TAILS FROM DUBLIN CREEK

January Newsletter

2012-01-05T15:58:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! It seems impossible that it is already 2012 doesn't it? We are happy to have spent the holidays with so many of your animals and we continue to be grateful for your business and your trust in allowing us to care for your cherished friends. For that we give you a heartfelt Thank You.

January usually gets people thinking about resolutions and changes for good that they want to make for the new year. So, we thought it would be fun to suggest some pet related New Years resolutions! Here is what we came up with:

Walk your dog more.
Exercise does all of us good, this includes people and dogs. Why not make a commitment to walk your dog more? Start out with a distance or length of time that both of you are comfortable with and make a commitment to do it every day or every other day. You will be amazed at how great you both feel and you will be glad to see what a little walk can do to help your dog relax around the house. If you don't like to walk alone consider meeting up with a friend or neighbor who also has a dog and walk together. This is great because if your dogs become friends you may also to enjoy play dates and allow the dogs time to play together.

Take a training class.
For a little bonding and mental stimulation you won't find a better solution than taking a positive reinforcement dog training class! Dogs love to learn and taking a class can give you a boost of motivation. Keep an eye out for our training class schedule which will be out soon for our March classes.

Improve your pets diet.
Okay, so this is generally a human resolution, but there are many pets out there who would benefit from a healthier diet. If a pet food is high quality the dog will eat less of it and retain more nutrition from it. Take time to look at the labels of the pet food that you feed to ensure that your animal is getting a healthy diet.

Groom your pet!
Grooming can be a task or a relaxing pastime. Usually it is only a horrendous job when the animal doesn't enjoy it or they are in poor condition (usually from lack of grooming). You can get your dog or cat used to grooming by having short, relaxing grooming sessions while you watch TV. Personally, I adore grooming my two long haired dogs. I have taught them to sit on my lap while I brush them out nightly. By keeping them brushed out, it keeps their coats in good condition so that I don't have to worry about mats or knotting.

Up the mental stimulation and enrichment.
These are terms that you might not be familiar with. Mental stimulation and enrichment basically means giving an animal something to do. Animals who live in zoos, for example are given a variety of items or games to do in order to encourage mental stimulation this keeps the animals more happy and less likely to become stressed from boredom. Dogs like to work and have a job to do and there are simple ways to give them that. Interactive toys such as Nina Ottoson toys are a wonderful way to enrichment a dog by encouraging foraging (searching for food) which actually burns energy. They are great all the time but can be particularly helpful during the winter months when it is rainy out and you may be walking or exercising your dog less.

Mental stimulation isn't just for dogs, cats benefit from it greatly as well. If you have ever visited our cattery you will notice that we have nets and shelves that encourage climbing and problem solving. We also offer toys that encourage problem solving such as this one.

Undivided Attention
Here is a quick and easy one that will mean the world to your dog (or cat). Set aside time to give your animal some play time that is dedicated to them. Mix up the time but offer your dog some time, even 15 minutes to just play ball, just tug of war, just hide food or run and around and play, whatever your game of choice is, commit to giving them daily.

More car rides.
Most dogs love going for car rides. If your dog is one of them, take him on more car rides. If your dog doesn't particularly like car rides it could be because he only gets one when he goes to the vet! Try taking him when you are running to Starbucks or to the bank (make sure it's not too hot out!) and let him just tag along. Many dogs really enjoy that and it is such a simple and easy thing to do.

So try finding a New Years resolution that will enhance the relationship you have with your dog or cat and improve the quality of their life! Little changes can be simple but mean so much!

Adoptables
We have several dogs, puppies and kittens looking for forever homes. All of our animals our spayed/neutered and vaccinated prior to being adopted out. If you or anyone you know is looking for a new companion, please encourage them to come and meet some our adoptables.

Bake Sales
Thank you so much to everyone who purchased our baked goods. We are so grateful to all of you who contributed and happy that this fundraiser was such a success.

Many people don't know the costs involved in rescuing unwanted animals. The majority of our rescues come from animal shelters, not owner surrenders. This means that generally they come to us intact (unspayed or unneutered), without vaccinations and sometimes with other health issues including internal parasites, skin problems, respiratory infections, kennel cough and other health issues that while not life threatening can be costly to treat. When we accept an animal, we accept that financial responsibility and we have to make that animal healthy before we place them out. On top of that we also pay for all the animals food, toys, beds, etc. So, donations mean the world to us and to the animals we are rescuing.

We are happy to share some of our success stories. These animals were adopted in the last month:

December Newsletter

2011-12-02T13:39:00.000-08:00

We hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We sure did as we have so much to be thankful for here at Dublin Creek Kennel, especially, all of you, are wonderful clients!

Bake Sale
Thank you to all of you who purchased baked goods from our first ever Bake Sale! We held this bake sale as a fundraiser to raise money for the Dublin Creek Animal Foundation, the 501c3 non-profit organization we started which takes in and rehomes unwanted dogs and cats. We are happy to announce that we raised over $800 to benefits our animals in need! Thank you to all of our employees who pitched in! Special thanks to Janelle who did the majority of the baking, to Michelle for her wonderful fudge, Vicki for her dog and cat treats and Suzie Tripp who donated her wonderful treats! And, if you didn't make it out to get some treats, don't worry, we have another Bake Sale scheduled for December 19-23rd!

