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Dog Care

Hot Weather Reminders for Our Furry Friends

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Summer is right around the corner, and The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa wants to remind you to protect our furry friends during the hot weather. Whether you’re at home, traveling, or driving, it’s important to remember that our pets can’t cool off like we can.

Tips to Keep Your Dogs and Cats Cool During Hot Weather

Dogs pant to cool off and cats cool off by grooming themselves and releasing heat through their paw pads. We can help our pets cool off with some planning and preparation.

Here are some tips to keep your dogs and cats cool during hot weather:

  • Always provide fresh, cool drinking water
  • Only exercise your pets during cooler weather
  • Never leave your pet in a car even if you think it is not hot outside; the weather inside a car can heat up quickly in a short amount of time
  • Close blinds, shades, and curtains to cool down a room
  • Provide a cooling towel, mat, or pad for your pet to rest on or near
  • Use a fan inside but allow your dog to get relief from its cooling breeze
  • Place ice cubes or ice treats in your dog’s water or dish; these also provide fun toys for cats to play with. Since their paws absorb heat, playing with ice treats can keep your cat cool
  • Fill a shallow pool with water to play or splash around in
  • Use a mister or sprinkler for outside, cooling fun
  • Bring dogs and cats inside with air conditioning, fans, or open windows; animals can easily overheat just by lying in the sun

Signs of Heatstroke in a Dog or Cat

In the event that you think your dog or cat is overheated, be aware of these symptoms:

  • Panting in cats-cats don’t pant naturally like dogs do. In the event your cat is panting, this may be a sign that your cat has heatstroke.
  • Glazed eyes
  • Lethargy
  • Lack of appetite
  • Loss of balance or wobbly walking
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Rapidly beating heart
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures
  • Gums or tongue being exceptionally red
  • Collapsing

If you see any of these signs in your dog or cat, please contact your vet immediately. Take your pet to a cooler location, or place in front of a fan, place a cool towel on your pet, and give your dog or cat cool water but not ice water. Cool the pet slowly, not quickly, as that can be more dangerous.

For a Fun Summer Getaway for Your Dog or Cat, Consider The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

If you are looking to get away for the summer, consider sending your dog or cat to The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa. Our dog suits and cat condos are temperature-controlled to keep your pet safe, cool, and happy.

Our state-of-the-art water park offers a fun time for dogs to splash in water and stay cool. Even dogs who didn’t like water have a great time running and splashing in the pool. It’s like summer camp for your dog or cat at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa.

Contact us today for a stay and play for your dog or cat as we are filling up quickly!

Have a safe and fun summer and remember to keep cool!

It’s National Hug Your Dog Day! But Does Your Dog Really Like to Be Hugged?

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April 10 is National Hug Your Dog Day, but those of us at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa know most dogs don’t like being hugged and can, in fact, stress them out. Hugging a dog is not a natural action for a dog, an in fact, it can cause a dog to feel tense, anxious, and trapped. Dogs show affection by loose body moves and by leaning into you.

The best way to show your dog you love him or her on National Hug Your Dog Day is to pet your dog on the chest, pat her on the head, or give her a good ol’ fashion belly rub!

At The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa, our dogs in doggie daycare or boarding are loved every day! For a list of fees or services, please click here. Pats and affection given daily!

National Dog Bite Prevention Week

The second week in April is also delegated as National Dog Bite Prevention Week. A great way to prevent being bitten is to be educated and aware of a dog’s propensity to bite with these tips:

  • Don’t hug a dog for the reasons mentioned above
  • Never approach an unfamiliar dog
  • Ask permission before petting someone’s dog
  • Watch the body language of a dog-avoid dogs that are tense or growling
  • Never run from a dog-whether in chase or on a “hunt,” the risk of being bitten goes up
  • Avoid touching dogs that are sleeping, eating, or protecting something
  • If a strange dog approaches, stand still with your hands to your side until it goes away
  • When meeting a dog, allow it to approach you, and offer a clenched fist
  • Avoid the face and mouth of a dog
  • Do not tug on a dog or allow children to crawl or climb on a dog. Even the most well-meaning dog is capable of biting
  • Avoid looking a dog straight in the eye
  • Never tease a dog
  • Socialize your dog
  • Spay and neuter your dog
  • Train your dog
  • Supervise children when near dogs and teach them to respect dogs and their bodies
  • Avoid moving quickly around a dog who may be startled and reactive
  • If possible, ignore a barking dog until it stops barking at you. Either remove yourself from the situation if it is not your dog or wait for the behavior to stop before interacting with the dog.
  • Never pin down, hit, or punish a dog for a natural behavior that you see as “aggressive” as doing so may cause the dog to become aggressive

Any Dog Can Bite

No one wants to believe their dog is capable of biting or causing harm or injury to anyone. But the fact remains, a dog who feel threatened, scared, trapped, or is under socialized and untrained is capable of biting.

Avoid the consequences of a biting dog by reading our tips, clicking on the links for more information, or enrolling in our behavioral training programs.

“Dogs don’t bit out of the blue. So stay safe and know the signs.”





