Sparkle H.
15 years ago
Showing posts with label best friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best friends. Show all posts
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Makeover of the week!
Pet of the Week!
Calbert O.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Makeover of the week!
Lily R.
Hello my name is Lily. I am a 4 years old Shetland Sheepdog. When I stay at Best Friends I enjoy getting a bath and haircut before I go home. Whether I am staying at Best Friends or at home I love to play which means that I can get a little dirty and not feel so beautiful. When Sara is all done with my bath and haircut I look and feel like the Princess that I am. Thanks Sara for making me look and feel like a million bucks.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Makeover of the week
Ziggy N.
Hello my name is Ziggy. I am a 3 year old Cockapoo. This is my first time coming to Best Friends for grooming. As you can see from my picture, I love to run and play. This is why my Mom brought me to Sara for a bath and haircut. I am a shaggy boy, but I clean up very nicely!
Pet of the week!
Cinder and Spooner O.
Hello our names are Cinder and Spooner. Cinder is a 3 years old Lab mix and Spooner is a 9 years old Hound mix. When Mom and Dad go out of town, they bring us to stay at Best Friends. When we are here we get the Delighted Doggy package. That means we get a playtime, walk and explore time, and ice cream break. As you can see from our pictures we have a lot of fun running and chasing each other.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Pet of the week!
Moose and Jessie K.
Hello our names are Jessie and Moose. We are 3 and 1 year old Labs. When we come and stay at Best Friends our dad gets us the CUSTOM STAY. This is were we get to choose three different actvites like a playtime, cuddletime, walk and explore, and bedtime story. We like to do the three playtimes. That way we can go and play kong out in the yard with our human friends. When it is time to get ready to go home dad says we have to have a bath so we go home smelling really good.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Groom of the Week!!!
Beignet F.
Hello, my name is Beignet, and I am a 5 month old Himalayan. This is my first time coming to Best Friends for grooming. With the type of cat that I am, I will be coming to see the groomers at Best Friends quite a bit. I am a sweet guy that is very laid back. Claire is the groomer that gave me a bath for the first time and I didn't mind at all. She said that I was a very good cat.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Groom Of The Week!!!
Beau B.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Military Service dogs coming home with PTSD
Dog comes home from Iraq suffering what military suspects is PTSD, but is now on mend
Published August 03, 2010
Associated Press
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.
Gina was a playful 2-year-old German shepherd when she went to Iraq as a highly trained bomb-sniffing dog with the military, conducting door-to-door searches and witnessing all sorts of noisy explosions.
She returned home to Colorado cowering and fearful. When her handlers tried to take her into a building, she would stiffen her legs and resist. Once inside, she would tuck her tail beneath her body and slink along the floor. She would hide under furniture or in a corner to avoid people.
A military veterinarian diagnosed with her post-traumatic stress disorder — a condition that experts say can afflict dogs just like it does humans.
"She showed all the symptoms and she had all the signs," said Master Sgt. Eric Haynes, the kennel master at Peterson Air Force Base. "She was terrified of everybody and it was obviously a condition that led her down that road."
A year later, Gina is on the mend. Frequent walks among friendly people and a gradual reintroduction to the noises of military life have begun to overcome her fears, Haynes said.
Haynes describes her progress as "outstanding."
"Pretty fabulous, actually," added Staff Sgt. Melinda Miller, who's been Gina's handler since May. "She makes me look pretty good."
PTSD is well-documented among American servicemen and women returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but its existence in animals is less clear-cut. Some veterinarians say animals do experience it, or a version of it.
"There is a condition in dogs which is almost precisely the same, if not precisely the same, as PTSD in humans," said Nicholas Dodman, head of the animal behavior program at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
But some veterinarians dislike applying the diagnosis to animals, thinking it demeans servicemen and women, Dodman said. He added that he means no offense to military personnel when he uses the term.
The military defines PTSD as a condition that develops after a life-threatening trauma. Victims suffer three types of experiences long afterward, even in a safe environment. They repeatedly re-experience the trauma in nightmares or vivid memories. They avoid situations or feelings that remind them of the event, and they feel keyed up all the time.
When Gina returned to Peterson last year after her six-month deployment in Iraq, she was no longer the "great little pup" Haynes remembered.
