Weekly Local Dog Events

Welcome to the last week of March and another beautiful week in San Diego ahead! We hope your best furry friend and you get out there to check out this week's local dog friendly events. For more details please visit San Diego Happy Dogs. 

 

Photo by Wade Austin Ellis on Unsplash

ADOPTION EVENTS: HERE'S ARE SOME WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES IF YOU'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT ADDING A FABULOUS FURRY FRIEND TO YOUR FAMILY!

• 4/2: Second Chance: 12 pm - 4 pm; Dirty Dogs 4639 Carmel Mountain Rd #101 SD 92130 

• Every Saturday: Baja Rescue: 9 am – 2 pm; 3495 Sports Arena Boulevard, SD

• Every Saturday Labs and More Adoption Event: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm; Road Runner Sports San Diego, 5553 Copley Dr, San Diego

Photo by Alvan Nee on Unsplash

MEET UPS  AND SOCIAL: HERE'S ANOTHER GREAT WEEK OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR PUP AND YOU TO GET OUT AND MEET SOME NEW FRIENDS

• 3/31: Pet Portrait: 6 – 9 pm; Hairy & Merry 2400 Kettner Blvd SD

• 4/1: Pet Portraits at Warby Parker: 4 - 7 pm; University Town Center 4465 La Jolla Village Suite H5 San Diego, CA 92122 

• 4/1: Karaoke Goes to the Dogs (& Kitties)! It's a PET-FOOD-RAISER Networking PARTY!: 6 pm    - 12 am; 8650 Genesee Ave, SD 92122, Coco's in the Costa Verde Shopping Center 

• 4/2: Corgi Met Up: 10 - 11 am; Coronado Dog Beach, Ocean Boulevard, Coronado

• 4/2: Pom Pom Pay Time: 10 - 11 am; Doozy Dog Club 634 14th St, SD 

• 4/2: Whippet Meet Up: 10 - 11 am; Fiesta Island Dog Park Fiesta Island Rd 

• 4/2: San Diego Spaniel Rescue Meet Up: 1 - 2 pm; Doyle Park Dog Park, Cargill Avenue, San Diego, CA 92122 

• 4/2: Boston Terrier Meet Up: 2 - 3 pm; Del Mar Dog Beach

• 4/2: Low Impact-Urban Mushing on Mountain scooters around the lake: 3 - 4 pm; Lake O'Neill - MCB Camp Pendleton Lake O'Neill Recreation, Camp Pendleton

• 4/2: Trail Walking With the Fluffybutts: 5 - 6 pm; Hosp view park Canyon Dr, Carlsbad

• 4/2: WINE AND PAINT NIGHT AT 57 DEGREES: 7pm - 9 pm; 57 Degrees 1735 Hancock St San Diego, CA 92101

• 4/3: Del Mar Dog Beach Schnauzer Monthly: 10 - 11:30 am; Del Mar Dog Beach, Camino del Mar, Del Mar

• 4/3: Boston Terrier Meet Up: 10 - 11 am; Dusty Rhodes Off-Leash Dog Park, SD 

• Every Wednesday: Yappy Hour: 5 – 8 pm; Savoie Eatery 2015 Birch Rd, Ste 720, Chula Vista

• Every Wednesday: Mission Valley Dog Meet Up: 10 – 11 am; Mission Valley Off Leash Civita Dog Park 2355 Via Alta, SD

Subaru Dog Tested. Dog Approved Video: Road Trip

Zen Dog Spotlight: Sloany

Happy Thursday, and welcome to a new Zen Dog Spotlight with adorable and sweet lab mix Sloany! She is absolutely a little love and brings a smile to everyone who meets her. Sloany always enjoys her walks with our DogZenergy team members, and the feeling is mutual. She is such a good girl, always ready for her next adventure and did we mention how photogenic she is! Sloany the floor is all your!

State your full name and let us know a bit about your background.  

"My name is Sloany Pittman, I am 8 years old and I am from West Lafayette, IN. I am a black lab mixed with a lot of other dogs, but the vet thinks I am primarily mixed with grey hound. I moved here with my mom and dad almost 3 years ago and one of my favorite parts about living here is being able to dig in the sand at the dog beach!"

 What’s your favorite toy and why?

"My favorite toy changes with which ever toy is newest and squeakiest. Right now my favorite toy is my red giraffe that my mom and dad bought me after I had my knee surgery in February."

What does your typical day consist of, and what would your ideal day include?

"Every morning I wake up and the first thing I think about is a Greenie. I guess it's a treat that is supposed to be good for my teeth, but I just think it's delicious. Sometimes if my mom and dad sleep in, I have to stare at them really close in the face until they open their eyes and then I can remind them that it's time for my Greenie. Then I get my breakfast and get a short walk outside with my mom, or sometimes dad. Usually mom and dad have to go to work and it makes me sad because I would love to spend all day with them. Thankfully the girls from DogZenergy come to hang out with me and take me on walks and give me tons of belly rubs, so days that mom and dad work aren't so bad."

 Who is your best friend and how did you meet?

"Well I don't want to hurt any feelings, so I will say my best friends are my mom and dad...but it's actually my mom. We met when she was at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. She came in to the shelter where I was living with my brothers and sisters for a couple of months. I gave her my best doe eyed look and she didn't stand a chance. I went home with her that day. Mom and I met dad about a year later and I was a little shy at first, but now he's one of my favorite humans."   

What is the one question you wish your human would stop asking you, and the one question you wish your human would never stop asking you?

