The Collared Scholar Dog Training Blog

Have you HERD? The Collared Scholar's GRAND OPENING is HERE!

2011-03-24T07:10:00.000-07:00

If you have been by The Collared Scholar campus recently, you have surely seen the massive amounts of construction going on. In the works is a new Dog Training Sports Complex. At The Collared Scholar, we realize that dog sports are an incredible outlet for your pooch. Not only do they help tire your dog out, but they help tremendously in boosting confidence and strengthening the bond between owner and dog.

Our new Sports Complex will open in April and will feature:

Herding

Herding breed and herding breed mixes can come test their instincts in this awesome sport! Our herding facility will feature a 50' roundpen for beginners and a large pasture for more advanced dogs. The facility is located on the corner of Poway Road and Sycamore Canyon Road in Poway.

Agility

The Collared Scholar has been offering basic agility training for quite sometime. We are excited to announce that a NEW agility field is in the works. We will have a competition regulation size field with brand new equipment. We plan to expand our offering with the help of Agility Instructor, Melissa Hubbs, to include training for advanced agility and competition.

Join us for our GRAND OPENING EVENT to help us celebrate our new expansion!

When: Sunday, April 17th, 2011
Time: 10am to 4pm
Where: The Collared Scholar Campus

Stop by anytime and take part in the festivities! We will have:

Discounted Instinct Tests
Trainers on hand answering all of your dog training questions
Mini agility classes
Agility, Herding and Bitework demonstrations
Raffles, prizes and games

We are firing up the grill and will have plenty of food so be sure to come hungry!

Parking is available at the herding field on the corner of Poway Road and Sycamore Canyon. You can also park at the horse pasture or the horse boarding facility. We kindly ask that you please do not park on Sycamore Canyon Road.

Hope to see you there!

Patsy joins the pack!

2011-01-21T13:02:00.000-08:00

Meet Patsy, an ADORABLE 5 year old Italian Greyhound/Border Collie mix at best guess. She arrived at the ranch from overseas. You see, Patsy lived the first five years of her life at Tuapa shelter in Taiwan. The Tuapa shelter is currently home to approximately 1000 dogs and cats. The shelter was created due to the overwhelming numbers of abandoned animals living on the streets of Taiwan. At Tuapa shelter, the volunteers LOVE the dogs. Unfortunately, although every effort is made to find the dogs and cats permanent loving homes, with so many dogs on such a small island, its not always possible. So the volunteers reached out overseas for help.

Patsy was taken in by a fellow animal rescuer here in San Diego who reached out to the trainers of The Collared Scholar for help. Her story was heartwrenching. She had been taken into the shelter where she had spent the last five years of her life in a small cage. She couldn't be put out into the yard with the other dogs because she was overly submissive and would regularly be attacked. Patsy's rescuer was touched by her story and made arrangements to have her flown here to sunny San Diego for a fresh start at life.

Given her long stay at the shelter, Patsy doesn't understand the world around her. It's all very new....and very terrifying. But even though she is regularly overwhelmed and terrifed by these new experiences, she still seeks affection and attention from her new found human friends. She is an incredibly sweet girl who has been given a fresh start at life and she is here to learn to have confidence and to have some help exploring this new world that's at her paws.

To learn more about the Tuapa shelter or to find out how you can help, contact Johanna at jo4tuapa@hotmail.com. Volunteers and foster homes are desperately needed. Contact The Collared Scholar if you are interested in adopting Patsy and we will put you in touch with her foster mom.

Collared Scholars to the rescue!

2011-01-13T09:07:00.000-08:00

As you know, we at The Collared Scholar are passionate about dogs.....did I say passionate??? I meant CRAZY about dogs! We LOVE them! And we LOVE to help them. Over the years, we have been involved with several different dog rescue and animal welfare organizations. We are proud to say that we have helped over 200 homeless dogs find forever homes since we got involved in the Pet industry!

In November, we launched a seminar series designed to help us raise funds for rescue organizations. We partnered with Russell Rescue Inc to cross promote a seminar on the topic of Effective Communication. We reserved a small room at the Poway Community Center, expecting 15-20 participants. We were very pleasantly surprised when the seminar SOLD OUT and we were able to raise $440 for Russell Rescue! For our next seminar, we cautiously reserved a larger room. This time, the topic was on Fear and Anxiety. The room at the Community Center was large enough to hold 50 people. We weren't sure what to expect but this seminar, once again SOLD OUT (and then some!) and we had to cram the extra people into the tiny room! From our second event, we raised $594 for Russell Rescue bringing the total raised from the two events to over $1,000!

We were elated to be able to raise so much money for the group. They are volunteer run and do AMAZING things for Jack Russells in need and Lord knows they need all the help they can get!

After our first two events, we started scouting around the Poway area for a different venue. The folks at the Poway Community Center were extremely helpful, but the fees were high and tapped in to the money we could raise for rescue. Not to mention, the rooms weren't the most comfortable place to sit for a two hour seminar!

As we talked it over, we decided that, given the success of our first two seminars, we would take the plunge and open a training facility dedicated to providing support for dog rescue and animal welfare organizations. We secured a fabulous location in early January and plan to open the center February 1st, 2011!

The new center will offer workshops, seminars and training lessons with proceeds going to benefit affiliated rescue groups! We plan to expand our reach to help other rescue groups who need us and we will be significantly broadening our class offerings.

Join us for our Grand Opening Celebration Saturday, February 5th, 2011 from 11am-4pm and help us help dogs in need! Details to follow soon.

Home for the Holidays: Help for two VERY special dogs!

2010-12-05T11:17:00.000-08:00

Today I was fortunate to have been able to play a part in a holiday miracle. Meet Taffy and Sparky. These two pit bulls have had a rough start at life. Their paths never crossed until they ended up in the Coronado Animal Care facility. The two quickly bonded and sought security in one another. They had the hearts of all of the shelter staff as well as everyone they met on their daily walks. Unfortunately, life in a shelter environment was taxing on these two, high energy dogs. They began to get stressed and behavioral issues emerged. Nothing too drastic, just a few bad manners that made their chances at adoption very slim. In addition, they came with the stigma of being labeled a "PIT BULL". Many potential adopters looked right past these two bundles of love because of their breed alone, never even giving them a chance.

But a few days ago, an angel stepped in. Pooka, a former Collared Scholar dog who is now residing out of state, called in the help of his former temporary parents, with whom he lived last summer, and who just happen to live in the Coronado area. Pooka's temporary mommy was instantly smitten with Sparky, who resembled her Pooka in behavior and overall exhuberance for life. She then met Taffy, Sparky's girlfriend and, although she wanted to help Sparky, couldn't bear the thought of separating the two.

A few things became abundantly clear upon meeting the two dogs. The most obvious was they needed out of the facility. Although the shelter workers adored them and the facility is top notch, these dogs needed room to run! Second, it was obvious these guys needed training!

Pooka's temporary mommy called in the help of The Collared Scholar, who agreed to take the doggies into their in kennel doggy training camp to help improve their chances of adoptability. Pooka's temporary mommy and daddy, being the true angels they are, agreed to sponsor these two dogs to ensure all of their needs were taken care of during their time at doggy camp.

When I went to pick these two pups up, it was so evident how much these dogs were loved at the facility where they stayed. I was met with hugs and tears and I am incredibly grateful to have been a part of the entire experience.

These dogs will stay at The Collared Scholar's ranch for intensive training for the next four weeks. They will be taught all of their doggy manners both inside and outside of the house so they can graduate and become true ambassadors for their breed. Upon their adoption, these dogs will have LIFETIME training through The Collared Scholar and our trainers will be there to ensure every step of the transition into their new home goes smoothly.

Keep checking the blog for updates and video of their progress. Also, help us spread the word and find these amazing doggies the forever homes they truly deserve. They will come with lifetime training and can be adopted out separately or together.

NEW Training Program! "Home Schooling" for working dog Dads and Moms

2010-11-30T08:50:00.000-08:00

The Collared Scholar is proud to announce the launch of a NEW training option for working pet parents! Home schooling brings the individual attention and in home training component of private lessons to working pet parents who find it difficult to work individual lessons into their busy schedules! Our trainers will visit your home midday and spend a minimum of 1 hour working on the specific behavior issues you are faced with while conditioning obedience and manners.....all while you are at work! At the end of each week, we will debrief you on the training that took place so you can reinforce and stay consistent.

Click here to view our fact sheet on our new Home Schooling program! Give us a call at 619-916-8710 or visit us online for more information!

The Littles have arrived!

2010-11-07T09:46:00.000-08:00

This past month has been full of exciting developments. Of particular interest is the arrival of the littles. Who are the littles? Well, lately it seems we have been completely inundated with new tiny training doggies who have a lot to say about the world.

Meet the crew.....

Blossom is a Italian Greyhound/Chihuahua mix rescued doggy who is a little unsure about the world around her. She came to training for some fear issues she has with strangers (mostly men) and other doggies. Since being here, she has become best friends forever with Jolie, one of the other littles who came to us for training.

Jolie and her brother Jacob are two mini schnauzers who started doggy boarding school a few weeks back. Since they are now seasoned ranch residents, they took it upon themselves to show Blossom the ropes and Jolie in particular has really taken to our new houseguest and has become her constant companion.

Jacob and Jolie joined us for some fear and anxiety issues. They originally weren't too sure about other dogs or new people but these days, they have decided that playing with their canine counterparts is pretty much the best thing in life. They have become more accepting of strangers but we still have some confidence boosting work to do!

This weekend, we were also joined by Bernie, a rescued Yorkie who, like Blossom, Jacob and Jolie, is a little unsure of the world. Bernie is sleeping at the Casa de Collared Scholar for a few short nights where he is learning not to be so afraid of the other doggies and strange sights and smells at the ranch. It's tough when you weigh less than 10lbs and have to share your hotel room with 1000lb horses! But he's adapting very well and is getting the hang of life here at the ranch.

We also have two doggies here from Russell Rescue, Inc who are learning their doggy manners. Augie is an exhuberant and loving JRT who had a rough start at life. Abuse is apparent in this guy as he cowers anytime someone reaches over his head. He has undergone extensive confidence building and should be ready for his new home soon. Macy, another JRT from Russell Rescue is here because she has an ENORMOUS prey drive and has decided it is her mission in life to hunt and shred anything that moves. She is learning impulse control but will likely need to be placed in a home where she is queen of her castle and doesn't have to share her space with any other doggies.

As you can see, things around here have been busy and we have been surrounded by doggies that are tiny in stature but BIG in the personality department! Keep an eye out for their graduation videos!

Dog Training Workshop! How to Speak Dog.

2010-10-20T06:35:00.000-07:00

Join us for an informative 2 hour workshop designed to teach you how to communicate effectively with your furry family member.

Topics Include....

•Understanding Canine Communication

•Dog Psychology 101

•The Role of Body Posture in Communication

•Effective Human/Dog Communication

•Training Techniques and Tips

Workshop Fee is $15/person and all proceeds go to benefit Russell Rescue, Inc., a national network of volunteers dedicated to placing unwanted, displaced or abandoned Jack Russell Terriers. Registration is required.

For more information or to register, visit our website or call 619.916.8710

Introduction to Agility Class starts soon!

2010-10-12T07:05:00.000-07:00

Introduction to Agility class starting 10/23 at 1030am. Come join us for a fun and informative 6 week class designed for dogs 4 months of age and older. Learn basic obstacles while building drive and focus in your pup. Course fee = $129. Email info@collared-scholar.com or call us at 619-916-8710 to register!

Where has the time gone?

2010-10-10T08:09:00.000-07:00

Well folks, some technical difficulties with our blog have prevented me from updating as regularly as I would have liked. But we are back and ready to update you on all the fun happenings here at The Collared Scholar!

First, a bit of a shout out. Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting some awesome people in the pet care field and I want to help spread the word about the great work they are doing! First, meet Sarah. Sarah is the owner of Sister Sarah's Wild First Aid. She teaches first aid classes for people and pets. If you have never taken a pet first aid class, you should definitely contact her as she is a wealth of information. Second, I had the pleasure of chatting with Michelle Nickerson, owner of Michelle's Pet Love. For you Coronado residents, Michelle offers pet sitting, dog walking and errand running in the Coronado area.

Ok...let's get down to business!

If you have been to the ranch lately, you have seen all the crazy construction. So sorry for the mess! We are in the process of landscaping (we will finally have grass! Yipeee!). Following the landscaping, the fencing will be installed for our two new dog yards so that big dogs and small dogs have a more secure place to run and frolic!

We have also had many new furry faces come and go since my last blog update. Let me introduce you to a few of them....

First is G'dub (aka The General). G'dub is an ADORABLE Italian Greyhound pup here for some help with housebreaking and obedience. He is progressing beautifully in our program and has been one of our star students. At any given point during the day, you can always find him racing his fastest through the yard, looking so incredibly graceful.....until he stops paying attention and runs smack into a wall. What a goofball!

Next, I'd like you to meet Kirby, a German Shepherd/Malinois mix orginally suffering from some social issues. Kirby is so big, strong and handsome but....he's a giant chicken! That's ok Kirby! This world can be a scary place! Kirby joined us for in kennel training and has since overcame many milestones including his first off leash hike with other doggies (P.S. His last trainer said he could never play with other dogs....he was too aggressive!). Great job Kirby (and Kirby's owners!) Keep up the GREAT work!

Kirby(Left) and Kai (Right)

We also had the pleasure of working with Kai, who underneath her BIG bark and aggressive posture was also hiding a GIANT chicken. Kai and Kirby went through socialization together in kennel and became great friends. Kai was a little more tenacious when she asked people to back off but by the end of her stay here, she was actually approaching all the workers in the yard and asking for pets. Great job Kai!

Last but certainly not least, we had Leroy. Leroy joined us for training because he decided that he would like to be the only dog in his neighborhood. He would therefore give all the other dogs a piece of his mind on his walks. He is the SWEETEST boy when he isn't around other dogs.....one of the best snugglers we have seen come through the ranch in a long time. And now, at social, he makes the rounds from person to person, hitting everyone up for pets. He does great with the other dogs here and we are working on him at home to fine tune his skills in his own environment. Great job Leroy! Can't wait for you to be able to show the world the sweet, affectionate Leroy we have all come to love so much!

Now there are many other dogs that we have seen over the past few months and I will do my best to get you caught up to speed on the canine shennanigans around here over the next few weeks. But for now, keep up the great work G'dub, Kirby, Kai and Leroy! You are all AWESOME!

Also, keep an eye out for our newest in kennel additions joining us next week! Jacob and Jolie are two adorable mini schnauzers who will be joining us for help with socialization. The crew here is excited for their arrival and we plan to post pictures as soon as they get here!

Until next time.....

It's time to get yourself and your pooch fit for summer!

2010-04-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

The Collared Scholar is VERY proud to announce the start of an awesome new partnership! Our trainers will be partnering with Leash your Fitness, a company that offers fitness classes for dogs and their owners. Classes are taught by certified personal trainers and accommodate all fitness levels.

Next THURSDAY, APRIL 29th at 6pm, Leash your Fitness is bringing it's Bonding with BootCamp series to Poway! Each class starts with a warm-up and is followed by intervals that consist of two minutes of cardio and one minute of either balance, core, yoga or strength. There are approximately 16 intervals in each class. Your dog is your partner during the entire class, and dog obedience is incorporated in all the exercises. The Collared Scholar will have trainers on hand to help with any issues you are having!

The class will be held at Garden Road Park located at 14901 Garden Road, Poway 92064. Visit Leash your Fitness to Register!

New Photos and New Articles!

2010-04-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

We recently captured some great new photos of our canine clients. Check out our gallery at http://www.flickr.com/photos/collaredscholar . Remember to check back frequently as we post new pictures regularly. I am hoping to catch a few more of our new doggy houseguests that have yet to be featured today so check back tomorrow for Zorro, Larry, and Sophie's camios.

Also, check out our latest DogTown articles.

First, "To Crate or Not to Crate" - an article on crate training for your pooch.

Next, "Doggy Etiquette 101 - How to greet a strange dog"

And last, now that summer is upon us, and the sun stays out much later, the trainers of The Collared Scholar are considering bringing back our seminar series. Seminars last about 1-2 hours and cover specific topics such as "Teaching a Reliable Recall" or "How to better communicate with your dog". Our summer seminar series will kick off in late May or early June so check back regularly for updates!

Some long overdue updates!

2010-04-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

Our days here at the ranch have been jam packed so I apologize for the delay in getting this update out.