She had been assigned to an Army unit, and her job was to search for explosives after soldiers entered a house. The troops sometimes used noisy, blinding "flash-bang" grenades and kicked down doors, Haynes said, and Gina was once in a convoy when another vehicle was hit by an improvised bomb.
Back home at Peterson, Gina wanted nothing to do with people.
"She'd withdrawn from society as a whole," Haynes said.
Haynes, who has worked with more than 100 dogs in 12 years as a handler and kennel master, said he has seen other dogs rattled by trauma, but none as badly as Gina.
Haynes and other handlers coaxed Gina on walks, sending someone ahead to pass out treats for bystanders to give her. They got her over her fear of walking through doors by stationing someone she knew on the other side to reward her with pats and play. They eased her farther into buildings with the same technique.
"She started learning that everyone wasn't trying to get her," Haynes said. "She began acting more social again."
On a sunny afternoon last week, Gina dashed across her training yard, jumping over obstacles on command and deftly pushing a ball with her forelegs and chest. On a visit to a store on base, she trotted calmly down the aisles and sat quietly when a woman bent to pet her.
"She's such a lovable dog," Miller said, describing how the 61-pound Gina will lie in her lap. "I could literally hold this dog like a baby."
But Haynes said they're careful not to let their affection interfere with good training. Treating Gina like a human — for example, comforting her when she's frightened — can leave her thinking that her handler is pleased when she's afraid.
"She's just gorgeous and I love her, but you also have to balance it with — you have to do what's right," he said.
Gina has resumed some of her duties, searching cars for explosives at Peterson or other nearby military facilities. Eventually, she may be able to return to the kind of hazardous duty she did in Iraq, but that's at least a year away, Haynes said.
"We're not planning on doing it anytime in the near future because obviously, we don't want to mess up everything we've already fixed," he said.
Dodman said he doubts Gina can recover completely.
"It's a fact that fears once learned are never unlearned," Dodman said. "The best thing you can do is apply new learning, which is what (Gina's handlers are) doing," he said.
Haynes acknowledged that's a concern, and although he hopes Gina recovers 100 percent he doesn't know if she will.
"Anytime someone has that much fear about anything, then obviously it will be hard just to get it fixed," he said.
"But, I mean, we don't really have many other options," Haynes said. "You can't really give up on them. They're your partner."
Published August 03, 2010
Associated Press
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.
Gina was a playful 2-year-old German shepherd when she went to Iraq as a highly trained bomb-sniffing dog with the military, conducting door-to-door searches and witnessing all sorts of noisy explosions.
She returned home to Colorado cowering and fearful. When her handlers tried to take her into a building, she would stiffen her legs and resist. Once inside, she would tuck her tail beneath her body and slink along the floor. She would hide under furniture or in a corner to avoid people.
A military veterinarian diagnosed with her post-traumatic stress disorder — a condition that experts say can afflict dogs just like it does humans.
"She showed all the symptoms and she had all the signs," said Master Sgt. Eric Haynes, the kennel master at Peterson Air Force Base. "She was terrified of everybody and it was obviously a condition that led her down that road."
A year later, Gina is on the mend. Frequent walks among friendly people and a gradual reintroduction to the noises of military life have begun to overcome her fears, Haynes said.
Haynes describes her progress as "outstanding."
"Pretty fabulous, actually," added Staff Sgt. Melinda Miller, who's been Gina's handler since May. "She makes me look pretty good."
PTSD is well-documented among American servicemen and women returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but its existence in animals is less clear-cut. Some veterinarians say animals do experience it, or a version of it.
"There is a condition in dogs which is almost precisely the same, if not precisely the same, as PTSD in humans," said Nicholas Dodman, head of the animal behavior program at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
But some veterinarians dislike applying the diagnosis to animals, thinking it demeans servicemen and women, Dodman said. He added that he means no offense to military personnel when he uses the term.
The military defines PTSD as a condition that develops after a life-threatening trauma. Victims suffer three types of experiences long afterward, even in a safe environment. They repeatedly re-experience the trauma in nightmares or vivid memories. They avoid situations or feelings that remind them of the event, and they feel keyed up all the time.
When Gina returned to Peterson last year after her six-month deployment in Iraq, she was no longer the "great little pup" Haynes remembered.
