Due to the economy our K-9 friends are in more need than ever.
Dogs are being abandoned in record numbers and rescues are overflowing and need places to board the dogs.
Our Story
Country Home Pet Care is a boarding kennel in the Antelope Valley that has a section dedicated to rescue dogs. In this section we have isolation and regular runs for dogs that are boarded by rescue until they have room for them in their facilities. While here the dogs are cared for and shown to potential adopters for the rescue groups. Sometimes the dogs will stay us for a few days and sometimes for several months depending on the rescue’s needs.
We are raising money to add 6 runs to our rescue section and complete 2 more.
The Impact
This campaign will enable us to double the number of rescue runs that are available for dogs coming in from animal shelters. These dogs have to be put in special runs for 10 days (the runs cannot touch the run of any other dog in case of communicable disease). The two larger runs that need completion will be able to house 2 dogs each with plenty of room for them to run and play.
What We Need and How the Funds Will Be Used
The cost to complete this project will be $12,000. We will complete the project in stages (as money comes in). Stage one is to complete the 2 partial runs. Stage 2 is to put in the 6 new runs.
The costs break down as follows:
- Complete 2 large runs $1,000
- 5 – 6X12 runs, 1 – 12X12 run $6,257
- Gravel $1,500
- Fencing $1,500
- Grading ground, cement and labor costs $1,743
Any contribution would be helpful please 
Other Ways You Can Help
Please let your friends, family, e-mail groups and facebook friends know about our campaign. They can also e-mail with questions at countryhomepetcare@gmail.com
May 21, 2012 | | New Dog
If you’re having sunny weather it can be oh-so enticing to run outside and have a good time. There are so many things you can do from throwing a Frisbee or stick to hanging out at the beach. There is a danger though, that your dog will get sunburn, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. The good news is that you can prevent these things from happening to your dog.
Sunburn Protection
You might not have considered it before but the sun can burn your dog. Areas that are particularly sensitive are the nose, ears, and lips. You can try to keep your dog in the shade between the sunniest hours of the day. These are usually between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. If you are not able to stay in the shade you can put sunscreen on your dog’s nose and other sensitive areas.
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Have you ever left your dog in a parked car? If so, it’s definitely time to stop. It’s best to leave your dog in your air conditioned home if you are going to be out running errands. In fact, leaving a dog in a car is the number one reason that dogs get heat stroke. If you must leave your dog in your car follow these rules:
- Make sure to park in the shade
- Put your dog in a crate
- Roll down the windows
They can also develop heat stroke they are too active on a very hot day and don’t have a shady spot to go to.
If your dog is overweight or has a history of lung or heart disease you need to be extra careful. Older dogs are particularly susceptible to getting heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
There are some dogs that live outside. These owners need to be especially careful and provide a shady area for them to go during the day. There are ventilated doghouses and umbrellas that can do the trick. A plastic kiddie pool with water in it (put it in the shade) is also great for a dog to cool off.
If you have an older dog it is best to keep in them inside no matter what when it’s very hot. You might even want to keep a fan on your dog to make sure he stays nice and cool.
Finally, keep an eye out for danger zones such as hot, black pavement, the bed of a truck, or beach sand. If you allow your dog to be on these areas he might get blisters. Stick to grassy areas if at all possible.
Water is Essential
Giving your dog water is one of the number one ways that you can prevent heat problems for your dog. Be sure there is clean, cool water available at all times. This will stop dehydration and other heat problems in their tracks.
Apr 06, 2012 | | Health
There are probably as many different ways to housetrain a dog as there are people who own dogs. Some methods work better than others. One thing all methods state is that you must be consistent with your housetraining. You can’t punish a dog for something in the morning and not in the evening just because you are too tired to deal with it.
Housetraining is the first thing you should start when you bring a dog home and it is probably one of the most important. If you don’t start immediately your dog will learn bad habits. Bad habits can be broken but it is difficult.
I have tried a lot of different methods over the years and I find the method described in House Train any Dog work. This book can be downloaded and it provides an easy to understand method of House breaking your dog. This book comes with a money back guarantee that I don’t believe you will ever need to use. This book teaches you how to housetrain any dog, large or small, young or old.
