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The Benefits of Natural Supplements for Dogs

Our furry companions hold a special place in our hearts. As responsible pet parents, we always

look for ways to enhance their well-being. Like us, dogs thrive on a balanced diet and regular

exercise, but their health sometimes needs an extra boost. That’s where the magic of natural

supplements enters the scene – offering a helping paw to support your dogs vitality.

Here, we will uncover the world of natural dog supplements, delving into their fantastic lignans

health benefits. From improved digestion to increased energy levels, these supplements have

something to offer every pup. Whether your furry friend is a playful pup or a wise old

companion, the benefits of these natural supplements can add an extra sparkle to their years.

Imagine the sheer joy of watching your furry friend chase their favorite toy with renewed vigor or

witnessing them greet you with a radiant, bright-eyed smile each day. Natural supplements

possess the potential to transform these heartwarming visions into reality. Whether you aim to

fortify their joint health or seek solutions to soothe their sensitive skin, these natural wonders

cover your dogs needs.

Throughout here, well walk hand in paw, discovering how these supplements can be the secret

ingredient in your dog’s recipe for a joyful, vibrant life. So whether you’re a seasoned pet

enthusiast or a new fur parent, rest assured that by the end of this journey, you’ll be armed with

the knowledge and excitement to embark on a supplement-enhanced chapter of your dog’s life.

Ultimately, there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing your furry friend thrive. So, let’s dive into

natural dog supplements, unlocking a world of wagging tails, perky ears, and boundless doggy

joy. And if you’re curious about how these wonders work, stay tuned for our upcoming section,

where well dig into their health-boosting qualities. Get ready to uncover the science that brings

those happy doggy smiles to life! Check out www.nuvet.com/95642

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7 Herbs and Natural Supplements for Stress and Anxiety in Dogs

The presence of a furry friend in your life brings immeasurable joy and companionship. As a

devoted pet parent, you aim to ensure only the best for your four-legged family member. In

nurturing their well-being, it is important to understand the impact of stress and anxiety on your

beloved pup. Luckily, Mother Nature provides soothing solutions to improve your dogs

emotional balance.

Our canine companions sometimes face stress and anxiety in todays’ fast-paced world. These

feelings often arise due to separations, loud sounds, shifts in their surroundings, or even

unfamiliar visitors. Just as we find solace in nature’s embrace, our dogs can also benefit from

the healing touch of natural remedies.

Here, you will uncover seven remarkable herbs and natural supplements that act as your pups

emotional allies. From melatonin to lavender, each of these gifts from nature possesses the

power to gently alleviate stress and anxiety, fostering a sense of calmness and well-being.

These natural remedies can be a safe and effective way to help your dog cope with anxiety

without the side effects of medication.

Delving deeper, you will explore the science that underlies these natural remedies. The

therapeutic properties of these herbs and plant extracts have been cherished for generations,

offering a holistic approach to addressing your dogs emotional needs. As you venture into this

world of botanical wonder, you will find yourself equipped with insights into how these remedies

work harmoniously with your pups body.

Perhaps the most reassuring aspect of these natural solutions is their safety. As pet parents, the

well-being of our four-legged friends is crucial, and these gentle remedies provide an effective

and safe alternative to promote their happiness and relaxation.

With each soothing herb and calming plant extract, nature extends its hand to offer solace to our

loyal companions. Below, we will uncover the boundless benefits of nature’s gifts to your

cherished canine friend.

Check out this https://www.nuvet.com/95642

How to choose a reputable groomer or salon.

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How to choose a reputable groomer or salon.

Over these many years moving clients, friends and family ask me things like.. “How do I find a reputable grooming salon? What do I look for?”. These questions I know are ones every pet parent askes at some point during their pet relationship. You could be moving to a new area or your family lifestyle has changed causing you to reevaluate your expenses or even most commonly you have experienced something causing you to reevaluate your current relationship of services with an existing groomer or salon. The purpose of this is to aid in answering how to look for that service provider to suit your grooming needs.

