Welcome to the Shorelines only women’s public golf league!

Eleven years ago a gentleman walked into my grooming shop in Guilford looking for donation of blue bird boxes for a marshy area in the soon to be opened Guilford Lakes Golf Course. “I have a lot of animal and wildlife connections and happened to know a bird house builder”

I was so excited to hear Guilford Lakes was finally reopeneing! My first question was “Is there a women’s golf league??”

“Well no, he replied. Why don’t you start one?

“Alright I will!”

This man hooked me up with Guilford Lakes and helped me set up my first league. That year I had 12 women sign up and the rest is history.

Last year I had 40 registered golfers and I couldn’t run the whole shebang without Suzanne Christian, Michele Vejar and Flo Farrelly.

We play the links on Tuesday evenings and our tee times are between 4:30 and 5:30. I try to send everyone out in foursomes but you do not need to join with a partner or a group of four. I will match you up with other people who are ready to play when you are! It is a great way to meet new people.

This course is challenging so you should always bring extra balls.

We play straight golf with no handicaps and beginners are always welcome.

Our season runs 9 weeks starting on May 11^th right through June 29^th with our annual tournament on July 13^th!!

Rain dates can be made up any time during the season and I do collect the scorecards. Suzanne will chart and post your scores so you can watch your progression!!

So keep your eye on the birdies down at Guilford Lakes Golf Course- it’s just a three putt away!

If you would like me to e-mail you our flyer and registration papers please write to me at Twycat@aol.com and mention women’s golf in the subject.

I can also be reached by phone at work 203-458-7946

Oh! We always have a kick off party at the Chowder Pot in Branford! Come and meet everyone you will be playing with, see pictures from past seasons and get the scoop on the rules and regulations. This is a fun, fun league.

APRIL 20^TH AT 7 P.M. AT THE Chowder pot in Branford- all welcome!

$10 registration fee and $20 league fee gets you in the league- then you just have to pay the golf course ( their price will be announced, but generally they have us pay for have of the season up front and the other half, half way through)

It’s funny. I used to get mad at people that would breed their “under breed standard” dogs. You know what I mean, those pure bred dogs that look nothing like the breed?? The 50 pound pugs, a poodle or bishon with straight hair, and the ever popular nasty dogs that bite!! If your female Springer has a tendency to bite people, do not breed her!!  Those people just wanted to turn a buck, to hell with good breeding and breed standards.

Enter the “Designer Dogs” To think that people honestly think they are buying a new breed is insanity! I have customers telling me “The breeder said that our “lasashitenpoo” will be AKC register able soon” is sinful. If you run across any one trying to sell you a mix breed by stating that it will soon be a breed that can be in the show ring, run.

Maybe I can sell you a bridge.

Here is a little doggie history; in the 1960’s, a poodle and a cocker spaniel had puppies. Someone nick- named the mix breed puppies “cockapoo’s”. To this day they still cannot be registered with the American Kennel Club Association because they are a mix of two breeds.
Strictly speaking the cockapoo, even having been around for 40 years cannot be called a pure bred dog because they do not “breed true”.  In other words they inherit the characteristics of either or both of the parents. Even if you breed a cocker / poodle mix to another cocker/ poodle mix you may or may not get puppies that look like the parents.

Another sneaky selling point that is not entirely true is this “hypo allergenic” dogs. Just because someone stuck a “poo” or an “oodle “at the end of a mix breeds’ name does not make it hypoallergenic. And look out for those that go as far as starting a kennel club for their particular mix breed that does nothing to make the puppy’s breed more legitimate.

There are also people that will change the dog’s heritage to fit your wants and needs. If your heart is set on a Maltese mix, you can be handed a number of small white mix breeds and be told that the puppy has Maltese in it, but they do not.  The vet can do a cheap blood test and actually tell you what kind of mix breed you have, than you can make up your own funny name. My friend Val wants to mix a Newfoundland and a poodle and sell them as “Noodles”!

Don’t get me wrong, some of my best friends are mix breeds. Mutts make great pets. Truthfully a reputable breeder would not sell their puppies to a pet shop. Pet shops buy mix breed puppies from all over the country for about $50 to $100 and sell them to you for a thousand. If you have a G- note to spend, go to the animal shelter, the humane society or the pound and save a life. (And your money) We as a country should not be supporting an industry that is filling our dog pounds. They are fun to groom though….

The skin is the largest single organ of the body. When you dog’s skin is irritated you both suffer. Itching, chewing and shedding are the three major complaints made by dog owners to their groomers and veterinarians.

Common Symptoms that something is amiss.

1. Itching

2. Chewing

3. Dandruff

4. Smelly discolored skin

5. Recurrent ear infections

6. Hot spots

Having seen all of the above symptoms doggedly, I would first check for a flea allergy or just plain fleas!

