Want to get in one more tax deduction before the end of the year?

Are you looking to get in one more tax deduction before the end of the year? Consider a tax-deductible charitable donation to an animal welfare group. The Humane Society of the United States has a goal of raising $1.2 million by the time the clock strikes midnight tonight and they are pretty close. You can help them reach that goal and help out animals all over our country by clicking here. Want to keep your donations more local? Then how about a local animal rescue, The Humane Society of Charlotte and Hounds4Heroes both accept online donations so you can get them in today still so it would count toward 2010. Do you have any suggestions for organizations? Please share!

Not sure if the story is true, but the photo sure is cute!

We got emailed this story and photo and story today and who knows if the story if even true but the photo is adorable and definitely worth sharing! The supposed story behind this photo is that a dog-owner in Maryland came home from work to find this scene and figures that the fawn followed the dog into the house through the doggie door. It seem possible, we guess, but more importantly the fawn and the dog snuggled up together are just adorable! If anyone has any way to verify this story, let us know, something interesting definitely happened here!

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

We hope that you have had a delightful Christmas Day with your pups (or, if your pups are staying with us, we hope that you are enjoying your time away with other loved ones)! What sort of special stuff did you do for your pups today? Any fabulous presents or special meals? We'd love to know! We love hearing all about the All Wags pups' fabulous lives. Did your pup get their Christmas gift from All Wags? Please let us know if not. Dookie here is loving his new toy and his mama says that he hasn't put it down since he got it. Don't you just love the sound of your pup squeaking a new toy? It's definitely music to our ears, the music of puppy joy!

Holiday Hours

We hope that you are all enjoying your Christmas Eve! All Wags is closed today for daycare but we will be open for boarding drop-offs if your pup will be spending Christmas with us. Tomorrow on Christmas day we are going to be closed and won't be doing drop-offs or pick-ups from boarding. We will be busy celebrating Christmas with the boarding pups all day and getting lots of Christmas snuggles! For New Years next weekend, we are going to be open for a regular day on New Years Eve and then we will be closed on New Years Day. As always, if you have questions, please ask! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The holidays are a time for friends!

We've really been enjoying receiving your holiday gifts and cards! We are so happy to be included in your holiday festivities and that you think of us. Everyone at All Wags just feels so special right about now. The holidays are so much about family and friends and we are happy to be both of those things. All Wags is such a great place to make new friends, just like Bella, Sammy and Holmes here. There's nothing like a good snuggle-fest among new friends!

A Puppy's Christmas

It's the day before Christmas
And all through the house
The puppies are squeaking
An old rubber mouse.

The wreath which had merrily
Hung on the door
Is scattered in pieces
All over the floor.

 

The stockings that hung
In a neat little row
Now boast a hole in
Each one of the toes.

The tree was subjected
To bright-eyed whims,
And now, although splendid,
It's missing some limbs.

I catch them and hold them.

"Be good", I insist.
They lick me, then run off
To see what they've missed.

And now as I watch them
The thought comes to me,
That theirs is the spirit
That Christmas should be.

Should children and puppies
Yet show us the way,
And teach us the joy
That should come with this day?

Could they bring the message
That's written above,
And tell us that, most of all
Christmas is love.

Potty-training tips for pups who want to "mark" the Christmas Tree!

Does your pup take one look at that Chistmas Tree and start doing to potty dance? I mean, they do their business on trees outside, why can't they do their business on the tree that you brought inside? Seems convenient to them, right? Well, here are 8 tips to try from Dogster.com... Good Luck!

