A Puppy's Christmas

 A Puppy's Christmas

It's the day before Christmas
And all through the house
The puppies are squeaking
An old rubber mouse.

The wreath which had merrily
Hung on the door
Is scattered in pieces
All over the floor.

The stockings that hung
In a neat little row
Now boast a hole in
Each one of the toes.

The tree was subjected
To bright-eyed whims,
And now, although splendid,
It's missing some limbs.

I catch them and hold them.
"Be good", I insist.
They lick me, then run off
To see what they've missed.

And now as I watch them
The thought comes to me,
That theirs is the spirit
That Christmas should be.

Should children and puppies
Yet show us the way,
And teach us the joy
That should come with this day?

Could they bring the message
That's written above,
And tell us that, most of all
Christmas is love.

A Dog's Christmas Story

Dog Christmas Story:

Tonight’s my first night as a watchdog,

And here it’s Christmas Eve.

The children are sleeping all cozy upstairs,

While I’m guarding the stockings and tree.

What’s that now—footsteps on the rooftop?

Could it be a cat or a mouse?

Who’s this down the chimney?

A thief with a beard,

And a big sack for robbing the house?

I’m barking, I’m growling, I’m biting his butt.

He howls and jumps back in his sleigh.

I scare his strange horses, they leap in the air.

I’ve frightened the whole bunch away.

Now the house is all peaceful and quiet again.

The stockings are safe as can be.

Won’t the kiddies be glad when they wake up tomorrow,

And see how I’ve guarded the tree. 

*Found online*

Holiday Rules for Dogs

Important Rules to remember during the holiday season

The holiday season can be a very strange time when you’re a dog.  People are decorating their houses with lights, humans put trees in the house and put lights on those too, the humans wear ugly sweaters, they make huge feasts that we’re not allowed to snack on, the list goes on and on… and apparently some fat guy checks that list twice.  Be especially patient with your humans during this time. They may appear to be more stressed-out than usual so remember to remind them that petting you helps to relieve some stress.  They may come home with large bags of things they call gifts. Do not assume that all the gifts are yours. They also wrap these said gifts with paper, make a note that you’re not supposed to rip the paper off these gifts.  Be tolerant if your humans put decorations on you.  They seem to get some special kind of pleasure out of seeing how dogs look with fake antlers.  Crazy.  However if they put bells or sweaters on you, well you’re going to need to sit down and have a talk with your human. 

The Christmas Tree: 

They may bring a large tree into the house and set it up in a prominent place and cover it with lights and decorations.  Bizarre as this may seem to you, it is an important ritual for your humans, so here are some things canines need to know:

· Don't pee on the tree.

· Don't drink water in the container that holds the tree.

· Mind your tail when you are near the tree.

· Don’t eat those fun looking objects on the tree, apparently they’re not edible.

· The tree is unfortunately not meant for you to rub up on.  Seriously who puts a tree in the house?

· If there are packages under the tree, even ones that smell interesting or that have your name on them, don't rip them open.  Just keep saying the mantra, “I will not eat gifts, I will not eat gifts.”

· Don't chew on the cord that runs from the funny-looking hole in the wall to the tree.  I once saw in a movie how that didn’t end well for a cat. 

Discretion:

Your humans may occasionally invite lots of strangers to come visit during this season. These parties can be lots of fun, but they also call for some discretion on the part of we dogs:

· Not all strangers appreciate kisses.  We need to talk to our owners about these people, maybe they need new friends.

· Do not eat off the buffet table, apparently that’s frowned upon. 

· Beg for goodies by all means but do it........ subtly.  Use those puppy dog eyes, don’t nonchalantly take a snack from a plate. 

· Be pleasant, even if unknowing strangers sit on your sofa.  Tis the season for sharing!

· Don't drink out of glasses that are left within your reach.  Those humans are crazy, who know what they’re drinking.

Manners:

Likewise, your humans may take you visiting at Christmas.  Here your manners will also be important:

· Respect the territory of other animals that may live in the house.  Remember you’re a guest.

· Tolerate children.  I know this can be hard when they’re grabbing your ears and your tails.  But I promise your human will reward you for your good behavior. 

