Tis the season… FRONTLINE is available $2 off per individual monthly dose through July 15. The ‘au naturale’ way to keep the fleas away is Brewers Yeast and Garlic… ask your vet for more info.

Book now for July 4th, and remember, if you have a pooch that is afraid of the firecrackers… plan ahead. DDL can definitely keep your dog safe & sound but we are booking quickly. Be sure not to leave your pup outside during fireworks, and always be sure they are tagged well in case they escape. We recommend Tranquil Anxiety tablets & Mellow Mutts which are available in all of our stores.


IN MEMORY OF Babe-E-Licious Bunny Bacher… Worlds finest Retriever and Golden Spirit. May she rest in peace and eat treats in heaven for eternity.

Babe, you will be missed tremendously. All our DDL love!


Elise Vincentini
elise@downtowndoglounge.com

We love to treat our pups to a human treat now and then. It’s hard to resist when they look at you with those puppy dog eyes while convincing you that they are starving. Beware… some foods are very harmful to dogs.

Here are a few harmful items you should know about:

Avocados- Contain Persin, which can damage heart, lung & other tissue in many animals.
Beer- Alcohol can cause the same damage to an animal's liver and brains as they do to humans, but since they are smaller than us, it can sometimes be deadly.
Nuts- Walnuts & Macadamia nuts are especially toxic. Effects can be anything from vomiting to paralysis to death within 12 hours of consumption. This can cause kidney failure which can often result in death.
Chocolate- Contains Theobromine which can be a big danger. Dark & unsweetened baking chocolates are especially dangerous.
Candy- Anything containing Xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and seizures.
Caffeine- Coffee, tea or any product that contains caffeine stimulates an animal's central nervous and cardiac systems.
Grapes & Raisins- Both can lead to kidney failure in dogs… even a single serving of raisins can be deadly. The effects are cumulative… which means that even if a dog eats just one or two regularly, the toxin that builds in his system will eventually kill him.
Onions- Another common food that is highly toxic to pets. They can destroy an animal's red blood cells and lead to anemia and breathing difficulties.
Medicine- Hide medicine from your pets as you would your children. This is the single most common cause of pet poisoning. Note: Acetaminophen & Ibuprofen, the active ingredient in many pain relievers, are toxic to pets and can cause gastric ulcers, liver damage and kidney failure.

Good News Foods …within moderation:
Lean meats- Chicken skin and fat are not recommended and be sure not to give your pet meat with the bone in it.
Vegetables- Carrots, green beans, cucumber & zucchini are all okay!
Fruit- Apple slices, orange slices, bananas and watermelon are all okay! Remove seeds beforehand.
Baked Potatoes- Plain baked potatoes are fine… just be sure they are fully cooked.
Bread- Plain cooked bread is fine, just make sure there are no nuts or raisins in it.
Rice & Pasta- Plain cooked pasta and white rice is okay.

In an emergency, call 888-426-4435. Accidents happen… if you are unsure, always double check. Common signs of poisoning are muscle tremors or seizures, vomiting & diarrhea, drooling, redness of skin, ears and eyes.

If you love DDL, tell the world! Please take the time to visit the sites listed below to share your experiences at any of our Downtown Dog Lounge locations. Thank you in advance to anyone who takes the time to do this. We'd give you a wet dog-style lick to thank you, but that would be awkward for everyone involved.

Also, check out the feedback form we just put on our website. We want to make sure we are exceeding all of your expectations. There is a rumor going around about there being a secret treat if you complete the form… I wonder if it's true? ;)

Elliott:
Yelp
Insider Pages

Belltown:
Yelp
Insider Pages
NW Source

Capitol Hill:
Yelp
Insider Pages
NW Source

All 3:
Google

The world of grooming can be confusing sometimes. Just what is a Puppy cut? And a Teddy bear head? Ear hair? To pluck or not to pluck. How often should you have them groomed? Well that’s why you have your professional pet stylist to navigate this oddly interesting world.

First let's take a look at the Puppy cut and the Teddy bear head. A puppy cut simply refers to a fluffy one length all over. The length can be anywhere from ¼ of an inch to 1 ½ inches, it matters only to your preference and the condition of the coat. Sometimes you will see different interpretations, such as shorter body, longer legs, or called different names, like a Panda cut or a Daisy cut. If you are requesting a trim shorter than ¼ inch all over, it often called a Field or Utility cut. Essentially the same trim, just the lengths that vary.

As far as the Teddy Bear head, that look is usually referred to as a round looking head and face, seen on many Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, Bichons, and Yorkies.