Over the past few months, we have met some amazing doggies. First, let me introduce Allegro and Symphony. Allegro is a ridiculously goofy bull terrier that likes to head butt and body slam other doggies (and people!) in play. He is hilarious to watch in action. His more refined sis, Symphony is a stunning Am Staff that spends most of her days napping or getting pets. This duo has moved in and become part of the family for the next 8 months while their mom attends culinary school in France!

We also had the pleasure of working with two adorable smaller dogs in our in kennel training program. Beau joined us for some fear aggression issues he was having. He is an adorable young cockapoo and he made amazing progress in our bootcamp, learning to accept people and dogs of all shapes and sizes. Sabina is a gorgeous Shi Tzu who joined us for help with some housebreaking issues. Both doggies were awesome students and you will see each of them hanging out at the ranch for daycare or at agility classes!

New to the in kennel program is Sophie, an airedale with a past who came to us for some aggression issues she had been having towards her owners. Sophie had a rough start at life and was rescued after her prior owner severely neglected her. She had internal bleeding from a bad whip worm infection that had gone untreated for quite sometime. But now Sophie is living it up with her awesome owners and she is here at The Collared Scholar to deal with some past life issues she is still left with.

Another new student we'd like to introduce is Zorro. Zorro is a stunningly handsome Great Pyrenees weighing in at a whopping 120lbs! Zorro is a sweet natured boy but he has some fear issues that have lead to some pretty serious aggression with strangers. But don't fear Zorro! The Collared Scholar is here to help! Zorro has already made great progress in less than a week and we expect a full recovery very soon!

And we can't forget Stella, the South African Boerboel puppy that joined us for some training to get her prepped to be a therapy dog. Stella is only 6 months old and she already weighs 80lbs! She is gorgeous, sweet and incredibly smart. She will make an EXCELLENT therapy dog as she grows up!

There is also some very exciting news we'd like to share with you! The kennel building out back is back under construction! The contractors have been working the last few weeks to get the building ready for some canine guests! We expect completion very soon and are excited for the expansion of our facility! We will be hosting a Summer Kickoff Barbeque within the next month or so to get the summer season started on the right paw and to celebrate the opening of our state of the art kennel facility!

And last, but not least, some sad news from The Collared Scholar. We'd like to wish Lando, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever a speedy journey over the Rainbow Bridge. Lando passed away from a terrible accident at the dog park. He picked up and proceeded to swallow a tennis ball whole. He choked and his owner was unable to dislodge the tennis ball. Lando didn't make it to the vet in time. This should serve as a grim warning to all of you who have dogs who like to play with tennis balls. Please be careful as these toys can be dangerous. Godspeed Lando. We love you. Your brilliant personality, goofy water obsession and overall sweet nature is already greatly missed. You will not be forgotten.

Amazing! Joey and Jameson come to BootCamp for Basic Obedience!

2010-02-23T06:51:00.000-08:00

Joey, a 5 year old Chocolate lab who I have known since he was a baby puppy, just got a new little brother. Jameson is a rambunctious and GIANT yellow lab puppy. I'd guess him to weigh in at about 80lbs and he's still growing! He's a rescue and he had bounced between homes for a while, no doubt due to his puppy craziness coupled with his monstrous size. Together, the boys joined us for In Kennel training, to learn basic obedience and manners. They were a TON of fun to have around and the ranch is a much quieter place without them.

Check out their video after a few short weeks with our trainers. They are amazing!

Check out The Collared Scholar's New Photo Album on Flickr!

2010-02-18T07:23:00.001-08:00

When we aren't training dogs, we have been busy taking pics of our daycare, training and boarding clients. Check out our new photo album on Flickr. Flickr users, register and add us as a contact so you can get updates when we post new pics (which should be regularly!)

Also, we will be putting out a "Dogs of The Collared Scholar" calendar featuring all of YOUR doggies. Calendars will be available for purchase from your favorite Collared Scholar trainer and proceeds will go to benefit a local rescue group.

Check out our pics below OR Click HERE to be taken directly to our Flickr page.

A tribute to Gordy

2010-02-15T14:59:00.000-08:00

For those of you who attend group classes at the ranch, you have surely met our awesome, old lady basset hound Gordy (aka G. Marie....aka Gordita Juanita the Latin Temptress). Gordy was a 14 year old spunky basset hound who knew what she wanted and how to get it. Unfortunately, her little life was cut short this morning, as she passed away in her daddy's arms from the cancer she had so valiantly fought for the past 3 years.

Gordy came in our lives in 2006, when we pulled her from the shelter at 10 years old. She was abandoned their by her "owner" after he had used her repeatedly to produce basset hound puppies that he no doubtedly sold to make a quick buck. She was overweight, stinky and her nails curled all the way around and punctured the pads of her feet. She an open sore on her back end and severe arthritis. The shelter told us that given her medical condition, they had deemed her unadoptable and had planned to euthanize her. We weren't about to let that happen. We immediately pulled her from the shelter and although we already had a house full, I decided to take her home.

When we got her home and got her cleaned up, it quickly became apparent that she suffered from a terrible case of pneumonia. She was hospitalized for quite some time and for a while, we weren't sure she was going to make it. But, after knowing her for the past 3.5 years, it became increasinlgy apparent that she was a stubborn fighter who wouldn't let something like pneumonia slow her down!

She beat the odds and recovered from her pneumonia. It was now time for her spay. When we went into the vet for the eval, he let us know that she had several mammary tumors he was concerned about. We had them biopsied and the news was grim - it was cancer - and not just any cancer, but an extremely aggressive form that they believed would cut her life short. We were devastated - it was amazing how attached we had become in a few short months. We opted for a radical mastectomy to remove the cancer she currently had and hopefully buy her some time. The surgeon was not optimistic. Although she was able to get clean margins on the tumors, given the type of cancer she had, they believed she'd relapse in 6-8 months and they recommended a second surgery and chemotherapy to buy her some extra time. We respectfully declined. Her recovery from her first surgery, where they practically removed her entire stomach, was rough and we couldn't see putting her through that kind of pain again. We switched her to a holistic diet and decided to enjoy what time we had left.

Her surgery was just over 3 years ago. Since then, we learned just what a fighter little Gordy was. She was pushy, demanding and knew how to get her way - and we loved her because of it (not despite it). She could regularly be found ripping treats out of your pocket or growling to get you to pet her. At times, she would growl so loud, it would make her sneeze and ultimately, send us into fits of laughter. She was never trained and got her way by barking, growling, biting and forcing her way through doorways when you weren't looking. Just what you'd expect from a dog trainer's dog! But she was old and fiesty and we loved that about her.

This past weekend, we could tell the cancer came back. She began rapid, shallow breathing and seemed a bit reluctant to get up and trot around the yard. She wasn't breaking into the training field to steal the treats we were using for training as often as she had used to so we knew something was up. Yesterday, our worst fears were confirmed as Gordy, our half pig half basset hound declined her dinner and wouldn't take treats. This was unheard of for her. I took her in bed with me last night and we tucked her under the electric blanket for warmth. Her breathing was labored and her heart rate had sky rocketed. We knew it wasn't long but wanted to give her the peace of dying in her own home - a home she no doubt longed for most of her life. This morning, we let her outisde and she layed in the sun. Things were looking grim. She stuck around long enough for her Auntie Christine to say a tearful goodbye. After what seemed like an eternity of her laying in the sun, panting and barely able to lift her little head, we decided it was time to intervene with humane euthanasia. Rob went to the yard, scooped her up to carry her inside so we could make that dreaded final vet visit and within a few quick seconds, her little body went limp and she peacefully slipped out of this world to join her brother Koby in heaven.

Gordy passed away this morning in her daddy's arms. Although she only graced our lives for a short time, looking back I can't imagine life without her. She was one of the best friends I have ever had and we will miss her every day. It's amazing to me how someone could just throw away a little soul like Gordy's. But her prior owner's carelessness was ultimately our gift and we will always be grateful for the time we had with her. Give 'em hell up their Gordy. And give your brother a big sloppy kiss from his mama and daddy....

For our doggies in heaven:

Join The Collared Scholar at the 1st Annual Mermaid Run 2/13/2010

2010-02-05T10:16:00.000-08:00

The trainers of The Collared Scholar have been asked to appear at the upcoming Mermaid Run, 2/13/2010 at Fiesta Island. Our trainers will be on hand answering dog training and dog related questions while promoting awareness for heart disease and the Heart Truth. Here's some info on the event:

"Join us at Mission Bay in San Diego for a fun 5/10k run. February is Heart Health month and you can join hundreds of women as we raise awareness for heart disease an The Heart Truth campaign. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Heart Truth and participants can make an additional donation via the Mermaid website. Run participants receive a stylish race t-shirt and finisher necklace." Click HERE to visit their website and register!

Hope to see you there!

New Working Dog Programs at The Collared Scholar!

2010-01-31T18:35:00.001-08:00

We are proud to announce the launch of our newest dog training programs designed specifically for working dogs.

DOGS with DRIVE is a new "focus group" designed specifically for working dogs and dogs with drive who have foundation obedience but need some work on emotional control. In this class, we will teach drivey dogs to behave in high distraction settings and help build and focus their drive into more positive obedience behaviors. Class meets Sunday afternoons in Poway. Instructor approval required for participation.

PERSONAL PROTECTION TRAINING and PROTECTION SPORTS programs have also begun at The Collared Scholar! Do you want to see if your dog has what it takes for personal protection? Do you want to teach your dog to "act" tough to help keep you safe from intruders or other unwelcomed strangers? Or, are you interested in Schutzhund or Ringsport? We at The Collared Scholar have teamed up with some incredible training decoys and protection sport clubs that can help you achieve those goals. Call us at 619-916-8710 to schedule your evaluation to see if your pooch has what it takes!

Gaius and Attia learn to Speak!

2010-01-29T06:06:00.001-08:00

We have two doggies joining us for some intensive training here at the ranch. We briefly talked about them in the blog previously but, since they are going to be around for quite some time and since their training program is pretty unique, we decided they needed a blog of their own.

Meet Gaius and Attia. Gaius (aka Gaius Julius Caesar) is a 4 month old weim puppy rescued from puppy mill conditions. He came to us with severe kennel cough (he had had it for 2 months!), an ear infection and some sores on his little feet. He had to be in quarantine for 10 days while he healed and then, he went right into training to learn to be a good puppy.

Attia is a 4 year old lovely lady who won the hearts of her trainers instantly by resting her head on their shoulders while she is riding in the car and by sticking to them like glue at the ranch. She is a sweet sweet girl and we at The Collared Scholar are faced with a challenging task! We are going to take some of that sweet away :-)

You see, Gaius and Attia are very loving dogs - in fact they might be a little too loving as they would happily greet any stranger with love and affection, even if they were holding their family at gunpoint.

This is where we come in. We are going to teach the two dogs to be a little more protective of their family. Don't fret - we aren't going to make them mean. We are just going to teach them to act tough to ward off potential intruders. We are also teaching the two to be hunting dogs so that they can accompany their Dad on exciting hunting and camping trips.

The two are loving their training so far. It's been all fun and games and we are capitalizing on their great prey drive to teach them some protection behaviors.

Check out this video of Gaius learning to bark on command, showing of his positions and his place and recall to the whistle. This was the first day we worked on the place and recall and he picked it up in no time!

Rainy Days at the Ranch....

2010-01-22T09:03:00.000-08:00

So, as you have all experienced, Southern California has been hit hard these past few days with some severe weather (compared to So Cal's standards). Me and all the pooches have been cooped up for several days and the time stuck inside has forced me to get creative with training and excercise for the pups.

First, a quick intro to all of the new doggies spending these rainy days with me. First, we have Bella and Bailey, a pair of cute as can be maltipoos here to learn some basic manners. They are pretty overwhelmed by life at the ranch (much different than their condo downtown), but they are getting more and more comfortable each and every day. Next we have Reese and Buttons, an Ibizan Hound and a Dalmation who you may remember from our days at Metropawlitan. These lovely ladies belong to our Metro Groomer Keith, and are gracing us with their presence over the next few days. Last but certainly not least, we have Diesel - an adorable Jack Russell available for adoption through Russell Rescue, Inc. Diesel regularly entertains us with his antics - our favortie is when he falls asleep half on the couch and buries his face between the cushions....ridiculously adorable.

Now that the introductions are out of the way....here are some tips on keeping your pooch busy during this wet, rainy weather....

First and foremost - INTERACTIVE TOYS! These are my lifesaver when the dogs aren't getting their regular exercise. My favorties are the Tug A Jug, Kong Toy and Treat Stick. I fill these with plain kibble, mixed with a few Natural Balance Treats and sealed with a layer of cream cheese and let the dogs go to town. For those dogs who are OK with being in a crate, I give Raw Beef Neck Bones and Bully sticks. These options satisfy dog's desire to chew while also helping them to get rid of some of that excess energy.

In addition to the (HEAVY) use of interactive toys and bones while its raining, I have also been playing some fun, inside training games with the pooches staying here at the ranch. Here are a few you can play at home:

Hide and Seek - For those dogs learning the "COME" command. If the dog has a good foundation with the recall, I will hide in rooms around the house, call the dog to come, and force them to "FIND" me, rewarding heavily when they finally do. If your dog doesn't know the "COME", start by teaching that, and then move on to training games. Click HERE for an article on introducing the "COME" command.

Training Tricks - I have also been spending my days teaching my dogs "Stupid Tricks". There is a fun dog training book out their called 101 Dog Tricks. You can pick it up at Barnes and Noble or other local bookstores. This book is chalk full of fun, easy to teach tricks that are completely useless but tons of fun. Teaching your dog new tricks will help give them mental stimulation, build confidence and its just plain fun!

Search! - The last and possibly my favorite game is to teach your ball or food motivated dog to "SEARCH!". For toy motivated dogs, hide their favortie toy and have them "SEARCH!" until they find it. For food motivated dogs, put a piece of their favorite treat into a small, ventialted container that they must search for. Start by placing the toy in easy to find places and slowly increase the difficulty as your dog starts to pick up the idea....

Have some fun with your pooch while you are both stuck, cooped up inside. He will thank you for it!

Stay dry and stay safe out there!

Lights, Camera, Action! Some pooches show off for the camera and a star visits the ranch!

2010-01-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

If you have been following the blog, you have met Turbo and Vigo, an unlikely couple who came to us for help with dog aggression and obedience. They are visiting California from Oregon and decided to spend some time with the trainers of The Collared Scholar for help with the issues they were having. Here is a video of them learning a few new commands. Keep in mind, this is only their third lesson and it is the FIRST time the Place command was introduced. What smart pooches!

Also, some big news is brewing here at The Collared Scholar, yesterday, a reality TV celeb dropped off her mini poodle JJ for some in kennel training. Poor JJ is pretty fearful and snaps at other dogs, has an issue with submissive urination and is just plain scared of the world. But don't fear JJ, The Collared Scholar is here to help. This particular reality TV personality has a particular love for doggies and has developed a line of ridiculously adorable doggie neckwear that is now being sold online and in some high end pet stores. Her neckwear is made from imported, recycled and vintage materials and you can check it out online at Damaged Threads. Keep an eye out for JJ's shocking transformation........

Agility Training at The Collared Scholar!

2010-01-11T18:10:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know, we recently launched our new Agility classes! We are offering an Introduction to Agility class Saturday mornings and we are also hosting an Agility Club designed to give dogs who may lack certain social skills the ability to train and compete in agility!

This past Saturday, we held our graduation day. We set up an obstacle course featuring all of the obstacles our students learned over the 6 week course and held a mini competition. We are very proud of all of our students and are excited for them to join the club and fine tune their training for competition!

Here is a video of Graduation Day!

And for those of you who were in our first Agility Class, we did video graduation so don't feel left out. We are having some "technical difficulties" and hope to have the video posted ASAP.

Welcome some new faces and some Collared Scholar news....

2010-01-08T10:35:00.000-08:00

I know its been quite sometime since the blog has been updated. The holidays are always a busy time for us here at The Collared Scholar and sometimes, the blog entries fall by the wayside. But we are back up with a vengeance and plan to keep blog updates as frequent as possible....

First and foremost, I'd like to welcome some new faces - of both the two legged and four legged variety....

If you take any of our group classes, you have surely met Kelly, our awesome new intern! Kelly typically works two days per week helping out around the ranch, keeping the doggies entertained and learning dog behavior in the process. She has been an incredible addition to the crew so next time you are out at the ranch, be sure to say hello!

Of course, the blog wouldn't be complete without our canine introductions as well. In training with us currently are some really great doggies who deserve some recognition!

First is Charlie....Charlie is an incredibly adorable doxie mix who came to us for help with some intense fear issues. His owners recently rescued him and it appears that poor Charlie has never had any socialization or exposure to the outside world. He has been making excellent progress and we look forward to a full rehabilitation....keep and eye out for his video as he should be graduating with honors in the coming days.

