RIP "Daddy" the Pit Bull

Cesar Millan's "right-hand man," Daddy, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, February 19th, at the age of 16.  He will be greatly missed, as he was one of the most influential pit bull ambassadors the world has ever known.  He exhibited the infamous "calm, submissive" attitude, showing dogs and owners a true balanced dog.

To honor Daddy's legacy, the Daddy's Emergency Animal Rescue [DEAR] fund has been established by the Cesar and Illusion Millan Foundation.  To donate, visit Daddy's website

RIP Daddy. We will miss you!

Buddy's First Day of Camp

Meet Buddy, Our Newest Camp Addition

Look at that face! 

Buddy is a ten month old french bulldog.  Today is his first day in small dog camp and he loved it!  He adjusted right away, exploring and making friends.  When he gets really excited, he wiggles his butt and runs around the room really fast-very cute. 

Is Your Dog Right For Day Camp?

All dogs, large and small, may apply for admission to Doggy Day Camp. Dogs that might especially benefit include:
-High energy pets that need lots of exercise
-Puppies and young dogs who need a lot of attention
-Dogs who show signs of boredom or seperation anxiety when left home alone
-Dogs with weight problems, so they can keep active

Remember, dogs are pack animals and prefer to be with other dogs and people than at home alone!

If your pup would like to join in the fun....
Dogs must be at least five months of age, spayed or neutered and up to date on distemper, bordatella and rabies and a fecal check every six months.  They must be friendly with people and dogs and not protective with toys and food. They must first go through an interview to assess their behavior, and then can be signed up for three introduction days where we slowly introduce them to the rest of the campers.

For more information, visit our website or call 301-926-6005 to get your dog enrolled today!

Kittens!

Gabby, our Mangager Intern, had a surprise waiting for her when she got home last Friday.  Her cat, Princess, had three little kittens! In the closet!  Mom and babies are doing well.  Aren't they adorable?  One of the little black ones needs a home, so call the center if you are interested 301-926-6005

Congrats Sadie the Scottie!

Sadie, the scottish terrier, Ch. Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot won Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday, February 16th.  Congragulations Sadie and handler, Gabriel Rangel!

Sadie beat out 2,500 champions to win Best in Show!  She first competed against other scotties, then she moved onto the Terrier Group to win it, and then beat out the other 6 dogs from their group classes to win BEST IN SHOW!

WAY TO GO SADIE!

Puppy Bowl 2010

Our 2010 Puppy Bowl was held on Saturday, February 13th from 10am-11am; it was a BLAST!!  All the puppies were 6 months and under and had so much fun!  Dari, our trainer, went over the importance of socialization, including how to properly do a "meet and greet."  She also talked about potty training tips, seperation anxieties, and chewing problems.  The puppies got to play with eachother, play the "Find It" game (pictured below) and also hang out in the kiddie pool! Puppy kingergarten classes start February 27th; call the center today and sign your pup up!

Call 301-926-6005 to sign your puppy up for puppy kindergarten starting soon!

Valentines Day Party in Doggy Daycamp

Happy Valentines Day Best Friends Gaithersburg!

Our doggy daycampers had a great time at our Valentines Day Party on Monday, February 15th.  Everyone got a valentines card (above) a goodie bag full of treats, and a big kiss!  We had fun activities and contests like "Best Pooch Smooch" and "Cutest Couple."  Love was in the air! 

Bring your dog to our doggy daycamp so he/she can enjoy our holiday parties with us!

Daisy and ScottScott and Einstein

Bear and ScottBuck and Scott

Scott and Piper

...and our "Cutest Couple" winner....

Congrats Kodee and Muffin!!

If your dog would like to join in on the fun in our doggy daycamp, call 301-926-6005 or visit our website for more information.

Westminster Dog Show 2010

I look forward to this every year....the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show held in Madison Square, NY.  It starts tonight!

2,500 AKC Champions from all over the world are invited to compete in this prestigious show; the second biggest in the world (Crufts Dog Show in England is the first)

 How does a dog get to compete at this level?  Well, the dog must be a champion, which means they have won first place at a lot of dog shows.  To be a champion the dog needs to earn 15 points, including 2 majors.

Westminster starts early Monday morning, where all the breeds compete against the breed standard. The dog that is closest to the breed standard wins "Best of Breed," and moves onto the group class, which is what is aired on T.V.  The winners of the 7 group classes, compete in "Best In Show" which is Tuesday evening. 


The WKC is introducing three new breeds this year.  We welcome:

Irish Red and White Setter into the Sporting Group

Norweigan Buhund into the Herding Group

Pyrenian Shepherd into the Herding Group

To root for your favorite breed...