If you want to try this book
Mar 26, 2012 | | New Dog, Training
Are Vaccines Dangerous? Not usually. Unfortunately, a perfect, risk-free vaccine does not exist. Without question, vaccines have saved countless lives, and they continue to be indispensable weapons in the battle against infectious disease. But as with any medical procedure, there is a small chance that reactions may develop as a result of vaccination. In most cases, the risks associated with vaccination are much smaller than the risks of disease if vaccines were not given. But to minimize the risk, before your dog is vaccinated, please inform your veterinarian of any problems your dog is experiencing or any medication your dog is receiving.
Following is a brief list of reactions that may occur after vaccination. If your dog has had any reaction in the past as a result of vaccination, be sure to inform your veterinarian before your dog is vaccinated again.
Mild reactions
The following reactions are fairly common, usually start within hours to several days after vaccination, and last no more than several days:
|
Discomfort at the site where the vaccine was given – mild fever – diminished appetite and activity – sneezing at about four to seven days after administration of an intranasal vaccine. Development of a small, firm, non-painful swelling under the skin at the site where the vaccine was given. The swelling usually goes away after several weeks, but if you notice such a swelling, you should contact your veterinarian. |
|
Serious reactions
These reactions occur very rarely:
|
vomiting, diarrhea, or difficult or labored breathing |
|
a serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction within several minutes to an hour after vaccination |
|
a kind of tumor called an injection site fibrosarcoma developing at the vaccine site several weeks, months, or even years following vaccination |
|
What should I do if I think my dog is experiencing a problem as a result of vaccination?
By all means, consult with your veterinarian. Even though vaccine-related adverse reactions are uncommon, the consequences can be serious. Your veterinarian is the individual most qualified to advise you if an untoward event does occur.
To vaccinate or not to vaccinate?
The decision to vaccinate your dog should be based on a thorough understanding of the benefits — and the risks — of the procedure. For this reason, it is extremely important that your discuss the procedure with your veterinarian. He or she will be more than willing to answer any questions you may have, and will help you make the right vaccine choices for your dog.
This information was found at www.critteradvocacy.org
Mar 07, 2012 | | Health
So you are going out of town for a few days, what are you going to do with your dog? You actually have several options.
You can take your dog with you
You can have a friend watch your dog
You can hire a dog sitter
You can take your dog to a boarding kennel
There are positives and negatives to each of these options. If you take your dog with you, you’ll need to make sure your dog will be welcome where you are going. If you are staying in a hotel are dogs allowed? Do you have a way to confine your dog such as a crate when you need to leave him in the room? If you are traveling by car does your dog travel well? If you are flying you will need to get a current health certificate.
Having a friend or family member is often the best solution for a short trip. If you are going to be gone for more than a few days you might not want to inconvenience them. Your dog will be with people they know in a familiar place. If you are going to be gone for more than a few days a dog sitter might be just the answer. They come to your house to care for your dog while you are out of town. Many dog sitters are bonded.
My method of choice has always been to take my dog to a boarding kennel. I recommend going to a kennel that has staff on site 24/7/365 so if there is a problem they can take care of things quickly. A good boarding kennel is a safe place to take your pet. Your dog will be secure and cared for. If you are thinking about using a kennel check them out before you travel, you will need to make a reservation with the kennel. Visit local kennels and talk to the staff, what do they require you provide? You will need proof of vaccinations but what else? Do you need to provide food or is that part of the board, what about toys or blankets. If your dog takes medicine or is on a special diet are they prepared for that?
The important thing is to make arrangements in advance if you plan to go out of town. Remember when you make your reservations it is time to make plans for your dog.
Feb 24, 2012 | | travel
The recall (come command) is one of the two most important things you can teach your dog. “Leave it” is the second and will be discussed in a later post. When you call your dog to come you (if you use come, here or some other command) you want your dog to stop whatever it is doing and come immediately.
