The Park Pet Retreat

The Best Professional Training in Town

Ranger Rita — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:32:52 +0000

We are proud to have Ms. Chris Redenbach onboard as the Training Director of our new

TRAINING ACADEMY. Please click on the link to check out the details and get you and your Pup signed up.

www.theparktrainingacademy.com

Coaching You and Your Dog to be Happy Companions

We are the people friendly, dog friendly, training and behavior group that meets your goal of having a well behaved dog without resorting to domination or bribes. Our easy to understand reward based methods teach you and your dog to communicate and work happily together. We build relationships free of confusion.

CLARITY + TRUST = COOPERATION
We offer comprehensive training classes and programs at our location just 1.5 miles from I 285 at 3516 Lawrenceville Hwy in the Tucker/Northlake area, as well as private in home sessions.

MANNERS OBEDIENCE (Canine Life and Social Skills Program from APDT)
AKC CANINE GOOD CITIZEN and STAR PUPPY CERTIFICATIONS
ADVANCED OBEDIENCE FOR REAL LIFE (ALL THE WAY THROUGH OFF LEASH)
BRUSH UP CLASSES for STAY, LEASH WALKING, COME when CALLED
DOG SPORTS PROGRAMS:
- INTRO TO AGILITY
- K9 FUN NOSE WORK
- RALLY OBEDIENCE
- AKC COMPETITION COACHING
REACTIVE DOG SEMI-PRIVATE CLASSES (OFTEN CALLED GROWLY DOG CLASSES)
DOG AND BABY CONNECTION PROGRAM FOR SAFETY AND HARMONY
BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENTS FOR PROBLEM BEHAVIORS BASED ON ABA PRINCIPLES
BEAHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAMS
PRIVATE SESSIONS – IN YOUR HOME OR AT OUR FACILITY
“DAY CARE” TRAINING AND “BOARD AND TRAIN INTENSIVE” OPTION
SPECIAL SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS TO ADVANCE YOUR TRAINING SKILLS

Christmas at The Park

Ranger Rita — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:26:41 +0000

POOCH PICS WITH SANTA

Bring the Family and the Family Pooch for refreshments and a Picture with Santa

SUNDAY – DECEMBER 11th – 11am to 6pm

No Appointment Needed.

Come on in and have some refreshments while you wait.

All Donations for photos will benefit The Park Pet Haven Rescue Group

KENNEL COUGH – fact vs myth

Ranger Rita — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 15:43:23 +0000

http://www.thepawblog.com/canine-kennel-cough/

Kennel cough (a.k.a. Acute or Infectious Tracheobronchitis) is the most commonly diagnosed respiratory disease of dogs.

Because it is such a highly contagious disease, at some point in its life, your dog will probably be exposed to kennel cough. While it is rarely a life-threatening disease, you should take precautions to minimise your pet’s chances of contracting kennel cough.

What causes kennel cough?

Kennel cough is caused by airborne organisms that infect the upper respiratory tract and trachea of the dog. There are a number of infectious agents that have been implicated as causal factors in cases of kennel cough. It is often difficult to determine which organism actually resulted in a particular case of kennel cough.

The most common infectious organisms include:

• Bordetella bronchiseptica (bacteria)       • Parainfluenza III (virus)
• Canine distemper virus                          • Canine adenovirus
• Canine herpes virus                               • Mycoplasma organisms

Do dogs catch kennel cough from being in a kennel?

Kennel cough infections are not isolated to kennels. They usually occur in any place where dogs congregate, such as shelters, kennels, pet shops, and research facilities, especially when there are less than ideal hygienic conditions. Infective material is spread through direct contact with sick dogs, inhalation of aerosolized respiratory secretions, or indirectly via people and inanimate objects.

What are the symptoms of kennel cough?

• Persistent harsh, non-productive coughing • Fever
• Depression or lethargy • Loss of appetite
• Discharge from nose and/or eyes

While coughing is usually the predominant sign of illness, your dog may manifest any of the above symptoms depending on the severity of disease. Uncomplicated cases can appear otherwise healthy besides a persistent cough, whereas more severe cases may develop pneumonia. If you are concerned that your pet has kennel cough, isolate it from other dogs and contact a veterinarian.

How does the veterinarian diagnose kennel cough?

Kennel cough can usually be diagnosed based on any relevant history (e.g. vaccination status, time spent in a kennel) and a physical examination. However, the vet may need to perform further diagnostics such as a blood test, chest x-rays, and even bronchoscopy for complicated cases.

Does my dog need to be treated with antibiotics?

