The Ranch Pet Resort

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Healthy and safety tips

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.”





Hoppy Easter from The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

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It’s Easter weekend, and dogs and cats around town are gearing up for a rip-roaring good time! Some of us get to partake in the fun of running around with the kids while they hunt for these plastic bundles of candy-filled fun that we are not allowed to eat, chew on, or steal.

Some of us are looking forward to seeing people and their pets we haven’t seen since the time our people brought trees in from the wild, threw balls and strings on them and told us not to touch them. Um, hello?! We are dogs and cats! We chase balls and strings! Sigh.

If you are hosting a jolly good time or having friends over, The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa has some tips to keep us safe!

Tips to Keep Your Dogs and Cats Safe this Easter

If you are hosting an Easter celebration, you may want to keep these tips in mind for a safe, healthy, happy, and enjoyable Easter for your pets and your company.

  1. Consider putting your pets in a room or crate while you have company over. While The Ranch understands your love for your amazing pets, Uncle Henry and Cousin Linda may not enjoy LeRoy, the Rottweilers, excitement over seeing new guests. Some people may not like dogs or cats (we know, we don’t understand either), may have had a bad experience with them, or be allergic to them. If your pets are locked up in your room or crate, they will be safe from knocking into or over your guests, causing a fear-bite reaction, getting out of an open door, or being fed food or treats from a well-meaning guest.
  2. Do not feed chocolate, candy items, food with bones, hot cross buns or any food with currants or raisins in them, any foods with garlic or onions, or any foods whose ingredients may be hidden, or alcohol. These people foods can cause dogs to vomit, have an upset stomach or diarrhea, choke, or have to go to the ER for a very, very expensive treatment.
  3. Keep all tulips and daffodils away from curious pets. The bulbs and even the water in the vases can cause upset stomachs, mouth irritations, difficulty breathing, or heart problems. While these plants and flowers are gorgeous, it’s best for everyone to admire them up and away from pets.
  4. Synthetic easter grass. All of that stringy “grass” is colored with dyes and is non-digestible and can block the intestines leading to illness, surgery, or in the worst cases, death.
  5. In the event your dog does ingest something or acts ill, please contact your vet or emergency vet immediately.

Healthy Treats You Can Feed Your Pets

If you want to indulge your dog or cat this Easter season, here are some tasty, healthy treats you can feed your pet. Just do so in moderation to avoid an upset tummy.

Foods we recommend and even encourage you to feed your pets in moderation any day:

  • Cooked lean meat, fish, eggs
  • Broccoli cut into small pieces
  • Peas
  • Bananas
  • Apples
  • Watermelon
  • Blueberries
  • Rice
  • Oatmeal
  • Spinach

A healthy diet is optimal for both pets and humans. When we choose to indulge in clean eating, we look and feel better! But it’s ok to indulge every now and then!

Wishing Your Family and Pets a Happy, Healthy Easter Weekend!

Family and Pet Friendly Events in Livermore this Weekend!

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Brittany spaniel enjoying a cold popsicle on a hot day in a park. His tongue and taste buds are happy!

Is it Friday yet? It will be soon, and The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa wants you to get out and enjoy family and pet friendly events in Livermore this weekend!

As a family-owned facility and pet owners ourselves, we love to support the businesses in Livermore, especially ones that promote pet friendly events.

Keep Your Pet’s Best Interests in Mind When Attending Events in Livermore

The comfort, safety, and care of our pets come before bringing them to any events, and we want to make sure the weather is not going to be too hot for our beloved pets.

The weather on Saturday is slated to reach 87 degrees at its hottest, so if you do plan on taking your pet to any of the fun Livermore events this weekend, please make sure to take the following measures:

  • Never leave your dog in the car for any period of time.
  • Make sure there is adequate shade for your pet to rest and get out of the sun.
  • Bring a water bowl and fresh water and offer frequently.
  • Stay in an air-conditioned venue if possible.
  • Avoid walking your pet on hot cement or pavement as they can burn their paws.
  • Consider keeping them at home if the weather is too warm for them. Hot weather can cause heat stroke in a dog.
  • Attend events during the coolest parts of the day-either in the morning or in the late afternoon.

