Hello Seattle Pooch Lovers!

Summer is here and the sun is shining on Seattle once again. Get back in shape for the summer with your pooch and take advantage of our amazing hiking trails! Check out this list of pooch-friendly hikes and off-leash parks here.

It's Miss Lily's Birthday! 11 years (77 in dog years) and going strong! May she have many more. Happy Birthday Lily!

Remember: with the heat that pups need access to plenty of cold water and shade. Treat your pup to a few ice cubes or cold carrots as a summer treat! Also remember that cars can be up to 40 degrees warmer than outside, so please don’t leave your pooches in your car, even for just a few minutes.

DDL now offers ‘doggie playtime’ at Capitol Hill with our breed meet-ups. Bring a friend and get a complimentary bath! We are also participating in PRIDE for the 4th year in a row! Drop by to say hi and to check out our dirty tees!

Check out our favorite link this newsletter… Dramatic Cupcake Dog! Hilarious!

Thinking of trying a new groomer? Bring in a receipt from your dog’s recent groom at another salon and get $10 off! And, as a special treat for our newsletter subscribers only, a $5 off coupon!

Love the pooch!
Elise, Lily & Gunner
elise@downtowndoglounge.com

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."-- Mohandas Gandhi

We are holding a series of Pooch Play Dates at DDL! Check out the breed dates below and come check it out! To sign up, email us here. To sign up, email us here.

Upcoming Play Dates:
June 21st - Small Breed Dog Meetup
June 28th - Chihuahua Meetup
July 12th - Dachshund Meetup
July 19th - Greyhound Meetup

It's $15 for 3 hours of playtime plus a free evaluation that must be completed during the 3 hour play period.

It's time for Pride! Come show your support and say "hi!" to us on Sunday, June 28th from 9am to 7pm at Seattle Center on the Fisher Green (by the Center House). We will have a ton of our Dirty Tees and some other fun stuff for your pooch.

Visit our Flickr page here to check out our photos from the Pride Parade last year. We had a blast!

For more info on Pride, go here.

As most of us know, dogs are pack animals. Most dogs enjoy the company of other dogs at doggy daycare, dog parks and possibly the neighbor’s backyard. They also NEED you to share your busy life with them as well. Even if they have a designer bed and lots of toys, dogs are very social creatures, and sitting alone all day is not their idea of a fulfilling life. They crave your attention and a job to perform. If not exercised properly (mentally AND physically) your dog will become bored, anxious, and frustrated. They may become destructive or aggressive. They need direction and interaction from you, the pack leader! Obedience classes and training are a great way to get involved with your pup. Teaching them basic commands will help them to know what is expected of them and will help you understand how to communicate with them in a language they understand. Once they know the basics, you can begin other fun activities with them that will be both mentally stimulating as well as a good physical workout. Dogs’ idea of fun activities may be a bit different than yours, and each dog has preferences that may not be the same as the next pooch. When considering games and tricks, please be aware of physical and emotional limitations that your dog may have. For example, short legs or bad hips can make jogging difficult; separation anxiety can make hide and go seek a stressful experience. The activities that I’m suggesting offer many benefits to you too, such as having a tired, happy, calm dog, as well as getting outdoors and exercising more than you otherwise might. Most importantly, training and exercise will build a deeper bond with your dog than you may have thought possible. Here is a list of FUN and educational activities that you and your furry friend can enjoy together. Remember, these are all exercises that require rules and boundaries and will need to be done in a safe, controlled environment.

• Organized Sports: Fly ball, Agility, Rally obedience, Schutzhund obedience, etc.
• Non-competitive Sports: catch, fetch, walking, jogging, hiking, swimming, and digging
• Games: find-it (give objects a name and enrich your dogs vocabulary, such as specific toys or people), hide and seek, tug of war (only to be done with a dog that has a release command since you MUST win every time; the strongest pack member always wins!)
• Tricks: roll over, wave and shake hands (alternate paws), spin, catch, sit up, kiss, crawl, play dead, dance, take a bow, go to your rug, jump through a hoop, biscuit balance - the list goes on.

Adam's focus with dogs is to bring a greater understanding of the canine agenda and every day empowerment as pack leader. He is experienced working with and training aggressive dogs; manners, tricks, and protection training are just some of the things he enjoys teaching. Each owner and dog are regarded and treated as a unique pairing. Adam's training sessions incorporate many issues, ranging from family expectations and goals to loose-leashed walking to sport work. He is also active as a French Ring sport decoy and handler. His Belgian Malinois and lab mix can be seen holding beautiful Down-Stays or happily accepting an invite to a warm lap.

To make an appointment with Adam or any of our trainers, email us!

Mysti Auerbach began coming into DDL-Belltown late last year, in the twilight of her life at 14 years. Her brother had recently passed away, and her mom felt she would be lonely at home. She took up residence in the Bell St office & Welcome Desk area & became a daily fixture for the staff to look forward to. Though elderly, she was still very much curious and alert, greeting clients and looking for treats. She would often go to the Big Pen gate, push her little old way through the crazy pack, and make the rounds socially. She even stalked & caught a pigeon in her backyard recently --- a very proud moment for the old girl!

She is very much missed by all of us at Belltown; we were privileged to know such a special senior.

Disclaimer:Downtown Dog Lounge LLC and its companies will not be held responsible for any misuse of any article, or for the content found in any article/information in this newsletter. Any article or information presented in this newsletter are done so as a public service only, exclusively for fun and entertainment of private individuals.