Summer Has Arrived at Playground Pups
Local Shelter Drive
As the economy continues to batter our city, the city and private shelters donations have dropped dramatically. Many struggling people are no longer able to care for their pets and these shelters try to pick up the slack with little or no funding other than dog lovers like ourselves. Playground Pups will be running a donation drive throughout the summer to help supplement some of their much needed supplies.
We will be giving our donations to Animal Haven, a local no kill rescue shelter. www.animalhavenshelter.org. Needed supplies can be food, crates, lightly used bedding, blankets, grooming tools, toys, treats, clothing and just about anything you can think of. We will be setting up a large basket in the storefront, so you can just drop and run and we’ll take care of getting it to them.
Summer Boardings
Summer has begun with a bang here at PPups. We’ve already had lots of busy, fun holiday boardings. Be sure to book your summer vacation plans as soon as you know them. Remember, we’re not sticklers for confirmations and we never charge cancellation fees. We just like to be prepared, especially during the upcoming holidays, so we can staff accordingly.
Vaccinations
Please remember to keep your dog’s vaccines up to date. As many of you already know, that is something we are definitely sticklers about! If your dog has expired vaccines of more than two weeks and we have already notified you about it, we will not be able to let your dog back into daycare until it’s been taken care of. The health of all our pooches is our number one priority and we make no exceptions.
As the hot weather approaches, I’ve attached the following article "Hot Weather Tips for your Pooch" from health.webmd.com about the best way to care for your dog in the heat. It’s a little long but extremely important. There are many dangers to our pets during the dog days of summer:
Dog Days of Summer
We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but being overeager in hot weather can spell danger, warn ASPCA experts.
"Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to the heat," says Dr. Lila Miller, ASPCA Vice President of Veterinary Outreach, "and heat stroke can be fatal if not treated promptly. Take these simple precautions, provided by ASPCA experts, to help prevent your pet from overheating. And if you suspect your pet is suffering from heat stroke, get help from your veterinarian immediately.
Made in the Shade
Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it's hot outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful to not over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it's extremely hot.
Know the Warning Signs
According to Dr. Lila Miller, ASPCA Vice President of Veterinary Outreach, "symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees. Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
No Parking!
Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. "On a hot day, a parked car can become a furnace in no time-even with the windows open-which could lead to fatal heat stroke," says Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. Also, leaving pets unattended in cars in extreme weather is illegal in several states.
Make a Safe Splash
Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool-not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from his fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals that could cause stomach upset.
Grooming
Giving your dog a lightweight summer haircut helps prevent overheating. Shave down to a ½ - 1” length, never to the skin, so your dog still has some protection from the sun. Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat. As far as skin care, be sure that any sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is labeled specifically for use on animals.
Street Smarts
When the temperature is very high, don't let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close the ground, your pooch's body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.
Avoid Chemicals
Commonly used flea and tick products, rodenticides (mouse and rat baits), and lawn and garden insecticides can be harmful to cats and dogs if ingested, so keep them out of reach. When walking your dog, steer clear of areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals. Keep citronella candles, oil products and insect coils out of pets' reach as well. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect your animal has ingested a poisonous substance.
Party Animals
Taking Fido to a backyard barbeque or party? 
Remember that the food and drink offered to guests may be poisonous to pets. "Keep alcoholic beverages away from pets, as they can cause intoxication, depression and comas," says Dr. Steven Hansen, ASPCA Senior Vice President of Animal Health Services. "Similarly, remember that the snacks enjoyed by your human friends should not be a treat for your pet; any change of diet, even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe digestive ailments. Avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and products with the sweetener xylitol."
Fireworks
Please leave pets at home when you head out to Fourth of July celebrations, and never use fireworks around pets. "Exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns or trauma to curious pets, and even unused fireworks can be hazardous," says Dr. Hansen. "Many types of fireworks contain potentially toxic substances such as potassium nitrate, copper, chlorates, arsenic and other heavy metals."
That’s all for now. Enjoy your summer. Use sunscreen.
Have fun.
