Cotten's Sunset Kennels

18/07/2025

ATTENTION:
Our next Basic Obedience Group Lessons will start on September 3rd as we are taking the month of August off from training dogs. After four years of offering these lessons almost every month we just need a break. Thank you for your understanding. If you want to sign up for the September class give us a call at 231-845-0550.

16/07/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Why Recall Is One Of The Most Important Commands To Teach Your Dog

Have you ever been blown off by your dog when you have called them to come back to you? And by that I mean that they clearly hear you calling them with whatever command you use for recall, but they simply ignore you. Let me share something with you - dogs make mistakes. Even dog trainer's dogs. Ask us how we know! 🤣

In our Basic Obedience Training classes we teach the recall command of "here" to the dogs and owners. We use "here" as opposed to "come" as this is a bit of a stronger command to shout out when needed and it also carries better on the wind; meaning your dog can be further away and still hear you.

Having your dog understand and respond to a strong recall can literally save their life. You never know when your dog is going to get into a situation where you need them to come back to you not only immediately but also quickly. A good recall isn't having your dog meander back to you; it's having them come back to you at a run.

To create a strong recall, we must reinforce this behavior consistently and, crucially, avoid any form of punishment when our dogs finally come back to us. This is where many dog owners inadvertently undermine their training. It’s a common scenario: a dog gets loose, the owner spends ten minutes chasing after them, and when the dog finally returns, the owner, relieved but frustrated, scolds the dog.

From the dog’s perspective, this is confusing. They’ve made the effort to come back, only to be met with anger or disappointment. What the owner is really teaching at that moment is that coming back is something to be avoided because it leads to punishment or an unpleasant experience. This can make the dog hesitant to respond the next time they hear the recall command.

Instead, each time your dog comes back to you, it’s important to reward them—even if their return wasn’t as quick as you’d like. Praise, treats, or a favorite toy can make a world of difference in maintaining a positive association. This way, your dog learns that responding to recall always leads to something good, building a strong, reliable response over time. And this is important!

Recall is not just about getting your dog to respond to a cue. It’s about creating a clear and positive relationship with that cue so your dog knows what to do and feels happy doing it. With the right approach, you can help your dog understand that coming back to you is always the best choice. Through positive reinforcement, consistency, and lots of patience, you can build a recall that stands the test of time and ensures your dog's safety in every situation.

So next time your dog comes back when called, don’t forget to celebrate that little victory. It’s one more step toward a life where you and your dog can explore the world together with confidence and trust.

Tonight is week three of our Basic Obedience Class and we are excited to see everyone this week and to hear about how the training is going. We teach the recall command on our last week of training as we dedicate most of that last class to the recall.

If you are interested in learning more about our dog training give us a call at 231-845-0550 as we offer several options for training. Also, if you have an upcoming trip planned don't forget to make your boarding reservation with us. Enjoy your dog!

09/07/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Summer Heat And Your Dog

Summer seems to have finally arrived! This week it's been cool in the mornings and heating up later in the day. But last week we have hot humid days that seemed to last forever. We know that as July marches forward the warmer days will be here and we need to be mindful of our dogs during those hot days. Why? Because dogs are prone to overheating and this can result in a life-threatening emergency called heatstroke, which is caused by prolonged exposure to hot or humid environments, and it occurs more often during the summer months of course.

If you are wondering how you can prevent your dog from developing heatstroke and other heat-related injuries read on.

Following are some strategies that can be used to keep your dogs cool during warmer weather:

1) Limit activity to the cooler times of the day

-While the most direct sunlight occurs around noon, the day will be the hottest towards late afternoon, around 3-5 p.m. Plan for walks in the early morning or evening hours to avoid the hottest times of the day.

2)Provide access to shady areas

-Staying in the shade will help avoid excessive heat from direct sunlight.

