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Ask Ella
Dear FancJ…sorry, I have to smile. Yes, this is normal – and generally it will clear up within a day or two, just make sure to drink lots of water! Here’s a tip though for the future ~ don’t eat the first night you return home from Paradise unless you were only fed breakfast here. The reason I say that is our schedule is to eat early in the afternoon and your system isn’t used to an evening feeding. Also, an evening feeding means you’re getting more food than your stomach can handle which can also result in diarrhea. So make sure to ask your parents to ease you back into your normal home schedule starting the day after you return and emphasize that the “pleading” look on your face is not for food but for an extra scratch under the chin and an evening walk! Love, Ella. Dear Ella, My vet has recommended that I get the Bordatella vaccine every six months ~ what do you think about that? Love, Missy Dear Missy, I know it’s another trip to your vet and the ol’ squirt up the nose bit, but around here they think it’s a good idea too. Mom’s puttin’ together some kind of handout that talks about kennel cough in general and Bordatella especially. It’ll be sent out in addition to the monthly newsletter and in the reception room as well. Des & I get the Bordatella vaccine every six months - my vet requires it, but that’s okay because I know my immune system is at its highest when the summer hits and that’s cold & flu season for dogs. Mom says, “According to the AAHA website (commonly used among vets) the Bordatella vaccine is good for about 9 months and then it starts to weaken.” I know I want to be fully protected all 12 months! The winter months are when our folks are concerned about flu and colds. Lots of folks get flu shots before winter hits in order to boost their immune system – your folks might’ve too. Doing this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not going to get the flu, but they probably won’t get it as bad, it won’t last as long, & they shouldn’t contract the nuisance viruses (sniffle & sneeze) that come along off & on. Summer (June – Aug) appears to be the cold & flu season for dogs. It rains a lot, everything is blooming & growing, and viruses don’t have a chance to get wiped out by a cold spell. The weaker your immune system, the more chance you have of contracting a cold virus. If you’ve gotten a “flu shot” (Bordatella) within 6 months of summer, there’s a really good chance you also can avoid the nuisance viruses that come along (and better yet, avoid the flu.) Remember though, it takes 7 days (some vets say 14 days) for the vaccine to become effective, so to be safe, tell your folks you want it now for the summer J Love, Ella. Dear Ella, My dad takes me out for my nightly walks and sometimes when I come home he finds ticks on me. Is there anything we can do? Love, Chipper Dear Chipper, Ticks, ticks, everywhere are ticks. Those little suckers are just jumpin’ out all over. And being the furry creature that I am, I’m ALWAYS getting checked for ticks! Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t mention them, including vets, groomers, trainers, and pet sitters; AND at dog parks and in daycare and everywhere! Mom says the best way to avoid them all together is to move to Minneapolis where the snow & ice has wiped them all out – can you imagine? But my Dad would never go there and so we stay here in sunny Florida and deal with bugs, lots of bugs. In case you were wondering, here at Paradise the maintenance folks spray the trees, bushes, and grounds for fleas and ticks on a monthly basis and the staff thoroughly cleans the rooms top to bottom on a daily basis. But most importantly, everyone who comes into Paradise is required to be on a flea and tick preventative at all times. Prevention is the key and when your mom or dad removes YOU as a food source to these critters, that’s the BEST way to avoid a flea and tick infestation. They do that by getting you on a really good prevention program. My mom applies my K9 Advantix (not to be used on cats!) every 3 weeks. I go to pond party twice a week and get bathed once a week, so she thinks it’s more effective this way. She also takes 10 minutes to apply it. First she parts my hair up near my neck and applies a small bit directly on my skin. She then parts my hair all the way down my back in small increments and applies it in small amounts (again, right on the skin). She feels doing it this way causes the solution to go directly into the oil glands and not have to soak through my hair first. Also, I don’t have a big greasy spot between my shoulder blades. I can’t get wet for 72 hours following the application so that week I only get one pond party. Last, but not least, I also get to wear a necklace! It’s a beautiful, tan colored collar that prevents ticks from even wanting to get on my body. Mom says it’s called Preventic and it provides a full 3 months of added protection! Ooops, Angie’s calling me so I’ve got to run ~ everyone’s had lunch and it’s off to the fields we go!! Love, Ella
Ask Ella Dear Ella, “I have this totally rad-looking spike collar and I want to wear it when I come to Paradise. Dad’s ok with it, but mom says no. What do you think (you’d love it!)”…….Karma. Hey Karma, “Sure, Des & I’d love to see it, but the managers say no….too many kids roll around with each other and it’s way dangerous I guess. They have collars for sale in the reception room here (Lisa asked me to put in a plug for them!)”…See you soon, Ella.
