Dog Health & Care Guides

We work with dogs at every life stage — from puppies on their first intro day to seniors who've been coming for 10+...

Every new puppy owner is learning what puppy-proofing really means — often after the first incident. We see the results...

We require collar and ID tag for all daycare dogs. Microchipping adds a permanent backup that can't fall off during an...

In emergencies, owners often need someone to pick up their dog. PAWS maintains emergency contact information for all...

We see breed-specific health patterns constantly — which dogs overheat, which get joint issues young, which need...

The dogs who thrive most at PAWS are the ones who received early, positive socialization. We accept puppies as soon as...

We are kennel-free at PAWS — dogs are never crated during daycare. But a dog who sees a crate as a safe space at home is...

We recommend positive, humane trainers to our clients regularly. Aversive tools — prong collars, shock collars — create...

The 1–3 year junior/young adult phase is when we see the most behavior challenges at daycare — jumping, barking,...

Canada Day and New Year's Eve are the worst nights of the year for dog anxiety calls from clients. Noise phobia is...

Understanding bite body language is part of what every PAWS staff member learns on day one. We recognize stress signals...

We see canine cognitive dysfunction regularly in our long-term clients who've been coming since puppyhood. Recognizing...

We see hundreds of dogs every week. We notice weight changes — sometimes before owners do. Body Condition Score (BCS) is...

Obese dogs have a harder time at daycare — less stamina, higher heat risk, joint stress from movement. It affects their...

Training treats add up fast — especially when multiple family members are each giving 'just a little.' The 10% rule...

Mental stimulation is as important as physical exercise. A dog that works for its meal for 20 minutes is significantly...

Overfeeding is the most common nutrition error we encounter. Owners are often genuinely surprised how much they're...

We've had clients ask about grain-free food choices, and we've watched the science evolve on this. We stay informed so...

Raw-fed dogs shed Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E. coli in their feces at higher rates. In a group daycare environment...

We get asked about food recommendations constantly. Our answer is always the same: consult your vet, but here's how to...

Training with food works. Low-calorie, high-value treats keep training sessions productive without blowing the caloric...

We see the post-spay weight gain pattern regularly — owners come back after 6–12 months and their previously fit dog is...

We require proof of vaccination for all daycare dogs. Understanding which vaccines matter — and why — helps owners stay...

We require current vaccination records, which means clients are interacting with their vet annually. That interaction is...

Heartworm isn't historically a big Calgary concern, but climate change is shifting ranges. Year-round broad-spectrum...

A flea-infested dog in daycare can seed a widespread infestation across the facility and every dog who attends....

Our staff handles dog feces and saliva every single day. Understanding zoonotic risks is part of our health and safety...

Bordetella is the single most relevant disease for dogs in group care settings. We require current Bordetella...

Parvovirus is exactly why we enforce vaccination requirements without exceptions. An unvaccinated dog in a group setting...

Calgary's river system and urban wildlife make leptospirosis relevant to any dog that walks near water or parks with...

We have clients with diabetic dogs who attend daycare. The routine and consistent exercise of daycare can support...

We notice dogs' breath every day. Chronic bad breath is a sign of dental disease — not normal dog breath. The connection...

Daily brushing dramatically reduces the frequency of professional cleanings. We see the difference between dogs whose...

We don't give bones or hard chews at daycare — the dental fracture risk and gastrointestinal blockage risk are real. Our...

We get asked about anesthesia-free dental cleaning options occasionally. The honest answer from us is always the same:...

Between professional cleanings, VOHC-approved products are one of the few areas where a product claim is scientifically...

We modify daycare for our senior regulars — softer surfaces, lower-impact activity options, more frequent rest breaks....

Arthritis is the most common reason long-term daycare dogs reduce their schedule as they age. The answer is not zero...

End-of-life decisions are the hardest thing dog owners face. Having an objective framework removes some of the guilt and...

Dogs hide pain — it's evolutionary. We've learned to read the subtle signs after years of watching dogs daily. Many of...

Cold therapy is a simple, low-cost tool that helps arthritic dogs recover from activity. After active daycare days, we...

PAWS staff are trained in pet first aid — all hold or are working toward certification. We keep a full first aid kit on...

We modify pack walk timing on hot days and have clear protocols for heat management. Brachycephalic dogs are at...

Calgary winters are real. We walk dogs in -25°C with windchill. We have cold weather protocols that we've refined over...

We supervise carefully and remove unsafe items from dogs' reach. But foreign body ingestion can happen anywhere. Owners...

Allergic skin dogs often have interrupted daycare attendance due to itching, secondary infections, and the general...

Long nails are a welfare issue, not just cosmetic. We see the posture and gait effects of overgrown nails constantly —...

We monitor ears at daycare — ear infections present as head shaking, scratching, and odor. We flag these to owners...

GDV is a life-threatening emergency we take seriously with large deep-chested breeds at daycare. We don't allow vigorous...

Activity trackers can show what we observe at daycare from a data perspective — energy output, rest patterns, changes in...