1. Management and supervision – Your dog should never have unsupervised access to the Christmas tree.  If you are unable to supervise him in the presence of the tree, he must be crated or gated elsewhere in the house.  Do not hesitate to go back to the potty training basics you learned of crating, gating, and tethering when you are not able to train or supervise.
2. Know the signs – Many dogs offer “pre-indicator behaviors” – behaviors that are offered consistently before the event as a kind of “tell” that the dog needs to eliminate.  This can be sniffing around, scratching at the ground, turning in circles, or even approaching the tree.  If you notice any indicator behaviors from your dog, get him out for a potty break right away!
3. Reinforce success – While you’re working on this, build a strong reinforcement history (with toys, food, and/or life rewards) for appropriate elimination outside.
4. Click and treat the absence of the behavior.  If your dog approaches the tree, sniffs it, and walks away, click and treat him!  This is the behavior we want!
5. Consider keeping your dog on a “traffic lead.”  A traffic lead is a very short leash, basically just a handle with a clasp.  If your dog will not recall reliably under every conceivable circumstance, a traffic lead may not be a bad idea.  It will ensure you are able to get your dog out quickly if you DO notice him going toward the tree as if to mark.
6. Find out your dog’s schedule.  What times of the day does your dog normally eliminate?  Provide plenty of opportunities for outside potty breaks during this time.
7. Remember what events might trigger a dog’s need to relieve himself – In general, dogs tend to eliminate after: naps, playtime, eating and/or drinking.
8. Consider use of a belly band - Belly bands are snug fitting fabric bands which are wrapped around a dog’s lower torso.  They are fitted with absorbent pads so that if your dog does mark, the liquid will be absorbed by the pad and not the beautiful, pristine white  beard of your favorite pirate Santa ornament.  You can make belly bands or purchase them online.  A google search for “dog belly band” should bring up all the information you need.  Belly bands are certainly management tools more than anything, they will not train your dog to avoid peeing on the tree but they will ensure that if management slips up, your tree remains pristine.

Happy Birthday Thank YOU from Miss Rosie!

Happy Friday All Wags family and friends! Do you know what else today is? Today is my 3rd birthday! Can you believe it? I wanted to thank you all for being such a great family to me. I have been coming to All Wags since I was 6 weeks old and my mama, Karen, got me as a surprise from my dad, Robin. All Wags is my home and I have gotten to know and love all of you. I am such a super lucky pup to have all of these great people and such a great place in my life!

Calling all Lab Lovers!!

Lucky Labs Rescue is in desperate need of good foster homes.  Due to the economy, they are seeing record numbers of Labrador Retriever and Labrador mixes in need of rescue both from Animal Control and private families.  A good foster paves the way to an easy and permanent adoption.  All dogs are fully vetted and provided with everything the foster family needs to care for the dog.  Average foster time is 4 weeks.  To open your home to an appreciative lab or to receive more information please fill out an application on their website at www.luckylabsrescue.com or email us at labladies@gmail.com.  Without foster families to help, we would not be able to rescue as many dogs! All Wags is a foster home for Lucky Labs Rescue and we love working with them and we know you will too if you are able to help!

December Issue of the All Wags Newsletter

The Holiday season is upon us and so is the December issue of the All Wags newsletter! It's just what you need to get yourself and your pups in the holiday spirit. Be sure to read all about our dogs of the month: Misty, Jake and Rocco. Also, as a holiday treat for our customers we're bringing back our most popular coupon. You'll have to peruse the newsletter to see what your holiday surprise savings are, so head on over to the All Wags website and happy reading!

All We Want for Christmas is to Find a Good Home!

We have been so blessed thus far...our homeless mom gave birth to us in a cave-like hole beside an old creek bed near the Town of Waxhaw Public Services Dept. Their staff rescued us and have taken great care of us but it’s time for us to venture out on our own! Our family consists of 5 girls and 4 boys. We are completely weaned, have had our first puppy shot and have been wormed. Our rescuers are even offering a bag of puppy chow to go with each of us. All they ask is that we each go to a good home!

If you are interested in making our Christmas wish come true, please contact our foster parents.
704-843-7439 or 704-622-0583

Contact Amy at www.K9sUnleashed.com for discounted Puppy Lessons! 704-243-0920