Wyatt's Wisdom

Santa Paws

2011-12-30T17:56:00.000-08:00

There is a holiday tradition at Waggin' Tails. Every year on Christmas Eve, Santa Paws pays a visit to the kennel, leaving toys and treats for the good dogs who aren't with their families on Christmas. It's always so much fun watching the dogs open and enjoy their gifts!

Riley wanted to open everyone else's gift!

Simba and Mocha can't wait to see what Santa Paws brought them

George is patient as Donovan helps him unwrap his treat

Caramel spends every Christmas at Waggin' Tails, and knows the Santa Paws drill well

Bella LOVES her new duck!

Muse poses for the camera in her stylish jacket as she receives her treat

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
from everyone at Waggin' Tails!

'Tis the Season

2011-12-09T12:48:00.000-08:00

Waggin' Tails dogs really know how to get in the Christmas spirit!

Make a picture slideshow

Thanks so much to Sarah Thede for her amazing photography!

Small Business Saturday

2011-11-15T16:34:00.000-08:00

Next Saturday, November 26, is Small Business Saturday.

So what? you say. Well, who wouldn't want FREE MONEY just for shopping at their favorite ~~store~~ pet boarding, grooming and retail business?

That's right, free money. And after Black Friday, that sounds even better. All you have to do is register your American Express card (you can do that here), spend $25 at a small business on Saturday, and you get a $25 credit on your statement.

This week, Waggin' Tails is decking our halls with brand new Christmas retail- and Small Business Saturday would be a perfect day to shop for your 4-legged family members.

We hope to see you next Saturday!

Katy Chamber Yappy Hour

2011-10-13T18:29:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, my people hosted a Yappy Hour at the Ranch for the Katy Chamber of Commerce. We invited folks to come out for food, networking and doggie socialization.

We had the Wag and Wade Dog Park open for canine swimming, and yummy food from Fulshear's own Essence House Cafe.

About halfway through the event, the weather turned nasty and we had to move the party inside. We gave tours of the facility and gave away some door prizes!

Thanks to all that braved the weather and came out- it was a great time!

Amazing!

2011-09-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

Before...

And After...

Hot Spots

2011-09-02T08:23:00.000-07:00

Hey Canine Friends!

I've been having some issues with my skin because of this awful heat (seriously, is it EVER going to be down to double digit temperatures again?!). Have ya'll been itchy and miserable too? Some of this just comes with the territory of being a dog and living in Texas. Here's some information for your human parents- so they know what's normal, when they need to take you to the vet, etc. Pass this on to them, will ya?

Hot Spots- I know you've heard of 'em, but would you know one when you saw one? Hotspots are one of the most common, annoying skin problem down here. They are painful, swollen warm patches of skin. I know when I have one, I can't leave it alone. I scratch it, lick it, bite at it, and of course, whine about it. I bet you do too.

Wanna see a picture of one? Yeah, it's gross, sorry. But aren't you glad you'll know when when you see one now?

Ok- so you have a hot spot. Do you just keep messin' with it and pray it goes away on it's own? No. You need to have your parents clip the hair away from the hot spot, clean it, and keep it dry. And for goodness sake, quit chewing and scratching!

Regular grooming can do wonders for your skin. Waggin' Tails will be happy to set up a grooming appointment for you or give you advice on keeping your skin healthy!

Now, I know hot spots aren't the only thing that's making your skin angry this summer. Want to read more? Click here.

Waggin' Tails Wants to Help

2011-08-26T07:59:00.000-07:00

Twelve year old Macie Gardner loves pink, zebras and the Houston Astros. Her favorite baseball players are Hunter Pence and Lance Berkman (who sadly, no longer play for the Astros). Macie was supposed to start the 6th grade this month, but on August 4, she suffered an arrhythmia, seizure, and cardiac arrest. Macie has been in a coma at Children's Memorial Hermann since that day. She will be moved to Health Bridge, a long term care facility, next week.

My family, the Einkaufs, are good friends with Macie's family, and Macie's sister Kimi works at Waggin' Tails as a kennel tech. We at Waggin' Tails want to help the family any way we can.

There is a benefit being held for Macie on September 20 (see flier below). Tickets will be available for purchase at Waggin' Tails if you would like to contribute and help the Gardner family in this difficult time. Donations will also be accepted at Waggin' Tails and we will make sure they get to the family.

A Birthday Top 10

2011-08-16T18:01:00.000-07:00

Top Ten Reasons I had the BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY in history!

10. Dogs in party hats. How can you not smile when you see that?

I am almost too handsome in a party hat

9. Cake. No further explanation needed.

Just for Dogs Birthday Cake...it was dee-lish!