3) Avoid strenuous exercise

-Strenuous exercise should be especially avoided during the hottest parts of the day, very humid days and during the early summer when pets may not yet be acclimated to the higher temperatures.

4) Keep indoors when there are extreme temperatures

-In extreme temperatures, high humidity or on days when there is a dramatic temperature change, it may be best to keep pets cool indoors, ideally with air conditioning or fans.

5) Offer frequent water breaks

-Always be sure to bring water and a collapsible bowl with you when you take your dog out and about, and remember to provide frequent opportunities for your dog to have a drink of water. Swimming pools or sprinklers are also effective tools to keep pups cool.

6) Use caution on hot asphalt and pavement

-Blacktop retains a lot of heat and can be much hotter than the ambient temperatures. While the pads on dogs’ paw are a lot tougher than our skin, they can still suffer burns from walking on hot pavement. If you cannot put your own hand or stand barefoot on the pavement for about 10 seconds, then it is likely too hot for your dog to walk on too.

7 )Never leave your dog in a car unattended

-Cracking the windows is not an effective way to keep the car cool. For example, even if it is only 70 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the temperature inside of the car can increase by 40 degrees in an hour. This can happen even more quickly, since the majority of the temperature increase occurs during the first 15-30 minutes. While you may be tempted to leave them in a running, air-conditioned car, it is unsafe to leave dogs unattended in running cars.

Tonight is week two of our Basic Obedience Class and we are looking forward to seeing how the first week of homework has gone. We have already heard from one client that her dog was walking so much better and ignoring other dogs and strollers etc on their walks so it's always rewarding to hear how well dogs are progressing.

In addition, we are pretty busy this summer with our boarding of dogs. So if you have an upcoming trip planned don't forget to make a reservation for your dog/cat with us. Now go and enjoy your dogs!

04/07/2025

Happy 4th of July! Please have a safe and fun holiday and keep your pets inside and safe!

02/07/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Last 4th Of July Post!

Yes, it's another post about the 4th of July and your pets! But it's important. Why? Because July 5 is ranked as the single highest intake day for stray dogs nationwide. Again, stray dog intakes surge during the 4th of July week! Animal shelter and rescues see July 5th as the single highest intake day for stray dogs nationwide.

The last two weeks we have written articles about how to prepare and avoid issues with your dog or cat over this holiday. So today's article is going to be short but important. Following are some natural ingredients that you can look for in treats that can help to keep your animals calm. However, it's important to note that their effectiveness may vary depending on the individual dog and the specific situation in which they are used.

Some common active ingredients include:

-L-THEANINE: Amino acid found in green tea and some mushrooms that has been shown to reduce anxiety in some dogs
-VALERIAN ROOT: Herb with sedating properties that has been used to treat sleep issues and anxiety in people and dogs
-CHAMOMILE: Popular herb used for calming properties and to reduce anxiety
-PASSIONFLOWER: Herb traditionally used for anxiety and to help with sleep
-PHEROMONES: These can mimic the calming feelings of a nursing mother to her puppies
-MELATONIN: Hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycle and may ease anxiety in dogs

So if you are concerned that your animal may be stressed during the days leading up to and after the 4th of July look for treats with those ingredients. In addition, be sure and exercise your dog prior to this which helps keep them calm. We want all dogs to get through the holiday with the least amount of stress.

Tonight we begin our July Basic Obedience Classes. We are looking forward to meeting all of our new clients and working with them for the month. If you have any training needs be sure to reach out to us. We are currently taking reservations for our August and September classes.

We are completely booked for the 4th of July at our boarding facility. If you have travel plans this summer and are interested in boarding your dog give us a call at 231-845-0550 to make your reservations.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday! Go and enjoy your dogs.