OK, gang, it's nap time
May News at Playground Pups
New Extended Weekend Daycare Hours:
Saturdays 8:30 am – 6:30 pm
Sundays 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Grooming dogs must be picked up by 5 pm on weekends
Puppy Playgroup:
Saturdays and Sundays 10 am – 11 am
Memorial Day Weekend - Boardings are filling up fast. Be sure to book soon, space is limited! Since we double the staff for all shifts on holiday weekends and all boarding dogs get daily 30 minute park walks, there will be a flat $20 holiday premium for the weekend.
Groomer's Corner - Genna's grooming tip for the month: ”Do not use topical flea and tick treatments (ie: Frontline) 48 hours before or after a bath. Applied less than 48 hours before a bath, it will not be fully absorbed yet, and for 48 hours after a bath your dogs pores are too open and too much can be absorbed.
Adoption Update 
Meet Angelica after her spa day at Playground Pups…. just about the sweetest 7 year old mixed breed you’ll ever find. She’s a family surrender, house trained, loving and affectionate.
If you’re interested, please contact us and we will put you in touch with Stray From the Heart, the wonderful rescue group we work with.
Trainer’s Corner
Next training classes begin:
Tuesday, June 5th - Intermediate class
Thursday, June 7th – Basic obedience class
Call or email Linda at trainer@playgroundpups.com for more info.
Linda's training tip for the month: “Make sure your dog is getting the proper amount of exercise and when working on behavioral issues, make sure your entire household is using the same techniques. A tired dog is a good dog and consistency in training is key!”
Please remember to call us if you are running late for evening pick up. Also try to call us by 6 pm if you need a home delivery.
Thanks!
“Dogs are such agreeable friends, they ask no questions, they pass no judgements.” George Elliot
All the best from Gail, Linda and the playground pups gang.....
Cherry Blossoms and Pups
(what could be better?)
It’s been an incredible spring, both at Playground Pups and the amazing parks we all get to share. I’ve got lots of info to pass on, so I’ll dive right in. Spring break was a blast at Ppups. The weather was fantastic and all our boarding friends got many park walks or runs – each with their own best buddy. My wonderful staff rotated each day so everyone got to really enjoy the perfect spring weather.
Introducing Lucky!
He’s the sweetest 12 year old chow/lab/retriever? mix you’ll ever meet. He was brought back to the ACC by his caretaker to be put down. Apparently he was too old to be loved anymore, I guess. He was rescued by one of the wonderful volunteers at Stray from the Heart, brought here for his spa treatment, courtesy of Genna and Nicki and we just couldn’t let him go! He’ll spend his days being loved and pampered at Ppups and his evenings at weekends being loved and fattened up at my home with my family and two crazy havanese, Otis and Trudy. Even they like him!
Puppy Playgroup
Just a reminder, puppy playgroups are now offered on Saturdays or Sundays, 10am to 11am. All puppys 7mos old with age appropriate vaccines may attend.
Trainers Corner
Linda’s spring training classes are going gangbusters. Here are the proud pups and their caretakers from her most recent graduating class.
back left
Fenway
Mila
front
Bella
Peguine
If you would like more information about upcoming classes, please email her directly at trainer@playgroundpups.com
Pups for Pet Partners
Addie Walsh is offering team evaluations at Playground Pups for Pet Partners (aka Delta Society), an organization that promotes the positive effects that counselor/animal teams have on human health and development. Since registering with Delta, Addie and two of her standard poodles, Scout and Monkey (a Playground Pups regular) provide animal-assisted therapy to people who are homebound or in rehabilitative facilities and to patients in mental and physical distress at Columbia-Presbyterian Children’s Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital and Ronald McDonald House. Addie and her dogs also work with A Fair Shake for Youth, helping at-risk youth develop empathy, agency and self-esteem. (Another great organization that I wrote about in an earlier newsletter. Email us if you want more info.) She also participates in animal-assisted activities with New Alternatives for Children, providing nurturing contact with animals to children with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Addie collaborates with the social worker at PS 165 and librarians at two branches of the New York Public Library on the Upper West Side to provide reading assistance with her dogs to children helping build their reading skills and improve reading comprehension. If you are interested in doing volunteer work with your dog, check out the Pet Partnerswebsite www.petpartners.org where you will find all the information you need there on how to prepare for the evaluations. When you are ready to be tested, contact Addie Walsh at poodlewalsh.me.com.
