Leipers Fork Christmas Parade

Greymont had the pleasure of participating in the Leipers Fork Christmas Parade on December 18.  We had such a great time, and want to thank everyone who came out!  Check out our pictures:

 

New Years Class Schedule

Puppy Meets World

Classes Start Wednesday, January 12, 2011

6:00p-7:00p

Puppy Preschool: Designed to prepare puppies under the age of six months for basic obedience

Basic Obedience

Classes Start Wednesday, January 12, 2011

7:15p-8:15p

 Middle School: Designed for dogs over six months of age

*All dogs must have current vaccinations before enrolling in any program at Greymont.  Puppies are required to have at least two d/h/l/p (puppy) shots and the vet recommended dosage of the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine

*Preregistration is required—call for details 615-799-9155

Have a Great Holiday Season!

Don't forget to make your reservations for Christmas and New Years!  Our vans are filling quickly.  Have a safe holiday season!

Check out this cute link! Does this remind you of your dog?

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Keep Your Pet Safe This Christmas

It's hard to believe it is almost Christmastime again!

Now is a great time to book your Christmas reservation too!  Our office is open on Christmas Eve from 8 am until 2 pm.  Our vans are already booked for Christmas Eve.  Our office is closed on Christmas.  

The holidays are a special time for family and friends, but don't forget about your pets.  If you are going to include them in the festivities, be sure to keep them safe. 

Kitchen Safety

• Tin foil, meat strings, and toothpicks, can cause serious digestive problems if swallowed.
• Dough can expand in the stomach and cause severe problems if swallowed.
• Chocolate, coffee, and tea are very toxic for dogs. Even small amounts can cause diarrhea, seizures or death. Unsweetened baking chocolate and dark chocolate are most dangerous.
• Bones, cooked or uncooked, can tear or obstruct the digestive system.
• Sweets, greasy, or spicy foods can cause pancreatitis which is a serious inflammation of the pancreas and can be fatal.
• Alcoholic beverages are attractive to some dogs, especially sweet alcoholic beverages such as eggnog. Remind guests to keep glasses out of reach of the dog and put away glasses after parties. A small amount of alcohol can be fatal.
• Keep garbage covered and out of reach.

Christmas Tree and Decoration Safety

• Christmas trees should be secured to prevent toppling. Do not allow your dog to eat fallen pine needles or even artificial tree needles as they can be toxic or cause stomach irritation.
• Christmas tree water can contain poisonous pine tar or tree preservatives.
•  Many dogs think ornaments are toys and want to play with them. These can cause digestive problems/obstructions. 
• Christmas lights can cause digestive upsets or electrocution if chewed.
• Electrical cords can cause electrocution or a fire hazard if chewed.
• Costumes and Christmas outfits are adorable on Scruffy but they should not bind or constrict, block the dog’s vision, or have pieces that can cause choking if swallowed.
• Almost all Christmas plants, including holly leaves and berries, poinsettias, and mistletoe are poisonous or irritating to dogs if swallowed.

Outdoor Safety

• Antifreeze tastes sweet and many dogs are attracted to it. Just a few drops can be fatal.
• Hypothermia can pose a danger during severe cold. Puppies, old dogs, and sick dogs are most vulnerable. Dress your dog in winter clothing or restrict outdoor time. Provide snug shelter. Warm your dog quickly if he starts to shiver.
• Ice-melting chemicals and salt can irritate paws or cause digestive upsets if swallowed.

Tips for Avoiding Trouble

Provide your dog with a safe and comfortable place, such as a crate or a baby gated room, away from holiday dangers and the stress of unfamiliar guests and disrupted schedules.

Snip-its from Greymont

We sometimes take for granted the special little stories that happen at Greymont, because they happen so frequently!  

Goofy, a large black and white pointer, first came to Greymont a little over a year ago because of some fairly severe aggressive habits.  We determined his aggression was mostly caused by fear.  Through patience, compassion and a lot of treats, we began to reverse the way he looked at people.  Initially while boarding with us, he would only allow a couple of people to handle him for walks.  Now, he is comfortable with most of our employees.  Though Goofy still has his favorite people here at the kennel, he has become very familiar with the Greymont family, and walks with his head up and tail wagging.  