· Turn on your charm big time.

· A big man with a white beard and a very loud laugh may emerge from your fireplace in the middle of the night.  Do not bite him.  He brings goodies, and if you’re lucky he might even share his midnight snacks with you.  

Thanksgiving Dog Poem

Here's a special poem for all the furry paws under all the Thanksgiving tables!

Family gathers ‘round the table

Set with turkey, yams and dressing,

Holding hands and bowing heads

Thanking God for every blessing.

Platters steaming, bowls are brimming,

Dishes circle like a wreath.

Though the tabletop is tempting,

I’m drawn to something underneath.

At my feet I feel a tapping

A paw that tells me someone’s there.

Perhaps he’s hoping for a morsel.

But instead, I say a prayer.

Thank you God for furry paws

That sweetly nudge and jump and run.

Thank you for the tail that wags

Unceasingly, never done.

For ears that hear me drawing near,

For the nose so cold and wet,

The fur so soft (unless it rains)

That’s warm and comforting to pet.

For the eyes that tell me how he feels,

And the gaze I never tire of.

The tongue that kisses sloppily.

The faithful heart so full of love.

Thanksgiving is a time of year

Acknowledgments abound.

Appreciation multiplies

For loved ones all around.

So, I’m thankful for friends and family

And each gift God shall enable.

And I’m thankful for my loyal dog

Who waits underneath the table.

A few of our Favorite Pups...

At Preferred Pet Care the staff gets the amazing experience of meeting literally hundreds of dogs.  Despite that we love all of the pups that come in, we would be lying if we said we didn’t have our favorites.  However of course when we say “favorites” it ends up being a long, long, long list.  So we thought we would feature some of our favorite dogs and blog about them.  And don’t worry if you don’t read about your dog right away, I’m sure you’ll end up reading about them sooner or later.  

I cannot even fandom how many dogs I have had the pleasure of meeting over my +8 years of being with the company.  So today I thought I’d tell you about one of my favorite dogs that is a regular at Preferred Pet Care Inc.  Magic: One of my favorite dogs is Magic, he started coming to doggie daycare in December 2012.  Magic is a Tennessee Tree hound.  What makes Magic special is that he’s very much a dogs dog.  When he first started coming he was a ball of nerves.  Saying Magic was shy with people would be an understatement.  I certainly wouldn’t describe Magic as cowering in the corner when people came near him.  He was more less extremely guarded, fearful, and didn’t know what to expect of people.  I guess the other dogs must have talked to him and told him how awesome Preferred Pet Care Inc is, because he soon realized that he loves Preferred Pet Care Inc.  He barks to come in, he barks to go home.  Magic is truly one happy pup when he’s here.  Magic curls up when he’s in his room and when you go to pet him he just melts into the ground expecting belly rubs.  He nuzzles his head on you for you to continue petting.  It’s remarkable though because if he doesn’t know you he instantly will revert back to his old ways.  He’s a pup where you have to earn his trust, and with that comes tons of doggie kisses. -Crystal

Faraday: One of my favorites is Faraday.  First of all the name Faraday is just fun to say.  Secondly he’s just such a big goofball, he’s the kind of pup that could put a smile on anyone’s face.  Faraday just seems to be aloof to everything that’s going on in the world, he’s just doing his own thing.  All the other dogs could be having indept conversations about politics and Faraday would be over on the side chasing a butterfly marveling over the pretty clouds.  Faraday is a large white, short-haired, maybe husky mix that has freckles that appear depending on the season.  Despite Faraday’s size he is a big baby.  He’s scared of hats, balloons, plastic bags, anything new, and probably his own shadow.  Instead of standing big and tall he crotches down as low as he can possibly get to the group and maneuver over to whatever scary thing.  You can’t help but laugh when you see him do this, it’s like really Faraday you’re afraid of that?!  Tell me really how could you not fall in love with this goofball?- Joe

Just Like Us

 

JUST LIKE US

Our dogs are members of the family.  Children are not kept at home to protect them from colds and tummy aches, skinned knees or broken bones.  People are encouraged to play and explore.  They require socialization and experience in order to mature and have a complete life.   Our dogs are just like us.