Next we have quite the dynamic pair in training with us for basic obedience and some hunting work. Attia is a 4 year old Weim who has quickly become one of the staff favorites. She is learning at an exceptional pace and instantly bonded with her trainers. She is learning to be a bit more protective of her family since currently, she will happily greet strangers and potential muggers with big sloppy kisses and tail wags. She is also learning reliable obedience and some hunting skills so she can accompany her owner on exciting camping and hunting adventures. Attia's little brother is a 4 month old weim names Gaius, who was recently rescued from puppy mill conditions. He is recovering from a nasty cough but is really turning a corner and is showing us what a great hunter he will be when he grows up....he has a great time here playing with the quail and practicing retrieve games and we are sure that he will grow up to be a mighty hunter and a great companion.

Last but certainly not least, we have Turbo, a misunderstood pittie mix who wins everyone over with her hilarious smile (yes - she actually pulls back her lips when excited and flashes her pearly whites at you in a gesture of love and affection). Turbo is here because she has a high prey drive that has got her into some trouble in the past. We are working on corralling her issues while her parents are in San Diego on vacation and she has made astounding progress.

Pictures and video definitely to follow.....

In addition to our new faces, we also have a couple of pieces of exciting news for you....

First, keep an eye out for our video newsletter which we plan to launch in the coming weeks. We plan to post regular video tidbits with helpful training tips and tricks that you can practice at home...

And finally, perhaps the most exciting piece of news I have to share with you today is regarding one of the dogs we had in rescue, Augie. Augie is a Jack Russell/chi mix who came into our program with a few behavioral issues. Augie spent several months in training, learning to be a good doggie and this past week, we are proud to announce, that he found his perfect forever home. We will certainly miss his antics here at the ranch but we are thrilled that he finally has a family to call his own...
Until next time....

Sonny learns his manners....

2009-12-24T09:40:00.000-08:00

We at The Collared Scholar recently welcomed Sonny, an adorable 8 month old pit bull/weim mix into our in kennel training program. Right off the bat, Sonny was a handful. When I spoke to his owners on the phone, they told me about his behavior, most of which was written off to puppy exuberance. But when I met Sonny, I knew they weren't exaggerating. You see, Sonny is the kind of dog that trainers LOVE. He is unafraid and sure with a great drive for the toy and he is amazingly eager to please..... but at this stage in the game, he had NO idea how to use his body. He would plow into just about anything and he knew how to use his strength against you. When he first got here, I put him in the yard to potty and he came slamming into the sliding glass door so hard, I was sure it was about to shatter. He would tackle you, mouth you and slam his body into you, regularly taking people out as he ran joyously through the yard. He had so much energy, that when he got excited, especially upon seeing other dogs, his frustration to play would get the better of him and he would find himself slipping into aggression. Plainly stated, Sonny lacked emotional control.

After a few weeks with our trainers, Sonny was transformed from a crazed puppy into a sweet and calm gentleman. He still loves to play and has the strength of a mack truck, but his energy is now focused into more positive training games, giving him an outlet for his energy and giving his parents some piece of mind.......Check out Sonny in action!

Buster, Casey, Flea and Grumpy - It's been busy at The Collared Scholar!

2009-11-18T07:32:00.001-08:00

The past week or so, things have been pretty busy around here! We have had several doggies head home from their stay at the ranch and welcomed some new faces to the training program.

First on the list is our sweet boy Buster. Buster is a dachshund mix who presented with some people and dog aggression issues. He's a sweet boy that was just sorely misunderstood. You see, Buster was a rescued dog and he suffered from some intense fear and panic issues that caused him to become aggressive in situations he felt like he couldn't control. Because he was unstable, he sought refuge in the few areas of his life he felt he could control. Hence, his aggression. He would bark wildly at other dogs as he passed them on the street and he refused to let strangers in the front door without him letting them know whose house it really was....he stayed in our program for a few weeks and made great progress. He now attends doggy daycare twice weekly and will be joining us for agility class soon!

Check out Buster's video :-)

We also had the pleasure of working with Casey, an 11 week old German Shepherd puppy who graduated the program on Monday. She was here for crate training, housebreaking and some help with some fear issues. She overcame her issues quickly and became the pride and joy of pretty much every one she met. The ranch is a quieter place without her but we are happy she's back home showing off her new skills!

Last week, we also had the pleasure of meeting an odd couple who joined us for in kennel training. Grumpy is an 8 month old English Bulldog who came to us with his brother, Flea, a 4lb chihuahua. Grumpy is a bowling ball of a dog who presented with destructive behavior. He would tear up everything in sight, become aggressive when disciplined and trample his tiny brother Flea. Flea on the other hand was fearful, barked like a mad man, was not sociable with other dogs and had housebreaking issues. They enrolled in our program and have been so much fun to work with. Keep an eye out for their video coming soon!

Loui isn't so vicious anymore....

2009-11-08T09:53:00.000-08:00

If you have been following the blog, you know about Loui, our vicious pit bull puppy who came to in kennel training at The Collared Scholar. Loui is only 6 months old and he was terrified of the world. His aggression was so fierce, we had to be outfitted in a full bite suit to handle him his first day here. You see, unlike most dogs, whose aggression is all an act, Loui's aggression was very real - he had no problem taking a bite out of any person or dog who rubbed him the wrong way.

After a few weeks of training at The Collared Scholar, Loui was transformed....

Check out his video :-)

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

2009-10-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

If you have been following along in the blog, you have read about Raggs, our senior terrier mix (yes, I said senior!) who came to in kennel training for help with aggression. Raggs had some issues with people on her property and quite a few issues with other dogs. Raggs returned home yesterday after her stay with our trainers. We still have quite a bit of work to do in teaching Raggs not to be territorial in her home, but she has made amazing progress and is on the road to a full recovery. Check out her video!

NEW Articles and Weekly Advice Column!

2009-10-09T08:18:00.000-07:00

The Collared Scholar behaviorist, Meagan Karnes is now the "resident expert" for DogTownSanDiego! Check out Meagan's Korner for great dog training articles and our NEW weekly advice column!

New Faces :-)

2009-10-05T07:04:00.000-07:00

As I woke up this morning and got ready to greet the daycare dogs, I realized we have a slew of new faces that have joined The Collared Scholar family. I'm happy to introduce all of our awesome new additions!

First is Boss and Baby. Boss is a GINORMOUS bull mastiff puppy who is sweet, squishy and just a big baby inside. He came to us for long term boarding with his pittie sis, Baby who you may see tearin' it up on the agility course in the near future. Boss and Baby are excellent houseguests and great fun to have around. If you join us for group classes, boarding or daycare, you will most certainly see this dynamic duo :-)

Next we have sweet Buster. Buster is a dachshund/terrier mix here for help with some self esteem issues. Buster doesn't like other doggies all that well and he has displayed aggression towards people as well. Like Loui, Buster is just a scared little guy searching for a sense of security in this world. Keep an eye out for him in our anti aggression social starting next week!

We have also been blessed with the addition of some AWESOME new daycare doggies. Today, we are celebrating Karma's first day of daycare. Karma is an adorable brindle bully X who needs some more social time with other dogs. She wasn't allowed at other daycares because she was too forward in her greetings. But since she has been here, she has been a perfect angel. She is in the yard now, sniffing every surface and playing with her two new basset buddies.

And with that, I MUST introduce our new basset buddies, Rocky and Adrian. These two also attend doggie daycare at The Collared Scholar. If you know me at all, you know I am absolutely smitten by the basset hound breed and having these two around is like heaven :-) If you come to daycare, you will inevitably see Adrian racing zoomies around the yard and Rocky trying to keep up. They have now initiated Ms. Karma into the pack and the three of them are kicking up the dirt (literally) with a good game of chase!

Last but certainly not least, we have Raggs, a senior girl who has had some run ins with animal control for aggression. Underneath it all, Raggs is a sweet girl who just wants to be loved. We are teaching her the appropriate way to greet strangers and she is picking it up quickly. Keep an eye out for her video in the coming weeks.

Keep an eye out for these crazy puppies next time you are out at the ranch. They are quite a treat to have around :-)

Our Little Pearlie Girl....

2009-09-22T08:01:00.000-07:00

Recently, we were fortunate to add a new pooch to our extended family at The Collared Scholar. Pearl is a ridiculously adorable boxer who had a rough start at life. Her mom adopted her from a local boxer rescue and her history was unknown. The only thing we did know was that whatever she went through left Pearl with some pretty major behavioral issues.

First and foremost in our eyes was Pearl's intense separation anxiety. Her anxiety was so bad, mom had to take her EVERYWHERE! Pearl had a bed in the back of the car so she could accompany mom everywhere she went. This meant only running errands at night, when the weather was cool enough for Pearl to hang out in the car, and never leaving for a day trip or vacation. In addition to Pearl's separation anxiety, she had some issues with dog aggression. Whenever another dog approached, Pearl would stare them down and then bark and lunge wildly at them.

Pearl came to in kennel training for help with these issues. The separation anxiety definitely turned into a battle of the wills - Pearl carried on for days before learning that her constant whines and whimpers wouldn't be rewarded. Then, just like that, she settled in and became another pack member at the ranch. The dog aggression subsided quickly and Pearl turned into one of our star students!

Check out the video of Ms. Pearl showing off her newly acquired skills!

Welcome Louie, our newest student!

2009-09-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

Today, I had the pleasure of picking up our newest In Kennel Training client, Louie, a 6 month old pit bull who has some issues his parents couldn't overcome. You see, despite being only 6 months old, not so little Louie is suffering from severe human and dog aggression. To give you an idea, when I went to pick him up today, Louie tried with all his might to take a bite out of me just to get me to leave him alone. He was tenacious in his aggression - I'm sure I will be bruised from the number of "muzzle punches" I took to the stomach :-) But underneath Louie's tough exterior is a scared little guy just trying to defend himself from the world.

Louie's aggression likely comes from how he was brought into this world. Louie's owners have given him a great start at life but Louie's issues are deeply imprinted, likely from when he was just a baby. Today, when I picked him up, Louie was severely aggressive....but once I could take the leash and subdue his aggression, he immediately tucked his tail in intense fear - you see, all of his aggression was used to scare people away.....and it worked! But underneath it all, Louie's defensiveness stemmed from complete and utter terror of the outside world.

I loaded Louie into the dog mobile and headed for the ranch. On the car ride home, he started to relax. He was grateful for the quick spritz of water I gave him to cool him off and by the time we got to the house, it was all kisses and cuddles. Louie is now hanging out in the living room, enjoying the air conditioning....and instead of going ballistic, he wags his tail every time he sees me.

Keep a look out for Louie's video. We are excited to see his transformation from a scared pup to a confident, social butterfly!

New Dog Training Articles!

2009-09-14T10:50:00.001-07:00

The Collared Scholar trainer Meagan Karnes is now a freelance writer for Examiner.com. Check out her weekly dog training articles at http://www.examiner.com/x-22743-San-Diego-Pet-Training-Examiner?showbio . You can even subscribe to her articles so that you get email updates everytime a new article is published. Check it out!

Lush Puppies Happy Hour is BACK!

2009-08-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Join us for our dog friendly happy hour and bring your four legged friend out for some great food and drinks. Our happy hour will meet the first Wednesday of each month and we will regularly change up the venue so that you are sure to find a happy hour close to you. This is a great opportunity for not so social pooches to come out and work on their manners and its also a great place for you to strengthen your obedience in a high distraction setting.

Our next happy hour will take place Wednesday, Sept 2nd from 6-8pm at Point Loma Sports Bar and Grill. Leashed dogs are welcome and there are a ton of happy hour specials to take advantage of. We hope to see you there!

The Collared Scholar's End of Summer Shindig!

2009-08-17T10:11:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, The Collared Scholar hosted its annual End of Summer Shindig! We partnered with Beauty and the Beast Pet Grooming and Sweet Home Chicago Pizza to put together a great event! Thanks to everyone that joined us! We had a blast! Here are some pics from the event!

Check Out these Bullies!

2009-08-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

If you are a follower of the blog, you may remember me talking briefly about my two bully buddies, Emma and Solomon. If you recall, they joined us for in kennel training because Emma was dog aggressive off leash and Solomon was dog aggressive on leash....what a team! These two were little bowling balls of personality and we had a great time working with them. Check out their video!

The Chronicles of Koby - The Final Chapter

2009-08-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

For all of you following along - sorry I didn't make more frequent updates. As you can imagine, this is a pretty tough topic to discuss. For those of you new to the story, a quick recap. Back in April, our oldest dog, Koby was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. He had a spot on his spleen that began bleeding. We had the spleen removed and received a grim diagnosis that is was in fact cancer and our poor boy only had 1-3 months to live. On June 27th, the cancer returned and made itself known. He began bleeding internally and would suffer from extreme weakness. The vet gave him a week to two to live but told us he wasn't in pain so we opted to keep him at home, comfortable, and only intervene if showed signs of pain.

Throughout the course of this nasty disease, our boy, a mere 7 years old, would have his good days and bad. Bad days consisted of him not being able to lift his head, barely opening his eyes, not able to move much. But on his good days, he was a force to be reckoned with. He would run and play as if his energy had been pent up for years. He would chase toys, play tug (which we always let him win!), pig out and shower you with what we fondly called OCD kisses (he would OBSESSIVELY lick you until your skin was almost raw). At night, he would snuggle up in bed with me (the only dog allowed in not only my bed, but my bedroom as well).

The past month was trying on us all but we LIVED for those good days. Whenever we would start to lose hope, he would bounce back out of his spell and wreak havoc on the house, running and playing and somehow being cuter than ever. He made all kinds of new friends, tried to bite a few in the face, and gathered am incredible amount of support from people who knew him and from those he never met. It was a great couple weeks for my boy, and he ate it up....

Over the past week or so, he had been "down" more than up and again we were trying our best not to let worry consume us. He seemed comfortable however and so we just decided to ride it out with him. On Tuesday, he bounced back a bit. We spent alot of time playing with his favorite toy and I even let him help me open a package UPS delivered (which is his FAVORITE thing to do - rip a package to shreds and feel like he's helping by doing it!). He seemed cheerful, and, like so many days in the past, my worries were quelled a bit. I was in the middle of housesitting for a family out in Rancho San Diego but I made it a point to come back during the days to spend time with my boy and the rest of the gang, get some training in etc etc. Because of his great day, I worried less as I left for the night. I hugged him, as always, kissed him on the head, told him I loved him and that I would see him in the morning. Then I headed out for the night....

6am Wednesday morning, my phone rang....it was my husband Rob. At first, I was irritated. If you know me, you know I love my sleep and the last thing I want is to be abruptly ripped out of it....When I answered the phone, all he said was "Koby's gone...." It didn't register at first. I was groggy and couldn't comprehend what he was telling me. "Did he run away?" I thought to myself as I tried to shake the sleep from my eyes (and mind). He proceeded to tell me that when he woke in the morning, he walked into the bathroom to find my boy's lifeless body on the floor. I burst into tears, ran around the house in a panic, got dressed and hopped in the car to head home.

As I drove, I realized the news still hadn't quite sunk in. But as I made my way closer and closer to my house, my stomach began to sink and I began to feel uneasy. I didn't know what to expect but I wanted to say a final farewell to my little guy....

When I walked into the house, Koby was covered in a sheet in the kitchen. I ran over to him, slowly peeled back the sheet and stared at his lifeless body, still a bit warm from the blanket he was shrouded in. I kissed his head and pet him while Rob and I both sobbed. I wasn't ready to let go. We loaded him into the car and headed to the vet where we left him to be creamated. As we filled out the paperwork, I kept expecting him to come running out of the back room, to shower me with kisses - but he never did. We said our final goodbyes at the vet and headed home, full of tears, barely saying a word on the car ride home....

For those of you who have lost a pet, I am so sorry. The pain is unreal. But its beautiful in the sense that it merely reflects the intense love we have for our four legged companions....to love something that much is truly a blessing.

Koby to me was the one who started it all. Through the trials and the tribulations of his life, I learned to train dogs and because of him, I left biotech to pursue my career in the dog world....he is the start of it all and I owe him so much.....I love that little guy and I miss him terribly....he is and always will be my inspiration....

Thank you boboy.....we will see you on the other side....

I also want to take a moment to share my condolences for all the pets we have lost this year....its been a rough year and we have lost a lot of pets that, through our work, we consider part of our family....a heartfelt goodbye to Cleo, Ellie, Rosie, and Pepper and all the others whose lives were cut short....Take good care of my boy up there.....you are all in our hearts.....

Handsome Hamlet!

