This tip is for any of you who have both dogs and cats...

I guess Miss Ella is going to need to stop snacking
on her kitty friend's food at home!

Reprinted from Dogster's Daily Dog Tip:


If you have both a dog and cat living in the same house then you need to be on the lookout for more than your pets chasing each other through the living room. The dietary needs of dogs and cats are much different and your pooch needs to be kept away from the feline food bowl. The strong aroma of cat food can be quite enticing to a grazing dog. Commercially prepared cat foods are very high in protein and fat when compared to dog foods. Besides the obvious effect of weight gain, the richness of cat food can have much more serious effects on a dog if fed regularly. Although the issue of high-protein canine diets is a hot topic and not as simple as is indicated on the nutritional analysis on the side of the pet food bag, you generally do not want your dog eating food that is formulated for cats.
D. P. Hesano is a co-founder of the all-natural online shop FidoDogTreats.com

Another baby!

There are so many babies joining the big All Wags family of recently and so many still on their way! It's so great! Annelise Marie Conrad was born last Monday. Her big doggie sister, Georgia, has been coming to All Wags for years and we are so happy for their whole family! Georgia is going to be a great big doggie sister and we kow that she is loving her new baby sister. Annelise was 7lbs., 15 oz. and 21 inches long. Have you had something big happen in your family that you would like the All Wags family to know about? Send us some photos and let us know what is going on. We would love to feature you in a blog!

Helping a Timid Puppy with Submissive Peeing

Here's a tip from Dogster.com:

Submissive peeing is a sign of apprehension, fear and excitement all in one. The first step for helping your puppy get over it is to ignore her when you first get home. After you have ignored your dog on your arrival, you can reach out to pat her by giving a scratch to her chest, but don't reach over her head to pat her head, since that is a threatening move to a dog who is already timid. Keep the greeting calm, with a quiet, low key voice.

Charlotte Pet Expo- This Saturday

Looking for something fun to do with your pup on Saturday? Well, how about come out to the Charlotte Pet Expo. There's a chance that there is going to be some rain on Saturday, so, good news, the Pet Expo is indoors! The Pet Expo is from 10 am to 6 pm at the Park Exhibition Hall (adjacent to Bojangles Arena on Independence Boulevard). You can find out information on the event at www.charlottepetexpo.com. There will be vendors and activities and all sorts of fun stuff!

A New Life for Ralph

I'm sure you all know of our pal Ralph who has been waiting at All Wags for his forever home. We helped to save Ralph from being put down at an animal shelter and have been waiting and hoping for a fabulous life for him. Well, sweet Ralph the bloodhound has a new forever home and, guess what, his new dad's name is Ralph too! It's like they were made for each other! In Ralph's new family he has a people brother and his new people brother is 17-years-old an in remission from cancer. He has to do an at-home school because of it and that can get pretty lonely. Ralph is going to keep him company and be his new best friend. They are already loving each other! Two lives saved! It's a beautiful thing!

May Issue of the All Wags Newsletter

I hope all of you puppy mamas had a great Mother's Day with your pups and/ or people kids yesterday. For your reading pleasure, the May issue of the All Wags newsletter has been posted to our website. Be sure to check out our dogs of the month, both puppies! There is a great recipe for a "Mutther's" day treat and don't forget the coupon, it's one of our most popular ones! Of course, we have adoptable pets, including a sweet bloodhound who has been staying at All Wags while waiting for his forever home. And... Lots more!!! Remember, if you are not receiving the newsletter via email, let Karen know and we will get you on the email list. Happy May!

5 Ways to Celebrate Mother's Day with your Pup

Reprinted from Dogster.com

Here are some ideas on fun ways to celebrate Mother's Day together. With a little preparation it will be a day to wag about.

