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Routine lab tests catch hidden health issues early, helping your pet live a longer, healthier life. Schedule preventive screenings today for peace of mind and personalized care.


Beyond Vaccines: Why Routine Lab Testing Is Essential for Your Pet

As summer heats up, so does the risk of dehydration in pets. Dogs and cats, just like humans, need proper hydration to stay healthy, especially in the scorching days of July. Whether heading out for a beach day or just enjoying a backyard BBQ, keeping your furry friends cool, hydrated, and safe is crucial. In this post, we'll explore the signs of dehydration, tips for keeping your pets hydrated, and how your veterinary clinic can help.

Veterinary Advice: Spotting and Preventing Pet Dehydration This Summer

Whether you're a new cat parent or a seasoned pro, this guide has everything you need to help your cat thrive all month.



Ultimate Guide to Cat Care: Keep Your Feline Happy and Healthy

March is Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month - learn how to protect your pets from hidden household dangers like toxic foods, plants, and chemicals. This guide covers key risks, emergency tips, and prevention strategies to keep your furry friends safe.



Toxic to Pets: Household Dangers Every Owner Should Know

As our beloved pets age, their healthcare needs evolve significantly. While regular veterinary care is essential for pets of all ages, senior pets require a more tailored approach to ensure they enjoy a healthy, active life in their golden years. Explore the differences between senior pet wellness and regular veterinary care, highlighting the importance of specialized attention for aging pets.

Understanding Senior Pet Wellness Care: A Guide for Pet Owners

Gardner Animal Care Center

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Proudly serving the citizens of Gardner and it's surrounding areas.


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Since 1988, the goal of the veterinarians and staff at Gardner Animal Care Center has been to assemble and maintain a veterinary health care team committed to providing exceptional client service and veterinary health care. The Gardner Animal Care Center displays an unrivaled commitment to our clients through continuing education, technological advances in veterinary medicine and service, and, most importantly, providing compassionate care to all pets entrusted to us. We care for pets throughout central Massachusetts and serve the areas of Gardner, Fitchburg, Worcester, Leominster, Athol, Rindge, and Keene, NH.