2009-07-23T07:37:00.000-07:00

Hamlet is the newest member of the gang to join us for daycare and train. Hamlet is an incredibly handsome golden retriever who is joining us for dog to dog aggression issues. You heard right....an aggressive golden retriever!

Hamlet barks and lunges at other dogs while on leash, nearly giving his mom a heart attack on walks. He has also gotten into a pretty good tiff at a local park, causing his mom to keep him away from off leash parks and beaches altogether.

Enter The Collared Scholar......

Hamlet is going to be spending his days at "Summer Camp" with our trainers to learn how to play nice. We have already had the pleasure of having this cute kid with us for a day and let me tell you....we loved it! Not only is he incredibly receptive of the training we are doing, he is also just about the BEST cuddler you could ask for! Here are some pics of Hamlet on his first day of training. Keep an eye out for video of Hamlet once he is fully rehabilitated!

Vote for Us!

2009-07-23T07:16:00.001-07:00

The Collared Scholar has been nominated one of San Diego's BEST dog training companies but we need YOUR help to clench the title!

Visit http://kgtv.cityvoter.com/the-collared-scholar/biz/286985 ,vote for us, and tell everyone why The Collared Scholar is your FAVORITE dog training company in San Diego!

Thanks as always for your continued support!

The Collared Scholar's Most Recent Accomplishment

2009-07-17T21:57:00.000-07:00

Recently, eight SDSU alumni were honored for business and civic leadership at the Lamden Rising Stars Awards ceremony, held Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at AMN Healthcare’s facilities in San Diego. The awards recognized those individuals who had earned their undergraduate or graduate degrees from SDSU within the past 15 years with in business administration, an MBA, executive MBA or in international business. Individuals chosen to receive the awards were selected on the basis their outstanding business accomplishments, community service and service to SDSU. Among the winners was Collared Scholar President and Head Trainer, Meagan Karnes. Congratulations Meagan and The Collared Scholar for this outstanding accomplishment!

Rufus does the Dog Park!

2009-07-10T09:03:00.000-07:00

So many of you have heard me talk about Rufus. Rufus is just a baby - still under a year old. He is a rescue and from what we see, we figure he is a greyhound, shepherd mix. He recently joined us for in kennel training for help with some dog aggression.

When we first met Rufus, he was terrified out of his mind. He didn't want anything to do with our trainers and would just back away from them, tail tucked and barking. We knew the issues were bigger than we originally thought. In addition to his fear, Rufus would lash out at other dogs, often times attacking the next best thing (at times, his owner's legs) just to relieve some of his frustration.

While in kennel, Rufus has had a rocky road full of ups and downs. I can proudly say, he is only 1 of 3 dogs in the history of Collared Scholar in kennel students that had to live with us for longer than 5 weeks. Rufus certainly challenged us. Just when we thought we had the aggression under control, something new would pop up forcing us to rethink our strategies. But if you know me, you know I don't quit until the job gets down and after his stay in doggy bootcamp, I can proudly say that Rufus went to the dog park yesterday and had a blast! After 6 weeks in kennel, Rufus made a full recovery. In addition to knowing all of his obedience, he is great with dogs on and off leash and can run and play with the best of them! It was an amazing moment to watch him spring into action, running and playing, chasing balls and having a great time at the dog park!

Great Job Rufus! Keep an eye out for his upcoming video! (P.S. Rufus is the tan dog in the photos!)

Rattlesnake Avoidance Class

2009-07-08T13:06:00.000-07:00

The Collared Scholar is proud to present its first ever Rattlesnake Avoidance Class! Held in conjunction with Redefined Dog Training, we are bringing you one of the most informative Rattlesnake courses available. Join us for this 3 hour course designed not only to teach your dog to stay away from Rattlesnakes, but also, to teach you how to respond when danger "strikes". This is the first class of its kind - designed to train not only your dog, but you as well!

When: Saturday, August 8th, 2009
Location: Poway, CA
RSVP: Register by calling 619-916-8710 or via paypal below - Payment is due at the time of registration.

Hurry, class size is limited to 15 dogs.

The Chronicles of Koby....

2009-06-28T19:47:00.000-07:00

So you may or may not know but my dog, Koby (yes, the one who started it all - the one for whom I changed careers - the one who inspired me to become a dog trainer) was diagnosed two months ago with hemangiosarcoma. One morning, I woke up and let all of my doggies outside to potty as I typically do. It was around 6am. Koby, our typically energetic pit bull strolled outside and laid down in the middle of the yard. This was completely out of character. I called him to me, but he didn't want to come. I offered a biscuit - he didn't want it. That's when I knew something was seriously wrong. I rushed him to the emergency vet where he was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. He had a tumor on his spleen that was bleeding into his abdominal cavity. He needed emergency surgery to stop the bleeding and remove the spleen.

At this point, we didn't know if the tumor was cancerous or not. We opted for surgery to give him the best chance for survival. He came through the surgery like a champ but a few days later, we received the grim news. He had cancer. And this was no oridinary cancer. This was one that was going to take him quickly and was near impossible to beat. We were urged to treat with chemotherapy but we declined - we didn't want to cause him pain just for our own selfishness - especially when it would only prolong his life for an extra month or two. We opted instead for holistic treatment, putting him on an anti cancer diet prescribed by a holistic vet.

For two months, we cooked his nightly meals. If you know me, you know none of my dogs are allowed in my bedroom - but after learning of the news, Koby became my new snuggle buddy. He feels so special being the only dog allowed not only in the bedroom, but on the bed as well!

Anyhow, we knew the return of the cancer was inevitable so we were just enjoying the time we had. On the morning of June 27th, I woke up and proceeded to let the doggies out as usual. Koby was asleep with Rob in the bedroom. I opened the door and he slowly got out of bed, tail tucked and head hung low. I knew something wasn't right. The rest of the day, he seemed somewhat normal so I brushed off the odd behavior from earlier in the morning. Then, just as I was getting ready to head out to a private session, I let Koby out to potty and he laid down in the yard. His behavior was reminiscent of that first day, when we first discovered he had cancer. My stomach sank and I instantly burst into tears. We lured him inside where he collapsed on the bedroom floor. We laid with him, held him and both Rob and I cried. We thought for sure this was the end. We decided that if he showed signs of distress, we would take him to the vet and end his suffering but for the time being, we would keep him comfortable at home. About 4 hours of tears later, Koby abruptly sat up, climbed out of bed, drank some water and began eating his dinner. Rob and I were shocked. We decided to continue monitoring him.

In the interim, I did some research. I found that, with this disease, tumors would periodically rupture, bleeding internally and causing severe weakness and lethargy. At any point, one of the ruptures could take his life so we tried to prepare as best as we possibly could. The vet told us it wasn't painful so we decided to keep him at home and only intervene with euthanasia if his body went into obvious signs of distress.

Monday and Tuesday were great days. Koby played, ran around like a crazy man and acted like his normal self. We were grateful for the time we had and took advantage of every second. On Wednesday evening, another bleed. This one was more severe. We thought for sure he was on his way out. After about 6 hours, he bounced back again, devouring his entire dinner and becoming increasingly more chipper as the evening went on.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday were "episode free". Again, Koby returned to his normal self, running around and playing like a mad man, soaking up all the extra attention he has been getting.

Today, we have not been so fortunate. As I type, Koby is in the midst of yet another bleed. He is listless, laying on the floor, reluctant to even raise his head. It's so hard to watch him like this. I know his time is coming soon and while I like to convince myself that I am prepared, I know there is nothing I can do to prepare for what is to come. We hope to God he bounces back from this episode to give us a few more good days but we understand if he is tired and needs to go.

Its been a trying week on us emotionally. We will keep updating the Chronicles of Koby as I know several of you have been asking about him over the past few days.

Regardless of when he is taken from us, we are so grateful for the time he has spent and for the profound impact he has made on our lives.

My New Bully Buddies

2009-06-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

I want to take a moment to introduce my new bully buddies, Emma and Solomon. These two are English Bulldogs and although tiny in stature, they are HUGE in personality. The duo joined us for in kennel training for help with some mild dog aggression, and some basic manners issues. Since they have been here, its been nothing but fun. Emma, (mom of Solomon) LOVES her toys and has taken on the roll of the "Toy Collector". Since she has been here, I haven't had to pick up a single toy because she gathers them all in a neat pile on HER bed! She is also a big fan of the doggy pool and would spend all day splashing around in there if I would let her.

Solomon (aka Solly) is only 6 months old and LOVES to try to push his mama around. He is shy and sweet as pie and when he gets excited, he ENTIRE body wags. It's just about the cutest thing I have seen and it makes me want to scoop him up and squeeze him till he pops! Solly acts tough when his mom is around but when he is by himself, he shows his true colors - a timid, sweet little guy looking for some confidence.

These two are going to be so much fun to work with. Keep an eye on the blog for updates and video of the duo!

Congratulations Cyrrah!

2009-06-08T09:29:00.000-07:00

I know its late coming since this happened almost a month ago but I wanted to share with everyone some very exciting news! My dog, Cyrrah des Ombres Valeureux competed for her title of French Ring Brevet on May 16th in Aguanga, CA and placed 1st with a score of 94.6/100. She would have scored better but her handler (me!) made some mistakes!

Check out her video (dedicated to all those who didn't think she could do it!)....

Great Job Cyrrah!

The AMAZING Bailey

2009-06-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

Bailey is a ridiculously adorable maltipoo puppy who came in kennel with us for help with basic manners and housebreaking. Bailey's problem - he is absolutely adorable and he knows it :-) Bailey is incredibly brave for a tiny 3-4lb doggy. He would try to play with even the biggest dogs at daycare and helped us teach some of the more fearful students like Spark, and the other two maltipoos, that other doggies aren't so bad. He is incredibly playful and therefore, elected not to listen whenever possible.

Bailey's mom is one of the BEST dog owners we know. She loves him with all her heart and readily admits her own flaws in his training :-) After all, its easy to fall prey to Bailey's charm and good looks and become completely smitten, ignoring the fact that he isn't listening.

Bailey improved by leaps and bounds in kennel with us. His down stay was among the best. Check out his video! (and Yes...I did get new production software so I got a bit carried away with the effects!)

Keep an eye out for our new VIDEO BLOG. We will be tracking the progress of one of our in kennel dogs, uploading regular videos with training tips, tracking the in kennel process!

An ADORABLE akita and two TERRIFIC terriers!

2009-06-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

Things have been busy here at the ranch over the past few weeks. To give you a QUICK recap, we have Bailey, an adorable maltipoo in kennel for help with basic obedience and housebreaking. We also had the pleasure of working with Diego, a fear aggressive and dog aggressive eskimo/jack? mix who went home just last week after making great progress in our in kennel program. We also have Rufus, a fearful Greyhound/Boxer (best guess) mix, and 2 fearful maltipoos (yep! two more maltipoos!) Bailey and Harley in kennel at the moment. We also had Tane (there is supposed to be an accent on the e in his name but I am not sure how to do that!), a HUGE 5 month old Akita in kennel for two weeks for help with obedience and manners.

Tane is a STUNNING akita puppy, HUGE for his age. When he came in kennel, he was only 5 months old. Akitas are notoriously stubborn so we were well prepared for Tane....but he was different. Tane was a giant clown...he loved to be goofy and LOVED to play. He was an ideal student - he loved training and was eager to please.....he also loved hot dogs (which we used extensively in his training!). He had a great time in training....check out his video to see handsome Tane show off his stuff!

While we were working with Tane, we also had the pleasure of working with two ridiculously adorable terrier mixes. They came to our DAYCARE and train program for three days of all day training. They were experiencing issues with on leash dog aggression. They would get so worked up when they saw another dog, they would become increasingly aggressive until they turned on each other. After only 3 days...that's right...3 days!....they made a complete recovery. Check out their awesome video!

Keep watching the blog...we have two awesome English Bulldogs joining us for in kennel training mid June. Also, stay tuned for Baby Bailey's video, Rufus' video and the maltipoo duo's video...coming soon!

Maltipoo Fever!

2009-05-22T15:34:00.001-07:00

Sorry its been so long since we have posted. Since the closing of Metropawlitan Dog, we have been scrambling getting the Poway facility ready for classes! Things are moving along and we are planning on launching new classes within the coming months!

In the meantime, I want to brag about some recent doggy friends we have made! Joining us for in kennel training this past month was the most adorable threesome I think I have ever met! Bella, Lexie and JoJo are three maltipoos that came to training for help with manners and some dynamics issues. You see, Bella was the oldest and a 100% Daddy's girl. She is extremely social and LOVES other dogs and people. The middle girl is Lexie, who is a little more introverted. She is a little timid with strangers and at times, gets bullied by her big sis. And then there is cute little JoJo, a 5 month old pup, who is bold and who we are certain has a sense of humor. JoJo loves exploring and catching bugs but often, after being bullied by her big sis, middle daughter Lexie takes her frustrations out on poor JoJo.

So the threesome joined us for in kennel training to help with their manners and also, to teach the older girls to play nicely with their younger sisters ;-)

The girls were awesome students, and even acted as our spokesdoggies at the SD Humane Society Walk for Animals! Check out their videos after only a couple of short weeks living with our trainers!

Keep an eye on the blog because a new maltipoo joined us the other day for training. Adorable 5 month old Bailey came to in kennel training to prep him to become a therapy dog. We will post his video soon!

We will miss our doggy daycare friends.....

2009-04-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not have heard, as of April 27th, we will be closing the doors of Metropawlitan Dog. The last day of daycare will be April 24th and April 27th for boarding pick up.

It has been a tremendous two years working downtown and growing our business with such amazing customers. We are incredibly grateful for your support and hope to keep in touch as your furry four leggers have become our second family.

Metropawlitan partner, The Collared Scholar, will continue to offer training and boarding services, headquartered in the Poway area. The number, 619-233-1364, will remain the same so feel free to call us with your training and boarding needs.
We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you for your support of our business.

Important Alert for ALL dog owners!

2009-04-08T09:12:00.001-07:00

If you have been following the blog, you have read about Norbie, our fearful pit bull who came through in kennel training at the Paw. I just got some news from his mom that I want to share with all dog owners.

Last night, Norbie was admitted to the ER. He had apparently eaten 2lbs of raisins. According the the veterinarian, raisins are very lethal for dogs - more so than chocolate. Personally, I had no idea about this secret doggy killer hiding in my pantry and I doubt Norbie's mom did either. Now, poor Norbie is struggling at the Animal ER.

I did some poking around and it appears that raisins cause acute renal failure in dogs. Symptoms include vomitting, diarrhea and trembling.

Please be cautious and keep raisins away from your four legged friend. And equally as important, please keep sweet Norbie in your thoughts and prayers.

Get well soon my sweet boy! Your family at Metropawlitan Dog is praying for you!

Happy Birthday(s) Drake and Raisin!!

2009-04-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

Many of you have probably seen trainer Katie Earle's two Great Danes playing in daycare at Metro Dog - you know, the two that tower over every other dog in the room? ; )

Both of the boys had a birthday recently, so we at Metro wish them both a happy 3rd birthday (March 26th for Raisin and April 1st for Drake) and tell them we hope they got all sorts of yummy treats and fun toys to play with!!

Meet Mister Mikey

2009-03-25T08:11:00.001-07:00

Mikey is our newest rescue dog searching for a home, but it might take a while to find someone willing to adopt this little man. You see, Mikey is almost 14 years old, completely blind and mostly deaf. He is however, a total love bug and wants nothing more than a warm lap to snuggle in. Trainer Katie Earle has a soft spot for dachshunds (she has 3 of her own) so she decided to take in Mikey after several other local rescues turned him away, knowing he'd be difficult at best to find a new home for. Despite Mikey's problems that come with getting up there in age, he's a real trooper and LOVES to explore the backyard, lounge in the sun, and especially to steal bones from the other dogs to chew on! Mikey is on a diet, since he came in very overweight, but his overall health is good and Katie thinks he has at least a few more years of love left in him to give. If you think Mikey might be a good fit in your home, please contact us at 619-233-1DOG!!

Sparky comes to Metropawlitan

2009-03-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

Sparky is an EXTREMELY handsome 8 month old Siberian Husky who joined us for in kennel training for help with his basic manners. Trainer Katie Earle decided to take on this case. Every time we went for a walk with Sparky, people would stop dead in their tracks, in awe of his absolutely stunning good looks. We couldn't walk out the front door without people falling all over him....

Here is a video of Sparky - but don't look too close - his stunning good looks just might blind you!

More Dog Friendly Places Downtown!

2009-03-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

Over the past week, Katie and I, along with some doggy companions have been exploring downtown San Diego. You see, we have the pleasure of working two new in kennel dogs, Nobert and Hope, through some fear issues.