Next, let's take a look inside those furry ears. Depending on the breed of pooch you have, many grow very soft, fine hair down inside the ear canal. As part of regular grooming, it is removed as gently as possible to avoid discomfort to your pet. If the hair is left inside it can collect dirt, wax and other debris which can lead to ear issues if not maintained. Bacteria also loves to grow in warm damp places, so it is best to keep their ears clean, dry and free of hair as much as possible. If you have any questions or concerns you should consult you Veterinarian.

And finally, let’s figure out just how often you should have you pet groomed. Many breeds require professional grooming to keep them from getting matted and tangled. Most schools of thought on this will recommend every 4 to 8 weeks based on the amount of work you put into your pet in between grooms. Many people who like to keep their pet in a breed standard trim opt to have them groomed more often. Of course there are many variables, but if you speak with your pet stylist, they will be happy to set you up on a routine schedule, custom designed for you and you pet.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!

If you and your pooch are looking for a getaway, we have the perfect place for you. Sea Nest is an oceanfront vacation rental on the Long Beach Penninsula. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a gourmet kitchen, fireplace, an amazing view, and best of all, it is pet friendly!

For pictures and info, you can view the PDF flyer here.

Or get the rental info here.

Jumping up
Although some people think it's cute when their dog jumps up, they don't understand that their furry friend is actually trying to establish dominance over them. This behavior begins when they are puppies in the litter and are trying to find their place in the pack. Dogs express dominance through play behavior, such as chasing, keep away with treasured items (such as your shoes or socks!) and jumping up. It is important that your dog understand that it is NOT ok to jump up on you. Once you're dog understands the command "OFF", you can teach him "up", or my preference, "Gimme Hugs!" This is a way to invite your dog up to your level on your terms. The rule to this command is that your dog must submit to you first. They can do this by going into a "sit" or "down", once you invite your pooch up you must be able to enforce the command "off" when you want him to go back to 4 feet on the floor.

Barking
Barking and other vocal noises is one form of how dogs express themselves. They may bark when they become excited, scared, territorial, or lonely. Also, through your reaction to their barking they learn what works to get your attention. You may unknowingly be encouraging your dog to bark or whine while in his crate. For example, if your puppy is in his crate and begins whining/barking and you either let him out (out of frustration or respect to your neighbors) or yell at him, you're teaching him that this will get your attention and get him out of his kennel. Remember, negative attention is better than no attention at all at times! Your dog also believes that it is his duty to alert you when someone is entering the pack's territory. This is his job and it's great that he's doing it, but once he alerts you his job is done. As the pack leader it is now your responsibility to decide whether or not this person or dog can enter your territory. You need to effectively direct your dog to a new duty, such as "go to your bed" or to hold a sit, while you greet your guests. Then, only when your dog is being calm, submissive, and after you have finished your greetings, he can meet everyone.

Mouthing/Nipping
Once again, these are behaviors learned at an early age while interacting with their litter mates. They learn bite inhibition by the other puppy or older dog's reaction to the bite. Unknowingly, humans encourage their puppies or dogs to bite by thinking it's cute or by not correcting the behavior. When your dog is nibbling or putting his mouth on you, say "ouch!" loudly then walk away. After a few times of this he will learn that his biting is not appreciated and all games end when he does this. If this isn't getting the point across, contact a professional trainer on how to effectively correct him.

Eating Feces (Coprophagia)
Although we as humans find this behavior is horribly disgusting and embarrassing, dogs think it is perfectly normal! As puppies, their mother would lick their genital region to stimulate them to potty. After doing so, she would eat their feces to keep the den clean. This is their first exposure to the behavior so there is no reason for them to think it is wrong. To prevent this from happening at home be sure to clean up after your pooch as quickly as possible. Another reason dogs may do this is due to a possible lack in their diet. There are certain nutrients they may be missing and they will try to acquire them by eating other dogs (or their own) feces. Contact a professional trainer to find out more and how to correct this nasty behavior.

If you have questions about any of your dogs behavior, feel free to email me!

Be sure to send me your dog training questions for our next issue. We will be featuring a new section "Questions for Cora".

Cora Wittekind
Training Manager
Downtown Dog Lounge

The people have spoken! Boarding will be returning to our Belltown location 7 days a week starting July 1st. For those playing along at home, this means that all 3 of our locations have boarding 7 days a week!

Give us a call to reserve a spot for your pooch while you take that fabulous summer vacation you have been dreaming of. You have booked that, haven't you?

Who doesn't like a good lamb lung? Well, lambs probably don't… BUT the important thing is that DOGS LOVE THEM! They are great for small or older dogs because they are soft on your pooches teeth.

4 oz packs for just $2.95… healthy & great for training! 100% protein.

Pick some up today!