This Just In! http://reigningpetsnorthwest.com/blog Your "Behind The Scenes" Look at Reigning Pets Northwest Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:53:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Training Tip of the Day http://reigningpetsnorthwest.com/blog/2009/03/10/training-tip-of-the-day/ http://reigningpetsnorthwest.com/blog/2009/03/10/training-tip-of-the-day/#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:52:06 +0000 Administrator http://reigningpetsnorthwest.com/blog/?p=48 I learned a good dog training tip today during my volunteer shift at Virginia Woof Dog Daycare. We had a puppy of about 4 1/2 months old who barked continually, and needed to learn that excessive barking was not appropriate. I tried using a squirt bottle to correct him, and he just looked at me and kept barking. So, I corrected him several more times in the same way, and… more barking and a wet dog. What I learned is that if a dog doesn’t react to a certain method of correction the first time, that using the same correction again will have no affect. It’s better to try other methods of correction until you find the correction that will have the desired affect on the dog. In this case, no barking.

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Mission Accomplished http://reigningpetsnorthwest.com/blog/2009/03/10/mission-accomplished/ http://reigningpetsnorthwest.com/blog/2009/03/10/mission-accomplished/#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:17:19 +0000 Administrator http://reigningpetsnorthwest.com/blog/?p=41 After much thought and reflection, we have finalized the mission statement for Reigning Pets NW:

“To enrich the lives of pets through quality care, exercise, discipline, and affection while supporting community-based efforts to control the pet population and end the euthanasia of healthy, social, and treatable pets.”

Our mission statement has been posted on the home page of our website to provide our website visitors a quick look at what we’re all about.

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Organic Treats, Boutiques Unleashed, and Hurt Feet (well… toe, actually) http://reigningpetsnorthwest.com/blog/2009/03/09/32/ http://reigningpetsnorthwest.com/blog/2009/03/09/32/#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:04:42 +0000 Administrator http://reigningpetsnorthwest.com/blog/?p=32 This week, we’ve been shopping around for a new organic and natural dog treat to offer in our online boutique, and we think we may have found one that meets our high quality standards! Be on the lookout for these new treats popping up on our online store in the next month or two.

We’re wrapping up our preparations for the upcoming Boutiques Unleashed show this Friday evening. We had a fitting today with one of the dog models we will be outfitting, and his full-coverage Alpenhitze™ Custom Dog Coat made by a company called All About Great Danes looks so handsome on him! Our kitty model will be wearing a lightweight coat, which we are expecting to receive from Barking Baby on Weds morning, just in time for the show two days later. Whew! We may also be outfitting two additional dogs, but the details are still being worked out with DoveLewis. Reservations are still available for this event, but they are going fast. Reserve your spot today! All proceeds to benefit the DoveLewis Pet Loss Support Program.

Our dog, Hailey, had her brace changed a few days ago. She broke a toe on her right front paw two weeks ago today while chasing her ball around the tennis courts. The wonderful vet techs at Parkway Vet Hospital in Lake Oswego decorated her new brace with yellow hearts and the phrase “Give Me Cookies”, which fits Hailey very well!

Our biggest challenge with her is trying to keep her calm so that she doesn’t run around too much on her injured foot. Not an easy task for a dog of just over a year! She’s still limping a lot, which brings her lots of sympathy!

Have a great week!

Amy

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Welcome to our new blog! http://reigningpetsnorthwest.com/blog/2009/02/27/welcome-to-our-new-blog/ http://reigningpetsnorthwest.com/blog/2009/02/27/welcome-to-our-new-blog/#comments Sat, 28 Feb 2009 01:09:38 +0000 Administrator http://reigningpetsnorthwest.com/blog/?p=8 Hello Friends of Reigning Pets Northwest! Welcome to our new blog! We will be using this area to keep you informed with what’s going on with us, as well as to share tips, tricks, and the latest pet-related news. Please feel free to comment on any of our postings, and let us know what you’d like to see in future posts!

This week, I started volunteering with Virginia Woof, a local dog daycare in Portland. By volunteering at Virginia Woof, not only will I be able to gain additional dog handling experience in an off-leash environment, but I am hopeful that my professional experience as the owner of a dog walking and pet sitting company may serve to inspire the animal-loving homeless and low income youth participating in the job training program at the dog daycare.

On my first day as a volunteer, my main goal was to begin learning the dogs names, and there are many! I also learned the process of checking in each dog as they arrive in the morning, and how the staff, volunteers, and youth keep track of the dogs’ leashes. In terms of the dogs and their interactions with each other, I learned that, for the most part, the dogs are allowed to correct each others’ behavior, communicating amongst themselves as to what behaviors are acceptable. It’s really quite amazing how quickly hierarchies are established within the dog pack.

On a different note, Reigning Pets NW is putting together the final touches for the pet outfits we will be providing for the upcoming Boutiques Unleashed event on March 13th, benefiting the DoveLewis Pet Loss Support Program. Boutiques Unleashed offers a fun and sometimes hilarious look at the latest styles from local boutiques for people and pets. Reigning Pets NW will be outfitting a 110-lb Lab/Great Dane mix in a full-coverage Alpenhitze™ Custom Dog Coat made by a company called All About Great Danes. To complete the look, our big dog model will also be sporting a set of Black All-Weather Boots by Muttluks. And, just like last year, we will also be outfitting the only cat to walk the runway! This stylin’ kitty will be wearing a striped lightweight coat by Barking Baby. Tickets for the event are still available, but they’re going quick! Buy your tickets by visiting the Boutiques Unleashed website.

I stopped in to check out Pawsitively Clean today, a self-serve pet wash on SE Hawthorne at 39th. The owner, Whitney, has done a fabulous job sprucing things up with fresh paint and other improvements. It’s a great place to get stinky dogs clean without getting your house dirty! Visit their website, or stop in at Pawsitively Clean located at the corner of SE Hawthorne and 40th (3962 SE Hawthorne).

On a personal note, our own dog Hailey broke a toe on Monday! =( We took her to the tennis courts to play with her ball, and she twisted her leg a funny way and ended up breaking one of her toes on her right front paw. She’s now in a brace that goes up to her elbow, which will stay on for 6 weeks. Poor pup! Check her out:

Well, that’s the end of our first post. Please feel free to add comments, and we’ll catch ya next time!

Amy E Frankwick
Owner, Reigning Pets Northwest
Tel 503.799.2461
amy@reigningpetsnorthwest.com
www.reigningpetsnorthwest.com

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