Scampers Weekly Recap - April 21, 2017
Dear --Valued Customer--
Spring is keeping us all on our toes at Scampers, and we're happy to be welcoming a bunch of new dogs, at both Kirkland and Bellevue. We love being able to share our fun with Newbies, especially when we can spend some time outside in the sunshine!
Watch for the updates of our framed Friday Funny in our reception area.
We'll also make sure they're posted on our Facebook page so you can share them with your friends.
We'll also make sure they're posted on our Facebook page so you can share them with your friends.
We're a pretty close knit group of pooches - we form strong friendships, and we get to know each other very well.
When new pooches join us, we love to introduce them around and get them started in their Scampering adventures - that's why they call us the "Welcome Waggin".
Our Welcome Waggin team has had a fun week with a very nice crew of newbies.
Hudson made himself right at home on Monday, keeping the Bellevue welcome waggin' on their toes. He's a big boy with a big play style! Meanwhile, Zoe C found a great selection of playpals to run with. She's a lovely girl with big brown eyes and a gentle approach to life, but she sure enjoyed romping with Tarzan.
The Kirkland crew was busy welcoming new friends on Tuesday.
Cooper Doodle, a little Mini Australian Labradoodle, was a happy addition to our Littles, while chocolate lab Millie B found herself in good company with our more active, bigger friends, while big senior lab, Tucker, took things a bit easier.
On Wednesday, our new friend was little puppy Winnie, a Retriever Chow mix. She will eventually be a big girl, but as you can see, for now, she's a little pup with big eyes and big ears.
Little Miss Winnie knows how to get some lovin'.
Hey, Peeps, don't forget, if you're curious about how we spend our days and you're not quite sure what those report cards really mean, you can watch the adventures in the photos and videos our wranglers are posting on the Scampers Facebook page.Frenchie Oliver with new BFF Rainier
We've added Instagram to our assortment of Social Media tools. Tag or search #scampersdogs and join in the fun.
Bella and Sadie - near twins, good friends
While our Bellevue shop is nowhere near full - yet - our Kirkland shop is often at capacity. For either shop, whether full or not, it is very important that we know who's coming and when so we can make sure we have enough staff on hand to keep the play safe and fun.
Chris Sugarbaker of Cut-N-Run, mobile groomer extraordinaire will make his next bi-weekly visit to Scampers Kirkland on Tuesday, April 25th.
We haven't found out yet when he'll make his first stop at Scampers Bellevue, but as his availability becomes clear, we'll let you know. A shout-out to our Bellevue clients: let us know if you're interested in scheduling time for your pooch with Chris - we can give him a call and see when he can make the trip.
By the way, Chris' grooming schedule often fills up, so it's important to get your reservations in early.
Gingr Hint: You can set up grooming appointments with our front desk staff, or, if you've created your GingrApp identity, you can set up your reservations now on GingrApp. When you make your daycare reservation, you'll notice the option to select "Additional Services". Choose the service you'd like to add, then confirm by clicking the blue bar on the right, then choose the date (again), and choose from one of the times available.
Please Navigate our Parking Lots with Caution!
Remember, there are dogs crossing. And people.
And, in our Bellevue lot, which is shared with a car dealership, we've noticed there are many non-Scampers drivers (some of them have obviously never walked a dog) and, from what we've observed, they're all frustrated Formula 1 drivers.
PLEASE take care when navigating our parking lots, whether you're doing the walking or the driving. We sure don't want any nasty accidents!
Our Website - Useful Links
Our Gallery is populated by our Instagram activity.
And you'll find the link to our Weekly Recaps under News Nibbles, with any special announcements, and access to all the archived newsletters.
We have been using our web-based kennel management system for just over a year, and many of our customers have signed on to use the system as well, although we have learned that some customers are not finding the interface as simple as expected.
We suspect that's because its name is GingrApp, but it's not actually an "app" that can be downloaded, rather it is more like a web portal. The portal is simply a URL where you can log in, create a password protected door to the customer side of your account, and participate in managing your pooches' care at Scampers.
(One important caveat for Internet Explorer users - please use a different browser for using Gingr. We have been told the site does not work at all (it breaks!) on Internet Explorer. We are not sure if that issue has been resolved, so better safe than frustrated!)
You can access the Gingr URL through the email message you received when you enrolled your dog or through the link at the top of Scampers' website:
Use the email address or cell phone number that you registered with us at the time of enrollment.
The first time you log in to the portal you'll receive a confirmation email which will invite you to create your password.
From here, you can upload files and photos, request reservations for daycare, boarding and grooming, and make changes to those reservations as plans change.
We think the interface is clean and tidy and easy to use, but if you have any difficulties at all, please let us know and we'll do our best to help you. And we welcome your feedback.
You can also very easily set up recurring reservations. And, as your schedule changes, you can easily change your recurring reservation - it's a simple edit.
If you have a reservation for daycare, whether it's set up as recurring or a one-off, if you find you won't need it, please do give us a call, drop us a line, or go online to cancel it.
The Convenience Factor - Credit Card on File
We have learned that processing payment transactions is significantly faster for those of our clients who have set up a credit card on file. The speed of the swiping component slows the process down just a little.
We have also learned that the credit card swiping component is not able to read the data stripe on some branded credit cards, for example REI or Nordstroms branded cards, although we are able to manually enter the card number.
For our clients using those cards, setting up the credit card on file is a perfect solution. (Don't worry - the Gingr people have made sure those card numbers are thoroughly encrypted!)
