Puppy Socialization Classes

Best Friends offers a FREE puppy socialization hour every Wednesday at 1pm. You come with your new puppy to watch and enjoy the puppies play. This is open to any puppy under the age of 6 months old and is current on their vaccinations.

What is socialization?

Introducing and familiarizing a canine to new experiences - including people, places, objects, other animals - in ways that help the dog learn how to respond to and interact with these experiences appropriately and without fear.

Why is it important?

From 8 to 12 weeks of age, puppies go through a fear imprinting stage. During this time, it is crucial to carefully introduce a pup to a variety of stimuli every day, and to ensure that the experiences are positive. This is also a good time to start training the pup in basic behaviors.

These socialization efforts make the difference in the dog's outlook on life. Instead of reacting fearfully to new experiences, the dog is comfortable when encountering new things, animals and people. This helps the dog and everyone else, since the most common cause of unprovoked dog aggression is lack of proper socialization.

Socialization does not end at puppyhood. While the foundation for good behavior is laid during the first few months, good owners encourage and reinforce social skills and responsiveness to commands throughout the dog's life.

So once your puppy is over the age of 6 months and is spayed/neutered bring him/her back for daycamp.

Bully For You is visiting Best Friends

Best Friends welcomes Bully For You Bulldog Rescue this Sunday, April 25th for their Spring Fling.

Bully for You is a not for profit rescue organization based out of Southeastern Michigan who is dedicated to the safety and protection of the English bulldog breed.

We hope to have great fun and meet lots of new friends.

Best Friends and Bully for You Rescue Talk to Channel Four News

Cathy Lee, Center Manager of Best Friends Pet Care, and Jennifer Dolenic, who runs Bully For You a English Bulldog Rescue, talked to Channel Four about rescue scams.  Click here for the article.  Cathy and Jennifer warn owners of potential pet related scams when they go to adopt a new pet.

Dog Breeds That Didn't Make It!

Collie + Lhasa Apso =  Collapso,

a dog that folds up for easy transport!

Spitz + Chow Chow = Spitz-Chow,

a dog that throws up a lot

Bloodhound + Borzoi = Bloody Bore,

a very boring dog

Pointer + Setter = Poinsetter,

a traditional Christmas pet

Kerry Blue Terrier + Skye Terrier = Blue Skye,

a pet for visionaries

Great Pyrenees + Dachshund = Pyradachs,

a puzzling breed

Pekingese + Lhasa Apso = Peekasso,

an abstract dog

Irish Water Spaniel + English Setter = Irish Springer,

a dog fresh and clean as a whistle

Labrador Retriever + Curly Coated Retriever = Lab Coat Retriever,

the choice of research scientists

Newfoundland + Basset Hound = Newfound Asset Hound,

a dog for financial advisors

Terrier + Bulldog = Terribull,

a dog that makes awful mistakes

Bloodhound + Labrador = Blabador,

a dog that barks incessantly

Collie + Malamute = Commute,

a dog that travels to work

Malamute + Pointer = Moot Point,

owned by...Oh well, it doesn't matter anyway

Cat Rules

Here are a few simples rules for all cats to follow:

1. Bathrooms: 
1. Always accompany guests to the bathroom.  It is not necessary to do anything.  Just sit and stare.
2. Doors: 
1. Do not allow any closed doors in any room. To get the door open, stand on hind legs and hammer with forepaws.  Once door is open, it is not necessary to use it. 
2. After you have ordered an "outside" door opened, stand halfway in and out and think about several things.  This is particularly important during very cold weather, rain, snow, or mosquito season.
3. Chairs and Rugs:
1. If you have to throw up, get to a chair quickly.  If you cannot manage in time, get to an Oriental rug.  If there is no Oriental rug, shag is good.  When throwing up on the carpet, amke sure you back up so it is as long as a human's bare foot.
4. Hampering:  If one of your humans is engaged in some activity and the other is idle, stay with the busy one.  This is called "helping", otherwise known as "hampering."  Here are rules for hampering:
1. When supervising cooking, sit just behind the left heel of the cook.  You cannot be seen and thereby stand a better chance of being stepped on and then picked up and comforted. 
2. For book readers, get in close under the chin, between the eyes and book, unless you can lie across the book itself.
3. For paperwork, lie on the work in the most appropriate manner so as to obscure as much of the owrk as possible.  Pretend to doze, but every so often reach out and slap teh pencil or pen.
4. When a human is holding the newspaper in front of him or her, be sure to jump on the back of the paper.  Humans love to jump!
5. When a human is working on the computer, jump on the desk, walk across the keyboard, bat at the mouse pointer on the screen and then lay in the human's lap across arms, hampering typing in the process.
5. Walking:
1. As often as possible, dart quickly and as close as possible in front of the human, especially on stairs, when they have something in their arms, in the dark, and  when they first get up in the morning.  This will help their coordination skills.
6. Bedtime:
1. Always sleep on the human at night so he or she cannot move around.
7. Litterbox:
1. After using the litterbox kick as much litter out of the box as possible.  Humans love the feel of kitty litter between their toes.
8. Hiding:
1. Every now and then, hide in a place where the humans cannot find you.  Do not come out for three to four hours under any circumstances.  This will cause the humans to panic (which they love) thinking that you have run away or are lost.  Once you do come out, the humans will shower you with kisses and you will most likely get a treat.
9. One Last Thought:
1. Whenever possible, get close to a human, especially their face, turn around, and present your butt to them.  Humans love this, so do it often...and don't forget guests!

Casey follows the rule number 4-5, and helps out at the front desk!

Urgent Notice: Potential Danger of Dog Hair...

In a press release today, the National Institute of Health has announced the discovery of a potentally dangerous substance in the hair of dogs.  The substance, called Amobacter Caninii has been linked with the following symptoms in females.  Reluctance to cook, clean or do housework, wear make-up, good clothes or high heels.  Other symptoms include reluctance to spend money on home and car repairs until after "Baby" has new collars, leashes, beds, treats, food, blankets or toys.

Ambobacter Caninii usually results in long hours away from home and exhaustion which may lead to a loss of physical contact with other humans (especially husbands and boyfriends).  Ambobacter Caninii is thought to be addictive, driving the need for additional sources- this may lead to a "pack mentality" or like the potato chip commercial, "you can't have just one."  Beware! If you come in contact with a female human infected by this substance, be prepared to talk about dogs for hours.  The final symptom is a lack of motivation to seek a cure.  Full recovery is rare and if cured, serious side effects may result.

This person infected with "Amobacter Caninii" gives up her treat to pets.

Happy April Fool's Day!