An amazing long time client, Coulston's, recently moved to Texas, and wanted to donate a generous amount of $$ to freshen up our park.
I wanted something meaningful, that we could remember for years to come. So I came about this mural idea, right at the door to our Offleash Dog Park.
This mural, is painted by the talented Roz from Calgary Chalk Artist. She has done a few of our artworks - and has a genuine love for supporting local businesses. We found it fitting to have her adorn her talent on our walls for all to see.
This mural represents the foundation of Sleep Rover - and well, how it all started.
I want to start off with the cute Chihuahua Hermia (MIA). She was queen B of their pack, and we will always remember her saucy nature. When the family moved back to Texas, we were saddened of course, as we always are, when clients move back home. We still love following many of you, and your adventures.
With the Coulston's, as sweet as they are, and as thoughtful as they are - they represented many of our Sleep Rover clients. I credit them and all of you, for being there for us when it was tough, offering suggestions, and inspiring us to keep going. That energy is priceless. That confidence and faith is priceless.
As they wanted to help us improve our newly opened, Rover Park offleash, I wanted something that we could remember and admire, for years to come.
So because of them, we have started this mural. It represents what started Sleep Rover and what inspired Sleep Rover.
Mia is front and center - representing you all - our amazing Sleep Rover clients. You truly are what keeps this company going.
In order of presence, would of course be Casey and JJ above Mia. They both represent my parents. Without going too much into detail - here is a blog I wrote about some of my 12 dogs in my life: https://sleeprover.wordpress.com/2014/02/16/kao-crew-dogs-part-i-of-ii-forever-in-our-hearts/
Casey was a dog we had throughout our childhood - and he is donned with my dad's name. JJ is my first real dog, that my mom adopted from the Calgary Pound. JJ taught us everything dog, and one thing I did not note in my blog in 2014 - was that when I ran away from home, I lugged her, with my pillow and backpack, onto the City transit at only 17. Not only did JJ teach us not to give up on her when she was young, she never gave up on me during the low times of my life. So when people tell me, they have no time or money, it does irk me a little. I have lived on the streets of Calgary, and got turned away at the Woman's Shelter, because I had a dog with me. I still never let JJ go. I had to find a way to make it work.
Although my relationship with my parents were not the most glamourous, they have been huge supporters during my Sleep Rover years, and of course, taught me to be hardworking.
Next is Jaguar, the rottie on the left. He is represented by my ever supportive brother. Always at our events and always telling people about us. He never asks for much, just like Jaguar - but both, the most loyal beings you will ever meet. Jaguar, was my 'brother', and he taught me so much about dog discrimination, and how misunderstood they were. This is why, Sleep Rover is one of a few facilities, that ALLOW ALL BREEDS - thus the hashtag #weWelcomeALLbreeds.
From Jaguar, came along a few other Rottweiler rescues into my life, but Shogun, has definitely been what impacted me most. Everything fun at Sleep Rover, was credit to him. From dog nutrition, to getting Calgary's first Dock Diving Pool - he started it all. We learned so much from him, because Sleep Rover started in 2009, and that is when he came into our lives. Now as he ages, I am learning so much on how to keep him healthy, with dog massage and supplements.
Jack - represents Jimmy, and this was a pretty down period in our lives. When we moved into SR#2 - all things bad went our way. It went so far, as to leave us both in depression - which we both struggled to accept. To feel lost, and to shut out the world from us. Jack was a breath of fresh air and hope - and faith that we can be, who we always strived to be. With Jack, it seemed like things finally started to fall into place, where we could forgive, and move forward. We came out of that phase a stronger couple.
Lastly, Onyx, representing our current landlords. A brother and sister duo, whom with their spouses, have given us a new appreciation and trust in landlords. Not only that, during this Covid chaos, they were there, to motivate and uplift us. They really do want to see us succeed. They speak the word, and follow through with it, by actions. They are that new hope that we greatly appreciate.
We hope in the coming years, we can continue to expand this mural. Next in line, will be our senior staff dogs.
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Unfortunately with all the phone calls, comes disappointed and upset people, that do not understand our protocol.
We do not make it difficult to book with us because we are 'entitled' or 'elite'.
It is important for everyone to understand why we do the things we do.
An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure.
I wrote this blog 4 years ago (so ignore the old landlord reference in there) - but everything applies the same today. We have not changed.
https://sleeprover.wordpress.com/2018/02/08/why-do-we-do-trial-days-at-sleep-rover-top-3-reasons/
Running a safe and efficient dog facility takes patience and careful selection. We had not had a dog bite till just recently in months because of this.
We carefully screen our dog clients, and make sure the humans are respectful and understanding as well.
I think our current clients, respect the fact that we do not just allow anyone to drop off their dogs at Sleep Rover, especially those last minute. This keeps our environment as safe as can be.
Getting yelled at for last minute families, that demand daycare or overnights within a few days, and to show up in person upset - is unacceptable. This is also why, we have stopped accepting new clients as of June 24th, 2021.
All those interested, will need a referral from our current active clients.
We currently are full for New Dog Trials till mid August 2021 - so we also would like to leave any future daycare spots and overnights, for our current clients to book in.
Please note, that we are almost full for July (thank you to everyone, that prebooked yesterday).
Any questions, please do not hesitate to email us (as our phone rings off the hook, it has been impossible to answer every call).
Thank you for understanding.
#teamsleeprover
]]>I write this with a little more worry this month, after applying for our Subsidies from the government.
We are doing much better than a lot of other businesses, so I hope this does not come off as a complaint (I know how lucky we are) - but just an update.
March and April 2021 have been quite slow. April was a 75% drop from 2019. This shocked me as well. Easter Weekend and Spring Break is usually quite busy for us, followed by May Long - and straight through summer.
With the newest restrictions, we feel May will be another slow one, as no one is travelling.
As we updated everyone last year, we moved most of our staff to our busy days, which right now is Tuesday and Thursdays. In April we maxed our capacity for Wednesdays too, to hope to fill that up.
I do not want to ask our clients to book more, spend more, only because everyone is going through financial struggle. I am grateful for everyone booking when they can already. I feel guilty and appreciative at the same time.
We at Sleep Rover are trying to find ways to make it worth it for our clients to come support us, such as weekly Monday sales, Minishoots, and for May, Ball Pit Wednesdays.
These 3 days of Tues/Wed/Thurs are busier now which we love. It however does not make up for the Friday through to Monday huge declines. At this time in 2019 - we would be 50-60 dogs on the weekends - right now we average 10.
In February, Jimmy, Jordan and Sarah cleaned up our barn and created a Fenced in Outdoor Offleash Park (#SRoverparkYYC) - hoping to bring in some bookings for the slower periods at Sleep Rover. This more affordable dog activity, we hope would bring in some income for us and help socialize your dog as well. Something you can enjoy with your dog loving friends in the outdoors.
To keep this park safe, we have kept it to our Sleep Rover clients only for use. We know you will respect the park and take care of it. We are also hoping you will tell your respectful friends about it too - so we can fully book the park. You simply need to email us their name.
As lumber prices have sky rocketed, we were limited on what we could build, but I think they did a great job with the budget we had.
Companies such as Majestic Signs, Yardworx, Lumber King and Home Sports Turf gave us great rates as well - to make sure we opened for May.
So with that all being said, we are doing well. We are always thinking of ways to make your hard working earnings worth it.
I do not want to forget, in thanking ALL OF YOU for your continuous business and support through Covid changes. We are afloat and our team is employed because of you.
We are in a rough and bumpy patch, and I know, when the Covid restrictions are lifted, we will be back at it!
How you can help? We considered overnight passes but that is wasted for everyone - and just prolongs us 'owing' our clients for future overnights that probably won't be used for awhile.
The only thing I can think of is:
1. BOOK OUR PARK - Bring your friends! https://www.sleeprover.ca/products/sleep-rover-rover-park-drop-may-drop-in (we are currently fine tuning the private bookings)
2. HELP SUPPORT OUR BOUTIQUE - Tell your friends to buy from us by sharing our weekly Must Have Monday Coupon Code. This week is all Canada Pooch products including their Rain Jackets and Cooling Vests:
Jordan still does Calgary, Airdrie and Okotok's Delivery every Sunday. It is free for those ordering over $100. Have dog food and treats delivered right to your door!
Starting this weekend (ends June) - every Saturday you book daycare, for only $5 more (total of $45+tax), we will take Rover to Rover Park for 15 minutes. You will get a quick video and 3 photos emailed to you! You can book it here (passes not allowed): https://www.sleeprover.ca/collections/special-passes/products/sr-rover-park-pass
May 25th - Ashlea will be holding a MiniShoot - and thank you to a client suggestion on Facebook - we will be attempting a Treat Catching Portrait. Your dog must be okay to take Open Farm Freeze Dried treats for this photo. They are a great ethical Canadian company. The cost of treats will be implemented into the Portrait cost. It will be $25 per single dog photo. Will post a sample of it this weekend as we trial a new lens. This is in addition to daycare.
Hopefully with these fun additions, we will have a fun May with all of you.
In respect to our seasonal updates about Lice and Kennel Cough - we had 2 cases of Lice in March/April and just 2 cases of reported Kennel Cough since January. Pretty uneventful - which is great!
Another boring fun fact, last year we bought fly traps to trap all the flies we get - and it worked wonders, till we started bringing ALL THE FLIES to our yard. Who knew they had such a crazy radius (up to 1km!). This year, we changed it up with planters filled with Fresh and Dried Lavender. We also brought in some Citronella plants. These are natural and safe deterrents and situated out of dog reach. We will update you to see if it works!
Thank you again for all you do for us.
Sincerely,
#teamsleeprover
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NO NEW DOG TRIALS for April 2017
For the first time in 7 years, I make this difficult decision, to stop any more new dogs from booking trials with Sleep Rover.
Since our first Facebook Post in February - there has been an alarming amount of dogs, reporting that their dogs have Kennel Cough for the month of March 2017. We usually average 1 or 2 per season (Spring/Fall) - but within March, we have hit almost 16 dogs. Although we cannot pinpoint blame on any one dog ( as sometimes dogs who do NOT show symptoms, can carry the virus ), we can stop it where possible. Being an airborne virus, it is pretty difficult to 100% rid - but we have been very lucky, the last 7 years, to not see much of it!
The common line with all 16 dogs - is they are new to Sleep Rover within the last year, more so, 12 of them are new for 2017.
With us averaging 10 new dogs per week - many dogs have either:
1) Recently received their Bordetella shot, read more here by Dr. Dobias - how dogs can go without the Bordetella shot and NOT get Kennel Cough (like 3 of my own, who knock on wood, have not gotten the cough). Whereas ones that 'just got the shot' to attend a kennel, or are a puppy, get it within a week to 2 later: https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015065-kennel-cough-vaccine-exposed;
2) Or have not built immunity to the virus yet, therefore showing symptoms, and spreading it.
Although we take precautions every season, with our large Make Up Air Unit and cleaning throughout the day - this airborne virus has become a nuisance to our new clients for the month of March.
Besides breaking our hearts (and yours, hearing your babies cough), and having the virus linger during this FLU Season, we have decided to stop all new dogs from booking for new trials, till we are in the clear.
We have not seen any regular clients come up with symptoms, as most of them, have developed immunity to the virus over the years.
