What happened to Crystal?

As some of you may have noticed I've been MIA...  I wanted to take the time to inform you I haven't been slacking and what's going on.  

First let me say I always tell everyone that the pups that come to PPC become like our pups to, they become family.  And of course with that some of you wonderful people we have the opportunity to get to know and in turn become part of our PPC family.  So with that in mind I wanted to just reach out and let you know what's going so you're not wondering, "What happened to Crystal".  I've unfortunately had a rough couple weeks.  After numerous trips to the hospital and numerous specialist appointments the drs officially diagnosed that I have severe preeclampsia.  Unfortunately due to this diagnosis I have to do one of the most difficult tasks for me... rest.  Lots & lots of rest (as well as lots of constant monitoring from the drs) in hopes that the condition doesn't progress to eclampsia or hellp(which is extremely seriously & can be life threatening).  So please keep me (and baby girl) in your thoughts, prayers (if you're the religious type), and send positive vibes our way.  I'm the meantime my hope is to still check in with the office regularly, and I plan to be back shortly after our bundle of joy arrives.  In the meantime I fully expect Rufus to keep running the show with the dogs, Spud & Gritz to make sure the treat jar is always filled; Marilyn (& Izzy) to give Brian a hard time; Lucy to keep smiling at everyone; Faraday to keep everyone amused being a goofball; Maggie & Hogan to keep the taxi dogs in line; Magic to give new employees a hard time (and them of course to become best friends with them); Luna, Ellie & Daisy G to keep everyone on their toes, Sawyer to keep mounting (sir mount a lot), and of course all the pups to make sure that PPC runs smoothly, because after all it's all about the dogs at Preferred Pet Care. 

While I'm out I'm sure they will some how survive without me.  In the meantime I will certainly miss getting to see all the pups and of course you lovely people all the time.

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