Laughing Matter If you have a feeling your dog is smiling at you, it could be that he or she is ready for some fun.
According to a recent study of dogs at play, researchers observed a distinctive rapid panting behavior that appeared to be the equivalent of laughter in dog language. The pant was used to communicate pleasure and evoked playfulness in other dogs. The next time you play a lively game of fetch with your pup, listen closely. The panting you hear may actually be a hearty laugh.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` What's Happening at Ultimutt This Week...
It has been another fun week at Ultimutt! We started the week with our third in this series of training class. This class is made up of everyone's Christmas puppies, so it is both fun and challenging! But, their owners are very proud that they are learning the basic commands.
This week also kicked off our Cutest Dog Photo Contest and we've already received several entries. Check out our website to see all these cute dogs. The judges are going to have a rough time choosing! To enter your dog's photo, email Brook at Brook.Lang@ultimuttdogcare.com. The winner will receive a free spa day at Ultimutt including a day of doggie daycare (if fixed and up-to-date on shots), bath, nails, and bandanna or hair bow of choice. The owner will win an Ultimutt overnight tote bag for their dog.
Maggie and Rudy have made friends and have enjoyed playing together. Mary's mother's dog, Girlfriend, visited and made fast friends with Junior. With this weather and the weather to come we have made sure our Ultimutt's are tired when they go home! We have thrown the tennis balls for hours and they have really enjoyed chasing it.
We have a fantastic puppy who is about 15 weeks old and will probably end up weighing about 40 pounds. This puppy has had a traumatic start in her life, and is looking for a loving home. She is a good puppy and has lots of love to give. However, she will do best in a home that will allow her to be an "inside dog." She gets along great the other dogs so "brothers" and "sisters" already in the home would be a bonus.

Newsletter: Jan 25, 2010

Why Doggie Daycare?
We often forget that dogs are pack animals and therefore many thrive in a pack environment. Interaction with their peers improve their demeanors and socialization skills. Doggie daycare minimizes destructive behavior as well as separation anxiety. After a day of playing and interacting with other dogs, most dogs are content to come home and relax.
"I love sending my dogs to Ultimutt for so many reasons: the social interaction with other dogs, the exercise, the comforting knowledge that they are in great hands, but the best reason to send a dog to Ultimutt is that you will always take home a very happy and content dog."
- Rhonda Sherrard"Ultimutt is great for Dakota & myself. I don't feel guilty anymore crating him while I am at work and he gets lots of exercise playing with all his dog buddies. Mary & Brook love all their dogs and I love what they do for us." - Sandi Dye
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What's Happening at Ultimutt This Week...
Our Ultimutts of all ages loved the 65 degree weather and played like they were puppies. Over the past two weeks, we have been getting a lot of "Christmas Puppies" for daycare or their first groom and bath. It has been so fun watching these puppies learn social skills, make friends, and learn to be potty trained.Our regulars are up to their old antics. Lilly is swimming in the water bowl on warm days. Dakota, Charlie, Derby, Cutie, Lola, and Maggie are so happy to arrive each morning and can play all day. Zenna, Zubie, Buddy, and Copper will play ball, chase, lay down with a toy, or just hang with Mary and Brook. Sophie, Junior, and Zack are growing into great dogs. Its fun to watch them and be part of it.Ultimutt has added a groomer to our staff, Holly West. She has 6 years experience. She comes in a few days to assist Brook. She is great and the dogs love her.We are halfway through our third training class. We have some wonderful puppies and owners who are working so hard and doing fantastic. Mary looks forward to seeing their progress each week.

70 Degrees in Jan-Can't beat that

Ok so it has cooled off a little, but 70+ for 2 or 3 days in January is amazing! The dogs really are indifferent about the cold vs. warm but Brook and I LOVED it. We were able to power wash the entire building, opening the garage doors, and let the dogs be dogs without worring about how long they had been outside in the sub-zero weather (maybe below 30 is more accurate - but either way it was cold!).

We are working on ideas for the year. Stay tuned to see what all we come up with and what characters we are going to have Stephen dress up as.

Brook is working on our first newsletter and it should go out today. As long as the internet and programming aren't being contrary. It will include some 'fun facts,' a dog of the week (which is a suprise so stay tuned to see if your Ultimutt is it this week), and our upcoming events.

