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Dogs love playing outdoors, and nothing beats the beach! However, this new environment has a major factor that you should be aware of: the ocean.

While dogs love playing in the ocean, you have to watch them closely to make sure that they don’t drink salt water! Thankfully, the experts at Top Dog are here to help you and your dog have a great day at the beach!

Top Dog Training and Resort is the premier Chapel Hill pet resort. We are the best k9 boarding and training facility in the Triangle area, with fully licensed trainers, grooming, and a dog pick-up service near me.

Why Can’t Dogs Drink Salt Water?

Humans can’t drink salt water, so it’s no surprise that dogs can’t either. However, when dogs are playing and panting in the ocean, they can easily ingest salt water, either by accident or because they are getting thirsty from all the activity.

When dogs drink salt water, the salt sucks water out of the blood and redirects it to the intestines, leading to gastrointestinal discomfort and unnaturally high levels of sodium in the body.

A small amount of salt water can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. However, larger amounts lead to saltwater poisoning.

Dogs reach a toxic sodium level when they drink 2.2 teaspoons of salt per pound of their body weight, which is the approximate amount of salt in a cup of seawater. Therefore, smaller dogs can tolerate less salt water than larger dogs.

If dogs drink a lot of salt water, the symptoms go much further than an upset stomach. The influx of sodium in the blood creates a condition known as hypernatremia. Cells in your dog’s body will respond to hypernatremia by releasing water.

Cells releasing this much water can, in turn, lead to seizures, loss of brain cells, kidney issues, and severe dehydration–all serious conditions that require immediate medical treatment from a veterinarian to prevent long-term injury or even death.

How to Prevent Your Dog From Drinking Salt Water

Since salt water is so dangerous to dogs, should you avoid the beach entirely? No! Fortunately, canine saltwater poisoning is preventable. Follow these simple tips for a safe, fun beach trip:

• Make sure your dog has access to fresh water and shade.
• Take a break from the ocean every 15 minutes.
• Avoid playing fetch in deeper water, where your dog can easily lunge after their favorite toy with their mouth open and accidentally ingest salt water.
• Make sure that your dog has enough training to respond to simple commands like “come” and “no” so that you can stop them from drinking salt water.

What To Do If Your Dog Drinks Salt Water

If your dog drinks salt water, don’t panic. Remember, it takes a lot of salt water for your dog to reach toxic levels, especially if they are a larger breed, but you should still exercise caution.

If your dog has swallowed a small amount of salt water, call them out of the ocean immediately.

Have them sit in the shade with a bowl of fresh water while you monitor for signs of low-level saltwater poisoning (although symptoms make take a few hours to develop):

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Fatigue

Signs of more serious saltwater poisoning also include:

• Constant urination
• Muscle tremors and convulsions
• Confusion and odd behavior
• Excessive thirst
• High heart rate
• Poor coordination
• Loss of appetite

If you think your dog has consumed a potentially toxic amount of salt water, head to a veterinarian immediately. Your vet will likely administer an IV to slowly lower sodium levels and restore equilibrium while monitoring electrolytes, brain swelling, and seizures.

Because lowering sodium levels too quickly can lead to further complications like cerebral edema, this process will probably take a few days and require hospitalization for your dog.

Top Dog: The Best Dog Boarding Near Me

Don’t want to bring your dog on vacation and risk saltwater poisoning? If you live in the Triangle area and are looking for dog boarding near me, look no further than Top Dog!

Our Chapel Hill pet resort offers a state of the art k9 boarding and training facility. Our dog boarders enjoy comfortable, sanitized bedding, with soothing music and 24-hour supervision from our founder and licensed trainer, Jennie Fuller, who lives on-site.

Our boarders also get to take advantage of Top Dog’s training programs and grooming so that they have an engaging, enriching stay!

If you don’t want to board your dog but still want to take advantage of training options like our day school, you don’t have to worry about pick up or drop off!

Top Dog offers a dog pick-up service near you to make sure that your dog makes it to our k9 boarding and training facility and back home safely.

Experience the best dog boarding near me and contact us today!

You groom yourself every day, so why shouldn’t your dog get that same attention?

While you don’t have to seek out professional dog grooming in Chapel Hill every single day, a daily dog grooming routine, complemented by regular trips to your groomer, will help keep your pooch feeling happy and healthy!

Top Dog Training and Resort offers the best dog grooming in Durham, NC, and the wider Triangle Area. We are your local dog experts, and we always put your dog first. That’s why we are sharing some of our grooming expertise with you!

The Importance of Dog Grooming

While it’s obvious that you want your dog to be clean and comfortable–without obscured vision because of sloppy bangs or getting caught on overly long nails–there are even more benefits to grooming.