Norbert is a goofy 2-ish year old pit bull who suffers from a rare genetic disorder similar to Down's Syndrome in humans. He has a learning disability but his family loves him and anyone who meets him instantly knows why. Unfortunately, Norbert is a rescue and his past is unknown. The only thing we do know is that whatever his past may be, it was scary and it caused him to have a great deal of anxiety around strangers.

Hope on the other hand is a boisterous Staffy Bull Terrier who is also a rescue. She is stubborn and would love nothing more than to drag you all over town, chasing birds, dogs and any other small animal she spots. And guess what??? She gets away with it because she is so darn adorable. But again, Hope comes from an unknown background and has developed some fear issues of her own.

Hope and Norbert have become partners in crime. In order to help them through their rehabilitation process, Katie and I have been extensively socializing them downtown. A great chance for us to work on their socialization came at lunchtime. Katie and I would always grab a quick bite at Subway or somewhere similar until we realized their are a TON of dog friendly restaurants downtown. What better chance for socialization than to bring the doggies to a restaurant where they could hang out for an hour or two and get exposure to the sights, sounds and people of downtown.

So far, we have visited 3 great places.....here is a rundown for anyone interested....

First stop....Gaslamp Tavern at 868 5th Ave.. Wrap around (sort of) dog friendly patio with plenty of seating. Food was good and beer selection was better than most. Decently priced as well. If you are headed here with a pooch, sit on the side of the patio facing E st. - there is more space and for us the bar was way too tall and somewhat uncomfortable.....

Second stop....Bare Back Grill at 624 E. St.....rather small patio but dog friendly nonetheless. The people here were ultra dog friendly....the dogs got drinks before we did....definite plus! The food was average but they have a great lunch special daily. Definitely work a look....

Third stop and probably the favorite to date....Nicky Rotten's on 5th. Dog Friendly patio is on the smaller side but the food is fabulous and the the prices are VERY reasonable. The doggies got lots of socialization here with new people and sounds as 5th ave. is very busy....

Katie and I plan to try new places with the pooches throughout their stay in the program and we will keep you updated on what we find!

Marvelous Maruca!

2009-03-11T14:28:00.000-07:00

Maruca is an energetic staffordshire bull terrier who joined us for in kennel training after being labeled a "vicious dog" by animal control. He had some pretty serious dog aggression issues that needed to be addressed.

After only a few weeks, Maruca was playing in social with several other dogs and was easily controlled when other dogs were around. Check out his new skills!

Koko Amazes Us With Her Skills!

2009-03-06T10:26:00.000-08:00

As promised, some more footage of the LOVELY Koko! Koko completed two weeks in our daycare and train program for help with her manners. Koko LOVED to drag her parents around town on walks and there was no stopping her when another dog passed by. She knew she was strong and she knew she could easily take Mom to the ground if she pulled hard enough.

Koko had a great time training at the Paw and now, she'd like to show off her stuff to all of her loyal fans. Check out Koko's video!

The AMAZING Tex!!!

2009-03-03T16:27:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take a moment to introduce Tex. Tex is an Australian Cattle Dog who was originally brought into this world to serve a purpose. His mom picked him to be her teammate in agility. Unfortunately, as Tex began to mature, he started displaying less than stellar behaviors. I'll never forget the first time I met Tex. His mom brought him in for a consultation because she was having difficulty with his dog aggression. Apparently, any time another dog was in site, sweet, adorable little Tex turned into Mr. Hyde.

During his first visit to the Paw, Tex seemed apprehensive. I approached him and he slunk into a little ball. I walked away from him to grab a collar and just as I moved, he jumped out and nipped me in the back of the leg. Mom was shocked and concerned. I knew this meant we had a much deeper issue to deal with.

We got to work. Mom was and still is one of the most dedicated dog owners I have met - she will do anything to make sure Tex rehabilitates and she follows through with every piece of advice she is given. Soon, Tex began regularly attending our anti-agrgession social and now, he has graduated to be able to socialize with our daycare friends!

We still have quite a bit of work to do on Mr. Tex but mom shared something very exciting with me today. She has been taking Tex sheepherding and apparently, our slinky little chicken has been showing another side of himself. At his lessons, he has been great with the other dogs, a star with the sheep and has shown some confidence we aren't used to seeing out of him....

Tex reminded me of just how valuable dog sports can be. You see, in getting your dog out and having fun with them while teaching them new things, you are actually strengthening your bond with them and building confidence. I encourage everyone with a dog to check out dog sports. Even if your dog isn't the fastest or the most agile, I know there is a dog sport out there for you. From flyball to agility to dock diving and lure coursing, dog sports are taking the world by storm....and rightfully so! If you are interested in checking out some dog sports - competitively or just for fun - email us and we will be happy to help you choose a dog sport that suits your pooch! Heck, I have even been looking into new sports for my dogs to particpate in!

Great job Tex! Your family at Metropawlitan Dog is proud of you!

Yahoo goes to the drug store...Longs Drug - Market Street

2009-03-02T23:35:00.000-08:00

I am beginning my "Adventures of Yahoo" blog with one of my favorite places to take Yahoo, Longs Drug on Market and 6th.

Longs opened about a year ago. Until then, all of us living downtown had to go to Ralphs or Albertsons for any supplies. Since I was living right in the middle of them both, I was excited to have a place a few short blocks away from me open.

I used to do what most of us do and tie Yahoo up outside of the store while I "ran in" for a few things. Like most of us, I don't like leaving my dog unattended outside. One day, the security guard at Longs invited Yahoo in with me. Since then, Longs on Market has turned into my favorite store.

Everyone that works in this store is dog friendly. They really enjoy their customers and their dogs. Some smart Manager realized that it was a good business decision to embrace downtown's love of dogs rather than fight it.

Now I make Longs a regular stop on our walks. Yahoo loves going into Longs. They used to give out treats to the dogs. Now they just give out "pets" but that is OK with Yahoo and me. Sometime I get dirty looks from people in the store, especially out-of- towners. Most people in the stores just smile and pet Yahoo.

All I know is that Longs on Market has won my business by being one of the most dog friendly places to shop in San Diego!

Longs Drug
(619) 234-5900 - 645 Market St, San Diego, CA

The adventures of Yahoo

2009-03-02T23:04:00.000-08:00

In 2007, I moved from North County to downtown, when I founded Metropawlitan Dog. One of my biggest concerns was how my 80lb Newfoundland Mix, Yahoo, would adapt. Since I adopted him (8 years ago), he has had the run of a 2,000 square foot house with a yard. In addition, our neighborhood was full of dog friends. There were open spaces, beaches, trails and a lot of rabbits to chase.

Since living downtown, my dog has had more fun than he ever had in the suburbs. Why? Well, what I found is that living in the city is very dog friendly. It allows you to develop a stronger relationship with your dog. When you live in a house, you can get away with not taking your dog out for a walk. In the city, there are no excuses...you have to walk your dog. What I found is when you walk your dog... that this is when the fun begins!

I decided to share my dog friendly finds in San Diego, focusing on the downtown area. These are places that you can go to everyday with your dog. The focus is integrating the time you spend with your dog into your everyday life. I think you will be surprised at all the places you can take your dog with you in the downtown San Diego area.

Metropawlitan Dog is NOW on TWITTER!

2009-02-26T15:51:00.000-08:00

Metropawlitan Dog is now on Twitter! Get regular updates on Metropawlitan Dog happenings by going to Twitter.com and following us! Just search for username metropawlitan ! Happy tweeting!

Also check out our fan page on Facebook!

The Gorgeous Koko

2009-02-20T16:50:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to introduce the newest member of the Metropawlitan Team. You may have seen her hanging around behind the desk, greeting all of the customers as they enter the Paw. She is the one and only Koko and she has been hired as the newest Metropawlitan Dog Greeter!

Actually, Koko is joining us for help with some manners. She is such a bundle of love, she wants to tackle everyone she meets and shower them with slobbery Akita kisses. What we are quickly learning is that Koko is too smart for her own good....she knows she can use her good looks to get away with murder!

Keep checking back and watch for Koko's video. After only two days, she is showing us what a well mannered girl she can be! Just think what two weeks at the Paw will do for her!

The Amazing Daisy!

2009-02-10T16:39:00.000-08:00

Daisy is a rescue. For those of you who have rescued dogs with behavioral problems, just the mere statement that she is a rescue is enough said. Daisy is a ridiculously adorable mix- border collie/bull terrier is our best guess because of the very slight brindle color under her black coat and because of the stubborn tenacity and at the same time utter adorable-ness that is Daisy!

Anywhoo...Daisy joined us for in kennel training about a month ago because she was having extreme dog aggression issues. Her mom had rescued her and within a few weeks of having her home, things started to go south. During a trip to the vets office, Daisy attacked a dog just outside of the waiting room, costing her mom a pretty penny in vet bills. After that incident, Daisy was uncontrolable around other dogs. She would bark and throw herself at any dog she saw (or heard!). In addition, she would drag her mom all over town, practically choking herself just to get a good sniff on her walks.

When Daisy came for her intro consultation, I immediately saw the aggression as she barked at any dog she heard (and you know, the dogs don't keep quiet around here....especially when a new dogs arrives!). We recommended in kennel training for Daisy given her aggression was so severe and the same day, Daisy came to stay....

Daisy was a star student and rehabilitated more quickly than we ever expected. She was brilliant and LOVED training! A big kudos goes out to Daisy's parents who didn't take the easy road and return the tenacious Ms. Daisy to the shelter where she would face near certain death....instead, they invested the time (and money) to see Daisy got the help she needed even though they had only had her a few short weeks. And I do have to admit, after she returned home, they have been consistent and really followed through with her training (which is the most important aspect of any in kennel work!). If only more dog owners were like them!

Check out this video of our sweet Daisy, showing off her newly acquired skills after participating in our in kennel training program!

Max and Spunky - The Dynamic Duo

2009-01-09T09:29:00.000-08:00

We recently welcomed two ADORABLE pit bulls into our in kennel training program. Max and Spunky came to us from the Bay Area for a bit of help. Both dogs had some minor aggression issues that their owner wanted addressed before they manifested themselves into a much bigger problem!

Upon entering the Met, these dogs stole our hearts! Spunky is an adorable red female pitty who wants nothing more in life than to cuddle up in someone's lap - actually, anyone's lap will do! Max is a shy but energetic boy who LOVES training and is VERY eager to please. Both dogs are a joy to have around.

Check out the doggies on our webcam in our anti-aggression social Thursday and Saturday afternoons and see their progress! They are both doing great! You will also see them strutting their stuff downtown - they accompany me to every dog friendly place I can think of...why just yesterday, Max joined me on a walk to Long's Drugstore where everyone lavishes him with attention and treats!

Stay tuned...pictures and video to come!

The infamous Bobbi and Some New Faces!

2009-01-05T15:26:00.000-08:00

Whew.....the holidays are over! Time here at the Met has just flown by!

This New Year brings some very exciting news. Most of you who frequent Metropawlitan have seen Bobbi, our adorable little Pit Bull who was abandoned here by her owner. Poor Bobbi had a severe case of mange and had lost all her fur. Luckily, Canine Behavior Academy student, William Barnes and his wife Melanie were kind enough to take little Bobbi into their home to provide her with the TLC she needed while she patiently waited for her forever home. And thanks to their efforts, Bobbi spent Christmas snuggled up in her new home with new owners! You see, Melanie posted fliers around her work and found an awesome couple who finalized Bobbi's adoption just before Christmas! Bobbi will be missed her at the Met but its worth it just knowing she is in a loving home snuggled up with people who love her to death!

In addition to the Met being Bobbi-less, some other changes have been popping up. First, we'd like everyone to welcome our new manager, Kelly! Kelly was a vet assistant at Rancho San Carlos and is currently attending our Canine Behavior Academy to become a dog trainer! She is fabulous with the dogs and we are lucky to have her!

Also, keep a look out for our newest Canine Behavior Academy interns. We couldn't do what we do without the help of our awesome interns. Help us welcome Emma, Christine, William, Stacy, Karla and Zahyra to the Metropawlitan Team. As interns, these guys spend time playing with all of our canine customers while learning about dog training and behavior. We love having them around and I'm sure our pups do too!

Happy New Year to everyone! Have a great 2009!

Happy Holidays from Metropawlitan Dog!

2008-11-21T11:01:00.001-08:00

The holidays are approaching (CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???)! Take advantage of Metropawlitan Dog's upcoming holiday specials and do something nice for the pampered pooch in your family!

In the month of December, take $5 off any groom OR receive a complimentary 5lb bag of Nutro Ultra Dog Food when your dog gets groomed at the Metropawlitan Dog SPAW!

Headed out of town on vacation and want to come home to a fully trained pooch! Take $150 off any in kennel dog training package purchased during the month of December!

Remember to reserve your holiday boarding early!

Happy Holidays from your friends at Metropawlitan Dog!

Daycare November 7th

2008-11-07T11:10:00.000-08:00

Calling all Bulldog LOVERS!!

This gorgeous boy is Bear. He is currently in training to overcome his fear of...well... everything! A day in the life of Bear follows as such:

"OMG that guy is c-c-cleaning windows! If you think I'm going anywhere near him so he can make squeegee noises and maybe even drip cleaner on me, you are crazy!!" OR

"Can you hear that?! that ru-rumbling?! I think this is it! Its finally here! ARMAGEDDON!!!" ...(it was a skate board) OR

"Woah! S-s-stop! Person with deformed monster head coming our w-way!!!" (ie man with a hat on) OR

"AAAAHH a trash bag!".

Poor guy just seems to think everything is out to get him... but you have the power to help! Part of lil Bear's training is getting loved on by everyone that is willing. Make this Friday (or any day next week, for that matter) extra exciting by dropping by the Paw and giving our friend a HUGE hug and kiss. He will benifit greatly from your attention!

Daycare October 10th

2008-10-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

Where have all the small dogs gone??

Today is one of those days when everything feels a tad bit off. First of all, its completely clouded over downtown, but it has still managed to get very very hot. Second, every small dog in San Diego has decided to take the day off (our lounge is empty) yet we have still managed to remain busy busy busy (the playground is packed!).

As a result of the weirdness, I cant seem to make up my mind about who to blog on (too many wonderful friends to talk about). Therefore, Ive decided (totally randomly) to write an Ode to the deaf canines.

One of the administrators at the Paw is Katie Earle. She is a premiere member of San Diego's deaf dog rescue and specializes in the training of these uniques pups. She is also a proud owner/fosterer of seven dogs, four of which have varying levels of hearing loss.

First is the almighty Drake. Pictured above, he is a dog of humongous proportions (that would be a full grown Dobie that looks dwarfed beside him) but absolutely no hearing. He has been with Katie since puppyhood and has thrived under her guidance. While some believe deafness to breed fear and aggression in dogs, Drake proves them all wrong with his docile nature and his ability to be woken abruptly without a care in the world. He knows a variety of hand signals and LOVES the beach :)

On the opposite end, we have Miss Puppyness, tiny as ever and sleeping soundly in the picture above. She is not only deaf, but also completely blind. Katie rescued her from a shelter that could not support her many special needs and was able to give her the eventful family life she would otherwise be deprived of. Now saved and safe, Miss Puppyness has grown to be a brave and rambunctious (as Doxies often are) young lady who has daily adventures with her many brothers and sisters.

Next is Lily. This minuscule version of a Pit bull is one of Katies fosters. Rescues from out of state often seek out Katies expertise with deaf dogs and Lily's story starts no differently. She joined the clan from Texas and fell quickly for her dog brother Drake. Although, in the pic above, she seems contemplative and introverted, Lily's most common poster is flying through the air trying desperately to latch on the the lip of a Dane (in play, of course). She is always down for some fun, is very energetic, and is a cuddle queen... she is also up for adoption (wink wink).

Last on Katies list is Opie, the most recent entrance into her foster program. As blogged before, Opie came from Illinoise, snatched out of the hands of a breeder that thought deafness should equal death. He is a gorgeous pure white Ibizan hound with freckles on his ears and sweetness in his heart. He is only 3 mos old but has no problem holding his ground with the big guys here at the Paw. I am his personal trainer and, if I must say so myself, he is excellent at coming when signaled, unbelievable at the "Leave it" command, and simply superb at sitting for food and treats.... "Down", however, we're still working on....lol ;) As with Lily, Opie is up for adoption and looking for the perfect home. If you or anyone you know is interested, contact us at 619-233-1DOG.

