Gemini Dogs -- Woof!

Say Please!

2011-04-10T12:51:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! We are Amanda and Aoife, and that's our mommy, Michelle. We've been competing at the CPE Agility Trial today, and we're having lots of fun. We earned 11 Q's for 11 runs! Mommy is an agility judge and she's going to be teaching a special CPE Games Workshop at Gemini Dogs on Saturday, May 28th to help the other competitors learn how to strategize for all the games classes. Come on out and play!

We Are the Champions!

2011-04-10T12:44:00.001-04:00

Jake here...I got bling today, too! I earned my CPE Agility Trial Champion (C-ATCH) today at the Gemini Dogs CPE trial. They have three CPE trials each year now. You should join us so that you can get a pretty ribbon like mine someday! Thanks for all of your hard work, mommy. It paid off today!

Got My C-ATCH Today!

2011-04-10T12:39:00.001-04:00

Hey there, I'm Lyric and I just wanted to say how proud I am of my mommy for helping me to earn my CPE Agility Trial Championship today at Gemini Dogs. Check out that bling!

Oops! Forgot my picture!

2011-04-08T19:19:00.001-04:00

Look what we got!

2011-04-08T19:17:00.001-04:00

Chester here; I just had to tell you about this fabulous puppy playground that suddenly appeared in our daycare yard. I love climbing on it and I even go down the slide!

Chillin' in Da House

2011-04-07T11:51:00.001-04:00

What's up? I'm Baylee. Look what Mich bought for me! My very own dog house. She told me that she saw it in the store and pictured just this scene. She knows me so well...ah, this is the life. If you're wondering why I get such special treatment, it's because my mommy and daddy have been sending me to doggie daycare Monday through Friday for many years now, so I've become a little spoiled by the staff here. But don't worry, they'll spoil you too! There's lots of other ways they give special treatment, even if you just come in occasionally. See you soon!

Join me for agility class!

2011-04-06T11:43:00.001-04:00

My name is Kata and I just had my free agility evaluation. I'll be starting Beginner Agility soon. You should join me! The teacher said that I could do Thursdays at 5:30pm or Saturday mornings...she also said that mommy has done a great job getting me ready! Thanks, mom. This will be so much fun!

Bear Flushes Toilet & Puts Seat Down

2011-03-29T17:50:00.002-04:00

My mommy received this from Kimberly from HubSpot. She is helping mommy with some marketing stuff...I don't really understand it all, but she says that it will make it easier for people to find Gemini Dogs when they search online. So, I guess that is a great thing, because that means more friends for all of us! Love, Dancer Enjoy the video!

Buddy is Ready to Make Some Friends!

2011-03-28T16:57:00.001-04:00

Hey there! That's me coming back from my walk the other day. I saw Dory going by and just had to say hello. I'm a 9 month old chocolate lab who is staying with my pals at Gemini until I find a new forever home. If you'd like to meet me, stop in or contact Lab Rescue for details.

Snow, Don't Go!

2011-03-28T16:52:00.001-04:00

I know...You all want it to melt, don't you? Well, this dog is gonna miss it! I love rolling in the white stuff and eating it, too! I am going to miss it when it's gone...had a great time on my walk today. Thanks, mom, for calling Gemini. Love, Baer.

Great Day, Huh?

2011-03-28T16:49:00.001-04:00

I'm Katie, the three-legged dog. I had fun playing with my brother, Pelle today. We chased tennis balls around the yard and although I'm not as mobile as he is, I still beat him to it a lot. That's right, missing a leg doesn't slow me down!

Michelle has been taking care of me for many months and recently, Jill has been walking us one day a week. She just learned how to help me pee; I need help with that, you see. That's the great thing about Gemini Dogs; they make special needs no problem!

Chasing Balls During My Visit

2011-03-28T16:43:00.001-04:00

Pelle here. I had great fun playing ball during my dog walking visit today. Thanks, Michelle!

Playtime Just Got Even More Fun!

2011-03-28T16:41:00.001-04:00

Hey, Luca here, just wanted to tell you about what happened at daycare today. We got some new playground equipment! I had fun trying it out, and I even went down the slide!

If you see anything similar at a yard sale, grab it up and you'll get reimbursed when you drop it off!

And last but certainly not least, Sterling!

2011-03-26T13:51:00.001-04:00

Howdy folks! Sterling here, I'm back for a little CGC action today. Took a break from my agility career to strut my stuff in the CGC test at Gemini Dogs today. I rule!

Don't forget about me!

2011-03-26T13:49:00.001-04:00

Hey everybody! I'm Isaac the good citizen! Mommy is getting me a new T-shirt to celebrate my achievement. I am gonna be the coolest dog on the street!

Henry did it! He's a Good Citizen now!

2011-03-26T13:47:00.001-04:00

Hey, what's happening? You probably know me from my doggie daycare antics, but did you know that I rocked my CGC test today? That's right...I decided to let the instructor pick up my paws afterall! Hooray! I knew that I could do it all along, I was just building suspense...thanks Dad! Your patience paid off today! Good job!

Hope is a Good Citizen, too!

2011-03-26T13:41:00.001-04:00

Hey there, my name is Hope and I just got my CGC too! My training was a joint effort. Mommy took the CGC Prep class and Daddy stepped in for a week when mommy was away. Aren't I just adorable?

Bailey is a Canine Good Citizen!

2011-03-26T13:39:00.001-04:00

I'm Bailey and I earned my CGC today! My mommy did a great job training me. Thanks, mom!

That's Right, I'm a STAR!

2011-03-22T09:39:00.001-04:00

Sully here...that's me last night graduating from Puppy Playschool. I earned my STAR Puppy award for completing six weeks of training and socialization classes and being a fabulous pup!

Teacup Agility Rules!

2011-03-13T16:48:00.003-04:00

What's up? I'm Teddy...that's my backside I'm showin' you. (I was busy watching mommy at the time.) My mommy won the judge's "I'll Know It When I See It" award today for being so cheerful even when I wasn't cooperating. What can I say? I figured I would let my siblings get some of the glory!

Check Out My Bling!

2011-03-13T16:48:00.001-04:00

Hey, Lucy here...I have some great news! I achieved my Teacup Agility Championship this weekend at the TDAA trial here at Gemini Dogs. My mommy was wicked excited. She says that Gemini gives out the best ribbons, so she was happy I earned it here...of course I knew that all along, so I was holding out for this one! They even made me a special jump pole to match. Everyone signed it for us, to congratulate us on our title. My brother and my sisters cleaned up, too. We have quite the collection of placement ribbons and title ribbons to take home. Anyone have a spare paw?

Good Stay!

2011-03-09T10:21:00.001-05:00

Hey there! That's me, Ruby doing a fabulous down stay on my bed. Mommy was so impressed that my instructor had to take picture. Now we have documented proof!

Gunner

2011-03-09T10:17:00.001-05:00

Hey, what's up? My name is Gunner, and this is me doing my "On the Rug" exercise in class last night. I aced it!

Meet Hendrix

2011-03-05T17:58:00.001-05:00

Hey there! My name is Hendrix, that's right, I'm cool...anyway, I stopped by Gemini Dogs today for a tour and decided that I'd like to start soon! I got to meet Michelle and Penny, and even their son, Cody. I played with my new pal, Bimini while mom and dad took a tour of the rest of the facilities. See you soon!

The pawprints are done!

2011-03-04T18:48:00.001-05:00

So, as you may have noticed, we are re-decorating our daycare. There is now a lobby where mommies and daddies can wait or hang around for a chat. And with the addition of a partition between the nap room and the greeting area, we'll soon be able to chat with you about your dog without the barking interruptions.

I'm the new kid...

2011-03-04T15:59:00.001-05:00

Hey everybody! My name is Rylee and mommy started me in doggie daycare this week. I've made lots of new friends and had several people offer to take me home with them, but I prefer my mommy! You can pet me and love me, though. I have a little playpen in the lobby so that I can get the extra socialization that I need from people while I take a break from my doggie pals. I'm here Mon-Fri so stop in to say hi! I give great kisses and snuggles...

Fun in the Sun (okay, in the Snow)

2011-02-09T14:15:00.001-05:00

Beckett here...I saw Marley blogging and asked if I could try it out. Just wanted to say how much fun I am having today with my buddy Ellie and our group.

Snuggled Up

2011-02-09T14:11:00.001-05:00

Hey there, Marley here. I'm just hanging out in the daycare office napping under a snuggly blankie. Ain't this the life?

Snow, Wonderful Snow...

2011-02-01T19:29:00.001-05:00

Hey there, I'm Zero. That's me on the left, with my pal, Skye. I had fun in the snow today, and I hear that there's much more on the way. Have we ever had this much snow before? Wow. Even though I'm made for this kind of weather, I'll be happy to snuggle up at home tonight...I'm on my way home with Dad now. See you next time!

Heading Home Today

2011-01-29T15:20:00.001-05:00

Hey everybody! I'm Pepper, and that's my buddy Ollie. I just wanted to say bye to my other pals; I just got word that Daddy is picking me up tonight. I've been sleeping over while my parents were away. I'm looking forward to seeing them again but I sure have had fun playing while they were gone. See you again soon! I'll be back for daycare...

I'm back!

2011-01-27T15:28:00.001-05:00

Hey there. Just a quick update to say that me and pals are loving this stuff! I just finished my Playgroup and now we're making our way back inside for a well-deserved nap!

Mercy, I'm Tired

2011-01-27T08:24:00.001-05:00

Hey there! My name is Mercy and I just came inside to rest. Mommy dropped me off this morning on her way to work, and I was excited to see that a few of my friends made it through the snow to play with me today. Right now, though, I'm taking a breather. Michelle let me come into the sleep room to meet Penny and I decided to snuggle up in the blankets. Ah...this is the life! Soon I will head out in the snow to romp with Pickles and Bimini and Benny and Bialy. We have lots of fun together. Come on down and join us! I'll try to post a picture later of us playing. Oh, and don't worry about getting cold paws, because we get to play inside too! There's a huge indoor area where we play after we get our business taken care of outside. That's only if we want to, though...if we are having a good time in the snow, we can stay out there for a while.

The New Kid

2011-01-24T22:18:00.001-05:00

Okay, I'm back...so here's the latest news around the fire hydrant. There's a new kid on the block named Ollie. He's that super cute black lab you might have seen hanging out with Luka. For you dogs out there that need a refresher, Luka is the yellow lab pup that's been stealing all the attention lately. Well, he's sharing the spotlight now. He says he doesn't mind though, some comment about how "Every dog has his day..."

Cheese!?

2011-01-24T17:16:00.001-05:00

Sydney here. That's me smiling for the camera. Why is it that humans always use that phrase, "Say Cheese!" whenever they bring out the camera...where the heck is all this cheese they keep promising?

Dogs Rule

2011-01-23T22:11:00.001-05:00

Ah ha! I finally got my paws on this thing the humans call a smart phone. What's so smart about it, anyway? Can it Sit and Down on command like I can? Can it roll over and crawl like Rambo? Can it...wait a minute...oh, look what I found! A link to mommy's Dog Blog. Well, I say it ain't a dog blog unless the blogger is a dog! Ha ha. I will soon rule the doggie world with this thing. I will communicate daily with you other dogs out there, and when my paws get tired, I'll have one of my pals post for me. There are lots of us here. Tell your humans to bring you to Gemini Dogs for doggie daycare! We'll talk more when you get here. And who knows, maybe I'll let you type next time...

Rocco is Our Newest STAR Puppy

2011-01-17T20:46:00.001-05:00

Join us on Mondays at 6:30pm for Puppy Playschool and your dog could be a STAR too! We offer lots of off-leash playtime and puppy training tips as well as some starting obedience exercises.