The second ailment that comes to mind is hypothyroidism. This is (basically) when the thyroid gland doesn’t secrete enough hormones to control the metabolic rate. Other symptoms include weight gain, hair loss, darkening of the skin or scaly skin. Ear infections too. A trip to the vet is required here! This will cost you a blood test. Once you know what you are up against there are gentle shampoos, skin-conditioning sprays that help to topically make your dog feel better.

Some dogs have the look of a systemic yeast infection. The have chewed their feet and the base of their tail. The ears will reek and you can see a yellow crust cropping up not only in the ears but also between the toes and sometimes anywhere the skin flaps over itself.

Usually diet is a culprit. Yeast, fungus and bacteria are normal critters that live in the body. There is no single factor to blame for an upset in the balance between good bacteria and bad. Poor nutrition from cheapo dog food could be a factor as well as repeated use of antibiotics.

What to do? Once again hit up the vet. For immediate relief I use a medicated shampoo made just for dogs. A soothing, warm bath with aloe, oatmeal or tea tree oil does wonders. While ion the tub, message your dog from heat to tail, giving the shampoo’s ingredients time to soak in and heal the skin. I recommend an all-natural rinse of baking soda and water or apple cedar vinegar and water. One teaspoon per gallon of warm water poured over the dog and pat dry.

There is nothing worse than going in for a belly rub you notice that your dog has fleas! The best way to attack is on all fronts. A flea shampoo followed by a flea dip is a good start. You must treat the house- the whole house. A female flea drops 20 to 30 thousand eggs at a clip. And I do mean drop. They drop off everywhere the dog goes and hatch on every surface. That includes tile and hard wood. If you do not bomb every inch of your house, you will be doomed. Keep using your Frontline regularly- right through the winter. The inside of your house, on your dog’s body is the perfect place for vacationing flea families! And remember, fleas can hang out for three months with out eating so don’t skip the frontline.

I have many different products to treat the outside of your dogs’ skin. It is always good to treat the inside as well. A teaspoon of apple cedar vinegar in his freshened water every day can help as well as offering him a spoonful of plain yogurt. Those live cultures do wonders for the digestive tract. Avoid dog food with the words “by- products” which mean beaks, feet and feathers. Check your label for dyes too.

There are many ways to help your dogs’ ailing skin. If you find yourself lifting your dogs ear and saying “eeeewwww!’ than call your local groomer or give me a call anytime! Aimee at Aimee’s’ Hair of the Dog

203-458-7946

]]> http://www.shorelineoutandabout.com/demo/blog/2009/09/eeeew-and-your-dogs%e2%80%99-skin/feed/ 0 http://www.shorelineoutandabout.com/demo/blog/2009/09/aimee%e2%80%99s-hair-of-the-dog/ http://www.shorelineoutandabout.com/demo/blog/2009/09/aimee%e2%80%99s-hair-of-the-dog/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:44:58 +0000 Aimee Twyford http://www.shorelineoutandabout.com/demo/?p=407 Growing up in Branford I was always the animal lover. I had snakes, baby birds, bunnies, mice and kittens. I also rode Arabs at Hickory Hill Horse Haven at the end of my street. In 1985 I started working at the Perfect Pooch (Could that be?). The three women working there were the top groomers’ [...]]]>

Growing up in Branford I was always the animal lover. I had snakes, baby birds, bunnies, mice and kittens. I also rode Arabs at Hickory Hill Horse Haven at the end of my street.

In 1985 I started working at the Perfect Pooch (Could that be?). The three women working there were the top groomers’ in the state of Connecticut and trained me in every aspect of pet grooming; By the book, by the rules, and the correct way. I apprenticed for 2 years before becoming a full time professional pet groomer. The Grand Opening of Aimee’s Hair of the Dog was in Guilford. And when I say I opened, I mean I built the space. The basement of Peppers’ was wet and moldy! I scrapped out the old carpet, my brother did the framing… well you get the picture. I even used the wooden box my bathtub came in as my front desk! I worked at Peppers General Store For Animals and volunteered for every animal agency within 50 miles. I also tended bar, stuffed envelopes and did telemarketing to make ends meet.

Ahhh, …… I cannot believe how beautiful the store is that I own now! One thousand square feet and windows all around! I love my grooming salon, which is on the green, in Guilford.

You may see me on the Branford access channel, Live with Pete Lombard, grooming homeless dogs to help out the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter. You also may see me grooming dogs live on the Better Connecticut Show with Scot Haney- dogs from local all breed rescue clubs. You will definitely see me with my girl scout troop volunteering around Branford. Best of all, I hope you see me on the Shoreline Out and About website talking about dogs, cats, and oh- yeah, food.

Aimee’s’ Hair of the Dog

203-458-7946