Bradenton Dog

grooming

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Pet Suites Opens in Bradenton

A brand new pet boarding, daycare and grooming business, Pet Suites has opened on Route 70 in Bradenton. The Grand Opening party was held on Saturday, locals and their pups were invited for tours, to meet other local vendors and to visit with adoptable dogs from Bishop’s.

Attendees were treated to Baha Tacos, Kona Ice and door prizes.

 

Pet Suites will also offer retail items for pet owners from brands that you might not find in your everyday big box pet store.  We saw these cool leash bags – which seemed like a great idea – especially if you are always on the lookout for lost dogs.

 

Manatee County’s growth in 2017 was just over 9%, and it’s trajectory for 2018 is about the same.   Right now there are about 323,000 residents, if 1/3 of those households have dogs – there is plenty of room for a new business catering to canine needs.

Pet Suites offers a variety of boarding options for pets from roomy “townhouses” for large dogs, outfitted with Kuranda beds, and smaller rooms for the wee ones.

Indoor and outdoor play areas let dogs run off energy.

 

And a bone-shaped swimming pool is a luxury for water-loving pups.  Get ready to be splashed!

 

Pet Suites is located at 5205 53rd Ave E, Bradenton, FL 34203, just East of Lockwood Ridge in Bradenton.

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Breed Profile: Yorkshire Terrier

by Lauren R. Tharp

Known as “Yorkies” to those who love them, the Yorkshire Terrier originated in Yorkshire, England (how appropriate, no?) where they were originally used to catch rats in clothing mills. Perky, fun, and utterly adorable, this toy breed was first recognized by the AKC in 1885 and currently reigns as the third most popular dog in the United States.

Physical Traits

Size & Weight: Extremely small, even by Toy breed standards. Yorkies are generally 5-7 inches in height and weigh a mere 3-7 pounds. “Teacup” Yorkshire Terriers can be even smaller than that!

Coat & Color: Colors are black and tan or “steel blue” and tan. Their hair is long, straight, and incredibly silky. Many Yorkies have hair that reaches all the way down to the floor.

Other: A Yorkshire Terrier named Smoky was a war hero (with the 5th Air Force in the South Pacific) during World War II. Smoky was also the first therapy dog!

Life Expectancy: 14-16 years.

Temperament

Intelligent and energetic, Yorkies are incredibly loyal to their owners and, although they don’t require much exercise due to their small size, they need daily interaction with their preferred human. Quick to adapt to almost any surrounding, Yorkshire Terriers are affectionate, fun, agile, and intensely curious.

Wags

  • Easy to train.
  • Excellent watchdogs.
  • Requires very little exercise.

Yelps

  • Grooming needs for this breed are high.
  • If not properly socialized at a young age, Yorkies can become yappy—or worse: snappy!—with strangers.
  • Yorkshire Terriers were originally ratters and those instincts still run strong within the breed today, often making them unsuitable around small animals (especially rodents such as mice, rats, and hamsters).

Do you think the Yorkshire Terrier would be the perfect addition to your family? Check your local animal shelter and/or rescue groups like the Florida Yorkie Rescue.

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Breed Profile: Puggle

So what do you get when you cross a Pug with a Beagle? Why, a Puggle of course! These adorable wrinkled hounds are a “designer” breed of dog that were first bred in the 1980’s when dog breeder Wallace Haven bred a male Pug with a female Beagle.  They are currently the most popular crossbreed ever, and with their endless energy and sweet dispositions it’s no wonder why!

Physical Traits

Size & Weight: Puggles generally stand between 10-15 inches at the shoulders, and weigh between 15-30 pounds. They are relatively small dogs with thick-set bodies, and males are usually larger and more muscular than females.

Coat & Color: Puggles have short, smooth coats that come in a variety of colors. The most common color combination is fawn or tan with a black mask (like their Pug parent), but they can also be all black, white, or tri-colored. Their foreheads are deeply wrinkled, another trait inherited from the Pug.

