Pets are wonderful companions; however, being responsible for a companion animal is integral to the owner-pet relationship. Here at Bayside, we feel one of the most critical aspects of pet ownership is the relationship. Here are some foundational ideas to help you thoroughly master pet parenting!

1. Commit to taking care of your furry best friend for the entirety of their life.
2. Before you bring home a pet, there are many essential things you should consider: The type of pet that suits your home and lifestyle, the amount of time you can spend with your pet and how much exercise they require, how much care they need (for example – grooming, training), whether you have small children or other pets in the home.
3. Pets bring many joys to our lives, but caring for them requires time and money. We are here to help you take care of your pet by being a resource for all the services and information you might want or need.
4. Pet ownership requires commitment and responsibility. You must be able to provide an appropriate and safe environment for your pet. The domain provides adequate food, water, shelter, health care, and companionship.
5. An animal’s enclosure should protect it from weather conditions that would distress or discomfort the animal and provide access to appropriate food, water, and shelter. Sections may include features designed to prevent injury, hazard, or animal entrapment. An outdoor enclosure must be of sufficient size to allow each animal to maintain an adequate temperature range, satisfy its nutritional requirements and exercise needs, and express natural behavior. A minimum rule of thumb is at least 10 square feet per animal.
6. Identifying our pets is perhaps one of the most important things we can do for them. The consequences of losing a pet can be heartbreaking. Microchips are a much more reliable identification method because dogs, cats, and other animals frequently get lost and found by animal shelters, which then scan the microchip to reunite pets with their families.
7. Always check your pet’s license and research local leash laws. Make sure you comply with these regulations to ensure your dog’s well-being and the safety of others.
8. Help to manage the overpopulation of pets in the community by controlling your pet(s)’ reproduction through managed breeding, containment, or spay/neuter.
9. From monthly preventative care visits to yearly vaccines and examinations, these can help keep your pet healthy. Pet insurance can help pay for routine and emergency care for your dog or cat, comprehensive physical exams, joint and hip dysplasia, dermatological conditions, cancer treatments, and more.
10. Your pet is a part of your family and deserves the same love and attention you give to your other family members. Pets grow, learn and mature through social interactions with people and animals. Proper socialization will help your pet be happier and healthier in their environment. Proper socialization and training can help you minimize the risk of an accident. It’s helpful to understand canine behavior and how to read signs that may alert you to unwanted or dangerous behaviors.
11. Your community should be able to expect you to do everything possible to prevent any negative impact on other people, animals, or the environment. Proper waste disposal, noise control, and keeping pets from straying or becoming feral are all ways to respect your neighbors.
12. Providing your pet with a healthy diet tailored for age and activity level and maintaining a consistent routine will maintain their quality of life.
13. Your pets are important family members, so you must include them in your plan for an emergency or disaster. Being prepared can mean the difference between life and death for you and your pet.
14. How can you ensure that your beloved pet will be cared for when you cannot do so? A pet trust is a way to ensure your pet is taken care of in case you become incapacitated and unable to manage your affairs. If faith begins and the trustee is not of such a trust, the court will not allow any funds contributed by the decedent to go toward this purpose.
15. As your pet grows older, symptoms of disease or illness may become more pronounced. Some pets can cope with these problems, but others may need special care and medication. When this happens, it is essential to discuss making decisions in consultation with your veterinarian regarding appropriate end-of-life care (e.g., palliative care, hospice, euthanasia).

Remember that we are here for you on your pet ownership journey! For the past ten years, we have been happy to provide 5-star grooming, boarding, training, doggy daycare, and so much more to the Suncoast community. Contact one of our conveniently located facilities to learn how we can help you with responsible pet parenting!

Sarasota

8154 N Tamiami Trail

Sarasota, FL 34243

(941) 351-0730 | reservations@baysidepetresort.com

Osprey

718 S Tamiami Trail

Osprey, FL 34229

(941) 244-4930 | osp@baysidepetresort.com

Lakewood Ranch

15117 Garnet Trail

Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211

(941) 755-3047 | lwr@baysidepetresort.com

While every dog is different, when adopting a dog, it is still helpful to understand the 3-3-3 rule. The 3-3-3 rule applies to how long a dog will take to adjust to their new home. There are steps to take at certain milestones; 3 days, 3 weeks, and 3 months. When they’re first brought home, it’s very possible the dog will be overwhelmed with many different emotions and may just want to curl up and sleep. This is typical behavior as they’re adjusting to their new environment.

