Barkleyville Dog Park- Safety of City Park Questioned

Photo Credit and Park Information

Barkleyville Dog Park is popular and successful because it is the ONLY dog park of quality located in the city of Stockton. The city park is located at 5505 Feather River Drive and on any given evening, if you show up around 6:30 PM you will see an abundance of caring, involved dog owners and their pets enjoying the many amenities of the park, which include:

• Four Acres
• Agility Course
• Separated Large Dog (>20 lb) and Small Dog (<20 lb) Play Areas
• Benches
• Walking Paths

As the most popular dog area in Stockton, and one of only three official Dog Parks recognized my the City of Stockton  it is frustrating, knowing that the City of Stockton takes no action to protect its citizens or their beloved pets. Since the start of the year, at least three car accidents have taken place in front of the dog park and endangered the lives of people and animals alike. Please continue reading for additional information:

Hikers Beware!

Lake Tahoe is a beautiful place to go hiking in the spring, summer, and fall!

Photo Credit HERE

With it's close proximity to Stockton and it's welcoming attitude towards dogs, it seems like an ideal place to hike, but you might want to rethink that this year.

As early as January, rabies infected animals have been discovered throughout El Dorado County. Rabies is primarily transferred to dogs through the bite of an infected animal, and can lead to extreme aggression, seizures, and death of your family pet. There is NO CURE for your dog once symptoms reveal themselves, and it is possible for you contract the disease as well. Similarly, once symptoms show up in a human, no known cure exists for the disease.

Treats for Your Pooch

I have two very active dogs and I am ALWAYS searching for ways to entertain them. I was shopping at Cost-Co recently, and I came across a pack that included a Tricky Treat Ball and Nature's Champions Training Treats. The whole thing was under $20 and my dogs go crazy over it! Seriously, they will play with it for HOURS at a time and don't make a peep, or find time to chew on anything they aren't supposed to!

Dogs & Babies- How to Prepare Your Family Pet For the New Addition

Photo Credit:Wombat Wash

I have noticed a trait in Stockton Craigslist Ads. Many of the "Free Dog to Caring Home" ads use a baby as the primary reason why they can no-longer keep the dog. These ads say something like:

"Friendly, well-behaved dog. We hate to get rid of her, but we are expecting a baby and will no longer be able to keep her."

A baby should never be a reason to abandon your pet! Just like you create a birthing plan for your little human's arrival, you should also make a plan to prepare your pet for the changes your family is about to experience! You have nine months to prepare, and adding a little patience and extra training time can do wonders to ready your pet for a little-one, regardless of your fur-baby's personality. Try these helpful ideas for starters!

Get your Dog Micro-chipped Now!!!

Video Courtesy of Blog.PetFlow.com

The Importance of Micro-chipping: 

Dogs are not like other animals. They build strong emotional bonds with their owners and are truly a unique and important part of the family. If you have a family pet, get it micro-chipped today! It is YOUR responsibility as head of the family to keep your family united and whole. No matter how hard you try, it is impossible to keep your pet safe and in the yard 100% of the time. Micro-chipping is inexpensive and it is THE BEST way to ensure the return of your loved family canine!

Great Dog Toys!!!-Busy Buddy (Combating Separation Anxiety)

This is My Dog's Favorite! 

 My oldest dog is roughly 8 months old and suffers from separation anxiety. His anxiety is most extreme when he is kenneled, but he experiences it in some form almost every time we leave the house. I tried everything the books suggested:

• Ignoring him while I was getting ready to leave.
• Not making a big deal of seeing him when I came home. 
• Giving him special treats or bones when we left.

Some toys held his interest for a few days, and would reduce his anxiety, but it would always start back up again. Eventually someone recommended that I purchase a Busy Buddy, and I have never been happier!

Ways To Keep Your Puppy Healthy, In and Out of Stockton

Vet Bills Can Be Expensive, Regardless of the Cause. 

Here are some simple and effective ways to reduce the cost of owning a dog without compromising your pet's health! Using these vet recommended tips will save you cash and ensure your mutts health, even if you can't afford regular trips to the vet!

Ways to Keep Your Stockton Dog Healthy During the Spring & Summer

Tips to Keep Your Mutt Healthy During Stockton's Spring & Summer 

Today was one of the first nice days in Stockton that we have had in weeks. I observed many people out and about enjoying the sunshine. I heard BBQ’s. I watched children outside running, and above all, I witnessed many families walking with their dogs.

Man’s best friend is no stranger to nice weather, and it’s great to have your mutt outside when the weather permits, but it is also VERY IMPORTANT to keep your pal’s safety in mind. I have made a little list of how to keep your pup healthy while enjoying the nice weather.