First off, regular grooming avoids larger grooming issues down the line, like matted hair.

Grooming can also help control shedding. If it feels like everything in your house is covered in a thin layer of fur, regular brushing can reduce shedding. Brushing stimulates oil glands in your dog’s skin, which in turn encourages it to hang on to fur.

Regular nail trimming can improve your dog’s feet and joint health, and teeth brushing also keeps your dog’s teeth clean and healthy, while also preventing bad breath.

However, the most important benefit of grooming is the prevention of medical and dental issues. Regular grooming gives you the opportunity to check your dog’s eyes, ears, mouth, and body for warning signs of larger issues.

How Often Should I Groom My Dog?

Your dog’s specific grooming needs will vary depending on its breed and the time of year. For example, dogs tend to develop thicker coats in the winter, and then they shed more in the spring.

As a rule of thumb, Top Dog recommends daily hair brushing as the foundation of your at-home grooming routine. You should also brush your dog’s teeth daily and/or give them a special dental treat to promote tooth health.

There are a few other monthly items to work into your dog’s routine, like nail trimming. A dog’s nails shouldn’t stick out beyond its pads, and they should be trimmed every three to four weeks.

If your dog is uncomfortable letting you trim its nails, you can seek help from professional groomers or vets.

Dogs don’t need to bathe as often as humans do; in fact, over-bathing can strip healthy oils from your dog’s skin and hair. Typically, your dog needs a bath every 6-12 weeks. However, if your dog gets really dirty from muddy outdoor play, bathe them immediately!

In addition to at-home grooming routines, we recommend scheduling professional dog grooming in Chapel Hill, NC every one to two months for haircuts and full grooming.

Grooming Recommendations by Breed

Every dog has unique grooming needs, but being familiar with your dog’s hair type based on its breed will help you develop a good dog grooming routine.

While this chart is a helpful guide, it is not comprehensive. Schedule some professional dog grooming in Durham, NC to get some expert advice on your dog’s specific needs.

Top Dog: The Best Dog Grooming in Chapel Hill, NC

When you need dog grooming in Chapel Hill, Durham, or Hillsborough, look no further than Top Dog! We are your number one local dog groomer, and we offer a full suite of services to help your dog look and feel its best.

Our grooming services include:

• full-service baths
• haircuts
• hair styling and pattern options
• nail trimming
• ear plucking
• blow drying
• an optional dash of dog-friendly cologne

To learn more about how you can keep your dog happy and healthy with dog grooming in Chapel

Just as it is for humans, Easter is pretty special for pets too. The house is made colorful and decorated, goodies line each table, and eggs lie all around the house.

While you should have as much fun as possible on Easter, you need to make sure that your pets aren’t harmed in any way on this special day. Remember, when you have a day to enjoy yourself, your pets enjoy themselves with you!

Here are 2 tips on how to make Easter safe for your pets.

1.   Keep Them Away From Chocolate

It’s common knowledge that chocolate is harmful to pets, both dogs and cats. So, if you’re making an Easter basket for your pet, make sure not to put any chocolate in it.

Also, if you’re going to be distributing chocolate eggs and other sweets to the children in your family, make sure you store these treats away from places where your pets can access them.

If your pets ingest chocolate of any sort, it can lead to stomach issues, and can even be fatal for them.

Another way to protect your pets this Easter is to supervise any small children in the house to make sure they don’t give chocolate to the pets in the house.

If, however, the worst does happen and your pet eats some chocolate, you should contact a pet poison hotline immediately or take your pet to a vet.

2.   Keep Easter Lilies Away From Your Pet

Easter lilies are perhaps the single most common Easter decoration. Whenever you decorate your home for Easter, make sure that any plants that you keep around the house are safe for your pet.

For example, if you receive Easter Lilies as a gift, make sure to keep them in a place that is not accessible to your pets. This is because the Easter Lilly is poisonous to animals. In fact, each part of the plant, from the stem to the leaves to the petals, and even the pollen, can be incredibly dangerous to your pet.

If your pup or kitty ingests even a little bit of the pollen, it can lead to kidney failure or even death.

Easter time should be a fun time for your family and your pets, and using these 2 tips will help you make Easter safe for your pets.

Even the best-behaved dog can get lost. An unexpected noise can trigger their innate flight instinct during a hike, and before you know it, they’re lost in the woods.

For a pet owner, it’s a terrifying prospect. However, there are a few ways to increase your chances of being reunited with your furry friend, and the most important is ID microchipping.