MISSING DOG:
Type: Coton Du Tulear
Name: TRUMAN
Please call (914) 318- 6319
REWARD
In Memoriam
Our hearts go out to Ben Boyd and Dennis Adamson who had to say goodby to their beloved Bingo this month. Bingo was one of a kind - spunky, funny and full of life. He was a 16 year old rescue who found his forever home 13 years ago and we were lucky enough at Ppups to get to spend lots of time with him these past 2 1/2 years. He will be greatly missed by all.
That’s it for now from the playground pups gang, with all our thanks and a reminder to frontline your pups and shop at small, local vendors or soon there will be none left!
Happy Early Spring 
It’s been a busy winter here at Playground Pups, with lots of news to share.
Puppy Playgroup
Due to the huge popularity of our free puppy playgroup we have added a second one on Sundays. Now you can bring your new puppy either Saturdays from 10 am - 11 am or Sundays from 10 am - 11 am. As always, it’s open to all puppies up to seven months of age with age appropriate vaccine records.
Trainer’s Corner
Linda’s new classes are currently full. Her next round of Basic Obedience Classes begin on Tuesday, March 13th through April 17th from 7:30 – 8:30 pm
Intermediate class will start April 5th through May 10th from 7:30 - 8:30 pm.
Book early because classes are small and fill up fast! You can also email Linda at trainer@playgroundpups.com for information about individual training sessions.
Groomer Tips
Genna and Elaine wanted me to remind you that this is the start of shedding season. Start those brush outs! If you have a dog that mats easily, it’s important that you blow dry and brush them out when they get wet. A wet dog that rolls around is a guaranteed matted mess! Also, don’t forget about our free brush outs between groomings.
Rescue/Adoption News
Our beautiful girl Emma was joyously adopted by a wonderful client and it has truly been a love match. A happy ending (and happy new beginning!)
Below I have attached Lucky’s photo from his spa day at Playground Pups. Lucky is currently being fostered through Stray From The Heart. He’s a healthy, happy, affectionate yellow lab, approximately 8 – 9 years old. Clean bill of health from the vet. All he needs is a loving home and good food. If you or anyone you know is interested, call or email us at playground pups and we’ll give you his contact info. He’s a real winner. And remember, anyone who adopts this happy fellow gets free bathing services for Lucky and any other dog in your family forever!
Calling All Therapy Dogs!
Therapy dog teams needed to work with children and/or teens. A Fair Shake for Youth is a non-profit that uses therapy dogs to help at-risk youth develop empathy and self-esteem. A Fair Shake is looking for interested teams for programs in schools and community organizations throughout the City. Programs combine hands-on work with the dogs - learning how to ask for a behavior, engaging the dogs in cognition games, with guests and demonstrations and field trips. For more information, check out the website at www.afairshakeforyouth.org and/or contact audrey@afairshakeforyouth.org or 917-371-9005.
Just a last thought… the bottom line for everyone at Playground Pups is that we truly love your dogs…..those of you who know us well, get it. Think of how you all feel about your dogs. Now imagine having dozens and dozens of dogs that you get to bond with and love every day – all shapes and sizes, all completely unique and wonderful. If you’re a dog person, it’s almost unimaginable. The love and joy and spirit we all take from our days with your dogs is hard to explain. There might easier ways to make a living, but not too many where you get to go home covered in kisses.
All the best from Gail, Linda, Shanley, Rob and the playground pups gang
R.I.P beautiful Linsey and sweet Clancy – we miss you.
FEBRUARY NEWS AT PLAYGROUND PUPS
Hey everybody. I hope you’re all enjoying this bizarrely mild winter. I think we should probably start getting used to it.
Everything is as wild and wooly as ever here at PPups. We finally finished putting up our new photo gallery. (thanks mom!) It’s pretty awesome. If you’re a regular and don’t see your dog up there, let us know!
