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Regalridge Kennel

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Christmas

Merry Christmas and thanks for your notes enquiring whether or not our grocery money had dried up to the point that the blog could not be updated. The truth is, the laptop met it's maker (John, your presence is requested) and that upset the normal flow. The week of Christmas did not allow for time at the computer but all is, in fact, well.

It has been a busy December in the kennel with comings and goings at a record high. Many of our 'regular' boarders were here early in the month, leaving space for new arrivals and the two little white dogs for the Christmas period. Roddi and Ruari are in residence and in charge - at least in their own minds, and out playing with the Cirneco. Lucy and Baron rule yard number three and are quite certain the world needs to have their opinion on most happenings. Naomi and Moses are quieter and more settled, happy to have their staff looking after them, pointing their paws when they feel a chore is less than complete. Gemini has a Labrador friend and is as happy as Gemini always seems to be, both exploring the outdoors with sporting dog precision and accompanying the humans as they work through the daily routines. Brewster marches to his own beat, seems to enjoy the activity level and has the perimeter of the kennel as his domain - a good thing for a Corgi. Levi and Haydn are looking after Fiddler. The two brothers have enjoyed their holiday and have developed Airedale puppy games much to the dismay of Levi who does his best to keep the two youngsters in line. Jazz is with us in the house, settled into the 'Older Welsh' room behind the den with Bob and Jack.

The housedogs are doing well - Patti and Sophie are enjoying the bounty of the season and the rest are bouncing along, happy with company, extra food and the occasional jumbo milkbone. Dolly and Nick are particularly appreciative of the increased rations and have entered a request for Christmas to occur monthly. Einstein notes that the best part of the season is here - there are empty boxes to sleep in, wrapping paper in abundance to hide beneath and people to torture at every turn. Life doesn't get better than that for a cat.

Christmas Eve was with the Schenk-Ross's with our traditional tortiere, gingerbread and hard sauce, tomato chow and 'Twas The Night Before Christmas read as a round. Great fun, wonderful friends and the perfect meal ushered in Christmas 2009. The big day brought with it great bounty and everyone agreed that it was one of the best Christmases ever. Thoughtful gifts blended with smiles and a few tears as we opened the world's best coffee maker (y'all are welcome for a latte any time) a new laptop and a notebook, THE drill, a decoy from Ironbound Island, an antique quilt, art, rain gear of the highest order, personalized dog related items, an incredible Airedale cake stand (it will be well used), books and jewelery, snowmen in varying shapes and sizes and much more. Starting the day at 5:30, we finished the famous Root liqueur from Pennsylvania and the plum pudding at close to midnight. Jo and Mary are here with us from State College to help us celebrate and the dogs are tickled. They are favourite additions to Regalridge at any time and never more so than at Christmas. We celebrated well, laughed freely and enjoyed the day thoroughly.

Meals (for those who have missed the menus this past week) included yogourt pancakes and bacon, fruit salad (orange, pineapple, cherry, blueberry and banana) with a honey ginger sauce, maple granola, maple scones, haddock chowder, apricot bread, cherry bread, turkey, stuffing, brussel sprouts prepared by Jo in a cream sauce with nutmeg (outstanding), roasted beets, potatoes and squash from Ken's garden, fiddleheads, Christmas cookies and homemade candies, candied peel, etc etc etc. There is no shortage of food, drink or coffee. Visiting will be on the agenda for the next couple of days. Perhaps Tony and Karen will join us in New Minas for lunch?

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Just to say "Thank You" to everyone at Regalridge for looking after our quirky Lord Tippy!

Loved the blogs and pictures. Still going through the honeymoon period at the moment - have a feeling tomorrow's going to be our day of punishment!

We will be attending a wedding in June, so when we've got dates, I will be in touch for Tippy and his mobile palace to be booked in again.

Once again thank you very much for taking care of him. You have really put my mind at rest, that I can now go on holiday and leave him somewhere safe.

