PERROS SI
RESIDENCIA CANINA y FELINA LUXURY DOG & CAT BOARDING KENNELS
IN ALMUÑECAR PELUQUERIA CANINA DOG GROOMING
SUPPLIERS OF DIATOMACEOUS EARTH NATURAL
FLEA & TICK TREATMENT
- small family business
- individual care and attention
- lots of exercise and stimulation
- peaceful country location
- easy pick up and drop off from our grooming salon in almunecar
Contact:
Perros Si, Alta del Mar 6 B, Almunecar 18690, Granada, Espana.
Phone 607 235 572
email: claire@perrossi.com
Please scroll down for more dog and cat info. photos
Welcome to Perros Si
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We are a small family run kennels and cattery in the countryside of Almunecar, the Rio Seco Alto, that specialize in dog psychology.
Remaining small, by choice, we are able to offer lots of exercise, stimulation and individual attention.
We offer collection from your home or pick up and drop off from our Dog Grooming Salon in Almunecar town centre.
We also offer various residential courses here in Almunecar, Andalucia, Spain.
Animal Rescue Donation Can You Help? A 10 euro donation will feed 20 dogs/cats for 3 days!
our new kennels in lentegi
our house and kennels in rio seco
Dog psychology is different to dog training. Training involves commands, clickers, shakers etc. come, stay, roll, sit etc. Dog psychology is, trying, as best we can as another animal, to understand how dogs feel, think and what makes them happy and calm as the creature that they are. We have rehabilitated many dogs and changed their bad habits and unwanted behaviour.
Our kennels run like a well-oiled machine. Routine is so important to dogs; they love to know what's going to happen next. Dogs exist in their moment and so if we make their moment predictable, stimulating and fun they can't suffer from separation anxiety.
Dogs communicate with feeling or energy, sniffing, grooming, growling and various body language signals that you would recognize, rolling onto their back, front legs on the ground bum in the air. All of it is communication and quite complicated. If a dog can hear another dog in a high state of anxiety it will feel it too, they all will, and then there will be a general atmosphere of unrest and panic. This is why we don't have owners picking up or dropping off at the kennels, it upsets the other dogs. We keep any coming and going from the kennels to a minimum and so the atmosphere is always calm.
We love people to come and see the kennels as we are very proud of them, but viewing is strictly without your dog so that they don't associate you with the kennels and spend their stay on alert for your return, jumpy at every gate sound or car noise, "is that my Mum?"
We are small by choice and don't have staff just Chris, our son Jack and Myself. That way we know exactly what is going on at all times and so does your dog.
We have 14 rescue dogs of our own but they are part of our family and not for rehoming. We strongly believe that kennels/rescue centre doesn't mix. If you rescue a dog and then return it to the place you rescued it from, it's anxiety level is going to go through the roof, along with all the other dogs in close proximity. If you didn't rescue it from there the atmosphere is going to be so confusing to your dog with all the coming, going and barking he/she wouldn't be feeling good. It's impossible to combine the two and achieve a calm atmosphere for a dog. The costa animal society (C.A.S) in Nerja understands this very well and generates donations and money other ways.
Our philosophy is quite simple; we want a calm and happy environment for the dogs we look after, as the kennels are a major part of our home life. We have a lot of contact with them and they get a lot of playtime. We don't want to be any bigger because we like our home to be our home, a place where we relax and this makes it a home from home for your dogs. It's a win- win situation. We encourage your dog to make dog friends, if this is ok with you, as dogs are pack animals and for the most part like to be with other dogs. Obviously, there are exceptions.
The kennels are built to the same standard as a house. My uncle is an ex police dog trainer in the UK, he is now retired but works part time for the R.S.P.C.A. He came out to Spain to help us design the kennels to a very high standard, not just the buildings themselves but the whole psychological approach to caring for dogs. The thing he likes the best about the design is the fact that the weather is so good that the dogs can be outside all the time, if they wish, where as in the UK they are inside with not much to look at to stimulate them. Here there are cats, birds and my family around all the time. Each individual kennel has it's own inside and outside so that they can choose where they want to be and each house is built to take two great danes so that we are sure anyone smaller has plenty enough room. The inside part has a heating tube but only gets used maybe 4 or5 times a year as it never gets really cold here. If I put mine on, I put theirs on.
