The Ranch Pet Resort

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Pet Health and Safety Tips

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.

It’s National Hug Your Dog Day! But Does Your Dog Really Like to Be Hugged?

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April 10 is National Hug Your Dog Day, but those of us at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa know most dogs don’t like being hugged and can, in fact, stress them out. Hugging a dog is not a natural action for a dog, an in fact, it can cause a dog to feel tense, anxious, and trapped. Dogs show affection by loose body moves and by leaning into you.

The best way to show your dog you love him or her on National Hug Your Dog Day is to pet your dog on the chest, pat her on the head, or give her a good ol’ fashion belly rub!

At The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa, our dogs in doggie daycare or boarding are loved every day! For a list of fees or services, please click here. Pats and affection given daily!

National Dog Bite Prevention Week

The second week in April is also delegated as National Dog Bite Prevention Week. A great way to prevent being bitten is to be educated and aware of a dog’s propensity to bite with these tips:

  • Don’t hug a dog for the reasons mentioned above
  • Never approach an unfamiliar dog
  • Ask permission before petting someone’s dog
  • Watch the body language of a dog-avoid dogs that are tense or growling
  • Never run from a dog-whether in chase or on a “hunt,” the risk of being bitten goes up
  • Avoid touching dogs that are sleeping, eating, or protecting something
  • If a strange dog approaches, stand still with your hands to your side until it goes away
  • When meeting a dog, allow it to approach you, and offer a clenched fist
  • Avoid the face and mouth of a dog
  • Do not tug on a dog or allow children to crawl or climb on a dog. Even the most well-meaning dog is capable of biting
  • Avoid looking a dog straight in the eye
  • Never tease a dog
  • Socialize your dog
  • Spay and neuter your dog
  • Train your dog
  • Supervise children when near dogs and teach them to respect dogs and their bodies
  • Avoid moving quickly around a dog who may be startled and reactive
  • If possible, ignore a barking dog until it stops barking at you. Either remove yourself from the situation if it is not your dog or wait for the behavior to stop before interacting with the dog.
  • Never pin down, hit, or punish a dog for a natural behavior that you see as “aggressive” as doing so may cause the dog to become aggressive

Any Dog Can Bite

No one wants to believe their dog is capable of biting or causing harm or injury to anyone. But the fact remains, a dog who feel threatened, scared, trapped, or is under socialized and untrained is capable of biting.

Avoid the consequences of a biting dog by reading our tips, clicking on the links for more information, or enrolling in our behavioral training programs.

“Dogs don’t bit out of the blue. So stay safe and know the signs.”





Why Does My Dog Do That?

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While dogs are said to be man and woman’s best friend, unless you’re a cat person, these canines have some interesting behaviors that may make you question, “Why does my dog do that?”

In a series that The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa began last month to answer some of your most asked questions, this month’s blog will focus on why dogs react they way they do on a leash, why they lick you, why they eat grass, and why they sleep in the positions they do.

Keep in mind that our canine friends still carry the history of their ancestors in their genes and that while we may have domesticated them, they come from a long line of ancestors whose behaviors stay with them.

Through the good and the bad, dogs act in a way that makes sense to them, even if we find their behaviors funny, frustrating, or confusing!

Why Does My Dog React on a Leash?

Leash reactivity is a common behavior where dogs will either growl, snarl, bark, pull on the leash, lunge, spin around, or otherwise “act out” when they encounter a situation, dog, or person that makes them feel scared, frustrated, or territorial. It’s a more severe reaction than a dog without leash reactivity would have and occurs in dogs who have been under socialized or not exposed to people, places, things, or other animals in a positive way (source).

The perceived “threat” creates a fight or flight response in the dog. Since the leash prevents the dog from running away, they respond by using their body language as cues to warn the perceived threat they are uncomfortable.

Leash reactivity can be tamed over time and with patience and understanding. For more information on leash reactivity and how to help your dog overcome leash reactivity, please click here.

Why Does My Dog Lick Me?

The slobbery licks your dog covers you with is a learned behavior. A puppy licks its mom to get milk and licks its siblings to groom and interact with them. Dogs lick to explore their environment, show affection, play with you, get your attention, or ask a dominant dog in its pack for permission to eat communal food.