Moving out of Katies home but still within the realm is Reise, Opie's sister. This picture of perfection, though deaf, is the most outrageous dog I've ever met. I might even go as far as to say she is a complete lunatic! Dont be fooled by the "who..me!?" look she has learned to use in pictures and to her advantage when she has done something wrong. This dog bounces off the walls literally. If you catch a glimpse of the webcams on Tuesday nights, you'll see Reise racing around the room and soaring off the playground steps, pausing only long enough to bite her brother playfully in the ear as she runs by. What a crazy! Good luck Keith (her new dad), you've certainly got your hands full.

Last, but not least, we've got the previously mentioned, put Aphrodite to shame, favorite of daycare, (drum roll please) ...Shaak Ti! Her favorite activities include days at the Paw, walks (ie runs) on the beach, strolls around the neighborhood (only if NOT heeling), protecting her family from the vicious joggers at Coronado, and chasing anything with wings. She is currently doing her thing in basic obedience and is sure to be the best trained on her block in no time. She was adopted out of KT's rescue over a year ago and has been a perfect match with her new family.

So, what should you get out of this blog besides an inside look at a number of white dogs from varying breeds?

DEAF DOGS RULE!

and should therefore never be discriminated against. I love you guys!

Sparky Needs a Home!

2008-10-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

Sparky is an ADORABLE 2 year old pointer/pit mix who was rescued from the East Valley Shelter in LA just in the nick of time. He is staying with us for a while to learn his manners. He is a GREAT dog! So far, he knows all of his basic obedience including heel, sit, down and stay. He is also crate trained. He is picky about his canine friends so a home where he could be the center of the world would be ideal. However, we do believe he could learn to live harmoniously with another non dominant dog. He is neutered, current on all vaccinations and microchipped. Small adoption fee and homecheck applies.

If you are interested in adopting Sparky or know of someone who may be, please conact us at 619-233-1364!

Daycare October 8th

2008-10-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

A new friend! This cutie pie is Gia. She is gracing us with her presence for a couple days while on vacation from her home in the great San Francisco. Her original plans to really rough it by camping under the stars in her car were disrupted when San Diego's heat wave hit. She adjusted her plans accordingly and decided it might not be such a bad idea to hide out from the sun for a bit in the lovely (and air conditioned) Paw. Boy did she make the right decision! Somehow she had stumbled into the perfect summer getaway! She had a huge run to sleep in, all day access to refreshingly cool drinking water, TON's of dogs to chase and play with, an abundance of human attention and affection, 24 hour shade and temperature control, and included room service for breakfast and dinner. This is the life!

and just to let you in on a little secret... while Gia is enjoying herself with us, we are LOVING having her. She is kind, playful, adorable, and really REALLY well behaved. What a prize!

Welcome Gia! May your vacation be long and your friends be forever :)

Speaking of friends, here are a few from yesterdays crowd... arent they sweet in the sunlight!

Save The Date!

2008-10-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

To thank all of our wonderful clients, Metropawlitan Dog is hosting an End of Summer Hawaiian Luau!

Bring your social pooch out to Metropawlitan Dog for an evening of fun for the whole family! This FREE event will be catered by L&L Hawaiian Bar-B-Q and boasts a complimentary Mai Tai Bar! We will have Raffles and Prize drawings and we will have a Pet Photographer out taking photos of all of the dogs! In addition, behaviorists will be available for FREE 10 minute behavioral assessments!

Once again, this event is FREE so bring your family and invite your friends!

When: Thursday, Oct 23rd at 6:30pm
Where: Metropawlitan Dog (Of Course)
811 13th Street
San Diego, CA 92101

Hope to see you all there!

Daycare September 25th

2008-09-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

It is HOT HOT HOT today! Fortunately, my lovely dog friends and I are taking it easy in the air conditioned Paw. We have quite a variation in puppy pals today starting with the tiny (but actually bigger than she was ) 4lb Izzie Chihuahua. Her new best friend and current playmate is the adorable, previously blogged Lily Poodle. Both girls are todays Metro mascots, keeping me company behind the desk and wrestling away to their hearts content.

Still with us, we also have Bobbi (baby pit) and the Ibizan twins. Even though their protected in the cool lounge, they seem to be feeling the effects of the intense heat outside. Currently, they are fast asleep, seemingly suffering from the all too popular "I had too much fun at daycare yesterday to be able to keep my head up this morning, but try me at lunch time". Aaah, the life of an innocent puppy.

Keeping it crazy in the big playroom is the ever exciting Stella Bo-bella. She is mixing it up with Muppet Master himself, Tucker. Stella will trot around from dog to dog, chewing on the backs of their legs until someone, usually Dixie, responds with the same level of play. They'll start rolling around until they get a third party member, in this case Tucker, involved in the rough and tumble. After a while of watching the madness, I notice the walls of the daycare start to fade away, the brick being replaced by crumbling wood (haunted house style)... "whats going on?" I ask myself. When I check on the dogs, I notice their individual forms have transformed to reveal nothing more than a huge ball of orange fur trying desperately to swallow two cattle dogs whole! Immediately my brain references the ultimate thriller cult classic "The Blob". I start toward the doggie melange, thinking "Ive got to save them!" before I jolt back to reality. This isnt a monster from outer space! (the walls reform to brick) This is just Tucker! (The ball of fur regains a form: arms, legs, and a curly haired tail). I take a minute to calm myself and watch as the three forms separate back into Tucker, Dixie, and Stella. I am relieved (and tired...obviously), but I smile and look forward to tomorrow where a new crowd awaits me with a new adventure to share :)

Vote for Metropawlitan Dog!!!!!!!

2008-09-22T16:45:00.001-07:00

Metropawlitan Dog was recently nominated as San Diego's BEST dog training company by KGTV Ch. 10's A-list. Now we need YOUR vote to win!

Show your support for Metropawlitan by voting for us at http://kgtv.cityvoter.com/metropawlitan-dog/biz/122914

Thanks!

Puppies :)

2008-09-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

It's raining Puppies!!!

Please come forward and meet my four adorable new friends.

With us for ten days to be house trained and learn basic obedience is the ever delightful Bobbi. She is a 9 week old, purebred Pit Bull and, as you can see, is really really cute. Bobbi enjoys tug-of-war, fetch and chew bones. She can take charge of any situation and is crazy about other dogs. Her favorite pastimes are training (treats are the best!) and taking naps in her crate (super cozy). Meagan boasts her to be one of the easiest puppies she has ever cared for and just dies every time she cuddles up near her for a snooze. After she is trained she will be up for adoption so tell your friends! Bobbi needs a home and a loving family that will appreciate her as much as we do. If you are looking for a puppy to brighten your day and you think Bobbi is it, call us at 619-233-1364.

Next we have Lily. She has also joined us for some basic obedience. She is a 5 month old toy poodle and let me tell you, these pics definitely do no justice to her beauty. She is as precious as a teddy bear and I cant help but give her a big squeeze every time I see her. One of her many attributes is her perfect pooch style. She came into the Paw on Tuesday with her designer gear in tow. From clothes, to toys, to linens, to travel bags, she only has the best and she appreciates every individual piece. Right now she is enjoying her multi-colored sleeping flannel while playing with her green jingle ball and sporting a red polo shirt. So in style! However, although she happens to have great taste, she is also very humble and almost shy at times. Through training, she is being brought out of her shell and taught to really exude the confidence her style suggests. Such a doll!
And finally, just in from Illinois, the gorgeous Reese (below) and Opie (above). These two 10-week-old Ibizan Hounds were just rescued by trainers Meagan and Katie from euthanasia simply because they were born deaf. They are still getting used to their new homes but are quickly letting show their rambunctious personalities. They run like they are chasing a butterfly (uneven speeds, and sporadic 180 turns), are able to entertain themselves for hours with a simple Loopy toy, and eat like they've never seen food in the whole 2.5 months they've been alive. It's to be expected though, since they have a ton of growing to do. Keep an eye on these siblings through our webcams and you will see them grow from the 10 lbs they are now to the 50lbs they will be as adults. More to love, I say. After only arriving last night, the two pals have already won a spot in the hearts of the entire Paw staff. I mean, just look at those bright eyes... who could resist!?

That is all for the baby bios but let me let you in on an important lesson I've learned so far. On puppies...Yes, they will pee on their own feet, they will accidentally walk in their own poop, they will occasionally miss the toy and chomp down hard on a finger, they will cry in a pitch so high and so penetrating it will be heard for miles, and in the case of the Ibizans, they will not hear you when you ask them to stop.... BUT, they will also sleep like angels, they will love your every move and worship the plates you eat off of, they will feel bad if you feel bad and act like clowns to make you feel better ...or maybe they just act like that all the time, but you get my point. They are trouble but they are worth every second of it. They are puppies and we L-O-V-E them :)

Stella comes to In Kennel Training!

2008-09-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

Stella is an adorable cattle mix (we think!) who recently joined us for in kennel training for help with basic manners and obedience. If you frequent the Met, you have surely met Stella. She is a shy, refined angel to almost everyone she meets and she is a regular at our daycare. Everyone is in love with Stella - but no one ever saw Stella for the crazy puppy she really was! Stella was a crazy lady (emphasis on the "WAS"). She jumped on nearly everyone she met and didn't really like listening when her mom asked her to do anything. So Stella's mom solicited our help.

Stella came into our in kennel training program and improved by leaps and bounds! Stella was an amazing "houseguest". She just loved training and responded so well to the program. Check her out after only two short weeks with our trainers!

Who says Puggles are untrainable?

2008-09-12T13:42:00.000-07:00

Here Ye Here Ye! All praise Prince Rocco, the best trained Puggle in San Diego! Two weeks ago (sorry for the late post... technical difficulties with our movie making crew) Rocco graduated from the In-Kennel Obedience program run by the Collared Scholar out of the one, the only Metropawlitan Dog. After a mere 14 days of training, Rocco has gone from a rambunctious, unruly teenager to the sweet, attentive, and mature dog he has always strived to be. Rocco came to us with all of the natural Puggle tendencies -- jumping, running away, chewing, and of course the eating of lovely delicacies found on the streets of SD. He worked hard every day and finally found the peace within... for all you Puggles reading, thats the peace of mind within his soul, not the piece of cake within the fridge...sheesh guys! Now Rocco is able to show restraint in a number of different circumstances. He proudly wears patches for Down with Distraction, Leave it Don't Eat It, and Really Really Reliable Recall. Watch as he continues to succeed even when faced with so many temptations!

PS. As a reward, Rocco's achievement video will be placed on the Metropawlitan Dog homepage as of today. He will lead this generation of Puggles into the light... no guys! the light of knowledge, not the light of the fridge...you'll never learn!

Daycare September 9th

2008-09-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

Did I ever tell you about Malden? No? Well listen here. Malden is our one and only black puggle (emphasis on the "black" part cuz lord knows we have a ton of Puggles). He has been coming to daycare and participating in the group obedience class for a while now and I feel we finally have his personality down. Its funny how with a tan puggle the personality is usually so easy to peg... a ton of crazy mixed with a handful of adorable and a pinch of sweet... but Malden is different. He is obviously adorable and definitely sweet but it seems his crazy was tainted somewhere along the line with some calm. My guess is that he got a little more pug (adorable and energetic but can have reserved moments) and a little less beagle (outgoing and crazy at all times). Sorry Chenais, I think Rocco is 80% beagle, at least!

So Malden is in the lounge today with Olive & Rocco and here is how its gone so far. I let Malden in the room and as usual, Olive goes nuts (her normal welcoming routine). She gives him a quick sniff then bolts off in circles around the room, seemingly in her own little world of exultation. Even though she comes to the Paw often, she just can not believe her luck. With each event she displays the same level of excitement, if not more. I put her in the room, "Im here!! Ahhh! Ahhh!", I bring Rocco in to see her, "Someone's here?! Someone is here!!! Ahh ahhh Aaaaahhh!", and finally in comes Malden, "What!? What?!!! Another friend for me?! This is the best day of my Liiiiiife! AAhhh AAAAhhhh AAhh!!"

Malden's initial reaction is one of excitement (not matching Olives, but who could). He says hi to his friends and starts up play time, running around with the rest of them, tumbling and wrestling his heart away. This is what Id deem his beagle moment; he is playful and barky and just generally Mr. Fun. Fast forward an hour and what do I see? Olive running around in circles, Rocco chasing her, and Malden laying Sphinx style watching the show like its his favorite mid-day TV program. He is still obviously interested but manages a little down time which could only come from the Pug. All day long the two sides of him trade off, running for a while then breaking for good study session of dog behavior (we have sooooo much in common). These conflicting traits are what really interest me about my friend Malden and what inevitably make him the gorgeous, and unique all black Puggle he is.

Finally my analysis is complete. Until next time :)

Wobbler's Syndrome

2008-09-03T09:44:00.000-07:00

Many of you have met my great danes, Drake and Raisin, here at Metro during daycare. I bring them with me pretty much every day and they have an absolute blast playing with all their friends in the big dog room.

Recently Raisin started doing some things that made me very concerned - when he would get up from laying on his dog bed at home his back legs were very unsteady, and he even fell a few times, and he started to noticeably drag one of his rear legs. He also was very slow to right his rear paws if we turned them upside-down while he was standing. All of these things made me think that something neurological was going on, so off to the vet we went.

The vet said that Raisin is displaying many of the classic symptoms of early Wobber's Syndrome, or Cervical Spondylomyelopathy. This is a condition common in great danes, dobermans (pay attention here MJ) and also horses, and results from malformations of the vertebrae in the neck while the dog is growing. Those malformations in the bones put pressure on the spinal cord, and the results can vary from minor neurological symptoms like Raisin's all the way up to complete paralysis of the rear legs. The name Wobbler's comes from the severe wobbling movements that the rear legs of the dogs tend to do in the later stages of the disease. Most veterinarians believe it's a combination of genetics, nutritional and bio-chemical influences that cause Wobbler's.

An MRI will be needed to confirm Raisin's diagnosis, so we're currently saving our pennies for that procedure, which runs around $1500. Until then, Raisin is on very restricted activity, which he does NOT like, and we're talking with the vet about anti-inflammatory drugs and acupuncture to help with the swelling around his spinal cord. The only real "cure" for Wobbler's is spinal surgery to remove the portions of the vertebrae that are putting pressure on the spinal cord, and even that is not 100% guaranteed, so we're not sure what the future may hold for Raisin.

All of us here at Metro definitely appreciate any good thoughts you want to send Raisin's way, and we'll be sure to keep you up to date on any new developments in his treatment!

The Babies Are Coming!

2008-09-02T10:43:00.000-07:00

Greetings Everyone!

As you may or may not know, we at Metropawlitan Dog and The Collared Scholar participate heavily in dog rescue and rehabilitation. You may have caught a few of our posts about recent rescues like Rupert, Shadow and Lilly :)

Well, recently, we found out we have a new addition (or two!) coming to our tiny rescue!

Katie Earle, one of Metropawlitan's Managers and Trainer Extraordinare, has a passion for deaf dogs and is the founder of San Diego Deaf Dog Rescue. She was recently approached by a group trying to save two deaf baby Ibizan Hound Puppies. These babies are only 8 weeks old and were at risk of euthanasia as the breeder didn't know what to do with them. We stepped in.

When Katie told me about the babies, I was ecstatic - Ibizan Hounds are one of my FAVORITE breeds of all time. If you don't know what they are, picture a greyhound with Giant German Shepherd size ears that stand straight up! They are stunning dogs of the sight hound group.

Anyhow, the babies will be arriving this week so keep an eye out for them. They will be staying with Katie and I and accompanying us to the Met regularly until they are old enough to be left alone. The pups will receive some training, be spayed and neutered and vaccinated and then will be ready for their new homes (if Katie and I don't decide to keep them before then!).

If you are interested in adopting one of the babies or would like to learn more about our other wonderful rescued dogs, feel free to call us at 619-233-1364!

Daycare August 28th

2008-08-28T15:10:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon everyone!

It's Thursday again and we are crazy here as usual. This beautiful bully face you see is Roxy, the main pup keeping the party going. She is an Ameribull -- an amazing mix between and American Bulldog (hence her height, which you cant see but is about kljkhlj inches) and an English Bulldog (hence her adorable under bite). Roxy is only a puppy so has an incredible amount of energy. She has no tail but when she's excited can wiggle her butt so fast it blurs, and you'd swear you saw a flicker of something resembling a tail wagging. She not only knows how to get all our newbies involved (by immediately deeming herself their best friend, slobbering wet kisses all over their face, and wrestling them to the ground) but wakes up all our regulars with her joyous play style and tendency to randomly jolt out into a full fledged race around the room against... no one! Although, everyone does eventually join in so who is really the smart one here? If you build it, they will come right? ;) She even manages to get me running after her! As a matter of fact, there she goes again.... Im gonna lose again! No!