The day starts when it is just light and so is around 8.30am in the winter and 7.00am in the summer. The dogs are cleaned out, all houses power washed and sprayed with a three in one disinfectant/insecticide/deodorizer. All poo is cleaned up, fresh water for everyone, breakfast and medication for those who have it and, of course, playtime!
11.30am playtime for an hour or so, if it's raining they all run out, do a pee and run back in as if to say, you play out there! Same when it's really hot they don't like it much so we give them extra time when it's cooled down. In August, we have a paddling pool they can get in and some of them have even invited themselves into the swimming pool! Because the kennels are so close to, and are part of, my home I have a very strict rule of never wanting to see poo laying around and also hygiene/odour levels have to be 100% at all times. This I think is the hardest and most constant part of running a kennels and where most kennels fail miserably, HYGIENE, HYGIENE and HYGIENE.
2.30pm clean, fresh water and playtime.
Dinnertime depends on the time of year, 5.00pm in the winter through to 7.00pm in the summer. We use a quality dry food but you are welcome to use your own if your dog has a special diet or you just don't want to change.
Another clean and big play.
Bedtime is as it gets dark depending on the time of year. Everyone gets a little treat just before bedtime. This routine is law, the dogs who come here regularly love it and the owners can tell, because their dogs love to see us even if they bang into us on the street.
We charge 9 euros per dog per day regardless of size, as a small dog needs as much attention, care and fun as a big dog. Food cost for us is next to nothing as we buy so much it costs us very little. What you are paying for is personal attention to your dog's personality and needs as they are all different. For these reasons, we do not offer discounts because we are not willing to compromise our attention to detail and high standards.
If your dog becomes ill, we use your vet day or night and we don't charge for taking him/her. We have Sunday free, as in no pick up or drop off, we are still working. Saturdays we would prefer not to pick up or drop off as we are a family business, very small and don´t hire staff so Saturday is our only day to do things with the kids liike go to bike tracks etc.
We have plastic beds with little rugs and stainless steel food & water bowls. The first time your dog/cat comes, it's good to bring something that smells of home or you. We need to see your vaccination book but it's better if you hold on to it.
The Cattery
Having been asked, so many times, to please, please take my cat, we have decided to dedicate three bedrooms in our guesthouse! Yes, that's right, guesthouse with underfloor heating. Your cat will have it´s own room that is a home away from home, in-doors, away from dogs and with three-door security. Not caged.
Cats are different to dogs when they stay away from home. Dogs need lots and lots of attention, playtime and other dogs to take their mind off the fact that you are not there. Cats also sleep for up to 18 hours per day, so all this...Oh I've been so busy hunting and stalking, you won't belieive the day I've had Mum! 50 mice I caught.
Is probably poo.
Cats need quiet, calm and for the most part to be left alone. As with the dogs, we look after cats as individuals. For example, I have seven cats that I've rescued, all different ages, some bottle fed and so on. If I put Sox in a cattery he would hide away, want to be alone, attack you if you try to stroke him, but as long as he had food, water and somewhere to hide, he'd be fine. Pixi on the other hand wouldn't be able to get enough lovin'! Tabitha & Ally would just sit there perfectly happy, have a stroke if you're offering but don't care if you don't. Stripe & Casper hate being picked up. They will come and lay near you but don't touch. If they're very asleep, you might get away with a quick pat on the head. Smudge & Junior as soon as you pick them up become floppy, boneless cushions, belly rubs the lot.
That's how we look after cats. The way they want to be looked after.
