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Dog Care

What Does My Dog’s Behavior Mean?

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Before we had dog behaviorists to analyze what our dog’s behavior meant, we may have misinterpreted what our best friends wanted to communicate with us.

Does a wagging tail really mean our dog is happy to see us? Does sitting by the food bowl and barking really signify our dogs are hungry? Could she really be manipulating us to get an extra meal, snack, or treat?

Does a dog who is whining and whimpering need medical care, exercise, love, attention, or a friend?

Are dog owners correct in imposing our feelings and sensations onto our dogs, or do does have they own form of communication?

The research team at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa sought ought these answers (no, we don’t really have a research team, just a behaviorists who are “in the know” and want to share this information with others)!

Common Dog Behaviors and What They Signify

Tail wagging: you aren’t wrong if you assumed tail wagging is a sign of happiness in a dog. According to pet experts at Pet Helpful, tail wagging also signifies that a dog wants to play, is friendly, or is being submissive. A rapidly wagging tail is indicative of a happy, carefree dog; a steady wagging tail held in a natural position suggests your pup wants to play; and a rapidly wagging tail held in a downward position means your dog is being submissive.

Digging: a digging dog, especially one that is digging in your flower bed, doesn’t mean to be naughty and bothersome! He is reacting out of a natural tendency to bury or uncover a treat or treasure, protect young, cool off, or uncover a small critter. This last behavior is especially common in dogs bred for hunting.

Yawning: A yawning dog doesn’t necessarily need a nap. She may be anxious, confused, stressed, experiencing a new situation or presence that makes her uncomfortable or threatened, or meeting a new dog. Yawning eases pressure and tension. (source).

Panting: a dog can’t sweat like a human, so it pants to cool itself and to avoid overheating. A dog may also pant if it is in pain or about to deliver a litter of puppies.

Staring: Most parents have taught their kids that staring is rude! But be aware that a dog who stares at you can either be showing aggression, love, or submissiveness, or awareness. A dog who stares with wide eyes is alert; if he shows the whites of his eyes he most likely feels threatened and may be prone to attack. A dog whose stare is intense and narrows is trying to dominate you. A polite or submissive dog will look away after staring for a brief time. Should your dog blink at you, she is showing how much she loves you, that she wants to play, or both!

Showing the belly: A dog who lays on its back feels safe and secure. This is a very vulnerable position and expresses deep comfort and relaxation and trust. He may also be signifying to you or another dog that he has accepted a more submissive role, that he is cooling himself off, or he is just more comfortable sleeping on his back. Like humans, dogs have preferred comfort positions when sleeping.

Raised hackles: Raised hackles are a result of a surge in adrenaline either from fear, curiosity, excitement, arousal, or if it’s a hunting dog, smelling prey (source).

Licking: Dogs lick, it’s what they do. The important piece of information is why dogs lick. Dogs lick themselves to groom, relieve allergies, clean a sore, and to feel calm and relaxed. If you are the lucky recipient of a dog’s lick, it means your dog loves you and wants to bond with you. Licking is a natural and instinctive action and a way for your dog to express itself (source).

Pay Attention to Your Dogs Behaviors

While this list of dog behaviors is only a short one, and we may never understand why dogs behave the ways they do, it’s more important to pay attention to your dog and the conditions under which it behaves.

The more you understand about your dog’s behaviors, the better of a relationship you have with your dog. A better-behaved dog makes for a happy dog-human relationship.

Help Your Dog or Cat Get Relief from Seasonal Allergies

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If your dog or cat is prone to allergies, there is a good chance this time of year is especially difficult for them. Spring and summer are not only difficult times for humans who suffer from allergies, but they have an effect on dogs and cats as well.

Pets are Prone to Allergies, Too

Just like humans, dogs and cats react to allergens when their immune system reacts to a foreign body such as pollen, dander, dust mites, mold spores, chemical skin irritants, stuffing from dog beds, proteins from foods, saliva from fleas, and more.

Allergies are common among dogs and cats of all breeds, frequently occurring after the pet reaches six months of age. Some allergies are thought to be genetic, such as atopic dermatitis or bee pollen.

Signs of Allergies in Your Dog or Cat

If you believe your dog or cat has an allergy, look for one or a combination of these signs:

  • Red, itchy, or inflamed skin or paws
  • Hives
  • Swelling
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Excessive licking of paws or anal glands
  • Itchy or running eyes with or without discharge
  • Scooting on their bums
  • Ear infections
  • Excessive shedding
  • Respiratory issues such as wheezing, coughing, or having difficulty breathing

Relief for Allergies in Your Dog or Cat

English cocker spaniel dog taking a shower with shampoo, soap and water in a bathtub

The best relief for allergies for your dog or cat is to visit your local veterinarian. The veterinarian will examine your pet and can test it for allergens to be able to treat it more effectively.