"I never want my human to stop asking me if I want to go on a walk. I live for my walks outside with my humans. I really wish my mom would stop asking if I'm ready to go to the vet, though because no, mom. I am never ready to go to the vet."

 If you were going to win an award at the "Oscar Pet Awards" would you want to win it for  1.) Cuteness 2.) Heroism/Courage 3.) Sassiness 4) Loyalty 5) Fashionista.  Give us a quick example/story of why we should pick you!

"I would definitely win the award for sassiness. For example, whenever I am getting belly rubs and the human gets tired and stops, I just have to shoot them a look to let the human know that the belly rub is not over and then the human will keep going. Also, I let mom and dad sleep in my bed with me because I love them, but I definitely let them know that I need my room."

Any other insight you would like us to know?  

"I am very thankful for the girls that help take care of me at DogZenergy. They always treat me like the princess I am and let my parents know how I'm doing while they're at work. I know my mom and dad are thankful to them as well especially with mom's busy job as a registered nurse and dad's busy job being a Marine Corps pilot. I am sure my mom is especially thankful to Karen for putting up with all of her last minute scheduling changes. :)"

A big thanks to Soany and her mama Courtney for participating in this week's Zen Dog Spotlight!

Thoughts of a Zen Dog: Jake

Who are my Local Sorrento Valley Groomers? We get to Know Myke of Absolute Pawfection

                           Absolute Pawfection groomer and team member Sara!

Myke Ross has been grooming for 11 years, falling into the trade by what we would call fate. Previously owning several different businesses from a photo studio to two tattoo studios, business savvy Myke was asked by a friend who had recently taken over a grooming shop for some help on the paper side of things. As the shop continued to grow and the need for more help grew larger Myke decided to jump right in and start brushing dogs. He then decided to take things to the next level and learn how to groom. Along with taking classes Myke was able to learn the secrets of the trade through apprenticing under two seasoned groomers and one master groomer. It wasn’t long after the shops growing success that Myke was asked by another friend for his assistance in watching over the grooming shop she was working at while she was away. Within a year Myke was then managing the successful business himself. Four years later in May of 2012 Myke had made the decision to buy his first van and Absolute Pawfection was born. In March 2013 he purchased his second van fallowed by opening his first shop in Encinitas that fallowing May. A year later business was booming and the demand for more of Myke’s groomers grew higher. It was then time to open up his newest location in Sorrento Valley. He will be celebrating his 4 year anniversary this May with a fabulous party!  

                        Absolute Pawfection fearless leader and owner, Myke Ross!

When deciding on a groomer what specific traits should they have and what are the top 3 questions to ask? 

 “I believe every groomer should be educated, currently there is no requirement in California to be certified as a dog groomer. I require all of my groomers to be certified or to have the goal to be certified. They should always be continuing their education including going to seminars and classes on a regular basis.  The shop needs to be clean and airy,  with nice people working there, and the grooming stations should be clean. Recommendations from friends are a great way to find a groomer, and you can also check out their online reviews. Also you should know how long they have been grooming for and if you can really tell they love what they do. Look at the shop you’re going to, the more professional shop, the more professional groomers you should be encountering.”

How often do you recommend to get your dog groomed and why?

“I recommend every 4-8 weeks, however 6 weeks is the most common. It really depends on the different breeds and also the different hair/fur condition.”

What’s your favorite part about your job?

“I love dogs! I live, sleep, and breathe everything dogs. Currently I have 5 rescue dogs at home that get to run in and out of the house all day. It really is like a dog park. It’s fantastic! I work all day with dogs and then get to come home to my dogs.”

                                    Absolute Pawfection team member Clifton!

How do you soothe a dog’s grooming anxiety?

“I have an easy going demeanor.  I do my best to stay calm, and I’m always talking to the dogs.  People always laugh at me because I talk to them all day. I recommend having the dog groomed in the van if they don’t like noises, or going into the other room for less noisy distractions. I believe working one on one with a dog. It’s finished in a shorter amount of time and done better.  I am pretty quick at what I do, and then it’s over with. I also do not force them into crazy yoga positions.”

                                     Myke doing what he loves and does best!

How can I control my dog’s fur/shedding?

“You can bring them to me! This really depends on the dog and there are also different tools, not every tool is the same for each dog.  The best grooming supplies/tools we actually use on ourselves for the dogs. You can find out how often you need to brush your dog by brushing them daily and checking for tangles. No tangles means a brushing is not needed that day”.

                                     Absolute Pawfection team member Lorie!

Can I teach my dog to let me trim their nails?

“It’s not that hard to do, but if you attempt it yourself you should have all the required equipment and styptic powder.  A groomer does have all the tools necessary and as other people have said, “Why would you want to do something most dogs don’t like to have done to them?”  Just have someone else do it so they don’t associate that with you.” 

Please share a funny/memorable grooming story.

“Often people don’t brush their dogs. I had a client bring in their dog that was completely matted. I had asked her if the dog was matted over the phone and she said no. When they arrived I could clearly see the dog was matted and stated, “I thought your dog was not matted.” She said, “Oh! Driving over the dog had its head out the window the whole time. That must be why she’s matted!” A woman called me while I was working on another dog saying it was 911 emergency and I must come immediately. She even offered to play triple the normal rate. She said her dog must have been in a fire because it smells like its coat was burning. I told her if her dog was on fire you need to rinse it off with a hose right away. She kept begging and insisting for me to come over, and I ended up giving the dog a $300 bath because her dog had been skunked!”

Thank you you to Myke and his happy, friendly, and loyal staff for welcoming us in, and allowing us to share Absolute Pawfection with you. We can't wait for that party in May! For more information please check out their website here.