Gate Manners

Amanda is a genius at getting one dog out through the gate, while the other ones stay still. When I attempt it, they all try and shove through at once so I've been working quite hard at improving the dogs' "gate manners". I'll often open the gate and then quickly close it if they start to try and leave without me telling them they can. After a few repetitions they will all stand nicely and wait. Then the trick is to call the dog out that you want without everyone else breaking their stay. I'm still working on this part! But one of the other benefits I've noticed of the good gate manners is that the dogs get this very cute, expectant look on their face. So the other day I grabbed the camera and took a picture of Kalo while he was waiting patiently at the gate. And amazingly enough, no one escaped while I was taking the picture.

2009 Calendars

We are taking orders for the 2009 Calendar. You can check out the different pages on our flickr site! We couldn't fit everyone's dog in the Calendar so we just picked the best photos. I've listed everyone who is in it below. Please let me know by October 10, 2008 if you'd like to order one. Just send us an e-mail at info@paws-on-the-run.ca. They'll cost $18 and the proceeds will go to the Prairie Dog Canine Rescue. So even if your dog isn't in the calendar, you can still have a fun calendar that helps out a good cause!

The rescue has one little guy in rescue right now who could really use the money - his name is Brian and he is the cutest little shepherd cross pup. He's had a really hard time with life up until now! Just click on his name to find out more about his life.

The dogs in the calendar are: Moxie, Amber, Atlas, Bruiser, Bella, Izzy, Dozer, Elvis, Jenna, Charlee, Guiness, Jackson, Jasper, Fenway, Brodie, Tawny, Aleyra, Oreo, Sheba, Tucker, Ruby, Perkins, Zoey, Chester, Levi, Abby, Barley, Charley, Paden, Zorro, Diva, Trouble, Harley, Barkley, Kalo, Fundy, Gus, Otus, Vesper, Pip, Daisy, Suka, Ellie May, Beacon, Logan, Tundra, Milo, Maggie B, Gus H, Brodie, Maui, Duke D, Izzy, Logan, Taylor, Neena, Lily, Vito, Maggie Mae, Cruz, Cheeko, Shelby, Harley, Willow, Hurly, Ivy, Jack and Kerry, Lindsay, Coco, Ruby, Mira, Molly, Rosie, Deja, and Trigger.

Takes a Lickin'

We really can't say enough about the toys from West Paw Design. We've been so impressed with their durability. We still have our original Huck, Hurley and Tux in the daycare but the Zisc (Frisbee) has been replaced a few times. It is made quite thin and in the wrong dog's mouth, it can be ripped up pretty quick. But despite that you can...

...tug with it

...twist it

...carry it around together

...play keep away

...and even share it with a little friend.

Even though the Zisc's don't last as long as the other toys, I think it is their favorite.

Best Buds

Dogs really can have best friends.

It isn't that they won't play with other dogs, but if their best friend is here, they seem to spend 90% of their play time with that one friend.

However, most dogs seem to have a more varied "dance card" so to speak. Atlas and Duke, Ruby and Lacey, Suka and Ellie May, Kayla and Jack, Maggie Mae and Gus are just a few examples of best daycare buddies. Otus and Vesper are two more that have that special connection.

Sneak Peak

So do you remember that big long e-mail I sent out a few weeks ago about all the upcoming changes (i.e. rate increase in December, closing the daycare on Saturdays, Lacey's Birthday Sale, etc.)? If you managed to read the entire e-mail you would have noticed that there was going to be a Holiday Promotion in December. I promised that you would be able to enter to win a gift basket of goodies every time you brought your dog to daycare. Well some of those goodies arrived yesterday. Meet Rudy and Charlie, just two of the items you'll find in the gift basket. Aren't they cute?

Not So Little

Sukhoi is a young puppy that started coming to daycare just last week. He is a Black Russian Terrier (If you are like me and have never heard of the breed, check out the link to find out more about them.). He is "little" now but will grow up to be around 30 inches tall! It will be fun to watch him grow-up. Hopefully when he is full grown, he'll stop thinking he is a lap dog.

Little Leo

We should have called the daycare "Dachshunds on the Run" because lately we've had a lot of them. They are even giving the labs a run for their money in terms of numbers!

This little guy is Leo. He and his brother Zach have just started coming to daycare (Zach is the fuzzy white dog in the back of the photo). They are both a little older and a little mellower than most, but they enjoy the company of the other dogs, especially during nap time on the couch!

The Dog Days of Rescue

We are selling some books for the Prairie Dog Canine Rescue at the daycare. It is a beautiful collection of photos of rescued pups and inspirational dog quotes. You can buy a book for $30 at the daycare or order it on-line (if you are wondering why it is cheaper on-line it is because shipping is on top of that price...).

As with all Prairie Dog Canine items, all proceeds will go directly to the rescue!

We'll Miss You

Today is Sandy's last day. We are all a litle sad, but happy for her at the same time. Sandy always made us laugh and always had the wildest stories to tell us after ever Saturday. (For example... Last Saturday she had someone come into the daycare who wanted to buy a dog. After Sandy explained that this isn't an animal shelter and that these dogs already had loving homes, the woman insisted that she be able to "make an offer" for one of the dogs.)

