Vacations at HTH!

   If traveling wasn't already stressful, now you have the dog to worry about! We know how hectic things can get so we put together a guide to make your dog's vacation as smooth, relaxing and fun as possible. Your dog will miss you but we're here to be their home away from home!

Rozie W. & Julia  Before anything, take a breather and stay calm! Your dog knows when you're going away and if you stress too much, so will they. So here we go..

1. Make sure your dogs vaccinations are up to date before their stay! For health & safety reasons, we cannot accept any dogs with expired vaccines. Bordetella, DHLPP & Rabies always need to be current.

2. Make some time for check-in. We only need about 5-10 minutes to update/verify your information. Have emergency contact information prepared!

3. Notify us of any health or behavior changes since your last visit with us!

4. Bring your dog's food and pack extra! Since they're getting more activity than at home, your dog tends to become more hungry than they would at home. Picky eater? Pack some extra special treats, canned food, hot dogs, whatever it will take to make your pet comfortable while away from you and your home. 

**Since we're a Green Business, we encourage you to use reusable containers vs. plastic bags. Feel free to even bring the large bag of kibble you buy from the store.

5. Be specific with your dog's feeding and medications! Everyone is different. We use standard measuring cups (like what you use in your kitchen). It's especially important to be clear on any medication instructions! This includes the reasons why your dog needs medication.

6. Stinky pup? We offer baths and nails trims. Let us know at check-in! It's not as fun coming home from vacation to a smelly dog. If you prefer a specific type of shampoo, bring it with you and we'll gladly use it! Our shampoo is all natural and hypoallergenic.

7. Find out if you'll need to bring any bedding or toys. This will depend on length of stay and whether or not it's a holiday. At High Tail, we provide all bedding and even have extra crates for those who prefer it. Chew toys are welcome for big chewers during nap time but no squeaky toys are allowed!

8. We know how excited you and your pup will be when reunited! During check-out, we'll be bringing your belongings out first. We want to make sure you walk out with exactly what you came with. Remember, we also use our own collars so don't worry! We kept all of your belongings safely together.

9. Be aware of special check-in & check-out times along with our hours. Take advantage of the included daycare and drop-off your dog as early as possible. High Tail doesn't accept check-ins after 3pm and suggests that dogs with high energy come earlier than later. Take this into consideration while making reservations.

10. Stay connected! We are always available through phone & e-mail! Expect facebook pictures once a week too! Don't hesitate to check in on your pup throughout their stay. Also, let us know if your plans change!

We hope this helps for your future stays at HTH. As always, we're here day & night to answer any questions or comments you may have!

Sincerely Yours,

HTH

Suma the Senior Mastiff

Suma taking a snooze  While fostering, you can never have too many happy endings. The good ol' feeling of helping a dog find a new family is far beyond rewarding. Not to mention every dogs story is different.

  High Tail's most recent adoption was Suma, our 140lb (ish) senior Mastiff. She had a family in the city and after 8 years of her life, her family decided she was simply "too much" for them. She was surrendered to SF Animal Care and Control by not her parents but her dog walker. Sadly, her family was quick to move on and returned to ACC later that same day to get a license for their new Gordon Setter puppy.  

  For a dog of Suma's size, it's hard to find a suitable foster home. Luckily, High Tail had room for one more and Muttville was pleased to sponsor her! 

  She came, she drooled, she conquered! Suma was adopted just this last Friday by Dee Ann, a woman who appreciates all of what our big girl has to offer!

Congrats Suma and Dee Ann! 

Photos of the Week !

Julia & CanelaHonestly..need I say more? Sometimes we can't help but be doggies ourselves ;)

Julia & Petey

I rest my case.

Bigs vs. Littles: Who Would Win in the Zombie Apocalypse?

            Though we don’t like to admit it sometimes, the world we live in can be a scary place. From the time when we’re young and we fear monsters under our bed, to the time we’re older and face threats that are much more real, we learn that there are things in this world we must stand up to. And there is probably no threat more real right now than that of, yep, you guessed it, the zombie apocalypse.

            Zombies are like, so in right now. And personally, I don’t really get it, but hey, if there’s a bandwagon to jump on, you might as well, especially when it comes to dogs. Dogs always follow the pack. And this pack is a pack of wild zombies. So it begs the question (and I know you are all wondering this right now), in the zombie apocalypse, which would win: big dogs or little dogs?

            Now, let’s approach this scientifically. And to do this we have to know what we’re working with: are the zombies dogs? Or are they humans? For argument’s sake let’s take the zombie apocalypse we all know and love (human zombies) and try to determine who would be better fit to defeat an army of them in the event of the zombie apocalypse (though I should probably use the term zombie uprising since I’m implying that one group of dogs will defeat the zombies…but zombie apocalypse has a much cooler ring to it).Rupert & Charlie brainstorming on the matter

            So now, what are some qualities of zombies? Undead, slow-moving, decomposing, able to infect another being with one bite. Great, now we’re more familiar with zombies. So, let us analyze the positive Darwinian traits of big dogs compared little dogs to see which would reign supreme. Big dogs have their size to their advantage. They often have great strength, large teeth, and a forceful bite if necessary. Depending on the breed, the quickness and agility of large dogs can be quite impressive. As far as little dogs go, this quickness and agility often will accompany any small breed. They also possess unbelievable levels of cuteness, which anyone knows, when harnessed correctly, can be a powerful weapon. The mere fact that a little dog could probably run circles around a zombie so quickly without being able to be caught, while at the same time making it so dizzy it becomes disoriented, leads me to believe (a deduction based on scientific reasoning of course) that little dogs would win out over big dogs in the (very likely) event of a zombie apocalypse (uprising).

            Well there you go, folks. Science has solved another one (take that MythBusters!)…Though in all honesty, zombies are walking meals of raw, decomposing flesh. With the raw diet being the biggest rage right now amongst doggie diets, it’s safe to bet any dog, big or little, would defeat a zombie no problem. All you’d have to do is let them loose and say “Dinner!”

Zombie problem solved. You’re welcome world. Forget the apocalypse. As long as human’s have “man’s best friend”, we’ll be around for a long time.

Written by: Diana DiCostanzo, High Tail Hotel Dog Scientist and Bizarre Theory Research Analyst



"Doggie, Doggie! Are you okay?"

Anything can happen when you’re at the dog park or on the trail with your dog. Sometimes, the time between the accident and getting to the vet can be the most valuable and it’s important to know what to do in any situation that threatens your best friend’s life. Pet Tech’s Pet First Aid and CPR class gives you everything you need to stay calm and have the knowledge under your belt in emergency situations. This class is helpful for any dog owner! You’ll know when you need to take your dog to the vet or when home remedies will do the trick.

The next class will be held at High Tail Hotel March 3^rd, 2012 from 10am – 2pm.

Call HTH for details & to sign-up!

$65 for Certification!