Nauset Kennels

Does anyone reading this remember the movie with John Travolta where he plays a young man with an immune problem and he can only go out in a bubble? (Yes, I know I just dated myself with that reference!)

This past weekend, we encountered a dog whose parents would like it to live in a bubble. Well, I doubt that they would really like the actual bubble concept, but figuratively, this is what they were asking us to do.

“Please make sure he is socialized with as many other dogs as possible, but we don’t want any scratches, scrapes, punctures or anything like that. Oh, and I only want him playing with other puppies.”

The last time I watched a group of puppies playing together I remember them pulling, tugging, scratching, yipping and all of those cute, adorable things puppies do to each other. Ouch, those tiny, little teeth are SHARP! and can do some damage all in the name of fun. And those nails. My goodness, puppy nails are sharp. Those little guys roll around, pulling on an ear, gnawing on a leg, and just generally learning how to play together. When someone yelps, you can see the offender pull back a bit, as though surprised. Sometimes, a nip is returned as a warning. Puppies play hard.

As I listened to the customer’s wish list, I thought of the movie. At one point, this silly image of a dog rolling across the yard in a bubble actually went through my mind and I had to suppress a giggle. Finally, Kirsten explained to them that they can’t have it both ways. If the dog is going to play and be socialized, which they want, there is always the possibility of scrapes, scratches and more. She reminded them that we certainly don’t want that, nor do we encourage it, but things do happen. And so, with some hesitation and crossed fingers, we all took a chance and practiced some puppy socialization. Although he still needs a lot of practice and time playing with others, a bubble isn’t what he needs. While we never want anything bad, even in a small way, to happen to our dog babies, we have to realize that sometimes things will happen. And yes, we need to teach our dogs how to play appropriately, just like we teach our kids how to play appropriately with others. While we teach them, they are learning. If a dog doesn’t like another dog in its face, it lets her know to back off. As social pack animals, this is how they learn. Without a bubble.

Even though we are in the pet business, we are regularly amazed at how different pet ownership is these days. When I was growing up, I honestly can’t remember much about the day-to-day business of dog ownership, but I clearly remember that feeding Buckwheat, not the first dog I brought home unannounced, in the garage. I also remember having to sneak Shasta, another dog I dragged home without permission, up into my room at night. Inevitably, my mom would find her and bring her back down to, well, I’m not sure. The garage? The basement?

Today’s dog and her owner can enjoy the space saving comforts of the “Sleep ‘N Store Dog Bed Combination,” with a dog bed underneath and a storage area for all your dog’s clothes. (This is making the assumption that your dog has enough clothes to need her own closet. Again, not one of my dogs from my childhood owned clothing that went beyond a collar, and that might have been a non-existent item too!). $215 on sale.

Speaking of clothes, how about cashmere? No, silly, not for you - for the dog! For $120 you can own the finest in dog apparel. This particular style is smartly trimmed with suede and is even hand-knit. Now, I can only speak for myself; I happen to love cashmere and I’m pretty sure it loves me. My wallet, however, does not love cashmere with the same intensity, so my personal cashmere selection is somewhat small, as is my dogs’.

No cashmere would be complete without some doggy boots, labeled Air Doggy. Perfect for the day your Chihuahua is feeling the need to hit the court with her buddies! Oh, and they can be yours for more money than I spend on my children’s shoes. $45. I don’t know that my own experience will be yours, but Kirsten and I really did try booties on one of our dogs and I thought we’d just die laughing. Needless to say, he wanted nothing to do with them and managed to chew them to bits.

If you happen to be attending a baby shower for your friend’s new puppy, you might consider a dog baby cradle for $164. It is far more beautiful than what my own dogs sleep on. I may need to start shopping for some new friends who might actually spoil my dogs the way they deserve to be spoiled.

For the Oscar worthy pooch, there are gowns galore that would put the stars on the red carpet to shame. My favorite is actually a seasonal dress, but I am sure the rules in the doggy fashion world can be relaxed to allow such a fashion faux paw (!) now and then, right? Trixie’s Christmas Red Dress with Long Evening Skirt is perfect for that special event that calls for a special gown, priced at $435. Way less than Sandra Bullock spent, I’m sure!

If your poochie’s gown can’t be trampled on the red carpet by all of her fans, then stroll her down in style in a deluxe pet stroller. Most models might easily be confused with a human baby stroller, particularly since the prices are comparable. Like the human version, they set up in a snap and even have a handy tray for your coffee, car keys, etc. I wouldn’t suggest shopping with it though; many times with my human babies happily strapped in a stroller, I’d forget and toss something in on top of them. Oops! $150 for your one and only.