8. Presents!!!!

Thanks for my new toy, Andy McNichol!

7. Kids. My favorite thing!

My friend Mikey and me...our birthdays are just a few days apart!

6. Baby Kisses!

I wonder who slobbers more...me or the baby?

5. 100+ degree weather, and afternoon with my besties at the pool, and more cake!

Oia says, "Got. To. Get. Cake. NOW."

4. Catching awkward expressions on my friends' faces.

Remi's face says it all- YUM!

3. The bloodhound that never stops howling is better than "Happy Birthday" any day!

Hank is always ready to party

2. Post party naps!

Maybe I'm getting too old for this...

1. This Dude.

Too. Much. Punch.

My birthday party was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who came out to help me celebrate. We took lots more pictures- see our Facebook page for all of them!

Happy Birthday to ME!

2011-08-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

I tried to keep it low key, but word has leaked out that I turned 7 last week. That's right, SEVEN. Most people think that each year equals seven dog years, which would make me 49, but that's not entirely accurate. Actually, since dogs reach adulthood faster than humans, the formula is 10.5 years for each of the first 2 years of a dog's life, then 4 years for each year after that. So, screw 49, I'm only 41! Yeah, I know, still middle age. Sigh.

Getting old is hard. But luckily, instead of letting me lay around moping about the fact that I'm no longer a spring ~~chicken~~ dog, my WT people are throwing me a party! Here's the invitation- and you are all invited. Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, by text message, or if you are old fashioned, you could actually tell someone about it face to face (gasp!).

Hope you see you and your kids out at the Ranch next Thursday!

A Comparison

2011-07-25T16:01:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from a dog's diary...

8:00 AM- Dog Food! My favorite thing!
9:40 AM- A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:50 AM- A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 AM- Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 PM- Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 PM- Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 PM- Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 PM- Milk Bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 PM- Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 PM- Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 PM- Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpt from a cat's diary...

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.

Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a good little hunter I am.

Bastards.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies". I must learn what this means and use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his foot as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released- and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now....

We All Scream For Ice Cream!

2011-07-10T17:50:00.000-07:00

Last week, we decided to celebrate the 4th of July at the Ranch with our first ever Ice Cream Social! All the dogs that participated had a great time and LOVED their frozen treats! It was a perfect All-American way to beat the heat!

What a Difference A Year Makes

2011-05-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

This weekend at Waggin' Tails, we boarded Hondo, a pot belly pig. This was the second visit to the Ranch for Hondo- last summer he boarded when he was just a "tiny" piglet. Here are some pictures from his first visit:

Obviously, Hondo has been "pigging out" since last summer, because he has done a little growing since we last saw him. Here are pictures from this weekend's stay:

Summer has definitely arrived, and this weekend was a scorcher. But don't worry, Hondo stayed plenty cool with his mudbaths and drinks from the hose.

We love you Hondo!

Have Something to Say?

2011-05-19T17:05:00.000-07:00

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss

Shelby Sell speaks her mind during her vacation at Waggin' Tails

Let's Party!

2011-05-06T17:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Puccini and Muse!

Muse (L) and Puccini (R) celebrate in style!

We had the pleasure of hosting birthday parties in the past few weeks for 2 of our dearest Daycampers, Puccini and Muse Epstein! These adorable Italian Greyhounds are legends around here- everyone at Waggin' Tails knows them well and loves them. Puccini turned 17 and Magic Muse (as she was known in her Champion Show Dog days!) turned 12. We celebrated twice with cake, cookies, and loads of pats and hugs for each of them. Happy Birthday Epsteins! We love you!

Here are some pictures from the parties:

Posing with P's cake (L-R Amissa and Sterling, Jackie and Mue, Laurie and Puccini, Leslie and Molly,
Stephanie and Bentley)

Wallace and Bentley are ready to dig in!

Champion Magic Muse posing with her cake

Coco, Gracie, Gabby and Charmin are ready to dig in!

Silly Izzy loved the roses on the cake

Vicky gives Buckley a yummy treat

Tony lets Sophie have a sniff

Group pic at M's party (L-R) Vicky, Cole and Puccini, Muse and Christina, Brittany, Alfie
and Brook, Kelli, Gracie and Coco, Izzy, Tony

Tootin' Our Own Horn

2011-04-26T17:04:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's right...I'm going to brag on Waggin' Tails Pet Ranch for a minute. We are the 2011 Fulshear Business of the Year! I, Wyatt, would like to personally thank the City of Fulshear for this honor. We are proud to be in this community and to work side by side with some excellent businesses.