Our Adoptables
We have many wonderful animals looking for their forever homes. If you are looking for a new companion animal or you know someone who is, please tell them about our adoptables! Can't adopt but want to help? We are also looking for foster homes for these animals for the holidays. If you can help, please call the kennel! Here is a sneak peek at them, but please visit our rescue page for more information about our adoptables!

Luke

Snickers

Yogi

Amigo (on the left) and Bonita (in the middle)

Adopting a Special Needs Dog
It has taken Boo Boo over a year to find a home and his brother Yogi is still looking. We aren't quite sure why it's taking Yogi so long to find his forever home, except to say that Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes are coming into the shelters in high numbers every day. With Boo Boo we knew why it was taking longer and were prepared to wait for the perfect home for him. See, Boo Boo is a shy dog and shy dogs are always a bit more challenging to find homes for because people are reluctant to take on a dog that is less outgoing. But, Boo Boo's owner will tell you that you should definitely consider it as in just a short period of time, Boo Boo and he have completely bonded. Hank, another shy dog, who was adopted a couple of months ago was also here for nearly a year while we waited for the perfect home to come along and boy did it! He was adopted by a family that is happy and willing to help Hank come out of his shell.

Michelle, our groomer, adopted another one of our adoptables several months ago. Cheerio is a long haired Chihuahua/Pomeranian mix, but he was born without front legs and needed a home where someone was willing to accept that and work with that. Michelle had a custom made cart made for Cheerio to help him get along better. Cheerio is a sweet and loving little dog who will start the Paws to Read program this month where he will go to the library where children will read to him. You honestly won't meet a sweeter dog than Cheerio but he was almost killed because of a physical disability that he can't help and that doesn't keep him from having a normal, happy life. Consider adopting a special needs animal. Dogs that are handicapped, older or a bit shy can make wonderful companions too!

Cheerio

Look Whose Been Adopted!
These are the animals that have found forever homes through Dublin Creek Animal foundation this month. We are incredibly proud of this as all of these animals were at great risk before we stepped up and took them in.

We are so happy that after over a year Boo Boo was finally adopted! His new family reports that he is doing great!

Buster

Pixie

Autumn

Toki

Wiley

Keihei

Pancho Villa

November Newsletter

2011-11-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome Fall and an early Happy Holidays to all of you! Speaking of the holidays, we are already full for Thanksgiving, but we still have some openings for Christmas! So, if you are planning to get away and need to board your dogs or cats, please make a reservation right away!

Take a New Years Vacation!
We are offering a 20% discount on boarding for the month of January if you book in November and mention the blog!

Grooming
Don't forget that we offer grooming! Our talented groomer Michelle will bathe your dog, brush him or her out, trim the feet and toenails! Your pet doesn't have to be in for boarding to take advantage of our grooming! Call to make an appointment today! Sorry, no full haircuts, baths only.

Dublin Creek Animal Foundation
Most of you already know that we are deeply concerned about the number of homeless animals out there. We have unofficially done rescue work for years, but we have made it official by founding the Dublin Creek Animal Foundation, a 501c3 rescue group that helps unwanted dogs and cats find new homes.

Most of our rescue animals come from high kill animal shelters that are over crowded. We regularly receive emails with pictures of the dogs, cats, puppies and kittens that are to be euthanized that week. When we see animals that we think we can help, we then set up transport arrangements for the animals. Once the animals arrive here we begin to interact with them and evaluate their temperaments and decide what type of home would be the best for that individual. We get them spayed or neutered, vaccinated and healthy and then we begin to look for new homes for them. It is tiring and difficult job but also extremely rewarding. It is also expensive to do and we rely on adoption fees and private donations to pay for the spaying, neutering, dentals, vaccines and any other procedures that need to be done. All donations are tax deductible!

Please visit our Rescue Page to see the animals we are currently looking for homes for here! And, please, if you know anyone looking for a new pet, please invite them to check out our animals.

Look Who Got Adopted!
We are thrilled to announce that Hank, Charlie (now Truman), Consuela, Chiquita and Whiskers have been adopted through our rescue group! Way to go!

Truman

Wylie

Consuela

Whiskers

In addition to our foster animals listed above, we also have two standard, black and tan Dachshunds available. Slick is a 6 month old male who was bred by Sue who is looking for a show home. Cinder is a 6 year old female retired show champion looking for a new home. Inquire to Sue at the kennel.

October Newsletter

2011-10-04T11:59:00.000-07:00

Welcome Fall! With the start of fall remember that the holidays are just around the corner. Please remember to make your Thanksgiving, Christmas and ski trip reservations early! It is heartbreaking for us to have to utter those dreaded words, "I'm sorry, we're full", but it happens around the holidays! Don't make us say that to you! Call now to book your pets holiday stay!

Canine Activities
Don't forget about our wonderful enrichment activities that will add fun and excitement to your dog's stay with us. You can choose to have your dog play ball, tug, get a massage or just some snuggles with one of our staff members. Our activities offer dogs some quality one on one time which really adds to their stay!

Free Time in our New Cattery
For our feline guests, we now offer daily free time in our new cattery. This gives cats a chance to come out of their enclosure to climb on wall shelves, play with the enrichment toys or hang out on the climbing net. Multiple cats from the same family are welcome to enjoy free time together. However, we do not allow the cats to interact with cats from other families.