Ways to Travel Affordably with Your Dog

Photo Credit

Affordable Dog Travel

Spring and summer are fast approaching and that means travel! If your family is anything like mine, you are probably planning road trips, visits with relatives, and a vacation or two! Not to mention, your family probably includes someone with paws! Try these great money-saving tips while traveling with your paw buddy:

1. If you are staying in Stockton for a Local Event
• Motel 6 Stockton North #1323 ~$44/Night
• 6717 Plymouth Road 
• I-5 at West Benjamin Holt Drive 
• Stockton CA 95207
• Phone: (209) 951-8120 – Pets Stay Free Here
• La Quinta Inn Stockton ~$70/Night
• 2710 West March Ln
• Stockton, CA 95219
• Phone: 1-209-952-7800- Pets Stay Free Here!! (Limit 2 Pets/ room)
• Best Western PLUS Heritage Inn~$90/Night
• 111 E March Ln
• Stockton, CA 95207-5854
• Phone: 209-474-3301 – Pet Rate $20/ day, Maximum $100/Week (Limit 2 Pets/room & 80 lbs/dog)

Combating Aggressive Behavior in Your Dog

I recently received this comment on one of my posts:

“I rescued my dog from the Stockton shelter and she is not getting along with any other dog. Please let me know if you have any good tips for dogs with anxiety.”

I know that this can be a tricky situation for all dog owners. The question is how to deal with aggressive dog behavior, especially when you do not know what the dog has been through in its past.

While I am not an expert in the field, I do have some suggestions for how to address this behavior. After doing some reading, it appears that anxiety can be related to high energy/stress environments, previous negative experiences around other dogs (such as fighting), and protectiveness of the owner (i.e. if the dog is on a leash).

These are my suggestions on how to combat the issue:

Renting with Your Dog

Especially in Stockton, finding a home to rent that allows dogs seems impossible.  My experience has been that 90% of property owners here do not permit dogs in their homes, and if they do, they require that the dog be less than 20 lb. Not to mention, the discrimination against Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and other stereotyped large breeds. 

Many families have been fortunate enough to convince their current landlord to allow the adoption of a puppy or rescue, but now they are faced with moving and cannot find a home to rent that will allow them to keep their dog. Often, these situations are heartbreaking to the family because they feel they have no choice but to take their pet to a shelter or turn it loose on the street. More often than not, these displaced animals end up dead. 

Today I would like to offer suggestions on how to avoid these situations. I would like to make it clear that IT IS possible to own and keep a dog of any breed and size in Stockton, regardless of whether or not you own a home. You simply need to follow these steps:

Which Stockton Rescue Society Should I Approach?

Are you considering adopting or fostering an animal? Would you like to get more involved in your community? Is your company looking to sponsor a local non-profit organization? 

There are many reasons why you could be interested in learning more about local Stockton animal shelters and humane societies. 

At first, researching rescue organizations may be overwhelming. You might be asking any of these questions:

• Where should I take my business?
• Which organization would benefit the most from my donation?
• If I'm interesting in fostering an animal, which shelters have foster programs?
• Where can I adopt on a budget?
• Where do I get the most preventative health care for my money? 

And each question has a corresponding animal shelter that will fit your exact needs. 

I have gone through and complied data on the three biggest rescue organizations in Stockton so that you can find the information you need at a quick and easy glance.

I hope you find this information valuable, and if you have any questions, comments, or corrections I would love to hear from you. Please utilize the comment feature! 

  

Free Spay & Neuter Services at Stockton Animal Shelter!!!

I have some very exciting news! 

Stockton Animal Shelter is giving away 2 FREE Neuter/Spay services per household on February 23, 2014!!!

Photo Credit: Stockton Animal Shelter

Photo Credit: Stockton Animal Shelter

This event is the first of its kind in MANY, MANY years in the greater Stockton Area. Please encourage everyone you know to take advantage of this FREE offer!!!

This first offer is only available for Chihuahuas and Pit Bulls, but hopefully there will be many more events like this one in the near future! I love to see Stockton Animal Services reaching out to the public and giving them something that they need and deserve. 

WAIT!!! That's not all:

Stockton Animal Services is also giving away FREE VACCINATIONS to ALL DOGS on the 23rd. 

Fostering Animals: How to Let Them Go

A friend of mine received this e-mail recently and I thought it would be useful if I shared his response and my thoughts on the letter with all of you:

Dear Gary,

I need help with a pressing issue. I have been fostering a cat for the past 6 months and unfortunately my housing no longer allows this. She is going to a good home (one in which I can visit her), however I will miss her very much. I want to foster animals in the future, but I am worried that letting them go will be too hard.

Please help!

This was his response: 

Ways to Ensure Your Dog Returns Home after Escaping

Cheap Easy Ways to Bring Your Dog Home Quickly

Photo Credit: Here

Is your dog an escape artist? There are a number of ways to ensure your dog returns home quickly after getting out of the yard.

Dog-Friendly Nature Walk in Stockton

Photo Credit: The Dog Training Secret

Today I am going to introduce you to a secret gem of Stockton. I like to call it Agriculture Row. It is a dog-friendly dirt walking path that is perfect for letting your dog off leash to run or walk by your side. Very few people know of this walking trail, so typically you will be able to enjoy your walk through nature in seclusion.