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The 3 3 3 Guideline for Bringing Home a New Dogs

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The 3 3 3 guideline for bringing home a new dog is often used to help your new fur baby adjust to their new environment. It’s popularized by rescue organizations and trainers to provide a timeframe for understanding a dog’s behavior in a new home and to help keep the pet in place.

The first few days and weeks with a new dog can be challenging for even the most experienced owner, often causing well-intentioned owners to give up or re-home their dogs.

By understanding the 3 3 3 Guideline and putting its practices in place, you and your dog have a better chance of making a stronger bond and connection and keeping the dog in its home.

Defining the 3 3 3 Guideline for Dogs

Phase 1: The First 3 Days

The first three days after bringing a new dog home are crucial for setting the foundation of trust and comfort. During this period, it’s common for dogs to experience heightened anxiety and stress due to the unfamiliar environment and separation from their previous surroundings. Here’s what to expect and how to help:

  • Adjustment Period: Dogs may seem withdrawn, nervous, or uncertain. They might not eat much, explore cautiously, or even hide.
  • Creating a Safe Space: Provide a designated area where the dog can retreat if they feel overwhelmed. This can be a crate, a quiet corner with a bed, or a specific room with their belongings.
  • Establishing Routine: Introduce a consistent schedule for feeding, walks, and bathroom breaks. Predictability helps alleviate anxiety and allows the dog to anticipate what comes next.
  • Bonding and Trust Building: Spend time sitting near the dog, offering treats, and using gentle, reassuring tones. Avoid overwhelming them with too much attention initially; let them approach you at their own pace. Wait to introduce family members and friends and avoid dog interactions and dog parks.

Phase 2: The Next 3 Weeks

As the initial adjustment phase transitions into the next three weeks, the dog starts to settle into their new life more comfortably. They begin to understand the household routines, recognize family members, and build trust. This phase focuses on:

  • Increasing Comfort: The dog becomes more familiar with their surroundings, including the layout of the home and the daily routines of the family.
  • Behavioral Insights: You may start noticing the dog’s true personality emerging as they become more relaxed. They might show curiosity, playfulness, or display their natural behaviors.
  • Training and Guidance: Begin introducing basic training commands and positive reinforcement techniques. This helps reinforce desired behaviors and builds confidence in the dog.
  • Socialization: Gradually expose the dog to new experiences, people, and gentle interactions with other pets (if applicable). This helps them develop social skills and adaptability and builds a strong foundation for the months to come.

Phase 3: The Final 3 Months

By the end of three months, the dog should feel fully integrated into their new home environment. They are likely to exhibit more confidence, trust, and a sense of belonging. This phase focuses on:

  • Solidifying Routine: Maintain a consistent schedule for feeding, exercise, and training. Consistency reinforces positive behaviors and helps the dog feel secure.
  • Advanced Training: Continue building on basic training commands and introduce more advanced skills as the dog becomes more responsive and comfortable.
  • Health and Wellness: Schedule regular veterinary check-ups, maintain proper grooming, and ensure the dog’s overall well-being.
  • Building Strong Bonds: Strengthen the bond with the dog through regular playtime, walks, and quality time together. Positive interactions with both humans and other dogs help deepen the emotional connection. By this period, you should see quite a difference in your dog’s personality and life should be a bit smoother for all of you.

Considerations for Following the 3 3 3 Guideline

Following the 3 3 3 guideline provides a structured approach to help dogs transition smoothly into their new homes. Every dog is unique, so adjustments may be needed based on their personality, history, and individual needs. Patience, consistency, and understanding are key throughout this process, fostering a loving and supportive environment where the dog can thrive and feel at home.

Playdates at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa wishes all new dogs and dog owners success with the 3 3 3 Rule. When your new pup is ready to show off its confidence and build more social relationships, we would love to have him for a playdate! Contact us for a meet and greet!

