Get excited for Carolina Panthers Spirit Day at All Wags North!

New Year's Resolutions for Dog's Sake (reprinted from The Bark)

Years ago, my sister’s New Year’s resolution was to give up New Year’s resolutions, and she was one of the few people who stuck to her plan. (Success rates are generally less than 10%.) Her secret was resolving to do something that she wanted to do anyway. If your resolutions for 2014 are dog-related, make success more likely by choosing to focus on one or a few things that are of real interest to you.

Simple ideas for dog-related resolutions are plentiful. Here are 10 possibilities.

1. Leave that cell phone in your pocket on walks so that you are truly present and spending time with your dog. It’s the time you spend together that builds the relationship, and this is one of the easiest ways to enjoy each other’s company.

2. Try a new activity with your dog. Classes in agility, tracking, fly ball are common in many areas. Hiking, weight pulling, dock jumping, herding, lure coursing and canine freestyle are just a few of the other possibilities.

3. Provide better nutrition for your dog. This is a big task for most of us, but even a few simple steps can make a difference. Try a higher quality dog food, add fresh vegetables to your dog’s diet or vow to measure your dog’s food for every meal so there’s no risk of overfeeding.

4. Give back to the canine community. There are so many ways to help out such as walking an elderly neighbor’s dog, volunteering at a shelter or rescue, fostering a dog, or giving money to an organization that improves the lives of animals.

5. Teach your dog something new. Practical training skills such as walking nicely on a leash, waiting at the door or a solid stay all pay big dividends. Other possibilities are to teach your dog a new game so you can play together more. Fetch, tug, find it, hide and seek, and chase games are all options, though depending on your dog, not every game may be a good fit.

6. Make plans for your dog in the event that you die first. Financial planning so you can provide for your dog when you are no longer here as well as making arrangements for someone to be the guardian for your dog are two important steps.

7. Give your dog more exercise. This can be daunting so plan to make one small improvement to start. Perhaps add 10 minutes to a weekend walk or set up a play date with a dog buddy a couple of times a month. When it comes to increasing activity, every little bit helps, so taking one step in the right direction is a wonderful goal at this, or any, time of year.

8. Take better care of your dog’s teeth. Consult with your veterinarian about a dental cleaning or about brushing at home. Dental care helps improve overall health and can make your dog’s breath more pleasant, too.

9. Make plans in case of a medical emergency. Whether it is putting aside a little in savings each month or investigating pet insurance, the peace of mind that you’ve got it covered in the event of an emergency is worth a lot.

10. Go new places with your pet. Novelty is great fun for most dogs, so try to go a few new places this year. Perhaps a new pet store or a new hiking trail will provide your dog with an experience that is really enjoyable.

Love them or hate them, New Year’s resolutions are common this time of year. Do your plans for 2014 include any dog-oriented New Year’s resolutions?

http://thebark.com/content/new-years-resolutions-dogs-sake

Introducing Love That Dog Charlotte!

All Wags North is now going to be partnering with Love That Dog Charlotte and we are so excited! Katy Johnson is a certified trainer through the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers (CPDT) and an Honors Graduate of Animal Behavior College. She is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), and an AKC CGC Evaluator. She offers Puppy Classes, Advanced Classes, and Private In-Home Lessons. Ask at the front desk or e-mail her directly for schedule information and pricing.

Katy Johnson, CPDT, ABCT, MAT, AKC EVALUATOR, MEMBER APDT sitstay5@yahoo.com 815-519-7193 

Happy Birthday Bailey!!

Today is a very special day! It's Bailey Grace's 7th birthday! If you see her at All Wags North today, be sure to wish her a very happy birthday! Bailey definitely got lucky when her puppy parents opened a doggie daycare, I mean what pup wouldn't want to "own" a doggie daycare and get to go to work with her mama every single day? She was a rambunctious puppy who went through a chewing phase but she has become a wonderful and amazing dog who loves life! Enjoy your day, Bailey!

All Wags North Employees "Just Wanna Have Fun"

For the employees of All Wags North, it's not all work and no play! Karen loves her employees as much as she loves her customers and has been holding an annual staff appreciation pool party at her house since she first got into the doggie daycare business. This annual pool party was this past Sunday and was a fun way for the employees to bond and become even more of a family. If you notice some sunburns on our employees, this is why! Thank you to the amazing employees of All Wags North for taking such great care of the pups!

Sale coming up!

So, yes, we are teasing you all just a bit... Have you liked us on Facebook yet? Ok, if not, here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/AllWagsDoggieDaycareBoardingNorth?fref=ts . On Wednesday we are going to have a special sale on passes, but here is the catch.. You have to Like on on Facebook! We'll be announcing the sale and all the details on Wednesday on our Facebook page. We hope to see you there!

Helping Paws Dog Show- This Saturday!