26/06/2025

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For many people, pets are a cherished part of the family, and as animal lovers themselves, Allison and John Cotten, owners of Cotten’s Sunset Kennels, have created their business so

25/06/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
More 4th Of July Tips

We all feel the excitement coming - the BBQs, parades, art fairs and of course fireworks. Independence Day is filled with fun, sun, and celebrations for people, but it is filled with hazards for our four-legged family members. Read on for some important Fourth of July facts and how you can minimize the risks to your pet. Yes, we are talking about this again because it's important to us that all of our pets are kept safe during this holiday.

Fact #1:
MORE PETS ARE LOST ON THE 4TH OF JULY THAN ANY OTHER DAY OF THE YEAR. July 5 is the busiest day of the year for shelters, which may be why the month of June is National Pet Microchip Awareness Month. When animals get spooked, their fight-or-flight response often takes over and they flee and get lost. Consider these recommendations when making your holiday plans:

-Keep your pet indoors on the Fourth of July. Provide a long-lasting treat that will distract them from the noise and keep them comfortable while left alone.
-If you absolutely must bring your pet out with you, ensure he has an ID tag, his collar fits properly, and he is attached to a leash at all times. THIS IS IMPORTANT!
-Get your pet microchipped. This can be scheduled as a quick outpatient appointment with your veterinarian. If your pet is already microchipped make sure your contact info is updated.
-Take a photo of your pet, which will help your community identify him should he be lost and found.

Fact #2
PETS CAN BE DESENSITIZED TO THE LOUD NOISE OF FIREWORKS
Some pets have severe noise aversions, particularly to fireworks. You can help minimize this reactivity with the following preparations:

-If you know fireworks will be set off close to your home, consider taking your pet to another safe place, such as a family member or friend’s home or even to Cotten's Sunset Kennels, out in the country.
-In the weeks leading up to the 4th of July begin to play firework "music" that can be found on www.YouTube.com. Begin with it playing softly and slowly increase the volume.
-Try playing soft, relaxing music for your pet when loud noises are expected. We play music at our kennel for boarded animals.
-Consider over-the-counter oral supplements and appeasing pheromones that may alleviate minor noise aversions.
-Medications may be necessary to eliminate a pet’s severe anxiety associated with fireworks and other loud noises. If you know your pet has severe noise aversion, call your vet before the fireworks show so they can help.

Fact #3
POTENTIAL TOXINS ARE WITHIN A NOSE'S REACH
Alcohol, glow sticks, bug spray, and citronella products are commonly found at Fourth of July gatherings, and they can potentially harm our pets.

-Alcohol, which can taste sweet and be alluring to pets, is toxic to animals. Alcohol toxicity can manifest with signs of depression, weakness, or even coma.
-Glow sticks also may tantalize and grab your pet’s attention. While the iridescent substance inside these products is not typically highly toxic, ingestion can cause gastrointestinal upset and potential obstruction if large pieces are swallowed.
-Bug spray or citronella products should never be applied to your pet. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, excessive thirst, and neurologic signs. Inhalation of citronella oils can potentially cause aspiration pneumonia or other respiratory problems.

We want everyone to enjoy the 4th of July and that includes your pets. Please be sure to take appropriate actions to keep all of your pets safe during this holiday. As you know, the fireworks don't end on the 4th of July so you may need to follow this for a few or more days. Or you can simply board your dog at our kennel out in the country to give you peace of mind while you are enjoying the fireworks.

Tonight is our last night for the June Basic Obedience Classes. We are excited to see how each of the dogs is doing this week. It's amazing to reflect back at the first night and compare it to the last week of training. As always, go and enjoy your dogs. And keep them safe!

18/06/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Your Dog and the 4th of July

It's coming - the tents are being set up around town and plans are being made. What's coming? The 4th of July of course. And that means lots of fun for us but not so much for our cats and dogs. Did you know that the number of lost dogs increases 30-60% over the 4th of July? This is a good reminder to start thinking about how to prepare our animals for all of the fireworks.

As you know, dogs have excellent hearing so loud bangs can cause them to startle and may cause them stress. Although fireworks may always be startling to a dog, you can help prepare them for when the time comes and help to make the sounds less scary. Following are a few tips to help your dog during fireworks.