Helen & Nick

Anjin says:

I miss my pals KC and Winnie. My mom tells me that my manners have improved since I came home. I am more patient with them; something about sitting still longer for hugs & kisses. Thank you KC & Winnie for teaching me some good tricks.PS: Special face licks to all the Reagalridge humans who made my stay so special.Keep my bed warm;

I'LL BE BACK!XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOANJIN :)


I cannot thank you enough for the wonderful love and care you provided for my 'babies'. They are quite tired after all their 'management' and I never thought Lilly could get
tired . It is a wonderful feeling when you can leave your dogs and know they are well loved and cared for.

I hope all goes well with the remodeling and your gardening. I am sure we will speak again.

Warm Regards,
Bethany

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will my dog stay?
It is important to know what your dog’s temporary living space will be like. Dogs are housed in individual runs. There is an inner section within a heated building and an outer section protected by a roof. There is a trap door to separate the two sections. This door is closed at night and controlled in the winter in order to keep the inside of the kennel warm and cozy. The roof over the runs allows the dogs to be outside even during bad weather while keeping them dry.

Will my dog be walked?
We find that walking the dogs is unnecessary as we have four large exercise yards, which allow the dogs to have daily exercise. The dogs are out in the yards a minimum of three times a day (morning, mid-afternoon and evening) to allow them to exercise and do their business. As long as your dog gets along with other dogs than we will allow him/her to play with other dogs staying with us. Sometimes one of our resident dogs enjoys the opportunity to visit with our guests.

What will my dog eat?
Boarding can be stressful for your dog, even if he/she is accustomed to it. A change in diet can add to the stress on his/her body, possibly resulting in diarrhea or vomiting. Bringing your dog’s regular food is the best way to prevent this. As long as your dog does not have a sensitive stomach than he/she can eat the meals provided, we feed various Purina brands. Every evening the dogs enjoy a dog biscuit before settling down for the night.

Will my dog be allowed to interact with other dogs?
We offer daily sessions where the dogs are permitted to play together in our exercise yards. As long as your dog gets along with other dogs than we will allow him/her to play with other dogs staying with us. Sometimes one of our resident dogs enjoys the opportunity to visit with our guests.

What happens if my dog becomes sick or injured?
Depending on the severity of the illness/injury, we will make all efforts to contact the owner to notify you that we are concerned about your dog and want to take him/her to the vet. We prefer to take him/her to our vet as we have a long-standing relationship with him.

How much is this going to cost?
Part of planning for a vacation includes budgeting for your dog’s accommodations. We charge for the first day no matter what time the dog arrives but will not charge for the day your dog leaves as long as it is before 12 noon. As most of the time is spent with your dog during daylight hours, you will be charged by the day. Please contact us for the current rates at (902) 883-1494.

Will my dog get dirty?
Probably…unfortunately your dog may not come home as clean as when you left him/her. We put the dogs outside for regular playtimes and sometimes (like children) it is a lot of fun to kick up dirt and mud. You can request that your dog be bathed before returning home as long as you give sufficient notice and there will be an additional cost.

Can I pick up my dog at night?
Having a boarding facility in your home is not always a 9 to 5 business however; we do try to allow time for relaxation with family and friends. We have set hours for pick up and delivery and request that you try to respect those hours. We understand that it is not always possible but our days start early and like you…look forward to those quiet times when we can just enjoy our time with the dogs. Thank you for confirming in advance your appointment for dropping off/picking up your dog.

What can I bring?
We will provide your dog with bedding and dishes. You can bring your dog’s food and treats if you prefer (they will be provided if not). Toys are permitted but cannot always promise that they will return in the same condition that they arrived. Sometime toys are shared amongst visitors (much like children sometimes) or taken out to the exercise yards and forgotten…

Things to remember…

Phone and set up times to drop off and pick up your dog.

To bring proof of vaccines.

When you bring your dog in for boarding, remember his/her food, special instructions, and any other permitted items.

Do not bring items that you absolutely need to get back, as they could become lost or damaged. Bear in mind that many facilities limit personal items for this reason.

Make sure to leave contact numbers for you on your trip, plus local emergency contacts in case you cannot be reached.

Relax! You’ve done your research and your dog is in good hands. Enjoy your vacation!


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