Have a great weekend!

Cutest Dog Contest

We are starting a cutest dog contest next week and it will go through Valentine's day. Send us a picture of the one that you love at their best. We, Brook, will post them on our website as they are received and we will announce the winner on Monday, Feb. 15th. The winner will receive a 'Spa Day' at Ultimutt. The Spa Day will include daycare (if fixed and upto date on shots), a bath, nails, and a bandana or bow of their owners choice. The owner will receive an Ultimutt bag and bragging rights.
So get out there and start taking pictures of your Ultimutt or go through those old photos and email them to Brook or myself. Brook.Lang@ultimuttdogcare.com or mary.young@ultimuttdogcare.com We are looking forward to seeing them.

Clean Tired Dogs-Whatelse Could You Ask For?

When the chime in the back goes off Brook and I are anxious to go around the corner and see which of our Ultimutts' are here for the day. We love seeing those familiar faces and the their tails wagging as they greet us-so happy to be here! You can't ask for a better way to start the day.
Lately we have been adding a lot more Ultimutt's to the mix. We love our new kids young and old! The 'Senior' Ultimutt's have so much love to give and are content to just be petted and when motiviated run with the young ones to show they still can. Our 'Baby' Ultimutt's aren't interested in Brook and I til late afternoon when they need a good hug and a nap. The babies, no matter their size, play chase and then use the comforters as 'safe' and pile up and roll around like they are all litter mates.
Because of our growing daycare we have hired a groomer so Brook and I can both be in the back with our Ultimutt's during the day. Holly started this week and is doing a wonderful job. She has 6 years experience grooming and is a joy to be around. We can now handel a lot more grooms, baths, nails, etc so please send your friends over.
Brook is working on a bi-weekly newsletter. Please send us ideas, topic's you'd like to cover, questions, etc.
Have a great Friday-I've got to get to the dogs!

the last 2 months have flown!

I can't believe it is 2010 and I haven't updated you on all of our wonderful Ultimutt's in 2 months. I am sorry and promise not to go that long again. I'll recap and update and then introduce a few of our new Ultimutt's.

November:
*Booth at the Jr. League Holiday Market-we got to show off all of our Ultimutts and talk to a lot of people about their babies and 'Granddogs'
*We collected food and toys for a local shelter
*We also wrapped up our 2nd round of training classes. All our Ultimutt's did wonderfullly

December:
*Pictures with Santa were fun for everyone! (except maybe Santa-thanks Stephen)
*Ultimutt experienced it's first snow! The dogs loved the snow and ice. Brook and I weren't as fond of it but watching them Christmas Eve and Christmas day playing and running was wonderful and worth the cold. For the majority of the dogs here it was their first snow and they LOVED it. We would leave the water bowl outside so it could freeze and then pour water over it. Ice water became their favorite activity. They bobbed for it, ran with it, dug for it, etc.
*Christmas-It was so fun to see what many of the owners brought for us to give the dogs on Christmas day. Even with the holiday's the dogs had lots of loving!
*We had our biggest day yet: 43 dogs and came within matching it 3 or 4 times during the month.
*Brook and I both took some vacation time to spend with our families-over the last 4 1/2 months the dogs have trumped our family time day in and day out - so a week with them was amazing. But we were both so ready to get back and see the dogs-we missed our kids!

We ended 2009 with a bang! We completed 4.5 months of our dream job and still love it every single day. Thank you for allowing your dogs to become a part of our lives.

New kids:
4 Labs: 2 chocolate Sonny/Fredo, 2 yellow Breck and baby Caddius
3 Yorkipoos: Bentley, Lola, Marley
3 Labradoodles/Goldendoodles:Belle, Bella, Gracie
2 Morkies: Chesney and Mollie-they are litter mates who went to different owners but get to play together here.
1 Westie baby: Marley-how precious is about all you can say
1 precious little mutt: some form of boxer mix now named Maddie. She had been run over and brought to us and we were able to get her healthy and have an amazing family take her.

I promise to write soon and Brook is working to upload some pictures for you. I've got to get back to the dogs. Thanks for reading.