Hello everybody and a belated Happy New Year! We have gotten off to a busy start in 2007 and are very happy to announce that we will be opening a brand new Dogtopia® in Alexandria, VA! Jeff and Sandy Lutton, longtime customers of our Tysons Corner location, will be opening their Dogtopia® franchise this Spring. Josie, their Golden Retriever, is especially excited to be the hostess!

We are also pleased to announce that we granted a franchise to Denise Caruso of Alameda County, California! Denise is very excited to be following her dreams and opening her very own doggie-heaven.

Speaking of California dreaming, we have leased a space in Orange County, CA, but are still in search of the perfect franchisee. It is a fantastic opportunity, and we have already taken the space through the permitting process. If you know anyone who might be interested, please send him or her our way! This franchise space and territory won=92t last long!

On a personal note, Mike and I are happy to announce that we are expecting our second child this Spring! Aidan is very excited to be getting a little brother, but Griffin and Bodhi could do without more excitement in our house! : )

Warmest Regards,

Amy Nichols
Founder and CEO

Just because Happy is a dog doesn't mean he doesn't want to get out there and mingle! Happy pledges to make a concerted effort to be social and mix it up whenever he can!

On Saturday, February 24^th from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Dogtopia and AnimalAttraction.com will host "Spring Fling," to benefit our charity, K9 Support. Held at our White Flint, MD location, Spring Fling will offer our customers and the local doggy community a chance to mingle with each other and enjoy an afternoon out with their favorite four-legged friend.

K9 Support is Dogtopia's official charity and strives to create awareness and support for our K9 Handlers and their dogs working abroad in the Middle East. We raise funds to create care packages and to date have received over $20,000 in donations and shipped 2 tons of packages!

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Alex Bowens at (240) 514-2242 or email at alex@dogdaycare.com.

Community service is always important and Happy feels there's not better time than now to investigate ways you can help! Here's an example:

Lend a helping paw

People aren't the only ones who can give blood, dogs can now donate as well! In fact, many animal health care centers are in urgent need of blood donated by canines.

Similar to humans, donated dog blood is used for critically ill and injured dogs suffering from disorders like cancer, motor vehicle accidents and major surgery. Healthy donors are needed to give blood for the many dogs that need it. A single donation can be used to save up to 4 lives, because the blood can be separated into two components, red blood cells and plasma.

Given the recent advancements in veterinary medicine, blood transfusions have become a common procedure and have saved many lives.

The Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank will hold a drive on Feb 15th from at Kenwood Animal Hospital in Bethesda, MD. (link) Not only is this a chance to help out the local doggy community and feel great, but the many benefits include a physical exam before each donation, blood typing and a blood chemistry profile, and for each unit of blood donated, a donor is eligible to receive one unit of blood or plasma should illness or injury ever warrant its use.

Dog donors must be healthy, between the ages of one to seven years, weigh 35 pounds or more, be current on vaccinations and heartworm-preventative, and have never been pregnant or had a blood transfusion.

For more information on the Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank and their efforts, please visit them online at www.evbb.com.

We=92re all big fans of Happy's "festive" figure, but were shocked to learn that obesity is one of the fastest growing health problems for dogs in the US - nearly half of all pets are overweight! We all love a treat now and then but obesity can contribute to a wide range of health problems, including arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease - just like with humans. If you think your dog may be overweight, talk to your vet about what you can do to implement a healthy feeding and exercise routine.

And here are some tips:

• Try to purchase treats with natural ingredients. Treats loaded with sugar and fat aren't good for you and they certainly aren't good for your dog! Look for treats made from whole grains like oats or quality, single source proteins like chicken or lamb.
• Don't fill your dog up with treats before their meals.
• Try giving your dog treats that benefit her health. Many dog treats are now formulated with supplements like glucosamine which can help maintain joint health and even alleviate arthritis.
• Look for bite-sized dog treats and if possible, find ones that are low in calories. A large dog biscuit may have 100 calories!
• All things in moderation. Don't let treats make up more than 10 percent of your dog's diet.

All Dogtopia dogs are superstars... Happy being no exception. So he's encouraging everyone he knows to try for their 15 minutes of fame! Every canine has a shot at being top dog in America's largest dog show!