Congratulations to Banks S., Abby H. and Max M. for completing the AKC S.T.A.R Puppy 

program!  Each puppy completed six weeks of puppy obedience classes, and passed the S.T.A.R test.  

If you would like Nature’s Select dog food delivered to your door, please register at www.nstennessee.com. 

Weekend Updates!

Greymont is happy to announce it is using Nature's Select  food at the kennel.  They offer a delivery service to most areas in Middle Tennessee.  If you would like to learn more about their products for you cat or dog, or if you would like to schedule a delivery, visit http://nstennessee.com/.

And just a reminder:

We still have availability at the kennel for the holidays, but our vans are booked for the following dates:  

Tuesday, November 23:  Vans are booked   

Wednesday, November 24:  Vans are booked

Thursday, November 25:  Our office is closed

Sunday, November 28: Vans are booked

Monday, November 29: Vans are booked

Friday, December 24: Vans are booked/Office is open until 2:00 pm

You are of course more than welcome to drop off and pick up at the kennel during office hours. 

Make Your Holiday Reservations!

The holidays are almost here again!  That means it's almost time to visit with family and friends, to enjoy good food and to make new memories.  It also means it's time to make your pet's holiday plans.  Remember, our kennel and transportation services fill quickly around Thanksgiving and Christmas, so make your reservations early.

It is also a great time to get your dog into a training class!  See our training section for upcoming classes and programs

Happy Halloween!

Keep Your Pets Safe Tonight!

Dogs certainly have a sweet tooth!  However, chocolate is the wrong treat for dogs.  Chocolate contains theobromine, also known as xantheose, is a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant, found in chocolate, as well as in a number of other foods, including the leaves of the tea plant. In high enough quantities it can stop your pet’s heart. Even in small amounts, it can be irritating to the gut lining and cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  If you suspect your pet has ingested Halloween candy, call your vet or the Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.

Other tips:

Popular Halloween decorations such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively non-toxic; however, they can produce upset stomachs in pets.

Carved pumpkins are festive this time of year! If a candle is used to light your Jack-o-lantern, place them in an area where pets will be unlikely to knock them over to avoid a fire.

Electric lights and other decorations should be out of the reach of pets. If the cords are chewed, your pet may suffer from burns or possibly a life threatening shock.

If you dress up your pet, make certain that the costume does not constrict the pet's natural movements or impede their ability to see, hear, and breathe or to bark or meow.

Closely inspect your pet's costume to ensure that there are no dangling pieces that can be easily chewed that they could choke on.

Even some of the most social pets should be kept in a separate room during trick-or -treat hours. Too many human ghouls can be scary and stressful for even the most social pet.

When opening the door for our trick-or-treaters, make certain that your pet does not dart out the door.

Make certain that your pet(s) has proper identification. If your pet should escape and become lost, a collar with license or other ID can be a lifesaver.

 We hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween!

Ben is scary!  (Thanks for the picture, Barbara!)

                       

New Fall Class Schedule

Greymont Academy Fall Class Schedule

Puppy Meets World

Classes Start Saturday, October 9, 2010

10:00 am

Puppy Preschool: Designed to prepare puppies under the age of six months for basic obedience

Basic Obedience

Classes Start Saturday, November 13, 2010

12:30 pm-1:30 pm

 Middle School: Designed for dogs over six months of age

Basic Agility

Classes Start Saturday, November 13, 2010

11:00 am-12:00 pm

Intro to Agility: Designed to introduce the sport of dog agility to owners, and to familiarize agility equipment to dogs and puppies. Prerequisite: Must apply for enrollment and/or speak with a trainer

Rally-O!

Coming in November

Intro to Rally-O: An introduction to the fun, exciting obedience class offered through the AKC called “Rally- O.” Designed to build team work, precision, and interaction through competitive obedience exercises

*All dogs must have current vaccinations before enrolling in any program at Greymont.  Puppies are required to have at least two d/h/l/p (puppy) shots and the vet recommended dosage of the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine

*Preregistration is required—call for details 615-799-9155