(L-R) Evelyn and Michael Martin of Martin Mortgage, Denise Einkauf, owner of WT,
Lyn Sullivan of the Ad Sheet and Tony Smith, Kennel Manager of WT

For those of you who don't live in Fulshear, or just don't know much about our little town- I'll let you in on a secret...I didn't know much about the history of the city either. But thanks to the internet and a lot of time to kill, I did a little research and now consider myself an informed canine.

Here's what I learned:

Fulshear, Texas is named after a guy named Churchill Fulshear, who was one of Stephen F. Austin's Old 300.
The cotton gin and flour mill were the main attractions in town until Churchill Fulshear, Jr. allowed a railway to be built and then the town really got cookin'. In 1890, Fulshear even got a post office!
In 1910 there was a Great Fire that destroyed a block of businesses. Fulshear, being the great city that it is, recovered and " within two years downtown Fulshear was so busy that on paydays residents complained that the sidewalks were too crowded to walk on." Hmm...maybe, although in my experience there's always plenty of room to walk in downtown Fulshear!
The Great Depression caused Fulshear's population to drop, but as the Houston Metropolitan Area grew, Fulshear did also. Currently, the population is over 1,000 and growing!

As a proud resident of Fulshear (although I don't think they include me in the census) I want to personally invite you to check out our town. Grab a bite to eat in town, and then come out to Waggin' Tails for a tour. I will personally greet you at the door!

Sources: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlf34 and http://fulshearcreekcrossing.com/fulshear/town-of-fulshear.aspx

How I Spent My Day Off

2011-04-07T19:09:00.000-07:00

I don't get much time off, but when I do, I love to spend it with my boys. We always have great adventures and this week was no exception. We never stay very clean, but we sure have fun!

I just love my boys!

Mud Baths are Hard Work!

My Adoring Public

2011-03-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

Remember last week me telling you to come out to the KVPAC Arts for All Festival? If you didn't make it out on Saturday, you missed THIS:

Yeah, you missed seeing me do my best tiger impression, minus scary teeth and hunting prey. Bet you wish you came out to see me instead of whatever else you were doing on Saturday, huh?

At first, I was a little miffed that my WT people were exploiting me just to draw attention to their awesome booth. They told me this was payback for all my antics back at the ranch. I don't know what they were talking about. BUT THEN, I realized, this tiger paint is a gold mine for my favorite thing...attention!

I'm so famous even human celebrities want their picture with me!

Then there were the kids...have I mentioned I LOVE kids? (even kids dressed as cats are a-ok with me!)

So, after being hounded by the paparazzi and mobbed by my adoring fans for awhile, I thought I could take a break, have my stripes repainted and gear up for my next shift.

The next shift brought two humans dressed as animals, which if you ask me, rates up there with tollbooth collector as the worst job, especially in ridiculously hot Katy, Texas. I think the Chick Fil A cow was either scared off by my oh-so-terrifying tiger impersonation or his giant cow head was making it impossible for him to hear requests. Whatever it was, he didn't want to get too close. Oh well, I'm over it. At least the chipmunk was friendly.

So we all had a great time on Saturday. Today I'm back to just being Wyatt- barking at the donkey through the fence, scheming on how to get extra treats, and greeting our daycampers and boarders. The limelight was nice, but I need a few days away from the flash of the camera, thank you very much. I'm already worried what they're going to paint on me next year.

Come One, Come All!

2011-03-22T15:25:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, March 26, I, Wyatt, along with my WT crew, will be hanging out at the Arts for All! Family Festival at La Centerra. Come on out, bring your kids (both 2 and 4 legged) and have a great time enjoying live music, games and activities, and of course loads of fun at the Waggin' Tails booth. We'll have hair-painting for the kids and frisbees, pats, and hugs for the dogs. I hope you'll drop by and say hi!

Shadows

2011-03-16T18:30:00.000-07:00

Every time I've raced my shadow
When the sun was at my back,
It always ran ahead of me,
Always got the best of me.
But every time I've race my shadow
When my face was toward the sun,
I won.

by Shel Silverstein

Spring Break is Almost Here!

2011-03-09T18:08:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy week. Between watching Charlie Sheen self destruct, doing my taxes, and preparing for the upcoming influx of Spring Breakers at the Ranch this weekend, my mind is spinning! I am excited about Spring Break; the kiddos are out of school and are dragging their parents to Disney World or the beach, and their dogs are coming to hang out with us at Waggin' Tails. We are expecting a full house, and are hoping for good weather all week to maximize our fun! And what will be doing all week? Swimming, running, sniffing, and well, "Duh, Winning!"

Let the Little Children Come to Me

2011-03-02T12:55:00.000-08:00

The dog was created specially for children. He is the god of frolic.