Whether there is a new strain starting, or our new clients have never frequented kennels/offleash parks etc. before, we are not sure.
We just want to be safe. YES it is not mandatory at Sleep Rover to have Bordetella shots yearly, and it has worked wonders over the last 7 years. However with that being said, 14 of the 16 dogs infected, all had their Bordetella Shots. As this is a touchy subject, just like the flu shot, we always leave that choice, to you, the parent.
Please stay tuned to when we lift this NO TRIAL alarm. We are hoping for May 1st.
We are sorry for this inconvenience, but having one of our younger new clients suffer from pneumonia on the weekend and many of you calling this week to inform that your dog is ill, was enough for us to make this difficult decision.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always hear to give suggestions including what to do, during flu season, to make sure Rover, can pass the season unharmed. This includes Oil of Oregano in the beginning of the season, bone broth soups to rinse out their system and extra nutrition added to their meals.
All new clients, your trials will be cancelled for April. Please do reschedule for May when possible. Exceptions can be made for dogs, who have frequented other dog facilities in the past, and built immunity to the virus. Noting you have the Bordetella shot, will not be accepted for new dog trials.
We will be cracking down on ANY hacking or coughing motions by your dog. YOU MUST pick up your dog immediately and not be allowed to return till your have a vet clear, OR 2 weeks, whichever is sooner.
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However this year, of 2020, it is even more important, when even big box companies struggle to keep their doors open in our city.
We are offering a crazy special this year, that you can gift your dog loving friends (they do NOT have to be Sleep Rover clients) - and in turn, when they report their order number to you - you also will get $10 for services rendered at Sleep Rover.
I have attached my post from last year here - as my local DOG businesses still stand true:
One thing I love about Calgary, especially being born and raised here, is the support of local businesses.
Petapalooza 2016
These are businesses, that are owner run. You see them at the front of their business, and the pride they put into their business.
Supporting local business is so important, as your hard earned money, is going to someone that is working hard to be the best they can be, for you, the customer.
More and more businesses, even vet clinics, are getting bought out by big companies. What does that mean for you as a client? Less care, less attention. To us, you are not just a number.
None of us are supported behind big box stores, or money making umbrella corporations. Every service and time spent, is from our hard nights working and sweat equity. Our countless hours outside of business hours, to be a part of your community. To be a part of your family.
Today I wanted to write about these small businesses, that not only support and uplift each other, in the industry, but local rescues, and what the community of Calgary needs. That alone I feel, is pride in ownership.
There are many out there of course (but these are my top 10 in the dog industry), and we would love to know more, so comment below and link it on our Facebook Post. During tough economic times, it is the glue between all businesses, that keep us going!
We all have the choice of where to shop and where to go, to spend our hard earned money. Know that supporting local, feeds back into the community, and allows us to support the community back.
I want to thank all our customers and clients, that even during a downturn of the economy, they still support us. They still will spend a few extra dollars just to buy food from us, or sign up their dog for daycare once a week, just to help us out, even when times are tough.
As our last year of lease is approaching, we are excited to still be around, and of course, to give back more, once we settle in a smaller facility. We have exciting plans for 2020, and cannot wait to give back to our long time supporters, and these amazing local businesses. Together we unite and thrive.
]]>Disclaimer - you all know I am no vet, no vet tech or dog nutritionist. This is coming from my observations, my research and my experience. Also, it legit merely takes COMMON SENSE, to understand this, THAT is how simple it is. I know, I know, common sense is not too common nowadays.
Also when I say 'vets' - I am not implying all vets. We in Calgary have some of the best vets in the industry. We also have some misguided ones that have sadly been brainwashed by big conglomerate companies, into Dog Nutrition. They too keep quiet, or remain private, to avoid controversy. They are hard to find, but so worth it, to support. Be their voice.
'We know your pet concerns, now how can we profit hugely on it?' Fear creates money making opportunities.
This does not just apply to the dog industry, this also relates to the human industry.
It is all in one, well because folks, we are all consumers.
Fact #1: Whatever is not good enough for human consumption, funnels to pets. This is one fact that NOT everyone knows. Some companies might use more quality 'ingredients' - but most use spoiled goods, deceased and diseased etc. I read even somewhere, some countries use deceased pets gathered by some clinics. Whatever they can find, to combine, color and process as 'food'.
What can a company do, to spend less, but be the most profitable. I fail this business concept because I like to maximize quality to give everyone the best. What can I spend the most to give everyone the best, without going under. LOL (sigh).
What is the most profitable?
Corn and Sugar are one of the biggest industries in the world. Cheap to produce, and super versatile. Turnaround time is quick, maintenance is little, safe to say, the least effort and care in this product, shows it's true identity. It is NOT good for you - but is one of the most used agricultural product.
Today I got triggered (yes I too get triggered) by a post made from a vet student on a Calgary Dog Forum. She, nothing against her, advised a group of dog lovers, that Corn was nutritional. Her words: "Corn and grains are your friend! They are not just fillers and are actually a good source of carbohydrates and energy."
Also the topper was: "boutique brands very little research goes into their food and there are no veterinary nutritionists involved in its development."
A new dog owner might read this, and go 'oh wow.. ' but as a common sense human, you should all know, that any veterinary nutritionist, who thinks Corn is good for your dog, or you as a human, is someone you do not listen to. Their innocence was only stemmed from a high marketing individual, who thought 'how can we focus on the good of our cheapest, most controversial product, to mask it as something so amazing?'
As noted in my video, if there was NO good dog food out there, I wouldn't sell it. I am NOT in the business to sell, I am a dog service professional. Buying, stocking and having space for dog food is more of minus to me. So her note that 'boutique stores do not know' does not apply to all stores. Find that SMART store.
My favorite ones in Calgary: Doodle Dogs, almost every Tailblazers (Ranchlands and Copperfield), Global Pets Cochrane AND Calgary Pet Bakery.
I have a boutique, because I am a dog lover and love everything dog. I only stock items I buy for my own dogs. Not who gives me the best deal. Not who gives me the most profit.
Yes we are all in business to make money, that is life. However spreading lies and brainwashing others, is not moral and not fair. It infuriates me. <insert trigger>
2 years ago, a select few companies, banded together to push forth a false claim against some great brands - who's sole focus is, dog nutrition. These BIG companies saw a decline in their dog food sale - why?
They are NOT funded by big companies BUT thriving in the dog industry. WHY?
Simple. Their dog food, when it comes to kibble, is the best there is. That DCM lists, marks some of the best private, dog food companies out there.
They took away from companies like Purina, Science Diet and Royal Canin. So how did they go about it? They targeted the person, you should trust the most, when it comes to dog health.
FACT #2 - just to throw it out there - a list of parent companies:
Science Diet is owned by Palmolive.
Purina is owned by Nestle (who recently put out claims that Blue Buffalo was bad, to promote their Purina brand, when they ALL use to be under the same company. Think about Pepsi and Coco Cola).
Royal Canin is owned by Mars, and Mars, also, owns VCA as of 2017. It itself, was a huge worry for the Pet Industry.
Since, General Mills purchased Blue Buffalo.
This blog, I am trying hard not to bash anyone. However I want you all to make common sense judgements. These companies, solely produce dog food, as they need to disperse all the non human consumables, somewhere, to maximize profit. I would be stoked to have a Vet Food produced solely for pets, meant for pets, from their own farm and processing plant. I HATE saying 'vet food' in a negative tone.
FACT#3: If your dog food has a commercial, that money for that commercial, is going to that commercial, not the quality of the ingredients. We all know how much it is to create and market a commercial. It is mindblowing.
I stated in my video, my eyes really opened, in my 2nd year of business, when I attended the biggest Pet Convention, Superzoo, in Las Vegas.
You walk in and BAM, you see a whole section, under the umbrella of Cargill, the biggest, agricultural firm. Under it, was those sparkly brands like Pedigree, Eukanba and Purina back then. They were there to educate ME and our then Manager Amber, on how to 'lie' to our clients, if we sold their food, how beneficial Corn was to a dogs diet. Seeing an 18 year old Amber talk down to the sales people, made me so proud of her. We aren't stupid. We know, Corn (and the sugars from it), is your biggest and cheapest to produce. Zero nutritional value is present. That is why your ingredient list is so long with all the preservatives and chemicals you need it for an animal to survive on it while eating it.
It does NOT take a rocket scientist or schooling to figure that out people. So do not give me the 'you are not a vet' speech.
So all I ask of everyone, is to step back and use that common sense module in your head to make decisions on your dogs food.
For me, I feed raw (which some vet are against.. which is for another vent), and then I recommend home cooked foods. Then I stock a few of my favorite kibbles for convenience and budget. If I don't have it, I refer clients. Yes, when a dog has an upset tummy, I do refer them to my fave vet clinics for Gastro.
Processed foods will not kill you or your dog. However if you are wanting your dog to live longer, and be healthy, make the right decision, not what you are told. Each time someone asks me for my dog food opinion, I always say 'do your research'. This is not because I am not confident on my choices, because at the end of the day, it is your decision. If you do your research, some quality foods, are actually cheaper, than dog food, such as making your own.
Even for humans, we see all the commercials about gut health, 'drink this yogurt' that is FULL of sugar. 'start your mornings right by eating this bar full of everything you need' or 'snacks for your kids that are good for them'. All that jazz in commercials, the money goes to the commercials, not your kids food. The food is sooo good, because it is packed with sugar with next to zero nutritional value.
To further educate you - please watch Pet Fooled on Netflix and for humans, The Magic Pill. I learned a lot about nutrition from just researching and of course, experiencing it myself when I went on Keto. I love to eat and I love foods I have grown up with - but going back to basics and negating sugars and processed foods, definitely helped me lose weight, cut out my arthritic pain AND stabilized my hormones. Sadly, I love carbs too much to negate them, so now I am 40lbs overweight again - however for my kids, my dogs, I can make those decisions for them.
A good vet, which there a many, will not say no to raw, or what you feed your dog is right or wrong, but educate you to make your own decisions. Leadership is not about guilting you or forcing you to make decisions, but educating in hopes you make the right decision.
My vets always commend me on how healthy my dogs are, and that is, due to raw. I am rarely at the vet which I am thankful for... but what you put into your dog, is what you get out of it. If you need toppers for your dogs food or need to beg them to eat.. they know.
Last week a client swapped their dog to a food their vet recommended, as the vet advised that Acana causes heart issues. His dog stopped eating. Why? Dogs know.
One thing my dad taught me when I was young, was never believe everything you read and watch. Do your own diligence, and that is all I am asking for you, as a dog parent.
Dog nutrition does not take a scientist - nor is eating - just use your common sense.
Here is a great read if you need to hear it from professionals: https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/calling-bullhit-prescription-diet-dog-food/
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask me. If I do not know, I'll always direct you to the proper channel.
Not to toot our horns, but it is caregivers like the Sleep Rover crew and companies like Doodle Dogs that care so much about your dogs health and well being, that we have 'saved' lives. Ridding allergies, skin conditions and diseases as simple as urine infections and bladder stones, is huge. Having the inside of your dog run efficiently and strong, is huge.
We thrive, because of word of mouth BECAUSE of the results. Actions speak louder than words. Your dogs will thank you.
