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29464 Kennel Looks at New Puppy Names
Posted by: | CommentsWhat Should We Name Our New Puppy?
Here are some ideas from your Pet Keepers Mt Pleasant Dog Boarding Kennel.
You have just picked up perfect puppy. After hours
on the Internet, you found the right breed for you and your family. Through the newspapers, your Dog Boarding Kennel Mount Pleasant SC, several publications, breeders, humane society, SPCA, meeting and greeting pups, you find just the right match.
Now what? You need to pick out a name! You want to be thrilled with it and impress friends, neighbors and your favorite Pet Keepers Mount Pleasant Doggy Daycare home away from home.
You will use your dog’s name more than 35,000 times over the course of his life. Be sure you’re picking a name you will adore throughout the years.
Picking the perfect puppy name is at your fingertips with these few steps:
- You may think it’s an honor to name your pup after you’re favorite Uncle, Percivile. Naming a child after him may keep you in the will, but probably not your new hound.
- Dogs understand short commands. Easy names with two or fewer syllables work well.
- You will be using your dog’s name in public. “Smelly” may be cute among your close friends, but it will not go over well at all locations. “AulBeeBack” may ring of Arnold’s movies, but may not be the way you want to go.
- The name should not sound like any commands. “Stacy” sounds too much like “stay” and this will only confuse your dog.
- Let the kids dive in and help. Kids like to keep it simple too. If calling your Golden Retriever “Bubbles” works for them, consider keeping the high test name strictly for AKC purposes.
- If you’re bringing home an older dog, ideally, stick with his existing name. If “Farley” was the first boy who broke your heart, stick with similar sounds when choosing a new dog name. Example: “Barney”.
- Try out the new name for a few days. You’ll know right away whether it’s a keeper. If not, move on quickly to one of the many other names you have on your list.
Everywhere you are, you’ll find a variety of terrific ideas on what to name your pooch. Just look around. A few things will stand out about your new puppy. Enjoy her for a couple days and take these into consideration.
- Personality. Given a couple of days, your new dog’s personality will probably come right out. Examples: “Puddles” works for the pooch who can’t seem to find outdoors fast enough.
- Appearance. What does your dog look like (color, size, coat, eyes)? You may call a cream colored cock-a-poo “Buffy” and “Stubbs” would be a great name for a dachshund pup.
If you want to go beyond the basics, many famous dog names or foreign dog names can fit the bill. Consider these favorite puppy names when making your decision.
- Celebrity puppy names. Today, dogs have more celebrity following than their famous owners. Chew on “Lola,” a name used by both Hilary Duff and the Osbournes.
- TV dogs. “Scooby” and “Astro” come to mind if you want to honor a famous TV pup.
- Movie dogs. Cool movies and cool dog names seem to go hand in hand. Cool Hand Luke’s “Blue” would be a fitting label for a variety of dogs.
- Comic dogs. Think “Snoopy”, “Daisy” and “Odie.”
- German dog names. What do you think of “Fritz” or “Kaiser.”
- Irish dog names. “Finn” fits well for any pup, as does “Murphy,” which just happens to mean “hound of the sea.”
- French puppy names. “Pierre” and “Gigi” are top contenders for any dog, especially those with a little oo-la-la in their genes.
- Kennel names. “PK”, “Keepers”, “Wendy’s Girl”. Sorry, just joking, but thought we would throw a plug our way.
The choices are endless. We have seen many thousands of dog names at our Mount Pleasant SC Veterinary Clinics over the years. You know what? Seems like just about every name fits perfectly.
1213 Ben Sawyer Boulevard Mount Pleasant, SC, 29464 United States
pet.keepers@yahoo.com • 843-849-8866
Pet Food Advice from Mt Pleasant Boarding Kennel
Posted by: | CommentsPet Food Advice
The health and wellbeing of your pets is important to you and your family. It is also important to keep down the cost of Mt Pleasant SC veterinarian bills! You need to carefully consider the food that you give your pets. People sometimes just pick the first dog food bag they see at the store. It is easy to overlook the importance of dog food but it is essential to pick the right one for your dog.
To keep your dog or cat healthy, plenty of fresh water and good quality food.
How do you maintain the health and wellbeing of your pets and keep down the cost of veterinary bills? Carefully think about the food that you provide. Do not just grab the first dog or cat food bag you find at the store. It is very important to pick the right food for your pets.
Fresh water and good quality dog food in proper amounts to meet energy requirements are the key. Follow the instructions on the food package to feed the correct amount.
How do you pick the correct pet food? Select one that has overall quality. What we have learned is that you will pay a similar amount per nutrition unit. For example: Compare the cheapest bag you can find with Royal Canin from Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital. You will find that you will feed less with the high quality food, provide better nutrition and come close in cost per value.