Cats, given the smallest of opportunity, will escape and they won't come back, therefore security is paramount which is why we have them indoors with three-door security. What this means is that as you enter the first door you close it behind you before opening the second and so on. With dogs, we have two-door security for the same reasons. If everyone sticks to this rule, it is impossible for escape.
As written above, the standard of care and hygiene will be the same for your cat as your dog. As I said, we have seven rescue cats of our own and are quite simply cat mad. We charge 7 euros per day per cat, which includes food, litter and lots of cuddles if they will let us!
Q&A's
What if I want a City & Guilds certification?
That’s no problem. You can still do the course with me and then sit the exam at one of the hundreds of C&G Exam centres in the UK. Whichever school you choose you will have to pay an extra 700 to 1000 euros to sit the exam. The first exam is the 7750-02 Intermediate. You can sit this immediately after completion of the 6-week course. I have had four students follow this route and all have passed with a distinction, all of them run their own business in the UK. The 7750-03 advanced certification exam cannot be taken until you have had 18 months minimum grooming experience, same cost and locations as the 7705-02.
Saying all that you don’t need City & Guilds to be a dog groomer or start your own business. Grooming is an art, it is creative more than it is anything else and how do you qualify art? Who decides? You do need to be excellent, safe and have bucketfuls of integrity.
How long have you been grooming?
I have been grooming for 25 years in total. I started when I was studying to become a child psychologist. Animals and art are very important tools when dealing with children or depressed people. I then became interested in dog psychology also. I didn’t continue in child psychology, I moved into media and worked as a television producer in London, Australia and America (all the time still grooming). While I was working in Los Angeles for 2 years, I met Frank Spitz a poodle and Cairn terrier breeder/exhibitor. With him, I learned all about grooming poodles and Cairns. When I finished in television and started a family, I moved to Devon and worked as a groomer and dog psychologist. We moved to Spain in 2000 and started collecting abandoned dogs and that’s how the kennels grew which naturally evolved into buying the salon. I also worked with Linda Jarrett, a spectacular groomer and true artist at her trade. She used to breed and show Afghans and her dogs have won several very impressive awards over the years including Crufts best in show 1983.
What’s the difference learning in a salon or a grooming school?
Obviously, this is just my opinion but I think the business motivation behind a grooming school is that they are only a school. They need a constant turnover of students and they have to have groups. I find it a bit, move ’em in move ’em out. I can’t imagine learning to groom in a group, even two students at a time is too much and causes competitiveness and anxiety and if you are in any way shy or quieter than your classmates it’s a nightmare. You cannot have the same attention as one on one tuition that is all about you. When you learn in a salon, you are living & experiencing the career you want to have, not talking about it or trying to imagine problems. You are dealing with clients, co-ordination of your time. The list goes on.
Do the maths. If all the grooming schools had the success rate, they say they have, the grooming market place would be saturated and it is not. They have as many students in a month as I have in a year and only half of my students are from the UK. They have to fill those places to earn a living; I already make a living from my salon and kennels. I like to teach and help people change their lives as I did.
Animal Rescue Donation
I have 20 rescue dogs and 30 rescued cats all with a horrible tale to tell. I do not wish to re-home them and I have the facilities to take care of them in terms of space and love. I also feed, worm and front line around 40 stray dogs and cats in my valley, if I can catch them I get them spayed. If you can help with any of the following, the animals and I would be eternally grateful. It is an uncomfortable request to make and some might say you do it, your problem. For that I have no answer, quite right really. It’s just that when they are injured or sick there is nowhere to take them, no alternative to death and I can’t stand it. I don't want to be paid but I could use help with the following:
Food
80 euros a week
Dog & Cat vaccine
Again, I get this at wholesale but it still adds up.
Antibiotics
For cats should they start showing signs of cat flu.
Spaying
45 - 75 euros cat & dog.
Vet bills
Although I get a good discount unexpected illness and injury costs me a fortune.
Donations of: Old blankets for beds. Bags of food.
Many thanks, Claire x
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