The recall can save your dogs life. It runs out the door to the street and a car is coming, you want your dog to turn and come to you immediately when you call it. The first thing you must always remember is never call your dog to you to punish it. If you call your dog it must always result in positive things for your dog (treats, praise, play time). The recall should be taught by slow and easy steps. Start when you are playing with your dog. Call it to you and give it a reward. If your dog does not come entice it to you with the treat, or turn and run (most dogs will follow you if you run while playing). This is something you can do throughout the day. Keep a few treats in your pocket. Remember this does not mean feed your dog so many treats that it gets fat; you need to adjust your feeding and subtract for the treats given.
Another way to practice the come command is to leave a Leash 
on your dog (only to be done when the dog is being closely supervised) call your dog to you and encourage him with a (gentle) tug on the leash, then pile on the praise. Once your dog is coming to you try having a friend hold the dogs leash until you call him. Then encourage your dog to come to you with lots of praise. Don’t worry about looking foolish you need your dog to know how happy you are with him.
When you get further from your dog you will need either a long line or Flexi Lead 
to encourage the dog to come to you. Have somebody hold onto the dog until you call him, if he does not come immediately it is time to give a tug on the line.
Do your initial training in your house, then yard. Do not go out to the park or the school yard until your dog is coming reliably at home. Remember practice makes perfect and this is something you should practice your entire life.
I have a friend who I taught this method and her dogs come to her like a bat out of h***. She has taught them this way and says it has been easy. Come is her dogs favorite word.
Feb 17, 2012 | | Training
You have finally decided to take the plunge and get a new dog. Adult or puppy, large breed or small, there are some things you should do before you bring the dog home. First you need to decide who is going to be the person responsible for feeding and training the new dog. You will need to decide where you are going to get the dog and you should make sure your house is ready for the new family member.
If you have decided on a particular breed you next need to decide on adult or puppy, breeder or rescue. Each has it’s own benefits and limitations. With an adult you will be taking on a dog that is already set in it’s ways however it may also have had some training. With the adult dog you will be able to tell it’s final size and have a good idea of the temperament. There are several places to get an adult dog including a breeder, rescue, from a friend or from animal control. The adult may already be housebroken, spayed/neutered and maybe even obedience trained. It can also be out of control, a digger, barker or in poor health. When getting an adult dog you should ask why the previous owner is letting him go, the reason might be that the dog is too large, bad with children or cats or that the person is moving. Get as much information as you can on the particular dog.
If you get a puppy you get all the joy of watching it grow up but you also have housebreaking, lead training, obedience training, spay/neuter costs and the normal puppy mischief. Remember the puppy will not be that cute thing for long so make sure you are ready for the commitment it requires.
Before you bring your new dog home you should have some things ready, a collar and lead, food and water dishes, a bed for your dog and a crate (see the post on crate training your dog) , grooming supplies (this will vary depending on the breed of dog) and time you are willing to spend (vs. going to a professional groomer).
You should also have an appointment scheduled with your veterinarian for a health check. I would also recommend you know where the local animal emergency clinic is located and have their phone number (you may never need it but if you do you will be happy to know where they are located). If you have not already picked out a vet check with the person you got the dog from (if local) that vet will have all your dog’s health records. You might also consider veterinary pet insurance to help with the cost of your dog’s healthcare. Like our health insurance it will help with the cost of office visits as well as surgery (spay/neuter) and can be very helpful if you have an animal emergency.
Congratulations on your decision to get a new pet. It will be an adventure that will bring you a lot of joy in the future.
Feb 09, 2012 | | New Dog, Training
When talking to somebody about crate training their dog the first question I often get is why would I want to crate train my dog? The reasons for crate training your dog are varied.
1. A crate is a safe place for the dog to go when he is hurt or upset. It is his den.
2. When riding in a car your dog is safer in his crate. A loose dog can be thrown thru a window in an accident. A loose dog can also interfere with the driver. Even a well behaved dog can be spooked and jump on the driver of a car.
3. If your dog goes to the groomers or has to stay at the vet he will be crated. It is less stressful to your pet if he knows what to expect and is not fighting the crate.
4. If you travel many motels and hotels will accept a crated dog in your room. You can leave him in the crate in your room while you go out to eat.
