Dogtopia - Dog Daycare & Boarding

Our newsletter was on hiatus for the summer, but now that the summer boarding season is over and everyone is back to school and work, so are we!

This is not to say that we have not been busy working, because we certainly have! While our corporate locations in Maryland and Virginia reached new highs in attendance, our franchise company, Happy To Be Here, has also been busy growing and developing.

Our biggest news is that despite great efforts to avoid it, we have decided to change our name. While we love the name Happy Tails Dog Spa™, the problem is that many other business owners do as well. The name "Happy Tails" has just become too common across the country and we would not be able to legally protect it. We have worked very hard over the years to develop a solid reputation as a first-rate animal care facility and we want to insure that it is protected. Through a long and varied search, we chose the name "Dogtopia." It is a combination of utopia, meaning "ideal place," and dog. We think it suits us perfectly! Happytailsdogspa.com will continue to be active for the foreseeable future, but going forward we will be advertising dogdaycare.com as our website to go along with our new name. All the same functionality will continue to be available to you including the very popular photo galleries and web cams.

You can expect even more fun features as we can continue to develop the website - including both video and audio. We have recently been featured on Fox 5 News as well as the Retirement Living Network. The dogs had a fabulous time getting baths and "pawdicures" for the cameras, as well as generally just hamming it up in daycare. Learn more about our FOX 5 appearance below and, look for both features on our website in the near future. Thank you to all the parents for bringing in your "kids" on these days - they were stars!

Lastly, I would like to let everyone know about a new partner we have just brought on to help us grow our franchise system. The Findley Group is based in Waco, TX and specializes in consulting and assisting new franchisors. They will be assisting us with sales, advertising, territory creation, and technology development. The Findley Group was founded by Gary Findley, the former President of Curves International. Gary helped grow the Curves franchise from 3 units to 8,000 before retiring in 2004! He didn't stay "retired" for long, and now finds helping young concepts very fulfilling. We are thrilled to be working with the Findley Group, and can't wait to share the exciting developments!

Our newest location in White Flint, MD recently played host to Tony Perkins, of FOX 5 News. The witty weatherman recently returned to the Washington, D.C. area after a successful stint on "Good Morning America."

Each Wednesday FOX 5 Morning features "Let Tony Try It". Tony takes a shot at a new job each week. Tony's done everything from canning peaches to serving drinks at Redskins Park, but nothing really compares to playing in a roomful of our "kids". We were sure to train Tony on every aspect of the job, including making breakfasts, taking the dogs outside, checking-in clients and even giving a paw-dicure. The entire FOX 5 team was a pleasure to meet and great footage of the morning can be seen here: "Let Tony Try It- Happy Tails Dog Spa".

Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is a time of fun and excitement for everyone. However, for many family pets, it can be a time filled with stress and anxiety. To ensure that your dog is safe and happy this Halloween, consider the following 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 Super Dog 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.

Many of us have come to realize it's not only important to eat right and stay healthy ourselves, but it's just as important for our dogs. There is no better time to get out and be active than the fall, so why not go for a hike! But before you head out, keep these tricks of the trail in mind.

With the right preparation, a day hiking with your dog will be a fun and exciting experience you'll both enjoy! Now go out and play!