Rainy Days

We sure have had some crazy rainy days this week! Well, you know that us pups can make a game out of just about anything. Shoes, food, etc. left out are great toys for us, I'm sure you have noticed, we really can have fun with anything. We're sorry about that, by the way, it's just in our nature. Anyway, back to the fun rain! Do you know what fun we can have with a puddle and rain? This is Stella and Maynard playing a great game of tag through the puddles. Isn't it awesome?

What's your favorite summertime activity with your pup?

We want to know! What is your favorite summertime activity with your pup? Go to the All Wags page and take our poll. It's on the bottom right corner of the home page. After you vote, be sure to view results to see  what others like to do with their pups. Right now, walks/runs is the winner, but we know there are more of you out there who need to vote! If your favorite activity isn't one of the choices, be sure to vote "other" and  then leave us a comment and then let us know what yours is. We'd love to know what fun stuff you and your pup are up to this summer!

Beating the Heat at All Wags

It has been so so hot for, what, like a month? More? Well, you can bet that us pups have been looking for fun ways to stay cool. Lucky for us, All Wags has pools, cool flooring, fans, and lots of fun water to play with and to drink. The people love playing with us with the hoses, and I'm sure you all know how deliciously cool a drink is fresh from a hose. Bentley here is getting double duty standing in the pool and getting the hose on his head, he's having a blast and that 90 degree weather is no match for the fun he is enjoying! Bear and River are also enjoying some fun times with the hose. They are just loving having the water sprayed on them and taking those nice, cool drinks! It's got to cool down soon, right? Until then, we've got this covered and we're having a great time during these dog days of summer!

Live Music, Beautiful Scenery and Hanging Out with Your Pup

Do you want something fabulous to do with your pup every Thursday and Saturday throughout the summer? Then be sure to check out the River Jam up at the US National Whitewater Center. It starts at 7pm on Thursdays so you have plenty of time to get out of work and get ready for fun and at 5pm on Saturdays. They have a different band each time, plus food, drinks and you can't beat the views of the water and the woods out there. Plus, the best part is that your pup is welcome to join you! You can watch some music, take a hike, all sorts of great stuff and have a great night out with your best friend!

July Issue of the All Wags Newsletter

I know that many of you puppy parents are off work today for the July 4th holiday. Are you looking for a little light reading? How about perusing the July issue of the All Wags Newsletter. There are some articles in there about different summer health topics and, of course, a delicious treat recipe if you are up to doing some experimenting in the kitchen on your day off. Be sure to also check out our dogs of the month, Spencer & Peyton and Ellie, and read all about how special they are to All Wags. Do you have some extra love to give, how about reading all about Jasmin who is pictured to the left? Her and her feline pal Pete, are waiting at Animal Care and Control for loving homes. Most of all, we hope that you just enjoy it and find it useful and fun. If you have any suggestions or anything that you would like to see in a future issue, just email Mandy & Ella's mama, Kelly. She would love to hear any ideas that you have!

Sitting on a hill with my person

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace."

- Milan Kundera

Hi, everyone, it's Mandy. Rosie let me take over the blog for a day. My mama found the quotation above while she was working on the July All Wags newsletter and our whole family just thinks it is great and so true. Mama, Ella and I actually ended up sitting on a hill yesterday, laying to be exact, and it was definitely a glorious afternoon. The three of us were out for a run and it just got way too hot, so mama decided that we should stop and take a rest on a grassy hill. The three of us just laid there together for a bit and it was just nice and such great time spent together. I hope that you all get a chance to just sit and spend some great time together all you pups and people on this long holiday weekend!

Is your pup afraid of fireworks?

4th of July is this weekend. Is your pup ready? Many pups are afraid of fireworks, even if they aren't afraid of other things like storms. Fireworks just don't happen very often, so it's not like the pups get a chance to get used to them. Imagine if you had no idea what was going on and heard all that noise?! Here are some tips for helping your pup survive fireworks season reprinted from Dogster.

Don’t be afraid to give your dog comfort. Be your dog’s advocate – do whatever you can to make her feel better during the storm.

Consider implementing some sort of a calming aid, such as sound therapy and perhaps a ThunderShirt. 

Avoid taking your dog to a fireworks display.  If you must leave her on the 4th, put her in her safe place and leave soothing music playing in your absence.

Keep your dog on leash at all times when outside for walks or potty breaks, even if you are not near a formal fireworks display, even if you are in your own backyard or neighborhood where she is reliable off the leash.

People may set fireworks off at family BBQs or picnics, so it’s best to leave your dog home if you’ll be attending these events.  If you insist on taking your dog, keep her on leash!  One of the most reliable dogs I ever knew off leash ended up disappearing and never being seen again when someone unexpectedly set off fireworks at a bonfire his owners had attended.  Frightened dogs are unpredictable dogs – use management tools to keep your dog safe.

With these tips, may you all have a fabulous and spectacular 4th of July! Eat lots of hamburgers and hot dogs, if you sneak a bite to your pups no one will tell. It's a celebration!