Purina's Dog Show USA puts the power in the paws of the people. Contest categories range from breed groups to owner look-alikes (you know you're out there)! Just send in your snapshots or videos that best capture your dog's unique qualities, and the people will get a chance to vote. It's a great chance to show off what makes your kid so special.

Prizes include a trip to the National Dog Show in Philadelphia and a year's worth of Purina dog food. But the bragging rights will be the best prize of all!

Check out www.DogShowUSA.com for more details.

This Valentine's Day you or your dog can send a Doggy Gram to all of your friends directly through our website. Does your dog have a girlfriend or boyfriend? Perhaps there is someone your dog just really gets extra excited to see. If so, this is the perfect way to express his or her love this Valentine's Day. Any photo from the photo gallery of our website can be made into a Valentine with a personal message.

If you have any comments, please contact us at feedback@dogdaycare.com.

Dogtopia®™ 8528 Tyco Road, Suite F Tysons Corner, VA 22182 Phone: 703-821-0700 Fax: 703-821-0017

© 2007 Dogtopia®™

Send your friend to Dogtopia®. Once their dog attends a day of daycare or boarding, you'll receive a $25.00 gift certificate!

Thanks to everyone who came out and made our first Barks for the Arts events a huge success! We were thrilled to host this event to benefit the Washington Humane Society and the response ensures we=92ll be having more events in the future!

Special thanks to Barkley Square for providing the doggie treat bar. You can visit them online, or stop into our boutique to purchase a special treat for your pup. Another thanks goes out to Lee Anderson, our featured artist for the evening. Lee is scheduling appointments now for photo sessions at our White Flint and Tysons Corner locations Feb 24th and the 25th. Visit photolee.com for more information. There can be no better way to capture the beauty of your pet than in one of Lee=92s beautiful photographs.

Whether you have a brand new pup or a seasoned, stately canine, training is always a good idea.

At our Tysons Corner and White Flint locations we are offering training through two wonderful companies, C&C Pals and K9 Paws Dog Training. Both offer positive reinforcement training and a wealth of knowledge and insight into dog behavior and management. If you=92re out of the DC Metro area, you can find a qualified trainer in your area by visiting www.apdt.com.

A well-behaved dog is a happy dog! (Not to mention the happy parent)

Pricing Changes

Pricing at our Tysons Corner, VA facility will change effective March 1, 2007. All passes purchased before March 1st will be honored at the current rate. Stock-up now at 2006 prices!

1 visit	$35
5 day pass	$32/day
10 day pass	$31/day
20 day pass	$30/day
30 day pass	$28/day
Saturday or Half Day	$20
One Month Unlimited	$500

 

Ingredients
• 2 1⁄4 cups rye flour
• 1 cup grated ham
• 1 egg
• 1 cup grated swiss cheese
• 1⁄3 c. vegetable oil
• 1⁄2 tsp. salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked turkey, garlic, grated cheese and parsley. Mix well.
3. Add beaten eggs; mix again.
4. Combine the flour, cheese, ham, and salt in a bowl, then add the egg and the oil, mixing thoroughly.
5. Roll the dough out to about 1⁄2 inch and cut biscuits with a dog bone cookie cutter or use any other shape.
6. Place biscuits onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
7. Bake for 15-25 minutes depending on the size of the biscuits.
8. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Origin: The Rhodesian Ridgeback resulted from crosses between ridgebacked dogs originally kept by native tribes in South Africa and other breeds, such as the Khoikhoi dog, Mastiff, Deerhound and some breeds that are not known. It was the native Khoikhoi dog that gave the Ridgeback his distinctive reverse-hair coat marking, a dominant characteristic that today makes him unique among dog breeds. Its country of origin is Zimbabwe.
Group: Hound
Life Span: 10-12 yrs
Color: Light wheaten to red wheaten and sometimes with a little white on the chest or toes.
Coat: Short and sleek.
Height/Weight: 24 to 27 inches; 70 to 90 pounds.
Trainability: Good - Obedience training, socialization with people and other dogs, and firm owner leadership is recommended to help this breed become the excellent companion he can be.
Activity Level: High - These dogs have great stamina and you will tire long before they do, but they will adapt to your exercise regimen.
Known Health Problems:
hip dysplasia and cysts
Interesting Facts: South African hunters discovered that the Ridgeback, used in packs, was very effective against lions, hence the breed's other name, the African Lion Hound.
More Information: AKC Breed Profile