Hank finds a home!
We are so happy to announce that Hank, one of our adoptables has found his forever home! Hank, along with Yogi and Boo Boo had been here at the kennel for nearly a year after we rescued from death row at a high kill shelter. We are thrilled that he has found a home and family to call his own! Way to go Hank!

One Pup at a Time Rescue
Dublin Creek Kennels owners Sue and Katherine know how many homeless dogs and cats there are out there looking for new forever homes, many of them at risk of euthanasia. This is why they started their own 501c3 rescue organization, One Pup at a Time Rescue. We rescue dogs that have no place else to go, house them, work with them and find them new forever homes. It is true that it takes a village which is why staff members help by spending one on one time with the dogs, our trainers invites our rescues to attend training classes and Michelle our groomer keeps them clean and comfortable. Everyone works together to get them ready for their new homes and help them move forward with their lives.

We currently have two dogs looking for new homes. Yogi and Boo Boo, Dachshund/Chihuahua mixes, probably brothers are still looking for their forever homes. They do not have to be adopted together. If you know of anyone looking or you have room in your home and heart, please come by and meet Yogi and Boo Boo. They would just love to be home this year for the holidays in their new forever homes.

Halloween Safety!
Remember with Halloween coming up to keep your animals safe!

~Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Be sure to keep all candy, especially chocolate put away so your dog can't get to it.

~Xylitol, found in chewing gum and some candies is also toxic to dogs. Keep it out of reach so your dog can't ingest it.

~Keep your dog secured when trick or treaters come to the house. Dogs can get spooked (no pun intended) and run off by the costumes and high volume of visitors. Make sure your dog doesn't have access to the front door and be sure he is wearing his collar and tags on Halloween.

~Please keep your black cats safe. As awful as this is, some people are unkind to black cats around Halloween. If you have an outdoor black cat, please make sure he is safe and secure around Halloween.

Howl-o-Ween Party
Mark your calendars for Friday, October 21 at 6:30 for Braveheart Dog Training's annual Howl-o-Ween party. The party will be held at Braveheart Dog Training located at 2123 Marina Blvd. in San Leandro. There will be a costume contest, trick contest and more! Treats and prizes! Dog and people friendly dogs welcome to attend! Please remember to think of your dogs comfort when choosing a Halloween costume for them.

September Newsletter

2011-09-23T09:34:00.000-07:00

Summer came and went and sometimes it didn't feel like it had arrived! At least it made for an easier time for our animals who can't always tolerate the heat so well. As Summer winds down we want to remind all of you to book early for the Holidays. We do tend to book up for Thanksgiving and Christmas, so please make a reservation for your pet's stay early!

Stop By Anytime!
We take great pride in the high standards we set for the kennel in terms of care of the animals, cleanliness and attention to detail. We are one of the few kennels that welcomes and encourages tours without an appointment during our open hours. This means that current or potential clients may drop in to take a tour without making an appointment. We allow you to view the entire kennel so that you can feel comfortable and reassured that your pet is kept safe, comfortable and happy!

The Adoptables
If you or anyone you know is looking to adopt a small dog, please let them know about our wonderful adoptables. We are currently looking for homes for three wonderful small dogs, Hank, a miniature Pinscher mix and Yogi and Boo Boo, Dachshund/Chihuahua mixes. Hank was pulled from a high kill shelter just before he was due to be put to sleep. Yogi and Boo Boo were left in a crate stuffed in some bushes. These dogs have been here for quite a while and are desperately looking for new homes. Please spread the word.

Training Recommendations
Are you interested in learning more about how dogs learn? Check out these great dog training books!
The Other End of the Leash by Dr. Patricia McConnell
This book is a great resource as it helps readers to understand how dogs learn and think.

The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson
This groundbreaking book explains how dogs think and learn and how some of our old ways of thinking need to be changed.

The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller
This book is more of a "how to" in terms of training specific behaviors using positive reinforcement methods.

Bones Would Rain From The Sky by Suzanne Clothier
This book is about our relationships with dogs and how to go about building a strong one. So good, you won't be able to put it down!

Positive Training for Show Dogs by Vicki Ronchette
This book was written by our resident trainer Vicki Ronchette. It teaches how to use positive reinforcement training to train your show dog.

August Newsletter

2011-08-02T15:42:00.001-07:00

FUNDRAISER SUCCESS!
Thank you SO much to all of you who attended our fundraiser on July 2nd to raise money for www.supportmilitaryworkingdogs.org. This group outfits working military dogs with cooling vests, doggles and other gear which enables them to do their job. Some of these dogs work in extreme heat and these cooling vests are literally lifesavers for them. We were so happy to be able to help them and all of you made it possible. In the end our event raised over $1200 for the organization which is enough month to outfit about 3 dogs.

Check out our You Tube video!

HOMELESS DOGS AND CATS
You may already know that Sue and Katherine, owners of Dublin Creek Kennel founded the animal rescue groups One Pup at a Time and Second Chance Cat Adoptions which find new homes for homeless dogs and cats. We currently still have three wonderful small dogs available for adoption. Please visit our dog rescue page to see them! These three dogs have been here for way too long just because of the overabundance of Chihuahua mixed dogs in the shelters. We really want to get them into their forever homes as we feel that they really deserve that second chance at life and to have a loving owner of their own. We are so excited for them to find their new homes that we are offering a free week of boarding when they are adopted. Vicki Ronchette of Braveheart Dog Training is offering her Confidence Building for Marshmallows course at no charge as well. Please contact the kennel if you are interested in meeting one of these special dogs.