Ways to Keep Your Pet Safe this Fourth of July

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Fourth of July, the Nation’s birthday, is a time for fun, family, friends, food, and fireworks in some areas. But for our furry friends, who aren’t used to the crowds, noises, amount of people, and certainly the boom of explosions, this can also a time of fear and anxiety.

The Ranch Pet and Resort and Spa offers these suggestions to keep your pets safe this Fourth of July.

  • Keep your pets home while you enjoy Fourth of July festivities. Not only can the experience cause stress and anxiety, the hot weather can cause stroke or heat exhaustion.
  • Put a GPS tag on your pet’s collar in the event it does escape. The Fourth of July is one of the busiest times of the year for already over-crowded shelters, and you want to make sure you get your dog or cat back.
  • Bring your cats and dogs inside well before fireworks could possibly go off. Even in areas where fireworks are not allowed, some people will set them off. With your dog and cat inside the house, you eliminate, or at least severely decrease, the possibility that your pet can escape.
  • Consider putting a Thundershirt or tight piece of clothing on your cat or dog to make it feel safe.
  • Turn on the TV or radio to eliminate or diffuse the sounds of fireworks.
  • Close all windows and doors. Close curtains to eliminate visual stimulation.
  • Provide a safe and quiet space for your pet to retreat in the event it gets scared and wants to hide. A crate or room can serve as a safe place to retreat while you enjoy the nights’ events. Include toys, treats, and lots of blankets to hide under.
  • Provide air conditioning, cooling blankets, and plenty of fresh water for your pets to keep cool.
  • For severe trauma, ask your veterinarian about anxiety medications or CBD products.
  • Consider hiring a pet sitter to stay with your dog or cat while you go out.
  • Be very careful when opening the door or allowing your dog outside to go to the bathroom. Even the most well-behaved and most trusted dog can get spooked and run away.
  • Make sure your dog or cat is wearing a collar with your current address or phone number on it.
  • Put a leash or harness on your dog when taking it out to the bathroom in the event it gets spooked.
  • Check all fences for loose boards and secure all latches on gates and doors.
  • In the event your dog does escape, immediately put an alert out to your Neighborhood Outlets such as Nextdoor and social media platforms. Put up fliers around the neighborhood, vet offices, and make a report with your nearest animal shelter while you look for your dog.
  • Microchip your pet! You have a much higher chance for getting your pet back.

Happy Fourth of July from The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa wishes you, your family, friends, and pets a very happy Fourth of July. Celebrating the birthday of our nation is a time to celebrate, and we want to make sure all of you enjoy the day while keeping your pets happy and safe as well!

Hot Weather Reminders for Our Furry Friends

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Summer is right around the corner, and The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa wants to remind you to protect our furry friends during the hot weather. Whether you’re at home, traveling, or driving, it’s important to remember that our pets can’t cool off like we can.

Tips to Keep Your Dogs and Cats Cool During Hot Weather

Dogs pant to cool off and cats cool off by grooming themselves and releasing heat through their paw pads. We can help our pets cool off with some planning and preparation.

Here are some tips to keep your dogs and cats cool during hot weather:

  • Always provide fresh, cool drinking water
  • Only exercise your pets during cooler weather
  • Never leave your pet in a car even if you think it is not hot outside; the weather inside a car can heat up quickly in a short amount of time
  • Close blinds, shades, and curtains to cool down a room
  • Provide a cooling towel, mat, or pad for your pet to rest on or near
  • Use a fan inside but allow your dog to get relief from its cooling breeze
  • Place ice cubes or ice treats in your dog’s water or dish; these also provide fun toys for cats to play with. Since their paws absorb heat, playing with ice treats can keep your cat cool
  • Fill a shallow pool with water to play or splash around in
  • Use a mister or sprinkler for outside, cooling fun
  • Bring dogs and cats inside with air conditioning, fans, or open windows; animals can easily overheat just by lying in the sun

Signs of Heatstroke in a Dog or Cat

In the event that you think your dog or cat is overheated, be aware of these symptoms:

  • Panting in cats-cats don’t pant naturally like dogs do. In the event your cat is panting, this may be a sign that your cat has heatstroke.
  • Glazed eyes
  • Lethargy
  • Lack of appetite
  • Loss of balance or wobbly walking
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Rapidly beating heart
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures
  • Gums or tongue being exceptionally red
  • Collapsing

If you see any of these signs in your dog or cat, please contact your vet immediately. Take your pet to a cooler location, or place in front of a fan, place a cool towel on your pet, and give your dog or cat cool water but not ice water. Cool the pet slowly, not quickly, as that can be more dangerous.