1. Go to brunch together! The weather is getting warmer, and that means more restaurants are setting up their patios and sidewalks for al fresco dining. If you live in an area where dogs are allowed to join their people at outdoor tables, sniff around for one that has an appealing menu and will welcome you with your dog. Keep in mind that it may be pretty busy at some of these places on Mother's Day, and call ahead to see if it would be OK to bring your dog. Reservations may be needed. Be open to celebrating on another day; the day before Mother's Day is just as good as the "big day" itself, and you won't have to deal with the crowds. (Prices for just about the same food may well be lower, too.)
2. Get your dog the right duds. Dress your dog up for the holiday with a leash or collar designed with hearts or flowers. It'll brighten your day every time you look at your fur child. 
3. Help your dog send you a card. Dogs may not be very good at taking the car and going shopping, but if they were, you can be assured that yours would buy you a very cool Mother's Day card. The good news is that you can help your dog out with card "shopping" without ever leaving the house. And there are plenty of places to find great doggy Mother's Day cards online. Sloppy Kiss Cards has several very appealing animated Mother's Day cards you can custom design with pictures of your breed of choice, and a message from your dog. Some cards even offer the ability to upload your dog's photo for a highly personalized experience. Sloppy Kiss offers a free 30-day trial, or you pay just $13.95 for a year of unlimited e-cards. Part of the membership fee goes to Petfinder.com, so you can't go wrong.
4. Celebrate with a special bouquet. Since Mother's Day is on a Sunday, you might be able to find a dog-friendly farmer's market in your area with vendors selling beautiful bouquets. Go with your dog and sniff out a bunch of flowers that will brighten your week. (Try not to rely too much on your dog's suggestions, because dogs don't exactly have the best color vision.) Many farmer's markets have stands that prepare tasty local foods, so you can even grab yourselves a fun Mother's Day meal there. If you want a unique bouquet, Dog Lover Gift Baskets offers a very special one this time of year. It's called the Mom & Dog Mother's Day Bouquet. It looks good enough to eat - and it is! The feast for the eyes and tastebuds is a lovely bouquet made up of tasty, all-natural homemade treats for your dog, and delectable chocolates and other sweet yummies for you. It's not cheap ($79.95), but if your dog has deep pockets, it's worth the splurge.
5. Take a great walk together. There's no better gift your dog can give you than the gift of love and health. It's as simple as getting outdoors for a heart-healthy walk. Your dog will love you for the extra time outdoors together. If you already walk a couple of times a day, go for a walk in a park or area you've been wanting to check out. Or pack a picnic and make an afternoon of it. A great way to expand your horizons when looking for fun, new places to walk your dog is to pick up a copy of a Dog Lover's Companion for your area. This award-winning series has highly readable, super helpful guidebooks for several locations throughout the US. Yours will be sure to become dog-eared in no time. What a wonderful way to make Mother's Day last all year.

Is your job participating in Take Your Dog to Work Day?

TodayShow.com is looking for businesses who will be participating in Take Your Dog To Work Day this year. In particular, the site would like to cover businesses who may have unusual plans for pets coming to work.

Are you having a doggie luau, a pet-owner/pet look-a-like contest, etc.? Let us know. Please send your plans to takeyourdog@petsit.com. Be sure to include your contact information. Responses will be shared with TodayShow.com.

If your job is interested in participating and hasn't registered for this year's Take Your Dog To Work Day event, please be sure to download your free action pack today.

Your action pack includes event materials, a sample "dogs at work" policy to share with your boss or HR department, tips for planning a successful workplace event and more.

If you would like your business information shared with media, please be sure to indicate your permission to share your information when you register. Local media coverage of your event is a great way to get your business in the news!

If you have any questions regarding Take Your Dog To Work Day, please contact takeyourdog@petsit.com.


Don't forget to "bark" your calendars for Friday, June 24-the 13th annual celebration of Take Your Dog To Work Day!

Keeping Your Lawn Pet Safe

With the beautiful weather we have been having recently, it looks like spring/summer is officially here to stay! Here is a tip from Dogster.com about how to keep your lawn safe for your pets:


Many of us hire lawn care professionals to help bring an emerald green shade to our grass. But when that same lawn is used by your pooch for play, rest and a place to potty, then special care needs to be taken to make sure that any lawn sprays used are pet-safe.

Many commercial lawn sprays contain herbicides or pesticides which can be very dangerous. Common fertilizers can also cause allergic reactions in some dogs. As those first signs of spring abound, now may be the time to make the switch to organic fertilizers. Common organic fertilizers include bone meal, kelp, seaweed and ever-popular manure. Fortunately, many landscape companies are becoming more aware of the increasing consumer demand for pet- and people-safe lawns and they are utilizing safe grass treatments.