And every dog, no matter designer or mutt, needs a collar. The designer dog, the one whose preferences lean towards Gucci Pucci (get it?), would love to have a Turquoise Sunburst Leather Collar. This is truly jewelry. Heck, this is so nice I might wear it. Priced at $169.

So far, we’ve spent $1289 on accessories and I haven’t included the dog bowls, the food, and supplements.

My best guess on what we spent on Red, Shasta, or Buckwheat, again not including the bowls, food, and of course the supplements, which weren’t even sold for humans back then - maybe $25. Yes, $25. Granted, you probably just figure out my age based on the supplement comment, so prices were obviously less back then. However, pet ownership was also different back then.

Unlike the dogs of my childhood though, I’m really hoping that Pecan can end up at Harvard, but I’ll settle for Williams. They might appreciate the fact that his tongue is usually hanging out of his mouth.

We recently had a customer drop off his cat before a long, overseas trip. As usual, we asked about the unforseen emergency and how he would like us to proceed. Laughing a wry laugh, he said something about really only having about $100 for any such emergency so that makes it an easy decision.

Interestingly, I feel that this crazy economic time almost takes some of that pressure off of pet owners. When you don’t have money to spend on procedures, you don’t have the added pressure of trying to care for your ill pet while at the same time worrying about how in the world to pay for it.

Don’t get me wrong; in no way am I saying that a lack of money makes the process easier. However, for anyone who has ever been in that situation of having a very sick pet and wondering how to pay for it, not having the money decides for you. If you do have the money, at what point are you spending too much? When Scout was so sick, as the bill reached astronomic proportions, I would secretly worry and wonder if our credit card would go through. And then, what if it didn’t??? Would I have to look at the receptionist and say, “I’m sorry, but I don’t have any more money for this? I know we’ve put the dog through however many days of hospitalization and numerous tests and an exploratory, but we’ve run out of money.” When she was so sick, it was easy to say yes to the tests, to anything that would make her better. But then, each visit got harder. Would the hospital think less of us for finally saying that we couldn’t spend anymore on our dog? We own a kennel, for gosh sakes! How would that be perceived? And poor Scout; her last days would be filled with poking and prodding, not peace and love.

Another friend who has a lot more money than I do, said he would spend any amount to make his dog better. Some of my friends with less in the bank avoid the issue by avoiding the vet. If the pet is acting ill, then they try to make it comfortable and hope for the best. Others throw all reason away and yes everything that might prove to be a cure or an answer, only to then find themselves up to their eyeballs in debt.

My suggestion is to actually consider your options before anything happens, even for those of you with pet insurance. How much is reasonable to spend? At what point do you say no more, both financially and physically (thinking of the pet). Have these conversations before your emotions are involved, remembering that emergency vet care is expensive. If you and your spouse or partner are having trouble reaching a decision, do some research and talk with your vet about common veterinary expenses and those more common emergency vet expenses (cancer, renal failure, bloat, etc.). Have the serious conversation now. While you can never fully plan for anything, at least have something to work from, as opposed to sheer emotion.

Well, I am at a loss on this one. To say this is a Pandora’s box is an understatement. Yes, I am talking about organ donation for dogs.

The conversation started this morning when someone told me she had been asked to donate one of her dog’s kidneys to a littermate. I have to say I was a bit shocked, thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” To me, it is a no-brainer. I love my dogs, but wouldn’t want to put my dog through either the donor or the recipient surgery. Heck, Kirsten and I are pretty sure that we wouldn’t put one of our dogs through an amputation again after our dog Rex, but that’s another story.

Of course the friend telling me this story was initially shocked, but after some thought, she felt torn. “What if it was my own dog needing a kidney?” she asked. “How am I to give consent for a dog that can’t give consent?”

To me, this really is still a no-brainer. I can certainly understand why people grapple with issues such as this. It is a personal choice. I wouldn’t put my dog through this. Would you? What am I missing in this issue?

Over Christmas, my family debated the merits of various dog breeds, often turning to Kirsten and me as the resident “experts” on the subject. While we have a lot of experience with a lot of different dog breeds, I don’t know that either of us would consider our knowledge to be anything more than an opinion based on a lot of experience. Since that is what we have a lot of, here’s what we know.

The most popular breeds are popular for a reason: dependability. A labrador retriever is a known entity. He will be easy-going, intelligent, and a good family dog (a shocking amount of fur comes out of labs though - invest in a really good vacuum cleaner).

Kirsten and I have noticed that the breeds we see the most have changed a bit over time with breeding practices. Golden retrievers are no longer “golden red” in color; they now tend to be “golden blonde.” Both goldens and labs have gotten really large in size. And where labs used to be somewhat laid back, they seem to have more hyperactivity (ADHD in dogs! Just kidding) and other emotional issues, such as not getting along with other dogs, anxiety, etc.