A little less convenient, but a little more secure:
One more thing we've learned just recently is that it matters which of the Scampers shops is identified as your "home location", as the credit card on file DOES NOT carry over. This is a feature, not a bug, as the credit card information would not be secure if it transported from your home location.
Our boarding facilities at both locations have been busy this year. Remember to get your boarding requests in early, especially over the holidays and long weekends, to make sure there's room enough for your pooches.
Your boarding requests can be submitted via GingrApp, or you can give us a call to check and see if there's space available. Remember, if our boarding facility at Kirkland is full, there may be space available at our Bellevue shop.
Samson is a frequent Scampers boarder. Here he is greeting the morning staff with his great big grin!
Boarding Drop Off Times
We ask that boarders be dropped off before noon, although exceptions can be made in case of an emergency.
Arriving at Scampers is very stimulating for your pooches - even after a busy day of adventuring elsewhere - and it takes several hours for the incomers to settle down. And one stimulated pooch means a whole houseful of stimulated pooches!
One of the reasons that Scampers boarding facilities works well for most of our guests is that the guests are good and tired after a day of playing, roving and sniffing. Of course, a tired dog is a good dog!
Give em a quick stroll first, please!
Remember, arriving at daycare is extra-stimulating. We often have pooches empty out in the lobby because they just can't contain themselves any longer!
If you're bringing you pooch into Scampers after a long car ride, please give them a quick toodle around the bushes or pillars before bringing them inside.
Any poops can be delivered to the green garbage cans - if you need a poop bag, just pop in and ask for one!
We know how much you love your furbabies - that's why you bring them to Scampers, after all. But please remember that very few dogs require more than two meals per day, and for many, one is enough.
We happily provide meal service for very young puppies who really do need a mid-day meal to support their growing bodies, and for dogs whose veterinarians prescribe a mid-day meal, e.g., dogs on certain medications or who have metabolic, gastric, or intestinal conditions; otherwise, however, if your pooch is over 6 months old, please do not bring snacks and meals for them.
Frankly, we're having a tough time staffing for the demand lately, and because so many on our lunch list don't really need a meal, they're reluctant to eat, and our staffers are hand feeding them, coaxing them, singing to them... They really don't need it, honest!
Every once in a while we receive a photo from one of our customers showing us what their beloveds are doing after their day at Scampers.
We've seen many of our Scampers families expand recently, and we're looking for pics of our campers tending to their new humans. We hope we'll see lots more baby and pooch pictures! Click here to send your pics in via email.
Karsen was introduced to new baby sister, Hayden.
He's doing a great job of being a girl's best friend.
He's doing a great job of being a girl's best friend.
Maggie O as Big Sister - she takes her job very seriously.
Here's Aussie Ozzie O
looking after his new baby, Tali.
What a beautiful pair!
looking after his new baby, Tali.
What a beautiful pair!
Sophie the Bernedoodle must have been
just too tired to pull her tongue all the way back in
after collecting her kisses.
Hank's mom tells us he always has
more energy when he gets home.
Apparently, not this time!
more energy when he gets home.
Apparently, not this time!
George loves his chickens.
They make great pillows.
They make great pillows.
Apparently, young English Setter Leica is getting lots of exercise when she comes to Scampers. Here's what she looks like at home.
Bliss is a place to rest my head,
a hand to stroke my neck.
a hand to stroke my neck.
This category of owner-contributed pics features dogs enjoying their extracurricular fun.
This is where we'll post the pics we've received of your pooches enjoying summer vacations, beach roaming, ball games, and any other such general exploring.
We sure got a kick out of seeing this picture of puppy Sherman. He's gotten really big. He's quite sure he's much too big for bunny ears, but we think he wears them well.
Leica was an important member of the wedding party for Sara and Robby.
Morgan, our Mid-day cleaner, is very proud of her dog, Tracy, who is now a certified Reading With Rover dog. Tracy enjoys calmly listening as the children read their books.
Little Miss Chomchom is all dressed up and ready for her tromp around Whistler.
We have also received some great shots documenting "The Real Reason" you bring your furkids to Scampers.
Ripley S' mom doesn't usually maintain
an open-door policy for her home office.
And this would be the reason.
an open-door policy for her home office.
And this would be the reason.
Pretty Abby G is a very helpful pooch indeed. This lovely picture shows her effort at helping to unpack mysterious things at the office.
A gentle reminder that Scampers daycare hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, and our weekend and holiday daycare hours are by appointment only, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Canine Nosework Classes at Scampers
Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and an inborn desire to hunt. The sport of K9 Nose Work is designed to develop the natural scenting abilities of your dog by using their passion for hunting and their love of toys, food and exercise.
It's a great class for your dog to have fun, build confidence, and burn lots of mental and physical energy and you get to find out just how good your dog's nose is.
Vicki Francks, owner of Cascade Canines continues offering K9 Nose Work Classes using Scampers facility. If you'd like some information on the next round of classes, give Vicki a call at 206-849-7643. More information is also available as Scampers front desk.
It's a great class for your dog to have fun, build confidence, and burn lots of mental and physical energy and you get to find out just how good your dog's nose is.
Vicki Francks, owner of Cascade Canines continues offering K9 Nose Work Classes using Scampers facility. If you'd like some information on the next round of classes, give Vicki a call at 206-849-7643. More information is also available as Scampers front desk.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Very best regards,
Linda Olsen and Stina Hughes
Scampers Daycamp for Dogs
Scampers Daycamp for Dogs
Play all day - go home happy.
12532 124th Street NE Kirkland, WA 98034
T 425-821-9100 | F 425-821-4685
T 425-821-9100 | F 425-821-4685