She had been assigned to an Army unit, and her job was to search for explosives after soldiers entered a house. The troops sometimes used noisy, blinding "flash-bang" grenades and kicked down doors, Haynes said, and Gina was once in a convoy when another vehicle was hit by an improvised bomb.
Back home at Peterson, Gina wanted nothing to do with people.
"She'd withdrawn from society as a whole," Haynes said.
Haynes, who has worked with more than 100 dogs in 12 years as a handler and kennel master, said he has seen other dogs rattled by trauma, but none as badly as Gina.
Haynes and other handlers coaxed Gina on walks, sending someone ahead to pass out treats for bystanders to give her. They got her over her fear of walking through doors by stationing someone she knew on the other side to reward her with pats and play. They eased her farther into buildings with the same technique.
"She started learning that everyone wasn't trying to get her," Haynes said. "She began acting more social again."
On a sunny afternoon last week, Gina dashed across her training yard, jumping over obstacles on command and deftly pushing a ball with her forelegs and chest. On a visit to a store on base, she trotted calmly down the aisles and sat quietly when a woman bent to pet her.
"She's such a lovable dog," Miller said, describing how the 61-pound Gina will lie in her lap. "I could literally hold this dog like a baby."
But Haynes said they're careful not to let their affection interfere with good training. Treating Gina like a human — for example, comforting her when she's frightened — can leave her thinking that her handler is pleased when she's afraid.
"She's just gorgeous and I love her, but you also have to balance it with — you have to do what's right," he said.
Gina has resumed some of her duties, searching cars for explosives at Peterson or other nearby military facilities. Eventually, she may be able to return to the kind of hazardous duty she did in Iraq, but that's at least a year away, Haynes said.
"We're not planning on doing it anytime in the near future because obviously, we don't want to mess up everything we've already fixed," he said.
Dodman said he doubts Gina can recover completely.
"It's a fact that fears once learned are never unlearned," Dodman said. "The best thing you can do is apply new learning, which is what (Gina's handlers are) doing," he said.
Haynes acknowledged that's a concern, and although he hopes Gina recovers 100 percent he doesn't know if she will.
"Anytime someone has that much fear about anything, then obviously it will be hard just to get it fixed," he said.
"But, I mean, we don't really have many other options," Haynes said. "You can't really give up on them. They're your partner."
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Wanna come to my Party?
What's the best way to celebrate a birthday? Set up a great party, of course. However, if it's going to be for your dog, the mechanics will be a little bit different. If you have no idea where to begin or how exactly to do it, here are some tips for you:
1. Choose your Guest List. If you're thinking of inviting other dogs, then you'll need to invite their owners too. Knowing how many are going to attend will give you an idea how much money you have to set aside for the party. Also, you will need to think carefully about the behavior of the dogs you plan to invite, as you don't want to mix dogs with poor social skills. You don't want to turn the event into a complete disaster.
2. Choose your Venue. You can use your own back yard if it is fenced and large enough, or if you prefer, inside your own home. Don't want your party outside? Don't want 20 dogs running through your own home? Best Friends has the PERFECT solution! We have a large indoor, (available on weekends only) climate controled room at our facility that is great for party times! Best Friends can also provide you with tables, chairs, lambs woolies for the pets to rest on, water bowls and our dedicated staff can even help you plan the party. Call 317-841-8182 for more information and room/party rates.
3 . Prepare and send out invitations. When you've decided on the venue, time, and guest list, you're now ready to send out invitations. There are actually dog party organizers who can help you with the designing and sending of invites, as well as with the organizing of the occasion. But if you think you have the skills to do so, you can just use any free templates from the internet and add your own personal touch.
4. Determine the kinds of activities you're going to do on his birthday. All food and no play can still make a birthday party a little boring. That's why you need to come up with a list of activities that will liven up the occasion. Now, since it's not just going to be dogs that will be around, it would be great if you can plan out games that would be fun for both the pet owners and the small dogs. Relay games are great examples, since dogs love to run and compete with the others.
5. Doggy Bags and Prizes. What's a game without a prize? To keep everyone motivated and always on their feet, tease them with great goodies and prizes. Dog toys are a favourite. Dog owners, on the other hand, may receive leashes or harnesses with a small message from the celebrant printed on them.