Some helpful ways to treat your pet are:

  • Wiping down your pets’ paws or fur after being outside to eliminate the pollen coming inside
  • Anti-inflammatory drugs (please check with your vet as some drugs may contain chemicals that are harmful or fatal to your dog or cat)
  • Bathing your dog or cat in an oatmeal-based dog or cat shampoo
  • Changing your dog or cat’s diet
  • Flea and tick prevention
  • Fatty acid supplements
  • Avoid the irritants

What to Do if Your Dog or Cat has a Severe Allergic Reaction

In the event of a severe allergic reaction, your dog or cat could go into shock. “A dog that goes into anaphylactic shock, for instance, will have a drop in blood pressure followed by shock, which is very different from a skin condition.”

The dog or cat must be treated by a veterinarian immediately. Sometimes it is possible to figure out the allergy, other times it is not.

In any case, the best way to prevent your dog or cat from the effects of severe allergies is to pay attention to how your pet acts and treat the symptoms.

A call to your vet is one of the best places to get the attention and treatment your dog or cat deserves and needs.

The Challenges and Joys of Bringing Home a New Dog

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The staff of The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa are huge animal lovers, with many of us accepting multiple animals into our homes. When the situation arises with adding a new dog to our home, there can be complications as well as joys.

Whether you are adding a new dog into your family because of the passing of your dog, as in our case, or want a companion for your current dog, also in our case, want a dog for protection, companionship, or just happened to come across a dog that needs a home, The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa would like to address the challenges and joys of bringing home a new dog.

Filling the Void of a Beloved Dog

When our family decided to fill the void of our beloved dog of 14 years who had just passed, emotions were mixed. A few family members chose to keep the status quo and let our older dogs live out their lives without adding a new dog, and a few others wanted to fill that void with the pitter patter of new paws.

We carefully chose not to use the word, replace, when filling the void, as that word suggests our former dog could be replaced.

We chose to look at our situation as choosing to bring a new dog into our home to relieve the sadness that came with losing a family member who was with us through good and bad for 14 years.

Decide What Characteristics You Want In a New Dog

The Ranch has the benefit of seeing so many breeds of dogs, sizes of dogs, and both genders. What we can say is, “No two dogs are the same, and we can’t stereotype a breed of dog.”

With that thought in mind, we searched for a dog that had the qualities we wanted in a dog. We are an active family, so we wanted a dog that wanted to hike, swim, play, go on trips and adventures, and play in the snow!

We wanted an older dog, as we didn’t want to go through puppy hood all over again. We had hopes of getting a dog that was already potty trained and also wanted a dog that was crate trained!

We set our sites high for a dog that would get along with cats and our Giant Flemish Rabbit.

But most of all, we wanted a dog that would love us unconditionally and who could serve as a sense of support for our son to carry on the mission of our dog who just passed.

When Looking for the Right Dog, Take Your Time

When we decided to get serious about adding a new fur baby to our family, we searched the internet for dogs who needed homes, starting with PetFinder, the rescue sites, reputable breeders, sites that specialized in breeds we wanted, and Nextdoor!

Our list of what we wanted in a dog was long, so we focused on the importance of a breed that wasn’t a herding dog for the safety of our cats and Giant Flemish Rabbit. We relied on the knowledge of the caregivers of the dogs to get to know their varied personalities, and then we sought out to meet them.

As we met dogs in person, we made three evaluations:

  1. The dog just wasn’t a right match.
  2. We needed a second visit with the dog to see if the dog got along with our older dogs.
  3. We instantly loved the dog, but weren’t ready to commit. As the matriarch of the family, I knew the dog was going to be with me long after all my children left home, and I wanted to make sure the dog was as much a match for me as it was for the rest of my family.

In the case of numbers 2 and 3, we found that we waited too long and the dog got adopted, which made us both happy for the dog and sad for us. But we knew there was another dog out there for us, and that we needed to take time to find the right dog.

Finding the Right Dog to Bring Home to our Family-Or Did We?

When we met Rio, he had the look and characteristics we wanted-an active younger dog with the personality of a giant love bug. Short fur, though not a priority, was exciting to me as I just gained hours of time for not having to vacuum!

He was two-years old, gorgeous, cuddled up to my son, lived with another dog, had all of his shots and vaccines, was neutered, walked well on a leash, lived with a family including a baby, and was labeled a lab mix, a breed we had owned several times and always co-existed with our cats and rabbit without any issues.