Livermore’s Second Annual Summer Vendor Market

Homegrown Hops Brewery at 3000 Mines Rd., Livermore is hosting is Second Annual Summer Vendor Market. This two-day event takes place Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 from noon to 4 pm.

Here is more information from the events page:

“Saturday, July 29th, we will have Torres Tacos and Wilbur‘s BBQ. On Sunday, July 30th, we will have Marty’s joint and Oppesano pizza. For entertainment, we will have Salvage Title on Saturday and Honky Tonk Heroes on Sunday. Be sure to get there at noon to grab your table or seat early. First come first serve for seating, except for private party seating at the Trolly.

There will be water misters and shade, as well as indoor and outdoor tasting room options. You can also bring your own chair or a blanket and set up to watch the band. All while supporting a great cause by supporting small business. Games to play and entertainment both days. Vendor Spotlights coming to the FB event page.”

Little League Intermediate World Series (LLIWS) in Livermore this Weekend

Grab your mitt and ball cap and head out to the Little League Intermediate World Series (LLIWS) this weekend in Livermore. Opening ceremonies for the Little League Intermediate World Series (LLIWS) are Friday starting at 4 pm at Stockmen’s Park in Livermore.

Games will begin on Sunday, July 30 at Max Baer Park in Livermore and run until August 6th. While the kids cheer on their favorite players, the dog can enjoy his time at the Max Baer Dog Park!

Fun Event in Livermore Just For Mom and Dad!

Every now and then, Mom and Dad need a get away to unwind and relax and jam to some tunes. Almost Famous Wine Company is hosting its Jam in July Wine Party on Saturday, July 29.

Three bands will play, starting at 1:30, then 4:30, and 7:30. See their eventbrite page for all of the information, including the bands, food and beverages and more!

“Almost Famous Wine Lounge is award-winning, new tasting room and venue located on Vasco Road in the heart of Livermore’s wine, spirits and brewery district. Almost Famous Wine makes fifteen wines in diverse styles, and earned 47 top industry awards since our debut last year.”

May we recommend bringing home a bottle or two of Dog Day Chardonnay or Cabernet?

Have a Safe and Happy July Weekend with Your Family and Pet!

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa is proud to support the local businesses in Livermore, and we hope you all have a safe and happy weekend.

Our Condolences to Mitchell Katz Winery

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa would like to offer our condolences to the family and friends of Mitchell Katz and Mitchell Katz Winery for their tragic and sudden loss of Mitch.

Mitchell Katz Winery is our neighbor, and we feel the pain of a local family whose business is well-known in our Livermore community.

May all the memories of Mitch bring comfort and joy to a winery so popular in our Livermore neighborhood.

Do Animals Dream? What Do They Dream About?

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Happy Dreams after a day at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

The other night my dog, Lola, was sleeping on my bed and she started whimpering. Her feet started moving in a running motion and her eyes, while shut, twitched.

I patted her gently to reassure her she was safe, and I was there to protect her. Her frantic motions and whimpering stopped without her waking up, at least to my knowledge.

Last night, my cat, Turkey (yes, we have a cat named Turkey), was sound asleep on my chest. Suddenly and without any warning to me, he jumped up, opened his eyes, and looked around. He immediately settled back to sleep with no further jumping motions.

These actions, and years of watching my many animals and fosters make motions when they sleep, made me question if animals dream like humans do, and if they do, what do they dream about?

Mammals Do Dream During REM

According to an article in Psychology Today, mammals do dream during periods of REM sleep, our deepest sleep cycle. REM, Rapid Eye Movement, allows for vivid dreams and occurs during the end of the sleep cycle (source).

If your dog or cat is experiencing twitching sensations, it is in REM sleep and dreaming about a sensation it experienced during wakefulness.

