Ear Cleaning 101

There’s a reason ear cleaning is always included in our spa services and I try to encourage people who are doing self-service baths to clean out their dog’s ears when they are finished. This prevents infection that could be caused by any moisture that gets in a dog's ears during a bath. Dogs with drop ears (ears that hang down to cover the ear canal as opposed to ears that stand up and expose the ear) are especially prone to bacterial or yeast infections because air does not circulate to dry the ears naturally. Regular cleaning is a great way to prevent this.

Ear cleaning is pretty simple and like any grooming routine your dog will be a willing partner if you use positive reinforcement and repetition so your dog is used to having his or her ears handled. First wet a cotton ball with ear cleaner. Hold your dog’s ear and push the cotton ball into his ear while maintaining a hold of your dog’s ear and the cotton ball. Pull the cotton outward, taking dirt, debris and buildup out of his ear. Alternately, you can squirt ear cleaner into your dog's ear, massage into the ear and ear canal and use a cotton ball to remove excess cleaner and loosened dirt and debris. Repeat with a fresh cotton ball until the ear is clean, then do the other ear. Be careful not to put your finger or the cotton ball into your dog’s ear canal. Allowing your dog to shake after a bath will also help remove any water or ear cleaner left in his ear. Always clean your dog’s ears after a bath, swimming or getting wet. For dogs with infection prone ears, you can clean them once a week or as often as twice a day as a preventative measure.

We have a variety of products for ear care at home. Cain & Able and AromaPaws both make a great natural ear cleanser. HappyTails makes Ear Clear, a serum to ease itchy, smelly or exceptionally dirty ears. It uses arnica, a widely used analgesic and anti-inflammatory herb and is naturally anti-microbial and anti-bacterial. If you have any questions or need a demonstration on how to clean your dog’s ears, please let us know!

Weekend Coffee Service

At Bubbly Paws Dog Wash, we always try to go the extra mile to make sure our customers are always well taken care of while washing their dogs.  Starting this Saturday, we will be starting our new Bubbly Paws Coffee Service on Weekends from 10am-noon.  This is not just your run of the mill, store bought coffee!  We feature locally roasted coffee and and brew it to perfection.  Stop in, and grab a free cup!

Franklin's Fashion Story

Franklin is comfortable and casual in this subtle floral print bandanna.

Whether getting away for a weekend in the country or vacationing at the cabin, Franklin keeps it clean while getting dirty in this Stunt Puppy dry collar, and Roundabout leash.

Keys at the ready and styled to a T, Frank is always dapper in his Newport collar and leash, by Harry Barker, day or night wear for the city life.

When feeling festive Frank dons his holiday sweater, warm in a crisp autumn evening.

All clothes are model's own. Styling by Lill, on location at Bubbly Paws.

Bubbly Paws - Always a Good Time

Roxy's cousin Roman was visiting for the weekend and we took them to the Minnehaha Falls Dog Park.  Check out all the fun they had!

Back from Denver

The past few days, Trycia and I were in Denver to check out a Jack White at Red Rocks.  As many of our blog readers know, whenever we travel we always love to check out other dog businesses to see what we can improve on or do things better... We checked out a dog wash in Denver and wow, it was very "functional" over being cute and looking clean.  It was nothing more than a few elevated bath tubs with plywood around the tubs.  I also noticed that they closed at 6pm on weekdays.  We also checked out a few pet boutiques and found some pretty neat products that we want to start carrying.  Expect a few new things in the next couple of weeks.  After visiting, I am pretty sure that we have built one of the nicest dog washes in the country (and I am not just saying that because we own Bubbly Paws).  If there is ever anything we can do to improve, please feel free to reach out and contact me; some of the best things we have done have come from our customers.  We also checked out a few doggy daycares in the area, you can read more about our visit on the Pampered Pooch Playground Blog.

As for Denver, I really like the city and how dog friendly it is!  It really reminds me of Minneapolis just with more hills and hiking trails!

Have a great weekend!

Featured Rescue Dog: Max

Max is being fostered by one of our friends and would make a great addition to a home that is ready for a dog that has a little energy. Here is what his foster family said about him....

He is a lover of love!   When he's left alone for hours on end, he can get into some trouble with digging and chasing chipmunks but what Wirehair wouldn't when left to their own devices for that long?  I think he'd do best crated, in the house and then being exercised with a ball, a dummy throwing session or going for a swim.  He adores people, does well with other dogs but has growled and nipped at a child- but only when they were trying to ride him like a horse.  He is so gentle and really would be a terrific pet for someone who has the time.  For more information on Max, send us an email.