A phrase you will hear about dog food is human grade, which means that the food is good enough for humans to consume. Many commercial dog foods are made from materials unusable or less desirable for human consumption. Often the meat that is used in dog food is of a quality considered unfit for humans.
Major dog food companies try to provide balanced proportions of vitamins and minerals for maximum benefit. Reputable dog food companies provide an explanation for each supplement and how it benefits your dog, simply provide rough labeling.
Check the proteins, vitamins and minerals provided. Meat-based protein rather than flour, corn gluten meal, or corn is best. Studies indicate dogs reap a healthier coat, fewer digestive problems and firmer stools with quality food. Pet nutrition experts agree that the best dog food is made from human grade ingredients like meat, whole grains and vegetables.

Ask Shuler Veterinary Clinic or Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital before selecting your dog food. The health of your pet is also our concern.
Mt Pleasant Kennel Recommends Dental Cleaning
Posted by: | CommentsMt Pleasant SC Vet Recommends Pet Dental Cleaning
Mt Pleasant SC Vet Clinics recommend periodic dog and cat dental cleaning procedures. We hope that the below information helps you evaluate your pet’s needs. You can call Shuler Veterinary Clinic or Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital for more information.
80% of dogs and 70% of cats develop gum disease by the age of three. Periodontal disease is the most common dental condition and can cause bacteria and toxins to enter the bloodstream and potentially affect internal organs.
Routine dental cleanings include ultrasonic scaling and sub-gingival scaling and polishing. This procedure is always done under anesthesia. The overall health of your pet outweighs the anesthetic risk.
If your pet presents any of the following, call our office to schedule a dental:
· Bad Breath or Mouth Odor
· Tartar Accumulation
· Oral Discomfort (Pawing at Mouth or Rubbing Mouth Along Ground)
· Trouble Chewing
· Red or Bleeding Gums
· Dropping Food While Trying to Eat
· Not Eating Well or Cries When Trying to Eat
Once your pet has received his/her dental cleaning, one of our Mt Pleasant SC Vet Clinic technicians will discuss at-home care for your pet. There are many oral hygiene products to get your pet’s at-home dental care started.
Mt Pleasant SC Kennel Recommends Dog Agility
Posted by: | CommentsMt Pleasant SC Kennel Recommends ”Dog Fun on the Weekend”
Want to have a real blast this weekend? Get your grass mowed, do a minor garage cleaning, tell your group you will golf another day, then pack up the family and dog. Get over to a dog agility course. It is not only great exercise for your dog, but also for you. An agility course is truly a Dog Amusement Park.
(UPDATE: The agility obstacles have been removed due to objection from one person or a few. The fenced area still exists.) We have a real bonus here in town. Just a few miles from Pet Keepers Mount Pleasant SC Boarding Kennel there is a county park that has a fenced in agility course. The name of the park is Palmetto Islands County Park and the address is 444 Needlerush Parkway, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464. You can google directions, or you can just get on Long Point Road, enter the Long Point subdivision and keep driving to the end of the road.
There you will find the park entrance gate. Pass over a few bucks, stay to the right, and drive right up to the “dog amusement park”. Do not worry about parking. The course is surrounded by acres of grass. Distractions are few since the agility course is at the boundary of the county park, away from other attractions, and not on the major route through the park. The four-foot chain link fence surrounding the course lets you take off the lead and romp without worry. Cost? Completely free other than the few dollars you already paid to get through the entrance gate.
For those not so fortunate to live near an agility course, lobby for your county park to build one. The only substantial cost to the county would be about 300 feet of chain link fencing and some inexpensive obstacles. All of these obstacles are easily built by anyone somewhat handy with a saw, hammer and PVC piping. You could make the tunnel by cutting off the ends off fifty-five gallon barrels and joining them.
This course is not exactly what you see on TV for the competitions. It is scaled down somewhat and has a smaller perimeter, but still a terrific short course. There is no standard sequence of obstacles for real competitions because the judge sets it up how he wants each time. Competition dog agility is where a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Dogs run off-leash with no food or toys as incentives. The handler cannot touch the dog or obstacles. You will not be this rigorous because you will be having family fun!
Obstacles at our neighborhood agility course include:
- A teeter board
- Tunnel
- Standard adjustable jumps
- Tire jump
- Weave poles
- Pause table
- Dog walk
- A-frame
Once you get good and worn out, cool down with a leisurely stroll with your around the park. There are walkways all over including some over marsh, a look out tower, slides and a playground. Talk about some great scents for your hound to investigate! This author has even taken the family Christmas photo at this site and always travels with a picnic lunch, including dog lunch. You can leave Splash Island for another day in the summer.