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Obedience training especially helps reduce the risk of a Pet/Pet Parent separation due to the furry companion and human companion not understanding each other. Large numbers of dogs are surrendered to shelters each year because they lacked the initial puppy socialization necessary to get along with other dogs as an adult, or their pet parent didn’t understand them, often specifically their breed characteristics or tendencies. At the GACC, our obedience classes can help you and your pet at any stage of life to have the most enjoyable relationship together. After all, it is said that a dog is a man/woman’s best friend! Our goal is to promote and foster that best friendship for a lifetime. We even offer Therapy Dog Certification so that you and your dog can spread joy, outside your one on one bond, with others in hospitals and nursing homes. Brightening the day of those who truly can benefit from the love a Certified Therapy Dog brings during an on-site visit.What to bring with you to class:Obedience: Plenty of soft training treats, a 4’or 6′ nylon, leather or cloth (non-retractable) leash, and your dog should also we wearing a traditional nylon collar.<ul><li>Puppy Obedience</li><li>Basic Obedience</li><li>Intermediate Obedience</li><li>Advanced Obedience</li><li>CGC (AKC Canine Good Citizen Certification)</li><li>CGC Advanced (AKC Canine Good Citizen Advanced Certification)</li><li>Therapy Dog Training</li></ul>We offer a wide range of dog obedience classes for many varieties of ages and skill levels. “Training a dog is something of a spiritual experience when done properly, a meshing of the instincts and traits of two very different species trying to live together harmoniously.” From the book “The Dogs of Bedlam Farm” by Jon Katz.Welcome to Gardner Animal Care Center’s obedience class! This class is for you and your dog, so please feel free to ask for help with whatever training needs your pet may have.There are no magic recipes or shortcuts to dog training. The only way to have the dog that you want is to use practice, persistence, and patience. Dogs are as different as people are, and what works for one may not work for another. However, all dogs learn through consistent, fair training.Our relationships with our dogs include an obligation to provide leadership. Humans are not put to sleep for failing to provide leadership for their dogs, yet countless dogs are put to sleep. Loving our dogs is not enough. Dogs need a clear delineation of their relative status, and we must honor their need and provide leadership. Leadership is not a clenched fist, but a guiding hand.We offer the following classes:Puppy Obedience Class – 6 weeks – for puppies up to 6 months oldPuppies are like little sponges and they are eager to learn. It is important to use this phase to your advantage, create a solid foundation and learn how to communicate clearly with your dog.This class includes 30 minutes of play time/socialization with other puppies while we take the time to talk about certain problems. We want you to learn a little about animal behavior to be able to properly address any issue you encounter with your dog.Puppy Preschool – 3 weeks for $60 – for puppies aged 8 weeks to 16 weeks.Basic Obedience Class – Level 1 Obedience – 6 weeks – for dogs older than 6 months oldIn this class concentrates on basic obedience commands all taught in a positive learning environment and go over common issues. We emphasize on personalizing the training to the individual students to maximize results.Puppy Preschool – 3 weeks for $60 – for puppies aged 8 weeks to 16 weeks.Intermediate Obedience Class – Level 2 – 6 weeks – next level class after Basic ObedienceIn this class, we concentrate on proofing the basic obedience commands with increased distraction and difficulty. In addition, we will add other useful obedience exercises for your dog to become a reliable companion.Puppy Preschool – 3 weeks for $60 – for puppies aged 8 weeks to 16 weeks.Advanced Obedience Class – Level 3 Obedience – 6 weeks – next level class after Intermediate ObedienceThe primary goal for this class is to slowly get your dog “off leash” while remaining willing and happy to obey.Puppy Preschool – 3 weeks for $60 – for puppies aged 8 weeks to 16 weeks.CGC (Canine Good Citizen) – 4 weeksAlso called Canine Good CitizenPrerequisite:&nbsp;The dog must be friendly and obedient. Intermediate Obedience – Level 2 Obedience- is recommended, but not required.This class is designed to prepare dogs and handlers to learn, master, and test for the ten items on the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen test. On week 4, the participants can actually take the CGC test, at the Gardner Animal Care Center, at no additional charge.All tests are performed on a leash and certificates are given to passing participants. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250805073107/https://www.akc.org/events/cgc/program.cfm">the Canine Good Citizen Program website</a>. To apply for our Canine Good Citizen program,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250805073107/https://gardneranimalcarecenter.com/obedience-agility-form/">click here</a>.Puppy Preschool – 3 weeks for $60 – for puppies aged 8 weeks to 16 weeks.CGCA (Advanced Canine Good Citizen) – 4 weeksAlso called Community Canine Good CitizenPrerequisite: Participants must already have their CGC on file with the AKCThis class is designed to prepare dogs and handlers to learn, master, and test for the ten items on the AKC’s Advanced Canine Good Citizen test. On week 4, the participants can actually take the CGCA test, at the Gardner Animal Care Center, at no additional charge.Puppy Preschool – 3 weeks for $60 – for puppies aged 8 weeks to 16 weeks.Therapy Dog Training – 5 classesPictured below: Rocky Hurley, a Certified Therapy Dog who received his certification at the GACC, visiting the East Brookfield Elementary School.Prerequisite:&nbsp;Dogs must be friendly and obedient, and must enjoy the company of other dogs and people. CGC is recommended, but not required. Dogs must be at least one year old to take the test.These five classes are specially designed to introduce you to the world of therapy dogs. We will build on skills while gaining the knowledge and experience necessary to become a therapy dog team. During the training, we will do an actual visit to a healthcare facility. After completing these classes, students may be ready to take the Alliance of Therapy Dogs test, at GACC, for no additional fees.Puppy Preschool – 3 weeks for $60 – for puppies aged 8 weeks to 16 weeks.

Obedience Training

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We love educating our clients, that's why we have curated and shared posts filled with helpful information regarding pet care.

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Gardner Animal Care Center has been a trusted source of comprehensive veterinary care since 1988.

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Additional Services

General Services

Speciality Services

Get your pet's medications, food, and preventatives delivered straight to your door - fast and easy.


Pharmacy

Pharmacy Home Delivery

Safe, supervised care for your pet while you're away - with plenty of attention, play, and comfort.


Boarding & Daycare

A quick microchip gives your pet a permanent ID and increases their chance of being reunited if lost.


Microchipping

Treat and prevent internal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms with trusted care.


Deworming

Deworming & Parasite Control

Spaying or neutering helps prevent health issues, unwanted litters, and certain behavior challenges.


Spay & Neuter

Protect your pet from fleas, ticks, heartworms, and more with year-round parasite prevention plans.


Parasite Prevention

Get expert guidance on your pet's nutrition, weight, and feeding to support lifelong wellness.


Nutrition & Diet Counseling

Protect your pet from preventable diseases with customized vaccine schedules for every life stage.

Vaccinations

Keep your pet healthy with routine wellness exams, early detection, and personalized care plans.

Wellness Care and Exams

Wellness & Exams

We care for exotic pets with species-specific expertise and heart.


Exotic Pet Care

Non-invasive laser therapy helps reduce pain, speed healing, and improve mobility for pets of all ages.


Obedience Training

Latest Blogs

Beyond Vaccines: Why Routine Lab Testing Is Essential for Your Pet

Veterinary Advice: Spotting and Preventing Pet Dehydration This Summer

Ultimate Guide to Cat Care: Keep Your Feline Happy and Healthy