I have spent 40 years breeding dogs that people all over the world cherish.  With intention and purpose I have created dogs that have had both fabulous show careers, and full lives as couch potatos.  Some have been used for tracking, some for agility, and some to compete in grooming contests.  ALL have been loved by their owners.  All were created with intention and purpose.

 

None (well almost none – there was that one Bedlington X Basset litter) of my breedings were accidental.  None were produced with the intention of selling for profit, though I am not opposed to the idea of earning something for hard work.  All were produced after careful selection of sire and dam, and much pedigree research – all with the intent of bettering the breeds.  If I encountered a problem – health or behavioral – I was careful not to repeat the breeding  that produced the problem.  I only bred when I wanted to keep one for myself, so it was never in my best interest to produce an unhealthy or unsound litter.  I also did extensive pedigree research, and lots of genetic testing to isolate where certain problems might have originated, so I could avoid those match-ups in future pedigrees.

 

With intention and purpose.  In this day of “rescuing” mixed breed dogs of unknown parentage, the concept seems almost quaint.  And I wonder how it got this way.  Why did the public abandon the people who worked the hardest to produce the highest quality puppies?  Why did buying a mixed breed from a shelter or rescue become more righteous than purchasing a well-bred, intentianally bred dog from a good AKC breeder? Does the public know  or care about where the dogs they “adopt” for money (I call that buying a dog) come from?  Do they know that many are bred by the very breeders they think are awful – or worse – originate in foreign countries?  What happened to “Buy American from a quality source”?

 

Woody was the best dog ever.  He was a champion, a stud dog, a top-ranked Special, and the best friend my daughter ever had.  He was there when my son died, and when my grandsons were born.  He was healthy, and happy until the day he died.  And we knew from the time we got him as a puppy that this was his likely future – because he had been bred intentionally, and with purpose for just these characteristics by a great dachshund breeder.

 

I am proud to be a hobby breeder of healthy, sound AKC dogs.  And I want the public to re-discover the joy of owning a dog bred with intention and purpose.  Each breed has it’s unique temperament, look, energy level and coat. Good breeders will be able to explain the good and challenging traits of their particular breed, and are happy to work with people who want to buy their puppies or adopt their older dogs.  We can trace characteristics back for generations – our pedigrees are sacred documents, and we love to share them with you.

 

Thank you, Woody, for your life, and your memories.  And thank you for reminding me why I do this “labor of love.”  It’s been a lifetime of heartache and joy, mostly joy – and I would not trade it for any other work,

 

Happy Customer Tells Her Story

We love to hear from our customers!  We especially like to hear from customers like Karin who wrote the following:

“Just had to tell you about the groomer we found – thinking you might like to post something about them on your blog.  Get a fantastic cut & so very reasonable!  Today we took Floyd to Katie at Cedar Creek Pet Resort!  When we went to pick him up & the gal brought him out, I was petting kitties, glanced over & it took the 2nd glance before realizing she had the dog we brought in!  David says he recognized the under bite but not the dog!

Floyd looks so nice!  The nicest he has ever looked from the 1st day we got him as a puppy!  And I do believe Floyd feels good about himself, that he knows he looks so cute now!  He is strutting around the house, showing off!  LOL

Our first impression as driving up was – WOW!  The picture on your web page sure is deceiving.  What a set up you have!

Please tell Katie thank you for giving Floyd such a nice hair cut.  Like I said, he has never looked so good!  It is a drive down there, but well worth it.

One last thing.  A little upset with the gal at the front desk.  She told me I couldn’t take the brown tiger kitty home with me.  😦  That was not very nice of her!  LOL  Seriously though, Katie & the gal at the front desk were very personable.  (Never thought to ask the gal of the desk her name.)

Hope you are having a nice weekend!

Karin

PS  You need an option on your web site for customers comments.  I would love to share our GREAT experience.  Needless to say, Floyd will be back!

And I love the ‘shop kitties’.”

Thanks for writing this, Karin!  We love you,too – and Becka says it’s OK if you don’t know her name as long as you keep coming back.  Oh, and just a reminder:  no, you can’t have our official greeter cat, Toni!  But you can come to visit her as often as you like.

Dog Cooling Not the Same as People Cooling!

We all know it is important to keep pets cool when the temperatures get hot, but most people don’t know exactly the best way to do this.  They assume dogs are like people, and will need the same things we do.  This is only partially correct.  A cooler environment is important, and so is plenty of water.  But humans and dogs have very different cooling mechanisms.

Dogs cool themselves by panting, not sweating!  Panting cools their internal organs, and helps to regulate their body temperature from the inside out.  They do sweat a little, but only through the pads on their feet.  So plenty of fresh, tepid or cool (not cold) water is very important for your dog in hot weather since they lose a lot of moisture through their mouths when they pant.  Also, you should know that this method of cooling is more efficient than the human form of sweating to stay cool, so if you are comfortable, your dog probably is, too.