We all love our pets, these days more so than in the past I think. We, as a society, find ourselves treating our beloved pets more like family members. This shift in relationship interactions causes us to seek the best treatment from the service providers who help us with their health and wellness care. Now there is a lot that goes into caring for your pet. I’m only going to address the topic of grooming services and how you can find one who suits your needs.

Now years ago, before technology,  when I entered this industry the only ways a pet owner could find a groomer or salon were by word of mouth from trusted friends, family and neighbors and a paper telephone book. For a groomer or salon these were how they grew their client base. I admit word of mouth in many parts of the world still holds to be the best advertisement any business can have. It now has another form which I’ll be getting to. The Second way was the phone book. It was a very small investment to be listed and in some cases free even. During the time I reference, groomers were small one man shows and there were no big box shops unlike now. Now you have lots of choice and that is the issue. How do you sift through all this choice when this industry has no governing licensing or standardization you can research? 

I'm sure you will admit technology has made things very convenient and easier in many cases. It is an integral part of our everyday existence almost to a fault. This technology, alone with personal references gives us access to a huge pool of feedback when looking to research something in the form of referrals and ratings. Likewise in the replacement of phone books. Search engines give us the access we need for research from the comfort of our homes. 

Now it is important these days to realize and remember that larger companies can have teams or persons devoted to their technological footprint of their company brand. Smaller family owned  sole operated businesses may or maynot have a single toe in the technology pond.

Like the word of mouth referral the reviews and ratings of a shop or groomer will give you a broad brush view of how they perform their services. You can see from the reviews and ratings the positive and negative. Admittedly we all look at the negative ones first to see what the issue was. From these dwe can see how the company or groomer respond, if at all, which I must say if very telling.

Now as I continue I feel it is very important to bring some things to your attention and consideration. Remember the industry as a whole is not governed or licenced by any overseeing agency, it's considered a self regulating industry. Some states have guidelines that all businesses must adhere to and most states do not even address this industry at all. So it's up to you to “trust” who you do business with and with your beloved pet. Most all the people you will encounter in this industry are “animal people” not “people people”. This is an important fact you need to consider because you may experience personality conflicts in your search. These service providers prefer the company of animals over people so some customer service experiences might be lacking. Don't fault them rather try to understand pets can be consistent in their interaction, whereas as people, let's be honest, people can suck.

Now that you have a general personality consideration that you may deal with, lets get back to your issue of selection and your concerns.

So you have searched and discovered a technological footprint and gathered your references to narrow your options to consider. Now you're looking to answer a few questions. Questions like “Do they know what they are doing and can they do it safely?” “Will they treat my beloved pet well and with kindness and love?” and finally “ How much will it cost me?” You want to believe that the first two questions mentioned are your sole driving force and they are hugly that, ultimately it becomes the last. Cost is seginfitaly a larger determining factor for everyone due to everyone, including a business, is operating on some form of budget.

Check out your choices in person or call them to feel them out. Being in person you can accomplish many things all at once. You get to enter see the facility and its grounds, if any, which can aid in you determining if you are comfortable with the setup. Setup matters in how they conduct business, like in any business. You can see if it is clean and maintained well. Mostly you get a face to face interaction for your questions and feel them out on a personality level. Now remember my earlier consideration in this. You most importantly can ask questions, you also can do this over the phone only you get to experience the body language first hand unlike over the phone. 

So what to ask you might be wondering. How do you ask about things you don't even know to ask to be concerned with? Here are a few to help you along:

  • How long have you been in business? 

    • Knowing if they are new or established can be helpful in understanding their knowledge level.

  • Do they have any official training, certifications, awards or go to any industry expos? 

    • The answers can let you know if they invest in continuing education. If they are interested in keeping up on and evolving their craft and tools of the trade. This also lets you know the extent of their knowledge.

    • You can also subsequently ask if they are well versed in breed standard cuts. This knowledge will be directly related to how they will groom your pet. 