Kennel cough is a self-limiting disease, so not all cases require antibiotics. For instance, most mild cases will resolve in about 2-3 weeks without treatment. However, judicious use of antibiotics can speed up recovery, and are recommended for more severe cases.

Other treatment options include:

• Exercise restriction (for at least 2-3 weeks) • Cough medicine (only used medicines prescribed by a vet!)
• Steam treatment or nebulisation with saline • Avoidance of dusty environments

How can I prevent my dog from catching kennel cough?

There are several vaccines currently available for the prevention of kennel cough. Ask your veterinarian about getting your dog vaccinated – while most dogs are automatically vaccinated against distemper, they will require a separate intranasal vaccine for other kennel cough agents, such as Bordetella bronchiseptica.

Many kennels are now requiring that dogs are vaccinated against kennel cough before being boarded there. Keep in mind that it usually takes at least a couple of weeks before the vaccine is effective, so plan ahead.

Lastly, kennel cough is a highly contagious disease. If your dog is diagnosed with kennel cough, it should be isolated from other susceptible animals. Unfortunately many infected animals are capable of transmitting the disease before they begin to show any signs of illness.

Myth – My dog can’t get kennel cough because I had him vaccinated!

While kennel cough vaccines are very effective, vaccination is not a guarantee against infection. There is not a vaccine available that protects against all of the causative agents of kennel cough. A kennel cough vaccine will usually protect against only one of the most common agents (e.g. Bordetella), so occasionally vaccinated dogs will come down with a kennel cough infection anyway.

The Park Video Test

Ranger Rita — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 17:37:45 +0000

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How to Grade Your Dog’s Food

Ranger Rita — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:47:37 +0000

Subject: How to Grade Your Dog’s Food

I have seen this same test on a number of breed and dog food sites. I pass it along for your information and consideration. I believe it provides a valid comparison and useful information. It is interesting to note that some of the foods with higher scores are quite expensive. I suggest you identify 3-5 that you would like to try and then work with the one that is offered at a price you can afford. Ranger Rita

Here is a test that can help you compare and judge the quality of your dog food.
You give points for quality items and take away points for fillers and low
nutrient ingredients. At the end of the test there are a list of several
popular dog foods and how they rate using the test.

How to grade your dog’s food:

Start with a grade of 100:

1) For every listing of “by-product”, subtract 10 points
2) For every non-specific animal source (“meat” or “poultry”, meat, meal or
fat) reference, subtract 10 points
3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points
4) For every grain “mill run” or non-specific grain source, subtract 5
points
5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five
ingredients (i.e. “ground brown rice”, “brewer’s rice”, “rice flour” are all
the same grain), subtract 5 points
6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats
in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points
7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points
8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points
9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points
10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2
points
11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic
to other protein sources), subtract 2 points
12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog is not allergic to
wheat), subtract 2 points
14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog is not allergic to
beef), subtract 1 point
15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point
Extra Credit:
1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points
2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5
points
3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points
4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points
5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points
6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points
7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points
8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points
9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points
10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point
11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point
12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first
one; count “chicken” and “chicken meal” as only one protein source, but
“chicken” and “” as 2 different sources), add 1 point
13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point
14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are
pesticide-free, add 1 point

94-100+ = A This is a food with excellent nutrition
86-93 = B – this food is very good for nutritional value
78-85 = C This food is not very good and can cause nutrional problems
70-77 = D This food will probably cause health issues down the line
<70 = F This food FAILS the test and should be tossed in the trash.

Popular Dog Food scores:

Alpo Prime Cuts / Score 81 C
Artemis Large/Medium Breed Puppy / Score 114 A+
Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+
Authority Harvest Baked Less Active / Score 93 B
Beowulf Back to Basics / Score 101 A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F
Blackwood 3000 Lamb and Rice / Score 83 C
Blue Buffalo Chicken and Rice / Score 106 A+
Burns Chicken and Brown Rice / Score 107 A+
Canidae / Score 112 A+
Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+
Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A
Diamond Performance / Score 85 C
Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+
Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Venison and Brown Rice / Score 106 A+
Dick Van Patten’s Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+
EaglePack Holistic / Score 102 A+
Eukanuba Adult / Score 81 C
Eukanuba Puppy / Score 79 C
Flint River Senior / Score 101 A+
Foundations / Score 106 A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 B
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D
Innova Dog / Score 114 A+
Innova Evo / Score 114 A+
Innova Large Breed Puppy / Score 122 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
Member’s Mark Chicken and Rice / Score 84 C
Merrick Wilderness Blend / Score 127 A+
Nature’s Recipe / Score 100 A
Nature’s Recipe Healthy Skin Venison and Rice / Score 116 A+
Nature’s Variety Raw Instinct / Score 122 A+
Nutra Nuggets Super Premium Lamb Meal and Rice / Score 81 C
Nutrience Junior Medium Breed Puppy / Score 101 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Max Adult / Score 93 B
Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice / Score 98 A
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Wheat Free / Score 86 B
Nutro Natural Choice Senior / Score 95 A
Nutro Ultra Adult / Score 104 A+
Orijen Senior / Score 124 A+

Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
Premium Edge Chicken, Rice and Vegetables Adult Dry / Score 109 A+
Pro Nature Puppy / Score 80 C
Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach / Score 94 A
Purina Beneful / Score 17 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Purina One Large Breed Puppy / Score 62 F
Royal Canin Boxer / Score 103 A+
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A
Solid Gold / Score 99 A
Summit / Score 99 A
Timberwolf Organics Wild & Natural Dry / Score 120 A+
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A

Park Pooches

Ranger Rita — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:56:40 +0000

Memo to Pets & Friends

Ranger Rita — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:56:21 +0000

The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door
“Dear Dogs and Cats: The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn’t help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It i s not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years – canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat’s butt. I cannot stress this enough.”

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here. You don’t. (2) If you don’t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That’s why they call it ‘fur’-niture. (3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people. (4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don’t speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they (1) eat less, (2) don’t ask for money all the time, (3) are easier to train, (4) normally come when called, (5) never ask to drive the car, (6) don’t hang out with drug-using people; (7) don’t smoke or drink, (8) don’t want to wear your clothes, (9) don’t have to buy the latest fashions, (10) don’t need a gazillion dollars for college and (11) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children ..

Stone Mtn Highland Games – Obstacles Overcome

Ranger Rita — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:25:56 +0000

What'cha got under that Kilt, Buddy?

The Park Pet Retreat was proud to be asked to Sponsor the “Sheepdog (kids) Obstacle Course” at the 2008 Stone Mountain Highland Games. This is the first year the Games have provided numerous activities for the ‘Wee Lads & Lassies’. The obstacle course was a huge success. It gave the kids a chance to “romp & run & have some fun”, and gave the adults a chance to exhaust themselves trying to keep up with them.

The Park has accepted their offer to host the Obstacle Course for years to come, and we look forward to seeing you and your Wee Ones there next year.

Running the "Hills & Valleys"

Crossing the Loch Ness with Ranger SunshineA pretty little Lassie named Carly

A brave young Lassie conquers the "Over & Under"

www.smhg.org

www.smhg.org/childrensgames.html

The Park Opens its Gates 9/1/08

Ranger Rita — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:50:56 +0000

I am proud and happy to say that The Park Pet Retreat opened its gates (doors) to Pooch Parents and their Pooches on September 1, 2008.

We spent a long, hot summer renovating an automotive repair facility into the most beautiful doggie daycare I have ever seen. I would like to thank my project manager, Jeff Nobles, of Artisan Design Build , and his crew for all of their hard work and creative collaboration. It was hard on everyone working for 2 months in the stifling heat without air conditioning, but thankfully we all got along and had a great time bringing The Park to life.

Thanks also goes to Troy & Mitch of Southern Stainworks for their professional paint work and most artistic park mural on the back wall. They are ‘two wild & crazy guys’ who bring a lot of laughter to the job with them.

This was a new experience for all of us and brought us together as friends.

A special Thank You to Sharron Abercrombie for her loving artistry in The Park Store. It was a joy and amazement to watch her bring a blank wall to life.

I have never embarked on such a huge venture in my life, but I think it turned out pretty good. Thanks be to God for pointing me to this location, it is perfect. A loving Thank You to my son Sean, brother Mike, sis-n-law Susan, Ashleigh, and all my wonderful Friends for your love and support in this endeavor.

Thank You to The Park Rangers who have pitched in and helped to put the finishing touches on The Park Pet Retreat. They are a great bunch of people and Dog Lovers. It would not be The Park without them.

So, we are off to a good start and are looking forward to a long and successful relationship with all the Pooch Parents and Pooches here in Tucker and all places near and far.

Happy Tails to All,

Ranger Rita

The Park Scenic Overlook

Ranger Rita — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:45:10 +0000

The Park Pet Retreat provides ‘24/7 Cage-Free Attended Care’, which is a new concept in the Pet Care world. The 24-hour cage-free concept means that your Precious Pet will never be put into a kennel or cage. They will spend their days and evenings (if boarding) roaming freely in one of the 3 large pavilions we have at The Park. Our experienced and dedicated staff of Park Rangers will give them lots of TLC, and will keep them engaged in activities until they are ready to rest.