When I was a child our dogs stayed home all day waiting for our family to return, they did not interact with other dogs or have proper stimulation.  We did not board our dogs because overcrowded, caged boarding was the only option.  Today with Daycare, Social Boarding & Dog Parks, our dog’s life experience has changed for the better.  Our dogs are exposed to a lot more than they used to be, both intellectually and physically.  Although the positives vastly outweigh the negatives, there are some things that we need to be aware of.  Socialization increases the risk of catching a cold, a stomach bug or anything else that can be passed along from one dog to another.  Preferred Pet Care (PPC) was designed and is maintained with health and cleanliness in mind.  However, our dogs are just like us.

Preferred Pet Care provides a clean and safe environment for your dog during their stay with caring professionals to supervise them, play with them and give them love and attention.  Some of them are graceful and full of energy, some are clumsy and goofy, some of our dogs move carefully around as they play, and some of them are like bulls in a china shop.  Whichever category your dog falls into, even with the closest and best supervision, accidents or injuries may occur.  Our dogs are just like us.

Just like us, dogs do not always show symptoms of a cold when they are contagious.  Just like us, even the most graceful of dogs can have a not so graceful moment.  Just like us, dogs don’t always let their families know when they aren’t feeling well and come in to daycare or boarding before anyone realizes it. 

Although injuries and colds are extremely rare here, they do occur.  If we notice a dog with the sniffles or coughing, we remove them immediately to our isolation room and seek medical help for them.  We notify our customers as best we can when we are aware of a cold going around so YOU can make the decision as to what is best for your dog.  This information can be helpful whether you are checking in or checking out from participating in our services.

With all of the ways our dogs are just like us, there is one very important way our dogs are NOT just like us, and that is that they cannot tell us how they feel (although some of our clients will strongly disagree with that).  It is for this reason that we always recommend that if you suspect your dog may have caught a cold, has a tummy ache or doesn’t seem right for whatever reason, bring them to your vet.  Just like us, our pets can get better on their own, or they can get worse.  Without being able to tell us how they feel it is always safest to have a doctor examine them.

Following are some quotes from customers:

1.  If I kept my child home every time we were aware of a cold going around they would never leave the house.
2. We don’t want to put our dog at risk, but at the same time they would be missing out on so much if we kept them sheltered at home all the time.
3. My kids hurt themselves goofing off at home as much as when they are out.  My dog is no different.
4. At least at PPC, unlike the dog park, we know all the dogs are vaccinated and someone is always watching them.
5. My dog can hurt himself or catch a cold anywhere, but my dog loves it here so much he may as well be having the time of his life.
6. My kids caught everything under the sun at daycare but when they went to school, they were the ones that never got sick.

Dogs are better than human beings because they know but do not tell.
—Emily Dickinson

Boarding Reservations...

We have a maximum number of individual dogs that we can take.  Individual dogs are those dogs that are on our “Rotation” program.  Rotation dogs receive individual staff attention for at least ten minute every hour.  Unfortunately once we hit that maximum number we cannot take any more individual dogs, we refuse to compromise the quality of care of the dogs.  At Preferred Pet Care Inc. our motto is, “Dogs come first”. 

Furthermore we have a maximum amount of dogs that we can take for boarding.  Just like a hotel, once all the rooms are booked up that’s it.  There’s nothing else we can do.  We unfortunately can’t just make more rooms. 

Trust us we hate to turn away business.  We would love to never have to turn customers away, but unfortunately we have to once we hit our maximum for individual (rotation dogs) and when we have filled all our boarding rooms.

The best suggestion that we can give is to make your boarding arrangement as far as in advanced as possible.  A good rule of thumb is that anytime the schools are closed (major holidays, school events such as spring break, summer time) to book your boarding stay as soon as you can.  

Featured Pups of the week 5/23-5/31

5/23: Barney- The Commodore Barney can only be described as a knucklehead.  He is a big dopey puppy.  He is only a year old and he has no idea he’s not that small puppy anymore.  He’s now ~100lbs.  Barney loves when he comes for a visit to North Jersey to see all of his friends.  He actually is so excited that he had trouble staying in the playgroup, Barney will often escape from the playgroup just so that he can be the first dog to meet whoever is coming into the group.  When he’s not hanging with all his friends at Preferred Pet Care Inc. he’s gallivanting in South Jersey going fishing, going for mile long runs, or playing in the water. 

