It’s already October?!
September flew by so fast!
Samantha & Kayle had a great time at the New England Groom Expo, learned a lot and came home with new knowledge, products and tools that are already being put to good use! Make sure you’re following us on Facebook & Instagram (UnderdogsRI) to see the highlights! Speaking of social media, this month we have rolled out a new “Employee of the Month” program!
October is Squirrel Month (Yes, really!) and we can't think of anyone who is more committed to that cause than our buddy Regent. Regent is a 2 year old Welsh Springer Spaniel and he is VERY smart and passionate about makng everyone aware of any squirrels in the area. His parents do a great job putting that drive to good use, training him to do nose work. When choosing a dog it's so important to understand what they were made to do and to be prepared to provide the appropriate training, enrichment and exercise for them. We know he is an absolute champion in his field because not one squirrel has dared to enter the premises. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication, Regent!
Look at this guy, up before the sun on the lookout!
As promised, scheduling for 2026 is now open to for existing clients only!
We strongly encourage you to book ahead, especially if you are seeking weekend appointments! We will be sending out our updated Policies page soon as well, please make sure to read & sign, as we have made some changes to our rescheduling, pickup, drop-off & cancelation policies that are important to be aware of when booking.
In other news, it’s already been a year since Samantha got the keys to what was formerly Christian Jewelers into the lush and welcoming dog spa that it is now!
There were a lot of long days and late nights, and there’s no way we would have been able to open for business in one month without the help of our friends & family. Being able to look around the space we work in every day and see the evidence of an amazing community effort is such a blessing. To those of you who helped us get here, those of you who keep showing up and those of you who are just joining us, thank you for putting your trust and faith in us, you’ll never know how much we appreciate you!
However we would like to try and show our appreciation for your support during our first year, so we are hosting a “Birthday Party”. We hope that you’ll join us on Sunday, November 9th, from 1pm-4pm. And yes, of course your dogs are invited! We just ask that they stay on leash just in case anyone gets a little overwhelmed and doesn’t feel like socializing. Drinks & treats for humans & dogs alike will be provided! We will post more information on Facebook soon, so stay tuned and make sure you’re in our Facebook group “Underdogs Community”.
While we’re on the topic of our Facebook group, this month we will be conducting an online Halloween Costume Paw-ty! We want to see your dogs in their Halloween costumes (but only if they’re happy to participate, please do not force your pups into outfits that they don’t want to wear!) We will post instructions in the Facebook group this week on how to participate, and we may even offer up a prize for the best dressed!
Looking for some in person Halloween fun? 9 Twenty Cafe & Balloons By Kay are hosting a Trunk or Treat event on 10/25 starting at 6pm. Sadly, we are unable to participate this year, because as you all know, Saturdays are very busy days around here! It is sure to be a fun time and maybe next year we will be able to get in on the fun!
Just a few Halloween safety tips to remember:
● This seems like a pretty basic one but we have to say it: Don’t give your dogs candy. Everyone knows about chocolate, but many candies contain other ingredients that can make your pup sick, like Xylitol, and definitely no raisins! (Does anyone still give out raisins? Please say no). Make sure you keep your stash out of reach!
● Some dogs are social butterflies who would love to walk the neighborhood with you, or greet new friends who come to the door every few minutes, even if they are dressed a little differently than they’re used to. For other dogs, the constant door knocking/doorbell ringing, door opening, strangers wearing things they’re not used to seeing, it can be pretty stressful and scary. Be honest with yourself about who your dog is and what their threshold for this kind of evening might be like. You have our permission to turn off the porch light and cuddle up on the couch for a cozy movie night if that protects the peace in your household! One of our favorite solutions is to simply put the dog in her crate, turn on some white noise and set up outside. This way, there’s no doorbell ringing and no open door for an adventurous type to attempt a run at.
● Lots of pets get lost on Halloween so make sure that they’re appropriately leashed, secured, and wearing their tags just in case. If you’re going out, a little glow stick necklace or a flashing tag will help with keeping them visible and safe!
Wishing you all a fun and safe evening, however you choose to spend it!
Finally, we have rolled out a few new Fear Free Membership Packages. These are perfect for the dogs that need a little more practice learning (or unlearning) the process of grooming in ways that integrate positive reinforcement training to help them truly enjoy their time with us!
Read more about these packages here on our website!
Wishing everyone a happy fall and looking forward to seeing you soon!