•  Watch The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Monday, February 15th from 8pm-9pm on USA Network and 9pm-11pm on CNBC.  Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups will be judged that evening. 
• Tuesday, February 16th will be Sporting, Working, Terrier and Best In Show from 8pm-11pm on USA Network.

Go Shetland Sheepdog, Australian Shepherd, and English Springer Spaniel! 

Visit their website for more information. 

Dogs and Snow 101

Since we have now experienced the "Blizzard of 2010," here are some tips to think about when your pup is outside:

1.  Take into consideration your dog's breed, age and haircut.  Obviously, the smooth-coat chihuahua cannot last as long outside as the siberian husky.  When you start to see your dog shiver, it's time to head back in.

2.  Keep your walks short and frequent.  If your schedule allows it, the more walks the better to keep your pooch from getting bored and possibly tearing up the house.  If the weather is too terrible outside, bring your dog to our doggy daycamp or daycare where we can keep them busy and warm inside for the whole day!

3.  Doggie sweaters and boots are always a good idea if you are going outside for a long period of time.  Sweaters keep the dogs with short hair warm and boots can keep their paws from getting raw.  If you don't have doggie boots, you can use petroleum jelly in between the pads which acts as a temporary waterproof barrier.

4.  Invest in pet-safe snow salt to avoid damage to your dog's paws, or possible ingestion of the toxin.  We sell Safe Paw Ice Melter here, so stop by the center and stock up!

5.  If your dog is fickle and is having a hard time eliminating on the snow, try uncovering a small grassy area so he/she feels more comfortable going when nature calls.

6.  Always dry your dog off when coming back inside. This will not only keep them dry and comfortable, it will prevent their hair from matting.  Dogs tend to get dirtier in inclement weather, so if they need some freshening up, schedule an appointment with one of our experienced groomers at our salon.

Toad says, "Enjoy the snow!"  Sounds like we will be getting more of it this season!

RESCHEDULED Puppy Socialization Event

Due to inclement weather, we will be rescheduling our Puppy Bowl.  It was originally scheduled for Saturday, February 6th from 10am-11am.

It is now rescheduled for Saturday, February 13th from 10am-11am.

Hope to see you then for our FREE puppy playgroup!

Please contact the center for any questions, you can reach us at 301-926-6005

Bickerstaff Dog Park: A Fun Place for Your Pup

Last Saturday, Sonic and Smudge visited the Bickerstaff Dog Park, aka "The Dog Exercise Area" in Gaithersburg, MD.  The park is located on 151 Bickerstaff Way (between Sam Eig Highway and Muddy Branch Rd) 

Sonic and Smudge's Rating: B+

We were greeted by so many wagging tails - and then we realized why...our Best Friends from Gaithersburg doggy daycamp were there!  Leila, Lola, Mushu, and Goliath all came running up to us to say hello.  This dog park is a hotspot on the weekends for our regular daycampers; a place where they can enjoy some R&R with their owners.

Bickerstaff Dog Park is equipped with poop bags, water fountains and bowls, and benches.  Smudge liked that the park was mostly gravel, because even after the early morning rain shower, his paws remained clean- no mud!  Sonic was happy to see that there were still patches of grass where he could relieve himself - he prefers the grass.  They both prefer smaller dogs, and this park had a big dog arena and a small dog arena to accomodate everyone.

Smudge's only concern is there aren't any trees or any shade for the summertime, and with his smushed face he does get hot very easily.

For more information, visit The Bickerstaff Dog Park website

Overall, Sonic and Smudge give this park two paws up!

Meet Our Dog Park Reviewers

Meet Sonic and Smudge!  These cute boys are owned by Best Friends Gaithersburg Assistant Manager, Amy.  They are our official dog park reviewers; they will be going to all the local dog parks and giving it a rating.  Stay tuned for the duo's upcoming dog park reviews!

Sonic is 13 1/2 year old shetland sheepdog, he was Amy's junior showmanship showdog for this first seven years of his life.  He was also active in agility and obedience, and is the three-time Maryland State Fair Grand Champion with Amy.  Although he is a "retired" showdog, he is still very active, and stays busy making snow angels and playing with Smudge. 

Smudge is a four year old long-haired chihuahua.  Since he has an overbite, he cannot be a showdog, so Amy adopted him as a pet.  Smudge enjoys cuddling and playing with his toys.  He will play fetch for hours.  Unlike Sonic, Smudge does not enjoy the cold weather.  When he gets really excited, he runs in circles around the room. If you look closely, you can see his mohawk!

Sonic and Smudge will be visiting the dog parks and letting you know if they give their stamp of approval.  Visit back soon to see what they have to say about the Bickerstaff Dog Park!