While black coats in the sun soak up the heat, light colored coats are  actually good at reflecting the sun’s ray. s All coats protect the dog’s skin from the harmful effects of the sun.  So don’t think shaving your dog is the best way to keep it cool!  You could be complicating things by introducing sunburn on top of the heat.  Keep your dark-coated dogs in the shade as much as possible, and leave enough coat on your light-coated dogs to block the sun’s rays.

Remember that your 4-legged best friend is not a furry human, and the things that work for people are not always right for your dog or cat.

Always seek immediate veterinary care if you suspect your dog has heat exhaustion.  Time is critical – the quicker you get your pet to the vet, the more likeley he is to make a full recovery.

Beware Of Fleas and Other Critters That Can Harm Your Pets

Most people know that Fall is the season for fleas.  As the nights get cooler, these nasty insects ar looking for warm places to hide and lay their eggs before the winter settles in.  Your cats and dogs are perfect! And so is your furniture and carpeting.

If you find one or two fleas on your dog, do not delay – get them to the groomer immediately for a flea bath.  If you catch the problem soon enough you will not have a bad infestation, but you have to act quickly – the entire life-cycle is only 10 days.  If you allow a hatch to happen you will go from one or two fleas to dozens or even hundreds in a matter of a few days, and then you have a serious problem that will require a multi-pronged attack.  Remember, out of the 10 days the flea is only spending 2 or 3 on your dog.  The rest of the time is on your floors or in your sofa.  Yuck!

And there are other critters that can cause problems for your pets.  Spider bites are becoming more frequent this time of year, too.  Sometines they will cause mild itching, but sometimes they can erupt and cause an open, round wound that your pet will chew at until it is infected and deep.  You may have to treat this type of wound with antibiotics and a cervical collar to keep your pet from making things worse.

One of your best defenses against problems is regular grooming by a trained professional.  Good groomers notice if there are changes in skin and coat conditions, and will alert you if they see anything different for your pet.

Cedar Creek Pet Resort groomers will always let you know if they see something unusual or different.  Sometimes you will need to seek veterinary help to solve the problem, and sometimes we can recommend a product to try before going in for medical treatment.

Grooming isn’t just about making your pet look cute – though we are quite good at that – it is also part of your pet’s health care maintenance program.  Call us for an appointment!  We will be happy to work with you to keep your pet clean, cute and healthy.

Professional Grooming – Good For Your Pet’s Health

If you think a professional groom is just an expensive way to make your pet look better, guess again!  The professional groomers at Cedar Creek Pet Resort are trained pet care professionals who analyze your dog’s condition, then select the products and techniques that fit your pet’s personal needs.

Sure, Fluffy smells and looks better when you pick her up, but what you don’t know is that she has also had a general “check-up” by the groomer who is looking at the condition of her skin and coat while she is grooming.  We will also brush her teeth on request.  Many underlying health conditions will show up in the skin and coat condition before you even notice something may be wrong.  Conditions like hypothyroidism and allergies will make the skin and coat of your pet look and smell different  to your groomer, and she can then alert you to take your dog to her veterinarian for a check-up.  Groomers also notice if your dog is gaining weight, or is acting different from usual – changes you might not have noticed since you see her every day.  Groomers will also be able to spot ticks and fleas, and we will be able to treat them before they become a serious problem in your home.

Smelling good, and looking good are important, but you get so much more when you have your dog groomed regularly by a professional.

Next time you think about hosing down Rover with cold water, or taking the scissors to cut Fulffy’s bangs, think about picking up your phone to make an appointment with your groomer, instead.  The groomers at Cedar Creek Pet Resort are the best in the business – all trained by real professionals who have worked with and groomed show dogs for more than 40 years.

Fluffy and Rover will feel much better after their spa treatment at Cedar Creek Pet Resort – and you can enjoy a day at the beach or shopping without having to worry about what the dog or cat is doing!

Cedar Creek Pet Resort Offers Special Services

Our team at Cedar Creek Pet Resort offers a full line of specialty services for your pets. Including but not limited to, breeder referal programs, spa day, specialized baths, makeovers and massage.

Does your pet need a “Spa Day?”

Is your pet starting to feel old and achy or maybe just a little cranky?

Do you have a pet in need of a special treat?

Try Spa Day; It’s an invigorating experience that will have your pet begging to come back for more!

There are many benefits to Spa Day:
* Healthier Skin and Coat
* Relaxed Muscles
* Soothed Joints
* Calming

We feature:
* Specialized Baths
* Your choice of medicated shampoos, aroma therapy, or flea bath.

Makeovers
Or maybe your pet is ready for a new look, or perhaps just needs a trim? Our groomers can give your pet the right look.

Massage
A trained specialist will massage the aches and pains away or relax a tensed up pooch.

Hours
(appointments are required.)

Wednesday and Friday
9:00am – 3:00pm

Rates
Everything Included……..$65.00

Individually Priced
Massage………………………..$30.00
Makeover………………………$38.00
(Bath,nailtrim and ear cleaning included with makeover)

Makeover fees will increase for matted and double coated dogs.