Classy Canine Country Club

10/11/2026

Our family has been experiencing some difficult times over the past few weeks; I can't thank my siblings enough for all they have taken care of while I'm on limited availability due to happy dogs running fast & playing hard. Love you!

09/30/2026

09/26/2026

Many thanks to all, especially the repair crews, at Puget Sound Energy for the long hours of repairs on Tumwater Blvd SE. The damage was far more extensive than I had heard so I'm grateful to have electricity restored, after being without for about 28 hours.
I would, also, like to thank those at City of Tumwater who helped get me to the right people so could coordinate allowing happy daycare dogs to be picked up Friday afternoon by happy owners!
We were fortunate to have no damage, and, only lots of debris to clean up!
I hadn't yet done my full winter prep but will continue it, for sure!

08/24/2026

I am a pet groomer.
Not a behaviourist, not a trainer, not a Veterinarian.

I think sometimes we need to remember where a groomer’s responsibility ends and an owner’s begins. Groomers seem to be one of the only pet professionals who are routinely expected to train an animal to tolerate the service while simultaneously providing the service.

If your dog is terrified of the vet, we don’t expect the Veterinarian to spend every appointment training your dog to accept being examined. We work with a trainer, learn the appropriate techniques, and then we, as owners, put in the work between appointments. My own German Shepherd doesn’t like being handled by strangers at the Vet. So I’m taking her to training. The trainer is giving me the tools to help her become comfortable with handling, but ultimately it’s my responsibility to practice those skills with her. It is not my Veterinarian’s responsibility to train my dog during her appointment.

Grooming should be treated the same way. A good groomer can absolutely work patiently, use appropriate handling techniques, recognize stress signals, make accommodations, and help create positive experiences, but we cannot undo months or years of fear, lack of exposure, or behavioural issues during a grooming appointment while also trying to safely complete the groom.

Desensitization happens through consistent, repeated work, not once every 6-8 weeks on the grooming table. Your groomer can be part of the team, and your trainer can give you the tools, but at the end of the day training and preparing your pet for the world is the owner’s responsibility.

07/27/2026

It's a longshot but maybe it will get to the right person/family. There has been an alarm going off for weeks, every day. Not a fire alarm, car alarm I've ever heard. I can't pinpoint the location but could be coming from the houses off of Henderson between Tumwater Blvd SE & Pioneer Park. It could be anywhere though because of how my play yards are situated. At first I thought it was part of the construction; maybe it is, but it's too consistent & doesn't sound like typical construction, from here. Alarm sounds then quiet then sounds again. Over and over. It seems any problem would have been discovered and resolved, after all this time, especially, with all the so-called, SMART features and phone alerts. I only hear it outside when the daycare & boarding guests, aren't singing the song of their people. It's odd that it's been occurring for so many weeks. Hopefully, it's nothing major.

07/18/2026

Time for my dogs & I to have our own fun during this break.
As of 6:30 PM Friday July 17, Classy Canine Country Club is on break until Friday July 24. Open again, Monday July 27 at 6:30AM for happy dogs to run fast & play hard.
Please check the website classycaninecountryclub.com for the most current information.

07/10/2026

Some things just hit differently, at times. There is much to unpack.