If you’re unsure about microchipping your dog, ask the experts! Top Dog Training and Resort is the best dog trainer near me in Durham, NC, Chapel Hill, NC, and Mebane, NC, and we are passionate about pets!

At our state-of-the-art dog day training center, we offer dog training day school, boarding, grooming, and board dog training.

We understand that your dog is an important member of your family, and that is why we want to tell you about the importance of ID microchips.

What is An ID Microchip?

An ID microchip is a very small computer chip (about the size of a grain of rice) with a unique identification number. It is implanted under your dog’s skin using a syringe, like a standard vaccine.

The procedure itself is quick and safe. It causes brief, minor discomfort in the same way that a shot does. Just like you would rather your dog get a rabies vaccine than rabies, it is better for your pet to be microchipped than to get lost for good.

Once you microchip your pet, it is imperative that you register your identification number with the national microchip database and keep your contact information up to date.

When a lost pet is brought into a shelter or vet, they are immediately scanned to see if they have an ID microchip. The scanner transmits a radio signal to the chip, which response with its identification number.

Then, the shelter can check the identification number database, get your contact information, and return your dog.

ID microchips don’t require any maintenance, although it’s a good idea to ask your veterinarian to scan the microchip during your dog’s annual wellness visit to make sure it is easy to find and still working.

Why Should You Microchip Your Pet?

You may be saying to yourself, “My dog already has an ID tag on its collar! Why do I need a microchip?”

ID tags and collars can break off easily, or they can be removed by a dog-napper. Even when the tags stay on, they can become difficult to read due to wear and tear. However, an ID microchip is permanent and unique.

Not to mention, microchipping your pet gives you peace of mind. If your dog chases a squirrel or gets anxious and runs away, you know that when your dog is found, the ID microchip will lead them home.

But don’t take our word for it! A 2009 study from Ohio State University found that microchipped dogs were 2.5 more likely to be reunited with their families. 52.2% of microchipped dogs were returned home, compared to only 21.9% of unchipped dogs.

Microchipping your dog is simple, safe, and effective! It’s the best way to ensure that you never lose your furry friend.

K9 Boarding and Training with Top Dog

When you’re looking for the best dog trainer near me, look no further than Top Dog! We have a history of providing superior service to the Triangle area, including Durham, NC, Chapel Hill, NC, and Mebane, NC.

Our balanced approach to dog training takes every dog’s unique needs and skills into account, and we create a caring, fun learning environment that your dog will love coming back to.

Our K9 boarding and training facility was designed with your dog in mind. We offer a dog day training center, board dog training, grooming, and boarding. We even have a shuttle service to pick up and drop off dogs!

Don’t wait! Contact us today to pamper your pooch.

Dog collars are fashion statements, and IDs are necessary for walking, but they are also important tools for dog training.

Believe it or not, you have a lot of dog collar options, and the collar you choose depends on your dog and your dog training goals. Don’t know where to start? Top Dog can help!

Top Dog Training and Resort is the premier K9 boarding and training facility in the Triangle Area, serving Durham, NC, Chapel Hill, NC, and Mebane, NC.

We provide superior grooming, boarding, and both a board dog training and dog day training center. When you’re looking for a dog trainer near me, Top Dog is your top option!

As dog training experts, we’ve put a lot of thought into dog collars and which are best for your training goals. Let’s explore the different collar options and how we use them at our K9 boarding and training center.

Types of Dog Collars

Here is a quick overview of commonly used dog collars.

Flat Collars

If you think of a stereotypical dog collar, you’re thinking of a flat collar. They lie flat on the neck, and a well-behaved dog should be able to walk easily with one on.

Flat collars are gentle on a dog’s neck but can make an energetic dog difficult to control. If your dog tends to pull or lunge, it can accidentally choke on a flat collar.

Martingale Collars

A martingale collar is sometimes called a “no-slip collar.” Martingale collars attach to a leash via a D-ring, which causes the collar to tighten the leash when it is pulled, but it won’t choke your dog if it’s properly fitted.

Martingale collars are excellent choices for dogs with narrow heads (sighthound breeds like whippets and greyhounds), and they offer greater control if your dog tends to slip out of their collar.

Head Collars

A head collar works like a horse’s halter. It wraps around the muzzle and then attaches to the leash under the chin. The way it wraps limits your dog’s leverage, keeping them from pulling with its full body weight.

If your dog is extremely energetic, and with a tendency to jump and lunge, head collars are a great solution, especially when training them to walk on a leash and heel.

Head collars allow you to redirect your dog’s gaze away from other dogs, cars, or “prey” like rabbits and squirrels, and it may also help them feel safer and calmer on the walk.