Thanks Mattie

Today was a sad day at Bubbly Paws because it was Sarah's last day working for us before she moves away for college.  Sarah, better known as Mattie the airedale's mom, was one of our first employees and Mattie was just a puppy.  It is now 1.5 years later and Mattie is all grown up and loves to greet everyone when they come in to Bubbly Paws!  You might remember Mattie from some of her crazy Facebook pictures (wearing sunglasses, a snowsuit, or  a homemade rain jacket), and Sarah was a great employee because she loved taking these random pictures. I could text her and say "can you put a new picture of _____ on our Facebook page" and Sarah would have a complete photo shoot with Mattie and then put the best picture up.  This past Friday, we did film some more clips of Mattie and the video should be out soon. We are going to miss Sarah and wish her the best of luck in the future.  We know she will keep stopping in to say yellow to everyone!

Have a good night.

Keith

Summer Fun!

I hope everyone is making the most of our hot and heavy summer! Lots of our regular clients have gone out to the lake or cabins in the past month and we are so lucky to have two more months of summer left to enjoy. Franklin and I are getting ready to get away as well and as much dog stuff as I have I think there are a few more things I have to pick up before we head out of town. A stink proof collar is a must for dogs who like to swim, hunt, dock-dive or dogs that just like to roll in stinky stuff. We carry Stunt Puppy’s Stink Proof collar, RuffWear’s Headwater collar and OllyDog’s Tilden collar (and leashes). All are made of BioThane which wipes clean and dry, no need to wash it. The Headwater collar has a nice reflective pattern for added visibility and the Stink Proof collar has StuntPuppy’s classic double D –rings, one for a leash and one for tags. If your dog is a questionable swimmer, a life-jacket might also be something to pick up.

Summer is a buggy time of year and happytails dog spa products help prevent and treat itches. Their Flea the Scene is a dog safe bug repellant. It also sooths the skin and has UV protection. Itchin’ for Relief helps sooth hot-spots, bug bites and irritated skin. All happytails products are all natural, eco-friendly and cruelty free.

Frank and I would love to wish you a safe and fun summer!

Twin Cities Pride

This was the 2nd year that Bubbly Paws Dog Wash and Dog Spa was at the Twin Cities Pride Festival and I personally think it was our most fun year!  We had our doggy lounge which was complete with our doggy bar, our cool new Minnepawpolis shirts, and a fun staff that really wanted to be there! Seriously, it was such a grew time and loved seeing all of our customers stopping over.  We had our good friend Amber from Modern Life Photo at our booth taking pictures of people and their dogs.  You can see and download the pictures she took on her website.  Thanks again for making it such a fun and successful event!

Featured Rescue Dog: Lilly!

There are a lot of reasons why I like Lilly (even though we have never met): we have the same name, she is a little stubborn and a little silly, and has spent a long time waiting for the right family or person to find her (AND she has a lucky ear!) She is a four year old, spayed female bull terrier up for adoption through Secondhand Hounds. She has that goofy bull terrier forehead and squinty eyes that just can't be beat. She needs a home without other dogs but is good with cats and older kids. She does get along with some other dogs but needs proper and slow introductions. Lilly is looking for someone who understands that she needs love and support to be the best dog she can. Like most bull terriers Lilly can be stubborn but is willing to listen to her person and loves to play. Once you have her love, Lilly will be your loyal and steadfast companion for life. Her profile can be viewed here. Remember that the lucky person who adopts Lilly gets a free self-service bath at Bubbly Paws!

City Pages

BowserBeer

Bubbly Paws Was featured in City Pages talking about the Bowser Beer that we sell.  Click Here to read the article.

Hipster Dogs

Sarah, one of our dog wash employees decided it would be a good idea to put her "hipster" sunglasses on Mattie and Roxy... So we turned it into a photo shoot.  I really think one of the things that sets Bubbly Paws apart from other dog businesses is that we LOVE to have fun and we don't take things to seriously!  Hope everyone had a good weekend! Keith

Summer Event Season

Summer is my favorite time of year; it’s when the Twin Cites come alive with events and outdoor fun. We had a great time watching the Parktacular parade go by Bubbly Paws last Saturday including the Pawtacular section that we sponsored and raised money for the Golden Valley Humane Society. This weekend we will be at the Pride festival and our booth will feature a doggie lounge with Bowser Beer! June marks the beginning of our summer of Self-Service Baths for a Cause events. On the last Wednesday night of every month from June to September we will be having bubble bath parties to raise money for local pet rescues. Next Wednesday June 27th we will be having our first to raise money for The Pet Project. The Pet Project works with people who may not have the resources to care for the pets they love and want to keep. The Pet Project connects these people with supplies, low-cost veterinary care and other aid that keeps pets in their home where they belong. Join us for $15 self-service baths, $5 nail trims and 15% off retail items at 5:30pm. We recommend reservations that can be made here.