If your Pooch is boarding overnight with us, there will be a Park Ranger on duty throughout the night to ensure their safety and wellbeing. In the evening, we will serve dinner, have a little play time, and then take everyone outside for an evening stroll in The Meadow. As the hour grows late, we will turn down the lights, put out plenty of beds and turn on soft music. Then, just like at home, each Doggie will find their own spot to sleep through the night. Should we have any night-owls wandering around looking for playmates, the Ranger will be able to move them to another part of The Park until they get drowsy. Should your doggie prefer to sleep in their own crate we can certainly accommodate that arrangement.

The Park has a unique environment which is designed to give the feeling of being outdoors, as if in a shady, wooded park. Our use of natural, organic materials is very purposeful in its intent, which is to create a cool, calm, relaxing environment for our Park guests. The Park environment will give your Dog the benefit of visual and mental stimulation while, at the same time, making them feel relaxed and safe.

We have 3 large pavilions for our Park Pooches. Our Park guests are generally assigned to a pavilion based on their size and temperament. But we will constantly observe your Pal’s behavior and demeanor and will find the most comfortable play group for them to be a member of. Our large dogs will Romp in Live Oak Lane,our medium sized visitors will Run in Dogwood Acres , and our Petite Pooches will Have Some Fun in Peachtree Place. We also have 2 large outdoor areas, The Meadow and The Field, for our Park guests to enjoy fresh air & sunshine, and, of course, to take care of business.

A very unique and pleasing feature of The Park Pet Retreat is the Recycled Rubber Flooring we have installed in our pavilions. Most daycare and boarding facilities have concrete floors. But, dogs don’t typically live or sleep on cold, hard concrete, so why should they be subjected to that in a place where they will be spending a good bit of time. The Rubber Flooring offers a comfortable surface for our Park visitors with bad hips or arthritis, a soft surface for our rough-housers to play on, and helps calm the noise of our barkers. The flooring is made from recycled tires and virgin rubber, is vulcanized and non-porous. This means that we can easily clean and disinfect the floor, and not be worried about the occasional ‘accident’.

The Park Pet Retreat is happy to offer Respite Care for your beloved best friend who needs some extra TLC and attention for post-operative surgery or non-communicable illness care. Respite care is offered during the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Away from the other dogs, your dog is kept safe and quiet. Our dedicated respite care spaces provide comfortable dog beds, plenty of fresh water and close attention from our dedicated staff. Should the need arise, we will be in contact with your Veterinarian throughout the day, and will transport the patient to the Vet’s office if necessary.

PARK PERKS

The Park Pet Retreat is designed to serve not only the Pooches, but the Pooch Parents & Siblings too. Here are the Park Perks that all of you will enjoy:

ParkCam will allow you to log on to The Park Pet Retreat website and watch your Pup romp & run & have a lot of fun with his or her Park Pals. We will offer a password protected connection for you and any others you wish to share your password with.
ParkPix are daily candid shots of your pooches as they go about the business of romping, running, having fun – and, of course, napping. These pix will be available for you to download and print.
Tucker Falls Spa at The Park is a deluxe self-serve bath station. We are happy to offer the Hydro Surge Rapid Bath Pet Bathing System for your convenience and your pet’s enjoyment. The Hydro Surge system gives your dog a professional quality bath in just a few minutes! No hand scrubbing or pre-wetting! Massaging action spray that dogs love! Great for your dog’s skin and coat! Rotating head directs spray for hard-to-reach areas. A slide switch quickly selects between wash and rinse settings. Shampoo, towels and dryers will be provided or you are welcome to bring your own. We even have stairsteps to make it easy for your bigger babies to get up to the tub.
Professional Grooming will be provided by a trained, experienced groomer and will be available by appointment.
Park Ponderings you will have the option of subscribing to our bi-weekly offering of information, news, and humor.
Park Parties will happily be arranged to celebrate your Pets birthday or other special occasion.
The Park Store will make You and Your Pooch happy as you browse through our selection of Toys, Treats, Apparel, and other pet paraphenalia including Lupine collars and leashes. We are proud to carry Orijen Dog Food. Orijen is high-protein, low-carbohydrate and grain-free with ingredients in a Biologically Appropriate ratio of 70 percent meat, 30 percent fruit and vegetables and zero grain (70/30/0). Read more about Orijen at:http://www.championpetfoods.com/orijen/documents/ORIJEN_White_paper.pdf
The Park Atmosphere is maintained at a comfortable temperature and humidity level by our brand new air conditioning and heating system, which is supplemented by an Ultravation Germicidal UV Air Treatment system with Photocatalytic Odor Reduction (in other words air purification & odor control).