Life Expectancy: 10-15 years

Temperament

While cross breeding can result in any combination of characteristics found in the original breeds, Puggle parents insist that Puggles truly inherit the best of both Pugs and Beagles. They are very sweet-natured, affectionate, and extremely social dogs. They love to be close to their families, and will often follow you around the house from room to room, and happily greet you when you get home. And it’s not just people that they love—Puggles love making new dog friends at the park, and will even buddy up with the family cat. You could say a Puggle has never met a stranger!

Something to Bark About: First generation Puggles are bred from a purebred Pug and a purebred Beagle. These pups usually have the fawn coloring with black masks. Second generation Puggles are bred from two Puggle parents, and can result in lots of color variations. Because the size of the pups can make births difficult for Pug moms, usually the mother dog is a Beagle and the father a Pug.

Wags

  • Puggles have coats that are easy to care for and require minimal grooming.
  • Puggles love people of all ages, as well as other animals.
  • Because they are treat motivated Puggles are easy to train, and will easily learn all the basic commands of sit, stay, fetch, and roll over.

Yelps

  • Potty training can sometimes be a challenge. It’s important to use reward and repetition, as Puggles can be stubborn puppies.
  • Because they are so social, some Puggles may bark at the slightest noise or a knock at the door (what dog doesn’t?), and may even howl every now and then, but it’s only because they want to say hello!

If you’d like to learn more about adoptable Puggles in your area, visit Petfinder.com for more information.

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Breed Profile: Boston Terrier

By Alisha Corsi

With their refined personalities and dapper tuxedo markings, Boston Terriers are known as the “American Gentlemen” of dog breeds. Originating in the stables of Boston (where else would they?), Boston Terriers were the first US breed to be recognized by the American Kennel Club, making them the all-American dog!

Physical Traits

Size & Weight: Boston Terriers stand between 15-17 inches at the shoulder, and weigh between 10-25 pounds. They are small, compact dogs with short muzzles and square faces.

Coat & Color: Boston Terriers have short, smooth coats that are most often brindle, seal, or black with even white markings on the face and chest. “Seal” is a color that is exclusive to Boston Terriers, and refers to a black color that reveals red highlights in the sun. Boston Terriers can also be liver, brown, cream, or red, but these are rare.

Life Expectancy: 11-13 years

Temperament
Boston Terriers are gentle, well-mannered dogs with happy-go-lucky personalities. They love their human companions, and are always eager to please. Highly intelligent dogs, Boston Terriers are easy to train and are usually enthusiastic about learning new things. Because of their affectionate personalities and excellent character, Boston Terriers are extremely popular in the United States.

Something to Bark About: The American Kennel Club breed standards state that Boston Terriers should be wrinkle-free—be grateful that we’re not all held to that standard! The Boston Terrier serves as the mascot for not one, but two institutions of higher education in the US—Wofford College in South Carolina, and of course, Rhett the Boston Terrier at Boston University.
Wags
• Boston Terriers get along well with children, elderly people, and animals.
• Boston Terriers are easy keepers who require only a moderate amount of exercise and a minimum amount of grooming.
• Boston Terriers learn very quickly, and have very affable personalities.

Yelps
• Like most pure dog breeds, Boston Terriers are prone to some health issues, including eye problems, heart murmurs, and allergies.
• Their compact body type causes a few challenges that can also be seen as endearing—they can be quite flatulent in the absence of a proper diet, and their shortened muzzles make them prone to snoring. Nothing a little Febreze and ear plugs can’t cure!

If you’d like to learn more about adoptable Boston Terriers in your area, visit Boston Terrier Rescue of Florida for more information.

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Maltese Profile

by Lauren R. Tharp

The Maltese has one of the most recognizable looks in Toy breeds.  So many people, from Halle Berry to Milhouse from The Simpsons, have recognized the “pet potential” in this gentle, playful, breed; is it any wonder that they’re the 19th most popular breed in America?