The First 3 Days

When they are first brought home, it’s good to first take them on a walk outside of the property so they can become familiar with their new surroundings. This initial walk will help set the boundaries on the leash and learn to provide a guideline on how they listen to you. After this, take the dog inside on the leash and lead them around each room for a few minutes. It’s important to remain calm and not talk to them throughout this process as they are already overwhelmed and adjusting. It’s necessary to establish boundaries by leading them to their food area and giving them a small amount of food so they know the boundaries of feeding time. Next, take them into the room where they will sleep and let them off the leash so they can investigate. During these first 3 days, it is important to stay calm, set boundaries, give them their space, give them direction while establishing a daily routine, limit social interaction, and be patient.

The First 3 Weeks

During the 3-week period, the dog will start to feel more settled into a daily routine of potty breaks, eating, and walk times. At this point, they will also start to test their boundaries. They may start to act out so it is important to reinforce these boundaries and make sure to stay within the routine. Behavioral issues may start to show up and increase if not attended to properly. One may want to seek help from a professional trainer to break these behaviors to avoid them sticking around. At this time, it is also important to start working on basic training. During this, make sure to give the dog clear directions, give calm feedback, and praise every success they have. 

The First 3 Months

Once the 3-month mark is reached, the dog will start to accept their home and trust their new environment. They will now grasp their everyday routine and understand it as well as their good behaviors falling into place. This is not the time however to let up on training. It is important to keep up with it and even push more if needed. A bond between you and your adopted dog will start to form and remember to use affection to grow this bond even more. Continue to practice their daily routine, be attentive, and most importantly continue to love them each and every day.

If you are in the consideration stage of adopting a new pet, we are fortunate to have several amazing shelters along the Suncoast area. Remember to Adopt Don’t Shop and consider some of these great non-profit organizations when finding your next furry family member;

• The Humane Society of Manatee County
• The Humane Society of Sarasota County
• The Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch
• Love4Paws
• Satchel’s Last Resort
• Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue
• Cat Depot

Don’t forget–Bayside loves rescue pets! We are here for your family whether you’re traveling, spending the day at work, or your pet just needs some special time at their favorite pet resort. Call us to book your appointment today!

Sarasota – (941) 351-0730

Osprey  – (941) 244-4930

Lakewood Ranch – (941) 755-3047

With the warmer weather here, now is the perfect time to get out and about with your dog! As you go on your daily walks, runs, and excursions with your pup, remember that these warmer summer months will require additional maintenance to keep your pet happy and healthy. Depending on the breed of your companion, maintaining their fur can be a painstaking task. With summer around the corner, let’s review what it takes to keep our little companions’ coats under control.

Get Familiar with Your Dogs Breed

There are hundreds of different breeds of dogs, that all have their own set of grooming needs. Some require little to no maintenance like a Beagle, Boxer, or other short-haired dogs. Most medium to long-haired breeds require a bit more attention and will require maintenance every couple of days. Longer-haired dogs, such as Golden Doodles, Collies, and Terriers will require the most maintenance, especially during these warmer months.

It’s wise to research your pet’s specific breed to learn what it takes to keep their fur in good condition. Use what you learn to get an idea of how well they train for a grooming routine, behave with professional groomers, best tools for at-home care, etc.

Another insight from breed research is learning how they interact with other animals and people of different ages. If your pet’s breed tends to show aggression to other animals, they’ll require training before visiting the groomer or doggy daycare as there will be other dogs around. Aggressive behavior examples are excessive barking, growling, and attempting to bite or attack another being.

Taking the time to learn a bit about the specificity of your dog’s breed will help you prepare for the first grooming appointment. If you happen to have a mixed breed, try to do research about each type of breed that makes up your dog and use your best judgment when making your grooming decisions.

PC: Scissor work by Lakewood Ranch Groomer Jean Boggs

Establish a Grooming Routine

Training your pet to feel comfortable when it’s time for grooming can be challenging but is key to keeping their coat healthy. Most professional groomers require your pet to behave properly during the appointment in order to protect themselves and the animal.