I love to support local events and good causes so I hope to see you at this event or another in the future!

Pioneer Press Article

Bowser Beer at Bubbly Paws Dog Wash

Bubbly Paws Dog Wash was featured in the Twin Cities Pioneer Press talking about the Bowser Beer that we sell.  If you missed the article, you can click here to read it.

Twin Cities Pride Festival

 

Pampered Pooch Playground and Bubbly Paws Dog Wash are 2 locally owned dog businesses in St Louis Park ready to spoil your pooch.  Click the links below to learn more about each family owned place.

Bubbly Paws Dog Wash (dog spa, grooming and self-service baths)

Pampered Pooch Playground (doggy daycare, hotel and training)

Spring Grooming Boom

We have been filling up all of our grooming appointments almost two weeks in advance currently. I know it can be frustrating when your dog really needs to be groomed and you can't get in when you would like but we are doing our best to accommodate everyone. One of the things that makes Bubbly Paws so great is that we have a small staff and know our clients personally, dogs and their humans. We want to take our time and make grooming low stress so the job is done well and to everyone's satisfaction so we don't book too many dogs each day. We allow time for them to get personal attention and so they never have to sit in a kennel before grooming begins. We have also had an influx of clients from other grooming salons so please keep this in mind when you would like to make your next grooming appointment. We hope to see you and your dog soon!

Featured Rescue Dog - Byron

Say Hello to Byron... He is being fostered by one of the Bubbly Paws employees for Heading Home K9 Rescue in Minneapolis..  Remember if you adopt Byron, you get a free self-service bath. Byron is the sweetest, softest, most eager to please dog we have seen.... he offers his belly up to strangers for a belly rub, loves kids and other dogs ( wants to play with them!), and just goes about life with a happy attitude and a desire to do whatever he can to please his people. At 75 pounds, he's not truly a lap dog, but he sure tries. He walks/runs with you, is mellow inside, well housetrained and minds his manners. No cats for him, please, he likes to chase them too much. He has had basic obedience and loves to show off what he knows.

Why Doggie Life Jackets Are Important

This past weekend, Trycia and I were in wisconsin visiting her family and we spent a good amount of time on the water.  Whenever we have Roxy on a boat, and she LOVES going on the boat, we always have her life jacket on.  We use the jacket because if she ever fell off, getting her back into the boat would be almost impossible without the handle on the back of her jacket.  This past weekend, there was a news story on ABC 7 in Chicago about a dog that fell off the boat in the Chicago River and swam to shore because he had a lifejacket on.  The video from the story is below!  I bring this up, not as a sales pitch for the lifejackets we sell at Bubbly Paws, but to keep dogs safe on all the Minnesota lakes and rivers this summer.  

Memorial Day

I hope everyone had a great day with their dogs on this Memorial Day. Dogs serve and protect us everyday and as we remember those that have fallen in the line of duty today we should remember some of our four-legged service members. Dogs have followed their people into war since ancient history as worked within the American military since the Civil War. During World War I about a million dogs died in action, most working to deliver messages. Cairo, a Belgian Malinois, worked with Nary Seals in the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. From our companions to military service dogs, dogs work hard to please their people everyday. I hope the dogs in your life bring you peace and security today.

Featured Rescue Dog - Aloha

Meet Aloha who is available for adoption through MUSHR.  Aloha is a very sweet girl and was being fostered by one of our employees at Pampered Pooch Playground.   She is cream colored with brown eyes and weighs about 40 pounds. The family that adopts Aloha will need to take puppy classes and continuously work on her socialization. While Aloha is extremely timid, with a little patience she can show a lot of affection. She has a very gentle disposition but is a bit shy with strangers. Aloha is crate trained for day and night and is housebroken. She loves carrying around toys and anything else that is left on the ground. You can always find a large collection of toys stashed in her crate. She does extremely well with dogs of all sized and would do well in a multiple pet household. Aloha also does well with cats. On a leash, she does okay walking at your side except when passing people and dogs or if there is too much commotion around. She may do better in a quieter neighborhood. Aloha gets along very well with the resident dog who has helped Aloha learn how to play and just be a dog. Because of the need for Aloha's ongoing socialization and because she has learned so much from the resident dog, we are looking for a home for Aloha that already has a stable dog to help continue to teach Aloha the ropes of being a great dog. We have no doubt she will make a wonderful part of someone's family in time. She has a lot of potential and is making great progress already!  Click here for more pictures on her PetFinder.com profile.  If you adopt Aloha, we will give you a free self-service bath at Bubbly Paws Dog Wash.