Physical Traits

Size & Weight:  Toy.  The Maltese measures 8-10 inches at the shoulder and weighs 3-8 pounds.

Coat & Color:  The Maltese sports long, silky, white hair.  The occasional cream or yellow-ish Maltese may turn up from time to time, but it’s extremely rare.

Other:  While most toy/companion dogs have been “bred down” from larger breeds, the Maltese is the same size now as it was when it first showed up on the scene, over 28 centuries ago!

Life Expectancy:  12-15 years.

Temperament
Like many small dogs, the Maltese boasts a “big dog” personality.  They’ve often been described as “fearless.”  A few other adjectives to describe the breed?  Trusting, playful, loyal, and loving.  The Maltese is a good fit for first-time owners and apartment dwellers.

Wags

  • The Maltese is a great dog when it comes to traveling.
  • Surprisingly, even with their long hair, the Maltese’s grooming needs are fairly moderate.  Bonus!—They tend not to shed.
  • This breed loves to learn tricks!

Challenges

  • While they do make good “watch dogs,” their barking isn’t always selective.  AKA: They sometimes bark “too much.”
  • While their grooming needs are “moderate,” they do tend to need professional grooming.  And pro grooming expenses can add up quickly!
  • Not suitable with small children.

Think the Maltese breed is for you? Check out adoptable Maltese dogs by visiting the Florida Maltese Rescue site.

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Poodle Profile

By Lauren Tharp

The perfect mix of beauty and brains, the Poodle has rightly earned its spot as the 8th most popular breed in America and the 2nd most intelligent by the American Kennel Club.  The Poodle, originally used as a hunting dog, has had an ever-changing role throughout its history.  Being employed as anything from a guide dog to an Army working dog to a circus performer, Poodles are now known more for their haircuts but one thing has never changed: How much their owners love them.

Physical Traits

Size & Weight:  This wonder dog comes in all sizes: Standard, Miniature, and Toy!  Standard Poodles are 15-20 inches at the shoulder and weigh 45-70 pounds.  Miniature Poodles are around 10-14 inches at the shoulder and typically weigh 6-10 pounds.  Toy Poodles, the smallest of them all, measure 10 inches or less at the shoulder and weigh an itty-bitty 4-6 pounds.

Coat & Color:  Poodle coats are curly or corded.  They’re available in nearly all solid colors including white, black, cream, blue, gray, silver, brown, and apricot.

Other:  Poodles don’t shed; their hair grows and grows and grows.  It’s because of this that the breed has their hair clipped on a regular basis.  However, the classic “poodle cut” was originally designed to help the dogs move through water more efficiently when on hunting trips with their masters.

Life Expectancy:  12-17+ years.  Life spans for Poodles vary.  As a general rule: The smaller the dog, the longer the lifespan.

Temperament

Never shy.  Quite the opposite, really.  Poodles are bold, confident, and highly intelligent.  Highly “people-orientated,” this breed loves (and needs!) human companionship.  They follow orders extremely well.

Wags:

  • They’re fantastic at obedience training! They learn quickly and they retain what they’ve learned, making them well-suited for old pros and first-time owners alike.
  • Great with children.
  • Considered by many to be more “hypoallergenic” than most breeds due to is lack of shedding.

Challenges:

  • Requires regular professional grooming.  This can be expensive and time-consuming.
  • Due to their strong hunting instinct, they’re not always the best breed to mingle with smaller animals.  Birds in particular could be in danger if your poodle isn’t introduced to them early enough.

Can grow to be high strung or mischievous if not physically exercised or mentally challenged on a regular basis

If you are considering adding a poodle to your family, please consider contacting one of our local rescue group or Florida Poodle Rescue.  Need some gear for Poodle?  Check out this cool site CollarPlanet.com or for breed specific Poodle goodies, RamonaLovesDogs.com.