Nose Work Mock Trial Results

2011-01-10T16:23:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to all of our participants for a great Mock Nose Work Trial this weekend! Results have been posted to our website at: www.geminidogs.com/misc/Mock_Trial_Score_Results.pdf

A special thank you to our Judges and Volunteers, especially Lynn Kuefler and Dana Crevling. We had a great time, and the trial went really well. Here are the Top Five Dogs:
1st Place - Summit (Pat Gaudette) Total Time of 00:43.96
2nd Place - Chevy (Tina Binheimer) Total Time of 01:12.45
3rd Place - Yukon (Karen Reilly) Total Time of 1:22.19
4th Place - Kirby (Maria Corrigan) Total Time of 1:30.42
5th Place - Dazzle (Dana Crevling) Total Time of 1:46.17

...And Kobi, Franny, and Drake were close behind, with each dog under the two minute mark for total time. Great Job!

Butch enjoying the storm

2010-12-27T19:22:00.001-05:00

This is our doggie daycare pooch, Butch, enjoying the snow storm. Send us your pics!

Gemini Dogs will be hosting a Mock Nose Work Trial (NW1) on Saturday, January 8th, 2011

2010-12-13T17:14:00.003-05:00

Mock Trial entry forms are available online at www.geminidogs.com

Don't miss out on this opportunity to train your dog in a new environment! We are offering trial runs to dogs who are still in training as well. You can enter to use: Birch Scent only, Birch scent combined with food, or Food only.

Information on the Sport:
For more information about the sport, check out the official Fun Nose Work website: www.funnosework.com

Rules & Regulations for regular competition can be found at the National Association of Canine Scent Work website: www.nacsw.net

Volunteering is a great way support your fellow handlers and a fantastic way to get introduced to the K9 Nose Work trial experience. If you are interested in volunteering, please email michelle@geminidogs.com with your contact information.

Come on down on Sat 11am-3pm

2010-11-05T20:50:00.001-04:00

Free fun for your doggie! This Saturday from 11am-3pm, we'll be hosting an open house.

We will be having lots of fun stuff going on...so join in on the doggie playgroups, play on the agility equipment, get a free nail trim, show us some tricks, and pick up free treats!

Howl-o-ween Tips

2010-10-31T17:55:00.002-04:00

Secure your dog in a crate, in a room away from the front door.
Give him a juicy bone or a Kong stuffed with hotdogs, cheese, or peanut butter.
Play music or leave a TV on in the dog's room to mask sounds of activity at the door.
Close drapes so that your dog does not see people coming and going through the window.
Supervise your dog around children; they may be attracted to the dangling bits or streaming material of a costume.
Teach children to "Be a Tree" and stand still if a dog starts nipping at their clothes.
Keep your dogs and cats indoors around Halloween. Pets have been stolen, injured, or poisoned as part of Halloween pranks.

Happy Howl-o-ween!

2010-10-30T19:49:00.001-04:00

Addie wanted to wish everyone a Happy Howl-o-ween! Isn't this just the cutest little devil you have ever seen?

I'm a (New) Gemini Dog!

2010-10-14T11:08:00.001-04:00

Meet Chloe, one of our new daycare doggies. We are looking forward to her very first day of doggie daycare, and we already have some pals in mind for her!

I'm a (New) Gemini Dog!

2010-10-11T16:27:00.001-04:00

Meet Brody, an Irish Setter who will be joining us for doggie daycare. He is enrolled in our Fido Flex Plan for obedience training, and he is a STAR Puppy graduate...Brody is a very accomplished and busy puppy!

Save the Date

2010-10-05T17:51:00.001-04:00

We will be hosting a Customer Appreciation Day open house on Saturday, November 6th from 11am-3pm. Be sure to save the date!

Kira ARCH-X

2010-10-02T16:37:00.001-04:00

Heather and Kira got their ARCH-X last weekend. That's a big one...Congratulations!

Lily earned her RL2!

2010-10-02T16:34:00.001-04:00

Lily and her mom Andrea entered our Rally-O trial last weekend, and earned her Level Two title. Way to go, Lily!

Rally-O!

2010-10-01T14:08:00.001-04:00

Barb and her labs earned some fancy titles this weekend at our Rally trial. Aren't they stylish?

Meet Big, a New Gemini Dog!

2010-10-01T11:00:00.002-04:00

This is Big, as in "a big sweetie" and "a big cutie"...isn't he just adorable? Big will be joining us in Doggie Daycare on Wednesday for the first time. He's taking advantage of our taxi service, so he will be riding in style. We can't wait to introduce him to Rory, another English Bulldog pup who comes to daycare.

K9 Nose Work is Coming!

2010-09-29T20:16:00.001-04:00

If you aren't yet familiar with the sport of K9 Nose Work, it's an up-and-coming sport that you should look into. Your dog basically learns to sniff out a specific scent, and to locate that scent in four different areas.

A line of boxes is arranged, typically in two rows, within a room. Your dog works his way through the room, locating the one that contains the scent. For beginning dogs, Birch is the scent used. The other three areas are an indoor room, an outdoor space, and a vehicle search.

Gemini Dogs is currently offering classes through instructor Gail McCarthy. We are also offering a mock trial in January, and we are working with some local trainers to co-host the first Massachusetts trial in May 2011.

For more info on the sport, visit www.funnosework.com.

Trials, Trials, and More Trials!

2010-09-28T17:05:00.001-04:00

We are actively scheduling our 2011 trials for CPE Agility, TDAA Agility, and APDT Rally-O. Watch our website for details. And if you are a judge for any of those venues, let us know!

Bimini is a STAR Puppy!

2010-09-27T22:03:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to Bimini, our most recent graduate from the STAR Puppy program.

LOST DOG

2010-09-27T17:39:00.001-04:00

Have a look at that photo of Amos; if you see a dog that looks like that, it might be Turkey, a lost dog who really needs to get back home! Below is a note from him:

"I am new to this area and managed to get lost in Harvard on Thursday morning (9/23/10). My name is Turkey but I am shy and may be too frightened to respond to it. I am a 2 year old recently neutered male Bernese Mountain Dog, black, rust and white, weigh 104lbs and am about 2 1/2 ft tall . I have no white on my fore-legs and only a little white on my tail. I have on a red collar with my rabies tag and I have been micro-chipped (still registered in Kansas which is where I just came from). My new family is really sad and would like me back. If found, please immediately call Cindy (978) 501-4964 or Denis (978) 501-4965 or our home (978) 456-3461 any time."