We agreed to foster to adopt and much to the fosters’ sadness, Rio hopped in our car happily as we drove away.

While Rio looked great on paper, the dog we brought home was a hot mess. Through no fault of his own, he was a rescue dog who lived the first year and nine months in a shelter.

When a dog isn’t socialized as a young dog or has had a traumatic experience, that fear stays with them.

Rio was very timid and shied away from new events and situations. While “housebroken” at his foster home, he had several accidents at ours. He didn’t follow basic recall and loved to be “chased” when we wanted him to come or drop something or take him for a walk.

Worst of all, Rio chased our rabbit and cats at first. Upon looking at him more carefully and watching his habits, we believe we had indeed just brought home a hound dog, whose very love is following the scent of prey!

Three Days, Three Weeks, Three Months-Tips to Dog Adjustment in a New Home

Behaviorists like to share their tips about having a new dog come into your home with the 3-3-3 rule.

Three days-give the dog three days to decompress and settle into your new home. Life in a new home is full of excitement! Think of going on vacation-for most people, it takes us a good few days to settle in and enjoy our time away from our every day life. A dog is no exception.

Three weeks- by three weeks, a dog’s routine is fairly adjusted to yours.

Three months- at this milestone, the dog learns to bond and trust you. He accepts that he is part of the family, and the honeymoon has begun!

Rio, now Ryder, has just completed his three month milestone, and while he still is a work in progress, he has come so far! He has bonded with my son, which was the most important feature, and has learned to adjust to the cats, not without a few scratches.

Sadly, our Giant Flemish rabbit passed away while in the vet’s care, so that obstacle has been removed.

We also discovered that Ryder has a very playful nature when he is comfortable, so we decided to pay it forward by rescuing a dog off death row.

Ryder’s pal, now Charlie, went from the dog house to the pool house and lives happily on a golf course with a family who loves him enough to promise him a lifetime of love and affection!

We can’t wait for Ryder to become part of the pack of dogs at The Ranch Pet Resort’s doggies daycare or boarding. He will definitely be signed up for our Stay and Train Dog Obedience Program.

Stay and Play at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

If you have a new dog or an old dog, we would love to have you visit The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa.

The Ranch Pet Resort & Spa is a pet destination like no other, and we’re located in the heart of California wine country. A beautiful setting, fresh air, luxury dog and cat lodging, exciting dog daycare in our one-of-a-kind playground, and full-service grooming await lucky pets.

And if that wasn’t enough, we even have a state-of-the-art doggie water park! A trusted name in pet care since 1947.

Time to Get Beautiful With Our Grooming Special!

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Take advantage of The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa’s Grooming Special on Bath, Brush, and Nail services now through March 3. Discounts of 20% for new clients and 15% for existing clients will only be available Tuesdays through Fridays.

Bath, Brush and Nail Special

Treat your pooch to the following Bath, Brush, and Nail treatments at a discount!

  • Double Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Blow Dry
  • Brush
  • Nail Clipping
  • Nail Dremeling

A well-groomed dog looks, smells, and feels better. Show your best canine how much you love and care about their health and well-being.

Add-On Grooming Services

Why not give your bestie the full spa treatment by adding on the following services?

Teeth $15

Glands $15

Or our favorite, the Pampered Pooch Special! For $28, your dog will be treated to teeth, glands, and a blueberry facial! Your dog will be the talk of the neighborhood with this extra pampering session! Doesn’t your dog deserve only the blueberry best?

Sign Up for Your Grooming Special Today!

To book your best friend’s Grooming Special, please contact our grooming facility. Let them know that you want the Bath, Brush and Nail Special and if you want to include teeth, glands, and/or the blueberry facial.

Remember to book your appointment from Tuesday-Friday to qualify for the 20% discount for new clients or 15% discount for existing clients.

Is it Time for a Hair Cut?

Is your pooch overdue for a haircut? The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa’s grooming facility is accepting new clients for haircuts. Interested in learning more? Contact grooming today!

Do Dogs Experience Anxiety?

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The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa‘s “Rover Reporter” went on a mission to answer the question: Do Dogs Experience Anxiety?

A simple Google search led to the answer that yes, dogs and other pets do experience anxiety, and they show it in ways we may or may not recognize.

Ways Dogs Show Anxiety

According to an article by the American Kennel Club, dogs experience anxiety in several ways. If your dog is showing signs of the following, it may be experiencing anxiety:

  • Excessive panting, drooling, licking, barking, whining, or howling
  • Urinating or defecating in the house (unrelated to potty training or incontinence)
  • Aggressive behaviors
  • Destroying property
  • Digging
  • Pacing about
  • Appearing depressed
  • Demonstrating repetitive or compulsive behaviors
  • Restlessness

Why Do Dogs Get Anxiety?