The more you are covered in slobbery, wet kisses, the more positive affirmation you are giving your dog. While some may associate licking with a “gross display of germs,” a dog associates licking with positive behavior that he is naturally ingrained to perform (source).

Why Does My Dog Curl Up in a Ball When it Sleeps?

If your dog moves in circles or digs its bed before it curls up to sleep, you can thank its ancestors. In the wild, dogs dig nests to curl up in. Curling up keeps the dogs warm and prevents their vital organs from being exposed to predators.

So the next time you see your dog digging in its bed or circling before it lies down, you have a better understanding of this behavior. If your dog stretches out or sleeps upside down, it’s either hot or feels very safe and secure (source).

For more tail wagging information about your dog, Refer to our blog.

Why Does My Dog Do That? Examining Odd Behaviors in our Beloved Dogs

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The other day, our dog, Ryder, stealthily picked up the cat’s empty food bowl and brought it upstairs to his favorite human. This is the same dog who picks up full bowls of dog food and moves them away from our other dogs to eat by himself, always leaving a trail of kibble.

It doesn’t take Google to figure out why our dog brought up the cat’s dish. It was 6 o’clock, and he was hungry. The cat’s food dish is easier to pick up then his dog bowl which is sunken into an above ground feeder to make it easier for a larger dogs to eat.

But dogs can sometimes exhibit odd behavior that leaves us wondering, Why does my dog do that?

In a new series of blogs, The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa is going to examine the behaviors we often find odd in our dogs and our cats!

Addressing the Elephant in the Room-Why Does My Dog Hump Other Dogs?

Dogs hump other dogs for a variety of reasons that aren’t always sexual in nature. In fact, both male and female dogs hump; both spayed and neutered dogs hump. But why?

If a male senses a female is in heat, then he will mount her due to his testosterone. But there a variety of reasons a dog humps another dog or even humans and these include:

  • Attention
  • Excitability
  • Anxiety
  • Dominance
  • Sign of play

Dogs often seek the attention of the ones they care about the most, and humping can be a behavior a dog exhibits to greet its human or to show how excited it is. Legs are an easy target to hump, as is a back if a person is sitting down.

While annoying and embarrassing, humping a person is a normal behavior for a dog. To decrease this behavior, redirect your dog with a toy or a behavior that is more appropriate such as playing fetch, doing a food puzzle, or chewing on a treat.

Some dogs hump because they are anxious or nervous and the stress is exhibited by humping. Redirect your dog by calming it and having it sit next to you while you pet it and reassure it.

Dogs have a pack order, and a more assertive dog might turn to humping to show its status in the pack. This behavior isn’t normally the first behavior a dog exerts to gain status, but it clearly indicates to another dog who is the alpha dog and leader of the pack.

Dogs hump when they are playing. This is a common behavior often seen between a dog and a cat who are companions. When a dog humps a cat, it can be a sign of affection or a reaction to a conflict between the two.

When Does Humping Become a Problem in a Dog?

The humping behavior in a dog is usually not a problem and can be redirected with the tips we mentioned above.

In the event your dog humps obsessively, this may be a sign of a more serious behavior problem. Talk to your vet or a behaviorist who can help you determine why your dog humps and what action to take.

For more information or resources regarding humping, please refer to this article.

Happy Halloween from The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

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From spooky sharks to Barbie, cowboys, Superheroes, farm, zoo, and wild animals and every idea in between, The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa‘s annual Howl-o-ween photos captured the spirit of Halloween.

As usual, some pets were more excited than others to be in the limelight and were quite at ease being photographed, while others just did the bare minimum to make Mom and Dad happy!

Nevertheless, this event is one of The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa‘s favorites as we really get a great shot of each dog, cat, or pair of dogs and their personalities.

While we don’t have a favorite Howl-o-ween costume participant, we are super excited to have the cats participate this year!

A Big Shout Out to our Amazing Staff who Made Howl-o-Ween Possible

This event could not take place without the patience, enthusiasm and creativity of our staff who love capturing the best side of each participant, even if it involves wrangling them in and grabbing their attention or taking shot after shot until we capture the perfect expression!

Take a Peek at Some of Our Howl-o-ween Participants

We just can’t get enough of this cuteness overload! For more images sorted by last name, please visit our Facebook page.