For a Fun Summer Getaway for Your Dog or Cat, Consider The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

If you are looking to get away for the summer, consider sending your dog or cat to The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa. Our dog suits and cat condos are temperature-controlled to keep your pet safe, cool, and happy.

Our state-of-the-art water park offers a fun time for dogs to splash in water and stay cool. Even dogs who didn’t like water have a great time running and splashing in the pool. It’s like summer camp for your dog or cat at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa.

Contact us today for a stay and play for your dog or cat as we are filling up quickly!

Have a safe and fun summer and remember to keep cool!

How to Protect Yourself and Your Dog from Coyotes

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Summer is upon us and it’s not uncommon for many of us to want to take evening strolls or early morning walks with our dogs to avoid the heat of the day.

The East Bay, especially Livermore, offers so many beautiful hiking trails right in our own backyard! Between the warm summer breezes and beautiful views, it’s only natural to want to explore our area. When we explore with our best dog pal, the adventure is even better!

But let’s remember that we are sharing this beautiful area with Mother Nature, and it’s important to protect ourselves and our dogs from coyotes.

Coyotes are native to California and sitings of these animals are becoming more common especially on hiking trails where coyotes can be found hunting for food and protecting their dens.

Most of the time, coyotes will run when they come in contact with a human, but in areas where coyotes are becoming accustomed to humans, it’s important to take precautions to protect yourself and your dog when out and about.

Coyote Safety Precautions

The East Bay Regional Park District offers these coyote safety precaution tips:

  • Avoid hiking alone. In the case of emergency, you will have someone there to help you.
  • Be aware of surroundings and keep all senses on high alert.
  • Keep children within arm’s reach and dogs on leash.
  • Stay on trails and paths.
  • Never feed wildlife.

What To Do If You See a Coyote

It’s not uncommon for anyone enjoying Livermore trails to see a coyote. In the event you do, take the following measures:

  • Do not approach or engage with the coyote.
  • Maintain your distance.
  • Watch from afar and keep an eye on the coyote’s location and actions.
  • Remain calm.
  • Walk quickly, but do not run, from the area.

What to Do if a Coyote Approaches You

In most instances, a coyote will not approach you; if it does, keep yourself and your dog safe with the following tips:

  • Make yourself as big a possible and use loud and aggressive tones to scare away the coyote.
  • Wave your arms in constant motion.
  • Stare down the coyote. Maintaining eye contact can make coyotes uncomfortable and timid.
  • Slowly back away, but never turn your back on the coyote.

Sharing Our East Bay Hiking Trails with Wildlife

We are lucky to be able to share East Bay hiking trails with wildlife. Make sure to respect all wildlife while keeping yourself and your pet safe!

In the event of an emergency at a regional park, call 911 or the East Bay Regional Park District Public Safety line at 510- 881-1833 which is available 24/7.

For more information, visit Ebparks.org/safety.

Happy Mother’s Day from the Cats of The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

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Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 13, 2024, and the Cats of The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa want to wish you all a very happy Mother’s Day!

In the spirit of the Mother’s Day holiday, the cats of The Ranch wanted to share some fun and interesting Motherly Information about their species.

