Happy Holidays Everyone

Shop Updates:
Winter Hours are back in place, Mon thru Friday 9 am until 3 pm, Saturdays  10 am to 2 pm.
Student grooming is available by request on Monday, Wed, Thurs, and Friday, at a 30-50% discount.
New Students: Please welcome Chelsea V. from Long Beach, and Miranda R. from Alaska, and Ally from Eagle, Idaho.  Graduated or graduating: congratulate Carol M. from Oldtown,  and Kara H. from Rathdrum. 
Drive-thru window coming soon? Please let us know if you would like a drive-thru window for your small dog or cat.  We think that may be helpful to our weekly clients, and helpful during the snowy season.  Please give us your feedback.
Free family photos:  There is no picture better than the whole family complete with two -and four- legged kids.  Ask for your free photo at the Pooch Parlor anytime!
Personal  Updates:
I am teaching a winter Spinning (indoor cycling) class at Xhale Studio in downtown Sandpoint, Wednesday mornings at 7:15am. The class is 40 minutes and we need more people!
My brother and his family are coming to visit me and my hubby for the holidays!  They live in Henderson (Las Vegas) and I am hoping to talk them into moving into the area.  They share my love of sushi  and they have two boys I just adore!!  I can’t wait to see them:)


Grooming Questions?Ask your questions on Facebook or the website blog http://poochparlorpost.blogspot.com
We love to answer grooming questions.

 



  Does your dog need a coat in the winter?  Eight signs to help you know.
Have you ever found yourself wondering if you should put a coat on your dog in the winter?  There are a number of factors to consider and behaviors to look for that indicate that a coat is a prudent choice for your four-legged child.  
1.       Does your dog have less than 1 inch of hair covering his body?
2.       Is your dog inside most of the time?
3.       Is your dog underweight or losing weight, especially during the winter?
4.       Does your dog shake and shiver inside or outside for more than 30 seconds at a time?
5.       Does your dog have accidents in the house during the winter that were never a problem in the warmer months?
6.       Does it take more than 5 minutes for the tips of your dog’s ears to warm up after being out in the cold?
7.       Is your dog older than middle age?
8.       Does your dog act stiff after coming in from outside?
If you have answered ‘yes’ to any one of these questions, then you might consider buying a sweater or coat for your dog during the winter.  Many dogs acclimate to the changing weather like humans do.  Most humans wear coats outside when the temperature drops below 50 degrees F.  If your dog is outside in the winter for periods longer than two minutes, watch their reaction to the cold.  If they are moving and playing, they don’t need a coat in the beginning, but prolonged exposure to cold temperatures could put them at risk for hypothermia or frostbite.  If your dog is moving very little, they are shaking, or curled into a tight ball or they cry when you touch their ear tips, these are clear indicators that your dog is too cold.
You may notice that as your dog ages, he will get cold much easier than when he was younger.  Arthritis symptoms become more noticeable when the temperatures outside drop.  Dogs that show signs of aging or arthritis benefit greatly from wearing a coat outside for play time and also inside for the fifteen minutes after play.
When picking out a coat for your dog, bring your dog with you to the pet store if possible.  Many dogs feel more secure with coats on (like Great Danes and Boxers), but most dogs are less than enthusiastic about wearing a coat, so try to pick out one that is easy to put on and take off of the dog.  Don’t be surprised if your dog acts catatonic when you put clothes on them, this stage does pass.  Check to see if the coat fits well enough that the dog won’t accidentally soil the coat when they urinate.  Check the washing instructions for the coat. Do you need a snow-proof coat, or simply a warm coat for your dog?  The easier the coat fits your lifestyle, the easier it will be for you and your dog to adapt to this protective apparel.  There are a zillion dog coats and sweaters available out there.  If you have a dog that gets cold in the winter,  inside or outside, getting them used to a coat or sweater is the perfect solution for a long, healthy, and pain-free life.
 