  • Ask if you can tour their facility or see the grooming area.

    • This might not be possible depending on the individual business insurance coverage. If not permitted don't be upset about it they are not usually hiding anything from you.. Remember you're not allowed in the kitchen of your favorite restaurant for similar reasons. Business insurance doesn't cover patrons in certain areas. So it's really for your own safety that you are not allowed in.

  • Ask for a consultation of your pet. This also can be done over the phone if not already offered.

    • By requesting in a consultation you and the groomer get to see first hand what's being dealt with. You get to witness the interaction with your beloved pet and they get a preview of the work they will encounter. You may get a more accurate quote of cost. They get to experience establishing a baseline for their future interactions.

So you can see there are lots of variables. And each salon or groomer conducts their individual business differently. Big box stores have things structured differently than a small independently run shop. You most likely experience a warmer feel and interaction with the small shop opposed to the corporate big box setup. Regardless of the orientation of the service you seek just remember it’s also a business and it and its people truly care about what they do and your pet is their client and first consideration in what they provide.

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New Location!

On Tuesday June 12, 2018 we are moving to our new location on the Southeast side of Jasper across from Jasper Lumber Company and just down from Holy Family Church!

The phone number is the same and the new address is 1041 3rd Ave. Jasper, IN

Please stop in and check out our new location and learn about all of the great changes the new building will allow us to provide you and your pets!

Additional Fees

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Additional Fees

Recently I have had to explain and justify charging a fee for an appointment that was missed. I felt it was a great opportunity to write this blog.  

Now many may understand the reason for the fee charged for missed appointments. This is directed to those who feel the fee is "not fair" or "is outrageous". 

Firstly, please understand that this is a business and the business has overhead which includes payment of staff.

Now a business such as ours, which operates by appointment makes this time immensely valuable; it has a dollar amount.  It literally is costing the business money if an appointment is missed. 

We have the policy to give us 24 hour notice if an appointment can no longer be kept so that we can fill it if we can - we have a waiting list for this reason.  We know life happens so we send reminders to assure that as a responsible person the appointment is not missed.  This also is a cost to the business. I wonder if as a consumer you can remember when you just got an appointment card and that was it. No calls from a business as a courtesy to "remind " you of your upcoming appointment.

Your fee per pet doesn't even begin to cover the full business cost of the missed appointment. As of April 1, 2020 the fee is to reflect the full base price of the scheduled appointment.

Our hourly employees show up for their schedule shifts expecting to be paid. When appointments don't show we still have to pay this staff. We're all here to care for your pet and value each one. 

When you look at it from your side the amount may not seem like such a hit. You think, "Well that's OK they can AFFORD to miss out on my appointment". The thing is you are not the only one thinking like that. In the course of a week if that occurs even twice a day the business has to make adjustments to survive. 

We are not being unfair or unreasonable, we are wanting to be able to have quality employees who are compensated fairly for their skills and time. We want you continue to provide a reasonable living wage to them. We know you have choices and we want to continue providing the superior care and quality you are used to experiencing here at Pet-Agree, the elite pet service provider in Southern Indiana. 

Sincerely, 

Alicen Ingle, CEO  

  

 

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Leave the Dog Alone.

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Leave the Dog Alone.

Honor your dog's "dogness."Dogs, like humans, are social creatures. This is one of the reasons they make such great pets and companions. Domestication and breeding have cleaved our species together in ways that benefit us both, for better or worse. Our dogs want to be around us, and we want to be with them. And we are not shy in showing them so with touch, talk, and eye contact—sometimes in overpowering amounts.


Dogs enjoy being part of our family, and being close to us, yes, but they are also individuals who sometimes want time to themselves, despite what we might think. They seek us out for attention, but they also learn, when given the chance, that closeness can exist without affection being given 24/7.