5/24: Hank & Frankie-What can we say about Hank & Frankie?  Well let’s see…  Hank like everyone enjoys a good slice of pizza or two.  In Hanks youth he got whatever his little heart desired for what he wanted to eat.  He has the Garfield of the dog world menu.  Unfortunately now that Mr. Hank is up there in age he’s like so many of us and is on a restricted diet.  Shockingly Hank doesn’t mind and enjoys his food just the same.  Frankie or Francis (that’s his proper name) is a quirky fellow.  Frankie takes time to warmup with people there are only a select few that he likes (can’t blame you on that one Frankie).  The most amusing thing about the Hank & Frankie duo is when they’re in their room laying on their beds.  Frankie always feel he should have the biggest bed, and somehow Hank allows it and always ends up on the same bed.  Oh Hank, you’re so silly!  Shockingly I was able to find a picture that we took of them when they’re both on their correct beds. 

5/25: Oscar- So despite that Oscar is no longer with us and crossed over to the rainbow bridge a while ago since so many people remember him I felt we had to make him a featured pup of the day in remembrance of him.  Oscar was our big white Akita mix that it seemed everyone knew.  He was always at Preferred Pet Care Inc., if he wasn’t here for daycare he was here for boarding (Don’t worry he had a loving family away from his Preferred Pet Care Inc. family too).  Oscar retired to Preferred Pet Care Inc. in 2013 and spent his last year living with us at his doggie assisted living.  Besides from being a big white teddy bear for the small dogs to nuzzle his other noticeable feature was his two different color eyes.  Oscar was such a character he would spend his days napping but then suddenly wake up with spurts of puppy power.  Despite that many of us at Preferred Pet Care Inc. only knew about Oscar in his older days I’d like to share with you how the owners actually acquired Oscar.  He was found by the owner’s son when he was away at college.  Their son was living with a bunch of his friends.  A house full of college guys and a big dog what could possible go wrong?  Over the course of living at the house apparently Oscar would get himself into some trouble.  Eventually the owner’s son gave Oscar to his parents.  Of course that didn’t stop him from getting into mischief.  For such a big dog in his youth he was a master escape artist.  So basically what we can gather is in Oscar’s youth he was partying away at college and going on adventures in the neighborhood meeting new people.  What a life that dog led! 

5/26: Maisy S.- Maisy Sassy Lady!  Maisy Sassy Pants is a Portuguese Water Dog.  Maisy absolutely loves playing with the hose.  Of course she also loves tennis balls.  When Maisy isn’t running amuck at daycare she can be found at the reservation.  She’s often there running rampant in the woods, playing in the water, and occasionally I’m sure getting into some mischief. 

5/27: Birdie L- Birdie’s best friend is Daisy G.  Birdie and Daisy are nonstop players.  Birdie loves to smile.  Birdie is an absolute sweetheart! 

5/31: Dallas- To end the featured pup of the day our head of Security, Dallas...  So Dallas decided to write about himself (if you’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing Crystal’s Dallas voice you basically need to read it in that voice): So umm I’m Dalla Beau, also known as Dallas, or my gansta name as D-Bone, you know from my short lived rapping career.  I was born down in Dallas, North Carolina.  By the time I was two I had numerous different owners and five different names (Kenu, Blue, Keanu, Indigo, Indy).  My last owners gave me up right before Christmas, so I spent my first Christmas in a shelter.  I was finally adopted 5 years ago in May by my forever family.  Since then I’ve been getting spoiled nonstop.  I use to be a group dog and would come to Preferred Pet Care Inc and play with my friends, however I got in one (or maybe more) little fight and got booted out to be an individual dog.  Since then I’ve become head of security greeting everyone that comes in the door, taste testing, testing out the merchandise, sometimes I even roam in the back to help check rooms.  Mostly though I’m typically sleeping on the job (shhh don’t tell my boss), I mean it’s a hard job and being as good looking as I am you need a lot of beauty rest.  