Amos sent us a new pic...

2010-09-27T17:36:00.002-04:00

This is Amos, a Bernese Mountain Dog that comes to Gemini to play and stay. Dad sent us this new picture; isn't he looking very handsome?

I'm a (New) Gemini Dog!

2010-09-27T17:34:00.002-04:00

Oh boy, look how cute I am! This is Marley, a new addition to the Gemini Dogs family. Isn't he just adorable?

Do You Have a Disaster Plan in Place?

2010-09-01T18:04:00.009-04:00

The National Weather Service issued a hurricane watch for the Cape and the islands this afternoon, as forecasters warned that Hurricane Earl could bring rain and tropical storm-force winds to Eastern Massachusetts late Friday.

Of course, this storm may not impact us very much this far inland, but it's always best to be prepared. Gemini Dogs is always available to kennel your pets for you if you need to leave your home and seek emergency sheltering.

Don't forget your pet when preparing a family disaster plan.

• Proper identification including immunization records

• A photo of you and your pet together; it proves ownership!

• Ample supply of food and water

• A carrier or cage

• Medications

• Muzzle, collar, and leash

I'm a Gemini Dog!

2010-08-31T16:42:00.003-04:00

This is Amos, a Bernese Mountain Dog who attends Doggie Daycare and stays with us overnight in boarding. He is one of several Berners that attend daycare, and he is a super cool doggie!

I'm a Gemini Dog!

2010-08-31T16:39:00.003-04:00

This is Henry, a cute little Chocolate Lab that has graduated as a STAR Puppy from our Puppy Playschool. He is currently attending Beginner Obedience, and he recently joined us in Doggie Daycare.

Henry has a ton of new friends, and is really enjoying himself. Would your dog like to meet him? Come on in to tour our daycare!

Holy Ribbons!!!

2010-08-31T16:34:00.003-04:00

Check out all of the ribbons that our instructor, Kim Lewis, earned at our CPE Agility trial this weekend! Wow...great job Sydney, Wyle, and Maggie!

We had a great time at the trial and we look forward to seeing our little pals at the upcoming Teacup Agility trial on September 11th and 12th.

If your dog earned some ribbons, send us your photos!

I'm a Gemini Dog!

2010-07-27T23:40:00.002-04:00

Hello! I'm Lola, and I recently joined the Gemini Dogs family. I will be staying with my new friends while my family is on vacation. I'm a super cute dog, and although I was a little nervous when I first came in this morning, I am settling in nicely and getting to know everyone on the staff.

My new pal, Michelle, promised my mommy that she would send some video of me playing. You see, it's my first time being boarded, so mommy was a little nervous too! But don't worry, mom; everyone is taking good care of me...I'll write more later...time for bed!

Congrats to Mary & Ben On Their C-ATCH!

2010-07-27T23:38:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to Mary and her Border Collie, Ben, on earning their C-ATCH at a recent agility trial. Great job! We are so proud of you!

I'm a Gemini Dog!

2010-07-20T17:42:00.005-04:00

Scarlett

Sandy

Lucy

TDAA Trial Fun

2010-07-13T15:18:00.001-04:00

We had some great fun this weekend at our second TDAA agility trial of the year. If you have a dog that measures under 16" you should check out www.k9tdaa.com and join us for our next trial on September 11-12, 2010. Our premium should be available shortly! And don't worry, this is one venue where you do not have register with the organization before you can enter the trial; just send in your registration with your entry form!

Introducing Rose (and Clancy!)

2010-05-24T16:29:00.003-04:00

This is Rose (up front), who will be joining us in doggie daycare soon. Rose is 8 months old and is coming to daycare so that she can learn how to have a soft mouth when playing. Because Rose was not with her mother and littermates for the first part of her life, it is difficult for her to know what's acceptable and what is not. We suggested that Rose join us in daycare so that the other puppies can teach her some playtime manners. Of course, our staff is always on hand to help them out! Rose is also coming to doggie daycare so that her pal Clancy (who is 11 years old) gets to hang out with her AFTER she's all tired out from being at daycare!

I'm a Gemini Dog!

2010-05-23T12:31:00.002-04:00

Adora is a cute little girl, huh? She will be staying with us for a while while mommy goes away, and she is signing up for some personal training while she's here. She is planning to learn a good "Leave It" command, and study up on some basic obedience during her stay.

Is Kirby feeling better?

2010-05-19T12:41:00.000-04:00

And this is Danni...awwww...

2010-05-16T20:23:00.001-04:00

Daycare Dog ~ Daisy

2010-05-16T20:21:00.001-04:00

Meet Daisy, one of our new doggie daycare pals! Isn't she sweet?

Monday at 10pm ~ Animal Planet Investigates

2010-05-16T18:20:00.002-04:00

I can speak from experience...puppy mills are not pretty! I volunteer to respond for deployments with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and with United Animal Nations (UAN) Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS) to disasters such as a puppy mill seizures. (When the state steps in and shuts down one of these places, and seizes the dogs, who get sent to a temporary shelter until they can legally be released for adoption in local shelters.)

So, I have had a first-hand look at the deplorable conditions...I'm glad to see that Animal Planet is exposing this horrible practice that so many pet stores participate in. The bulk of these animals are supplied to pet stores or sold online, and when you buy a puppy that way, keep in mind that they come from places like this. If we all stop buying those puppies, the puppy mills would no longer profit from over-breeding and the practice would stop. These people who call themselves "breeders" are in it for the money, not for the dogs. Real breeders care about their dogs.

Puppy mills really put the public in a bad position, though...we see that puppy in the pet store and we want to "save" these poor dogs, but for each one that is saved, another just replaces him.

Watch the show if you can! I just set my DVR. It's on Monday, May 17th at 10pm.