Popular dogs that don’t often make the popularity top ten are pretty steady in nature. They haven’t been overbred probably because they’ve never hit that top ten list that often leads people overbreed. Standard Poodles are a perfect example. Most people would laugh if someone said they wanted a standard poodle. We know that most poodles are super intelligent, very sweet, easy-going, and they tend to get along well with other dogs. (Note: we are being area specific. According to the Today Show, Standard Poodles are part of the nation’s top ten common dogs: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/28695663).

We also know that the more unique breeds are unique for a reason: they often require special owners willing to put up with the requirements of owning a unique breed. Shar-peis look really, really cute as puppies, but those adorable wrinkles create major skin problems. Great Danes are wonderful, gentle giants, but they have very short life spans, usually no more than eight to ten years. Italian Greyhounds are super cute and very loyal, but have ridiculously thin legs like toothpicks that can also snap like toothpicks requiring caution even when jumping off a bed or couch.

We are certainly not claiming to know everything about every breed. We also recognize that not every dog fits breed standards in every way. Snickers, one of our favorite Dachshunds, is not yippy like the majority of the breed. And Tess, a favorite dalmation, gets along very well with other dogs and is fabulous with kids, not typically common for the breed. All of us love it when a dog doesn’t fit the norm or the expected, such as the Akita who plays well with others.

We are also always pleasantly surprised when an unusual breed comes in. For instance, after sixteen years of being at the kennel, I had never met an Alaskan Klee Kai before this past spring. And I can only remember one Komondor, but Kirsten says she has seen them before. We’ve seen Catahoula Leopard Dogs, Fila Brasileiros, Chinese Cresteds, and other uncommon breeds. I am still waiting to see a Thai Ridgeback, a Catalburun, or any other number of interesting, unusual breeds we have yet to see.

And since we are all full of our own opinions, I’d like to know: what breed is your favorite and why? Write in and tell us!

During the holiday season I am often filled with an overwhelming need to do for others. While I love the Santa thing, particularly since I have small children who still believe, for me this time of year always makes me feel grateful for all the good in my life. It also makes me feel the need to do more.

Since I am pretty sure I am not the only one who feels this way, I am gently reminding everyone that the food pantries welcome donations of pet food. We’ve all seen the headlines about the dire state of our food pantries, that numbers are up, food donations are down, and more and more people keep coming through the doors. Many of these people have never had to seek help. And many of these people rely on their pets for comfort in such trying times.

Ironically enough, while our food pantries can’t keep up with supplies, our shelters are struggling with the numbers of pets people have had to give up because of financial reasons. Either they can’t pay the vet bills, they can’t pay the food bill, or they have lost their job, which in turn affects housing.

Please, this holiday season, help those in need keep their pets right where they should be - with their families.

Jo’s take on cat ownership

I consider myself to be more of a dog person, but we’ve always had at least one, sometimes a half a dozen cats around the house. My son is very much a cat person, so for his 13th birthday I got him a kitten. She was just a tiny tabby cat with white paws and very long whiskers. He named her Fudge. She was impossible not to fall in love with.

So with this new kitten he marched into parenthood. He took on all the responsibilities of being a pet owner: feeding and caring for her, and of course, changing the litter box. They grew quite close. She’d much rather curl up on his lap and snuggle with him versus anyone else in the house.

Now he is 15 and loves his little Fudge dearly. So the other day when I came home for lunch I had to think, “Who really owns who here?” I walked into the kitchen to find a small mouse lying on the floor. I called to my son and said, “Did you see the dead mouse out here?” (It is not unusual for the “less than pleasant” clean-up jobs to be left for mom). He said, “Yeah, Fudge caught it. I was letting her play with it.” I mentioned that it was kind of gross sitting out here and he very sincerely commented that she was having so much fun with it he didn’t want to take it away from her. He seemed quite proud actually. Now that she seemed to be done with her “toy” I asked him to please clean it up, which he did right away.

Later that night Fudge came up in the conversation and he began explaining her evening routine, where she sits on his lap by the computer and then at bedtime is carried to bed and promptly tucked in. It began to occur to me that she really has him wrapped around her little paw. Though she is an indoor cat he will often carry her around outside and let her nibble on grass. A meow or a nudge and he’s up to get her a snack. And she never goes without when it comes to toys, most of which he buys with his own money. I think she got more stuff for Christmas than anyone else!

Now we all love our animals very much. They bring us companionship and unconditional love. And cats most certainly have their own sophisticated way they show it. They are endearing and very clever. There seems to be a fine line that cats and their owners waver on as to who is in charge. It would seem in our house little Fudgy reigns supreme. So I have to ask you to think about your house - do you own your cat? Or does your cat own you?

