• One-on-one attention with our expert trainer at Hanrob Heathcote or Hanrob Melbourne
• An assessment of your dog’s current behaviour
• Customised tools to help your whole family overcome your dog’s problems
• General information on dog psychology
• Friendly environment where the whole family is welcomed

Don’t continue to just except your dog’s bad behaviours, now is the perfect time to create a well balanced canine who can be included in your family activities. This is an exclusive offer so call us on 1300 426 762 to register before the 31st of May 2012.

The innovative new service was developed in response to increasing demand from customers for a more personal way of communicating with their pets whilst away on holiday or business trips. After extensive development, PetSkype video is being introduced from today at Hanrob Pet Hotels in Sydney and Melbourne.

The PetSkype sessions between the owner, the dog or cat, and their Hanrob Pet Hotels carer, will help to soothe the common ‘separation anxiety’ felt by owners during their pet’s temporary stay. Throughout the session owners can speak to, interact with and see their loved ones in real time video.

Andrew Biggs, CEO of Hanrob Pet Hotels, explains “We’re constantly looking for innovative and new ways to make our customers and their pets very happy during their stay.

“Australia truly is a pet loving nation with cats and dogs considered part of the family. Most owners miss their pets as much as their family and friends when they’re away. With advanced technology it’s easier than ever to stay in contact with people. Now, our new PetSkype service gives customers the opportunity for social interaction with their pets, bringing them closer together, no matter the distance.

“Offering real time PetSkype conversations seemed the perfect way to help owners connect with their pets to see how they are doing for themselves. We’re the only pet hotel group in Australia to provide this service, and expect it to be very popular with our customers.”

Ita Buttrose, a Hanrob Pet Hotels client for over 15 years, says she is keen to try the new service.

“PetSkype is a fabulous idea and just the kind of initiative that I’d expect from Hanrob Pet Hotels. They know how much people miss their pets, and PetSkype will allow them check on them, see them and talk to the carers – and if they feel so inclined, to say good-day to their pooch or puss! Will I use PetSkype? You bet!”

Dr Sam Haynes, Veterinary Surgeon and founder of Sydney Animal Hospitals, says that PetSkype will help to alleviate owners concerns about going away without their pets.

“A lot of people worry about leaving their pets, and feel really stressed about how the animal is coping, to the extent that some don’t actually go away on holiday. PetSkype is great way to for owners to keep in touch, see where their pet is staying and how they’re settled. PetSkype will make them feel much more relaxed about leaving their fur-kids, and happy that they are being well cared for during their stay.”

PetSkype will be available as part of Hanrob Pet Hotel’s new Staying Connected package, which allows customers to keep up to date with their pets via Skype sessions, digital photos (PetPics) and pre-recorded videos (PetVideo).

Hanrob Pet Hotels provides unique, tailored packages to suit individual pets, including exercise solutions, grooming, play time and even a private man-made beach. For the ultimate convenience, Hanrob Pet Hotels also offers a complimentary pick-up and drop-off service, a door-to-door pet shuffle service, or for those wanting the most luxurious treatment for their pet, Australia’s only pet limo service.

Hanrob Pet Hotels has sites conveniently located in Sydney (Heathcote and Sydney Airport) and Melbourne (Tullamarine). Prices for accommodation start at just $30.50 per day, and the Staying Connected package is available for $49.00.

For more information visit www.hanrob.com.au, call 1300 426 762, or visit the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/Hanrobpets

We offer a complimentary pick-up and drop off at your local vet and other partner agencies, a door-to-door pet shuttle service and, if you feel like living it up, Australia’s only pet limo service.

To make air travel that bit easier, we are expanding our network of airport pet hotel locations both in Australia and internationally.

We offer a range of different accommodation types spanning luxury to aged care. Plus, we have speciality exercise solutions such as our Kitty Kingdom Atrium, our legendary Doggy Play Time and even a private man-made beach for our more free-spirited guests.
And so you can stay connected, we now offer a Staying Connected package, where you can check in and have a live interactive update session with your pet and their carer, along with photos and videos. This creates peace of mind that your pet is having as good a time as you are

Leading vets across Australia recommend us – making Hanrob Pet Hotels the #1 recommendation for vets.

In fact, we’re the only certified International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO 9001) pet hotel in Australia and are a nationally Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

Our three stage Training For Life program is a lifetime journey we take with your pet to ensure that once it’s trained, it stays that way. Firstly, your pet is fully immersed in our program; secondly we help educate your family to make sure the training is reinforced; thirdly we provide free unlimited ongoing support at your home, so any issues are addressed in your pet’s natural environment.

The most common reasons for a dog to dig include:

• Burying excess food
• Dietary requirement
• Shelter
• Anxiety
• Escape
• Fun/Physiological need

Burying Excess Food (Bones)

Dogs, like wolves will bury their bones when there is a surplus food supply, instinctively storing the surplus for leaner times (food cache). If bones are being given to the dog as an extra to the daily food intake or as an occasional treat, this may be an excess to your dog’s requirements.