Please Keep Your Pets Safe this Halloween

Between the cars, Trick-or-Treators, candy and ghoulish activity Halloween will bring, please take a minute to make sure your dog or cat is safe and secure this Halloween.

It’s a good time to make sure your dogs and cats are safely inside and unable to run out the door as you welcome the ghosts, dragons and fairies that come knocking on your door for candy.

For dogs and cats who get especially nervous with activity, doorbells or strangers, a calming aid or Thundershirt may prove especially helpful.

Remember chocolate is especially toxic to dogs who may easily snatch a Snickers or two while no one is looking. Let’s keep all of our campers out of the ER and save you some money by putting all chocolate out of reach.

Light up the darkness with a glow in the dark collar while you walk your pooch around the neighborhood and remember to have anyone ask to pet your dog first to avoid any anxious dog behaviors.

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa wants to thank you for trusting us with the care of your dog or cat, and we wish you a safe and happy Halloween!

Thanks to everyone for allowing us the pleasure of enjoying another eventful Howl-o-ween photo day!

Choosing the Right Dog for You!

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66% of U.S. households own a dog (Forbes 2023). With so many dog breeds available, how can you choose the right dog for you?

Research Different Breeds

The first piece of advice The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa would give you regarding bringing a dog into your household is to make sure you research the breeds you are considering. Different dogs have different needs; make sure you are able to meet their needs and they can meet yours.

Consider such traits as activity level, size, height, weight, grooming needs, need for attention, affection, attachment, or a job, intelligence, physical traits such as hair or fur, long snout or short stout with wrinkles, bulging eyes, erect or floppy ears, prey dog or low prey drive, child friendly; loyal or more independent; or vocal or more quiet just to give some suggestions.

You can get advice online, by asking people who own the dog you want, getting information from a reputable breeder or rescue, speaking with your vet, visiting dog shows, your local dog shelter, or pet adoption fairs.

Consider Space When Choosing the Right Dog for You

Some dogs need a lot of room to run and roam and would fare better with a large yard, while others have low exercise needs and could do better in an apartment, condo, or townhome.

Large dogs take up a lot of space in the home, so make sure you are comfortable sharing your home with a big bestie. Big dogs need big beds whether they sleep on the floor or in bed with you!

Smaller dogs can be content in smaller dog beds and definitely take up less room under your covers.

Crates work really well for dogs, as they are used to sleeping in dens in the wild. But make sure the crate is large enough for the dog to fully stand up and turn around.

Dogs love to ride in cars, so if you’re planning on adopting a Bernese Mountain Dog or Mastiff, a car’s back seat or rear area would work best! Little dogs often have their own car seat beds and take up little space. In either case, it is a good idea to seatbelt your dog.

Calculate Expense- Dogs are Not Cheap

Whether you are getting a dog from a breeder, rescuing from the shelter, or getting a dog from a friend, all dogs cost money. There is typically a fee for the dog. If a dog doesn’t already come with a full series of shots, he will need his vaccines.

To avoid unwanted pregnancy and reduce the risk of cancer in dogs, spaying or neutering your dog is a good idea. Check with your local veterinarian as costs do differ based on weight and other considerations.

Dogs need food all the time! Whether your dog prefers dry, wet, or homemade, you need to budget for food.

Toys, collars, leashes, training paraphernalia and classes, puppy pads, nutrients, vitamins, calming treats, bedding, treats, dog bowls, poop bags, medicines, pet insurance, boarding, and pet sitting, are not cheap! Be prepared to spend a lot of money before you even get your dog.

Emergencies might occur. This is an unexpected expense that can cost you a lot of money, so factor that in when you are calculating your expenses.

Don’t Forget Pet Care

Pet care does not just mean routine maintenance of vaccinations. Some dogs need frequent grooming, brushing, or bathing to keep them healthy and comfortable.

Some dogs have medical issues that require a monthly prescription or routine administration that adds to their care.

Routing dog maintenance is important, so don’t forget to take your pet to your favorite veterinarian.

Consider The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa for Your Dog’s Needs!

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa is excited for anyone who is choosing a dog. As dog lover’s ourselves, we know how much joy and happiness a dog can bring to a person.

If your new dog needs behavior lessons, doggie daycare, grooming, or boarding, The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa would be happy to assist you!