Humans often misinterpret dog behavior in ways that, at best, confuse the dogs we love, and at worst drive them to send us messages we don’t tend to welcome. Because they are so forgiving and desiring of affiliation with us, our dogs continue to try to communicate with us in the only way they know how.

And often, we can’t see, don’t see, don’t want to see, don’t want to believe. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

I have a simple message that can help you to interact with dogs much more effectively and safely. It costs you nothing, but may save you, or someone else, from being bitten. It will honor the dog's "dogness," too. You won’t like it, necessarily, and you may have a difficult time carrying it out. But it’s something that we humans owe to the dogs in our lives.

LEAVE THE DOG ALONE


Why do people seek out dogs as pets? There are lots of reasons, but in my experience I’ve found two reasons that transcend age, gender, class, financial status, and personality: we want a being that will love us unconditionally, and we want to be able to touch and stroke that being pretty much at will.

Luckily for both our species, dogs tend to enjoy touch and other forms of attention from us, but most humans don’t know when to stop—or why they need to! There is definitely such a thing as too much “love” when it comes to dogs.
Passive bonding when you are hanging out with your dog, touching, stroking, talking silly, kissing him, picking him up, or playing with him, you are bonding actively with him. In and of itself, active bonding is a good thing, and we both benefit. But both dogs and people also need the absence of active bonding, too. Passive bonding is often overlooked in our relationships with our dogs because we don’t realize that they need it. Passive bonding is “the space between the notes,” the closeness without touch, the proximity to each other without any requirements or need. Are you allowing passive bonding in your relationship? Your dog needs it, and so do you.

Leave the dog alone so that he can rest, sleep, settle, and learn that touch should be earned in some way—it’s not freely abundant. Leave the dog alone so that you develop some self-control around your dog. Just because your dog “doesn’t seem to mind” you constantly petting him, or even seems to want it 24/7 does not mean you must comply with his requests. Just because your dog is close enough to touch doesn't mean you have to do it so much.

Show your love to your dog by actually meeting his needs—not just yours.

LEAVE THE DOG HOME ALONE


Dogs don’t understand the concept of temporary separation until they’ve been taught, so every time you leave the house, the dog isn’t sure you will be back. There is no way to convince him that you will return except by always returning. So yes, dogs feel stress when we leave them, but we cannot ameliorate this stress by staying with them more. We must teach them how to deal with the stress of being left alone by actually leaving them a fair amount, and by not allowing our emotions to get the better of us. The best way to inoculate the puppy against separation anxiety is to leave and return, and to mix up departure and arrival times, length of time away, and actions that precede and follow an absence.

The dog needs to be left safely, of course, which may involve the use of a crate or other confinement. Don’t get all emotional about that part of it—dogs don’t generally perceive confinement like we do, and it helps greatly with structure. Crates satisfy an innate Instinct called the "Denning Instinct" which gives dogs a natural sense of safety.

You needn’t make a big deal out of your comings and goings, even though you think that’s necessary. Your dog will still love you just as much if you come in calmly, take him out calmly (or send him if he’s trained) to his potty area, and then engage with him calmly. All the high-pitched voices and exclamations are your attempt to meet your own needs, and they can confuse the dog. Keep things simple, and on a schedule as much as possible. The dog will adjust.

Many people tell me that their dog has “separation anxiety,” and usually, they are wrong. They themselves have separation anxiety. Sitting at a restaurant or movie theater and worrying about the healthy dog you left an hour ago is pointless, and likely not reciprocal—he’s probably napping by now.

Most dogs don’t have separation anxiety, but many do fall somewhere on a continuum of separation distress. Mitigate that stress by keeping your emotions in check, making your farewells and arrivals calm and consistent. (And if your dog really does have diagnosed Separation Anxiety, work with a professional, please!)

Make sure your dog is getting the proper amount of exercise, mental stimulation (including training), and having his primary needs met, and then go away. Don’t go away mad, just go away. After all, how can he appreciate you if you never go away?