Dear Ella, “I know it’s a long time until Halloween, but I have an idea for one of the contests, “Best Tail Wag.” I’m sure my dog is crossed with a cat, because when I try to teach him to sit up or fetch or even stay, he just looks at me like “I’ll get back to you.” But, when I say “treats,” his tail & butt go off the Richter scale. I know he’d win!!….Love Ernie. Dear Ernie, I asked my Dad what he thought of this new contest idea and he said to tell your dog to “get his rear in gear” ‘cause he’s in the lineup!!” Love, Ella.
Dear Ella, "My name is Kristie and I'm a big dog and I play at the Gatehouse. My mom is new at dropping me off for daycare and wants to be sure I'm having a good time. She watches me watch her car when it's leaving and she's afraid I'm feeling sad. How can I tell her that I am having lots of fun with my new people and dog friends??
Dear Kristie, "Please tell your mom that when you're new, it's normal for you to watch her & her car as she drives away. Moms & Dads sometimes misread "watching eyes" for "sad eyes". You and I and the dog handlers here at Paradise know that as soon as her car is through the gate, you will immediately and instinctively turn around to find someone to follow now. That's why the handlers are always there to greet you at the gate - so you won't be alone and you'll know immediately that they're there for you. If you come just once in a while, you will have "watching eyes" a lot. Dogs that come often learn that the handler is their new leader/friend for while they're here and most of the dogs run eagerly through the gate to become part of playtime! I hope you'll come back often - I love playing with you & the other big dogs (especially in the pole barn field!!)" ~ Ella McConnell Ask Ella Dear Ella, “ Why do we need to put Max’s food in all those plastic bags – especially when he’s there two weeks… can’t we just use a scoop & bring a bag of food?” Dear Max’s Mom, “When mealtime comes, we get your baggie of food, pour it into a stainless steel bowl, and put your baggie with your name on it on top of your bowl and it’s ready to go. If we had to scoop everyone’s food & write names on pieces of paper, you would have to wait much longer for us to get everyone’s breakfasts & dinners ready. We appreciate the moms & dads who help us with this!” ~ Ella McConnell Ask Ella Dear Ella, for day care, do I need to pre-register or do you accept drop in's? I have only used your overnight/long care in the past. Also, how much does it cost? Thank you ~ Heidi's mom.
Dear Heidi's Mom.... Reservations are not necessary for daycare. Pets coming in for daycare just need to be dropped off between 7 a.m. and noon and picked up by 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. On Saturday they may be dropped off between 7 - 10 a.m. and then picked up between 3 - 5 p.m. There is no daycare on Sunday.
The large dogs are dropped off with Paul at the Gatehouse gate. It is helpful when you are driving to Paradise to call us when you are about 5 minutes or so away so that Paul can anticipate your arrival and meet you at the gate if at all possible. Just tell him "Heidi is here for daycare". (Small dogs are dropped off at the office)
Daycare dogs are not fed during the day because we assume they eat before and/or after they come in. They are taken out every hour and a half for play and exercise so by the end of the day you should have a tired Heidi!
When you return to Paradise to pick Heidi up, you'll need to come to the office to pay for her day - at that time we'll announce to Paul that Heidi is going home. The cost is $22.00. Or, you may just want to give Paul a check for payment at the gate - again, it's helpful if you can call a little ahead of time and let us know you're getting close to Paradise and Paul will try to anticipate your arrival.