Trust me, I was not too happy when I found out I was eating yogurt all this time, thinking it was curing my gut and issues when in fact it was packing sugar into my diet and getting me even fatter. I also fed my dogs Pedigree when I was a teen after watching commercials on TV. We all can learn and be educated.
]]>Thank you to all our April Pass purchasers, not only helping us through our Payroll and Rent, but helping us manoeuvre our day to day tasks, to make sure, we run efficiently and safely during this pandemic.
I would like to thank EVERYONE for following our check in and out protocol, to make sure, we keep each other safe. The focus on doing this will keep you healthy, and us healthy, and the business striving forward.
This entails:
1. Waiting for each other to check in and out, and doing so quickly, for minimal contact and less wait time;
2. Standing on our 2 metre circles and sanitizing your hands when coming and going;
3. Some of you have worn gloves and masks which we love, and depending if the virus is under control, we might start wearing masks as well;
4. If you feel sick, or have been around someone who is sick, do NOT bring your dog. If it is just the flu, or proven it is not Covid, then, yes you are more than welcome back after the 2 week period;
5. Keep a mental note, that we treat everyone that comes in, like they have it. So we must respect the rules above with strict seriousness. Remember, you might not have symptoms, and still spread it to others;
4. Not purchasing in store but online. (DID YOU KNOW WE HAVE A STORE ONLINE?) We have set some boundaries in the store, not really for the shoppers, but we had our first theft too! A young couple came in, even though the lights were out, and walked in and when I addressed them, they scurried out in their big puffy jackets. Please note, I do have a camera installed at the front door. More so, City has shut down retail purchases in store. You can buy everything online now, and we offer pick up after daycare, curbside pickup and Monday Deliveries in Calgary on orders over $100. The delivery is great, as you can support us and our driver Jordan, without attending daycare.
Also on that note, thank you so much for buying through us. Whether it is poop bags, one bully stick, every little bit has helped us financially. Coming into May, I am so thankful the Wage Subsidy has kicked in, as we are unable to add more dogs to our capacity without adding more staff. Jimmy and I are both working almost 80 hour weeks to fill in shifts, and I am quite behind on all the regular office duties (and am so, doing on my weekend off). I am not complaining at all, I love it, I love how hard you all work for us to stay afloat.
I just want to be able to grace over the 40 dog mark, so we can make sure we have enough rent and payroll when the subsidy help stops in June.
The wage subsidy kicks in tomorrow, and I'll be on my computer getting it all complete, and am excited to open daycare for all our active clients, as of May 4th (may the force be with us!). We will limit to 60 dogs per day, due to the chaos of check in and check out - we still want to remain safe with physical distancing. We also do not want to have you all wait for 15-20 minutes to pick up your dogs, due to the volume. We might implement specific times to pick up and drop off as well if it does get overwhelming. Note you can buy your passes online and nail trims too - to save time at pick up.
Just like our April Pass Trials, we will see how it is, for these 2 weeks (May 4th to 15th), and go from there. My biggest focus is that we continue running safely, with this protocol, to keep us all safe. Our thought is, as noted, that we will all get it, but the less touching, talking etc., the less abundance of it, will be around to effect us.
We still disinfect like crazy people at night and throughout the day, on items such as door handles, front counter, debit machine etc.
This will be the new norm for all businesses.
We will continue to hold off on tours of the facility and will do a LIVE tour on Instagram (find us @sleeprover) Thursday, May 7th, 2020 at 10am.
Once again, thank you so much for all you have done for us and each other. It is scary, and it is okay to be worried, but with each other, we got this.
]]>Many of our clients have passed over the last 10 years, although everyone is special, Nelson really stood out. What Nelson stood for.
Born March 26th, 2009 - Nelson was one of our last Sleep Rover OG clients. October 15th, 2010 was Nelson's first day with us.
Nelson was full of spunk and mischievous. Many of us, have spent countless times, chasing him in the yard to come in because he laughed, you could tell, at our inability to catch him. Here he was at Sleep Rover 1 with Amber.
He taught us dog language, he taught us how to handle difficult dogs, and for most, he taught us love and loyalty. Many of you probably heard him bark in the mornings, from 'Nelson's Room' as you checked in.. and us going 'NELSON!'.
He made all of us, think outside of the box, as many people, would get outsmarted by him! He even convinced us to feed him when he wasn't feeling well. He loved splashing out ALL the water in the pools we filled up.
We all catered to Nelson.
You see, Nelson was an amazing boy, but his father and family, were more so. Nelson's dad, showed the true meaning of loyalty and dog love.
He went through so many life impacting stages, throughout the last 10 years of knowing him, that many would surrender to. Without divulging too much of his life, Nelson was always priority. He would even work overnight shifts just to make sure Nelson had care with us at Sleep Rover.
Throughout his multiple fights with cancer, he always thought about Nelson first. He worked hard so Nelson's quality of life, never hindered. Many would surrender their dog, but Nelson's dad, always fought, worked hard and showed all the caregivers of Sleep Rover, to never make excuses, no matter what life threw at you.
A commitment is made, to care for the dog you brought into your life.
He showed us integrity, he showed us loyalty, he showed us all unconditional love and sacrifice.
What Nelson's dad did, vibed back into Nelson, as he touched every caregiver that came into Sleep Rover. Even to this day, caregivers that haven't seen him in years, REMEMBER Nelson, Nellie..Big Floof!
I know the last week was tough for you and your dad Nelson. You are his best friend, he called you 'his buddy'. You supported him through his 3 fights with Cancer since 2014, and you were his artistic inspiration.
I still remember the day when your dad, planned your trip in 2013 when he first found out he had Cancer. He wanted to travel all of Canada and US, just you and him, and he made it happen. Your dad was never the one to make excuses. He said he would do it, and he did. When many would be sad and self pity, he knew he had to be strong for you. https://www.facebook.com/NelsonandKoos/
He came out of his first Surgery with flying colors, and instead of moping, he planned ANOTHER trip to take you, a 100+lb dog, overseas to the Netherlands. He wanted to show you where he grew up!
We all knew, your dad did not have much money. However we know, every hard worked dollar, was made for you.
Through our ups and downs with Sleep Rover, you and your dad, travelled those ups and downs with us. The base of our foundation, of Sleep Rover, was because of you, and your dad. That love, that loyalty, and that care.
You will be forever remembered and forever talked about Nelson. You and your father, are the reason why Sleep Rover continues to thrive, as you fuelled us with love that continues to burn forward.
We are so blessed to have hugged you, and loved you, one last time. You no longer have to suffer, and I know, you are grinning from above. You take care of your dad as his angel now.
We love you so much.
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However it shows, passion and love, will make anything happen. The Sleep Rover Community is strong. We took possession of SR#3 in January and through the process, it wasn’t till the first week of March, that construction began, and voila, in little over a month, we are ready to welcome our clients in. This did not come with hard work from behind the scenes of 3 of my close guy friends, Kevin, Clint and Leon, but through all the motivation, love and encouragement from all of you. Even till the end, when occupancy would have taken us weeks, we are good to open with everyone working every day, sometimes up to 15 hours per day for the last 6 weeks to make sure, we do not let you all down. It is surreal how quick this came together. In a tough mental time for everyone in this world, we still have all of you, thinking for others, on 'how can I help' and 'where can I help?'.
Our new address is, 735 41st Avenue NE. Best way from Deerfoot is turn west onto 32nd Avenue. We will be your first right turn at 6th street, after the 2nd set of lights (which are the City Bus Depot Lights) – right at the Master Meats/Hearts Choice/Indian motorcycle turnoff. Here you can take the first right turn (bumpy gravel roads tho, but no lights or stop signs, or the 2nd right, which is a quick stop sign. You will pass a fancy Auto Maxx, a few school buses, and bam, we are right on the corner of 6a Street and 41st Avenue.
First off – just to let you all know, we do NOT have internet fibre service from Telus or Shaw at this location. Yes, we are smack dab in the centre of Calgary, with nothing. All our Shaw clients tried their best, at almost $1000/month, we ‘were’ considering, but ended up agreeing that was too much to have brand new internet installed. So we have regular normal ‘almost dial up’ Telus to our location right now and a Telus hub as back up. How does it effect you? All your daily photos will no longer be loaded by midnight. They will be sorted through, downloaded on a USB stick, for me to load at home. Depending on my schedule, it might be up to 48 hours. This Shaw process itself took quite a few people involved and a months worth of negotiations and problem solving. Thank you for everyone that tried! They anticipate 5G will be in our area instead in a few years.
Secondly – we got an email from someone who is not a client, in respect to our mail out, but still worth noting, as they are fair questions.
How is this safe at all? Why are you opening during a pandemic? How is this service essential ?
For those that are our clients, you probably know our view on the situation, but to clarify, we are classified as an ESSENTIAL SERVICE.
When I decided on how we were going about this, I weighed out the pros and cons. If we stay open:
Know that I am quite paranoid about the Virus, thanks to CNN. I was one of the dog facilities, that said ‘pretend we all have it, and treat us that way’. To the point I even said, dogs are considered a surface too, so be diligent. That itself brought on a whole week of drama from other businesses contacting me, saying I was ruining other pet service businesses by saying that. At the end, this is our business, and our thought. I would rather over react, than under react. I see how hard our front line workers work. I see how this has effected you, our clients too. I would NEVER do anything to jeopardize that, without thinking, planning and adjusting.
We have all been working 15 hour days for the last few months, to pull this off, and I know it shows. Love really does fuel the impossible. Everyone gives me credit, but I must bounce it back off all on you, for being my fuel and light! I’m just a little peon that likes finishing her quest (WOW joke here).
To clarify as well – we have 2 sites now. GINGR is for booking Rover in for daycare and overnights. Our website, www.sleeprover.ca is now a Shopify website – which allows you to purchase online. We eventually will implement pass purchases on there as well (trialling how the April Grand Opening Pass does). So yes, you will need to have an account to both.
Note, that we will track all your past GINGR points to the Shopify site – was aiming for May last year, but might be pushing more to June. Please stay tuned.
As noted, any glitches you get, please notify me so I can fix them. I had to learn a new Inventory Software called VEND, and then link it to Shopify in the span of 2 weeks.. so I am for sure, lacking a few things here and there. It will be updated regularly – so always check back!
SO WHAT TO KNOW when you come back Thursday:
We look forward to seeing you all. SR3 beams love and sunshine, and it comes from all of you.
]]>You can find older blogs here: https://sleeprover.wordpress.com/
1 Week Update - Thank you Front Line Workers
One week has passed, and I must say, I am relieved and happy. The course Calgary is taking and Alberta, is great. Minus some people, that are not listening to Social Distancing measures, and now we have to deploy our Police Task Force to babysit them.. shame on them. I hope you all can prep your mind that this might hit the 3 month mark upwards to a year. The cases and deaths are still rising elsewhere, and a vaccine is still in the works. Just because our counts are lower in Canada, let alone Alberta, does not mean you are to lessen your obligations to self quarantine and social distance.
I wanted to film an updated Vlog, back in the day when I did Vlogs, I wanted to make sure my make up was fine, I would just film on a camera and edit, but today, I am going to read off my notes here, and just wing it.