Motherly Facts About Cats

Cat mothers like to consider themselves high in the running for Mom Species of the year. With kitten season upon us, the Ranch cats thought you might enjoying learning the following information about them:

  • Mother cats are called Queens and really, are we surprised? These dainty paw licking creatures certainly deserve the title.
  • Kittens in one litter can come from different fathers. A cat in heat can be fertile for a week and can mate with more than one cat during this time. This gives sense to the saying, “A sister from another mister.” This act of nature is one reason kittens from the same litter can look so very different.
  • Kittens can be born days apart. Since Momma Cat can mate at different days during her fertile season, it makes sense that kittens will develop at different times and be born days apart.
  • Queens can deliver between 1-9 kittens each time they give birth.
  • An unspayed cat can have as many as 100 kittens in a lifetime (source) which is why it is so important to spay and neuter your cats.
  • Queens purr during birth. This noise is their way of relaxing during labor. But given the choice, we are most certain Queens would prefer an epidural.
  • Kittens are born with placenta covering them which the mom eats after delivery.
  • Kittens have belly buttons since each kitten has its placenta attached to it. How cute is a kitten belly button?
  • Cats can have between 4 and 10 nipples, including males, but the average number is six.
  • Mother cats have a distinct noise to call their kittens. This noise is call a chirrup, and kittens can distinguish their mom from other moms based upon this noise.
  • Queens hide their babies in nests to keep them safe from predators. You may find your cat has had its kittens in a closet, under your bed, or nesting in your bedding. Feral or stray cats hide their kittens anywhere away from predators and away from where they pee or poop. Common places include under porches, in bushes, and even in peoples’ garages.
  • Kittens who are found alone are often not abandoned. Mother Queen may be out hunting. If you come across a nest of kittens, the best advice is to leave them alone. Chances are, Mom will come back. If she doesn’t return in 4-6 hours, it may be time to intervene.
  • Around 8 weeks, Momma Queen is done raising her kittens and happy to get back to the life she once lived without her babies! (source)

Help Prevent Unwanted Pregnancies for Your Cat, Spay and Neuter Your Pets!

How Do I Introduce a New Dog into my Home?

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Considering adding a new dog into your home? Whether this is your first dog, an addition to your canine family, or you are a seasoned dog owner, adding a new dog into your home can be rewarding and fun as long as you are prepared!

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa wants to help you introduce your new dog into your home with our tried-and-true tips.

Make Use of the 3-3-3 Rule Bringing a new dog home is exciting for everyone but can be an overwhelming experience for the dog. If you practice the 3-3-3 rule, you are more likely to set yourself and the dog up for success.

When a new dog first enters your home, it’s important to understand what to expect from the dog. New smells, surroundings, people, animals, and routines will confuse, excite, and overwhelm any new dog. Its true personality won’t shine through for the first three days or longer.

Give the dog time to adjust to your routine and expectations. Give it a few days to acclimate to its new environment and family by keeping it at the home and avoiding stimulating situations like the dog park, other dogs, parks, coffee shops, and pet stores.

There will be a lifetime of opportunities for you to take your dog to fun places and meet all of the neighborhood doggy friends. But for the first three days at least, allow the dog to decompress and get used to your home and routine.

After three or so weeks, your dog will feel more comfortable, confident, and at ease. At the same time, it may start to display some behavior issues that you need to be prepared for.

Like any child, a dog will test its boundaries and will rely on you to direct it to the appropriate behaviors and set it up for success. Training the dog to sit, stay, get off the counters, lie down, go in its crate, stop jumping on you, and relieve itself in a designated area will make the transition for you and your dog a better one.

By three months, your new dog will gain the confidence it deserves to feel right at home. It will have gained your trust enough to understand it is staying with you and will start to form a stronger bond.

At this point, you will have reinforced positive behaviors and instilled in your dog the confidence to know how to behave at home and in public.

Then, when you bring your new dog to The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa for doggie daycare or dog boarding, he can feel more confident.

Contact The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa for all of your Dog Daycare or Boarding Needs

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa offers the latest in doggie daycare and dog boarding. Situated in the heart of the wine country, The Ranch offers a one-of-a-kind experience where you dog can get the love and attention it deserves.

Sign your dog up to play in our state-of-the-art water park and play structure or spend a night in our heat and air-conditioned suites. At The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa, your dog is treated with royalty just like you treat him at home.