LEAVE THE FAMILY DOG ALONE, KIDS


Dog bite statistics can be alarming when you first hear them: 4.7 million dog bites occur yearly according to the CDC, with over half of those occurring to children. Actual fatalities are rare (fewer than 100 per year), and many other things kill us with more regularity. But when dogs kill, it hits us right in the gut, doesn't it?

Everyone has heard news stories of children being mauled and even killed by dogs, often by dogs that are well-known to them. Most bites to children come from their own family dogs. Why is this? Often, it’s because the adults assume too much from both the dog and the child. The family dog should not have to endure children bothering him endlessly—even when they are "being kind" to him.

We know it’s wrong to hit, grab, tease and badger dogs--and responsible parents drum this into kids' heads constantly. But even when kids are taught to refrain from these actions, their attentions to the dog may still cross the line. It’s also wrong to allow your child, or any child, to ride your dog, lie on top of him, climb on him, move into his space quickly, grab toys or food from him, wake him from sleep, pet him endlessly, or pick him up when it’s not absolutely necessary. You might think it’s cute, and you might presume that the dog is OK with these behaviors because he hasn’t growled or bitten, or walked away.

But you’d likely be wrong. It’s to dogs’ credit that they tolerate a lot of crap from us, but not all dogs have the same amount of fuse. If pestered, badgered, climbed upon, picked up, laid upon, or grabbed enough, any dog can bite—even your beloved family pet. And when it happens, you don’t get to blame the dog. He was, in all likelihood, sending signal after signal and was thoroughly ignored.

In short, do not allow anyone—child or adult—to treat your dog in a manner you’d not allow towards another human. Know your dog, and protect him.

LEAVE THE PUBLIC DOG ALONE


Everyone knows dogs who “love the world,” and pert near everything in it. These canines seem to have a permanent grin on their faces, constantly wagging tails, and the perfect acceptance of any touch we seem inclined to bestow upon them. If you don’t own one of these dogs, you have friends or acquaintances who do, and you see people at the park, on the street, in every city who do. I like to call these guys Ambassadors, because they embody so many of the qualities we seek in our pets: friendliness, joy, laid-back acceptance regardless of our faults and flaws, a desire to avoid unnecessary conflict, and a joie de vivre that we covet but cannot ever seem to clear our thoughts enough to reach.

Luckily for us, most of the millions of dogs living in homes, riding in cars, and going for walks in the community are Ambassadors in full or in part. We trust them, and they trust us. We relax with them because we value what they embody, especially the desire to avoid conflict. People call them angels, heroes, furkids. They claim, "I didn't rescue my dog--he rescued me."

Just as people differ in our personalities, dogs come sometimes with personalities that aren’t as easy to accept. Not all dogs are ambassadors, and that’s actually perfectly fine. Dogs were bred to perform tasks, and sometimes the ambassador qualities don’t fit with those tasks (guarding, for instance). Some dogs do not want to interact with people they do not know, and this is their right. Whether it's because of genetics, personal temperament, a lack of socialization as a pup, or some other factor, the dog is simply how he is, and while training and proper socialization can help pretty much every dog on the planet fit more within our parameters as constituting a good pet, training cannot erase genetics. With dogs, it’s nature AND nurture, always.

The thing is, many humans assume that every dog they encounter is naturally an Ambassador, and this can be a big problem. Assumptions about dogs and their behavior gets us into trouble sometimes. You are not entitled to interact with every dog you meet in public, regardless of your desires. In public spaces, in friends’ homes, in situations where a dog or dogs happen to be, leave the dog alone by default.

Yes, of course there are situations where it is OK to pet or interact with dogs that do not belong to you. Always ask permission from both the owner, and the dog—and listen to the answers they both provide before touching. No matter what the owner says, if the dog says "no," do not touch.

How do dogs say "no"? Some people assume that if the dog isn't snarling or trying to bite them, he likes it. But dogs are appeasers, and may try lots of things before they get to this point. These include hiding behind the owner, blatantly avoiding you; ducking the head, pulling away from you, averting the eyes, tucking tail, or taking a submissive, low posture. If you stop, crouch down, and wait for the dog to enter your space, and he does not come into it, leave him alone.