NEW PUPPY PLAYGROUP
Due to the huge popularity of our free puppy playgroups, beginning the first Sunday in March we will have a second playgroup. It will be on Sunday mornings from 10 – 11 am run by Shanley Mello, who most of you know from pick- up time. We ask that you come to either the Saturday OR Sunday group, not both.
TRAINER’S CORNER
Linda Gatto’s Tuesday basic obedience training class already started. Her Thursday class starts on Thursday,February 16th and she has one space left, so call or email us soon if you’re interested.
Linda also does private training sessions, in your home or on the street for proper leash training. Call or email her directly at trainer@playgroundpups.com.
GROOMING IS BOOMING
Our grooming services have grown so much that beginning Thursday, February 16th we will be taking Elaine Thong on as a full time groomer.
Both Genna and Elaine will work together on Thursdays and Fridays. Genna will also groom on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturdays and Elaine will groom on Sundays and Mondays. Getting your pooch looking and smelling their best will become much easier to schedule!
Genna wanted me to remind everyone not to wait until the spring to get your dogs groomed. If you are not brushing them out regularly, they will become profoundly matted and will need to be shaved. The dry weather also wreaks havoc on your dog’s skin and a soothing medicated Hydrosurge bath could be just what the doctor ordered. Also, don’t forget about the free brushout between groomings!
ADOPTION UPDATES
Jackie is doing great in her new loving home and Joy is going to being spending some time in an upstate boarding/training facility which is better suited to her needs.
We also have a client who needs to place her beloved Lowchen, Emma in a new home, as she is moving and cannot take her. I am attaching a photo of Emma. She is boarding with us until February 15th so if you’d like to meet her, we’d be happy to bring her out. We’ll also offer any one who adopts her, one full year of grooming services!
She is a purebred 2 year old Lowchen…… Sweet, playful, low maintenance and quiet. She would make a perfect first or second dog for anyone’s home. If I didn’t already have two, I would snatch her up in a minute.
That’s all for now….Happy Valentines Day. Remember to appreciate the love you give and receive in your life – it’s really the only thing that matters in the end!
All the best,
Gail, Linda, Genna, Shanley, Robert and the playground pups gang
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Thanks to everyone for all their wonderful cards and gifts. It was most appreciated. Our food drive was a huge success. We brought the food to the West Side Coalition Against Hunger, which runs a great food pantry at the Church of St Paul and St. Andrew at 263 W. 84th St. http://www.wscah.org/
In honor of our beautiful, sweet, loving, funny dogs we also made the following year-end donations:
Best Friends Animal Society http://www.bestfriends.org/
Habitat for Humanity http://www.habitatnyc.org/
The Fresh Air Fund http://www.freshair.org/
The Heifer Society http://www.heifer.org/
Doctors Without Borders http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
If you're interested in learning more about these terrific organizations, just click on the links provided. If the links don't work, just cut and paste them.
Joy is still available for adoption, so if you know anyone interested, just have them call us and we can send them a link to her rescue site.
Linda's next Basic Obedience class starts on Tuesday, January 17th at 7:30 pm. It runs for six consecutive weeks. Call us for more information. There are still two slots open.
Over the past few years, we've heard some horror stories about dogs who have gotten ill from "people food". I have found the following link regarding potentially toxic foods for dogs. Some of it I'm sure you know already, but some of it might surprise you.
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/ss/slideshow-foods-your-dog-should-never-eat
There are still lots of warm winter clothes in the store. Remember, if it's time for you to put on your warmest winter gear, your dog probably needs a jacket or sweater too. This is especially true for small dogs and poodle mix breeds, whose hair is not as warm as the fur on short breed dogs.
Thanks for trusting us with your pups and we'll see you soon.
Gail, Linda, Genna, Shanley, Rob, Jay, Elaine, Josh, Bruno, Ana, Tiana, Lucas, Mike, Nicki, Chris and Jessica.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Things were definitely hopping here at the Pups!