Within the last week, we’ve had at least five panicked phone calls from dog owners whose friends have bailed on them at the last minute for pet sitting. This weekend just so happens to be Columbus Day Weekend, a particularly busy weekend at the kennel.

For some of these panicked people, we’ve been able to accommodate them. A couple of people had to, as the saying goes, punt. We couldn’t take their dog because (s)he isn’t current on vaccinations necessary for boarding. More likely than not, another friend stepped up to the plate, or, a weekend away got postponed or cancelled.

Friends can certainly provide fabulous pet care while you are gone. A good friend of mine recently helped another friend by taking her dog for two weeks. She proved to be a fabulous pet sitter, even keeping a journal complete with pictures of Jerzey’s activities. Short of a major health problem, this friend of mine would never have considered cancelling on Jerzey’s owners.

Unfortunately, too many people out there do have things that come up causing them to cancel on their commitment to a friend. While I am not passing judgement on these people, I am suggesting that you have a back-up plan for your pet.

A reputable pet sitter or a kennel can provide such back up. This is our business, it is what we do. Unless your pet is sick or seriously injured, we don’t turn you away. A reputable pet sitter can even help with the above situations to a point.

Many of you are probably saying, “Well, we’ve never had problems with our neighbors watching the dog for us.” And that is great. Unfortunately, I am writing this because too many people do run into issues with their friends or neighbors as pet sitters.

We are booking up for Thanksgiving and Christmas. And while we always encourage last minute phone calls because you just never know, we can’t always guarantee that your vacation will still be a go. If you don’t have a regular kennel or pet sitter that you use, let’s hope your neighbor or friend is as good as my friend Karen.

As I entered checks on the deposit slip the other day, I happened to glance at the “For” line on one particular check. Usually people write things like, “Barney - bath.” Sometimes dates are jotted down or an invoice number is provided. This check was different though, and it so perfectly sums up why doggy day care is important and why people use it: “For: peace and quiet.”

“How perfectly simple!” I thought. From our end, we often see the purpose of day care as tiring out your pups. I’m sure that for most of you, this is the reason why you bring your dogs to day care. Some people have different reasons though, such as providing an owner with peace and quiet. Guilt probably plays a big role too; we feel guilty when we don’t have enough time for our dogs. For those of you who wonder what would prompt someone to bring their dog to day care, I’ve compiled a list of reasons, many provided by owners. Please let me know if I’ve there are any I’ve missed.

Why We Bring Our Dogs to Day Care

- “Peace and quiet” (as quoted from a check)

- Exercise

- Socialization

- To acquaint the dog with the kennel as an introduction to an overnight stay

- To allow the exterminators, painters, carpet cleaners, etc. time and space to work at your house

-”Because, while I love my dog, he drives me crazy!” (quoted from an actual customer, not the same customer who wrote about peace and quiet though)

- Guilt over working so much that the dog isn’t getting out

- “To allow me rest after my medical treatments”

- “So I can get ready for our party and not have the dog in the way”

- and along the same lines as the above, “Because our guests aren’t dog people.”

I can’t say that any reason given has surprised me yet, but I live by the mantra of “Never say never.”

The news for our pet insurance agency is not good. The news for us is not good. The only good thing is that Pecan and Scout remain healthy (knock on wood please) and we haven’t had to visit the vet lately. That said, the news is not good!

So we signed up both dogs awhile ago and have yet to hear whether or not the company would cover Scout. We sent over everything they requested, followed up with multiple phone calls, but never got an answer. The pat response given by the company usually placed the blame on “missing paperwork from the vet.” Doubt that! Last week we called to cancel Scout’s policy, even though she had not been accepted as an insured. We figured that if they continued dragging their feet, pretty soon she’d hit the age cut-off and they could decline her then.

Pecan, the accepted one, poses a whole other set of problems. As a puppy, the company accepted him with open arms, probably only giving his required records a cursory glance thinking, “He’s a puppy. What can be wrong with him?” (I’m only guessing, you know). We submitted a claim for a day-long vet visit that included multiple x-rays and barium. I faxed the claim in January and the company is still waiting for “the vet to send in some of the required information.” Sound familiar? Our vet has sent in the information. I know this because I facilitated the process.

Meanwhile, while we wait, the company sends mailing after mailing, denying each and every claim. Wait. Each and every claim? We submitted ONE claim that somehow got fragmented into at least ten different claims, none of which is being accepted. How can this be?

Needless to say, we will not be continuing our relationship with pet insurance. I’m sticking with knocking on wood. It may not always work, but at least I’m saving mountains of paper and not causing more work for my vet’s office!