Firstly, my disclaimer, I am NOT a doctor, and you should always look for the actual sources before sending emails and posts and believing what you read. Be smart. Do not believe everything you read that you get sent.
I have been following the COVID 19 since January because, I have a weird obsession with it. It is important for me to keep up to date, for everyone’s safety, I wanted to learn as much as I could, to keep everyone safe. Team Sleep Rover are like my children.
As noted in my first blog, I am so proud of them, for showing up to work, with great spirits and lessening ANY stress I might have. They practice the proper Social Requirements to keep us all safe. SO SO SO proud.
I am a little over reactive, which I feel, is a better choice, than not.
So what is Sleep Rover doing, during our Social Distancing demands?
I believe with these measures, we can attain safety for all. My belief, is we will all get it, but flattening the curve, social distancing will lessen the threat where possible and allow doctors and nurses to help cure all those infected. Social distancing also gives you a fighting chance, yourself, to heal yourself, if you do come in minor contact.
As noted, if clients felt uncomfortable and do not agree with our protocol, please stay home and safe. Safety first. Health and Safety over our financial state please.
In my video as well, I stressed the importance of quarantining and staying home, and honestly, my only stress in the beginning of the chaos, was forcing my own family to stay home. Trying to get into everyone’s mind, that yes, you might not care for your own health, you might think you are safe, but the importance is keeping the medical system tame. As we all know, they are overwhelmed always already, our health care system is not abundant, and adding to the load, would just make everyone crack, and that is how the chaos will begin. You have countries like China and Italy be your ‘view into the future’.. how can one not understand that we have been given a crystal ball to look into?
Quarantining, and doing our simple common sense part, to stay home, is a free pass at life. I remember getting mad, before the senior homes closed, when people would visit their grand parents or parents, even when Social Distancing was suggested. WHY do people need the government to make the decisions for them? Why can’t you just make these common sense choices yourself?
YES, this is FAKE everyone, he DID NOT say that.
On top, my other stress was seeing links sent around about false information. How rinsing with salt would cure Coronavirus, please, get your info from WHO and main networks. Do not self diagnose and put the world in danger. I remember seeing a handful of people dying, from people spraying throats with salt and all dying, having coronavirus, not seeking care and following alternate methods. If it is not proven, do NOT send or forward it. Stick to your local news and your Government issued Medical for now please. Do not add chaos to the already chaotic minds.
After all my stress went away from making sure my family was safe, I wanted to see how I can help the Front Line. As many of our clients quarantined, a handful of our clients kept working as medics, nurses, doctors, surgeons and officers. They aren’t phased much, as this is their daily life. Even today Saturday, a wife of an officer dropped us off coffee and cinnamon buns, both supporting a local business Cobs Bakery, but advising me, the officers will be deployed this week and are ready. Even tho they are busy, they still make time to thank us for staying open for the Front Line workers. They are the ones that keep me strong and less mad at the world. I can spend my hours getting mad at all the stupid people, but why not spend more time, helping those that matter?
On a side note, if safe to do so, I know they will need blood donations too: DONATE BLOOD
I signed up for my first ever (bad I know) donation day for April 3rd.
I appreciate you all helping us making sure Sleep Rover is afloat, which is my goal too. Being part of a family, where my mom and dad came over to Calgary with nothing, I knew, and had confidence, that financially, we will get through it. We are all in this, and I know, we will make it work. A fresh love during this tough time, getting a phone call from my new landlord, saying ‘Joyce, I want you to know I am here to help you, and make sure you succeed’, as our first rent payment is coming around the corner on April 1st.
When chaos starts, the people that care, really step forward and shine their true colors.
I bring this up, because I want you all to know, I know we will be okay. You all got us here, and my focus now, was to make sure our clients on the Front Line, can also be cared for. It was our time to give back to all the love you guys give us, to give back to the most important division in the City.
I started posting on my personal account and brainstorming on Instagram Video, how can I start quarantine centres, how can I make masks and gowns?? That was my craziness when it did get to that point. I wanted to be ahead of the game, watching China for 2 months, I felt bad for sitting back when I could spend my waking hours doing something to progress our City further. Of course I am all talk and thought.
However I also did not want to be ‘those’ kind of people – too many leaders, not enough followers. I have always loved the behind the scenes work. Even at Spay and Neuter clinics, I was the one washing the dirty kennels or ones full of diarrhea, I want to do something that helps – as so many people just want the best job. I just want to get the job done.
So as my friends in all fields calmed me down, ‘joyce don’t worry, the government is on top of the quarantine sectors’. ‘Don’t worry there are too many rules, so no you cannot help in the hospitals cleaning lol’ and ‘no joyce, you can’t make masks, they have strict protocols’. I still hope a manufacturer in town can take it on. We might not need it all but other places will.
One friend, who is also a client, did suggest coffee and snacks. Just like when we are crazy busy, our clients YOU, bring us snacks and coffee, especially during Christmas, when we are so busy, we don’t have time to eat.. it is nice to have a meal, readily available. I love to eat, and food soothes me, as it does to many people. I always say, my fat belly, is the signs of all the love I get 😊.
Want to HELP? CLICK HERE!
So last week, I started brainstorming the best way to do this, whilst following Social Distancing and even to the extreme, of a Lockdown in the next week or 2. Went from contacting church groups, to struggling restaurants, to finally, a good friend of mine suggested, Food Trucks. With that, a friend also contacted the Ladybug Café for me, who has a bakery division, Good Bread. With that, we teamed up, to bring Coffee, Soup & Bread to Foothills Hospital. I will jot it as YYC Grub Luv for now (link leads to GOFUNDME). My goals are to expand to get approval from other hospitals as well, so we can make sure they are all taken care of.
With proper approval, I hope to spread all the love you all have given us, at Sleep Rover this decade, by stuffing our faces and making us smile, by stuffing all of them, with love and energy.
It is going to be a tough few months ahead, but we can all work as a team to set an example, think ahead, plan ahead and think for others.
Remember, thank you to all of you, and to flip it around, thank you to all our Front Line workers. One nurse client said, Joyce, the cleaners, the cleaners never get thanked. They work so hard too.
Love you all, and stay strong.
Firstly, I would like to thank all the Medical staff, such as nurses, doctors, First Responders etc. and everyone involved, in keeping everyone cared for and safe. Besides those that are infected, they are going through so much more, than I can ever imagine. This is our opinion as of today’s date (March 15th 2020), after careful observation in understanding the virus.
Unlike big businesses, with salaried employees, we at Sleep Rover, and many small businesses, cannot close. Closing means, inability to pay rent and employees. As you know, it trickles from there. My first goal is the health of all humans, second, the financial state for our staff.
With cancellations on trips, means lost income for us, and with schools and companies closing, clients might not need daycare any more. This will be a tough 6 months for everyone involved.
Similar to families struggling to find child care for their children as they work, us closing means, clients as well, will need a place to care for their dogs.
My decision as a company, is to help the City, flatten the curve. I truly believe that the virus will continue to spread, but helping our Medical sector, by lessening the impact, is everyone’s responsibility.
Here at Sleep Rover, we will request, from our clients and staff that:
Updated info March 16 6am: We are still open (We will close if a Lock Down is in place) - note we still have quite a few overnight dogs in care, and still are able to run a functioning business keeping Social Distancing;
IF YOU HAVE been to any flights, you must ask someone else to pick up your dog, or contact us at info@sleeprover.ca for us to bring your dog out to you, even if you show no symptoms;
Dogs of INFECTED families are not to come to daycare, as dogs can be carriers of the virus;
We are hoping you are all in understanding of our decisions, and agree that this will be at least a year long battle, to understand, and handle. As a human race, I know we can adjust, and make the proper decisions for a safe environment.
We are making these decisions for health first, and not to inconvenience you. So we hope everyone can be honest with their travel and possible symptoms, patient with our questions, so we can make it safe firstly, and easy for you.
At the end of the day, losing out on all the income, is going to be tough. We will be struggling. However more important right now, is making sure our society as a whole, is safe, well cared for, and that we give our Medical Staff in the World, a chance to do what they set out to do, by being responsible on our part.
Get as MUCH fresh air as you can with proper Social Distancing, and drink lots of fluids as your Mental State is super important during this time.
Any questions or suggestions, please do email me at joyce@sleeprover.ca as I continue to follow, and learn.
With these rules in place, we hope that you will continue to trust us, in the care of your dog, knowing that it is important to still socialize and exercise your dog here.
2015 I slipped, literally and fell into a big big hole. All of you helped me up, THANK YOU! 2019 was that climb to 2020. We are here!
I feel great, I feel productive, and for once, my mind is clear, my shoulders have lifted, as if that boulder had fallen off. Thank you to someone special, for introducing me to CBD for myself, my chronic neck/shoulder pain has subsided greatly - but that could also be from me releasing all my complaints and negativity.
It has only been 3 weeks in, and I felt like I have accomplished so much. In prep of SR#3, focusing on solving issues as little as getting Shogun off Gabapentin for his Arthritis - thus finding Canine Fitness Centre, with Dr. Sue and finding CBD from Creating Brighter Days for him for pain relief - brought back the zoomies in him.
Another thing I love about the industry, is building relationships - and finding like minded people, is thriving.
Surround Yourself with People that Push, Challenge and Motivate You
Last night, i got to relax and watched some Instagram videos from Perfectly Rawsome, which motivated me to prep a fun Chinese New Year dinner for my dogs (check her out if you are curious about raw): https://perfectlyrawsome.com/
Lastly, ending off this Friday, the 24th, reading all the amazing words, that our #teamsleeprover caregivers, wrote about each other. It brought tears to my eyes. We are having our Staff Party this weekend at the amazing Pomeroy Delta Kananaskis - and here are some words that were written about each other. True love, and respect with this strong team.
Our Overnight Manager Megan has been with us for 10 years! Amanda 8.5 years and Ashlea coming on 5 years.
My goal going forward is giving back. Firstly to the Team that has stuck by this company. The clients, rescue, and more fun dog events etc. The reason for our move is to focus back on what we love about being in the dog industry. Just walking into SR#3, feels like home. The Sun beams through with love. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Stay tuned for our updates as we gear for our move in the Spring!
2020 - MOVE IN
2021 - Indoor Dog Park and Pool
2022 - Dog Patio and Sports Centre
This topic is brought to you by Bourbon, my Rottweiler that just passed away almost hitting 10 years old.
It comes as a link to this topic, because he taught me a valuable lesson over my 8 years of having him. Without boring everyone - I wrote a blog about him here:
https://sleeprover.wordpress.com/2019/10/04/bourbons-journey/
A super sweet memory from his saving grace - Heaven Can Wait
This blog comes, because a dog bit a client in our boutique this month. A client’s dog, bit a human client waiting for their dog. First time in 10 years, and a valuable lesson for all 3 of us.
We have never needed to implement rules and expectations on clients, but we have in the past before for touring guests. Back in our old location, we use to do tours and people would reach in to the dog rooms, thinking we were a petting zoo. We always told tour guests, to respect our set up and NOT to stick their hands over the wall back then. Just to walk by quietly. This one lady would not listen, and got bit by a dog.
Since then, we implemented a strict read out before touring our facility. To this day, we still have people not listen to our rules, and get upset at us for not allowing them pet our clients or hang out with them. Our rules are in place for the safety of the dogs under our roof.