Copyright 2011 DuAnn Lustig-Chambers
www.thepoochparlor.net/shopping.html for a variety of local artisan dog coats




Greta, my miniature schnauzer has feet that are finally normal!!!She has suffered from swollen and disfigured feet since she was 5 months old and she just turned 2 years. I have taken Greta to five local wonderful veterinarians to try and figure out why her feet were so swollen and sore. She was diagnosed with an autoimmune deficiency that I was told would stay with her all of her life.  !  She was on many drugs and regimens prescribed by local veterinarians, and the drugs worked great while she was taking them, but the minute she was off of them, her symptoms blew up again.  On the advice of one of my most trusted clients, I took Greta to a holistic veterinarian out of Spokane, Dr. Jonathon Wright with LilyPad Holistic Services.

The process to heal Greta's feet was baffling to me to say the least, but I was desperate to find a long-term solution that did not involve steroid and drugs. Greta was allergic to foods, to shots, to anesthesia, and more!  With laser light therapy and a number of easy oral remedies, it took 3 months of regular visits ,but Greta now has normal feet with no further allergies! Her disposition is much improved too (Sorry again Don). Thank you Dr. Wright.  I don't understand why the holistic methods worked, or why Greta had an autoimmune problem, but I'm so glad you fixed it!

I encourage everyone to take the advice of your local veterinarians (practicing Western medecine) first if you have worries about your dog or cat.  If this approach doesn't fix your concerns, try a holistic vet, or holistic methods, they really do work.
 


We offer the following services:

* full service grooming for all breeds of dogs and cats by state-certified groomers
*student grooming discounts
*offer ‘no-kennel’ grooming by request
*owner stay grooming by request
*self-service bathing stations
*walk-in appointments
* teeth scaling and/or teeth brushing 
* nail trimming and dremeling (filing) on a walk-in basis
*anal gland expressing bird nails and wing trimming
*retail grooming tools
*doggie day care
*owner grooming training by request
*doggie and family portraits(free)
*walk-ins are welcomed here

Pooch Parlor Groomers/Staff:

Every groomer has undergone rigorous training to attain their certification at the state level. The training includes more than instruction about the technical aspects of grooming and scissoring, it includes strict codes of conduct and tight guidelines for ethical treatments of pets and their owners, safety practices, and cleaning standards. This certification is something we are most proud of, as the grooming industry is not regulated, and only 5 percent of all groomers spend the time and money to train under any qualified guidelines. All employees are drug-tested and undergo criminal background checks. The Pooch Parlor Pet Groomer Academy, is the only grooming school licensed and bonded through the Board of Education, in the State of Idaho.

The Pooch Parlor Pet Groomer Academy:

The Pooch Parlor Pet Groomer Academy is the only certifed grooming school in the state idaho.  The school is licensed and bonded through the Board of Education in the state of Idaho.  Students come from all over the nation to learn the trade of pet styling.  Their courses range in time from 2 months to 8 months.  Reduced grooming prices are offered to customers that would like to help these students out with their well-behaved family pooches.  Student grooming must be requested and scheduled on Mon, Wed, and Friday.  When the students graduate, they are certified as professional groomers, trained under standards that are higher than required by the industry.  Students that graduate end up all over the nation as employees and business owners.  If you have family in the U.S., check out the groomer academy webpage for a Pooch Parlor graduate near you.

At the Pooch Parlor, we always have a camera handy and LOVE to take pictures of our staff, students, customers, and their dogs. There is no charge for family portrait and we email it to you, just ask. Pictures of your 4 legged kids are really important, since our time with them is never long enough during our lives.

The Pooch Parlor in Ponderay is owned and operated by DuAnn Chambers and her husband Mike. Mike is not a groomer, he is a remodeling specialist, with Git ‘er Done Construction LLC., and helps out in the grooming shop with all repairs and upgrades (unless the upgrade is granite –thanks again Idaho Granite, we love the new countertops!). Mike and DuAnn have been married 18 years, and have no human children. They share the love of dogs, owning a mini schnauzer, 1.5 year old ‘Grouchy Greta’, a Standard Poodle, Montee, 6 years old, and an adopted Rottweiler cross, Marlie, 8 years. In our spare time, we scuba dive and snowboard. We thank all of you our friends and customers for making it possible for us to LOVE what we do! Thank you! 

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To provide a clean, safe, fun, family environment for dogs and their humans, where integrity, customer service and professionalism are held to the highest possible standard.