Henry Ward Beecher, Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit

This is my buddy, Grayson. Doesn't it look like we are both deep in thought? I love when kids come to visit me at the Ranch- I'm all about greeting them with a kiss, letting them pet me, scratch my ears, and of course, give me treats. And yes, I double as a pony for the ones who are under 20 pounds.

Temptation

2011-02-21T06:38:00.000-08:00

"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it."

- Mae West

I'm too embarrassed to show you what happened next....but I've been having sausage fantasies ever since!

Scammed

2011-02-13T05:42:00.000-08:00

So this was going to be the post where I wrote about the Great Blizzard of 2011 and how all the dogs staying at the Ranch had hours of fun romping in the snow and having a giant doggy snowball fight. I was going to blog about the 3 inches that stuck around for a few days, covering Fulshear in a beautiful white blanket. I was going to post a picture that looked something like this:

Um, there's just one problem. It didn't happen.

All week I watched the weather forecast in eager anticipation of Snowpocalypse or Snowmaggedon or whatever ridiculous name you were calling the impending blizzard. I tried on my hat and scarf, and had my boys drag the sled out of the barn. Last Thursday night I woke every few hours to look out the window, straining my eyeballs for a glimpse of any white particle falling from the sky.

All for nothin'.

I feel scammed. Cheated. Dallas got their snow. Heck, they had the Superbowl and snow! All we got were some icy roads (not fun) and a bunch of hype. My boys did have a day off from school, which made them, and me, happy.

I don't really have many words of wisdom for you today. All I can tell you is the next time those weathermen make a huge fuss about whatever precipitation may or may not be coming, I'll believe it when I see it!

Clarification

2011-02-06T04:34:00.000-08:00

This is the Superbowl:

Not to be confused with the Super Bowl:

Avoid embarrassment, and be sure you know the difference.

Love is in the Air

2011-01-31T14:11:00.000-08:00

There's no avoiding it: Valentines Day is right around the corner. I know, I know. You say it's an overblown holiday created by the greeting card and chocolate industries as yet another way to exploit us. But I know a lot of you will be reminded that another year is passing without a special someone to share your spaghetti with.

Don't let another Valentines Day pass with just your humans and the family cat to show you affection. No more laying around pouting: I have advice that will surely bring you out of your Love Slump and back in the dating game.

Tip #1: Learn Some Manners

Do you jump on every man, woman and child that walks through your front door? Drag your human down the street during your walks and stare at him like he is speaking Chinese when he asks you to "sit"? Do your humans avoid having dinner parties because of YOU? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your datability quotient just plummeted. But I have the fix: Training classes at Waggin' Tails!

Basic Obedience classes begin February 21 at the Ranch with our very own trainer Debby Hoffman. Trust me, she'll whip you into shape quick and the ladies (or gentlemen) won't be able to resist your charm when you are sitting, healing and staying like a pro. And since paws aren't exactly made to dial, have your human call the Ranch for more details and to sign you up.

Tip #2 Get a Makeover

Nothing says you are single and ready to mingle like a fresh haircut and pedicure. I know, your excuse is your budget doesn't allow for things like pampering at the spa. Well, what if I were to tell you that in February, The Salon at Waggin' Tails is offering 20% off our already low grooming prices? And if you are really wanting to impress that special someone, be sure to add on some extras like painted toenails or hairbows for the ladies or cologne and a snazzy bandana for the men.

Tip #3 Socialize

No one ever met that special someone laying around as a couch potato all day. And online dating sites? Overrated. You need to get out there and meet other dogs who share your same interests: swimming, fetching, exploring, wrestling. The answer: DAYCAMP at Waggin' Tails. Not only will you spend all day with potential dates, your humans will love knowing you are getting all that pent up energy out during the day while they are at work, and then you all can enjoy the evenings relaxing together at home. And the best part...your first day of Daycamp at Waggin' Tails is absolutely, no strings attached...FREE! And we know that you will love it so much that your humans will sign you up for one of our Daycamp packages, which give you additional discounts on boarding, groooming, and retail. I know, it just keeps getting better and better!

There you have it- three surefire ways to assure that you will not be alone this year on Valentines Day. Now, get off the couch, and get your human to call Waggin' Tails today!

Howdy!

2011-01-23T15:42:00.000-08:00

The name's Wyatt, and I'm the Sheriff around these parts. Have you been out to the Ranch? If you haven't, come by, and by all means, stay awhile. We got plenty of room for ya: warm bunks, good eats, and acres of land for you to run off that energy you got from being cooped up in the city.

Yep, I sure do live the life out here. In fact, I spend a lot of my time thinking about life and the lessons we learn from cowboys, dogs, and even the dust that gathers at our feet. I want to share these lessons with you, friend.

I'll leave you today with my first piece of wisdom...

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.