Why Does My Dog Do That?

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While dogs are said to be man and woman’s best friend, unless you’re a cat person, these canines have some interesting behaviors that may make you question, “Why does my dog do that?”

In a series that The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa began last month to answer some of your most asked questions, this month’s blog will focus on why dogs react they way they do on a leash, why they lick you, why they eat grass, and why they sleep in the positions they do.

Keep in mind that our canine friends still carry the history of their ancestors in their genes and that while we may have domesticated them, they come from a long line of ancestors whose behaviors stay with them.

Through the good and the bad, dogs act in a way that makes sense to them, even if we find their behaviors funny, frustrating, or confusing!

Why Does My Dog React on a Leash?

Leash reactivity is a common behavior where dogs will either growl, snarl, bark, pull on the leash, lunge, spin around, or otherwise “act out” when they encounter a situation, dog, or person that makes them feel scared, frustrated, or territorial. It’s a more severe reaction than a dog without leash reactivity would have and occurs in dogs who have been under socialized or not exposed to people, places, things, or other animals in a positive way (source).

The perceived “threat” creates a fight or flight response in the dog. Since the leash prevents the dog from running away, they respond by using their body language as cues to warn the perceived threat they are uncomfortable.

Leash reactivity can be tamed over time and with patience and understanding. For more information on leash reactivity and how to help your dog overcome leash reactivity, please click here.

Why Does My Dog Lick Me?

The slobbery licks your dog covers you with is a learned behavior. A puppy licks its mom to get milk and licks its siblings to groom and interact with them. Dogs lick to explore their environment, show affection, play with you, get your attention, or ask a dominant dog in its pack for permission to eat communal food.

The more you are covered in slobbery, wet kisses, the more positive affirmation you are giving your dog. While some may associate licking with a “gross display of germs,” a dog associates licking with positive behavior that he is naturally ingrained to perform (source).

Why Does My Dog Curl Up in a Ball When it Sleeps?

If your dog moves in circles or digs its bed before it curls up to sleep, you can thank its ancestors. In the wild, dogs dig nests to curl up in. Curling up keeps the dogs warm and prevents their vital organs from being exposed to predators.

So the next time you see your dog digging in its bed or circling before it lies down, you have a better understanding of this behavior. If your dog stretches out or sleeps upside down, it’s either hot or feels very safe and secure (source).

For more tail wagging information about your dog, Refer to our blog.

The Surprising Similarities Between Puppies and Teenagers

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Nature has a way of alerting parents that their youngin’ is approaching adolescence. Whether the young one is a child or a puppy, there are surprising similarities between their adolescent behaviors.

Puppy adolescence occurs between 6-18 months of age. Teens reach adolescence between 12-14 years of age and continue through their late teens and into their early 20’s (source).

If you consider the behaviors of both pups and teens during adolescence, you may not notice much of a difference!

Adolescent Behaviors in Puppies

Once a puppy outgrows the cute phase of puppy breath, falling asleep in the most compromising positions, and being held, it reaches a stage of life that many dog owners find difficult and frustrating!

Puppies in the adolescent stage of life exhibit qualities that test even the most experienced and patient dog owner.

Adolescent behaviors in puppies include many of the following:

  • Chewing, chewing, and more chewing on hands, furniture, shoes, people, other pets
  • Possessing energy levels that challenge any pet parent- zoomies are common, so is bouncing on and off furniture and getting the “wild” look in the eyes and face
  • Selectively listening to commands-not coming when called; not staying, sitting, or heeling
  • Growling when attempting to remove the pup from furniture
  • Demonstrating sexual behavior
  • Exhibiting physical changes consistent with puberty
  • Portraying sexual behaviors
  • Reverting back to peeing and pooping indoors
  • Displaying destructive and aggressive tendencies
  • Guarding resources
  • Lacking respect, focus, and concentration
  • Lack of respect and response
  • Testing and challenging their owners or caretakers
  • Showing more lethargy and moodiness

Puppies can display some or all of these behaviors throughout adolescence, causing tension and a war of “who’s in charge” between pup and parent. With time, boundaries, training, and consistency, a puppy who is corrected appropriately will outgrow these tendencies and become a well-behaved adult!

Comparing Teen Behaviors with Puppies

Any parent reading the list of puppy behaviors can easily identify the similarities between puppies and teens. Aside from chewing, teens are also known for causing chaos in a household; tuning out, rebelling against authority, testing boundaries, being destructive or leaving messes, and switching between having enough energy to go out at 11 pm and sleeping in until the afternoon.

Sexual advancement is another commonality shared between teens and puppies with moody dispositions following closely!

Much like puppies, teens need boundaries and a parent with consistent disciplinary measures to guide the rebellious adolescent into adulthood.

With time and patience, this youngin will most likely mature into an adult a parent would like to be around.

Help with Puppy Training

For those of you needing help with puppy training, we have a solution! The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa offers training programs for pups and those acting like pups. Please contact us for more information and pricing. * *Disclaimer-sorry, but at this time, The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa is unable to provide training for adolescent children.