A few important things we need to let you know:
December Holiday Schedule
2 night minimum from December 24th – December 26th
$20 one time holiday surcharge
NO PICK UPS, DROP OFFS OR DAYCARE SERVICES ON December 25th
2 night minimum on December 31st – January 2nd
NO PICK UPS, DROP OFFS OR DAYCARE SERVICES ON January 1st
$20 one time holiday surcharge
Please remember to book your grooming and bathing sessions early. We are filling up fast and we want to make sure we take care of all our regulars so your pups will look (and smell) their best for your holiday photos.
Canine Influenza
Due to a rise in canine influenza this season, we are strongly recommending that you get your dog vaccinated. We have discussed it with several local vets and they all agree. If you plan on boarding over the holidays, we especially recommend it.
Holiday Gifts
Lots of great holiday stuff in the store this year: local, handmade blankets and toys, handmade ceramic bowls and treat jars, vintage dog figurines and wholesome, homemade dog treats for the holidays.
Adoption Dogs
Many of you have been asking about Willow, a dog for adoption in our window. Below is a link to her photos and info. If you or anyone you know is interested, please check out the link:
http://gallery.me.com/chippinggreenstudios/100301
Our new foster dog is Joy. Some of you met her at our Halloween Party. She’s real sweetie with a very sad story of profound neglect. I’ve attached a photo. Let us know if you would like to meet her!
Holiday Food Drive
This year Playground Pups will be sponsoring a food drive for the West Side Campaign Against Hunger. It is a wonderful local food pantry that helps many of the families in our own community that are having trouble making ends meet during these difficult times. We will have a large basket in the store from now until December 20th. Our after-school teenage staff (Gabe, Tim and my son, Sam) will bring the food and spend the afternoon stocking and working in the pantry.
Healthy, low sodium canned vegetables, soups, pastas, oatmeal, beans, rice and other grains are some of the great inexpensive choices. Their website is www.wsch.org. Playground Pups will match all donations.
Sorry this was so long but there was a lot to talk about this month!
Thanks as always for your loyalty and support. I think most of you know how much we truly love and care for your dogs. Dogs don’t care about fancy toys – they crave love, affection, safety, fun and comfort in daycare and we supply that in abundance!
Cheers, Gail, Linda, Shanley, Genna, Rob, Jay, Elaine, Tiana, Ana, Bruno, Nicki, Chris, George, Lucas & Josh…
Thanks to all our wonderful witches and hippies and ladybugs and lions and bananas and devils and surgeons and bumblebees for making our annual Halloween party such a blast. We've started posting the pictures on our website, www.playgroundpups.com and we should have them all posted by the end of the weekend.
Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Please be sure to book your boardings soon. There will be a two night minimum and no pickups or drop offs on Thursday, November 24th.
Linda's next round of Basic Obedience Classes are coming up soon. There are only a few spaces left so please call or send us an email if you're interested in more information.
The store is full of great fall and winter clothes as well as great new harnesses, leashes, collars and healthy treats. We have some fun vintage dog figurines - a great stocking stuffer for your kids or fellow dog lovers. We also have some beautiful handmade fleece blankets and toys, made by a local craftswomen. For each blanket sold, she will donate a handmade toy to a local shelter.
Enjoy this beautiful fall weather (let's all pretend there was no pre-halloween blizzard) and best wishes for a joyous Thanksgiving Holiday with your loved ones.
Gail, Linda, Shanley, Genna and the playground pups gang
I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful fall weather. Hopefully it will last a while before winter hits.
As most of our regulars already know, there is a new strain of bronchitis going around the city (commonly called Kennel Cough) and we have had a few cases here. I've spoken with a number of our local vets and luckily it is a very mild strain. It sounds like a very deep cough, as if your dog is trying to cough something up. If you hear your dog cough, please take them to the vet. Some dogs are being treated with antibiotics and others are just on home rest for a few days. It is not dangerous, really nothing more than a common cold/cough but it is highly contagious, so please do not bring your dog to daycare or grooming if they are coughing. I would advise avoiding the dog runs, since this is where the vets think it is coming from.