Pup of the Day week of 5/16-5/20/2016

5/16/16: To start the week for the pup of the day is... Bella H. has been a long time customer. Before Maplewood she was a regular with her sister Maggie at the West Orange location. (Rip Maggie ) Now Bella H is a regular with her brother Ranger. Bella is a ball fanatic! When we had our first ball day (Yes, there will be more!) her parents said she was one exhausted puppy dog. Bella is like a professional ball boy. Every time we threw a ball she zoned in on it and was determined to fetch it.

 
5/17/16: Our pup of the day goes to... Little Miss Izzy Azalea is a regular for doggie daycare. Izzy has many names that she goes by: Izzy, Azalea, and Little. She is a pint sized chocolate lab with a lot of spunk! Her best friends are Kili and Jagger, the three of them basically all grew up together over the past two years. What more can you say about Little?

5/18/16:For today's featured pup of the day it is Nacha & Stella. Nacha & Stella are a packaged deal. They’re both two of the sweetest dogs that you will ever meet. Nacha absolutely loves to play fetch, she will do so for hours and has no concept of when enough is enough. When she retrieves the ball/stick/etc. she will drop it at your feet, if you don’t toss it soon enough she will gently nudge it towards you to suggest you throw it. Stella is one silly girl she will chase after a ball even though she has one in her mouth, with no plans of dropping it. When they’re not running around playing they absolutely love to get staff attention.

5/19/16: For today our pup of the day is- Teddy F! Teddy is an old soul. He is a wise pup. Teddy always has something to say to the younger dogs. He loves getting staff attention when he’s in with the taxi group. Teddy will often mosey around meeting and greeting all the other dogs that are here for daycare and boarding. When the younger dogs get too rowdy he always polices them to let them know they need to calm down.

5/20/16: Who is our featured pup of the day you ask? Well let us tell you... it's Nika! Bad girl Nika as she goes by at Preferred Pet Care Inc is just that she’s a bad girl. But she loves being bad. Nika can’t contain herself she just loves to get herself into trouble. Nika is an aspiring artist. Apparently we just don’t appreciate her abstract artwork when she destroys her bed. All kidding aside she’s a sweetheart that just has a mischievous side to her.

Featured Pups Week of 5/9/16

5/9/16:

For today's featured pup it's the dynamic duo! Spud & Gritz have been doggy daycare regulars since they first got adopted. Gritz is constantly ordering Spud around, she claims she’s the older sibling. Gritz even tries to walk Spud. Spud doesn’t understand why, especially when she can’t even walk herself. Spud though is a good sport about it. When they’re not playing with their friends they can be found getting dirty having a blast at the South Mountain Reservation.

5/10/16: Today's featured dog of the day is none other then Danko! On Danko’s first day of daycare he actually didn’t pass his trial day. He was nervous and shy. After a couple of introductions he realized Preferred Pet Care Inc. is awesome! Since then he’s been loving coming to doggie daycare. When he’s not here for daycare he’s having a slumber party with all his friends here. Danko demands a big hello when he arrives and has trouble leaving, he just wants to play play play with all his friends.

5/11/16: 

Who is today's pup of the day you ask? Well it's Magic! Magic is one of our “time share pups”, he’s another regular like Rufus. When he’s not here for daycare he’s here for boarding, and sometimes when he’s not here he’s going for walks around Millburn with his other family. Unfortunately Magic can be a little wary of new people, but once he gets to know you he’s a sweetheart.

5/12/16:

It's almost our anniversary! Who is our featured pup of the day today? It's LUCY W! We have a handful of pups who can “smile”, Lucy is one of them. Lucy is one spunky pup! She loves to play ball with the staff, she went crazy over our ball day! Lucy also loves to play with the hose. She is one silly girl. When Lucy isn’t playing with her friends at Preferred Pet Care she’s going on walks with her dad.