So Ive gotta get going (if you are in last place twice in a row, you're out) but I first wanted to thank Roxy for all the fun having today, wish good luck to Roxy's dad who gets to have parties like this at his house every day, and say sweet dreams to all the dogs that will sleep well tonight after just one day with this crazy, but truly lovely, puppy girl.

ADOPTION EVENT! 9/7/08 11am-3pm

2008-08-20T16:35:00.000-07:00

Metropawlitan Dog and The Collared Scholar are proud to announce that we will be hosting an adoption event with It's The Pits Bully Breed Rescue!

It's the Pits will be bringing their adoptable dogs down to Metropawlitan Dog on Sunday, September 7th. Bring the family out and interact with all of the wonderful rescued dogs eager to find new homes. Adoption counselors will be on hand to give you information on any of the dogs in the program.

Where: Metropawlitan Dog
811 13th St
San Diego, CA 92101
When: Sunday, September 7th
Time: 11am-3pm

For more information, or to view the dogs available for adoption, visit http://www.itsthepits.org

Daycare August 20th

2008-08-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

Isn't it funny how sometimes in the middle of the week it can already feel like Friday? Today is absolutely one of those days. Our puppy pals are split this morning between those that are celebrating the thought of the weekend to come (crazy Tucker, little Lilly and always-a-party-behind-the-counter, Fox) and those that had a long week and cant wait to finally sleep in (Sydney almost couldnt lift her feet off the ground). I am reserving my judgment for later when I see what excitement unfolds here at the Paw. Although its currently quiet and lazy-dazy, Im sure things will spark up soon and I'll be glad to place myself up there with Tucker and Lilly partying it up and having a ball.

So far I havent really mentioned whats up in the lounge. Let me divulge... Among the crowd is Bogey and Lucy, bull-dog and bull-terrier extraordinare ! These two with their full bodies, stone skulls, and goofy demeanors have chosen today the most hilariously opposite BFF. Abby (tall, skinny, agile, Italian Greyhound) is hopping around from dog to dog, loving the idea that neither Bully will ever be able to catch her. She'll run two circles around the helpless duo before either of them has even noticed shes moved. But ah-ha! Finally victory might be theirs! Mugsy has arrived and he may very well be the fastest Bulldog ever. Surely with the three of them, they'll have gained the upper hand. See for yourself by checking out the "Lounge" webcam!

Last, but definitely not least, we have our precious in-kennel training dogs. In at the same time and racing to become the best at obedience by the time they go back home are Rocco and Stella. Both being the rambunctious youngsters they are, they struggle with many of the same issues (jumping, pulling on the lease, not coming when called). However, after busting their butts for the last couple weeks, they have transformed! In fact, Id love to tell you in detail all the skills they've picked up but Im going to resist. Wouldn't want to ruin the surprise for their moms not would I? Dont worry, a video of their successes is sure to come.

Until next time :)

Daycare August 14th

2008-08-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

If you have been to the Paw anytime in the last few months, you would have seen that we have been looking after a few horses - or so they've been named by many an onlooker. One after another we hear the same astonishing comment "Oh my! Those are the biggest dogs I've ever seen!" Without even an upward glance we know they must be referring to none other than Drake and Raisen, Great Danes and definitely great dogs. I hadn't spent a lot of time around a giant breed before I met these two so I had no idea what I was in for. I, for some reason, expected them to be kind of like dinosaurs, taking measured steps and moving slowly because of all that body mass. Boy, was I exactly wrong wrong wrong. Though Raisen looks stoic and reserved in the first picture, he and his "brother" spend most of their time in positions more like the second picture. They run, they tumble, they wrestle, they jump, and they lean.

(Leaning is a funny little trick I have only seen the Danes do. Its great when you're in the mood for a little extra love and affection, but unless your used to bench pressing over 100lbs, it can also be the Danes way of playing bowling for humans so watch out!)

Through my days with Raisen and Drake, I have learned that Great Danes are very loving, very loyal, very active, very clumsy, and very affectionate. I would'nt be able to tell you if all Danes were this way or if these two are simply a product of responsible training but after doing a little background check on the breed I am convinced more of the former. They will get slobber on your shirt, they will accidentally step on your foot, and they will most likely disregard their size in an attempt to be a lap dog but it's all worth it. They will also love you forever (click here for theme song to this section), they will relieve you of all the food you don't like, they will cuddle with you at night, they will absolutely miss you when you leave. What more could you need?

Raisen and Drake are here every day so check them out on the webcams right now! Maybe you'll get lucky and see them bowl a strike. :)

Also, the rambunctious puppy that is keeping the boys so entertained in picture #2 is Lilly. She is up for adoption and waiting for you to come take her to her new home! Hurry Up!

Ode to an Aussie

2008-08-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since I dedicated a blog to a specific breed but when you've got something nice to say... say it! I have taken a special liking to a few of my friends here at the Paw (Jib, Argos, Stella, Blue) and wanted to study up on their breed and share with you a little about the wonder that is the Australian Shepherd. Just by spending daycare time with them, I have noticed a few common personality traits. First and foremost, they are energetic...very energetic. I have yet to see a single one of them join into the afternoon nap and I have definitely never seen one yawn. They run around the room instinctually herding everything that moves and only Jib will stop for a moment to put his head in my lap for some pets. They are gorgeous, loving, and extremely friendly but as it turns out, aren't Australian.

Weird huh?
To really get into it I did a little background research and found out the Aussie really originated right here in the US. It was so named because the sheepherders they worked with came from Australia. Their little helpers, however, are pure breed North Americans (western, to be exact). The rest of their history was pretty straight forward.

-Bred to be working dogs so are now absolutely fantastic at agility, obedience, flyball, frisby, etc,

-Appearing in all the coolest colors (Stella and Argos = blue merle, Jib and Blue = red merle) plus two additional tri colors

-Have the most striking eyes in either light blue, golden brown, or if you're lucky, one of each.

-And, coming in two sizes. The original (all our clients) and mini which can be as small as 15 lbs!

If you havent met one yet, hopefully this blog encourages you to seek one out at your next doggy outing... though you'd never actually catch one. In fact, my bet is if you did, you'd probably earn three wishes out of the deal. Give it a shot! :)

Daycare August 7th

2008-08-07T15:11:00.000-07:00

Ok all! Remember the dear duo Radar and Bella? Well let me remind you, they are a brother and sister pair of schnauzers sent straight from heaven (Radar is pictured). They have been the subject of many a blog, being as wonderful as they are, and have blessed us with their presence every Tuesday and Thursday practically since we opened over a year ago.

Today, I want to take you through their funny little social pattern. They have always had very sensitive souls, you see, so have therefore made friends in the most unusual ways. First it was Radar picking out the biggest in the bunch and and claiming his first BFF. The new pals would run the room like maniacs while Bella monitored everything from her precious spot on the top stair of the playroom mountain. "Why isnt Bella playing?" we would ask ourselves. No one good enough yet, we guessed... but it didnt last long. Soon the siblings were enjoying the lounge and suddenly the roles switched. This is when Bella met Olive (relationship fully disclosed in a previous blog). They were completely in love and it was Radar's turn to take the back seat. In fact, we noticed after a while that Radar had become rather uninterested in other dogs. He would play with his sister for hours, rolling around and wrestling like he'd never had so much fun in his life... but why had he given up the search for his BFF?

We finally see now that it was for the same reason his sister had all those months ago. No one good enough... until today! Today, Radar met Percy(Doxie pictured). The search is over. These two playful pups were made for each other and Radar is no longer a sensitive soul with no soul mate. These two have been all over each other all day and I've been told by Percy's mom that he will now be coming back every Tuesday and Thursday just to see Radar, his new Best Friend Forever :)

Please welcome our NEW groomers, Sara & Keith!

2008-08-06T17:03:00.000-07:00

Metropawlitan Dog is proud to announce the arrival of our two NEW groomers! Together, they have combined over 15 years of experience grooming and have amazed us with their uncanny ability to tackle the toughest cuts!

Keith bred and showed Dalmations and Afghans for quite sometime and owned his own grooming salon which was unfortunately affected by the wildfires. Sara started her career at the Petco grooming school and quickly outgrew the company, moving on to seek something that would better showcase her awesome skills!

Now that our groomers have arrived, we will be offering grooming Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturdays by appointment. We will also be expanding our service offering to include cat grooming!

Call today to schedule your appointment!

Voted the BEST of 2008!

2008-08-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

The time has come for a little bragging (and a lot of groveling). Just recently we at the Paw were voted into the top three grooming shops in the San Diego Union Tribune's Best of (thats right! I said BEST) of 2008. We take pride in our ability to provide superior daycare through over-and-above customer service and strict regulations regarding dog safety and playroom cleanliness. We work hard to make sure we are up to date on the latest training techniques and are able to offer the most comprehensive training programs to our clients in need. In our spa, we employ only the best San Diego has to offer, with experience ranging from necessity cuts to show styles. From day one, we have had a dream to use our services to improve the lives of the dogs we encounter and by that, improve the relationships they are able to have with their owners. None of that would be possible without you. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted for us and let you know that every dog that goes home tired and happy from daycare, every dog that overcomes a fear in training, every dog that can hold his newly groomed head high, AND every dog that we rescue from any number of horrible homes or shelters owes a little of their success to you. Thank you again for your support and we look forward to continuing to offer you the BEST in 2009 :)

Daycare August 4th

2008-08-04T12:55:00.000-07:00

A celebration is in order!!!

Today, we were introduced to Bailey for the first time. He is a puppy chow mix of some sort and he is cute cute cute! As soon as I walked in the lounge, there he was giving me a huge hug and getting me up to date on the games they were playing so I could join in.

"Hi hi hi, nice to meet you here's the deal... only two rules, no biting and time outs automatic for pee breaks. All wrestling, punching, kicking, chewing, pinching, pushing, and scratching is fair game. Roxy and I are in the middle of it now but you play winner"

..and he was off. Roxy got a surprise as Bailey pounced on her when her back was turned (catching by surprise was not only fair, it was extra points!). Roxy was barely phased anyway. She quickly found her footing again and the game was on, full throttle. Fortunately for me, their match never resulted in a clear winner. I cheered them both on until I finally had to tear my eyes away to answer the phone. What rascals! By the end of the day all I was finally able to deduce from watching their endless game was that Bailey was great (extremely friendly, obviously a fair player, and probably the only dog at the Paw that can tire out Roxy). It was a pleasure meeting his bouncy self and I can't wait to see who he challenges tomorrow. Included is a pic of his foe, Roxy and a few more of them "following the rules." Enjoy!

Daycare July 31st

2008-07-31T14:51:00.000-07:00

Wa Hoo!

Please welcome back to the Paw...the stunning, the well mannered, the energetic, and the humble Stella and Blue!

In case you don't know, our Canine Behavior Academy is finally up and running (with the first class on Saturday 8/2 @ 9am) and I have been studying the daycare dogs like a maniac these past two weeks to try and get ahead of the game. All day today my attention has been on Stella and Blue (them being the fresh faces in my crowd) and I must say, they are wonderful! Never playing too rough , not attached at the hip (they are very confident playing separately and being apart), and very very loved by every dog they meet. Fenway, one of our many Puggles, fell in love with Stella at first smell and Otis, preteen Airdale extraordinaire, cant get enough of his new friend Blue's crazy ways. They blended into our everyday daycare group seamlessly and are obviously used to the madness that ensues when over15 dogs get together. While I watched them I remembered when we first met ... two tiny Aussies still figuring out what they could get their young bodies to do, jumping like this, twisting like that until they pooped themselves completely out. Now that they are older it is obvious they have figured that mystery out but that they have managed to maintain control and socialize perfectly. Kudos to them and big Kudos to their parents! :)

Zulka Amazes us with her Skills!

2008-07-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

Recently, we met with a client who was having some difficulties with his dog. This however, wasn't just any dog - he had a South African Boerboel. These dogs come from the mastiff family and were originally bred to defend livestock from lions. Given this was their primary function, you can imagine they are big, tough dogs!

When we met with Zulka, we decided to take things slow. We had a dog pass by across the street at which point Zulka lunged forward and upon hitting the end of the leash, spun around and started trying to pull the leash from her dad's hands. Her dad tried to correct her at which point she snapped at him, grazing his arm with her teeth. She would not be calmed. She was a little leary of our trainer taking over the leash work and on multiple times, tried to snap at her as well. Given the severity of the issue, we decided in kennel training would be the best option.

A few weeks later, Zulka joined us at Metropawlitan. The daycare staff was intimidated at first but their fears were soon quelled when this big, bumbly dog came in the front door. Zulka is as sweet as can be and, overlooking her one fatal flaw, everyone quickly fell in love with her.

Zulka stayed in kennel for only 10 short days. We are amazed at the progress she made in such a short time period. Here is some video of the new and improved Zulka!

The Canine Behavior Academy is Here!!

2008-07-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

Metropawlitan Dog and The Collared Scholar are VERY proud to announce, after several months of hard work, late nights with plenty of coffee, and a little blood, sweat and tears shed putting together the curriculum, our Canine Behavior Academy is finally launching!

What's exactly is our Canine Behavior Academy you might ask? Well, it's simply the most comprehensive dog trainer academy currently available. Our program teaches how to understand dog behavior and will give our students the tools to apply that knowledge as a professional dog trainer. You will learn ALL current methods of dog training; not just one or two like many of the other dog training academies available. You also get hands-on experience working with actual training client dogs and have the opportunity to troubleshoot dog behavior problems with certified dog trainers.

Our first class will begin on Saturday, August 2nd and we are so excited to welcome our first group of students! If you think you might be interested in learning more or attending our Canine Behavior Academy, give us a call here at Metro - 619-233-1364!!

Daycare July 23rd

2008-07-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

Finally my research is complete and I can introduce to you the Queen of the Fashion, the Epitome of Trendy ... Ms. Maddie. Maddie is by far the best dressed doggie at daycare. She would never think of coming in until she is fully accessorized and stylized from head to foot. She has been seen wearing the latest in puppy couture including the Palms HOT line from Dior's Summer 08 catalog, the Stripe Me Silly line from Chanel's Spring Fashion Show, and the MelonWater line made exclusively for her by Oscar de la Renta himself! She always has her hair done to match each outfit and always remembers to top each gorgeous ensemble off with a colored hair bow by Mizrahi and Think Pink nail polish by Gucci. When I asked her how she manages to afford such a beautiful wardrobe she laughed and said, "Buy?! I dont buy anything! Honey, with a physique like mine, designers are falling over themselves to dress me. Simply doing them the honor of choosing them is all the payment Ive ever had to give." With a flip of her hair, she walks away to get some water (but not before doing a little spin so I get the full picture).

As eccentric as Maddie's attire is however, she still keeps both perfectly groomed feet on the ground. Though seemingly aloof by keeping her distance from the most playful dogs in the pack (not wishing to muss her dress), she is actually extremely friendly and loving, always being up for a giggle with the girls or (duh) any conversation at all regarding fashion. Check her out on the Web Cam now and you'll see her gabbing away with Abby about the importance of nail polish...even if her dad wont approve.

Check Out Our NEW Online Forum!

2008-07-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

We at Metropawlitan Dog and The Collared Scholar have put together a brand NEW online community designed for dog owners to come "talk dogs"! Check out our message board at http://www.websitetoolbox.com/mb/metropawlitandog (you can also access it from the Metropawlitan Dog Home Page). Use the message board to share training tips and tricks, learn about the newest training techniques, share pictures of your pampered pooch and much more! You can even chat directly with trainers to get their take on behavioral problems you might be having! Check it out today!

Daycare July 15th

2008-07-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

Look out daycare vets! There's a new dog in town and she is sure to be quite the competitor in the game of never ending energy. Introducing the one, the only (Brittany, that is) Remi!! She came to the Paw for the first time today, immediately bouncing off the walls and barking her little, insanely adorable head off. She subdued for only a minute upon entering the room as the others gave her an initiation that would scare off even the most socialized of dogs, shoving there heads into each other as they fought for the first sniff of this little wonder (MJ won... as usual she would have it no other way). However, once over with, Remi was off! First circling the room and sniffing every corner, then taking turns barking in the face of each dog so they knew who she was, where she came from , and so she could make it clear "I am not afraid of you even though I am little and I would like to play with you very soon." Very matter of fact, this one.