So, the dog moving its legs in a running or swimming motion is very likely chasing the ball you threw it, re-enacting the swim it took, or possibly running from something frightening.

In my case, my dogs’ whimpers may have been from a trauma she suffered before we adopted her just a few months ago.

Turkey jumped in fear of something, and for Turkey, that something could be his own shadow, as he really is a scaredy cat.

Animals Dream Based on Their Sensory Factor

Daniel Graham, Ph.D. explains that animals dream based on what senses they use most often. Cats, Dr. Graham said, explore the world visually, so their dreams would be based upon actions, events, people, or animals they see.

Mice, on the other hand, experience the world via smell. So, their dreams are about food, flowers, garbage, other mice, or whatever fascinating item they smelled that day.

Imagine dreaming in smells over sights. That dream experience could be wonderful if you visited a bakery, flower shop, or bread store; if you visited the junkyard or changed your baby’s dirty diaper, you may not want to go to sleep that night.

Should You Wake a Dog or Cat if it is Having a Bad Dream?

Perhaps the phrase, “let sleeping dogs lie” should be rephrased to “let dogs experiencing what looks like a nightmare lie.”

When your dog or cat is experiencing what appears to be a nightmare-legs twitching, eyes blinking rapidly, body shaking, voice whimpering, it’s best not to wake your dog or cat.

The dog or cat may awaken in a dream state (similar to when we wake not knowing where we are or what day it is) and cause injury to you, thinking you are part of its dream (source).

If your dog or cat is having a bad dream, gently call its name until it comes out of the dream state.

No Bad Dreams at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa is such a fun, active, and safe place that we can’t imaging your dog or cat going to sleep afraid or experiencing nightmares.

During our boarding sessions, dogs get story time with our friendly and compassionate staff, and then they get tucked into our soft beds!

Cats get purr time when they are boarded, with staff making sure all bedding is soft and clean and nightmare free! Our cats are houses away from the dogs, making their stay quiet, peaceful, and serene.

Book Your Stay at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa is the premier dream destination for your dog or cat. We would love to have your dog or cat stay with us. Simply click here to make your reservation!

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.

With our Sincere Gratitude

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Thanksgiving pet web banner banner with leaves and pumpkins with word Thanks carved

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa wishes to express our sincere gratitude to our clients and their adorable dogs and cats. We appreciate the loyalty and support that you have given us as we continue to make The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa your number one pet care provider.

Since its inception, The Ranch has strived to make sure your pets are loved, well-cared for, safe, happy, groomed to perfection, and wiped out by the time you pick them up.

We know how much you love your pets, and we want you to feel secure and confident that your pets are being treated just like our own family of pets when you leave them in our care.

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa knows that you have a choice of places where to leave your pets, but we want to stand out and be your number one choice!

We are proud to provide temperature-controlled lodging, safe and stimulating playground equipment, supervision by a professional staff, and the area’s only water park with water jets, splash pads, and wading pools.

During this holiday season, we want you to know how much your loyalty, positive reviews, and feedback mean to us. We aim to keep making tails wag and motors purr.

In gratitude for your partnership and trust with your canine and felines, The Gamache Family wishes you and your families a safe and healthy holiday season!

Friendly Reminders to Keep Your Pets Safe and Healthy During the Holidays

The holidays are a fun time for all! We want to remind you to keep your pets safe and healthy by avoiding certain foods. While it’s tempting to give the best beggars some of our holiday food, giving in to those precious faces could result in sickness or even death.

Here is our blog about keeping our pets safe while we indulge in holiday feasts!

Traveling with Your Pets this Holiday Season?

While we would love to be your second choice when it comes to the caring of your dog or cat during the holidays, we know your best friend would much rather be with you!

Let’s look back on some tips for traveling with your pets to ensure a great and safe time is had by all!

Make Reservations Now if you are Traveling this Holiday Season

If you are thinking of traveling this holiday season and want to book a vacation for your pet, please make your reservations early! We tend to fill up, so book quickly! We’d be honored to care for your dog or cat during your holiday vacation!