After you take advantage of this adventure, you will want to go back repeatedly to let your pooch show off. It may make sense to buy a season pass. Please let us know at Pet Keepers Mount Pleasant SC Boarding Kennel how it went for you. No need to tell us what the stopwatch said unless you really want to.
Choosing a Mount Pleasant SC Veterinary Clinic
Posted by: | Comments
What makes a good veterinarian?
Coming from the mouths of customers instead of professionals, here are some great comments on what makes a good vet. Below you will see that the advice of friends and family is commonly recommended. You will also see that the caring disposition of the veterinarian is very important.
Call your local veterinary clinics. Ask for information on fees, hours and policies. Consider requesting a tour of the practice.
Ask any local friends and family members that have experience with local vets. My vet came through a recommendation from a friend.
Good veterinarians will ask all about your pet. Questions that should be asked include:
- From where did you pet come?
- How long have you had it?
- What do you feed it?
- What are its stools like?
- Tell me about its general behavior.
A good veterinarian will answer all questions you have. All of your concerns will be taken seriously.
Visit the local veterinarians’ offices without your pet to meet them and their staff. See how you personally feel about them. If your gut tells you to move on, move on.
Some people like the option of being in the same room as their pet during treatments. See if your selection of veterinarian feels that this is a good idea. The personality of your veterinarian is important. You need to trust them with your pet.
Go to the vet clinics and talk to some of the people you find there, including the receptionist and any people in the waiting room.
Education may not be all that important. Compassion and a love for animals are important. Find a vet through word of mouth. Check the prospective vet’s interaction with your pet.
Ask for an on the spot tour of the veterinary clinic. You will get a good indication of how things are run by looking at the general condition and upkeep.
Mt Pleasant SC Kennel Honors Hero Dogs
Posted by: | CommentsWe came across this heart warming information concerning heroic actions of dogs and how they were honored. At Pet Keepers Mt Pleasant SC Kennel, we see terrific dogs boarding every day. We feel that each of these boarding dogs would rise to the ocassion if needed.
The guests of honor wore black ties and arrived in limousines. They walked the yellow carpet – on all fours. A “black collar” ceremony was held in New York City. This was a tribute to professionally trained service dogs for their contributions to the community through the Pedigree Paws to Recognize program.
Jacko, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois, took home top honors as the 2005 Canine of the Year for his work to protect America’s borders with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Career stats:
1. Alerted authorities of a scheme to smuggle 49 people inside wooden boxes on two flatbed trailers into the United States.
2. Detected more 9 pounds of heroin, 32,000 pounds of marijuana, and 800 pounds of cocaine.
Noteable Nominees
Jenner, a golden retriever. He works as a guide dog for the blind and as a hospital volunteer in San Francisco.
Keyotae, a volunteer search-and-rescue bloodhound who is on call 24 hours a day.
Shug, a golden retriever that comforts patients through her work as a therapy dog at various hospitals.
Boris, a Belgian Malinois and military dog who served in Bosnia, Kosovo and most recently Iraq, where he was a morale booster for lonely and homesick soldiers.
Over 50,000 people voted online for the dog they felt most deserved the title of Canine of the Year. All canine heroes received medals-of-honor and each dog’s paw print was placed in cement. The prints were then added to the Hollywood-style “Pedigree Paws of Fame” in Los Angeles.
A new award, “Everyday Heroes”, category, honoring non-service dogs and people who exemplify a love for dogs through their work showed:
Pepper, the winner, a 3-year-old pointer/healer mix from San Antonio who, despite a fear of water, saved his family’s two children who were caught in a riptide.
Dave Breen of Sierra Vista, Ariz., who has rescued more than 250 greyhounds through his self-started, not-for-profit organization.
Great Holiday Gift Ideas for Pet Lovers
Posted by: | CommentsWith the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking of gifts to give your friends and loved ones. At Pet Keepers Mount Pleasant SC Kennel we get ideas from our clients. Finding unique gifts can present a challenge. You may never have considered giving pet-related gifts. Since the chances are good that more than one person on your holiday gift list has a pet that he or she adores, why not give a distinctive gift that your recipient will treasure? Here are five great, high value gift ideas to get you started:
1. Fine Art Animal Prints
Dogs may come in many shapes and sizes, but each has a personality all its own. One of the most delightful gifts you can give to a pet lover is a fine art print of his or her breed. You can see many prints on our walls at Pet Keepers. One of our favorite artists is Mr. Killian, originally from Jackson, MN. He has a great presence at the Wildlife Expo in downtown Charleston every year. His limited edition animal prints are sure to be treasured, as each comes with a consecutively numbered dog tag to match the tag in the print.