Right now she is ferociously playing with Jersey (Beagle), Stella (Cattle Mx), Tucker (Doodle), and Cali (Mutt Mx) all at once. Most of her attention is focused on Jersey but she gives enough to the other three to keep them interested and coming back for more (uh oh, watch out everyone, this ones got some brain in that head of hers). Whats funny is that Remi gets the dogs so excited and involved with her that when she all of a sudden decides to take a breather, everyone else also stops playing and gets this look on their face like "Woah!.. That was crazy! (looking around at each other like they just woke from a daze)...Err... where are we? Um... what am I doing here? ... the Paw you say? ...playing you say?... ... Oh oh! I remember!" and they finally recover without her. *In case youre wondering, the only reason the famous Rocco (Puggle) isnt included in the play pack is because he keeps trying to jump in but MJ catches his tail in mid air forcing him to whirl around and chase her for a while (exactly what she had planned on) until he realizes what just happened and attempts the jump again. Another tail snag and the cycle continues.*

So that was Remi, but before I go, Id also like to speak to you a bit about McGuire. This older gentleman is a Lab/Ridgeback mix and he is sooooo sweet (cuddly and loving and just all around precious). He came to us about two weeks ago for a problem with separation anxiety but after one private session has already shown massive improvements. I am so impressed I have to share them with you. His first day here (last week) McGuire did all the typical Sep Anx things: barked, panted, drooled, and scratched obsessively to get out of the daycare room and back into his moms arms. He mellowed down eventually but still seemed to have the "first day" blues. Today, only his second day back, McGuire walked willingly onto the playground, played a good deal, sniffed around a little and found himself a good resting spot in front of the window. No panting at all, no scratching, no drooling. Absolute comfort and bliss. He is smiling and enjoying the company of the other dogs, characteristics that Id say are putting him well on his way to "Mom who?" Good work McGuire (and good work mom!).

Daycare July 11th

2008-07-11T11:52:00.001-07:00

Short post today but I wanted to make sure and tell you about a very special dog before the week is up. Her name is Gracie and she is relatively new to the Paw. She has been coming on a pretty regular basis and each day we find out even more about her wonderful personality. First we immediately noticed, she is very energetic. On day one, I would venture to say she never let her tush hit the ground. She seemed to have mapped out a path and was running it from one side of the room to the next, pausing only occasionally to bark at someone in the lobby, take a quick sip of water, or squeeze in a quick wrestling session with one of her friends. Now that we have seen her on practically a daily basis we have picked up on a few more awesome traits. In our time with her we've surmised that she loves getting pets, will accept an invite to cuddle any day, scratches a nest into the rubber floor in order to nap (soooo cute), has hackles that pop up down her back only when she is wrestling and playing especially hard, has the softest coat Ive ever had the pleasure of touching, and enjoys scratching her rear end against the wall like Blue from the Jungle book (hilarious). -- see clip by clicking HERE .. the butt scratching is 2:35 minutes into the video, I swear Gracie does it just like this!--

Oh Gracie, we love you :)

Daycare July 10th

2008-07-10T15:15:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

I have a lot to tell you so here we go...

First off, daycare has been a pretty exciting place these last couple days. Lots of dogs, lots of playing and LOTS of fun! Yesterday we had the Threatening Threesome bouncing off the walls. Domino, Cali, and Stella have built themselves an unbreakable bond and have proven wrong the saying "Three's a Crowd". When you each have identical play styles, are very close in age and are all the same size, there is no limit to the fun and therefore no limit to the number of dogs. What I find funny is how they are not the only ones with something in common. Each of their owners is separately attacking practically the same obedience issues. Just the regular old puppy stuff (jumping--shout out to you Stella, walking nicely on a leash, coming when called-- thats you Domino, sitting, not taking food off the kitchen counter -- you know what Im talkin about Cali) but enough to warrant a little of our help and maybe... a club of their own? Think about it.

(Other dog in Threesome pick is Gus, trying to initiate himself into the club Id guess... Im not gonna be the one to tell him he's too little!)

In the meantime, MJ is off to her old tricks. Flirting ferociously with all the boys and taking a time out every minute or so to open a couple doors when our backs are turned (crafty, crafty MJ...). Here is a pic of her and her most recent love interest, Dutch. After wrestling for hours, they are taking a breather while MJ sweetly and lovingly soothes the mood with a little ear cleaning.

In the small room, Mercedes has come back to us at last! She took an obedience class a while ago and then ripped our hearts out by disappearing for what seemed like centuries. However, now she is back and the world is right again. She has given up on the whole "Dont leave me daddy! Im too frightened to play with the other dogs" routine and is enjoying herself immensely in the Paws Doggy Lounge with her new friends. She is the cutest Doxie alive, Im sure, and is loved instantly by everyone that meets her. Currently, Katie and I are fighting for the spot of Favorite Dogsitter in Mercedes' eyes, though if I really thought about it, Mercedes would as soon viciously bite someone as she would pick a favorite and hurt someones feelings... never gonna happen.

Thats it for today!

Sweet Lily Needs a Home

2008-07-09T12:23:00.000-07:00

Lily is a one year old TINY pit bull searching for her forever home! Lily came to us all the way from Texas – she was born deaf and her breeder wasn’t quite sure what to do with her, so they gave her to a friend. While Lily was loved at her home in Texas, the person who adopted her just did not have the time to spend with her, so Lily was crated quite a bit or locked out in the backyard by herself. When she decided to rehome Lily, she discovered that placing a pit bull, much less a DEAF pit bull, in rural Texas was near impossible. Lily’s owner scoured the internet and was able to find out that we specialize in deaf dog rescue, so she had Lily shipped out to us to start her new life in California!

Lily is a very sweet girl and is incredibly eager to please. She is housebroken and crate trained, spayed and up to date on her shots. Given that she spent most of her life in a crate or backyard, she doesn’t have much for doggy manners, but we are working on some basic hand signal training with her. She’s a total cuddler and wants nothing more than to spend quality time with her people.

Lily is good with most other dogs, but can be a bit pushy in her play, and since she can’t hear any sort of warning growl from another dog, it’s best to supervise her playtime with other dogs. She comes to Metro Dog almost every day and does great here with the daycare dogs! She is VERY interested in cats and loves to chase them, so a home without cats is probably best.

If you think Lily might be a the perfect new family member for you, give us a call here at Metro!

Kane and Kaden Join Us for In Kennel Training!

2008-07-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

As you may have read in prior posts, recently, we had two adorable lab puppies join us for in kennel training. Kane and Kaden are two RIDICULOUSLY cute 5 1/2 month old lab puppies who were suffering from the most dreaded of all syndromes....the "I'm a puppy and I'm insane!" syndrome. With that came chewing, jumping, pulling on the leash and all the other joys that come with owning a puppy. And these two aren't your typical puppies...they are HUGE! They are definitely going to be big boys when they grow up!

They stayed with us for 2 weeks where they learned basic obedience while spending their days running like crazy men in daycare. Check out the two showing off their stuff after their stay in our program! We are very proud of these two! They were great students!

4th of July Pet Safety

2008-07-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day! We think of this holiday as a time for backyard bbq's, a day at the beach with friends and family, and time for fantastic fireworks displays, but the 4th of July is actually one of the most stressful and scary days of the year for many of our furry friends. Fortunately, a little planning ahead of time on your part can help keep your pet safe over the 4th weekend. The Humane Society of the United States has these tips to offer:

Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays. We here at Metropawlitan Dog know that loud noises can really frighten many dogs, so leaving Fido at home during the fireworks is the best idea.

Do not leave your pet in the car. With only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects—even death—in a few short minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, but they do provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.

Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him company while you're attending Fourth of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations. Metropawlitan Dog also suggests crating your dog and covering the crate with a blanket or towel - this gives your dog a "safe spot" and helps to ease their stress.

If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays.

Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn't leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.

Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running at-large should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners.

Following these simple steps will help ensure that your pet is kept safe and happy on the 4th!!

Daycare July 02

2008-07-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

Ok, now that our dear Kira is out of the red and you have all successfully educated yourselves on "bloat" its time to get back to the light-hearted daycare descriptions you have come to love. Today, I'd like to talk to you about Labs and Lucy.

Lucy is an adorable Miniature Bull Terrier that (as many Bullies do) has the best personality ever! She is endearing and loving and just adores every ounce of attention we bestow on her. If she catches you looking at her out of the corner of her eye, she'll keep her head and body perfectly still (so as not to scare you off) but will start wildly wagging her skinny little tail. Im not gonna lie, its the cutest thing Ive ever seen and it totally works! After I see that tail start going, I cant help but run straight to her and lay a bunch of kisses on her rock hard nose... Im such a sucker.

Next we have "The Labs", two gorgeous 5 month old, chocolate sensations named Kane and Kaden. They came to us about two weeks ago with their exasperated family in toe, looking for a little direction in life. Looking down on them as their owners talked with Meagan(trainer), I couldnt imagine these two angels being anything but innocent and precious 24hrs a day. They sat patiently while their parents talked and went willingly and easily into the daycare room, an experience they had never had before. "Easy," I thought. "These two will be a piece of cake!" Little did I know that after only a few days of chewed cleaning supplies, eaten walls (anyone that has ever owned a lab wont be surprised by this), multiple paw punches to the face , and a couple torn trash bags whos contents had been carefully dispersed over every inch of the daycare room, Id be imagining their parents leaving the little rascals only days before, going HA HA HA alllll the way home...

Now that Ive spent two weeks with Kane and Kaden I have realized that my initial impression of them was not entirely wrong. The brothers are not just trouble makers, they are the sweetest things on eight legs to ever exist in this world. They are the epitome of what you would expect from a Lab. They are stunning, they are loyal, they are total hug-a-bunches, they are happy all the time, they are goofy and love to get a laugh, they are very easy going, and they get along amazingly with every single dog they meet. Also, as it turns out, they just needed someone to show them the way to obedience. With only a little encouragement both Kane and Kaden are now sitting nicely, laying down when asked, and walking so well on a leash we sometimes have to tell them to hurry it up! Plus now that Ive had a chance to talk with the boys, Ive found that most of their previous actions were actually planned as a practical solution to a certain problem. When I asked Kane what was up with all the chewing (Kaden was busy chasing down the Great Dane to show him who's boss) he said, " Hey! If we dont taste everything, how are we ever supposed to know what tastes good and what tastes bad? ...like wall and brush bristles , for instance... wall is good, but bristles? not so much." Oh my goodness ... kids! Sheesh!

The Dangers of GDV

2008-07-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

Its time for the BLOG to take a quick turn in a more serious direction (Don't worry! The Daycare Fun will be back soon!)...

I want to write today about a condition called GDV or Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus. This condition is life threatening and typically occurs in deep chested dogs. The condition has been seen in Great Danes, Mastiffs, Weimaraners (Jake, listen up!), Rottweilers, St. Bernards, Irish Wolfhounds, German Shepherds, Standard Poodles, Basset Hounds (Seymour and Orson...pay close attention!), Pit Bulls, Dobermans (MJ and Kylie...this is for you), Labradors (Baisey, Gracie, Milo and Java) and other deep chested dogs.

The reason I chose to write about this horrific condition is (1) because it is VERY life threatening and (2) my own dog, Kira, went through it yesterday.

Sunday night was like any other night at my house. I spent the day at home with the dogs and at night we all curled up on the couch to watch a movie. Thank God I fell asleep on the couch. At about 3am, Kira, my great dane became restless. She tried to get up on the couch to sleep, tossed and turned for a moment, and then got down. She tried repeatedly to find a comfortable resting spot. I ignored her - I thought she was just being a big baby and wanted ME to move out of HER spot on the couch. I went back to sleep. A short while later, she tried to throw up. Again, I didn't think anything of it. She has thrown up a thousand times before, typically after she eats the grapefruit off of the tree out back. Again, I went back to sleep.

Early Monday AM, I woke up tired because Kira kept me up all night. I let the dogs outside to use the bathroom when I noticed Kira was not right. She went to the corner of the yard and laid down. I called her to come and she tried, laying down about half way across the yard. I immediately called the vet. As I was on hold, I went and pulled her inside and tried to give her a treat...she wouldn't take it. Then I pressed her belly and realized it was swelling up. I immediately hung up the phone (I hadn't even spoken to my vet yet), threw on some slippers and drove her frantically to the closest Emergency Vet. Having a deep chested dog, I knew the symptoms of Bloat and GDV so I didn't want to waste any time.

When I got to the vet, the diagnosis was confirmed - Kira had GDV. Her stomach had torsioned 180 degrees.

"Canine acute gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a medical and surgical emergency that is seen most commonly in large and giant breed dogs. The syndrome is characterized by accumulation of gas in the stomach and malpositioning of the stomach with obstruction of eructation and pyloric outflow (In English - the stomach flips and ties off at the ends obstructing blood and oxygen flow). Subsequent systemic effects of GDV including hypovolemic shock, endotoxemic shock, respiratory compromise, concurrent metabolic acidosis and alkalosis, and reperfusion injury are all implicated in the resultant death of affected dogs. Though this disease has been studied for years, the exact etiology and pathogenesis is still not clear." - http://www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/2005/Summer/canine-acd.htm

Kira was rushed into emergency surgery with a 50/50 chance. Everything depended on how long she had had the condition. If left untreated for too long, the lack of oxygen and blood flow causes necrosis or death of the tissues of the stomach, greatly decreasing the chance of survival. As you can imagine, I was terrified.

The next day was the longest of my life. Luckily, I caught it fast enough and there was no necrosis of Kira's tissues. She bounced back from surgery and is home with me now. We still have a ways to go in her recovery but I feel like the worst is over.

The reason I wanted to share this story with you all was to educate you on the symptoms of Bloat or GDV so you are prepared and can take the appropriate actions should you be faced with a situation like mine.

Signs of Bloat Include:

PHASE1
SYMPTOMS:
1. Pacing, restlessness, panting and salivating.
2. Unproductive attempts to vomit (every 10-20 minutes).
3. Abdomen exhibits fullness and beginning to enlarge.
ACTIONS:Call Veterinarian to advise of bloat case enroute. Transport dog to Veterinarian immediately.

PHASE 2
SYMPTOMS:
1. Very restless, whining, panting continuously, heavy salivating.
2. Unproductive attempts to vomit (every 2-3 minutes).
3. Dark red gums.
4. High heart rate (80 to 100 BPM).
5. Abdomen is enlarged and tight, emits hollow sound when thumped.
ACTIONS: Apply first aid if Veterinarian care is more than 10 minutes away.
Then, transport dog to Veterinarian immediately.

PHASE 3
SYMPTOMS:
1. Gums are white or blue

2. Dog unable to stand or has a spread-legged, shaky stance.
3. Abdomen is very enlarged.
4. Extremely high heart rate (100 BPM or greater)and weak pulse.
ACTIONS: Death is imminent! Apply first aid immediately. Transport dog to Veterinarian IMMEDIATELY (even while applying first aid if possible).

Kira began to bloat, or develop gas overnight. In the morning, the stomach torsioned and she went from Phase 1 to Phase 3 in a matter of 30 minutes. When I left the house, she was just moving from Phase I to Phase II and by the time we got to the vet (about 5 minutes away), her blood pressure dropped, she was unable to stand and her abdomen was enlarged.

If you have a breed prone to this condition, please educate your family on the symptoms. If you suspect your dog is exhibiting symptoms of bloat, DON'T WAIT...seek veterinary advice IMMEDIATELY. Much better to pay the $50 office visit and find out its nothing than to pay the $4,000 for life saving surgery.....

NEW Website!

2008-06-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

Check out our new website at http://www.metropawlitandog.com . Let us know what you think!

Chaya and Fanjio's stay at Metropawlitan!

2008-06-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

Recently, we were fortunate to get a call from a desperate dog owner searching for help with her two dogs, Chaya and Fanjio. Fanjio is a sight hound mix who they rescued from horrible conditions. When they found him, he was apparently living in a tiny crate with a litter mate who was torturing him. Poor Fanjio spent his early days hiding in the corner of the crate just to get away from his brother. Chaya on the other hand is a boisterous boxer with endless energy. She is ABSOLUTELY one of the most gorgeous dogs I have met in a long time.

Because of Fanjio's rocky start at life, he has developed some fear issues. He lacked self confidence and when we entered the room for the initial consultation, he was torn on whether to say hello or run away. When he did finally make it over to us, he was so frightened, he urinated on himself. Chaya on the other hand tackled us the minute we walked in, greeting us with very excited hellos and almost taking us to the ground!

It quickly became apparent that both dogs had their own issues and their owner was doing everything in her power to work them through those issues. We tried to walk them and get them to sit. Chaya didn't like it and actually jumped up and tried to bite the trainer. Fanjio froze...locking his legs and refusing...mostly out of fear.

We recommended in kennel training to jump start the rehabilitation process. The two joined us for 2 weeks and in that time, learned basic obedience and manners. They still have a ways to go in their training but check them out, showing off their stuff after two short weeks with our trainers!