Archie joins our ever-growing list of STAR Puppies!

2010-05-16T17:01:00.003-04:00

Meet Archie, a bulldog puppy that recently graduated from our STAR Puppy Program. Isn't he just the cutest little thing? Archie and his pals spent six weeks attending a one-hour class called Puppy Playschool, held on Mondays at 6:30pm. Archie and his buddies educated their owners about housetraining, puppy biting, and other puppy-raising tips, as well as how to manage their dog in a playgroup.

Have you got a puppy under 16 weeks of age? Then come on down and join the fun! You can start any Monday you would like, just register on our website at www.geminidogs.com and we'll see you Monday night!

Great Weekend at Our APDT Rally-O Trial

2010-05-16T16:46:00.003-04:00

We had a great success this weekend hosting our first APDT Rally-O trial in several years...makes me wonder why we waited so long! We awarded both an ARCH-EX and an ARCH-MX, which for those of you who don't know Rally, are quite a big deal for the dogs and handlers. They have to work really hard to achieve these titles, and we were pleased that we could be the ones to congratulate them and recognize their awesome achievements. We got a photo of one of those handlers (Rachel Brostrom) with her dog and Lynn Currie, the judge. But the camera's battery died before we could snag one of our ARCH-EX winner!

We also awarded lots of other titles, and those details we will post soon. I drove home without the list...oops! So I'll update this post later...

Great News from Marjorie and Lily!

2010-03-31T23:02:00.005-04:00

"Lily and I completed our CPE C-ATE (CPE Agility Team Extraordinaire) championship last Saturday at the SCAT trial in Connecticut! 5000 points at level C was a long road and certainly not something I ever thought I'd achieve way back when I started agility "just for fun" and said "Oh, I'm not going to compete."

Not bad for the girl who always got picked last in gym class and can barely stay upright on course, and a castoff Southern puppy plucked from certain death at a shelter in North Carolina by the Sudbury, MA rescue group Save a Dog (thank you Shirley)!

Finishing the C-ATE was a great follow-up to Lily's 2009 achievements: Number 8 Top Scoring Regular/Vet in CPE 2009 Top Ten and 6th place in the Games category for her height class at 2009 CPE Nationals. I am super proud of my girl!

Thanks to all for your support and encouragement, and especially thanks to Lily for loving to play agility with me and for putting up with my handling! I hope that Lily and I will see you soon and you will join us in celebrating. Cheers!"

Marjorie Otterson and C-ATE Lily Top Ten 2009, ExST, ExCL, ExJU, ExWC, ExSN, ExFH, PK1, PJ1, CGC

Goodbye Seamus...

2010-03-19T16:04:00.003-04:00

We just received a note from Kate, Seamus Ricca's mommy. Seamus passed away at 10:30am this morning. He had mast cell cancer and had undergone two surgeries, but the cancer came back and they were told last Thursday that they only had a short time left with him.

He would have been six at the end of May, but the family decided to start his birthday celebration last night; Seamus had steak and ice cream, cuddled with his mom and dad under the stars overnight, took a walk in the woods, and laid his head down in mommy's lap, with daddy rubbing his back, ate some biscuits, and passed away in their arms.

As Kate said in her note, "Seamus was a great dog and will be missed so much, but the memories of him are just wonderful."

Now, go give your dog a kiss and tell him that you love him...goodbye Seamus...we love you!

2010-03-08T15:53:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to the teams who earned a Top Ten Award in CPE Agility in 2009!

2009 Regular/Veterans Year-End Awards
8th ~ Marjorie Otterson and Lily (BC) Gemini Dogs Student

2009 Enthusiast Year-End Awards
2nd ~ Denielle Stasa and Ivy (GSD) Gemini Dogs Instructor

2009 Specialist Year-End Awards
7th ~ Denielle Stasa and Jury (GSD) Gemini Dogs Instructor

Bailey Had a Nice Walk Today!

2010-02-11T21:31:00.004-05:00

This is Bailey. Isn't she cute? Bailey has had a couple of Gemini Dogs dog walking visits, and very soon, she will be starting in our doggie daycare where we just know that she will make lots of new friends!

If you would like to have a dog walker visit your house, just give Michelle a call or email her at michelle@geminidogs.com and she will set up a time to stop by and visit with you and your furry friend! And if you're curious about what it's like to have a Gemini Dogs dog walker, have a peek at this note we left for Bailey's parents today!

Hmmm, they left the keys...should I?

2010-02-04T16:14:00.002-05:00

Howdee's mom sent this photo recently, and we just had to share it. Isn't he cute?

Just One...

2009-12-30T20:02:00.003-05:00

This is a fabulous video story that was just sent to us be Cheryl, Louie and Bella's forever mommy.

Please, please, take a moment now to watch this video. Though it is a bit of a tear-jerker, it is a very heartwarming story. It reminds me very much of how I got into this business to begin with. I found a dog who had been stranded on a highway (495) at 11pm at night in a snow storm and whose owner was seen kicking the dog out of a van, before he drove away. Thankfully, I was able to catch the very scared dog (who I named Highway) and find him a forever home; I did it in much the same way that this video mentions.

So when you are done watching the video, please kiss your dog for us and consider what one thing you can do today to help a dog in need...

Gemini Dogs will offer a 10% discount on dog training to anyone who adopts a shelter or rescue dog after watching this video...just let us know that you saw the video and decided to do just one thing for just one dog! (Please make sure that everyone in your family is in agreement about your new buddy before you make a lifelong commitment to care for him...) This is our one thing...let's see how many lives we can impact by posting this link.

Beginner Agility Class Forming

2009-11-20T15:44:00.005-05:00

Start Your Dog in Agility Classes Now!

Is your dog ready for some fun? If you have completed basic obedience training you could join us on Tuesday, December 1st at 6:00pm with instructor Michelle DuBois for in introduction to the fabulous world of dog agility. Register now!

And Here's One More!

2009-11-03T16:38:00.003-05:00

Who is that? Oh, it's Rugby!