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Featured Pups of the Week 5/2-5/6

Our first featured pup is Rufus C.! Rufus has been coming to Preferred Pet Care Inc. for what seems like forever! May 14th 2012 was Rufus’ first day of daycare at Preferred Pet Care, since then he’s become a regular for not just daycare but boarding. Rufus is a border terrier. When Rufus isn’t hanging out with his puppy friends he enjoys playing fetch in the pool

Guess who is our featured pup of the day? Faraday! What can we say about Faraday? He’s a big goofball! When Faraday isn’t playing with all his friends at daycare he enjoys working on his tan.

Who could possible be our featured pup for the day? It's Cody Rainbow! Cody also known as Cody Rainbow is basically a pint sized Golden Retriever, he looks like a Golden Retriever except he’s short like a basset hound. Cody Rainbow has a killer smile, he likes to keep his teeth nice and bright as he hopes to one day follow in his mom’s footsteps in be in commercials.

Our Featured Pup of the day is... Dexter T! Dexter dreams of becoming architect. He will sporadically decide that the playhouses will look better without a door or without a window shutter. Dexter and Jake M. have discussed starting their own architect and interior design company, they’re still currently arguing about the business name. Jake thinks it should be called “Barkable designs”, whereas Dexter likes the name “Bull designs”. When Dexter isn’t pursing his aspirations of being an architect he spends his time as a fashion model (don’t tell him though that it’s just for his parents, shhh).

Finishing for the week is Jake M as our featured pup! Jake M. has dreams of becoming an interior designer. He often spends his days checking out the different playhouses we have for the yards. Despite that dogs are color blind Jake has an eye for detail. Jake’s good pal Dexter and him plan to one day go into business together. Jake has been coming to Preferred Pet Care Inc. since he was a puppy, it’s been great watching him grow up and mature.

Goodbye Paw Pad (Route 22)

We recently learned that The Paw Pad daycare and training facility located on Route 22 is closing.

 

We’re sad to hear that a fellow doggie daycare facility is closing.  You may be shocked to hear that coming from another facility in the business, but competition is a good thing.  It promotes growth, it challenges you to continue to excel.  If you have a friend who is a good tennis player and you’re just an okay tennis player, the friendly competition with them challenges you to improve upon yourself.  On the same note it forces you to become more creative.  What new ideas or concepts can we bring to the facility?  If we want to be number one what can we do to one up the competition.  It makes you stop and think, perhaps reevaluate how certain things are done to make them more efficient or perhaps try new ideas.  Competition teaches you.  Even though we’re in the same industry no two facilities are exactly alike-unless of course it’s a chain or a franchise, and even there I’m sure there are differences.  Just this past summer we went to a trade show.  It was great to speak with other individuals in the business to find out what works for one area and what doesn’t work. 

We wish all the employees and the owner the best of luck on all of their future endeavors.  Additionally for all those pups that may be looking for another facility we extend a welcome to come check out our facility.  We know it’s not your home yet, but we hope once you get to know us it can be.  

What's a "snow day"?

“What’s a snow day?  Who has one of those?”

Our staff is often shocked when we’re asked by people (customers, friends, family, etc.), “Well, what do you guys do when you have a blizzard or a hurricane?  Do you still have to work?”.  Many of our employees are surprised when people ask us that question.  Well, what do you think?  We have live animals here.  If we’re not there to feed them or take them outside who is going to? 

In the 20 years since we have opened our doors we have never missed a day due to bad weather.  We’re thinking about adopting the U.S. post office’s slogan of “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”.  I guess we would have to change that just a little.  I think our motto of, “Dog’s come first” is pretty good on its own; what do you think?

During Hurricane Sandy many of our staff lost power.  We ourselves at Preferred Pet Care Inc. lost power.  Did we close our doors?  No, we did just the opposite.  Many of our customers were in the same predicament of us with losing power.  Some customers left their homes to stay at friends or relatives or to stay in a hotel.  Unfortunately some of them couldn’t bring along their furry friends.  So even with no power we had our doors opened for both boarding and daycare.  We had overnight boarding guests and we had pups for daycare too.  We operated on a slightly altered schedule, however overall it was business as usual.

Every winter when it snows we still have staff members here taking care of the pups.  Not only are we here feeding, cleaning, and playing with the pups but we’re also here shoveling to make sure the pups have a lush green yard to play in. 

