We have been working for the last month on an incredibly fun journey of transformation we are calling Riverview’s VIP (Very Important Pup). We fostered a dog named Drake from South Coast Humane Society and are investing in him our full line of service to prepare him for his future forever home. You can read the first blog post about him, here. And you can find the second blog post, here.

This article will provide an update on Drake’s experience. You will hear about his first time in group training class, get an update about his Board & Train process, and hear about how he is developing in his new environment.

The Power of Routine

Our facility runs efficiently because of routine. This routine is very helpful for Drake. He has quickly picked up on the schedule and anticipates his favorite activities.

Drake resting in the forest after some intense ball play

Our team arrives at 8 AM to start the day. The Receptionist gets the lobby ready for visitors and takes care of our cat guests. Litter boxes get cleaned, the waters get changed, everyone gets fed breakfast, and any messes get cleaned up.

The Kennel Technician team walks through the North and South Buildings and begins rotations. Dogs go out in approved groups to stretch, run, and relieve themselves. Meals are set out and prepped for delivery. Once all dog guest are back in their kennel rooms, breakfast is served. It’s also at this time that medications are administered to dogs who are prescribed them.

Cleaning the North & South Buildings happens next. First, the outsides are cleaned, washed, disinfected, sprayed, and dried. We use top-quality products daily that are safe for dogs and humans from Health Technology Professional Products. We also use Vet Rescue once a week on Sundays for our deep cleaning day. You can read more about how we maintain a healthy and safe environment with our cleaning protocols, here.

During this time some dogs are taken on leashed forest walks on our half-mile trail system. Other dogs get personal time. This may be ball time for a dog like Drake, or it could be cuddle time for lap dogs who love touch and that kind of attention.

Dogs continue to rotate through our large, grassy play yards for playtime with friends. As daycare dogs arrive, they join the groups they play well with. All of this social interaction is made possible because of our extensive evaluation process. Our team knows each individual dog well and works to maintain a safe and fun environment.

After lunch, more fun, leashed forest walks, and personal time happens. The yards get scooped for poop throughout the day. Baths get completed in coordination with pick-up time so that dogs look and smell as fresh as possible for pick-up.

It’s not all playtime. We understand the value and benefit of downtime. Many of our pet owners choose to aid that downtime with a stuffed Kong, a stuffed lickmat, or an IQ puzzle. This change of environment and separation from other animals in a smaller space is good for the mental and physical well-being of our guests. You can read more about how rotations, playtime, and downtime work, here.

All of this routine is important for a dog like Drake who has spent most of his life in a shelter. He looks forward to breakfast in the morning and dinner at 3:30 PM and LOVES playtime. He has a wide group of dogs that he plays well with, but Tilly seems to be a favorite friend of his in the last week. He can’t get enough of ball time and continues to grow in confidence on leashed forest walks.

The Platinum Experience

Drake is definitely receiving the Riverview Kennels platinum experience. EVERY dog in our care receives top-notch attention, but we offer add-on services that some owners choose to indulge their dogs with.

Drake’s Pupcasso Masterpiece- He chose all of the colors. The team placed drops on the canvas, placed it all in a ziploc back and placed some peanut butter on the outside of the bag. As Drake licked the peanut butter he spread the paint to the design you see above.

Owners who choose a ‘Silver Experience’ for their pet choose a mental or physical activity during their stay. This may mean adding a leashed forest walk or personal time, or it could mean a stuffed Kong, stuffed lickmat, or an IQ Puzzle. This upgrade service is always a delight for the dog.

Those who choose a ‘Gold Experience’ for their canine friend also choose a physical or mental activity for their stay, but they add on a spa service. This is usually a bath. Our deluxe baths are a nose-to-tail service. They include teeth cleaning, ear cleaning, coat cleaning and drying, and nail trimming (as long as the canine guest allows it). This line of service is always a treat for our pet owners. Their noses LOVE the pet colognes on their dog.

The ‘Platinum Experience’ that Drake is receiving includes all of those services from Silver & Gold but also includes additional leashed forest walks or personal time, additional stuffed Kong, stuffed lickmat, or IQ puzzle, and a few other specialty services. These include our fun, new Pupcasso experience, and our Board & Train service. His first bath with Brittany went really well. He was nervous about getting into the tub but allowed Brittany to lift him in. It was an overall success and should get better with more experience.

We want dogs to go home to their pet parents the best version of themselves. These extra touches make a huge difference. Drake is receiving this ‘Platinum Service’ in preparation for his forever home so he can make the transition as the best version of himself.

Board & Train

Hannah, our Assistant Trainer, has been the primary service provider for Drake’s Board & Train. Under Jan’s direction, Hannah has been working on a list of training cues and behavior modifications.

Drake’s overall anxiety has decreased. He is more at ease in his environment and seems to adjust well to new sounds and experiences much more quickly. As mentioned above, the routine is a large part of putting him at ease, but his connection with certain team members is growing apparent. Much to the chagrin of all of his caregivers, he prefers some over others.

Drake is now more comfortable with the cues for ‘sit’ and ‘mat’. He will sit for a treat and for his ball. This cue helps him focus his attention. Now, as a default, he will often sit or even lay down in anticipation of a goodie. 95% of the time when Drake’s mat is out and he is given the cue for ‘mat’, he will lay down on the mat. Hannah is working on increasing his duration in this position. Hannah will also use the cue ‘free’ to let Drake know he is released from his ‘mat’ command.

Group Training Class

Drake’s first puppacino from Dutch Bros in Coos Bay on 1st Street

We recently began two new rounds of group training classes. We launched a Puppy Class and a Canine Good Citizen class. Jan and Hannah are leading these spaces and Drake is a participant in the Canine Good Citizen class. During this 6-weeks of class, he will get prepared to take the AKC Canine Good Citizenship test to receive his certificate. In Drake's case, this may take multiple runs of classes so he can grow in confidence enough to pass the test with other humans watching.

At the time of writing, Drake has only completed his first week but is off to a good start. He did well, as we have come to expect, greeting other dogs. He is excellent and sweet with puppies and younger dogs. He enjoyed watching all of the other dogs at their work.

On his way home from the class he and Hannah stopped at Dutch Bros for a puppacino. He didn’t know what to do when he first saw it and then slowly stuck his tongue out for a taste. He loved it and licked it all up quickly. There was a milkbone in the center of the cup and he finished it off with a few crunches.

An Emerging Profile

At this point in the journey, we have greater clarity about the kind of family that will be right for adopting Drake.

Patience

This family or person would have a great deal of patience for him. Since Drake hasn’t lived in a home environment for much of his life, he will need someone who can help him adjust to all of the things that happen in a human home. Patience will be required to teach him where to go to the bathroom and to build a bond over time.

Canine Family

Though not required, Drake would seem to do well in a home with another dog. He loves playing with other dogs. Having a dog in the home could help ease him into the family unit.

Local

Another quality that wouldn’t be a requirement but would be a great benefit would be someone who is in proximity to our facility. Because of our investment in Drake, we would love to continue to support Drake after he finds his forever home. Once we knew that Drake had formed a proper bond with his people, we would be sure to provide a bundle of complimentary daycares for him. This advanced level of development would help round him out further.

Next Step: Adoption

Next week we will publish an article that outlines the adoption process we will be implementing with Drake. At that point, we will begin actively pursuing Drake’s forever home. Thanks for reading about Drake’s journey. Not only will we be looking for families to apply for adoption, but we will be looking for a team of friends who can help us spread Drake’s story far and wide.

Riverview’s VIP- Week Two