For the first time in years we actually do not have any cats or kittens available for adoption. We are so proud to have found homes for all of the cats and kittens we had available. After such a long time, Angela was adopted and went to a wonderful new home. Also, Possom, who spent nearly a year here was adopted my Michelle, our groomer!

OCTOBER SPECIAL!
If you book for October now and mention this newsletter you can get 25% off of your boarding! How is that for a great deal??

UPCOMING CLASSES
Confidence Building for Marshmallows, 8/15, 6pm, 3 weeks, $75

Skill Building for the Show Ring, 8/25, 7:30pm, 5 weeks, $120

Fun with Agility, 8/27, 9am, 6 weeks, $150

Beginning Obedience/Manners, 8/27, 10am, 6 weeks, $150

Puppy Preschool, 8/27, 11am, 6 weeks, $150
Please visit

Help us raise money for Military Working Dogs - Saturday, July 2, 11:30-4pm

2011-06-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

June Newsletter

2011-06-03T08:19:00.000-07:00

We would love to be able to say how much we are enjoying the beautiful, sunny Summer weather, but that sure isn't the case! Still, we know that a lot of you have trips for the Summer coming up, so please remember to book early! We get so busy during the Summer months!

Fundraiser
On July 2, from 11:30-4:00pm we will be doing a fundraiser here at the kennel and you are all invited. We are excited to announce this fundraiser as it is for a wonderful cause! This amazing organization http://www.supportmilitaryworkingdogs.org/ raises money to purchase cooling vests and doggles for military dogs. Many military working dogs are working in conditions that are not only dangerous, but also very hot, some as hot as 140 degrees. It is not safe or even possible for them to work for extended periods without this equipment.

The event will be held outside in our training yard. There will be raffle prizes, lots of animals, lots of fun for adults and kids, shopping, good food and military dog demos! Please join us!

Upcoming Training Classes

Please contact Vicki at braveheartdogs@gmail.com if you are interested in joining any of these classes!

Fun with Scentwork, Dublin, Thursdays, 6-7:30pm, June 16, $150

Confidence Building for Marshmallows, Dublin, Thursdays, 7:30-8:30pm, June 16, $150

Lectures on the Lawn

When you talk, we listen! So many of you were disappointed that our Lectures were held on Friday evenings when a lot of people are going out of town, so we decided to change our Lecture on the Lawn night to Wednesdays! Our first Wednesday Lecture on the Lawn will be held on July 13, from 6:30-7:30. The topic will be Dog Trainer Secrets! Lectures are $20, no dogs, people only please.

Puppies!

Most of you probably know that one of Sue's passions is her own dogs, specifically the showing and breeding of quality standard smooth Dachshunds. On April 22, Sue's dog Neena had a beautiful litter of Dachshund puppies! Neena, almost finished with her own championship was bred to Dual Champion Hollyhound's Raising Cain at Carrdox. Casey is both a field champion and a bench champion and earlier this year was ranked number one field trial Dachshund in the country! Field trials are events were the hounds are released on fresh rabbit trails and judged on their ability to follow the scent. They do not see, chase or kill rabbits, they only follow the scent. There are 2 males and 4 females, all black and tan. The surprise in the litter was two recessive longhairs! Because the longhair gene is recessive, two smooth Dachshunds produce longhair puppies. Our trainer Vicki Ronchette has been doing a lot of early learning, enrichment and scentwork with the puppies since they were three weeks. This work is being documented on the blog she created www.neenasnosers.blogspot.com. All of these puppies show a lot of field potential. Two, possibly three of the puppies are still available. If you are interested in hearing more about them please contact Sue.

May Newsletter

2011-05-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Summer is coming! We love Summer around here at the kennel, but the Summer in Dublin brings some hot days along with it. The kennel is fully climate controlled which means that your animals will be kept comfortable and cool even on hot days. Here are some ways to keep your dogs and yourselves safe during the Summer months:

A car can get dangerously hot even on warm days, so leave your dog home when it's warm out.
Take care not to go on walks mid day when it's very hot. The hot sun and heated pavement can be a dangerous combination and both you and your dog can be at risk for heat exhaustion and dehydration. Walk early in the morning or late at night.
Make sure that your dog has access into the house on hot days. It is usually cooler inside the house on very hot days.
Take extra care if you have a brachycephalic (flat faced) breed of dog such as a French Bulldog, Pug, Boxer, Shih Tzu, Bulldog or any combination as these individuals have even less tolerance to heat.
As always, make sure that your dogs have plenty of fresh water available at all times.

Summer Reservations
Please book early for Summer!! As you know, Summer is among one of our busiest times. Please call us as early as possible to book your Summer reservations!

Lectures on the Lawn
Once a month we host a Lecture on the Lawn with Vicki Ronchette, CPDT, CAP2. Vicki is our resident dog trainer and offers dog training and behavior insights in these informative, informal monthly talks. Join us on the lawn for coffee, tea, hot chocolate, snacks and great discussions! Check our schedule or call the kennel for topics, days and times!

