Best of the Best

60 BEST OF THE BEST FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2013 • NWA MEDIA PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT ● Certifi ed Pet Care Technicians & Professional Groomer ● Full Service Cage-Free Grooming ● Supervised Play Groups for Daycare & Boarding ● Obedience Training and CGC Certifi cation Classes ● 6 Indoor & 8 Outdoor Play Areas og Party USA is a locally owned and oper- ated daycare and boarding facility that has been in Northwest Arkansas for the past eight years. Owners Chaddie Kumpe Platt and Priscilla Kumpe have learned a lot about dog behavior, particularly in an off-leash, group play setting. They offer a few tips for dog owners. • Early Socialization — Platt and Kumpe emphasize the importance of getting started early. Socializing a dog with different breeds between ages three months and one year is crucial. "Different breeds have very different play styles," said Platt. "It's almost as if they are speaking a different language. With early socialization, dogs learn how to 'interpret' another dog's intentions, and it removes the fear. By letting your dog play with lots of different types of dogs, you are setting them up for a life free of fear and anxiety." Interaction with other dogs also strengthens the immune system, much like day - care exposure does for a child. A dog needs exposure to the outside world to build resistance to illnesses. • Immunizations — Many of the dangers to dogs come from the environment, not just other dogs. Keeping dogs in the backyard and away from other dogs doesn't mean immunizations aren't needed. Parvo, a potentially fatal disease, lives in the ground for many years. Lepto, an - other crippling disease, comes from wildlife urine. The dan- ger from rabies comes more from wildlife such as skunks than from other dogs. Recent reports of parvo cases make immunizations for dogs more important than ever. • Spay/Neuter — Spaying or neutering a dog at an early age offers health and behavioral benefits. It is a myth that a female dog should go through one heat cycle before spaying. In fact, spaying will prevent certain types of can - cer and will extend the life of the female dog. Neutering a male dog at an early age can have behavioral benefits such as curtailing "marking" of territory with urine. Unneutered males often become targets for aggression from other dogs because they have a different scent. The biggest benefit, of course, is the prevention of births of unwanted animals. Dog Party USA requires all dogs that visit be spayed or neutered once they reach maturity, that all dogs must be current on all vaccinations, and they must be dog and people friendly. The requirements help insure that the dog will have fun playing with other dogs. SPECIAL TO NWA MEDIA The staff at Dog Party USA is ready to board, enter- tain and care for your dog. DOG PARTY USA >> Pet Boarding/Daycare NWA MEDIA healthy pets Dog Party USA offers tips for D

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