“Don’t worry, dogs love me”
Firstly, dogs cannot talk our language. When you walk up to a dog, you do not know their past situations, their story, and how they are feeling. You cannot read their mind, so assumptions should never be made. We are the human, they rely on us to make those decision for them, which we do at Sleep Rover.
We carefully screen all our dog clients, and human clients, to insure a harmonious pack. This is a huge reason why we do Trial Days and LIMIT Trial periods. https://sleeprover.wordpress.com/2018/02/08/why-do-we-do-trial-days-at-sleep-rover-top-3-reasons/
Secondly, Sleep Rover is their second home, so they are more protective and reactive.
Thirdly, these dogs are our clients. Their human parents did not sign up, for them to be subjected to strangers. THESE are the basic reasons why we have these strict rules. At the end of the day, it is for their safety and well being. Any change in their strict routine at Sleep Rover, like a tour, a human trying to get photos of them in the alley, or even as simple as a magpie taunting them, can easily aggravate the energy of the pack, no matter how nice and friendly the dog is.
Like us humans, dogs also have bubbles.
Like us humans, dogs also have bubbles. Myself for example, I am not a hugger, Our Team Lead Ashlea, can embrace a hug. I am human, so I can express my discomfort verbally. A dog cannot.
So when walking in and out with your dogs, no matter how much they love us, or all the dogs they play with, please keep that leash close to you when approaching people and dogs you do not know. Close meaning right at your leg, within 1 feet.
Do not approach a clients dog without asking first.
Know when you are not following these steps, that any incident, is based on a poor decision you made as a human. I never blame the dog, as at the end of the day, they follow our guidance.
Some dogs, large or small, are more reactive with their parents. Some are even worse when attached to a leash. This does not make them bad dogs, this just means their bubble is bigger around their humans and that should be respected.
This applies not just in our boutique, but on your walks as well. Never approach your dog, or have your dog approach another dog, without permission and consent.
There are many reasons why dogs need space, Health Issues (sore, in pain), In Training, Being Rehabilitated, Scared or Reactive. Dogs naturally protect areas which allow them to feel safe. If they do not feel safe, whether it is a vibe from their human parent, or unbalanced energy from another dog, dogs will react to to defend what they feel is necessary for your safety and survival.
Just because you see another dog, you are not obligated to say hi to them, nor are they. When they say ‘no’, respect it, do not take it personal. This is not about you, this is about the dog. When you walk downtown, do you need to say hi to everyone? No.
Bourbon was my example, as he was abused poorly when they found him. Back then, I believed I could rehabilitate him with love, but some dogs, experience so much trauma, that it is their form of PTSD.
Over the years of having him, I went from ‘trying’ him with friends to drawing the line, and making the decision, that he just wants love from us only. Many years, I would turn people away from wanting to come to pet him, including guys, especially guys, getting upset at me for saying no to them.
“Why are you at the offleash park if your dog isn’t friendly”? Oh my dog loves dogs and is friendly, but he does not like strangers touching him. He should not be forced to be pet or touched because you wish to. Many times I would hear ‘Oh don’t worry, all dogs love me’ - but that is not the point. You are putting him and yourself in danger, by forcing yourself on him. This was not a mutual meeting.
No means no.
When I see people on leash at the dog park, I will always respect their space and decision by recalling my dogs to me and having them walk beside me as well. Remember offleash, does not mean free for all.
Like us humans, dogs also have bubbles.
I learned a lot about dog space sizes, and wanted to remind all of you, our amazing clients, to be respectful of these spaces with each other, so you are safe, as well as your dog.
Think for the worst scenario that could happen, and adjust accordingly.
I know a lot of this seems like common sense, but because we have not had a client dog bite a human client before, I wanted to give everyone a friendly reminder. Space is tight, but we do make different pathways available for your manoeuvring.
Please also do not hesitate to ask us to help you out as well, or if you require more space for ease of entrance or exit.
WOW, 10 years. It is true, that time flies by, when you are having fun.
We have built Sleep Rover on trust, honesty, loyalty and FUN!
WHERE DOGS GO TO HAVE FUN.
This also creates resilience that only a strong group of people can persevere, and I am talking about all of you reading this.
Our FOUNDATION is our staff, but our CEMENT is our clients.
WHERE FRIENDS BECOME FAMILY.
What keeps going forward? Learning every year, and wanting to improve every year. We never want to sit still. We never want to be the norm.
We do not come to work to just take a paycheque, we come to work because we want to make a difference. We know you work hard for your money, so we work hard in appreciation.
We have a core group of clients because of our strict protocol and expectations. This over the years has made it the reason, why we can spend more time with our clients, in having fun, knowing them, versus just anyone, that ‘just needs last minute care’.
When you are a Sleep Rover client, you are VIP automatically.
This also applies to our amazing #teamsleeprover. Focusing on those that WANT to come to work and make a positive difference in their coworkers and the dogs, over trump any amount of quantity of staff. In 2015 we wanted to go big, but big was not us.
We want to be that tight small knit family.
As celebration, we will be having a sale in our boutique every day starting November 1st, 2019. Please stay tuned on Facebook and Instagram for these posts.
We will also be offering Sleep Rover (overnight) passes to be purchased for use starting July 1st, 2020 in our new location. $500 plus tax for 10 nights per dog. Sale will end November 10th, 2019 at 5pm.
To end off our Birthday, we will be having a pawrty on Sunday, November 10th, 2019 from 1pm to 4pm with some of our favorite local vendors (who have supported us since our 2015 move), snacks and HOLIDAY Photos! First 100 clients get a swag bag full of goodies.
We will also have raffles from our local distributors/vendors and a birthday selfie station. Bring a toonie ($2) to enter the BIG SLEEP ROVER RAFFLE valued over $1500. Raffle donations will be passed to our charity event, Operation Santa Paws.
We also have a foster dog at all times at Sleep Rover. Our Manager Amanda screens them and we as a team, feed, socialize and help them get ready for their forever home. Currently we foster for AARCS and Pawsitive Match. We also love having charity events for Prairie Pitbulls Rescue and our long time go to rescue, to which we do Operation Santa Paws for, is Heaven Can Wait.
Megan (our overnight manager for the last 9 years)
Working at Sleep Rover allows be to be part of a company that I know is truly passionate about dogs and their well being, not just in it for financial gain. It's amazing to have a supportive boss. Joyce gives me the opportunity to use my creativity in our work environment whether it be baking cakes or painting backgrounds for photo shoots. Sleep Rover has amazing clients and it's so awesome to connect with other people who are as passionate about dogs as we are. Its inspiring to have a boss who really cares. Joyce does put Sleep Rover first. Pushing through the ups and downs of the economy, and all the other struggles that come with owning your own business. I love that Sleep Rover promotes healthy food choices for our clients by stocking higher quality kibble and raw food, along with supplements and more natural alternatives to support their dog's health. We care about the environment. We take the effort to recycle and always use environmentally safe cleaning products for our facility. That we support local rescues. We continuously have foster dogs stay with us until they are adopted. I love being able to show these foster dogs the love that they might have missed out on, so that they can carry that love to their new family's.
The passion for the dog community and everything DOG! Whether that be passion for the dogs we look after or passion for rescue and supporting. Passion & Support for the dog community of Calgary. Our staff - Friends become family not only with our clients but with our coworkers. Makes coming to work soo amazing. Our boss!! Words can not explain... It takes a special person to open and run the best doggie daycare in YYC and you are doing an amazing job at it! Our environment - all dogs welcome, open concept and loving. Our attention to detail. Making sure the little things like journals, photos, videos and even knowing clients is also top priority. Our events and meetups are always top notch. Our clients! Are seriously amazing and the best that we could ask for - both dogs and people. The fact that they let us love their dogs like our own. Our want to grow and grow and grow and become even better than before. THE LOVE and HAPPINESS that happens at Sleep Rover is unreal and gives this real Disney World vibe to it.
I mean..because we're awesome. Lol, but for real, because we love dogs. We love them like they're our own and take care of them more than you know. It's true when we say "where friends become family" because we are one big fam! If your dog is cold, we will cuddle it. If your dog is scared, we will comfort it. And most importantly, we will always show them love all the time! I love the people I work with. Lots of people don’t have close friendships at the work place. What we stand for! Allowing all breeds, no discrimination, and we don't judge a book by its cover. Everyone gets a chance. I love that at the end of the day, I feel like I have changed someone or some dogs life in some way. Some dogs come to us that need more socialzation and to come out of their shell more. Or dogs that have never been around other dogs and we help them with that. It's a great feeling. THE DOGS! I have met some amazing dogs working here and amazing clients as well! Your own dogs are obviously your babies, but I never thought that I could feel the same about anyone else's dog, we just love them like our own!
Family aspect with co-workers. Seeing the dogs so excited going back into daycare to see their friends and caregivers after grooming. I love my job because it's a creative outlet that requires attention to detail. Learning new skills and techniques at seminars like Superzoo. ~Braylyn
WHY SLEEP ROVER - Because it’s become like a family to me. These dogs that I’ve known for the past 5 years to all the new dogs feel like my own and I love themmm. ~Kylee
Because we are a dogs happiest place on earth. Each and every dog is known by name and personality and is loved here. We are all passionate and care for our clients doggos as if they are our own babies too. Our facility offers social enrichment that others do not, and gives bully breeds the chance they deserve to be in a social setting, with zero judgement. ~Karissa
Why Sleep Rover: because I have never belonged anywhere, and now I finally do! ~Laken
Working at Sleep Rover helped me manage my dog obsession, as I never had one of my own growing up. Being able to work & interact with every breed & personality allowed me to really figure out what I would want in a dog of my own when the time came. I am so happy to have met such incredible, dog crazy girls just like me. Hands down the best job I have ever & will ever have. ~Daria
I first heard about Sleep Rover from in Instructor and started following them on Instagram and Facebook and became hooked! Seeing how much fun the dogs and the humans were having made me smile daily. I knew my heart belonged there. Thankfully Joyce gave me a chance and I have been here ever since. My absolute love for all animals and personality fits perfectly with the dogs. I have developed so many wonderful relationships and bonds with the dogs that come here. Seeing the passion and hard work that management and fellow coworkers put into their daily routines is just amazing. Yes sleep rover is a business but we are more than that! We are a home away from home! An extended family to all our clients and I couldn’t see myself belonging anywhere else in the world! ~Lori
Ever since I have known about Sleep Rover I knew it was a special place. I could tell that this is not just a job or a business but a passion that has grown into something meant to be shared with others. I am so proud to be a part of Sleep Rover. I love that every single person here goes above and beyond for all the dogs. If a dog seems shy we help bring them out of their shell, if they seem sad we make it our mission to cheer them up, and if they want to play.. we play!! The level of attentiveness towards every single dog creates genuine bonds and makes it so they feel at home when they are in our care. It makes us happy to see them happy, and it is that authentic joy and love for dogs that sets Sleep Rover apart from the rest in my eyes. Some people may love dogs as much, but nobody loves them more, and it shows in everything Sleep Rover does. ~Sarah
It has been awhile since I did a VLOG, but I wanted to be a little more personal. The video is long so you can read the jist of it below.
Time sure flew by, since my last vlog about SR#2, back in 2016. 2019/20 is our last year at this location.