Much like humans, dog experience anxiety under certain conditions or circumstances. Some anxiety behaviors can be recurring, and others can be constant.

Dogs are very adept at “reading” or understanding situations and people. If your dog senses that you are stressed, it can react to your feelings.

If a dog is in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation, such as going to the vet, traveling, or moving, it can also exhibit anxiety.

Sometimes sounds, noises, unfamiliar surroundings, objects, surfaces, other animals, or strangers can cause a dog to feel anxious.

Likewise, dogs who are separated from their owners, even for a brief period of time, can experience anxiety.

Anxiety is also common in older dogs whose cognitive functions are starting to decline.

How to Help an Anxious Dog

Every dog reacts differently to anxiety, and it’s important to monitor your dog’s reactions and health to determine if your dog has anxiety and if you need to seek treatment for anxiety.

The first action you might take is to visit your vet. Describe your dog’s behaviors and under what conditions your dog appears anxious.

Medical treatments, behavior training, socialization, crate training, exercising your dog, providing a nourishing diet, and removing your dog from stressful situations are just some of the ways you can ease the anxiety your dog is experiencing.

Anxiety Can be Normal in Dogs

If your dog is experiencing anxiety, it can be a perfectly normal and acceptable behavior.

This “Rover Reporter” noticed increasing anxiety in her older dog a few years ago. Separation anxiety, howling, restlessness, and excessive panting (when all weather extremes were normal) were the first signs that something was not quite right with my beloved pooch.

Medication didn’t seem to work on him, so we adapted to working from home, assuring him each time we left “we would be right back,” cuddling him, allowing him to sleep with us, changing his diet, and allowing him to be where we were.

He has since mellowed, except when we have company, at which point he wants to be where the action is, or he will cry and howl if separated.

Most importantly, we have come to accept our pooch has changing needs, not much different than ours, and with patience, education, understanding, and love, he has settled down a bit, and that makes us all less anxious.

Summer Tips to Keep Your Pets Happy, Healthy, and Safe

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The happiness, health, and safety of your pets is a priority at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa.

Anyone who has been to our facility for grooming, doggie daycare, or pet boarding understands how much we love your pets as well as our own.

As the summer approaches, we thought it would be a doggone good idea to provide you with Summer Tips to Keep Your Pets Happy, Healthy, and Safe.

Never Leave Your Pet Unattended in a Car

No matter how quick you think your errand is going to be and how much you and your pet love going for drives in the car, never leave your pet unattended in a car.

The temperature outside is no indication of the temperature that quickly rises in a car. The temperature inside of a car can quickly rise to 120 degrees even if windows are cracked.

While we know how much fun it is for both our pets and us to spend time together, when it’s hot outside, please leave your pets at home!

Time Your Walks for Cooler Weather

Take walks in the early am or evening when it is cooler. Dog paw pads are sensitive to hot asphalt and can burn.

Also, dogs who exercise in the hot sun can suffer from heat stroke, which can be debilitating and deadly.

Older dogs, those that are overweight, and breeds with flat noses are particularly susceptible to heat stroke. Dogs with heart and lung issues should be monitored carefully.

Possible signs of heat stroke in dogs include:

  • Excessive panting
  • Drooling
  • Abnormal breathing
  • Vomiting
  • Collapsing or weakness on feet
  • Bloody diarrhea
  • Seizure
  • Bright red gums

If your dog is acting abnormally, especially in the heat, please contact your veterinarian or closest emergency hospital immediately.

Keeping Your Pet Safe in Hot Weather

With temperatures outside rising during the summer, it’s imperative that your pet has adequate conditions to keep them cool.

Basic necessities such as shade, cool water, escape from the elements, and air conditioning will keep your pets safe, happy, comfortable, and thriving.

If you need to leave your dog outside for any length of time in hot weather, give it fresh, cold water, and a way to escape from the sun.

Add fans or turn on the air conditioner when inside the home.

Long-haired animals are especially susceptible to heat even in the 70’s, so it’s very important to take precautions to keep their temperature down.

Dogs pant to cool themselves, as they are unable to perspire as humans do.

So, consider what your needs are to make yourself comfortable and offer the same to your pet, especially as the Tri-Valley is set to experience a heat wave.

Be Careful Around Swimming Pools       

If you have a water dog, you will probably not be able to keep him out of the water. But some dogs can’t swim or tire easily and can actually drown.

Make sure your pet is supervised during any water activity.

Have a Safe and Happy Summer

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa wants to wish you and your family a safe, happy, and healthy summer.

We hope our summer tips will provide you the best protection to keep your pets around for a long time.