-If you know of planned fireworks on a specific day do your best to tire your dog out during the day. Keep them busy during the day with lots of play. Consider taking them for a long walk prior to the fireworks. An exhausted dog may not react as much to fireworks. The schedule for fireworks around our area has been posted so be sure to know when and where the big displays will be be.

-Keep your dog at home and inside. Please don't take your dog to see the fireworks. While you may enjoy it they are not going to find it fun. You should also keep your dog inside during fireworks. Many dogs may flee at the startling sound of them.

-Provide some type of food driven activity. Giving a dog a long lasting bone to chew on or maybe providing them with peanut butter spread on a licking mat will help ease their fears. Or maybe try a frozen dog treat. You will want to try something that is longer lasting so maybe even a bully stick.

-Play calming music for your dogs that will drown out the sound of the fireworks. And consider keeping your blinds and curtains closed so your dog can't see the flashes from the fireworks.

-Consider consulting your vet for some advice on giving your dog something to keep them calm. There are many over-the-counter options that may help.

-Or....you could simply bring your dog to the country and board them with us over the 4th of July holiday. We keep all dogs locked inside that night and play classical music for them. They can't hear any fireworks while inside our kennel.

Give us a call if you have any dog boarding or training needs at 231-845-0550. Our July Basic Obedience Training class is starting to fill up. And tonight we are on week three of our June class. It's so rewarding to watch the progress the dogs make each week!

13/06/2025

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11/06/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
Dental Care For Your Dog

Do you often get told by your veterinarian that you need to be doing some dental care for your dog? We often hear that when we take our dogs in for their general checkups. And while we are reminded of it often I can honestly say that we are not great at doing this. But after being asked to write this article and doing some research I am going to try to start being more on top of their dental care.

Dog dental care truly is an important area of pet care that seems like a lot of us can easily fall behind on. If your dog is a breed that is prone to dental disease (Greyhounds and every small-breed dog like our Cotons), or they have had many dental health issues in the past, it’s important to do some type of at-home dental care in addition to the regular dental cleanings at the vet’s office.

Let's dive into some of the best ways to keep your dog’s teeth and mouth as clean as possible and eliminate bad breath. Here are six ways that you can begin to keep your dog's mouth clean:

1) Brush their teeth with canine toothpaste. There are a lot of canine toothpastes on the market that are flavored so that your dog may not mind having their teeth brushed, similar to getting kids to brush their teeth! Typically dogs that are food motivated are easier to use this method on. There are brushes made specifically for dogs but you can also just use a regular toothbrush if you have a larger dog. Or even your finger is better than not brushing at all.

You brush their teeth just like you do your own; get the toothbrush wet and put some of the paste on it and begin to gently brush their teeth. There is not need to rinse their mouth when you are done. Experts say that you should do this 2-3 times a week at a minimum. Please note that if you fear you may get bitten by trying this then it may be better to use one of the different options we will talk about below.

2) Dental powders are also an option that you may want to try. They contain a probiotic that helps promote healthy bacteria in your dog's mouth and also kills plaque building bacteria. You add them to the top of your dog's food daily. There are quite a few of them on the market today; Chewy sells some and you can always get them on Amazon by searching canine dental powder.

3) Another option you may want to explore is a canine water additive. I had never heard of this but I may start to do this as it seems like an easy way to keep my dog's mouth healthy. There are several different water additives on the market. These oral solutions are tasteless. Based on the directions on the bottle, you will add a certain amount of the water additive to your dog’s water bowl daily. The solution helps freshen your dog’s breath and kills plaque-building bacteria in your dog’s mouth.

