Diving Into Dog Ownership

By KATIE ZAKRZEWSKI

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably got lots of great friends and family members. Work is going well and your hobby is flourishing. But, in spite of this, something seems to be missing.

And that something has four legs.

Dogs have been considered “man’s best friend” since the era of cave-dwelling and can easily bring joy to the lives of their owners. Just waking up in the morning to a smile on a furry face can start the day off right.

But what are some things that you need to consider before getting a fuzzy friend?

ADOPTION FEE(S)

Shelters are full right now as families struggle economically, so a shelter is a great place to pick out your new best friend. But keep in mind that many shelters charge an adoption fee to cover the cost of caring for the animal that you’re adopting, in addition to keeping the lights on. Sometimes this adoption fee can cost as much as $300 and still not include the cost of vaccinations, a veterinary exam and spaying or neutering.

TIME

Many families gave up their pets as the pandemic waned and they returned to work – they suddenly no longer had the time to care for and play with their dog. Dogs need more than 10 minutes of attention a day for potty breaks. Dogs need walks, play time, snuggle time and other interactions to let them know that they’re loved and to exercise their bodies and minds.

TRAINING

Depending on your dog’s age and behavior, they may need professional training to hone their manners. This takes time and money, in addition to traveling to a training facility and continuing training at home.

SPACE

Depending on how big or small your dog is, you’ll need to make sure they have enough space to run and jump and fetch their favorite toy. If you don’t have a yard (fenced in or otherwise), it’s a good idea to look

into local dog parks, grassy areas and outdoor trails for your pup to sniff around and greet other pups!

CoolWag, a pet boarding service in Northwest Arkansas is one place that provides these essential resources and more. The locally owned doggy daycare and boarding hotel sits on five acres in Bentonville, allowing plenty of space for your little ball of energy to run wild. And when it’s time to settle down, CoolWag provides top-notch positive reinforcement training services via a games-based approach which uses sciencebased practices, combining Pavlov’s Classical Conditioning and Skinner’s Operant Conditioning. If that sounds really cool and advanced, it’s because it is. Their innovative training services are second to none.

In fact, Heather Wegner, CPDT-KSA, professional dog trainer and owner of CoolWag, recently achieved advanced professional certification by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. This achievement makes her 1 of only 5 people who have reached this level of dog training certification throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. Heather Wegner is a professional dog trainer and co-owner of Northwest Arkansas’s CoolWag doggy daycare.

GROOMING

You wouldn’t want to go months without a bath and a good brush, and your dog wouldn’t want to either. Dogs need to be bathed, brushed and trimmed regularly in order to stay clean, healthy and comfortable.

And for the pups who prefer the lap of luxury, CoolWags offers state-of-the-art spa services. That’s right – “spa.” This goes above and beyond a garden hose spray down on the back deck.

“We are proud of our baths. We have invested in some new gadgets that get the pups so sparkly clean, we’ve heard reports that they smelled good for over a week.”

CoolWag’s unique doggie spa experience, called Thera-Clean, is a treatment with tiny bubbles that help get rid of harmful bacteria and yeast in the dog’s coat. Their spa services focus on the all-around health of the dog, not just the way they look, offering a more holistic experience.

VET FEES

Just as we humans must prepare for the inevitable, one thing pet owners have to prepare for is vet bills. Sometimes life happens and you may have to take your pup to the vet. (Dog forbid!)

Dr. Brian Peters with Lake Hamilton Animal Hospital in Hot Springs shares some advice about financial preparation for a pup.

“The most common thing I see when I get a new owner who’s never had a pet before is that they don’t think about puppies getting five sets of vaccines when they first start out. They might tell me, ‘I just spent all this money on adopting a dog, and now I don’t have money to get all these vaccines.’ We think all of these vaccines are important for dogs to have. Additionally, heartworm and tick prevention in Arkansas is 12 months because of the weather. People have to account for that, too.”

Dr. Peters also reminds pet owners that depending on their dog’s coat length and texture, they might need regular grooming every six to eight weeks as well.

Additionally, Dr. Peters acknowledges how expensive it can be to adopt a pupper – so he tries to work with patients financially and pay it forward.

“I have two practices in Hot Springs, and I think a lot about people adopting and rescuing pets. I discount some services to encourage people to do that. There are so many pets that need adopting and if you tell me that, I’ll give you a free exam and try to give you some free products,” he says. “Ask your vet if they’ll discount your services if you’re adopting a pet. It’s a ‘pay it forward’ thing, and I try to help pay it forward as a business owner.”

TOYS, FOOD AND TREATS

Every doggo needs plenty of food, toys and treats to make sure they live the happiest, healthiest lives possible. Keep in mind that toys don’t last forever and might need to be frequently replaced depending on how energetic your fuzzy buddy is. Pet beds for your dog to lounge on are great, too!

When it comes to food, some dogs might have dietary restrictions or other health issues that can be addressed with special food, so keep this in mind when adopting a four-legged friend. And don’t forget the Milkbones!

Dog Insurance — A Pawsibility?

By KATIE ZAKRZEWSKI

he popularity of pet insurance has skyrocketed over the last decade. But is it for you? Dr. Brian Peters with Lake Hamilton Animal Hospital in Hot Springs shares his perspective on dog insurance. “In the 22 years that I’ve been out of vet school, insurance is becoming more popular in the pet community,” says Dr. Peters. Pet insurance has become so popular that it’s hard to pick one company over another. “Purebreds are more likely to have issues based on their genetics, so insurance is most helpful for them,” he T explains. It’s important to remember that, unlike human insurance, pet insurance doesn’t have a co-pay: In other words, you pay for veterinary procedures out of pocket, then pet insurance companies pay you after the fact. However, if you have an expensive pet or multiple pets, pet insurance can be a relatively inexpensive solution to fees that might otherwise add up quickly. When shopping around for pet insurance, it’s important to take note of how much you’ll be paying for insurance, what procedures the insurance will cover and whether these procedures will be covered partially or fully. Additionally, consider the likelihood of your pet needing any of these procedures in the future. Some are easier to predict than others. For example, if your pet has already been spayed or neutered, they won’t need that procedure done again. Otherwise, if you don’t fit some of the criteria above and your pet seems Dr. Brian Peters relatively healthy, it may be more economically feasible to save money for a pet emergency, as opposed to paying for insurance that you may never use.

Dr. Brian Peters is Chief Veterinarian of Lake Hamilton & Hot Springs Animal Hospitals. Peters grew up in Sherwood, Arkansas, and has loved animals since he was a child. He made the decision to become a veterinarian after working as a kennel assistant in high school. He is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas and the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine.