Welcome to Rex’s Place and the 2026 Summer Newsletter!

This edition of our Newsletter might hit a bit differently. Over the last few months, we here at Rex’s Place have had a bit of an emotional roller coaster, and we want to turn it into something positive for all of us, including all of you. We really do feel that you, our customers, are family.

Our family has lost some very precious members over the last few months. Several of the dogs who have been with us from the earliest days of Rex’s Place crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, and these losses hit us hard. Losing our four-legged family is often harder than losing human loved ones. So in this issue, we will touch on not only our usual topics, but we want to share some insights from some trusted partners, and we want to also celebrate the love.

In this edition:

• How do we know? What do we know? When do we know?
• Ask Kathy
• Give Us Hope! Training Tips
• Looking Ahead

 

How Do We Know? What Do We Do?
Some insight from a vet on our aging dogs

After losing some of our dear friends (all of whom came to spend time with us just before they passed), we wanted to be certain that we had done everything possible for them as they were aging and in our care. Dr. Maria VonderHaar of Kindred Spirits Healing Arts, a DVM who specializes in holistic care for pets, was kind enough to share some insights with us.

Rex’s Place: Dr. VonderHaar, what would you say is one thing that owners of senior dogs overlook? How can paying more attention improve our dogs’ golden years?

Dr. VonderHaar: Change in behaviors such as sleeping more, being less active, a decrease in appetite, being less engaged, not coming up the stairs, or changes in vocalization may be a sign your pet could benefit from small or larger interventions from you. These could be signs of joint issues, internal issues or cognitive changes. Many things can help with all of these concerns, and that is worth a conversation with your vet.

Rex’s Place: What is normal aging? What is “less normal”?

Dr. VonderHaar: Slowing down and sleeping more can be normal. Eating lunch and dinner but skipping breakfast may be normal.
Isolating from family, turning away from food, pacing, and not sleeping through the night are less normal.

Rex’s Place: What should we consider when deciding to get our vet’s input? Are there key considerations that we should keep in mind? Is there information a vet needs to know that we might not be paying attention to?

Dr. VonderHaar: Any small change can warrant consultation from your veterinarian. You know your pet better than anyone else, so trusting your own intuition and paying attention to small changes can lead to better quality of life for you and your pet.

Keep track of what a normal day is for your pet. Track activity, appetite, water consumption, elimination habits, change in behaviors, change in coat and skin. Your veterinarian will ask you about these and when you give answers that you have carefully kept track of, together you can make changes to improve your pet’s quality of life.

Rex’s Place: Very often, people say “you’ll know when it’s time.” In your opinion, when is it time to consider euthanasia for our dogs?

Dr. VonderHaar: This is a very personal decision for you and your pet. I think it helps to keep track of how many good days your pet has versus poor days. To keep track of this, you must first have a clear idea what a good day is. Sit down and write down 3 to 4 things that make a day good day for your pet. That may be: ate well, went for a walk, enjoyed being brushed, slept well.
When poor days outnumber good days, and there are no solutions, then your decision may be clarified.

“Taking a little time to think about what is normal can help you discern what is not normal later.”

Rex’s Place: Recently, a number of senior dogs at Rex’s Place have died due to medical conditions no one knew they had. Is it impossible to tell when a dog has a tumor, or cancer?

Dr. VonderHaar: It can be impossible. However, knowing what is normal for your pet can help.

Know what color your pet’s gums are (they should be pink; if you look and their gums are black, look for small area that is pink. Most dogs and cats have an area that is pink.) If they are paler than usual, that is a concern. If you press on their gum, the color goes away (it turns white), but it should come back within a second. If it takes longer than a second, this can be a circulatory issue). Lumps that become hard vs soft may be a concern. Belching, gas, groaning, and decrease in appetite may be a concern. Change in the color your pet’s tongue from pink to violet may be a sign of stagnation. Trouble eliminating or a change in elimination can be a sign of trouble in the urinary bladder or digestive tract. Coughing or a change in the sound of breathing may be a concern. Change in mobility or activity can be a sign of illness.

Again: it pays to make note of what is normal before problems occur. Taking a little time to think about what is normal can help you discern what is not normal later.

Rex’s Place: What can we as dog owners do to make our dogs’ golden years better?

Dr. VonderHaar: Enjoy every day you have with your beloved pet. Do something that has you physically engage with your pet. The list is endless; a nice walk, a gentle massage, gentle brushing, applying a warm compress to tight muscles and then doing a range of motion with each leg helps decrease stiffness and tells you when your pet may need more intervention (like medications, supplements, or acupuncture).
Be cognizant of their appetite. They may be tired of their food, and adding something to their diet that has a good smell will help them love their food. Warming food may help. Moving from a hard food to a softer option may help. You only need to know what you cannot feed (what is toxic and what your pet does not tolerate). Place night lights to aid their fading vision. Non-slippery surfaces on stairs and tiled floors help them maneuver better.

Ask Kathy

Do I need to make a daycare reservation when I’m boarding?