The first 2 years of this current building, was emotionally trying, I hate bringing that up, as a person brought up by tough, hardworking Chinese parents, any sign of weakness, especially emotional, should always be ignored.
Facing this in 2016 helped tremendously, and after facing these facts for 2017 - I soon saw the true financial struggles we, at Sleep Rover faced. I sat down with business minded folk, and of course hired a professional accountant. As noted in the VLOG, the provincial government changes in Employment Wages, took an extra toll on our bottom line. Not only did our wages and stat pays went up almost $25k/year, we also had to not rehire the 3 full time staff whom did not work out. In return, Amanda and I have been overextending our work hours to working, versus creating and improving.
Many have asked recently ‘where has Amanda been’, and although we see her every day, she is working more at the back to help train and elevate our current caregivers.
On top of the increased expenses of Employee Standard changes that all Alberta Small Businesses faced, the gas prices also increased our gas expenses, average $8000/month just in the winter (those huge gaps in the steel doors and high ceilings of this building, really damper our winter bills), to which we spend the summer paying off.
As business has been super busy on the weekdays, our weekends dropped greatly, as noone was travelling as much. We tried doing daycare specials on the weekend, and that did not work out well, as we all, including you all, are trying to save money where you can, due to the economy. At a loss of $5k per weekend, totaling average of $20k a month, these few changes put us more in the red. We took a toll for 2018 into 2019.
In the Spring of 2019, although we had been approached twice in the past to be bought out (HELL NO!), I was so tempted, to sell Sleep Rover, and just pay off all my debts. Being consumed and drowning in debt, is super tough. Borrowing to pay off debt to keep afloat. Where would all our amazing clients go (who will love on your dogs like we do, take all those photos and videos)? What would we do for work?
This is our calling, we must go on, keep going forward.
A majority of Sleep Rover expenses is rent, utility and wages.
As you know, we are a little higher in rates, because you are paying for the convenient location and for the 24/7 staff. You are paying for top quality caregivers.
Recently I have heard that ‘Joyce is mean, Joyce is a nazi boss’ from ex-employees in the industry- haha - and it is true. The girls that stay, and are here, are the best of the best. I have a no excuse rule, which has allowed us to have low vet visits (less than a handful) and altercations at Sleep Rover. The safety and well being of our clients is the most important. That is your ease of mind, that is our standard. Read more.. https://sleeprover.wordpress.com/2018/02/08/why-do-we-do-trial-days-at-sleep-rover-top-3-reasons/
So instead of selling Sleep Rover, and just giving up, I have decided to also take advantage of the poor economy, by finding a new facility, that is more energy efficient (lower ceilings and sealed overhead doors), and of course, a more efficient building in general. A building that allows us to have the pool, separate from the dog daycare, so it can run full time. Have our set up like SR#1, where everything was all in one spot, making it more efficient for our caregivers, and allowing management more time for charitable events, functions, and improvements.
We also have goals to reward those that spend their hard earned money at Sleep Rover. In the video I thank those long time clients, that even without a dog, they still support us by sharing our sales, buying human gear, or those that move far away, and still come in to buy from us (dog food, dog apparel)! Even the clients that live as far as Edmonton, to drive south to use our facility. We thank you. We understand, especially at a time of a tough economy, that your hard earned money means a lot to us.
I also mentioned the phone call I got in July from a long time client Margaret that made my day, that kept me focused. She has used our services since we first started out, firstly with her son’s dog. The call came as a surprise, when she said ‘Joyce, you are not charging me enough. How are you charging me $40/day for daycare and only $65/night for overnight?’ Trust me, I never get those calls. She demanded I charge her for 2 full days, being a retired lady. ‘YOU NEED TO MAKE MONEY’. I just cannot fathom increasing our rates anymore, but reassures me, that our clients, do understand our struggles and value.
After all the years of increasing rates, the gas rates and employee rates just consumed all those goals to be profitable, which gave me huge guilt for all our Sleep Rover clients. The emails out to you all, from 2016 and 2017 that said, ‘oh these rate increases will get us out of the red’ - turned out false with the increase in rent, utilities and government employee changes just like that. It is so hard to smile and say ‘things are great’, to you all, when they are not.
I know all Small Business owners understand, how little changes, can make a huge impact. Even ONE no show, might just be $40 for the one day, for those that say ‘oh sorry, I forgot, but it is just one dog’ - that $40 turns into $1200/month - and that helps pay for utilities. To you, it is just your one dog, to us, it is a portion of our expenses, not paid, putting us further in red. I understand people ‘forget’, or things change, is why we always smile, and say ‘that is okay’. Please do know, your spot, could have been taken, by another client. We just ask, if you wish to last minute cancel, please do not prebook, or be considerate, and pay for that spot. We do not strictly implement the ‘pay ahead of time’ rule, because there is only a handful of clients that cancel last minute.
Our next 5 years, we hope to pay off debt and get ahead. Reducing rent and utility payments and maximizing our current set up potential.
In the meantime, we started July 2019 a reward program on your account via GINGR. Save these rewards, as the point system will be more generous by July 2020. We want to thank all those have chosen to spend their hard earned money on us. The more you spend, the more you get back.
We also want to adjust to our lowered weekend traffic effective September 1st, 2019, by limiting our Front Desk Hours from 7am to 7pm on Saturday and Sunday to 9am to 5pm, till things pick up again on the weekends. Staying open at the Front Desk for 2-3 clients, does not justify our hours.
We appreciate all your support and suggestions over the years, during this up and down SR#2. We hope SR#3 will be the balance we need, as I learn from the mistakes and move forward, versus surrender.
As it is tough to get extra funds with so much debt, we are in the financial approval stages for the potential move to SR#3. We are excited for this journey and want to make you all proud, all together, knowing we will not sacrifice the care of your dog.
Please address any ideas, suggestions or concerns directly to me, at joyce@sleeprover.ca.
One thing I love about Calgary, especially being born and raised here, is the support of local businesses.
Petapalooza 2016
These are businesses, that are owner run. You see them at the front of their business, and the pride they put into their business.
Supporting local business is so important, as your hard earned money, is going to someone that is working hard to be the best they can be, for you, the customer.
More and more businesses, even vet clinics, are getting bought out by big companies. What does that mean for you as a client? Less care, less attention. To us, you are not just a number.
None of us are supported behind big box stores, or money making umbrella corporations. Every service and time spent, is from our hard nights working and sweat equity. Our countless hours outside of business hours, to be a part of your community. To be a part of your family.
Today I wanted to write about these small businesses, that not only support and uplift each other, in the industry, but local rescues, and what the community of Calgary needs. That alone I feel, is pride in ownership.
There are many out there of course (but these are my top 10 in the dog industry), and we would love to know more, so comment below and link it on our Facebook Post. During tough economic times, it is the glue between all businesses, that keep us going!
We all have the choice of where to shop and where to go, to spend our hard earned money. Know that supporting local, feeds back into the community, and allows us to support the community back.
I want to thank all our customers and clients, that even during a downturn of the economy, they still support us. They still will spend a few extra dollars just to buy food from us, or sign up their dog for daycare once a week, just to help us out, even when times are tough.
As our last year of lease is approaching, we are excited to still be around, and of course, to give back more, once we settle in a smaller facility. We have exciting plans for 2020, and cannot wait to give back to our long time supporters, and these amazing local businesses. Together we unite and thrive.
Last year, 2018, my goal was to Road Trip more with the dogs.
This year, I wanted to amp it up, and do something at LEAST once a month. January 2019 - we tried out Kananaskis, something close by.
Kananaskis is just about an hour away from Calgary. It is also a super dog friendly. You can drive in and stay at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge that is Pet Friendly and get Room Service. The next day, take a hike at nearby Troll Falls or Elbow Falls. Super easy, and a quick getaway. If you have time, the Nordic Spa.
We went mid January to the Mountain Lodge to celebrate Shogun’s 10th Birthday. They are not breed discriminatory there, nor do they have a size restriction. WE LOVE THAT! They of course require you to have well behaved dogs, and respect their leash and clean up rules.
Although we did not have time to venture the whole premise, they have a famous spa, the Nordic Spa, that recently got updated. Last time I went here, was back in the Olympic days, when my parents had a timeshare here. It has changed a lot since then. The decor is great. There is a skating pond out back in the winter time too.
We ordered room service, and it was good, not Vegas Room Service good, but good. Beds were clean and comfy.
The service is amazing. Everyone greets and welcomes you, and the staff are always asking if you are okay, if you are enjoying yourself.
A hike to do, is Troll Falls. Do not follow Google, as it takes you right into Nakiska Ski Lodge. Just follow the signs, as it is a quick turnoff right before you go up the hill.
The hike is ranked easy, and if we did not take so many photos along the way, it only took 2 hours back and forth. The distance is 3.4km. A very minimal incline.
Hike Essentials - I love my handsfree leash from Ruffwear. I also recommend a harness for your dog, so they are not pulling on their collar at their neck the whole 2.5 hours you are walking. Amanda had her dogs equipped with the Hurtta Y Harness.
For the winter, boots for your dogs do help, and of course, for the little ones, I put Jack in a backpack. He was in the K9 Sportsack - I bought mine at Doodle Dogs!
Another easy hike/walk are the Elbow Falls in Bragg Creek that we did last year. You literally park your vehicle, leash up your dogs and walk around the easy marked paths. Beware, this is a super popular walk, so go early, or you will not find parking. Photos by The Dog with a Bow Photography of my Crew!
Be safe and respect everyone’s bubble on your visits. Just because your dog is friendly, does not give you the right to have your dog approach a human or another dog, without consent. As courtesy on hikes, we always sit our dogs, and have them wait, and allow others to walk by us safely. Keep it #petfriendlycanada!
When the cold weather starts to roll around, I find my dogs skin to be more dry (just like us humans). I start making them some gut friendly, good for them BOMBS. I first got introduced to FAT BOMBS when I started my Keto diet last year. Quick snacks that are good for me, usually consisting of high quality coconut oil and either a fruit or nut butter.
kefir and coconut bombs
good for doggos
I started making some basic ones for my dogs too - just because the molds, make their food look extra fancy!
I have some super fun recipes that are easy for you to make. Rubber molds are recommended as it is easier to remove the bombs, and the designs are adorable. I have heart ones, bone ones and paw ones - all can be found on Amazon.
Watch our Video on this combo: https://youtu.be/8Rt_htF7xL0
That post was from 5 years ago where I solely used chicken - and since, I have really enjoyed using BEEF Marrow Bones and Knuckle Bones as well. Chicken Feet as well, create more good for you collagen. Remember you can save some to make soup for yourself too.
FOR MORE FUN - you can always start with Coconut Oil first (save a teaspoon for Step 2) - and fill the molds half full. Place in fridge for a few hours to solidify. Then spoon in the warm peanut butter mixture (with a little bit of the melted coconut oil for liquefying purposes) right on top and place in fridge again. It will give it a color layered look!
Hope you and your dog enjoy this special time together. Trust me, they will want to lick the bowls after! At the end, they do not care how you serve the food, as you can see below, on my ‘plop’ method. The bombs are just so much cuter.