One Pup at a Time
As you may already know the kennel runs a rescue program to help homeless dogs (and cats) in our community. Our goal was to accept one rescue dog at a time, work with the dog and then find the dog a new home. Of course, there are so many unwanted dogs and cats that we couldn't stop at just one and therefore usually have several dogs looking for new homes. In addition, we typically take in several litters of unwanted kittens a year to find homes for as well. If you or anyone you know is looking to adopt a dog, please check with us, we may have your next companion right here waiting for you!

Easter Egg Hunt
On April 23 we held our first annual Easter Egg Hunt in conjunction with Braveheart Dog Training to raise money for our One Pup at a Time rescue dogs. We were so pleased with the great turnout! Every single one of our dogs found many eggs and won great prizes for themselves and their owners. It was a wonderful time and all the dogs and people had a wonderful time. Perhaps the best part was having Lilith Anne, one of our rescues, get adopted that day and having Jett (formerly Trixie) come and enjoy the fun with her new owner as a former One Pup at a Time dog! See Lilith Anne below, hunting for eggs just after being adopted! See even more pictures of the egg hunt here!

Dog Training Classes Starting Soon at the Kennel
Fun with Agility, Saturday, June 4, 9-9:50am
Beginning Obedience/Manners, June 4, 10-11am
Puppy Preschool, June 4, 11-11:50am
Fun with Scentwork, June 16, 6-7:30pm
Confidence Building for Marshmallows, June 16, 7:30-8:30pm

Uh Oh! My dog looks guilty! By Vicki Ronchette, CPDT, CAP2
The other day my cattle dog Bill ate a cupcake off of the counter. He licked the icing off another one. My husband found the crumbs of the first cupcake and the frosting missing off of the other and said, "Oh man, someone ate a cupcake off the counter. Hey, they licked the frosting off of this one!" There are only two dogs big enough to do this but I was pretty sure which dog it was. I didn't say anything but looked for Bill and found him lying down behind the couch looking very "guilty". He looked the exact same way he looks when my husband raises his voice because his football team is losing, when something he is working on around the house isn't going his way and when he is losing at his video game. Do you see where this is going? Bill didn't feel "guilty" because he ate a cupcake, in fact, he didn't realize Rick was vocalizing about cupcakes, he responds that way anytime Rick is upset about anything. Bill is very close and attached to Rick and freakishly in tune with Rick's emotions. He is so sensitive to Rick's tone of voice in fact, that every time Rick raises his voice he slinks away regardless of what Rick is talking about or who Rick is talking to. In fact, Rick has taken to saying, "It's okay Bill, it's not you" nearly every time he raises his voice to stop Bill from worrying.

People are always saying that their dogs feel "guilty". They say this because this is how they perceive their dog's body language, usually just after they have found something that the dog has done that they don't like. What they don't understand is that the dog is not responding this way because he feels "guilt" or "remorse" over something he has done, in fact, the dog usually has not clue that he did something "wrong". The dog is simply responding to the owner's tone of voice and body language. If a person comes home from work, finds poop in the house, then has an anger meltdown because they have to clean it up, the dog will begin to look worried and afraid when the owner comes home. It isn't because of what he did, it is because of his past experiences of his owner coming home and then getting angry. By the way, a dog can find our reactions punishing regardless of how benign they may seem. To some very sensitive dogs, something has subtle as a heavy sigh or look of disgust can be punishing to the dog. It is so interesting to me how people are can be completely resistant to the fact that dogs have emotions (which they do) or they believe that they have emotions and because they do, they must be exactly like human emotions (which they aren't).

Dogs repeat behaviors that are reinforcing. They also live in the moment. I had a very hard time resisting those cupcakes, even though I had already eaten one! Bill saw them on the counter and wanted one, so he took one. I believe he saw it, wanted it, took it, ate it and then it was over. He probably forgot about the cupcake the moment he was finished eating it (even though there was still frosting on his lip when I found him behind the couch!). When Rick started to complain that a cupcake was eaten, Bill heard his tone and got worried like he always does. There was no cupcake-guilt about it. By the way, we didn't care too much that he ate a cupcake and Bill didn't get in "trouble" for it, we just felt stupid for leaving the cupcake container open on the edge of the counter. STUPID!

There has been a video circulating on the internet of a "guilty dog". The owner comes to the dog with a ripped bag of cat treats and says to the dog "Did you do this? Did you rip open these cat treats?". The dogs starts to do a series of appeasement behaviors including pinning his ears back, yawning, lip licking, squinting his eyes, and finally offering a full, submissive grin with all of his teeth showing. People watch it and laugh and say that the dog is guilty, but the dog is not feeling "guilty" the dog is simply responding to the owner's tone of voice. It's sad to watch actually if you know what is going on. If you tested it (which I don't recommend you do since it's stressful to your dog) you would see that your dog will respond the same way if your tone and body language worries him.

The take away message here is "please don't assume your dog is feeling guilty", he is likely just responding to you. Oh, and remember to put the lid back on the cupcake container before leaving it on the counter!

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

December Newsletter

2010-12-09T11:49:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! All of us at Dublin Creek Kennel would like to wish all of our clients and their pets a wonderful Christmas! We appreciate all of you and thank you for trusting us with your beloved companions!

GROOMING
Don't forget to set up an appointment to get your dog or cat groomed for the holidays! Our wonderful groomer Michelle can shampoo, brush and comb your dog or cat to get them looking and feeling great for the holidays! Remember that your dog or cat does not need to be boarding in order to get groomed, you are welcome to book grooming appointments in between your boarding stays! Sorry, no full haircuts.