It is NOT Bordetella, which all our dogs are vaccinated for. Bordetella vaccines are similar to a human flu shot - it just reacts to one strain of cough and if a different strain is out there, it's useless.
On a happier note, our annual Halloween party is on Sunday, October 30th from 12 - 3pm. There will be raffles and giveaways and fun treats for dogs and humans. As usual, any dog in costume will automatically be entered in the raffle and we have lots more prizes this year.
We will hopefully have a few rescue dogs looking for their forever homes. All the rescue dogs will be coming in early for baths and brush outs before the party, so they can put their best paw forward.
We have lots of new clothes in the store this season. I've managed to stick almost exclusively with small local companies that manufacture here in the US and several right here in New York. Sometimes it's important to put your money where your mouth is. Our new bed line is also created and manufactured in the US.
Thanks, as always for all your support and referrals and kind words. It's been an amazing two years!
Best wishes from Gail, Linda, Genna, Shanley, Rob, Tiana, Nicki, Bruno, Ana, Josh, Elaine, Tami and George. You might not know them all, but your pups sure do!
Well, fall has finally arrived and with it the thoughts of cozy, cool days and evenings and holiday events like the Jewish New Year, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.
It was a busy weekend for dog lovers in the city. First Playground Pups went to the Central Park dog Fair which was great - lots of yummy treats for our pooches. Sunday was the Strut Your Mutt Event benefiting Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. I met up with one of my favorite canine clients, Sunny the Golden Retreiver ( oh, also her parents and friends were with her) and she and my two goofy little ones, Otis and Trudy, had a blast parading down the west side highway like the royalty they are!
As I mentioned, we are in the process of renovating the storefront and will be featuring many more fall clothes and dog items than before. As always, we offer only the best quality products made in the USA.
We will be having our annual Halloween Costume Extravaganza once again, on Sunday, October 30th from 12 - 3pm. There will be raffles, prizes and lots of free give-aways so don't miss it! As long as your dog is in costume, they will be eligible for the raffle, where we give away grooming and bathing services as well as store gift certificates. Help us celebrate our 2nd anniversary at Playground Pups!!
If anyone is interested in signing up for Genna's Dog Grooming Class 101, please let me know. The first one was a huge success. She will teach all the techniques for properly brushing your dog (before they get matted). She also goes over cleaning ears and eyes and proper bathing techniques. Each class comes with a professional dog grooming kit, tailored to your dog's type of coat.
Linda's first round of Tuesday and Thursday night classes filled fast so if you are interested in the next set, please contact us soon. They will both begin in late October. She is always available for individual lessons and is also considering offering a leash- walking classes as well.
I hope everyone's fall has been off to a good start and we'll see you at the party!
As summer draws to a close (finally!..... not the world's greatest summer for weather, economy, or natural and man-made disasters), it's time to start thinking ahead to school and cool weather and being able to walk your dog after 8 am!
Playground Pups had a busy, productive summer with lots of boardings and tons of new dogs, both adorable puppies and wonderful rescues of all shapes and sizes.
Playground Pups will be walking as a "dog pack" in the annual Strut Your Mutt fundraiser, sponsored by one of our favorite animal organizations, Best Friends Society. The event is on September 25th at 9 am and you are welcome to walk with our gang, known as the
"PLAYGROUNDPUPSTERS"http://www.strutyourmutt.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&eventID=505&participantID=5455 or go on to the Strut Your Mutt website and register directly. They do incredible work with the dog and cat populations that are most difficult to place and unadoptable pets are kept permanently in their huge reserve in Utah.
We will also be sponsoring an organization this year that helps both dogs and children, our two passions here at PPups. One of our beautiful clients, Lucy (the rescue with the freckled nose) has a mom who has started a non-profit to bring at-risk children together to work and bond with dogs. She has already run a successful program with prisoners, and she feels, rightly I think, that it's even more effective to try and reach these troubled children now and show them that unconditional love and responsibility for a helpless living creature can give them hope and a sense of pride. I think it's a wonderful program and we are proud to be supporting it. If you are interested in getting involved, I will be sending you a link to her website within the next two weeks.