How do I keep my dogs teeth clean? I think everyone assumes I actually brush my dogs teeth nightly. Honestly, I sometimes forget to brush my OWN teeth at night…
We get asked often, what I do, to keep my dogs teeth so clean. My own vet even asks me. In my 25 years of having dogs (gosh that is a quarter of a decade) on my own, none of my dogs have needed Dental Work done (knock on wood).
Some dogs sadly, are just born with bad teeth. Could be genetics, breed or just bad luck. My Bull Terrier Azumi will probably be the first dog I have, that will need dental work, due to her jaw structure.
However minus the above, you can maintain great dog teeth till their senior years with proper diet - yes that means proper Raw Feeding (with bones!).
However not all of us can do raw feeding, so daily ingestion of kibble, builds tartar, with nothing to rid it. Imagine you eating pure carbs, sugars and processed foods.
Raw bones provide great chewing with nutritional benefits (like calcium, minerals and collagen etc). The motion of the dogs back teeth, trying to get the meat off the bones, moves and brushes away tartar.
Like toys - to be safe - SUPERVISE all dog chewing - I suggest to take away bones when they are small enough to choke, or after 20 mins of chewing.
I usually recommend 3 things to our clients. Bully Sticks being first, Dental Treats (which there are not many natural ones out there) and my most favorite, raw meaty bones.
raw meaty neck bones
Beef, Lamb or Bison
Over the years, I have gone from Knuckle Bones, to Marrow Bones to necks etc. This year, my most fave that I am recently implementing into my dogs diet, are beefy neck bones. Rib bones are great as well - but they have minimal meat. For smaller dogs, Chicken and Duck feet are great as well as chicken necks. Both provide bone and meat. DO NOT be alarmed to find your dogs stool is more firm.
I also suggest Feet and Necks for dogs with looser stools. The bone content firms up poop, and is why raw fed dogs, are a pleasure to pick up after.
At Sleep Rover we sell Artisan Raw Rib Bones and Neck Bones as well as Primal Pets Turkey and Chicken necks.
Bully Sticks
HeroBullySticks™ are a 100% natural, dehydrated NOT treated
My 2nd choice are Bully Sticks. Make sure the treatment on them are done by reputable companies such as Hero Dog. I love Bully Sticks because it literally is one ingredient.
HeroBullySticks™ are a 100% natural, dehydrated and government inspected. Our bully sticks are low odour, meaning these are washed inside and out before drying but are NOT treated with any chemicals to reduce the smell. Our bully sticks are an excellent long lasting chew treat, a great source of protein, and suitable for all dog sizes. HeroBullySticks™ are free of chemicals and preservatives. They are low in fat, and easily digestible. HeroBullySticks™ are product of Brazil from free-range beef, and are USDA, CFIA, FDA approved.
Third, for an easy treat that you just pull out of a bag, are the Dental Chews. So many out there, but we chose the Merrick Fresh Kisses due to them having ‘better’ ingredients versus the Pedigree and Greenies.
I also credit the K9 Gentle Dental team for cleaning my dogs teeth every year. Not only do they remove the tartar build up on my dogs teeth, they help me check my dogs teeth every year, track it, so I can report to my vet when needed. No need to put your dog under. The dogs are comfortable and treated so well. Not all teeth cleaning companies are alike (just like all dentists are not) so do your research.
I was so happy when May rolled around - even tho the snow this year, seemed to linger around longer than ANYONE wanted.
I made a goal for 2018 - to go somewhere at least once a weekend every month, with my dogs. Afterall, my life revolves around them. I've been searching trails via ALL TRAILS - so far so good.
Shogun after our May Long trip to Saskatoon
We started off easy on our visits this May, short and sweet - and the dogs, always came home tired and fulfilled (or might be just my mind).
There is something about leaving the city behind, that allows my brain to unplug. My body seems to relax and the gorgeous scenery, eases my body. On top, it allows Jimmy and I to reflect, talk and really get to know each other, all over again.
I also started a travelling journal. It isn't too elaborate - but I miss the good old times when you can just flip through photos, and relive memories. Scrapbooking use to be my thing, however the time involved, just wasn't working out for me. So a journal, was the 2nd best thing. On top, it forced me to work on my writing again, a lost art in a tech world.
Our first trip with the dogs was closeby. We hit up the Pet Friendly campground of Tunnel Mountain, as they are open year round. If camping isn't your thing, Hidden Ridge Resort is right behind them - and they are also pet friendly! This campground has all the bells and whistles. Shower and flush toilets.. but that view is beautiful. Another downside some people might not like, is the sites are quite packed in together. It is in the center of Banff though, so space is limited.
Tunnel Mountain Campground - RV Section
Spray Lakes Dog Offleash Park
Before we hit Banff tho, we always stop by my most favorite offleash park in Canmore- in Spray Lakes!
We did a quick and easy hike to Johnstons Canyon. There you will also find a pet friendly accommodation - little adorable cabins. This hike is super easy and SUPER busy during the Summer - so go early. You can take it up a notch and hike up to the Ink Pots as well. The trails are tight and busy, so if you have a reactive dog, this might not be the best hike.
May 2018 Hike to Johnstons Canyon - a little slushy
Make sure before you leave, that you get some delicious pancakes at Melissa's Missteak. Although I'm not a pancake pro - they have the lightest and fluffiest pancakes. They are also well known for their Egg Bennie's. They keep it simple and breakfast menu is till 3pm.
A few weeks after, we decided to take a longer trip, through to Radium. The drive there is gorgeous. We even saw a bear cross the road!
Canyon RV in Radium - Site #12
We stayed at a gorgeous RV Site right inside Radium (Canyon Camp RV Resort), right in a Canyon. Don't get it confused with the Canyon RV site in Kelowna! They booked us right beside a tiny creek and it was so gorgeous. I wish we got the chance to stay longer. Staff were friendly and the resort is well kept and gorgeous. Did I say gorgeous already? Being a smaller site, you are quite compacted in with others.
For little hikes - anywhere you stop along highway 93 is gorgeous (they have so many pullovers for you to take advantage of safely). You even trek through a section where it was devastated by the 2016 fires. We chose 2 spots this time, Numa Creek and a casual stroll to Marble Canyon. At Marble Canyon, there are other trails, such as Tokkum Valley that you can trek through. It is gorgeous!
Wrapping up May #doggietrips is our visit to Saskatoon, a 6.5 hour trip east to visit some great friends and our god daughter! Although most people might not know, Saskatoon is quickly becoming Foodie Central. Ayden (a famous restaurant downtown), was started by a chef who was competing on Top Chef Canada, and even opened 2 other restaurants in Saskatoon, which I have yet to visit. This trip we ate at SHIFT restaurant - highly recommended!
We spent some time in Drumheller for a rest stop. Just before you enter the town, there is an offleash park you can let your dogs out, to go potty and stretch out.
Drumheller Dog Offleash Park
Their RV Park is right in the City, so it is great for kids. We decided to drive right up to Kindersley that night. It has grown so much since 10 years ago. They even have a Walmart. With a camper van, we can pretty much stop anywhere to rest.
Gordon Howe Campground #60
We walked the river along downtown Saskatoon and stayed at an inner city Campground called Gordon Howe Campground. Easy to find and great service. We really enjoyed it here. Showers were clean and of course, flush toilets. They are also very pet friendly, I even saw a cat on leash.
We headed to Berry Barn that Sunday, about a 15 minute drive south of Saskatoon. It was gorgeous there, and pet friendly to walk around in. We enjoyed their perogy dishes and of course, their famous Saskatoon Berry Cheesecake.
Breakfast - Spolumbo Sausage, Egg and Avocado - doesn't look good but tasted good hah.
The Sask River behind Berry Barn
Sometimes you do not have to travel too far to get away and enjoy some quality time together. In Canada, especially Alberta, we are surrounded by nature's beauty. Just drive and make those memories. Everything else can wait.
Amanda and I wanted to start something fun for the Spring! We often get questions, on how we get our dogs to sit all together for photos, or how we attempt to walk all our dogs on leash through the streets of Downtown Calgary.
In this series, we hope to bring a fun approach to our love for dogs, and of course, to get to know all of our Sleep Rover fans. We have fans from all over the world, Hong Kong, London, down to Texas, or next door in Saskatoon!
Each week, we will choose a winner, whether it be a free day of daycare, one of our amazing #sleeproverdogboutique items OR a gift certificate to support a local business.
Speaking of local businesses, this first video of Shogun features a hip bandana from the great folks at Doodle Dogs off of Memorial and Parkland and treats by Drool Pawtesserie - yum to their Bacon Bones!
How to enter? Every Tuesday, we will post a trick on Instagram (which posts to our Facebook). You can enter by:
We will consider all entries before midnight of that Tuesday, and announce our winner on Thursday!
Each week, our tricks will get harder. On top - Molson from @BigandFluffyCrew and Shogun from @joycekao_sr - will have a TRICK OFF!
Who do you think, can do the most tricks in one time?
We will post voting closer to the end of April! Get your tricks all polished up folks!
Tricks are a great way to spend some time with your furry friend, and learn patience, focus and.. the best part, all the laughs!
This year has been super tough on all the girls and our clients - with so many of our original clients, arrivng at the Rainbow Bridge.
Last month was Bosco: https://sleeprover.wordpress.com/2018/02/16/where-friends-become-family/
This week, is our beloved Fynn.
Fynn as a puppy - on our wall of OG clients
Although sad to see them go, every single client that comes in our door, has left a mark on our heart and taught us a few life lessons. Our tears may shed, but they will furever be in our hearts. A constant reminder to be happy, to make the best of the day, and to make others feel great!
Be the person, your dog thinks you are.
Fynn..beamed happiness. He was a depiction of his amazing family. His sister Keena was one of our first clients when we opened and we quickly fell in love with the whole family. They always welcomed every single #teamsleeprover with love and joy.
Goose, Fynn & Pyper at the old SR
"One of the sweetest, goofiest boys I had the pleasure of meeting at Sleep Rover. The friendliest dog I have probably ever met in the 4+ years I had known him, he was a friend to all. You could always find him soaking up the sun on the play set up against the wall at the old building, never leaving Goose and Pypers sides, always being the best big brother there was. " ~Kylee
Their furry family quickly grew to 3 with all their adopted animals and their human family followed with 3. Never did they skip a step with putting their dogs on the back burner. Weekly daycare and our support when things were tough. Words of wisdom and kindness pushed us through. The meaning of family, is what this family exudes.
Fynn loved eating and loved all the toys he could get his hands on, especially balls. When not playing, he loved snuggling with his sister's on the couches at Sleep Rover.
"My Fynn. I'll always remember the crazy ways of how you slept at daycare. Upside down, on your back, or literally head on the floor and bum on the couch. Always left a smile on my face. Always searching for food when traveling through the feeding room or popping open lockers looking for any last kibble. Your smile on your face made us all love you even more! We will miss you crazy man and your hilarious ways." ~Ashlea
He was so strong the last few weeks and lived every day to the fullest with his adorable smile.
It reminds all of us here, that every moment is so precious with our loved ones and to make efforts in spending all the time you can with them.
You will never have time, just MAKE TIME.
We started this 'feature' in memory of Bosco and Fynn, to show off our old, original clients. Through thick and thin, through happy and sad, them and their families - have been by our side. We too have watched them grow and flourish in life.
