Bimini is a STAR Puppy!

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

LOST DOG

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...

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!

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?

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!

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!

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!!!

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!

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!

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!

Scarlett

Sandy

Lucy

TDAA Trial Fun

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!)

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!

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?

And this is Danni...awwww...

Daycare Dog ~ Daisy

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

Monday at 10pm ~ Animal Planet Investigates

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!

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

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!

"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...

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!

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!

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?

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

Just One...

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

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!

Who is that? Oh, it's Rugby!

Rugby's Costume

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!

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!

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!

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?

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

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!

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

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!

"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!

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!

"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!

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

Happy in Their New Home

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)

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!

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!

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

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

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!

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

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

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!

Free Day of Doggie Daycare for Veterans

We are offering a free day of doggie daycare on Tuesday for any member of the U.S. Military!

If you or a member of your immediate family is on Active Duty, Retired, or in the National Guard, just sign in at the counter when you drop off your dog...and thank you for your service to our country!

Please note that attendance in doggie daycare requires pre-registration.

A Pretty Pumpkin

Here is D'Artagnan Montanari from Littleton.

Aw, isn't Dart just the cutest little pumpkin ever? Have you got a pumpkin, too? Send yours in and we'll post your pup's photo too!

Bella as the infamous outlaw, Belle Starr

Bella as the infamous outlaw, Belle Starr.

Bella enjoys daycare, obedience training, and agility classes at Gemini Dogs.

Search & Rescue/Detection Dogs Visit Gemini Dogs

Over the past three days, Gemini Dogs has been host to a seminar for active Search & Rescue Dogs and Detection Dogs. Members of area police forces and Search and Rescue (SAR) teams came together to work on furthering their dogs skills in scent detection during the three-day workshop.

Some of the attendees were from an organization named MARK9, whose Search Dog Teams provide services to Law Enforcement Agencies and Fire/Rescue Agencies free of charge and statewide upon request, to assist in locating lost persons due to a multitude of situations. MARK9 searches for victims of crimes or evidence of a crime, and can also search for victims of fires.

Other attendees brought dogs from some of the New Hampshire Police Departments who search for drugs or narcotics, bombs, or participate in criminal pursuits.

For further information about making a donation to assist MARK9 in its volunteer efforts, please call: 617.775.7968 or email CzechGSD@macrt.org.

Treats for Faith!

Good news for another Gemini Dogs pooch!

I have to brag a little - Faith just got her first Level 3 Rally-O leg and did it in her first Level 3 Class!!

It wasn't anywhere near perfect (189), but she got the job done and had moments that were terrific (and some moments that were less terrific - but adequate).

- Laurel and Faith the Mala-munchkin

Congrats!

CGC Test on Oct. 2 at 7 PM

Does your dog have what it takes to be called a Canine Good Citizen? Take the test and find out! Go here for info on the CGC test and to register.

• CGC Test at Gemini Dogs
• Oct. 2, 7PM

Summer run-thrus are over. Will restart soon indoors.

Outdoor run-thrus are on hold as we prepare to move indoors. They will re-start indoors in the next few weeks. Watch for more info or send us an email so that we can notify you when they start up again!

Hope you had fun running around outside this summer!

Congrats, Penny!

Gemini Dogs agility student, Sarah Power, wrote us with some good news!

Penny earned her TBAD (teacup beginner agility dog) title this weekend, 3 Qs in standard!! She also got 2 Qs in games, needs one more for TG1 (teacup games 1). Not bad for her first teacup trial!!

Sarah Power

Treats for us!

We recently received this great note from Kristen, mom of boarder and new daycare dog, Calvin. Thank you!

By the way, we LOVE Gemini Dogs. Calvin, our Weimaraner puppy, is always so excited to be there and clearly has a great time - and he's a dog who usually loves his humans and being at home! So thanks for your excellent facility and staff!! We just started daycare this week and clearly he's having fun.

Kristen

Free pet safety pack from the ASPCA

Help keep your pets safe with a free pet safety pack from the ASPCA!

In the event of an emergency, our pet rescue window decal alerts rescue personnel that pets are inside your home. The safety pack also includes an ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center magnet—a great way to keep the APCC's toll-free emergency number and website address handy in case your pets get into something they shouldn’t!

• Order Your Free Pet Safety Pack Now