Prevention:

If including bones in your dog’s diet ensure the bone is a replacement for your dog’s meal. If bone burying is still occurring, cut back the dog’s general food intake. 

Dietary Requirement

Dogs are natural herbalists – if there is something lacking in their dietary requirements, they can be quite proficient at selecting the missing components from your garden.  This can include any planted fruits, vegetables or even the roots of different types of grass.  Holes dug to supplement diet are generally small, shallow and multiple holes can appear in seemingly random locations.

Prevention:

If your dog is fed a good quality balanced dog food, this should not be necessary. A consultation with your veterinarian may disclose another reason for this habit.

Shelter

Many dogs will dig out a resting area, seeking warmth or coolness from the soil.

Prevention:

We can discourage the dog from digging in the spot they have chosen by applying one of numerous methods. Provide the dog with an alternative suitable protected resting area that is either warm in the winter or cooler in the summer. Others methods include placing their own droppings in the area, laying chicken wire over the ground, placing some large rocks or bricks in the area, concreting or paving the spot, or the use of scent aversion (vinegar, cayenne pepper, alcohol or commercial products such as “Dog-Off”).

Stress or Anxiety

Often digging starts as a puppy developmental behaviour. However, our untimely reactions to excavations or other destruction, on our arrival home well after the event occurred can create general anxiety. Your dog cannot associate your displeasure with a hole in the ground several minutes after he/she has dug it, let alone hours later, so do not attempt to punish the behaviour if you are not catching it in the act. Instead, your dog will simply learn, that some days when you return home, you will be unpredictably aggressive. Digging due to stress can also be a symptom of Separation Anxiety (see Separation Anxiety – Page 24)

Prevention:

You will need to rebuild your dog’s confidence in you by removing all aggression or intimidating tactics in your behaviour. To minimise damage, you might also like to consider leaving the dog in a confined area when you have to go out, until they are over the problem (see Separation Anxiety – Page 24).

The Escape Artist

Dogs will often dig to escape from a yard.  Digging to escape can be triggered by a drive for exploration, fear, separation anxiety and many other reasons.  Digging to escape is a very self rewarding behaviour for the dogs and as such makes it difficult to prevent.

Prevention:

A layer of cement or chicken wire under the soil at the base of the fence line will render this escape route blocked. When using chicken wire, or similar, ensure that you place it vertically down into the ground, and then horizontally out in to the property. Ensure the dog is given off-territory stimulation every day to reduce the need to escape. There is no magic answer to stop your dog from attempting to escape, other than ensuring that escape attempts are never successful – your yard simply must be dog-proof. 

Just for the Fun of it!

Most adolescent dogs will go through a developmental digging phase – many will outgrow the behaviour, but some will take it into adulthood as an enjoyable and stimulating activity. Attempting to stop the behaviour entirely will often result in frustration for both dog and owner.

Prevention:

Give the dog a “legal” digging site, like a sandpit. Encourage the dog to dig in this location by burying several pieces of food or toys there.

Your dog needs physical and mental stimulation at home to ensure that they are happy and have a healthy balance and lifestyle, full of enrichment. If dogs are given limited stimulation, they often become bored, destructive, noisy, over excitable, and can result in problem behaviours.

 Below is a list of possible stimulation ideas that you can use:

• Change up the feeding pattern. Feeding dogs in a bowl can be boring and easy. Use Kongs and other interactive dog toys to hide the food and teach your dog that they must work for the food. You can also try hiding several Kongs in the area your dog will be.
• Using a smaller portion, or the same amount of food you use in a meal, spread the food around the back yard – this will make your dog hunt for every last bit of food. Ensure that this exercise is done at random, and not as a daily replacement for feeding.
• In an old ice cream container full of water, put a pigs ear, bone, or dry food inside and freeze it overnight. Before you are planning on departing, pop it out like an ice block and give it to your dog for its meal. Avoid bones that splinter or foods and treats that make your dog have an upset tummy.
• Have a box of toys that are rotating every few days, if not every day to keep things interesting. This will ensure that your dog is not getting bored of the same toys. Include tug toys that you can tie to a solid tree.
• A sandpit or similar for your dog is a great way to allow your dog to dig in its own area. Burying food treats or toys can encourage the play.
• If your dog loves the water, use a long lunging lead and take your dog for a swim in calm water. This is a great option for exercise.
• Training your dog not only in basic obedience, but also trick training to further enhance their mind. This can include: shake, high five, roll over, spin, play dead, speak, wave, bow, crawl, targeting, retrieve items, etc.
• Keep up your daily walks and interactive games. Every dog has a different energy level and it is important to note what your dog’s is.