2. Crystal Animal Statues
Whether your gift recipient has a dog, cat, horse, or rabbit, he or she is sure to enjoy an elegant crystal animal statue. Typically made from 24 percent lead crystal, hand-finished animal statues are beautiful yet whimsical. Crystal animal statues can depict a wide variety of pets, from a sitting cat to a dog with a bone; from a turtle to a frog; from a horse to a mouse; and from a duck to a dove. We don’t advise bringing this to our Mt Pleasant SC Kennel!
3. Stone Animal Statues
Who wouldn’t love a playful stone animal statue depicting their beloved pet? Animal garden statues are perfect gifts, as are stone animal statues for the home and office. While some statues – like a sleeping spaniel puppy or an eager dachshund – make you feel warm inside, others – like a cat holding a pair of binoculars up to his eyes, ever watchful for a bird – make you chuckle. Stone animal statues are available for virtually any type of pet, and are certain to be cherished. We stocked a line of figurines in the past, but they were so individual, we found that shopping in town was a better idea for our customers.
4. Animal Posters
If you’ve ever owned a pet, you know how funny they can be. Animal posters depict pets in a variety of outlandish situations, and are eminently affordable. You know you have seen some real winners along the way. An animal poster is sure to bring a smile to your friend’s face.
5. Entertainment
When it comes to gifts for pet lovers, there’s nothing more unique that pet-related entertainment. There is actually a music company that creates music for animals, so consider giving a gift of music about and for cats, dogs, or birds. Another great gift idea is to buy a DVD or video that is designed to entertain your friend’s dog or cat. It would also be a simple matter to make a short home video of your friends animals and post on YouTube, then send them the URL a day or before the holiday.
We don’t actually see these gifts at Pet Keepers, we just hear about them. We see the smaller chewies or squeaky toys. It’s both thoughtful and original to give a gift that acknowledges your friend’s pets.
Is Your Dog Trying to Tell You Something?
Posted by: | CommentsIs barking a form of language among dogs with precise significance, or just playful noise? As you can imagine, at Pet Keepers many of our guests like to chat. Dogs exchange information among themselves less by voice than by a wide range of facial expressions, body postures and gestures, as well as by various scents. Dogs, who bark at night, are probably working off excess energy or announcing their presence, and this is undoubtedly the only message conveyed to other dogs within earshot.
When a dog goes to his owner and deliberately barks, it is simply meant to attract attention. You must try to guess his general behavior, rather than from the circumstances and his general behavior, rather than from the particular form or pitch of bark he makes. The howling or baying of hunting dogs is an instinctive hunting cry informing the pack that the dog is on a trail. Barking at strange noises is a warning as well as a threat display.
A lonely dog that howls may be sending out a gathering cry to other dogs nearby. On the other hand, one of our customers loves to sit with his border collie and have fun baying away. Wild dogs on the other hand, never bark, they only howl. Could the barking of domesticated dogs be a form of communication more closely resembling speech? A pet dog that shares a close relationship with his owner and has been taught to understand many words obviously makes an effort, sometimes quite successfully, to give meaning to his own utterances.
A dog who wishes to assert his importance and boldness instinctively employs all of the effects that make him look bigger and more frightening, raising his back can increase his height as does holding his head high in defiance. A dog who wants to show submission does just the opposite, making himself look small by crouching down with his tail between his legs and his ears laid back flat.
A dog who wishes to assert his dominance will take a perpendicular position with his head over the other dog’s shoulders, while nudging or pushing, with his neck arched, head and tail raised and tense. The conventional play invitation is a posture with the forehead crouched, the hind quarters high, a wagging tail, bright eye and a little yap. A rigid stance with a steady gaze and a high, trembling tail is hostile. A high, steady tail signifies self confidence, and held low indicates inferiority, fatigue, ill health, or a bad mood.
Pawing at the neck is an expression of affection. Nose-nudging is another invitation to play. “Paw giving” is a conventional canine gesture with two possible meanings. When he gives his paw to his owner while avoiding eye contact he’s saying “Please forgive me” or when he wants attention, he is saying “I’m here, don’t forget me.” When he offers his paw to another dog, it’s a sign of submission.
An owner, who takes the trouble to observe his dog and pay him the courtesy of listening to him, can establish a simple two-way communications system with his pet. Canine messages are generally very elementary, as he asks much less of us than we do of him. “I’m hungry,” “I’m thirsty”, “I need to go out”, or “Come with me I think something is wrong” are among the messages he manages to convey very well considering his limited means. His most eloquent utterance is the emotional gurgle of barks that means to say “I’ve missed you!”