We'll miss your laughter, your stories, your inventive suggestions (if it was up to Sandy, we'd have a bone shaped pool in the backyard), your Starbucks deliveries and your company. Stop by and visit any time. And hey, if your pharmacist gig doesn't work out, you know where you can find a job!

Spoiled?

Nah! Not here!

New Respect

Jolene has taken the week off to go to Edmonton and visit with her family. She normally does all the cleaning in the back so this week, we've all been taking turns. I have to say, the dogs are most unhelpful! They play tug with the extension cord, lay on the cord, get the zoomies and run into the vacuum hose and pull it right out of your hands, sit right where you are trying to clean, etc. You definitely need to have a sense of humour while cleaning. I was playing with the dogs last night while Sandy attempted to clean and I was trying hard not to laugh as she got more and more frustrated as dogs kept running away with the extension cord and parts of the steam cleaner, but I couldn't help myself.

Jolene, are you coming back soon? We miss you!

Please Call Ahead

We filled up again today and had to turn away people who called at the last minute or even showed up with their dog in the car. I know for most of the summer you've been calling at the last minute, or just stopping in and it has been fine, but September is proving much busier than the last few months. By 9:15 this morning we were turning away dogs, so please call ahead as we don't like having to turn you and your dog away at the door and I'm sure it is even less pleasant for you.

We've talked about how the dogs build up stamina - after coming to daycare for a little while, they tend to settle into a rhythm and learn to pace themselves so they don't go home absolutely exhausted like they did their first view visits. I hope the same applies to me. We had a pretty lazy summer compared to these last few weeks. If the dogs are as tired as I am, they'll be sleeping well tonight!

Sorry no pictures today. I didn't have time to pick up the camera today. Amanda took a few, but I never even had a chance to look at them. Tomorrow - I promise!

In Plain Sight

You'd think we had hidden the big red ball for months or something. It has been in plain sight this whole time but no one has wanted to play with it... until today. Duke had a field day with it.

Click on image to see full size.

Random Pictures

I just thought I'd share some random pictures from yesterday.

This is Charlie - a new border collie cross that has just started coming. He is quite the character.

Tiny seems to think that this is the safest place to stand.

Vesper and Trouble must have been very tired puppies last night after all the wrestling they did.

There was a bit of a traffic jam at the dog door in the morning. The dogs inside were just standing there looking out, while the dogs outside were trying to get in.

This is Shelby - another new dog. She is a chow/rottweiler cross. Her owners had recently adopted her and had no idea how she was with other dogs. Turns out, they had absolutely nothing to worry about. She was great!

Doggie T's

Have you discovered Cafepress? It is a very neat website where you can order all kinds of things from shirts, to mugs, to clocks. You can browse through thousands of different patterns or you can even make your own. Some people are quite addicted to it (I won't mention any names... Sandy). I've really wanted a doggie t-shirt for Lacey for awhile so I decided to make her a Paws on the Run one! I set up a "store" so you can buy one too. And while I was at it, I also added some shirts for people and some dog dishes.

Small Dogs, Big Fun!

We haven't posted a video in a while so thought it would be a nice change! Here is a little bit of play in the Small Dog area (or the Peanut Gallery as Jolene calls it!)

Featuring: Izzy the Beagle, Jorge the Shih Tzu x, Trouble the lab pup and Cheeko the Sheltie cross.

Water Bowls

At the start of the summer, we went out and purchased some really big water buckets so we wouldn't have to refill them every 20 minutes. They have been great and the dogs have really loved them. Some of them love them a little too much. We seem to be constantly pulling Zoey (a jack russell) out of the buckets. She splashes around in them as if they are miniature pools. Levi on the other hand, just dunks his head and then sprays water everywhere as he shakes it off.

Long Day

It was another busy day at the daycare. It is almost guarranteed to be busy when it is raining. Even Eddie, who seems to have boundless energy, was tired after all the fun and games today. Even his ears looked tired.

Eddie is currently looking for a home - contact the Prairie Dog Canine Rescue if you know anyone who might be interested!

Here Comes Trouble II!

I have to admit, I have a soft spot for lab puppies. They have the cutest little faces and they use that cuteness to get themselves out of trouble.

Fire Hydrant

I know, it is weird to be excited by a fire hydrant, but I am. And so apparently is Paden - don't let his expression fool you. :)

Sarah won this at an agility trial this weekend and she already had one so she donated it to the daycare. Thanks Sarah! We love it.

Busy Week

Wow! What a week. We had a tonne of new dogs. And we were so busy today, I had to turn last minute dogs away. Which means I barely had time to take any photos. I couldn't resist a few though.

This is Cheeko. Ozark was completely in love with her. She had him wrapped around her finger in about 10 seconds.

Do you remember this guy? Well he has a new name (Fergus) and is a little more grown up now. But he is still just as cute!

And Izzy, what do we say about this? How can that be comfortable at all?

Smile of the Day

Here Comes Trouble!

Literally! Trouble is a black lab puppy that spent his first day in daycare today. He is as cute as they come. Willow thought so too!

Dinner Time

This is how Chewy tells us it is time for dinner. Doesn't she look sweet and peaceful?

If we don't take the subtle hint she tries a louder message - she sits in front of the door buzzer.

Wrong Way

Amanda took these three pictures today. Perkins made us laugh because he is going the wrong way (he is hiding behind Hurley (shepherd cross) in the second picture).