Dogtopia - Dog Daycare & Boarding

Welcome to the October issue of the Happy Tails Dog Spa™ newsletter! We hope this newsletter finds you enjoying the cooler weather, the colorful leaves and the beginning of a relaxing autumn for you and your dog.

The great staff here has been spending their early autumn organizing contests, updating and expanding our programs, building our franchise company into surrounding states and unrolling K-9 Support, Inc. Each month, we seem to get busier and the donations keep rolling in - thanks to dedicated customers like you. Thank you for your continued support!

Open Your Heart to a Rescue Dog
As we all know, the devastated Gulf Coast has left many people and their pets homeless. Our customers have been very generous in donations with K-9 Support, Inc., which supports military service dogs, but we hope you will take the time to consider ways to help pets lost or injured in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Here are recommendations for how you can donate time or money to help those in need:

Happy Tails Dog Spa™ has donated $500 to the hurricane relief effort, in the hopes others will follow. Any support you can provide will make a world of difference.

The Canine Flu
You may have read in recent news about the canine flu. While there is no need to panic, Happy Tails Dog Spa™ wants to remind you to remain aware of the symptoms of the canine flu, which include a high fever and a soft, gagging cough lingering for more than 10 days.

If your dog does contract the flu, please keep her out of day care, dog parks or any place that dogs socialize until she is healthy again and please let us know so we can track how it is affecting the local canine population.

Congratulations to Daria Moore of Reston, Virginia who won our "Name the Newsletter Contest" with her creative entry (drum roll please...) - Off the Leash! Daria won a five-day pass to Happy Tails Dog Spa™ worth $155. She has been a customer for over 2 years, bringing in her adorable Chihuahua/Yorkie/Poodle mix, Noka, for daycare, boarding and grooming services.

Thank you again to everyone who entered. We were pleasantly surprised by the number of witty entries that were received. We had a great time reviewing all of the submissions. The final decision was difficult, as so many people had great ideas. Thank you to all of our newsletter subscribers who took a moment to vote for their favorite name. We are so happy with your choice.

Speaking of contests, get your cameras ready and dress your pooch up for our 1^st Annual Halloween Photo Contest and you could win a great prize! Photos of your costumed pet should be emailed to photos@happytailsdogspa.com or dropped off at our Tysons Corner, Va. location no later than October 24^th. The person who sends in the winning photo will receive 50 Doggie Dollars redeemable toward daycare, boarding or spa services. Our staff can hardly wait to sort through the pictures and vote on our favorite. We are looking for the most creative costume that puts a smile on everyone's faces. All entries will be posted on our website for everyone to enjoy and the winner will be highlighted in our November issue of Off the Leash.

We are all looking forward to a great fall season here at Happy Tails Dog Spa™.

Take care and please have a safe and fun Halloween. I can't wait to see all of those doggie costumes!

Best wishes,
Amy Nichols
President and CEO
Happy Tails Dog Spa™, LLC
Happy To Be Here, Inc

Halloween and Fall Safety Tips

This is an exciting time of year for your dog. The weather is crisp, neighborhood children and pets are outside playing and perhaps you have a couple extra moments to give your dog some additional attention. While we all enjoy the changing leaves and the cooler weather, there are some precautions necessary to make this season a safe and happy one for your dog.

Autumn Safety Tips

Your dog should have a warm and dry area to sleep each night, free from window or door drafts. Make sure your dog has warm comfortable bedding and his or her water isn't too cold.
To avoid fleas this time of year, wash your dog's bedding and vacuum your carpets weekly. Also, make sure your dog is on a monthly flea and tick preventive.
Your dog may require more calories in the cooler months. Talk to your veterinarian about whether or not you should increase the amount of food in the dog dish.

Most dogs shed their summer coats before putting on their winter coat. Make sure to brush your dog often to keep down the amount of hair dust bunnies found in your home.
Antifreeze smells and tastes great to your dog but a very small amount is toxic to his or her health. Thoroughly clean up any spills and store antifreeze in tightly closed containers where your dog cannot access it.
Fall is a great time to plant bulbs outside and begin harvesting household plants, but it is important to keep them out of reach of your dog. Many plants have poisonous berries or leaves hazardous to your dog's health if ingested. The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center provides a list of several harmful plants to beware of.

Halloween Safety Tips

Since children will be ringing your doorbell all night, plan ahead and give your dog a new treat or toy to play with in a room blocked off from the action. Play some music or turn on a television to drown out the noise. The last thing you want is a frightened or over-excited pooch.
Consider keeping your pets at home while trick or treating. Halloween can be scary and stressful to many puppies and adult dogs.
Costumes, while fun, can also be dangerous. Make sure your dog cannot get tangled, choked or otherwise injured in his SuperDog costume. Never leave a dog unattended in his or her costume.

Use safe decorations and keep your dog away from electrical cords. If swallowed, string and ribbon can get caught in your dog's intestines and cause serious harm.
Keep the sweets away from your pet. Chocolate can be toxic and hard candies pose a serious choking hazard. Have some extra special dog-friendly treats on hand to divert attention from the tasty temptations surrounding your dog on Halloween and always store candy on a high shelf. Many dogs can jump right up on a dining room table if the reward is great enough.

1. Walking. Fall is the perfect time of year to take your dog for long walks. The air is cool and the leaves are turning colors.

2. Playing Fetch. Many hunting breeds and terriers are obsessed with chasing and catching balls. It is great for exercise and lots of fun for you and your dog.

3. Obedience Shows. Many people don't realize that even mixed breeds can participate in some obedience shows. Show your well-trained dog off this fall by entering him or her in conformation classes, field trials or obedience shows.

4. Therapy Dogs. If your dog is easy-going and social, consider testing him or her to be used as a therapy dog. Well mannered dogs can be used to visit nursing homes or hospitals to lift spirits. A test called the "Canine Good Citizen (CGC)" is given by many dog trainers and is a good way to determine if your dog will be suitable for and enjoy the activity. It could be rewarding for both you and your dog as residents and patients look forward to the visits.

5. Find the Treat. Put your dog in a "down" stay and then hide treats around the yard. When you say "Go," let your dog run around to find them. This game also works inside on rainy or colder days. Try hiding a treat on another level of the house and watch those working dogs do what they do best.