If you'd like to bring Heidi for a whole week (5 days), it's only $90 - that means you can come Friday for only $2.00!! Hope to see you soon! Ella Ask Ella Dear Ella, “My mom would like to know what kind of doggie treats your dad & mom give the big dogs at Paradise. I haven't gotten any treats since the dog food scare – she threw out every treat I had here (bummer!). So, since I spend more time at Paradise than at home, she wants to buy me the kind of treats you guys give out.”……Jewel (large dog). Dear Jewel, “Because you come here so much, you know that the kids here aren’t given any treats (unless they’re specifically brought by their mom or dad, so thanks for writing and letting me tell her. There are lots of kids here with all kinds of food allergies and so the Paradise policy is "NT" (No Treats- from Paradise). If your mom or dad sends them with you, the treat will be given to you with your food at mealtime. That way it's not obvious to the other kids that someone’s getting anything "special". Sometimes the DH (Dog Handler) or PC (Paradise Companion – title for newbies who haven’t become DH’s yet) is asked to put the treat underneath the food so the kid has to dig for it! I guess it’s that “eat your meal first” thing parents try to force on us!! …...Ella P.S. My mom & dad give me & Destiny natural oat biscuits.…not very exciting, but better than nothin’ I guess. Dear Ella, “The first time I came to play at Paradise I scared my mom when she couldn’t even get me up to go outside to poop after I got home. I was too pooped to poop!! Even the next day I was a real couch potato and that was REALLY strange! On the third day I was my old self and couldn’t wait to go back to Paradise to play with my friends again. Is this normal?”…..Elvin (small dog). Dear Elvin, “Totally! New small kids that come here are lots of times coming right out of their folk’s couches, beds, chairs, chaise lounges, and laps and have been carried around a whole lot and don’t get lots of exercise at home. (I hit my “we can’t lift you” weight at about 6 months and that ended my being carried-around days!!) Some little kids even come to Paradise without leashes because they never had one! Their folks buy them one so they can walk them into Paradise….Ella P.S. You can always tell who’s lucky and gets carried a lot ‘cause their leashes are brand new!!
Dear Ella, Dear Dixie, “My mom says that 1/2 cup dry in the morning and 1/2 cup dry in the evening is plenty for you guys. She says wet food is more for taste and has a lot of extra calories. She said to tell you, “Ella doesn’t eat wet food at all and doesn’t miss it a bit” (her words) Just between you & me it’s still pretty cool to stumble into a morsel now & then – but I know she wants the best for me!”….Ella
Ask Ella Dear Ella, “Hi! My name is Lucy and I stay at the gate house about once a week with the larger dogs. My owner would like to know why I've been coming home with colored ribbons on my collar lately. Do they indicate which room I was in, or my disposition for that day? She has heard both and is confused. I told her it's because I'm Paul's favorite, but she's not buying it. Can't blame a dog for trying :-)” Hey Lucy, “My mom said they're not a mood indicator (but that might not be a bad idea). Like people, dogs that are usually pleasant & agreeable can have "moments" too. Especially during the full moon - boy, did I hear lots about that during the last full moon!! Me & Destiny got put into "time out" ~ older sisters can be so grouchy! Anyway, Mom said that the ribbons are given to show what playgroup you will be in that day. Every day we have different kids come to Paradise and each day they are put into the right playgroup for that day. I think the handlers do a super job of putting us in our groups & you'll always be on Paul's good side if you stay inside the fence ~.which you do! ~ Ella (p.s. Paul likes pizza if you're thinkin' of a bribe for extra playtime!)
Dear Ella –
I wanted to give you a break from answering questions. This letter
is just to tell you how much fun I had at daycare this week. What an
adventure! I was doing what I like best – grazing in the grass –
when I found this little, cute fuzzy thing to play with. I even
caught it in my mouth. What fun! Maybe the fuzzy thing (I think I
heard them call it a “bee”) was tired and didn’t want to play,
because it stung me on my gum. I was so surprised, I swallowed it!
Dear AJ: “Wow, Dude - you sure looked funny that day you were in here in the special needs room – I heard someone say, “That’s a golden retriever??” You sort of looked like a golden with a Sharpei head. I’m glad I got to see you before the swelling went down cause you KNOW I’m not gonna eat one of those fuzzy things!” ~ Ella. P.S. Mom says she gave you Benedryl and she’s glad to know you’re back to normal. Dear Ella, I’m Midnite & Margie’s mom and we’re going on a cruise and want to give a “thank you” tip to the dog handlers when we come back. What would be appropriate? Dear M&M’s Mom, “The other day I heard my dad tell someone that there isn’t anything “appropriate” here for tips. He said, “After your cruise just put in whatever’s left over in your pocket (if folks are going to Las Vegas he suggested they do it before the trip)! ~ Ella P.S. It’s way cool laying here on the couch all day and they think I’m asleep all the time. They get really chatty when I’m on my back and have all four legs in the air! Dear Ella, "How come when I get home from having my bath and my nails trimmed, my dad doesn't think I got them cut 'cause they don't look that much different??" ~ Signed, Stubby Dear Stubs, "I asked Teresa, the small dog manager, on this one because my nails are manicured and I wasn't sure. She said that if your nails are pretty long they can only cut the tips off because the longer the nail is, the longer the "quick" inside the nail is and then the nail can only be cut back just to the quick ~ if she cut into the quick it would make your nail bleed and that would feel bad for you and for her. Each time the nail is cut "to the quick", as they say, the quick will retract and then you can have your nails cut again in about a week. If your dad wants you to have shorter nails, you'll have to get them cut more often. (By the way, here a nail trim is only $5.00!) Love, Ella. (ed note: Ella's nails are not manicured & I've told her to quit telling you that ~ Paul cuts her nails same as the rest :-) Dear Ella, "I'm a boxer that comes to Paradise occasionally and I met you the last time I was there. In my backyard there's this little dog who plays peek-a-boo with me through the fence. His mom wants to know if she can come with my mom to see the Dog Whisperer in Nov. on the bus from Paradise? I think he wants you to say "no" 'cause he's definitely the guy-in-charge at his house and I know he doesn't want anything to change (you know, the ol' "who's the pack leader" scenario) ~ Thanks, Shorts.