Rugby's Costume

2009-11-03T16:34:00.004-05:00

Isn't this just the cutest thing ever!?

This is Rugby, one of our regular daycare dogs, showing off his costume on Halloween.

Oh, and that's Tyler saying, "Hey, I don't know this new guy!" ...even though he plays with him every day!

Focused Nose Work ~ The Latest New Dog Sport!

2009-10-22T13:19:00.006-04:00

Based on detection dog training, Focused Nose Work prepares pet dogs for target odors with the opportunity of competing in organized competitions. It is fast becoming the hottest new sport in the world of canine competition. Check out http://www.funnosework.com/ for details on what this sport is all about!

Two classes are now forming on Wednesday evenings. Choose from 7pm-8pm or 8pm-9pm, beginning on Wednesday, November 11th. Space is limited to 6-8 dogs per session. Cost is $180 per dog, per 6-week session. All dogs must be at least six months old, be able to walk on leash, and come when called.

Register by calling 617-775-7968. This class is hosted by Gemini Dogs, but you must register directly with the instructor, Gail McCarthy.

We Met "Bruiser" from Legally Blonde the Musical!

2009-09-14T16:27:00.003-04:00

We had the pleasure of meeting "Bruiser" on Sunday. He is the little chihuahua that Elle Woods totes around in her little pink tote during the musical Legally Blonde. "Bruiser" and his trainer were at PetRock to promote the musical and we had the chance to meet them both and hear about the dog training and selection process for this and other Hollywood hounds...very interesting stuff that Bill speaks about in his book "Broadway Tails." The Legally Blonde musical is coming to Boston soon if you would like to see "Bruiser" in action. (By the way, his real name is Chico!)

Congratulations Puppy Stars!

2009-07-31T18:06:00.003-04:00

Meet Sophie, one of our most recent Puppy STAR graduates! Sophie's mom writes:

"We had a wonderful time at Puppy Playschool and got a lot of great tips. This weekend she went to her first parade - got lots of socializing there, although she wasn't a big fan of the bagpipes!
Thank you for everything! We will highly recommend Gemini to our friends and family."

Got a photo of your STAR Puppy? Send it in today!

How Hot Do Cars Get?

2009-06-03T07:52:00.007-04:00

Have you ever noticed how hot it can get inside a car on a summer day — far hotter than it is outside? That's because a car acts like a greenhouse, trapping the sun's heat. A study by the Animal Protection Institute showed that even moderately warm temperatures outside can quickly lead to deadly temperatures inside a closed car.

The study compared an outside temperature of a shaded area with the inside of an automobile in three states: Fully closed; With four windows cracked; With two windows cracked. Inside temperatures were measured with an indoor/outdoor thermometer and an oven thermometer. All temperatures use the Fahrenheit scale. The outside temperature is listed first, and then the temperature reading from inside the car:

Inside Closed Automobile
82° > 109°
87° > 115°
98° > 119°

Inside Auto with 2 Windows Cracked
80° > 95°
88° > 105°
99° > 109°

Inside Auto with 4 Windows Cracked
88° > 105°
90° > 108°
101° > 115°

Bella Walks for Baypath Humane Society

2009-06-01T14:59:00.004-04:00

Gemini Dog "Bella" and her mommy Charlotte are walking on June 7th to benefit Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton, the shelter from which Bella was adopted. Bella is an alumna of Gemini Dogs obedience classes, and currently enjoys Doggie Daycare and Agility classes.

If you wish to contribute or to just want to read more about her, see her story.

Doggie Daycare's Black Lab "Tucker" Is a Famous Actor!

2009-05-26T08:36:00.008-04:00

Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc. has a new video about their re-homing program, and the extraordinarily handsome black Lab shown in much of the video is Tucker, a 9-1/2 year old who attends our doggie daycare.

Tucker is an LRR rescue from 2003. The scenes on the owner's deck and in the backyard were shot in mid-March. For those of you who remember his paralysis (left rear leg) from the spinal stroke (FCE) last June, watching him joyfully running in the backyard with the kids should be quite special. By the way, those are the videographer's children, whose loud screams accompanied their running, and Tucker had JUST met them. Mom was so proud of how appropriately he played with them, considering he has not had much experience off leash with small children. Backyard and indoor scenes with LOTS of dogs were shot at one of LLR's foster homes.

Niko's First Dog Show

2009-05-18T09:34:00.004-04:00

Our doggie daycare buddy, Niko, participated in his first dog show this weekend. Have a look at what a good boy he is!

We Have a Famous CGC Dog at Daycare!

2009-03-12T10:00:00.003-04:00

"Cloudy" Mentzer passed his CGC test as well, and he's got something else to brag about!

Cloudy is featured in the 2009 Save-A-Dog calendar (he's the November dog). His mommy says, "Cloudy was my 10th foster dog. We met when he was 9 months old...I knew he was the one, the second I saw him. He was running and jumping around, just entertaining himself. This crazy behavior is now known as the Cloudy 500.

Now Cloudy is almost three. He has a beautiful white coat with funny apricot "freckles" all over him. What kind of dog is he? There is no answer to that question. He looks like spare parts and a coat of white paint.

I'm not sure if Cloudy's life philosophy is "Follow the Sun" or "Make Them Laugh!" It depends on if he is sleeping or not. By day, he moves from bed to bed, basking in the sun. When he's not sleeping, his antics would make the whole world laugh."

We are so proud of Cloudy for both of these accomplishments! Do you have a small dog that would like to meet up with Cloudy for some playtime? Send your dog to Gemini's doggie daycare, and he could end up in Cloudy's playgroup!

Casey's a Canine Good Citizen...He Wants You to Know About His Mommy, the Groomer!

2009-03-12T09:21:00.008-04:00

Our groomer, Ashley McCoy, recently earned a CGC on her Golden, "Casey" after completing our CGC Prep Course. In fact, everyone who enrolled in that class passed the test!

Casey is pictured here relaxing in a stream.

Speaking of water, Ashley is also excited to announce that we have re-vamped our grooming services and our pricing, to make it more affordable for you, and to cover all of those little extras that you've been asking about.