Lastly, don't forget the cake. There are specialty dog bakeries who can create delicious-tasting layered cakes for your pets. Cap the entire occasion with a blowing of an edible beef flavoured candle.
contributed: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverly_Maniago
1. Choose your Guest List. If you're thinking of inviting other dogs, then you'll need to invite their owners too. Knowing how many are going to attend will give you an idea how much money you have to set aside for the party. Also, you will need to think carefully about the behavior of the dogs you plan to invite, as you don't want to mix dogs with poor social skills. You don't want to turn the event into a complete disaster.
2. Choose your Venue. You can use your own back yard if it is fenced and large enough, or if you prefer, inside your own home. Don't want your party outside? Don't want 20 dogs running through your own home? Best Friends has the PERFECT solution! We have a large indoor, (available on weekends only) climate controled room at our facility that is great for party times! Best Friends can also provide you with tables, chairs, lambs woolies for the pets to rest on, water bowls and our dedicated staff can even help you plan the party. Call 317-841-8182 for more information and room/party rates.
3 . Prepare and send out invitations. When you've decided on the venue, time, and guest list, you're now ready to send out invitations. There are actually dog party organizers who can help you with the designing and sending of invites, as well as with the organizing of the occasion. But if you think you have the skills to do so, you can just use any free templates from the internet and add your own personal touch.
4. Determine the kinds of activities you're going to do on his birthday. All food and no play can still make a birthday party a little boring. That's why you need to come up with a list of activities that will liven up the occasion. Now, since it's not just going to be dogs that will be around, it would be great if you can plan out games that would be fun for both the pet owners and the small dogs. Relay games are great examples, since dogs love to run and compete with the others.
5. Doggy Bags and Prizes. What's a game without a prize? To keep everyone motivated and always on their feet, tease them with great goodies and prizes. Dog toys are a favourite. Dog owners, on the other hand, may receive leashes or harnesses with a small message from the celebrant printed on them.
Lastly, don't forget the cake. There are specialty dog bakeries who can create delicious-tasting layered cakes for your pets. Cap the entire occasion with a blowing of an edible beef flavoured candle.
contributed: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverly_Maniago
Friday, January 15, 2010
Face lift for dogs? A sight saving measure
The abandoned shar pei, named Roland, from Australia, is highly prized for his wrinkly skin. But the breed suffers from entropion, a painful condition in which his wrinkles cause his eyelashes to turn inward and rub against his eyeballs, The Daily Telegraph in Sydney reported.
If left untreated the condition could have caused Roland to go blind and was preventing him from finding a home. So the dog has had cosmetic surgery.
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals chief veterinarian Magdoline Awad said the 90-minute surgery was not about vanity.
"What we have done is made him adoptable," she said.
"It is not uncommon in this breed, it is a congenital problem."
Roland now has a better chance at finding a good home as a family could adopt him without having to pay for the surgery, Dr Awad said.
SOURCE: The Daily Telegraph
Friday, July 31, 2009
Indy Tails Best of 2009
Hey everyone, its that time of year again. Indy Tails magazine is holdings its Best of the Best awards. Go to http://www.tailsinc.com/ and vote on the best of everything for 2009. All you need to do is fill out the form and /or pick your choices. Some of the areas that you can vote on are Best Veterinarian, Best Pet Boutique, Best Dog Park, Best Dog Trainer, Best Overnight Boarding/Doggie Daycare, Best Pet Friendly Bar/ Restaurant, Best Dog Bakery, Best Groomer, Best Agility Instructor, Best Pet Photographer and other areas. We hope that everyone will go and vote for who you think is the best in Indy. How about our Groomers? If you like the grooming services that you have received, nominate or vote for one or all of our groomers! Been to one of our training classes? Kristi would love to receive your nomination! Campers - Boarders, how about a vote for our daycamp or boarding services? If you like our services, brag a little ( or a lot!)
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Meet up Groups
I would like to let everyone know that we have a few groups that meet here at the store once a month. These groups are Dachshund, Corgi, and Dog Scouts. The Dachshund and Corgi meet with other owners of these breeds and hang out and socialize. The Dog Scouts meet and do projects to earn badges just like boy and girls scouts do but for dogs. We do ask that your pet be up to date on all shot(Rabies, Distemper, Bordatella) and that you bring a copy of their records with you. If you are interested in one of these group please feel free to contact Best Friends Indy at 317-841-8182 for more information.
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