The dedication our employees show is outstanding.  This past weekend with winter storm Jonas both our Saturday & Sunday weekend crew were here providing the same fantastic care that we always do.  What’s a little snow?  (Alright maybe a lot of snow depending on who you ask).  The snow would not deter our employees from coming in and taking care of our overnight guests.  Many people had a “snow day” today due to the aftermath of the storm, but here at Preferred Pet Care Inc. we wonder, “What’s a snow day?.”  Just another day at Preferred Pet Care Inc., business as usual, and that’s all thanks to our outstanding employees (Thanks everyone!).  

Are you just like your dog?

Are you just like your dog?

Pet Products News International December 2015 Issue:

Study Finds People Choose Dogs That Act Like Them

We’ve all heard the old cliché that people look like their dogs, but would you be surprised to find out that people and their dogs tend to socialize, eat and learn new skills in very similar ways, too?

            According to the Natural Balance Canine Personality Study—a survey of 1,015 U.S. dog owners conducted by Burbank, Calif-based Natural Balance Pet Foods in conjunction with Learndipity Data Insights—Americans love dogs who often are just like them.

            Sixty-six percent of extroverted people have extroverted dogs—and there’s a 65 percent chance that an introverted dog will have an introverted human owner.  If you’re a choosy eater, your dog is three times more likely to be one as well.  If you identify as a lifelong learner, then there’s a 72 percent chance your dog will be good at learning new tricks. 

            Dogs display complex emotions, just like we do.

            Dogs’ personalities are highly nuanced, and they experience many emotions that are all too familiar to us humans.  If you’re hurt or late coming home, 90 percent of dog owners believe your dog is worried about you.  Seventy-nine percent say dogs can feel embarrassment, while 93 percent are certain they’ve seen their dog smile. 

            Dogs strongly influence the emotions of their human owners.

            According to 79 percent of dog owners, their dogs consciously and actively attempt to comfort them.  Fifty-five percent report that their dog looks at them with loving eyes that communicate deep emotion; 52 percent say their dog is able to accurately sense when they are sad.  

Holidays-Boarding Stays

Even though the holidays just came to a close it is never too early to book your dog’s boarding stay with us.  A good rule of thumb is that anytime schools are out that we are busy and may potentially be booked.  Some holidays/times to keep in mind are as follows: New Years, Martin Luther King Jr Day, Presidents Day (*may schools have winter break over this time), Spring Break/Easter, Memorial Day, 4^th of July, the months of July & August, Labor Day, Teacher’s convention (typically the first weekend in November), Thanksgiving, and Christmas season (typically from December 22^nd thru to January 2^nd).  Our best suggestion is to reserve your pup’s boarding reservation at least 4-6 weeks before your planned vacation.  If you’re unsure if you may need to cancel or change the boarding dates we highly recommend purchasing boarding insurance.  The boarding insurance is an additional fee, however it does allow you to cancel up until 6pm the day before the scheduled arrival date. 

This past year 2015 we booked up for the Christmas season before the end of November.  If you call and we are booked for the time frame you are looking for always ask about a waiting list.  We did have some people cancel their plans and therefore allowed for some of our customers on the waiting list to have a spot open up for them.  However please keep in mind we do only have a so many rooms that we can book.  Unfortunately once we are full we can’t just make new rooms to accommodate everyone.  We hate turning of customers away, and we wish we could accommodate everyone.  But unfortunately it’s not always possible. 

Additionally we do have a limit for how many individual dogs we can take, so that means if your dog is not with the other dogs (if they are not in our playgroup: if they don’t get along with the other dogs, or if you would prefer them not to be introduced) they are considered to be an individual dog.  Each “individual” dog receives at least ten minutes every hour of individual staff attention.  We will NOT compromise on the quality of care therefore we have a limit for how many individual dogs we can accommodate.  

Preferred Pet Care Inc takes care of our overnight guests 365 days a year (366 this year thank you Leap Year).  We are only closed six days out of the year: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4^th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.  Even though our front office is CLOSED on those holidays there is still staff who is away from their family and friends working taking care of all our pups here.