OUR NEW CATTERY
We are so pleased with how our new cattery has turned out! We worked hard to provide a fun, enriching environment for our feline guests! Come and see it today!

DOG TRAINING CLASSES!

Braveheart Dog Training now offers a wide variety of classes at the kennel including Beginning Obedience and Manners, Puppy Preschool, Fun with Agility and much more! Check out the class schedule to find a class that is right for you and your dog here.

PUPPY SLEEPOVERS
We are now offering Puppy Sleepovers! For just $25 for one night, you can board your puppy aged 2 to 5 months to expose them to the kennel during the critical socialization period. Feel free to bring your puppies favorite toy and bed or anything else that you think that they would like to have with them. Each stay includes a play session and a stuffed kong! We will go out of our way to make sure your pup has a great boarding experience! Puppy Sleepovers are available Monday through Thursday!

ONE PUP AT A TIME RESCUE
Sue and Katherine, the owners of Dublin Creek Kennels want to do their part to help the community. Because of this we have created One Pup at a Time rescue where we take in rescue dogs, work with them, and find them new, permanent, loving forever homes. Of course, there are so many dogs and cats in need of rescue that our "one" dog at a time quickly turned into two or three or four! Please check out our rescue page and see our wonderful dogs and cats that are looking for their forever homes. These loving animals would love to be in a forever home of their own for the holidays. Do you have room for one more?

November Newsletter

2010-11-15T18:13:00.000-08:00

Book Early
As we welcome Autumn we want to remind all of our clients to remember to book early for Christmas. As you know we tend to fill up around the holidays so please make sure to let us know as soon as possible if you are planning to go away!

Grooming
Don't forget that we offer grooming! Our wonderful groomer Michelle will brush and comb out and bathe your dog! Grooming includes nail trim and feet trimming if needed. Sorry, we don't do full haircuts. Also, your dog does not have to be boarding in order to get groomed you are welcome to come in for grooming in between boarding visits, whenever your dog needs freshening up!

New Cattery
The new cattery is nearly complete and will be ready by Thanksgiving! Cats staying in our new cattery will be treated to a minimum of 3 hours a day of free roam play time in the cattery. They will also get to enjoy extra luxuries such as a flat screen TV playing cat enriching videos, constant running drinking fountain and many climbing and play areas! Come and check it out for yourself! Stay tuned for pictures next Newsletter!

Puppy Sleepovers
We are now offering Puppy Sleepovers! For just $25 for one night, you can board your puppy aged 2 to 5 months to expose them to the kennel during the critical socialization period. Feel free to bring your puppies favorite toy and bed or anything else that you think that they would like to have with them. Each stay includes a play session and a stuffed kong! We will go out of our way to make sure your pup has a great boarding experience! Puppy Sleepovers are available Monday through Thursday!

Howl-O-Ween Party Cancelled

2010-10-26T14:38:00.001-07:00

The Howl-O-Ween Party has been cancelled. The weather forecasts are warning of a big storm at the end of the week through Sunday.

October Newsletter

2010-10-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the late newsletter! We have been busy bees working on more exciting changes at the kennel!

New Cattery
Our beautiful new cattery is nearly complete! This area was designed with your cats in mind and they are going to love it! We have created a new cattery containing four separate cat or cat family areas (much like our old cattery) that open up to the full cattery which is filled with climbing areas, play areas and lots of things to enrich your cats stay. Each cat (or cat family sharing a house) will be allowed daily out time which will allow them to explore, play and climb around. We are very excited to be able to offer this new space to your cats. We still have our other cattery which will still offer cats roomy houses to stay in! Come by and check it out!

Howl-O-Ween Party
Don't forget that our Howl-O-Ween party co-hosted with Braveheart Dog Training will be held here at the kennel on October 30, at 6:30 pm. Bring your dog, yourself and your friends to the party to enjoy treats, snacks, costume contest and more! Please think about your dogs comfort and safety when choosing their Halloween costume. Hope to see you then!

Upcoming Classes
These are upcoming classes taught here at the kennel by Vicki of Braveheart Dog Training.

Beginning Obedience/Manners, Thursday, November 11, 6-7pm
This is a beginning class which will teach owners how to train their dogs to do a variety of basic behaviors including sit, down, loose leash walking, come here, out, off and much more.

Novice Obedience, Monday, November 15, 6:30-7:20pm
This is an intermediate level class for people who want to learn the behaviors and exercises necessary for Novice Obedience.

Marshmallows, Monday, November 15, 7:30-8:20pm
Is your dog shy or uncomfortable around certain things? Is he or she nervous of new people? Then this class is for you! This class is designed especially for shy dogs. The goal will be to teach owners of shy or fearful dogs to understand their dogs behavior and body language and how to help their dogs become more comfortable with different things. We will work on some manners and obedience behaviors while also learning to help dogs cope in a new environment.

Howl-O-Ween Party

2010-10-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

We are happy to be co-hosting a Howl-O-Ween Party here at the kennel with Braveheart Dog Training. We will have a costume contest, trick contest and prizes! Please bring yourself and your dog and people friendly dog to join us at the party!

Lectures on the Lawn

2010-09-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

Dublin Creek Kennels is now offering Lectures on the Lawn in our beautiful new training area. They are short, affordable, informative lectures presented by Vicki Ronchette, CPDT, CAP2.