Why Does My Dog Do That? Examining Odd Behaviors in our Beloved Dogs

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The other day, our dog, Ryder, stealthily picked up the cat’s empty food bowl and brought it upstairs to his favorite human. This is the same dog who picks up full bowls of dog food and moves them away from our other dogs to eat by himself, always leaving a trail of kibble.

It doesn’t take Google to figure out why our dog brought up the cat’s dish. It was 6 o’clock, and he was hungry. The cat’s food dish is easier to pick up then his dog bowl which is sunken into an above ground feeder to make it easier for a larger dogs to eat.

But dogs can sometimes exhibit odd behavior that leaves us wondering, Why does my dog do that?

In a new series of blogs, The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa is going to examine the behaviors we often find odd in our dogs and our cats!

Addressing the Elephant in the Room-Why Does My Dog Hump Other Dogs?

Dogs hump other dogs for a variety of reasons that aren’t always sexual in nature. In fact, both male and female dogs hump; both spayed and neutered dogs hump. But why?

If a male senses a female is in heat, then he will mount her due to his testosterone. But there a variety of reasons a dog humps another dog or even humans and these include:

  • Attention
  • Excitability
  • Anxiety
  • Dominance
  • Sign of play

Dogs often seek the attention of the ones they care about the most, and humping can be a behavior a dog exhibits to greet its human or to show how excited it is. Legs are an easy target to hump, as is a back if a person is sitting down.

While annoying and embarrassing, humping a person is a normal behavior for a dog. To decrease this behavior, redirect your dog with a toy or a behavior that is more appropriate such as playing fetch, doing a food puzzle, or chewing on a treat.

Some dogs hump because they are anxious or nervous and the stress is exhibited by humping. Redirect your dog by calming it and having it sit next to you while you pet it and reassure it.

Dogs have a pack order, and a more assertive dog might turn to humping to show its status in the pack. This behavior isn’t normally the first behavior a dog exerts to gain status, but it clearly indicates to another dog who is the alpha dog and leader of the pack.

Dogs hump when they are playing. This is a common behavior often seen between a dog and a cat who are companions. When a dog humps a cat, it can be a sign of affection or a reaction to a conflict between the two.

When Does Humping Become a Problem in a Dog?

The humping behavior in a dog is usually not a problem and can be redirected with the tips we mentioned above.

In the event your dog humps obsessively, this may be a sign of a more serious behavior problem. Talk to your vet or a behaviorist who can help you determine why your dog humps and what action to take.

For more information or resources regarding humping, please refer to this article.

Ideas to Keep Your Dog Entertained During Rainy Weather

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With all of the rain we have been experiencing, it’s sometimes difficult to get outside and go for a walk or run or go to the dog park.

The pent up energy for both humans and animals can sometimes drive us all stir crazy! So here are some ideas to keep the pup in your life entertained during wet weather.

Play Physical Games with Your Dog

Dogs of all sizes love games! Consider playing Hide and Go Seek with your pooch. Dogs who can stay while you hide will love the thrill of trying to find you.

Dogs with less training or attention span can be distracted by a ball or treat while you hide! Consider closets, furniture, beds, or even blankets as spots to escape while your dog looks for you!

Grab a rope, dog toy, or twisted towel and play tug o’ war with your dog. The physical activity is fun for both of you and can be played over and over. Let your dog grab the rope from you and toss it back and forth in its mouth while you try to grab it. Toss it gently and turn this into fetch and tug o’war.

Speaking of fetch, long hallways are great places to throw toys, stuffies, or balls for your dog to bring back. As long as there aren’t any breakable objects, you can make an adventure out of playing ball from the comfort of your own couch, bed, or floor!

Use Puzzles or Games to Stimulate Your Dog’s Mind

Whether you invest in plastic or rubber puzzle games or create your own, your dog will go nuts for puzzle games! Store bought games that have your pooch manipulating puzzle pieces to get to a tasty treat are self-motivating and a lot of fun for both you and your pooch to partake in.

Or, get creative and find your own plastic cups, containers, or boxes and hide treats under those. Have your dog watch you place a treat under plastic cups and move them around and let him find the treat on his own!

For a different experience, have your dog leave the room while you hide a treat under a pillow, behind a toy, or on a piece of furniture. See how long it takes for your dog to find the prized delicacy! Then play the game again! Using small treats or pieces of treats can ensure your dog stays motivated and keeps her figure without filling up!

Chill out and Watch a Movie

What dog doesn’t enjoy spending time with his best friend? When the forecast calls for rain or windy conditions, stay in jammies and turn on a movie or two while your dog snuggles up next to you.

Even if you are a “dogs on the floor not the bed” kind of person, time next to you while getting some serious belly rubs with a fire in the fireplace are every dog’s dream.

Bake Some Treats!

Make dog treats with your best friend

The internet is full of dog friendly treats or human treats that are safe for dogs! Baking is always a fun activity to perform on a cold, winter day. But the best part as we all know is tasting the treats!

Just remember chocolate is not safe for dogs but delicious for humans!

Here is a dog and human safe recipe we think you will both enjoy! Happy tastings!