In 36 years of grooming, I have never heard this one... An older man and his wife came in for the first time. They had the cutest six-month-old Shih Tzu puppy.As I reached for the puppy, I could tell it was matted to the skin! I asked all the questions: Do you brush your puppy? Do you use a hairdryer? etc. The man told me after he bathed the puppy, he took it outside, put it on top of his heat/air condition unit to dry! Only in America! Ha ha!

Deanna Horn

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From Our Readers: Question of the Day

How did you prepare yourself, your staff, and your facility for the holiday season?

We were full for Thanksgiving and [...] Christmas. We [were] taking reservations on a cancellation list [...] and the calls [kept] coming in! We don’t do anything different than we would on a typical full Summer week. Although I do make homemade Frosty Paws ice cream and give them to our non-diet restrictive guests after their holiday suppers. Yes, we love to spoil.
– Stacy Maneval Miller

We consider EVERY day a busy holiday. It’s a good plan, that way everyone is always on top of their game.
– Lisa Chafee

This year Thanksgiving was much busier. Lots of people not going away for Christmas. Grooming crazy but all in all it is always busy. Nice to have a break in Jan!!!
– Linda Woodworth

I am seeing the same thing as Linda. We were very busy for Thanksgiving. Not as many reservations for Christmas but grooming like crazy! But we are always prepared for busy times.
– Robin Willingham Hill

Super busy Christmas and Thanksgiving! Staff ready but I’m looking forward to lull in January.
– Beth Trifero Clark

If you could ask other boarding facilities one question, what would you ask?

Does anyone else do a late night walk? We come back in starting around 10 p.m. to take pets out for last walk and check.
– Madonna Warwick

What do you use for dog identification? Keep collars on, break-a-way collars, disposables?
– Rebecca Valiska

If you could buy any kennel runs or build any type of kennels, condos or suites, what manufacturer or material would you use and why.
– Tim Longmire

What software do you recommend? Right now I write everything manually in my books. Although I am a small kennel (13 kennels), it is overkill for me. Thanks!
– Tara Sanville-Vandoske

What are the best measures for noise control? How do you dispose of solid waste (poop)?
– Traci Webb Whiteside

How do other facilities handle dogs that have separate foods when the owners want them housed together and the dogs don’t always eat their food right away, or they fight over their food?
– Barbara Badger Rush

How do other facilities handle dogs that have separate foods when the owners want them housed together and the dogs don’t always eat their food right away, or they fight over their food?
– Barbara Badger Rush

How many days/hours do other owners work?
– Lisa Chafee

Here are some of the responses your questions received:

Our last potty break is 10 p.m. as well. Our clients love that.
– Lisa Chafee

We remove collars, no need for a choking or panicked dog. We collar with disposable breakaways for like dogs; black Labs, Yorkies etc.
– Doris Havner

We use Kennel Connection too and are a small facility, but I still keep a hand-written back up reservation book just in case of power outage.
– Madonna Warwick

To read more questions and answers, visit bit.ly/pbdqanda

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