We are now offering the following services:

Full Groom: Your dog will be pampered with a nice bath, be brushed out, and receive a haircut or a shave. This service automatically includes nail trimming and ear cleaning.

Bath & Brush: Your dog will receive a bath and be brushed out, and we'll trim up his feet (if needed). This service also includes nail trimming and ear cleaning.

Trim Up: You can now opt for just a trim of your dog's face, feet, and tail (without a bath). This service includes nail trimming and ear cleaning.

Ashley will finish each of these services off with a nice spritz of doggie cologne and spiff your dog up with a cute bandana so that he can strut his stuff to his pals!

Ashley also offers A La Carte services:

Brush Outs: Got shedding? Let us do the work for you! $10 for every 15 minutes.

Nail Trims: Ashley is happy to trim your dog's nails ($5)

Teethbrushing ($5)

Grinding nails ($5)

Expressing anal glands ($10).

You can indicate these additional services when you check your dog in for grooming. There will be a grooming request form available at the check-in counter, so be sure to complete the form by indicating which services you want and by listing any special instructions. All grooming arrivals and departures now occur at our doggie daycare entrance. To make an appointment, email Lisa at reservations@geminidogs.com.

And I'm a Canine Good Citizen!

2009-03-11T12:22:00.004-04:00

"Danka" (pictured on the left) also earned her CGC last week. Congratulations, Danka!

If you would like to try your dog's skills, sign up for our next CGC Prep class on Thursdays at 7:00pm.

I'm a Canine Good Citizen, Too!

2009-03-09T14:33:00.003-04:00

This is "Jack" Jones, a Standard Poodle who also earned his CGC last week. Congratulations, Jack!

Happy in Their New Home

2009-03-09T10:42:00.004-04:00

I just wanted to send you an update on the two pomeranians that I adopted from Gemini Dogs in December. Sadie (Buttercup) is doing very well. She loves her new bed and is very loving. Sadie is happy go lucky as ever.

Bear went in to be neutered today and to get his teeth cleaned. During the procedure, the vet found that his poor jaw was fractured due to the infected teeth he had. The prognosis is good so far; they are going to put him on antibiotics and let the jaw heal on its own. He will be checked again in a few weeks. He is feeling much better now that he has gotten his teeth taken care of. He is not skittish anymore and is very loving and playful.

Hope all is well at the Daycare. Thank you again for my little furbabies! -Nadire Ramadan

Hooray! I'm a Canine Good Citizen (CGC)

2009-03-06T15:15:00.006-05:00

Our most recent Canine Good Citizen Prep Class participants shared a 100% success rate during a CGC test held at Gemini Dogs last night! Congratulations to:

"Ranger" Grinstead, Coon Hound
"Jack" Jones, Standard Poodle
"Casey" McCoy, Golden Retreiver
"Cloudy" Mentzer, Basset Mix

In addition to the prep class participants, four other dogs including "Bridget" (pictured here) passed the test with flying colors, including:

"Fremont" Frattallone, Cocker Spaniel
"Bridget" Lessley, Whippet
"Lucy" Specht, Lab Mix
"Danka" Tousignant, German Shepherd

We hope to see your dog in our next CGC Prep Class, or for the test that follows in week six! If you would like to sign up for the class or the test, please email us! The cost of the CGC Test is $15, or it's free for class participants.

And thanks to Jean, Jan, Cindy and Penny for their help with the test!

:->
Mich

A Note from Shiba's Daddy...It's a Boy!

2009-03-04T11:31:00.004-05:00

We have acquired another dog: a Maltese puppy, that we've named "Snow." It seems that Shiba and Snow have quickly become best buddies, playing together with total abandon. The two dogs hit it off so well, and are getting plenty of exercise together...My retirement has provided me with the time (and energy) to provide our dogs with the attention that they need and deserve.

We want to thank you and your wonderful staff for taking such GREAT care of Shiba over the past three years. He loved the many human and canine connections that Gemini provided during Doggie Day Care sessions, and we truly appreciated all of the little things that your people did for Shiba. He's a wonderful member of our family and Gemini certainly helped to mold his incredible disposition.

Personally, I/we will miss Marie and Derek. They were so good to/with Shiba! The two of them are so good with all of the dogs and are excellent representatives for Gemini.

We wish you the very best and will continue to recommend Gemini to all of our dog-loving friends!

Take care,

Dave & Catherine Dubinsky

New England Agility Dogs Take 17 of the Top 30 Spots Nationally!

2009-03-03T13:22:00.005-05:00

This past weekend, instructor Denielle Stasa was in Derry, NH and all but 2 of the New England dogs that landed in the Top 10 Agility Dogs in Canine Performance Events (CPE) for 2008 nationally were there. They managed to take a picture with all of the people, dogs, and plaques. To check out the photo, click here.

Out of 30 spots nationally (ten spots, 3 divisions), New England dogs took 17 of them! We're very proud....Thanks to Denielle for sending us that link! And wow, check out all the letters after her dogs' names below...that's impressive!

C-ATCH3 Ivy Top 10 Enthusiast 2008, TExSN, TExJU, TExFH, ChSN, ChJU, ChFH, ChWC, ChST, ChCL, ChJP, NAJ, NJP, PK2, PG1, PJ1, SSA, SS, NJC, NGC, HSCs, PT

Jury ChSN, ChJU, ChFH, CL4-H, CL4-S, CL4-F, CL3-R, PG1, PJ1, PT

Nico OA, OAJ - my best friend, waiting at the bridge

Flexible Training Options for Our Saturday Classes

2009-02-19T09:57:00.003-05:00

We are pleased to announce that we will soon be offering Flexible Training Options for many of our Saturday classes. Each class will be offered as a rolling enrollment class; you can sign up whenever you are ready, pay for the class, and choose your own start date...No more waiting for a class to start!