An Introduction to Fear in Dogs

Wednesday, October 13, 7pm-8pm,

$20 per person,

Is your dog, shy, worried in new situations or fearful of strangers and the unknown?This one hour lecture will give you a basic understanding of fear in dogs, what it looks like, some things you can do to help fearful dogs and myths associated with dealing with fear in dogs. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and snacks will be provided. Grab your friends and join us for a relaxing and informative evening. Call now to reserve your spot, 925-828-5355

No Dogs Please

September Newsletter

2010-09-02T12:54:00.000-07:00

OUR NEW LOOK
We are so proud of all of the rennovations we have been making to the kennel. In case you haven't been by lately, take a look at what we've done. Or better yet, stop by and visit! Here is our gorgeous new mural we had painted on the front wall:

And, this is our beautiful new training and activities yard:

DOG TRAINING CLASSES
We are now offering dog training class here at the kennel. All of our classes are taught by Certified Professional Dog Trainer Vicki Ronchette, CPDT of Braveheart Dog Training. Take a look at our schedule of upcoming classes. If you are interested in registering for any of these classes, please contact Vicki at braveheartdogs@sbcglobal.net.

Beginning Obedience/Manners, 6 weeks, $150, 11/11 6pm
This is a beginning class that will cover teaching dogs the basics including sit, down, come here, loose leash walking, stay, off, leave it and many more. For dogs and puppies over 5 months old.

Novice Obedience, 5 weeks, $120, 11/15, 6:30pm
This intermediate/advanced level class is for dogs who have completed our Beginning class. We will be working on teaching dogs and owners the skills necessary for competition obedience at the novice level. Even if you do not plan to compete, this class is beneficial as dogs will continue to polish their beginning obedience/manners skills.

Marshmallows, 5 weeks, $150, 11/15, 7:30pm
Is your dog shy or uncomfortable around certain things? Is he or she nervous of new people? Then this class is for you! This class is designed especially for shy dogs. The goal will be to teach owners of shy or fearful dogs to understand their dogs behavior and body language and how to help their dogs become more comfortable with different things. We will work on some manners and obedience behaviors while also learning to help dogs cope in a new environment.

Agility Big Stuff, 4 weeks, $100, 11/13, 1:30
This class is for dogs who have completed our Fun with Agility class. In this next level up we will introduce dogs and handlers to the larger equipment including the teeter totter, dog walk and a frame.

JOIN US AT AN ARF FUNDRAISER AT DOG BONE ALLEY
On Wednesday, September 15 from 5 to 8 pm, Dublin Creek Kennels will be participating at Dog Bone Alley at 730 Camino Ramon in Danville. Come and see us there!

LECTURES ON THE LAWN
We will be hosting lectures on training and behavior by Vicki Ronchette of Braveheart Dog Training. These informative, affordable lectures will be held on our beautiful training yard and will be relaxing, informal and enjoyable!

August Newsletter

2010-08-03T16:17:00.000-07:00

Activities
Effecitve June 28, Dublin Creek Kennels began offering enrichment activities for the boarding dogs and day stay dogs and what a success it has been! When a dog is dropped off his owners may choose to sign him or her up for activities such as agility, playgroup with other dogs, ball and toy play, Find It which is a food searching game trick training, or even just some one on one time for a massage and petting. The dogs are really benefiting from these extra activities! Ask about them when you board your dog!

Kongs!
We now offer Stuffed Kongs to our boarding guests! A kong is a hollow, rubber toy that we stuff with a dog food and peanut butter mixture and then freeze. The dogs are given the kongs and then get to spend time working to get the food out. This is very enriching for the dogs because it causes them to work and problem solve for their food which burns energy!

Renovations
In case you haven't noticed we are making some changes!! You can't miss our beautiful new training and enrichment yard in front of the kennel, but that isn't all we have been up to! Our kennel area has all new flooring and is being painted as well. We are so happy with the new look and are exciting to continue making changes and upgrades!

Dog Training Classes
We are now hosting dog training classes being offered by Braveheart Dog Training. We have already started offering classes here and will soon have our training class schedule up on the website. For now, you can visit www.braveheartdogtraining.com to see the class schedule!

Facebook
If you haven't already done so, please "like" us on Facebook where we post pictures of guests as well as videos and informational posts.

July Newsletter

2010-07-01T17:01:00.000-07:00

Is it already July? It looks like it is! Time flies when you're having fun and we are DEFINITELY having fun at Dublin Creek Kennels! And, we aren't the only ones, our guests are LOVING our beautiful new training and activities yard where they can play with their dog friends, enjoy some water games, chase a ball, practice agility or search for food and toys! Don't forget to sign your dogs up for some of our new activities! It will make their stay away from home as fun as your vacation!

Facebook!
We are on Facebook! If you are on Facebook and would like updates and information about the kennel, please search Dublin Creek Kennels and "Like" us!

Hot Dogs!
Summer is here! While Summer is a great time for everyone with kids out of school and everyone going on vacation we need to be extra thoughtful about making sure our dogs are kept safe and cool. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Water
Make sure your dog has plenty of water available at all times. Any water kept in outside bowls will need to be refreshed more often as it can get warm on hot days.

Walks
It's not a good idea to take your daily walk in the middle of the day as this is typically the hottest time of the day. Consider walking earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon or early evening to make sure that your dog (and you!) don't get overheated. Also, be careful about walking on hot pavement or black top as it can get dangerously hot on warm days causing pain and even blistering.

