Bordetella - Can my dog catch a cold?

There's been a lot of buzz in the city lately about Bordetella... I thought it might be worthwhile to share some FAQ's that have been posed on us lately....

Another name for Kennel Cough is Bordetella.  You've seen this listed as a required vaccination in our service agreement.  I'm not a vet, but I think of it like the K-9 equivilant to the common cold.  The symptoms include coughing, sneezing, hacking, snorting...etc.  So in a sense, YES, your dog can catch a cold.
If my dog gets it is she going to be OK?  
What happens  to you when you've caught a bad cold.... You take time to rest and recuperate.  You might even see the doctor for a prescriptive remedy.

Is it going around right now?
YES -it's going around right now.  I've heard that vets and other dog trainers in the city are noticing an increased trend  in bordetella.   Luckily, we've only had a few clients contract it (though none directly from our facility).



What are we doing about it?  
We place the highest regard on all matters of health and safety.   This is why we disinfect the entire facility daily (floors, grooming room, equipment, water bowls, etc.) and we require full vaccinations for all new clients.   If you've been to the store recently then you might have noticed the big white machine in the shloof room.  It's made by a company called Surgically Clean Air and it removes the germs from the air.  It's what dentists and other health care facilities use to purify the air in their facilities.  If you suspect that your dog might have bordetella, we kindly ask you to cancel any appointments with us seek advice from your vet.

our half day of dog daycare VS a dog walker

While I was working in the corporate world I used to pay for a dog walker service to come to the house and walk Maydel for one hour during the day. We worked long hours and we wanted to give her a break during the day...this was our only affordable option.



On rainy, snowy or muddy days our house was always filthy because Maydel never came back as clean as when she left.  On extremely hot, wet or cold days (when it's not really fair to exercise dogs outside), our walker had no option but to compromise on the service (but not on the price).  I knew that this was something many dog owners experienced, which is why I'm very excited to see some traction picking up in our half-day of daycare program.

Here's why we think our half-day of daycare program has a lot of potential:

• Value for the price:  For approximately $20 a day (depending on how far we have to drive to take your dog home) your dog gets up to 6 hours of play and socialization with other dogs.


• Two Pack Walks Per day:   Matched with the perfect pack of energy, size, and temperament.


• Socialization: When surrounded by a calm pack for this long each day, your dog will undoubtedly expand his vocabulary of calming signals and behaviour.


• Stimulation: Games, activities, kongs, chew toys, antlers, rituals...  dogs enjoy working and using their brains.


• Testimonials: Many regular customers observe that their dogs walk better with a loose leash, and greet new dogs with more confidence.

Happy 1st Birthday Woof & Shloof

One year ago today we were scurrying behind our papered up windows, frantically trying to pull off all the finishing touches to get ready for our grand opening.  As I reflect on how far we've come in just 1 year I'm so amazed.  More importantly, I'm so grateful to our customers for supporting us.

As a token of my gratitude we're giving out birthday gifts to our customers. All you need to do is tell someone about our dog daycare, grooming or training services.  When they arrive, our gift to them is 20% off their first purchase on any service or any item in the store.  Our gift to you is also 20% off your next purchase.

Help us share the love.