Flexible Training Options will be available for our Beginner Obedience, Level Two Obedience, and our new Games, Tricks, and Agilty Prep class. We hope to offer this option for Agility classes as well. If you are interested in finding out more about how these classes will work, please contact Michelle at michelle@geminidogs.com. We look forward to seeing you in class!

Agility Run-Thrus on Wednesday Nights

2009-01-07T14:43:00.007-05:00

We're starting up again! Starting January 14th...Indoor agility run-thrus are being offered starting at 6:00pm. Courses will be nested for novice and advanced levels. Cost is $10 per dog for as many runs as you'd like. We sign up dogs in order of attendance and by jump height order and let everyone go through the course once, then restart the list and have you all go again, then just keep going till you're done for the night!

We do prefer that you pre-register for run-thrus, so if you are interested in attending at some point, just go to http://www.geminidogs.com/seminar_register.htm to complete a short registration form.

Run-thrus are limited to experienced agility class handlers with prior knowledge of equipment please; this means that your dog has been enrolled in multiple sessions of agility class and can perform all of the basic obstacles in a series. If your dog attends classes with us, you should be in Intermediate Agility. Just ask your instructor if your dog is ready!

We're Open During the Ice Storm: Come On Down!

2008-12-12T13:21:00.005-05:00

Yes, we are still open for boarding and daycare dogs in this nasty ice storm! Our power is back on, and we have staff here 24/7. We have received word from a lot of you that your homes do not have power and some people are heading to friends' homes or to hotels.

We are accepting unexpected guests (call first if you can), assuming that your dog is up-to-date with his medical records on file here; so come on down! Your pooch is the next contestant on the Spot is right!

You can reach us at 978-486-9922. And just in case the land line phones go out, you can reach Gemini's owner, Michelle, at 978-387-3663. Be safe out there!

Gemini Dogs Fosters Two Pomeranians in Need of Home

2008-12-11T08:52:00.009-05:00

A few weeks ago, a man came into our office with two Pomeranians, and surrendered them to us, saying that he was no longer able to care for them. Now, we are NOT a shelter, and we do not make it a habit to take in stray dogs. However, when faced with the possibilities of what someone might do with their dogs if we don't help them, I would rather take the dogs and know that they get to the right place rather than finding out later that they were almost killed crossing the street after they were "set free" to make their own way. I've actually seen that happen with a shepherd mix out on 495, and it's actually why I am now here at Gemini and not still working in a software company! But that's another story. Anyway...

They came with the names Den and Stinky, but we have since re-named them Oreo and Buttercup. We originally planned to take them to an animal shelter that same day, but in conversation, we found some people that wanted to come down and have a look at them, so we kept the dogs here and while we waited for those and other people to get back to us, and as one day led to the next...well, they're still here!

Oreo is a black male with white around his chin, and he is missing some upper teeth, which makes his tongue stick out a little - we find this quite adorable! He's a bit of a couch potato, is a little hesitant when he is approached by someone new, but ultimately enjoys being held and cuddled. We were told that Oreo was the same age as his sister, but the vet believes him to be more like 6-8 years old.

Buttercup is a sable-colored female, who has a bit more spunk than her brother, she's playful and happy, but she can also be a cuddly bear like Oreo. She is about 4 years old.

Both dogs arrived with some crazy shaved-all-different-lengths-fur, which our groomer, Ashley, tried to smooth out a bit for them. So although they don't look so much like Poms at the moment, they will get fluffier as the hair grows back!

We took the dogs to our vet of choice, Littleton Animal Hospital, who examined them and administered their vaccines, as they did not come to us with any medical records. Both dogs are unaltered, so they would need to be fixed once they are adopted. Oreo has some dental issues, which may require that some teeth be extracted, but otherwise both dogs are in good health, with no major (or minor) issues.

They have been introduced to other dogs in our daycare, and are slowly making friends. We haven't seen any behavior that would concern us regarding their temperment; no aggression, no resource guarding, no excessive barking, etc.

We did find someone who is very interested in the female, Buttercup. But we really want to find them a forever home where they can be together. Or at the very least, we want to adopt them out at the same time to different homes, and put those two owners in touch. It would break my heart to send Buttercup to a new home, and leave Oreo here alone waiting for someone to take him home...so if you know of someone who might want to adopt both of them or even just Oreo, please send them our way!

To come down and see them, just give us a call at 978-486-9922. They are boarding with us and participating in daycare so they are here 24/7 with a staff member. We are open to visitors 6:00am-7:00pm, and until 10:00pm by appointment.

We are also putting together a little fund for Oreo's teeth. We know that he's going to need some dental work, and we figured if we can raise the money to get some of his dental work done before he is adopted, it might help him to find a home. (Or at least we can pay for part of his dental bill if he gets adopted before we raise all the money.) Donations will be deposited into the Gemini Dogs Disaster Animal Response Team account, so that we can keep the funds aside. We will be taking donations by cash or by check made out to "Gemini Dogs DART" at 53-B Ayer Road, Littleton, MA 01460. You may drop off a donation at our daycare/boarding/grooming entrance; just label the donation envelope with Oreo's name. And say hello to Oreo and Buttercup while you're here!

Teardrops for Sophie

2008-11-24T08:46:00.002-05:00

Sophie Noroian

Way back when we first opened in Littleton, many moons ago, Sophie started attending daycare at Gemini Dogs. She has been a Gemini Dog for longer than any other dog in daycare!

You may remember seeing Sophie in the daycare office when dropping off your dog for daycare; she had a stroke a while back and was considered a "special needs" dog by our staff, who rewarded her with her very own place to hang out in the daycare office while she was here for daycare.

Sophie was a sweet and loving dog with a wonderful owner who loved her very, very much. Even when Sophie wasn't feeling well, she always tried to get up so she could nuzzle and lick you when you went to pet her.

Sophie's name has been added to our "All Dogs Go to Heaven" wall, where she received her own cloud and we will think of her fondly each time we pass by that wall. Sophie earned a special place in all of our hearts and we will miss her dearly.

We were so blessed to have the opportunity to care for Sophie in her last days, and to have the chance to make a difference in her life. We miss you, Sophie! And we love you!