4) Another option is to consider feeding your dog prescription dog food made specifically for canine dental care. There are a few dog food companies that make prescription dental food that have been clinically proven to help reduce dental disease. As your dog chews the food, the kibble cleans the surface of their teeth, and by doing so, reduces tartar buildup. The kibble also contains ingredients that help to kill bacteria that lead to plaque and tartar formation. Purina, Hills and Royal Canin all have options that have been formulated by boarded veterinary nutritionists and have gone through clinical trials to prove their efficacy. Since these diets require a prescription from a veterinarian, you will need to ask your vet about trying one of these formulas for your dog.

5) Another easy option is to give your dog dental treats. Just be sure to make sure they have the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s Seal of Acceptance on the packaging, as this seal indicates that these products help control tartar buildup. Some examples are The Purina® Pro Plan® Veterinary Diets Dental Chewz; they help significantly reduce tartar buildup and are to be given occasionally as treats or you may want to try OraVet® chewable treat that is given once daily. These chews reduce plaque and tartar buildup and create a protective barrier on the surface of a dog’s teeth that makes it harder for bacteria to stick and form tartar.

6) Regular dental cleanings with your veterinarian is also very important. No matter how much at-home dental care you provide for your dog, tartar will still build up over time on your dog’s teeth, just like with our teeth. We may brush our teeth daily, but we still need a dentist to clean our teeth periodically. The same is true for dogs. When enough tartar and gingivitis are present in your dog’s mouth, your veterinarian will recommend a dental cleaning (called dental prophylaxis). Your dog will need to go under general anesthesia in order to allow a veterinarian to properly clean off all the tartar on their teeth as well as the layer of tartar under the gumline.

Just remember that keeping your dog's teeth healthy is an important aspect of owning a dog. It doesn't have to be complicated as new products seem to come on the market to help with this.

Tonight is week two of our Basic Obedience Training and we are excited to see the progress each of the dogs and their handlers has made in the last week. If you have any dog training or boarding needs be sure to give us a call at 231-845-0550. And as always, go and enjoy your dogs!

04/06/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM:
A New Trick To Teach Your Dog

We often get asked if we will offer additional training after people attend our Basic Obedience Classes, which we have a new session starting tonight. Currently we do not offer anything beyond the basic obedience but we are looking into other options so stay tuned.

In the mean time, if you want to teach your dog some additional commands here is an easy to follow process to each your dog the "play dead" command. If you have already attended our classes then this will just continue on from the "down" command that your dog already knows.

Below are four easy steps to follow to teach this command. Before you begin, make sure you have a handful of rewarding treats available to use.

1) Start in the "down" position: If your dog doesn't lie down on command then you need to go back and start to train your dog with this command first.

2) Offer a Treat: Hold a treat close to your dog's nose, and slowly pull it over to its side so it will have to roll onto its side to get it. This step is a lot like teaching your dog to ​roll over. If your dog already knows the roll over trick, then it's ahead of the game.

3) Reward Listening: As soon as your dog is lying on its side, say "yes" or "good" or whatever word you use to praise your dog. Then, give the dog a treat. Repeat these steps several times.

4) Add a Signal: After your dog completes the roll a few times, add a cue word and a maybe a hand signal as well. A lot of people choose to use the verbal command "bang" along with a hand signal command, holding their fingers to look like a gun pointing at the dog. Others ask a funny question like, "Would you rather be a cat, or be dead?" Whatever command you choose, say the phrase, show the dog your hand signal, and then offer the treat on the floor beside the dog. Eventually, you will stop placing the treat on the floor and reward the dog after it "revives" instead.

It's as simple as that! Remember, dogs love to learn new things so adding on to commands that they already know is a good way to keep your dog engaged.

As mentioned earlier, we are beginning our June Basic Obedience Class tonight. We are excited to see and meet all of the handlers and dogs! In addition, we are starting to get a lot of boarding reservations for the summer. So if you have upcoming travel plans don't forget to give us a call at 231-845-0550 or go online to our website at www.sunset-kennels.com to request your boarding needs. As always, go and enjoy your dogs!