A best practice for getting any pet into a grooming routine is by rewarding their good behavior with treats after the session. If the pet shows any signs of aggression or discomfort, pause for a couple of hours so they don’t have negative feelings about the experience.

Once you have them comfortable enough for regular grooming, they will look forward to seeing you with a brush in your hand! Brushing is a great way to bond with your pet and eliminate dead fur before it reaches the furniture. Depending on the length of their coat, brushing may be required as often as daily to prevent matting. Mats are dense formings of fur which can be painful and leave your pet vulnerable to other health issues. A rule of thumb is if your pet is long-haired, more brushing is required and if they’re short-haired, the coat doesn’t need as much attention.

Another area to keep a close eye on is the paws. This can also be challenging as most household animals aren’t comfortable with their paws being touched but with time they will grow more used to it with treats and gentle care. Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed will keep them feeling comfortable when moving and save you some undesired scratches.

However, inexperienced nail trimming can result in bleeding and a trip to the vet. When trimming your dog’s nails, be sure to not trim past the curve of the nail. Trimming your dog’s nails is often the hardest task to do on your own so make sure to be patient both with your dog and yourself the first few times.

The easiest task of at-home grooming is providing your dog with flea and tick preventative medicine. Ask your vet for their recommendation on which brand should be used for your pet, but you can purchase well-known brands such as Advantage at your local pet store. The vet should also give instructions on how often these treatments should be applied to provide consistent prevention.

PC: Scissor work by Lakewood Ranch Groomer Jean Boggs

Getting the Right Tools

If you’ve found yourself unsure what trimmers or clippers are right for your pet, you’re not alone. It can be overwhelming trying to find the right tools to properly groom your pet at home and not cause them any harm.

For those who are serious about taking their at-home grooming to the next level, a grooming table is a must-have. These specially designed tables have a variety of features to make the process easier and most commonly have a grooming loop, which holds your pet in place and makes the interaction safer for both of you.

Clippers are another valuable addition to your at-home grooming supply. Attempting to remove mats with scissors can be traumatizing to the animal and create some nasty wounds; This is where clippers come in handy. A quality clipper features multiple speeds, guiding combs, and blades to accommodate more difficult areas of your pet’s coat.

After you’ve got the fur under control, it’s time for a bath! Washing your pet in the family bathtub is not recommended as it can damage the tub and is not designed for an excited or scared animal. A more common alternative is washing outdoors, usually with a hose, but this can be counterproductive as their wet fur will pick up mud and grass. The optimal way to bathe your pet at home is with a grooming tub. These tubs are often made of metal and have a hose, grooming loop, etc., which makes the bathing process much easier.

Acquiring all the necessary equipment for at-home grooming has great benefits but the price tags can leave your wallet in a tough spot if not prepared. For pet owners who want to keep their dog’s coat in top shape in between grooming appointments, investigating alternative payment methods may be worth your time. If you can, try to find all the gear you need from one retailer as most companies today offer payment plans and layaway options. If a retailer repayment plan does not work for you, you can use the funds from a personal loan to help ease the initial cost of your purchases. Whatever repayment route you decide to take, you will find peace of mind with a set-in-stone plan to pay off your new equipment, instead of draining your wallet all at once.

PC: Scissor work by Lakewood Ranch Groomer Jean Boggs

Schedule Professional Grooming Appointments

Grooming at home can be a headache, especially if you struggle to gain your companions’ cooperation or lack the necessary equipment. Bayside Pet Resort specializes in dog grooming and knows what it takes to make your pup feel at home.

Let’s face it, days fly by into weeks and your pet needs the attention it deserves without feeling like a chore. While you’re at work, comfort yourself by checking in on your pet through our live cameras that cover multiple play areas throughout our facilities. You might catch them making a new best friend!

Our top-of-the-line service guarantees your satisfaction by keeping your pet our number one priority. We document how we took care of your pet each appointment to prevent any confusion if they have to be booked with a different groomer.

To save yourself time & hassle, schedule your next grooming appointment with our Professional Groomers!

Sarasota | (941) 351-0730

Osprey | (941) 244-4930

Lakewood Ranch | (941) 755-3047