Linda will have two new classes starting in September. With the huge amount of new puppies we met this summer who are interested in taking the basic obedience course, please sign up early. The Thursday evening classes will begin on September 8th at 7:30 pm for 6 weeks and the Tuesday evening classes will begin on September 13th for 6 weeks. If you'd like more information about this course, please contact Linda at 212.362.5221.
Not much else to say....The storefront is being renovated in the fall and we will be stocking lots more interesting, one of a kind clothes, treats, toys, leashes and harnesses.
Enjoy your Labor Day and we'll see you and your pups soon!
Regards,
Gail, Linda and the Playground Pups gang
The Dog Days of Summer
Well, summer has hit hard and it’s really tough on your dogs, so we thought we’d give you a few reminders for how to keep your dog cool and safe in this weather.
· Limit walks to early morning and evening.
· Make lots of fresh, cool water available at all times.
· Leave your dog indoors in air-conditioning during the hottest part of day.
· Touch the pavement with the palm of your hand. If it’s too hot to touch, it can burn your dogs paw pads.
· Remember that holds true for scorching sand on the beach – if you can’t walk on it, neither can they!
· NEVER leave your dog alone in a car, even for a few minutes.
Boardings have been very busy this summer, so be sure to schedule your boarding needs soon. We don’t charge cancellation fees, so it’s worth it to hold your spot now!
Keep in mind that we now offer bathing and grooming services 7 days a week!
Due to everyone’s busy summer holiday schedule, we are postponing Linda’s next round of Thursday evening Basic Obedience Classes. They will start on September 8th, after Labor Day Weekend. If you are interested, send us an email. Linda will still be doing private training sessions throughout the summer.
Stay cool and we’ll see you soon!
Gail, Linda and the playground pups gang
Summer is here and with it comes the heat and humidity that most dogs hate. Don't forget to keep your pups well hydrated and out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day.
A big thank you to our clients who have written such wonderful things about us on Yelp, Google and other ratings websites. You can't imagine how much it helps us, when newcomers are looking for a place for various dog services. They always mention our great reviews when they call us.
One of our clients, Elizabeth MacDonald (mom to Louie and Sharon, our beautiful poodles) wrote a great blog about us and I've attached the link here, if you're interested.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/06/14/how-one-small-businesswoman-is-winning-big/
We're working on a new set of photos for the storefront, so don't feel bad if you're a regular and your pup is not up there yet, I promise we'll get them.
Our new groomer Elaine (whom I snatched from an upper east side salon) is working out wonderfully. We now offer full grooming services seven days a week, including Sundays.....finally!
Be sure to check out our collection of vintage dog figurines and toys. There are also some great stone garden pieces for those of you with country retreats.
It's a terrible tick season, due to all the rain, so be sure to check your dogs carefully after a weekend in the country and remember to look in their ears!
There is still one space left in Linda's next Thursday night Basic Training Course, which starts on June 23rd at 7:30 for 6 consecutive weeks. Call for more info at 212.362.5221.
Enjoy the sunshine and Happy Summer from Gail, Linda, Genna and the gang at Playground Pups!
Due to client demand, Playground Pups will begin offering daycare services on weekdays from 7 am - 8 pm. Saturdays will remain 9 - 6pm and Sundays will extend to 9 am - 7 pm. Our hope is this will make drop off and pick ups much less stressful for everyone. Only package dogs or clients with a credit card on file can pick up after 7:30 pm.
Our first grooming 101 class with Genna was a big success. The grooming kits alone are worth more than the cost of the class and the supplies. If you're interested, please let us know with an email. Our next class will be in mid-June.
The next round of Linda's basic obedience training classes will start on Tuesday, May 17th. It will run for 6 consecutive weeks from 7:30 - 8:30 pm and costs $350. The Thursday evening class will start in early June. We will give you a date soon.
We now have a new groomer named Elaine for Monday and Tuesday grooming. She currently works as a groomer at a salon on the upper east side. She's extremely talented and very experienced. (She groomed my Havanese beautifully and they were a mess!) Of course Genna will still be doing her regular Tuesday through Saturday shift. And Jay Andors is still doing his incredible Hydrosurge baths here.