NOTE to the owners/caretakers of Dogs Who Prefer to Be Ignored By Strangers: You have a responsibility to your dog to keep him safe. This includes not just actual, physical safety, but also his perception of safety. This means that even though *you* don't perceive the "nice" man who is trying to pet him as a threat, the dog might--and it's HIS perception of the situation, not yours, not the stranger's--that matters. I know you don't want to appear unkind to people, but your dog depends on you. If you allow, or worse, encourage touch from people when your dog is sending clear signals that he is not comfortable, you are throwing your dog under the proverbial bus. How can he trust you? And at what point does he proceed from hiding behind you to biting? This can be prevented. Listen to your dog.

Building your dog's confidence is essential, and part of your job. Allowing or encouraging unwanted touch does not build confidence--it erodes it. Contact a trainer who works with dogs like this and uses an inclusive approach (lots of tools in the toolbox, several ways to tackle the problem) to help you.

And stop worrying more about what strangers will think of you or your dog, and focus on helping your dog. No one is entitled to touch your dog. It's OK, and often better, to Just Say No, Smile and walk away. 

Children Are the Most at Risk When Things Go South


Read the above section again and apply it to your kids. Most dog and child interactions are perfectly safe as long as a watchful adult is present. Teach your kids to Leave the Dog Alone when:

  • The dog is unfamiliar to them

  • The dog is loose or itself unsupervised

  • The dog is sending signals that it wants to be left alone

  • By default


If you teach children that their default behavior when they encounter a dog that meets the above criteria is to Leave the Dog Alone, they will be safer.

Yes, there are situations where children are allowed, maybe even encouraged, to interact with dogs that do not live with them. But these interactions should never be assumed, and must always be permitted by an adult who knows the dog. Never assume, even if the dog is displaying “friendliness,” because most people who are not canine professionals misinterpret signals of stress or excitement for friendliness.

Look, we love dogs, and they love us. Dogs are pretty adept at showing affection for us, and we think we are adept at showing them we love them--but often, we are wrong. We give them too much affection and not enough structure, in general. We want to meet their needs, but we often only meet our own needs and confuse ours with theirs. We can do better, and we must.

"Do you love your dog? Or do you love loving your dog? If it's the former, you will make sure to provide your dog with what he truly needs. If it is the latter, you will do what you want and then complain about him." ~Sarah Wilson

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We Are Hiring!

We Are Hiring!

Part/Full time bathing position available

We are looking for upbeat personality individuals with excellent customer service and team player attitude. 

We are looking for a new team member who is DEPENDABLE, hardworking, pays attention to detail and is able to multitask. This position will be the stepping stone to becoming an animal cosmetologist. Saturdays are required for this position! This team member is the back bone to how beautiful we can style our clients. We prefer an individual who has professional animal handling experience. We will also train the right candidate. This position is starting out as a part time member and can become a full time position to the right person.
We offer for our staff 20% off all products and services. Pay is hourly and according to experience.

 

Jr Groomer / Cosmotaglist

We are looking for a new team member who is DEPENDABLE, hardworking, pays attention to detail and is able to multitask. this person must be a team player. No Drama, Drugs or Alcohol tolerated. Saturdays are required for this position! Applicant must be knowledgeable in pet breeds and coat care.

Applicant will be able to complete 6-8  grooms in an 8 hour day without a Bathing Prepping assistant. We prefer an individual who has a certification of formal education and 1 year minimum experience. There is a 60 day probationary period. This position is full time.
We offer for our staff 20% off all products and services. 40 hours paid time off after on year employment, 1 Expo a year for continuing education. Paid equipment sharpening. Legal W2 status. Pay is hourly and according to experience and productivity. Supplemental Medical offered.

We are an equal opportunity employer.