Dog Harnesses

Harnesses avoid putting any strain on the neck by wrapping around the body. They are particularly helpful for short-nosed dog breeds, like pugs. However, harnesses can give your dog a lot of leverage, increasing the effectiveness of their pull and decreasing your control.

Pinch Collars

Pinch collars apply pressure to a dog’s neck when it pulls. They are excellent dog training tools for making corrections to lunging and pulling behaviors; however, pinch collars need to be properly fitted so that they sit high on your dog’s neck.

We recommend consulting with a professional dog trainer, like the expert staff at Top Dog, before using the pinch collar, because it requires training to be used properly.

Top Dog’s Balanced Approach to Dog Training

Top Dog uses multiple collars in our board dog training program. We take a balanced approach to training that incorporates both positive and negative reinforcement to make your dog independent and well-behaved.

Graduates of our board dog training program and dog day training center learn to behave, without constantly needing a treat or compulsion.

We utilize the operant conditioning principle to help make training effective, engaging, and fun! Our expert trainers understand that dogs have four basic drives–food, social, prey, and defense–and we work with them, not against them, to help them focus.

Our trainers follow the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants’ LIMA principle: least intrusive, minimally aversive training. We start dogs off with a flat collar, and if they are struggling with training, we move on to a martingale collar.

If the dog is still pulling in a way that is not safe for the dog or the owner, we will ask the owner’s permission to use a pinch collar for power steering and better learning.

Top Dog: The Best Dog Trainer Near Me

At Top Dog, we always put your dog first. From our signature dog boarding and training program to grooming needs to our shuttle service for dogs near Durham, NC, Chapel Hill, NC, and Mebane, NC, we are always here for you and your furry friend.

Contact us today to experience the Top Dog training difference!

Did you just get a new pup who might benefit from some dog training? Or maybe you’re going on vacation, and you’d love a board dog training facility that can keep your furry friend engaged while teaching them a thing or two.

No matter why you are interested in a dog trainer near me, one thing is important: you want a certified dog trainer.

Top Dog is a dog day training center, boarding facility, and groomer near Durham, NC, Chapel Hill, NC, and Mebane, NC. Your dog is our number one priority. That’s why we hire only certified dog trainers, and that’s why we offer a lifetime guarantee.

But what is a certified dog trainer, and why do you need one?

What is a Certified Dog Trainer?

Technically, there is no formal education required to call yourself a dog trainer. There are plenty of trainers who gain experience anecdotally, through training their own pups and maybe helping some friends.

While uncertified trainers may provide a good experience, they are always a gamble. They come without any certifications or guarantees.

A certified dog trainer is someone who has completed an accredited dog training certification program. To receive a dog training certification, a trainer must accrue a significant amount of experience hours and pass a comprehensive examination.

Certified dog trainers are also typically members of respected professional organizations, such as the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.

At Top Dog, we only hire certified dog trainers who have a proven history of being the best in the business! We’re so confident in our fully certified trainers that we offer a lifetime guarantee.

That means that after your dog completes one of our training programs, including board dog training and our dog day training center, they will get one-on-one lessons with their trainer any time they need help–for the rest of their lives!

K9 Boarding and Training with a Lifetime Guarantee

Top Dog’s dog day training center is a state-of-the-art facility designed to provide the best dog training near me. In everything we do, your dog’s comfort is our top priority, and we modify exercises to meet your pup’s unique needs.

Our facility uses three classrooms:

• the training room, where dogs learn basic skills and manners
• an outdoor space, where dogs learn to socialize and redirect their extra energy
• field trips, where dogs learn how to behave in pet-friendly establishments.

We understand that every dog is different, so we offer multiple programs to give them the best results and fit into your schedule.

Our dog day training center program includes:

• Half and full-day options
• Socialization
• Learning in a small group setting
• Daily report cards
• A shuttle service for pick-up and drop-off

If you are going on a long trip or are simply too busy to devote the time and energy necessary to train your dog, our board dog training program is perfect for you!

We offer three boarding programs–a 3-week basic on-leash course, a 4-week on-leash course with off-leash recall, and 6-week leash-free advanced course–that include more nuanced training like:

• Advanced manners
• Commands like sit/stay, down/stay, place, leave it, and drop it
• Coming when called off-leash
• Heeling
• Private sessions

No matter what program you chose, you will always get a fully certified trainer and the Top Dog lifetime guarantee!

Experience the Top Dog Training Difference!

Are you ready to give your dog the best K9 boarding and training experience in Durham, NC, Chapel Hill, NC, and Mebane, NC?

Top Dog is the premier dog trainer near me. Our staff of certified dog trainers is ready to help your dog behave better now and for the rest of their lives. Contact us today!