5. If you have visitors or workmen in your home you can put your dog in his crate while they are there.
Now that I have explained why you should crate train your dog I will give you some tips on how to crate train you dog. If you do this right your dog’s crate can be one of its favorite places to go. The first thing you need to remember is that you want your dog to like its crate that means you should not use the crate as a form of punishment.
To start put the crate on the floor and tie it’s door open. Put a blanket, bed or towel in the bottom of the crate. Let your dog check it out for a day or two, then put a dog treat in the very front of the crate. Eventually your dog should eat the treat, when that happens put another treat in the front of the crate. Slowly move the treats back in the crate until you are putting them in the back of the crate. The next step is to feed your dog in the crate. Do the same thing you did with the treats starting with the food bowl in the front of the crate and gradually moving it back farther and farther. Once you dog is used to eating in her crate close the door while she is eating. Go just a few minutes after she is done and open the door. Gradually you can increase the amount of time the door is closed.
If you make the crate a fun place to be with treats, toys and praise you will soon have a dog who is comfortable in it’s crate.
Jan 30, 2012 | | Training
There comes a time when you will need to take your dog for a ride in the car. It may be a visit to the vet, a trip to the groomers or maybe going to obedience classes. There are several things you can do in order to make traveling in the car with your pet easier. Spending a little time now will make it much easier when you need to take your dog for a ride in the car.
If you pet is crate trained you can put the crate in your car (I fasten the crate in with a seat belt or bungee. The crate is a familiar place for him and should help lessen his anxiety. There are also car seats for dogs. These can work quite well for small dogs, however larger dogs will not fit.
If you have a large dog you may need a pet ramp to get him in the car (I use one with our Great Dane), sometimes a dog will not be able to climb in on their own and they may be too big for you to lift. The pet ramp is pushed up against the car and the dog walks up it (like a wheelchair ramp.
If you do not have a crate and you are worried about the mess a dog can make of your upholstery you can always throw an old blanket into the car. Another idea is a product called the pet rider. It has seat belt holes and stays in place better than a blanket.
If possible get your dog used to car rides slowly. First practice getting him in and out of the car. Give him a treat when he gets in and let him sit in the car for 5 to 10 minutes. Next try a drive around the block. Talk to him and tell him how good he is. Once your dog is used to going around the block take him somewhere he will enjoy, the park or maybe a local PetSmart store (they will give him a treat) let him seeing that riding in the car is fun.
Jan 23, 2012 | | Training
Every dog needs some form of obedience training. Great Dane to Chihuahua they all need to learn some basics. One thing they need to learn (if they ever come in the house) is house manners. These start with house training and go on to such things as how to walk on a leash. While the Chihuahua may not need to walk on a leash (you can always pick him up and carry him) for the Great Dane it is a necessity. 
There are several ways to go about training your dog. The first is by taking your dog to obedience school. Obedience classes can be found thru the local kennel club, you can also ask your veterinarian to recommend an obedience school. At these classes you will be taught how to train your dog. The instructor will tell you and in some cases show you what you should be doing in order to teach your dog certain behaviors. These schools usually last for 6 to 10 weeks and you will bring your dog to weekly classes along with other students. The instructor will go over different things each week (e.g. Heel, Sit, Stay) and you will be given homework to practice with your dog. If you are having particular problems with your dog the instructor may be able to advise you how to proceed.
Private lessons are also an option when it comes to dog training. These are one-on-one classes with you, your dog and an instructor. These classes are customized for the problems you are having. You can learn a great deal in these sessions however there is still homework. Your dog will not learn without practice.
The next method is to have somebody train your dog for you. Depending on what you want your dog to learn this can be an excellent way to go. This kind of training is more expensive and your dog will usually live with the trainer while the training is going on. Make sure if you go this route that the trainer also trains you. If you don’t know what commands to give your dog and how to correct the dog when he disobey’s (and they all do at times) you will just be wasting your money. Your dog will behave for your trainer and not for you.
No matter what direction you decide to take remember an untrained dog makes for an unhappy owner.
Jan 17, 2012 | | Training