Next Saturday, Animal Haven will be out front of the store from noon - 3 pm with their beautiful adoptable dogs and cats. Let your friends know!
It would be extremely helpful if all our daycare dogs could come in wearing quick release collars. If they don't have them on, we use one of our house collars and this makes it take much longer to prepare your dog for pick-up. We offer a wide selection of both simple, inexpensive collars and "fancy" collars from Bessie and Barnie and UpCountry. They can also be purchased at Furry Paws or Petco. Thanks for your cooperation
Be sure to check out our website - lots more videos and a new spring photo gallery featuring many of the photos currently on display in the store. Also, I will be starting a blog in the next week or so, which will keep you up to date on what your wonderful, goofy dogs are doing each day. It should be lots of fun.
We've begun carrying a funky selection of dog memorabilia, ranging from inexpensive, kitchy little dog banks, to vintage and antique wrought iron door stops and book ends. Check it out!
Well, that's more than enough for now. Hope you all had a great Mother's day!
Gail, Linda, Genna and the gang at Playground Pups
Lots of interesting things going on in the Playground this spring....
Our annual Spring Adoption Event will be held on Saturday, May 14th from 11am until 3 pm in front of Playground Pups. Animal Haven will be bringing their adoption van with dogs and cats looking for their forever homes. If anyone you know is interested, be sure to let them know!
Playground Pups will also be walking in the Bark for Life Cancer fundraiser on May 1st. If you are interested in meeting up with us, or sponsoring our dogs, just give us a call. It's a great organization and the walk is lots of fun.
Just a quick reminder: we have extended our weekday hours. We are now open at 7:15 instead of 7:30 am.
Genna's first Puppy Grooming 101 class will be held on Saturday, April 30th at 11:30 am or Wednesday, May 4th, 2011 at 6:30 pm. The fee is $85 for long haired puppies and $65 for short haired puppies. Each owner receives a full "starter grooming kit" with all the professional tools you will need to keep your dog clean, matt free and beautiful. The difference in the fees is based on the equipment needed for long or short haired dogs.
We are thinking of beginning to offer morning and evening car pick-up and delivery service. If you think you might be interested or if you have any friends that live further away and are looking for a great place for daycare, please tell them to contact us. Our delivery range will be from 59th Street to 125th Street, westside only. The fee would be $15 one way and $25 round trip.
Linda's next set of basic obedience classes begin on Tuesday, May 10th and Thursday, June 2nd. We have a few clients interested in an intermediate class which we would like to start soon, but need a few more dogs for this type of class. Please contact us if you are interested in taking either one.
Spring and summer tick season is upon us. Remember to Frontline your pups!
We wish everyone a happy holiday and be sure to check out our wall of fame next time you come in. Playground Pups definitely has the cutest dogs in the city!!!
Gail, Linda, Genna and the Playground Pups gang
Well, we can finally announce that our new doggy playground space, Playground Pups Too, is opening next week! The weather played some havoc with our schedule but we only ended up two weeks behind - not too bad! It will be great for everyone- more room to play, more new pups to meet and become playmates with. It will also allow us to add more puppy playgroups and more training classes. It is located on the other side of the (never to be opened?) chinese restaurant next door to us.
Linda's new Tuesday and Thursday training classes are already filled. Her next basic training class will begin on Tuesday March 1st. Call or email us if you are interested in registering for it. We would also like to begin offering some new types of classes, including an agility class and an intermediate training class. And don't forget, Linda is also available for private training sessions in your home.
Don'f forget about our Hydrosurge baths for your dry, itchy dogs. After all this winter grime, your dog will look, feel and smell delicious!
Be sure to check out our website when you get a chance. We have begun posting short videos of your dogs at play. More will be added each week. Just click on the "video gallery" on our home page, www.playgroundpups.com. There are also great photos in the photo gallery, including ones from puppy playgaroup and daycare.
That's it for now. Stay warm and dry.....
Gail, Linda, Genna and the playground pups gang
P.S. The Musher's Secret paw wax is back in stock!