Hey Shorts, ~ "Oh, I get it! Boxer ~ Shorts ~ that's too funny! Anyway, tell your friend it's too bad for him, but his mom IS welcome to come. I also hope he'll come over to Paradise and meet & greet everyone here sometime - he's missing out on a lot of fun! The Courtyard Playhouse has even more fun stuff than we do at the Gatehouse!" Dear Ella, "My dog's a big dog and if I told you his name he'd kill me because I need to ask sort of a personal question and he'd die of embarrassment if you knew who he was! I read an article that said I could tell if he had the flu rather than an allergy by taking his temperature. I've never taken his temperature, and I think I know the answer to this, but do they have thermometers that you can stick in dog's ears like with people?? If not, is there anything you can tell me to help me with the other method??~ Gratefully yours, Mom.
Dear Mom, "Yes, there is an ear thermometer designed just for us! But, in my moms opinion she likes the rectal thermometer best and feels it's more reliable . I couldn't think of a delicate way to tell you how to take a temp this way, so here's something from a handout that my folks gave out at the Health First health fair on pet health which may help: "Always use a bulb thermometer rectally. It is recommended to use a digital thermometer for faster readings. Lubricate the bulb with KY or Vaseline. Lift the dog's tail, holding him firmly to keep him from sitting down. Using a twisting motion, gently insert the bulb into the anal canal one to three inches, depending on the size of the dog. Follow the manufacturer's directions. Normal adult dog temperature is 100o to 102.5oF - average is 101.3oF "~ Good luck, Ella.
P.S. You know, just between you & me,
that rectal thing isn't as bad as it sounds, however, if you
want to get an ear one you can purchase it at
www.PetEdge.com
Dear Ella, "I sort of freak out a bit (actually a lot) when it's lightning ~ what do you do at Paradise when it's lightning?? ~ Frightened Freddie (large dog).
Dear Freddie, "Gosh, Florida sure does have lots of lightning and it's kind of scary to me too ~ but at the Manager's meeting the other day I heard Paul say that all of the houses are "grounded" and the big generators that can run electricity in the houses for many days are both "grounded" too. I know that the dog handlers calmly scoot everyone into their playrooms when lightning is coming. Then we have our country western music to drown out the kabooms and we can't see the flashes of light through the covered windows. Also, most of the kids here don't care about the lightning & thunder and I've found personally that being in with them helps me be calm too." Wish I had more space to write, but they only gave me this much, so I'm going to play in the pole barn field!" ~ Love, Ella
Dear Ella, "What's the funnest thing about coming to Paradise? Should I bring some of my toys?" Love, Annie.
Dear Annie, "Guess what - we have lots of fun stuff that goes on here and some of it doesn't have anything to do with what your folks might buy! Yesterday I watched Ishka Bibble (true name) get out of his car and run right over to chase a squirrel up a tree! Bibble circled the tree a few times and then when Paul called him to the gate he immediately left the squirrel tree (honest!) and ran right over to the gate and through to go play with the other kids. We have tunnels and hills and trees and lots of fun grass to play & roll in and when the kids are in the play/sleeping rooms they have Paradise toys to play with if they want. We have play equipment, agility equipment & lots of ball throwing - but if you aren't real athletic, it's still fun to sit in the shade and watch some of these kids who think they're hot stuff!! Love, Ella
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