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petbriefs Puppy Day School Program Expands at Picture Perfect Pets
All-Natural Wellness Products for Dogs Reduce Stress
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icture Perfect Pets, In Burlington, has added a second Puppy Bus to its fleet due to the growing demand for its Puppy Day School, a drop-off dog training program. Owner Bette Yip says training begins the moment the bus driver arrives at the dog’s home, where the animal practices patiently waiting, being released and walking on a leash from doorway to bus. “Dogs love the Puppy Bus program,” says Yip. “While there is usually a little chatter as the dogs greet each new rider that joins the pack, they soon settle into enjoying a peaceful, quiet and relaxing ride to set the tone for their school day.” Yip says that the Puppy Bus experience is an effective way for puppies to learn how to ride safely in a vehicle early on. “Young puppies start out riding in a crate that’s secured into the vehicle, which is the safest way for a dog to ride in a car,” Yip notes. “For practical reasons, some large-breed dogs graduate to riding in special seatbelt harnesses.” Yip says that dogs can move from Puppy Day School to a Doggy Middle School curriculum and, eventually, Mentor Dog status. Location: Picture Perfect Pets, 374 Cambridge St., Burlington. For more information, call 617-966-4240 or en.BetteYip.com/cgi-bin/f/puppybusservice.pl. See ad on page 33.
oston K9 Concierge has launched an all-natural Pet Care Wellness line for dogs. The items, made with therapeutic grade essential oils, are sold at the Boston SOWA Open Market, the Kendall Square Farmers Market and online. “Our products are formulated in small batches, with no synthetic preservatives, and I use them to promote calm in the dogs I work with,” says Boston K9 Concierge Owner Vivian Zottola, a certified professional dog trainer. “They support natural healing and are particularly good for dogs who experience anxiety or stress when going to the vet or groomer, enduring a long ride or staying alone for an extended period.” Zottloa says the oils can be applied by massaging, or by spraying on bedding, car seats or above the dog’s head. “I work closely with dogs of all ages, many of whom are behaviorally challenged, adopted and experiencing skin issues due to allergies,” she says. “Finding the right natural remedies for them proved to be difficult, so I created my own.” Boston K9 Concierge provides “force free” learning to form trust and lasting bonds with dogs, a philosophy that is threaded throughout their services and products. “My mission is to help educate people about the ‘world of the dog,’” says Zottola. “Ultimately, I’m hopeful that this can reduce the number of pets surrendered to shelters each year.” For more information, call 617-464-1005 or visit BostonK9 Concierge.com. See ad at NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com.
Molly, adopted 2007
“The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind” ~ Bob Dylan Kaylee Greer; DogBreathPhoto.com natural awakenings
July 2014
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