Current Events
Specials for February 2011
Daycare Upcoming Events
Come feel the love on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 we will be having a Valentine's Day Party for our guests. Daycare will only be $15.00 for the party. Be sure to reserve your dog's room as soon as possible. We will have fun goodie bags and a special surprise for their parents when they go home too - RSVP by February 10, 2012.
Dog Days of Winter: Every day is $15.00 through February 12th, call today to reserve a room.
Special For February: $5 Spa Upgrade Our featured scent this month is Chocolate Covered Strawberry. When your dog visits the spa, upgrade the shampoo and s/he will leave here smelling delicious!
FEATHERS: We now have Hair Feathers for your furry friends! Let your pet be the talk of the town with this latest fashion trend! (many colors to choose from)
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TRAINING CLASSES
Current Class Schedule:
Prep School
- For dogs 6 months and over
- You and your dog will learn basic obedience skills such as sit, down, stay and more. Class progression is dictated by needs of class.
- Begin Date: March 8, 2012 (Thursday Evenings at 6:00pm)
Finishing School
- You and your dog will work toward the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Requirements. This class is great for anyone looking to further their relationship and build courteous dog skills.
- Begin Date: Please Call for Information
Puppy Academy
- For dogs under 6 months
- Your puppy will have socialization time, exposure to people and dogs as well as learning basic skills and meeting the requirements of the AKC S.T.A.R Puppy program.
- Begin Date: March 6, 2012 (Tuesday Evenings at 6:00pm)
K-9 Noseplay!
The fast growing new scent oriented dog sport! K-9 Noseplay is a way to combine some of your dogs' natural instincts into one fun and tiring activity. By tapping into your dog’s natural ability to detect scents and innate desire to hunt, K-9 Noseplay engages the brain and body. This is a great activity for all dogs. Each dog will work individually so shy dogs will have as much fun as confident dogs. Call Whiskers Resort & Pet Spa to learn more. K-9 Noseplay is taught by instructor Kristie Swan DPDT-KA.
Begin Date: TBD
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Notes from Trainer Kristie
For me it is an exciting time to be a dog trainer. Not only do I love what I do but there is increasingly more science devoted to understanding our canine family members.
When dealing with your dog's difficult behaviors keep in mind there may be factors you are not seeing. Much like taking a pain reliever for a headache, if the pain persists you look for more information instead of taking more and more aspirin. When training your dog it is important to look for root causes not just a cure for the action. It usually works better to address the underlying issue rather than just treating the symptom. Treating, or training, the root cause is much more likely to produce lasting results.
To learn more about training options call Whiskers Resort and Pet Spa (616)575-5660.
Kristie Swan CPDT
Kristie’s training methods strive to enhance the human/canine relationship. She plans to bring the highest level of training in the Grand Rapids area to Whiskers Resort & Pet Spa. She will tailor a training plan to meet each individual’s needs and abilities.
Kristie shares her home with three black cats and two dogs. Olivia is a rescue mix and Wendigo is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. She loves training and has dedicated her life to animal behavior.
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Notes from Groomer Misty
Winter is definitely here. With the cold temperatures comes dry air and static. Build up of static electricity not only gives us little shocks, it also wreaks havoc on your pets hair. Static causes friction, which leads to more mats on those fluffy dogs. There are a few things that you can do to help control static especially when you are brushing your dog. Rubbing a dryer sheet over the hair will help reduce the static although you may want to use the unscented kind especially for dogs with allergies. Filling a spray bottle with water or diluted dog conditioner works well too. All you have to do is cover the pet with a light mist as you brush. You can also use anti-static sprays. Conditioning sprays usually work best because it conditions the hair as well as cuts static making it easier to brush. If you are having any problems with keeping your pet mat free talk to your groomer and they will be able to make recommendations about frequency of grooming, brushes, sprays and proper brushing technique. By working together you will have a happy and beautiful looking pet all the time!
Misty Fowler: Certified Master Groomer
Misty has been working with animals since age 15. She began working in a boarding kennel, but after a few years found that her true passion was grooming; she loves making dogs look beautiful. Misty worked as Lead Instructor at the Paragon School of Pet Grooming in Jenison before moving to Whiskers. She enjoys competition grooming and is a member of Groom Team USA, as well as being ranked among the top 10 groomers in the United States.
Misty lives with her husband Rick and their 3 dogs, Morgan, Bacardi, and Sambuca, and their cat Whiz.
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Employee of the Month
Lindsey Guay
Lindsey started working at Whiskers in October 2011. She is a native “Yooper”, coming to Grand Rapids from the small town of Menominee located in the southern-most tip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She has always had a love for animals. Growing up, she shared her home with a dog, cat, rabbit, hamster, hermit crabs & fish. She currently has one dog, a terrier mix named Josie back home. However, she doesn’t have any pets in Grand Rapids yet, so she loves coming to work to get her “puppy-fix” everyday! In her free time, Lindsey enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and friends, taking walks, going camping and spending time at the beach.
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Pet of the Month
Miley Dunn
Congratulations to February’s Pet of the Month, Miley!
Miley is a vibrant Pitt Bull Mix who has been visiting us since only November, but has quickly become the “star of the show”. She is always so excited and happy to visit…almost as excited to see us as we are to see her! Though she loves to run and play, she is the best at giving love and attention! She is so sweet and loves all the attention she can get.
Thank you so much for being such an amazing part of our family, Miley! We love you!
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