We thank now, all of you as well, for being a part of our family. Please enjoy our weekly features on Instagram, as of today. We love you Fynn, furever.
Mr.Stewie!
Our main man! This is Stewie, he is our doggo of the week!
He has been with us for 6 years and comes for a run around almost every day of the week!! We love his excited attitude as he runs in the door bright and early with his dad and he knows exactly where he's going! Thank you Stewie for being the goofball you are and always loving life here, WE LOVE YOU!
Now a word from Stew!
"Oh boy! I don’t know where to start, but my most favorite thing is the bum scratches I get! I like to sing and “woo” while I get them! I LOVE rolling around in the snow and trying to bite at it while looking adorable! I have been known to shoplift some toys from time to time but my dad always catches me, darn it! My manners are always on par and I always bark a goodbye to the ladies when I leave!" ~ashlea
Sometimes it is hard to purchase a gift for that person in your life, however if they love dogs like we do - getting a gift for them to spoil Rover, might be a good idea!
At Sleep Rover, our love of anything awesome for dogs, is our passion. Our manager Amanda and I, attend a yearly conference, to see what is new, what is great and what is needed, in all dogs lives! #sleeproverdogboutique - stocking the best for dogs, in treats, food and apparel. Take a quick peek in our boutique with this video!
OUR GIFT CHOICE for under $30
If you want to keep it simple, everyone needs a dog tag! Do a combo of treat & tag combo.
We brought in the MY FAMILY ID TAGS from Italy- so that you can personally engrave your own dog tag at Sleep Rover. A great gift combo is having a dog tag chosen, engraved, and wrapped with ribbon around a bully stick. We were super choosy about which company to bring in, and the quality of tags, the variety and ease of use for this was hands down the best. Pair it with the company that gives back, a Canadian Company, HERO DOG treats! Read about this amazing company.
OUR GIFT CHOICE for under $100
Amanda's choice this holiday season is outerwear. Her goal for the Fall/Winter 2017 season was to bring in as many stylish and quality outerwear for all dog lovers. Whether you choose the more affordable sweaters from Chilly Dog Sweaters - to the Canadian Weather Inspired Canada Pooch - and the top notch, fully warrantied Ruffwear Dog Performance Gear - we got you covered!
Her top 3 choices from the 3 companies are:
Cozy Sweaters
Holiday themed sweater - large enough to fit her boy Molson, but small enough to fit a chihuahua - here is the Chilly Dog Peppermint Holiday Sweater! Model is Molson @bigandfluffycrew
Brave Canada Winters
When you have no fur, you need to be protected from the elements - such as snow, wind and keeping dry. This fleeced choice by Canada Pooch Summit Vest (in 3 colors) is popular - as it fits large chested dogs as well! Model is Shogun @joycekao_sr
Great Alone or Layered
Ruffwear preps your outdoor loving dogs for the elements. The very popular Overcoat is great on its own, with the tough exterior, warm fleece interior - BUT easily layered onto their Cloud Chaser and Front Range Harness! Model is Alexus @alexusthepupper
OUR LUXURY GIFT CHOICE
Lastly, our third choice - is a SPLURGE! Every spoiled dog has a fancy bed. Not only does it add a hint of style to your home decor, it is the best way to pamper Rover. I mean they spend a lot of time sleeping! We are so lucky that one of the best dog beds is made by a Canadian Company called Bowsers! The most popular styles are the Piazza and Donut Beds - however their newest style, the Divine Futon is a great mix of both! Those new fabrics are to die for - and look at how happy Bourbon is! When you order through Sleep Rover, you save on shipping!
We hope we helped make some of your choices easier! Do not miss out on our Rover Market, dated December 3rd from 1pm to 4pm at Sleep Rover! Local Vendors will be showing their wares for sale - AND we will have some amazing in store specials!
However if you do not want to miss out on select items, come soon, before they are sold out!
Happy Shopping!
It does not matter how much you donate, to make a difference. It is the thought and efforts that count, that mean the most.
Whether you can donate $1, or $100 - you can help even if you have no funds, by sharing this post to other animal loving people. That itself, is a form of donation. Another way you can help, is to gather your co-workers, friends, people at the gym, or family together. Sweat equity is sometimes more important, than the actual monetary donations.
Each one of you, can help make a difference, this holiday season, for these animals in need.
This year, we have added Saving Grace Animal Sanctuary. Their philosophy is quite like Heaven Can Waits - they take on cases, that some rescues are unable to. Therefore they have longer staying animals, sometimes with health issues, behavior issues etc.
Long term residents at these rescues, not only cost daily on food and resources, but man power and utilities - including laundry, training and ongoing medical bills that pile up.
Not only does Saving Grace house dogs and cats - they also take on livestock.
So with the 3 rescues we have chosen, you have 3 different ways to help out:
We look forward to another successful year. This event is great to share with your friends, family and co-workers - no need to do it alone! Not only does it bring us all together, it puts more hearts, hands and love into the project. THAT is what the holidays is all about.
I know our girls - especially Amanda (tis her season!), put countless, endless hours, on getting this event together. It fills our building with Holiday Cheer. The love spreads like wild fire, and we are so happy, to be able to share this, with all of you! Images designed by the amazing and talented Nandi!
#teamsleeprover
TIME: 4 hours round trip - Took us 5 hours
Bathrooms (non flush) and Ground Water available
I jumped the gun, and recommended on easy by the super fit dog walker Sharyl with Adventures in Dog Walking - went to Cox Hill Ridge. It is a far cry from our Grassi Lakes 'stroll in the park'. I would suggest doing a few shorter mountains first before this 'hill'. It is quite steep and at 14km round trip - it is quite long. The description advises the hard stuff is in the beginning, however the whole hike was a climb upwards and some loose and jagged rocks near the top. Hiking sticks and boots highly recommended.
To get here from Calgary is a quick hour drive off Highway #1. You take the Sibbald Creek Highway 68 turnoff and drive down some rocky roads. You will be making a left onto Powder Trail into a valley, drive a few more mins and make a left, before the gates, at DAWSON RECREATION AREA. If you want to make it a weekend trip, you can also camp at the parking lot by the creek. It is noted that you can also fish here.
We started the hike early on this Mothers Day - arrived at the parking lot by 9am. Weather was perfect at 12 degrees C with a light breeze and probably hit closer to 5 degrees near the top. Layer up! The bridge is at the beginning of the pathway and offers a great view of the creek, where you can picnic at. Make sure to follow the human sign and not the horse sign. You will be taking the Cox Trail. There are plenty of spots to rest - which we did plenty, being out of shape. It is greatly shaded if you go in the summer. There is no water on the way up, so make sure to pack enough water.
The 2 hours hike up was quite steep and tough - with the first hour covering most of the incline. The last 30 minutes were still quite tough, as the trail winded down in width.
The View
Remember to stay on leash to be safe and to respect nature!
You do not get the satisfaction view, till you hit the top - so do not give up! When you think you have made it, you just have to keep going.
Take some time for yourself and head up to the mountains to get some fresh air and relax with the scenery. Bring a friend for a nice chat - or, if you have a dog, even better.
Something about water and mountains that relaxes the body. Shogun @ Grassi Lakes
You will come back refreshed and relaxed. Sometimes you just need to unwind and enjoy the bigger picture - nature.
TIME: 2 hours round trip on EASY trail
We started the year off with a super easy hike only 1 hour and 15 minutes from Calgary - north of Canmore. It is super popular, because it is gorgeous, and super short and easy to get to. The paths are well marked and wide enough for your dogs. They do have a portapotty at the base of the hill.
Going early is important, as because it is popular, you can bet that by 11am - you will struggle to find parking. We left Calgary late however, assuming as it was chillier today at 8 degrees, there would be less people. We arrived at around 1030am and it was pretty empty, around 10 vehicles, and as you can tell, there was still some snow on the paths.
This is one of my fave websites for Alberta Hikes, it is more old school: TRAIL PEAK
However this is a newer one called ALL TRAILS with maps included and more updated reviews.
The lake is beautiful and the view is amazing. You arrive at the lake and there are benches for you to rest, snack and enjoy the view. For easy hikers, you make a quick loop around and head back down the same path to the parking lot.
If you like a challenge, up the Lake is a steep path marked difficult.
Up this path is a super steep set of stairs
We love this hike as the end result is beautiful, and it is not strenuous. You also get your 10,000 steps for the day and come back happy and fulfilled. Happy dogs, happy life!
For the first time in 7 years, I make this difficult decision, to stop any more new dogs from booking trials with Sleep Rover.
Since our first Facebook Post in February - there has been an alarming amount of dogs, reporting that their dogs have Kennel Cough for the month of March 2017. We usually average 1 or 2 per season (Spring/Fall) - but within March, we have hit almost 16 dogs. Although we cannot pinpoint blame on any one dog ( as sometimes dogs who do NOT show symptoms, can carry the virus ), we can stop it where possible. Being an airborne virus, it is pretty difficult to 100% rid - but we have been very lucky, the last 7 years, to not see much of it!
The common line with all 16 dogs - is they are new to Sleep Rover within the last year, more so, 12 of them are new for 2017.
With us averaging 10 new dogs per week - many dogs have either:
1) Recently received their Bordetella shot, read more here by Dr. Dobias - how dogs can go without the Bordetella shot and NOT get Kennel Cough (like 3 of my own, who knock on wood, have not gotten the cough). Whereas ones that 'just got the shot' to attend a kennel, or are a puppy, get it within a week to 2 later: https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015065-kennel-cough-vaccine-exposed;
2) Or have not built immunity to the virus yet, therefore showing symptoms, and spreading it.
Although we take precautions every season, with our large Make Up Air Unit and cleaning throughout the day - this airborne virus has become a nuisance to our new clients for the month of March.
Besides breaking our hearts (and yours, hearing your babies cough), and having the virus linger during this FLU Season, we have decided to stop all new dogs from booking for new trials, till we are in the clear.
We have not seen any regular clients come up with symptoms, as most of them, have developed immunity to the virus over the years.
Whether there is a new strain starting, or our new clients have never frequented kennels/offleash parks etc. before, we are not sure.
We just want to be safe. YES it is not mandatory at Sleep Rover to have Bordetella shots yearly, and it has worked wonders over the last 7 years. However with that being said, 14 of the 16 dogs infected, all had their Bordetella Shots. As this is a touchy subject, just like the flu shot, we always leave that choice, to you, the parent.
Please stay tuned to when we lift this NO TRIAL alarm. We are hoping for May 1st.
We are sorry for this inconvenience, but having one of our younger new clients suffer from pneumonia on the weekend and many of you calling this week to inform that your dog is ill, was enough for us to make this difficult decision.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always hear to give suggestions including what to do, during flu season, to make sure Rover, can pass the season unharmed. This includes Oil of Oregano in the beginning of the season, bone broth soups to rinse out their system and extra nutrition added to their meals.
All new clients, your trials will be cancelled for April. Please do reschedule for May when possible. Exceptions can be made for dogs, who have frequented other dog facilities in the past, and built immunity to the virus. Noting you have the Bordetella shot, will not be accepted for new dog trials.
We will be cracking down on ANY hacking or coughing motions by your dog. YOU MUST pick up your dog immediately and not be allowed to return till your have a vet clear, OR 2 weeks, whichever is sooner.
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