No. Classic daycare is included for boarding after the first night. Thus, if you check your dog in before 11:00 on the first day of boarding, you’ll be charged $40.00 for daycare. If you check in after 3:00, there is no daycare charge on the first day. For dogs in Day Care Plus, there is a $10.00 charge for each day of daycare.

Can I bring my dog’s favorite blanket when she comes to board?

You can, but… It might not be returned in the same condition. If you want your dog’s blanket to remain his favorite blanket (or toy) we suggest you keep at at home waiting for your pup’s return.

Why do I have to bring my dog on Friday for cage free boarding if I’m not leaving until Sunday?

When we first started Cage Free Boarding, we did accept dogs on the weekends and it ended up causing a lot of problems. I can’t explain it, but for some reason after the dogs sleep together for one night, they become a pack. Having a dog leave does not cause problems. Having a new dog come in creates issues. When we allowed weekend drop offs, we ended up with fights and disagreements, so we have required cage free boarding dogs to come on Friday ever since. It’s safer for the dogs and for my staff.

What is the hardest part of your business?

This question is very easy to answer. One of the joys of this business is getting to know the dogs, the customers, and their families. Not only do we see the dogs grow older, but there are times we see babies being born and then all of a sudden those babies are driving and dropping their dog off.

Watching the dogs get older or losing a dog is extremely hard for us. We have always said that your dogs are our dogs. We treat them as if they were our dogs. We often see the stress you might be going through because of a hardship in your life because it does affect the dogs. And when we lose one of our clients, that is as hard as losing one of our dogs. So I have to say that the hardest part is losing someone we care about.

What is the best way to handle my dog’s summer daycare schedule?

That is a great question. Many of you often tell us that your dog gets very excited when you say “Rex‘s Place”. I will tell you that my dog Jet waits at the door on Wednesdays when he knows he has agility class. All dogs love schedules — dogs exist by schedules (how do they always know it’s meal time?) So if you take a day away, they don’t have that schedule. I realize that often the kids may be home during the summer, or you may be home. You may be traveling. They love you, but they’ve programmed their schedule in their heads.

It’s a fact that dogs are pack animals as well. They want to be dogs. I don’t want my dogs playing with me the way they play with other dogs. You probably don’t want your dog playing with you as if you’re a dog, either. They love walking or going to the beach. But they also want to be with their dog pack. I am not saying that you should come three days a week or two days a week; what I am saying is that your dog will miss the schedule, will miss his friends. For dogs who come in after being away for a long time it’s like a first day all over again. For some dogs, it’s very hard to adjust. So that schedule is something for you to think about during the summer when planning your days.

Give Us Hope!

Rex’s Place Trainer Hope Saidel shares tips and insights on “training” your dog.

Dog training needs a new name

If you think dog training is a chore, you’re wrong. If you’re not having fun training your dog, you’re doing it wrong.

I wish there was something else we could call it, because “dog training” doesn’t seem to spark joy. But that’s exactly what it is. An opportunity to have fun with your dog.

It doesn’t take long. It’s not difficult. The hardest thing about dog training is being patient. Because if you’re doing it right, you’re giving your dog a chance to figure things out. And just like us, dogs get happy and excited when they figure out the “right” answer.

Better bond, better behavior

Both people and dogs learn faster and retain more when it’s enjoyable. Remember your own favorite teachers? Weren’t they the ones who made learning fun?

Your dog already loves you. Playing training games together tightens that bond. It gives you insight into how dogs think and how you can communicate with an intelligent being who doesn’t speak a word of English. Everyone in the family will develop a new connection with the dog through the training games they play.

And your dog will grow more confident and secure. Knowing what’s expected of them and how to do it gives dogs the structure they love. Dogs love schedules. They love knowing what to expect. Aside from you, routine is a dog’s best friend.

You’re the only one

You and your dog will develop your own cues and language. You can train your dog in any language, using any words you want. I have a friend who trained her dog in Klingon. That’s fine — as long as you share your vocabulary list with everyone who takes care of the dog.

You decide what behaviors are important to you. Some of the games in class are crucial (the commands that can save your dog’s life), others are helpful (Loose-leash walking, Off!), and still others are just for fun (Spin, Target). Because dogs love learning stuff. And the only limit on that is your imagination and their lack of thumbs.

What’s Coming Up at Rex’s Place

Book your holiday boarding now!

Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year boarding are already filling. If you need boarding for the holiday season, reserve now. Go into Paw Partner and book your space now. Don’t wait; we hate to disappoint our customers when space runs out.

Welcome Back Celebration in September

We are going to welcome everyone back from Summer after the Labor Day holiday. With so many kids home during the break, a lot of our regular dogs miss the summer months with us and come back to daycare when school starts — we look forward to everyone’s return! Stay tuned for the date and details! Our Welcome Back event will include:

• facility tours
• Rally and Agility demonstrations
• programming announcements
• dedicating our Rainbow Bridge tree
• and possibly, wink wink, a package sale?

That’s it for now! Stay cool and hydrated (see our tips for helping your dog through the heat), reach out with questions or comments, and we look forward to seeing you all soon!