Cars
Please do not take your dogs in the car if you would have to leave them in the car alone for any length of time. Even on 80 degree days the heat inside a parked car can reach over 120 degrees. Heatstroke can happen quickly and can be fatal. Please leave your dog home on days when you can't take him inside with you.

Shelter
If you allow your dog to be outside during the day, please make sure that they have plenty of shade and shelter (and water!)

Puppies and Kittens, oh my!
We still have one Labrador/American Bulldog puppy available to a good home! Jordi is a brindle boy who is looking for his forever home. We also still have several kittens available to good homes. If you have room in your home and heart, please consider giving one of these kids a new home.

Dog Training Classes are here!
We are happy to announce that in addition to our Board and Train program, we are offering dog training classes! All classes are taught by Certified Professional Dog Trainer Vicki Ronchette, of Braveheart Dog Training. To register visit www.braveheartdogtraining.com or email Vicki at braveheartdogs@sbcglobal.net. Please take a look at our class schedule:

Puppy Preschool, Wednesday, July 14, 10-10:50am, 6 weeks, $120
This class is for puppies that are 2 to 5 months old. We will discuss puppy raising issues (house training, play biting, chewing, jumping, etc), get starting on basic manners (sit, down, come here) and will include off leash play.

Beginning Obedience/Manners, Wednesday, July 14, 11-12:00pm, 6 weeks, $150
This class is for dogs that are 5 months old or older. We will work on teaching the basics including sit, down, come here, stay, loose leash walking, leave it, out, off, and much more.

The Dog Who Came When Called - A reliable recall workshop, Thursday, July 29, 7-8:30pm, $45
This one session workshop is designed to help you teach your dog a reliable recall.

Novice Obedience, Monday, August 16, 5 weeks, 7:30-8:20, $120
This advanced level class is for people who want some new challenges for their dogs. The focus is on readying dogs for the competition obedience Novice class. You do not need to be planning to compete to attend.

Clicking for Conformation, Saturday, August 28, 5 weeks, 9-9:50am, $150
This class will get your dog started on learning the behaviors necessary for competition in the show ring utilizing clicker training.

Marshmallows, Saturday, August 28, 5 weeks, 10-10:50am, $150
This class is made just for the softies! If you have a dog that is shy or nervous around people or other dogs, this class will help. You will learn how to help your dog cope with their shyness and learn ways to help them come out of their shells and learn to be more comfortable.

New Activities for our guests!

2010-06-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

We are very excited to be offering new Activities for our boarding guests. Effective June 28 you will have a variety of activities to choose for your dogs enrichment and enjoyment during their stay. Our beautiful new training and activities yard is fully fenced and complete with a high quality synthetic grass for your dog to play and romp on! We offer a full menu of activity choices including Agility Fun in which your dog is exercised and trained to navigate agility obstacles such as jumps, tunnels and tires, Just for Jocks when we treat your dog to exercise and play with balls and frisbees, Water Games in which water dogs can play in the sprinklers and in the hose, Find It! our searching game where your dog spends time searching through boxes and props for hidden food items and toys. We are also offering Social Play Groups which allow dog friendly dogs to enjoy playing with other dogs that are suitably matched by size, temperament and play style! All of our activities are designed, supervised and run by our Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Our goal is to offer your dog a fun, enjoyable and enriching visit so that they have a vacation of their own while you are away! Please ask us about these activities when you drop off your dog!

A Special Thank You!

2010-05-05T16:18:00.000-07:00

As a special thanks for subscribing to our newsletter, we would like to offer a 20% discount for all boarding stays before August 1, 2010. Mention this offer when making your reservation to receive this discount. We appreciate your loyalty and your interest in the happenings at Dublin Creek Kennel.

See you soon,
Sue and Katherine

April 2010 - Our first official newsletter!

2010-04-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce that Dublin Creek Kennels in now under the exclusive ownership of Susan O'Reilly-Hagan and Katherine Cummings. Our highly skilled team is passionate about making Dublin Creek Kennels the finest boarding facility in the state. 2010 is a new year and our complete renovation is in full swing. The changes to the kennel are guaranteed to ensure an experience that is both positive and rewarding for you and your pet.

One of the exciting new services we are now offering is our Board and Train program. Our board and train program is a cooperative partnership between Dublin Creek Kennels and Braveheart Dog Training. The program is designed and directed by Vicki Ronchette, Certified Professional Dog Trainer and owner of Braveheart Dog Training.

A brand new endeavour that we are thrilled to announce is our, "One Pup at a Time" Foundation. Along with the help of Vicki Ronchette, we started this foundation because every year so many dogs are surrendered to the shelter simply because they don't have the manners needed to co-exist in a home. We strongly believe that with patience and the proper training almost every dog can become a loyal and loving companion. Our goal is to rescue and rehabilitate, "One Pup at a Time".

Our kitten rescue has been quite successful so far this season. We have already found loving, permanent homes for 6 kittens. Currently in search of a home, we have a beautiful 3 year old, seal point Himalayan and "Angela", a gorgeous and affectionate black and white, short hair.

We hope your enjoying 2010 so far and look forward to seeing you in the near future. If your interested in boarding, training or adoption, please stop by for a visit. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter where we will post kennel updates, training & health tips and adoption information.

See you soon,
Sue and Katherine