Every Dog Has Its Day

By Colleen Walsh Fong

Do you love dogs? Then, this is the week for you! Three dog holidays fall this week making it a perfect time to review your canine’s health, diet, and fitness.

I’ve got 3 shih-tzus and while their relatively low placement on the dog intelligence ladder makes it easy to joke about their breed’s name I love them anyway. So I’m taking time over the weekend to give my dogs their day.

February 22nd is National Walking the Dog Day.

My dogs are rarin’ to go all of the time. My dear departed Nana’s saying, “there’s a woman with her hat on,” would definitely apply to them. They enjoy several outings each day because I’m lucky enough to work from home. But I’m not always able to get up and go when they want to. Which, as I’ve said, is almost all of the time. So I’m taking them on a nice long walk on the 22nd to celebrate Walking the Dog Day.

Many dog owners don’t work from home and must make other arrangements to let their dogs see the light of day and attend to their business. Neighborhood kids can be a good source for dog walking after school lets out, and walking services are just a Google search away.

Another interesting option for latch-key dogs is doggie day care. There’s a great one in my town called Bark Atlanta.  It’s a cage-free facility where dogs can play in smaller groups than in most dog day care environments, which is less stressful for the dogs. It’s owned and operated by true animal lovers who ensure a safe environment by requiring that all vaccinations, heartworm treatments, and flea and tick control regimens are current. Before a dog can join the pack, he or she must pass a temperament evaluation, too. If you could benefit from a doggie day care, but don't live in Atlanta, I recommend finding one with a similar stringent qualification process to ensure your dog's well-being.

Bark Atlanta is a great place for dogs to pal around and party. Birthday parties, like the one Toby is attending in the featured photo, are just one of the creative and enjoyable services Bark Atlanta offers.

Don’t be concerned about Toby’s treat. He’s savoring special all-natural and organic doggie ice cream and lapping it up!

And that brings me to the next two dog-related holidays, Dog Biscuit Day and Love Your Pet Day, which both fall on February 23rd.

Finding a source of all-natural, safe food is a wonderful way to love your pet and give him a biscuit, too. I found a great place to quite literally shower your dogs with love right here in Atlanta. In Town Healthy Hound gives you a place to feed, wash, and treat your pet! It’s the most unique pet-food store I’ve ever seen, with an on-site, self-serve dog wash and the bathing products necessary to keep canines fresh and clean. All of the shop’s products are safe and environmentally friendly. One of the things I love about this store is that the owners carry their own products, so all of the food they sell is natural. In fact, they are the only distributors of their fresh and healthy dog foods and treats in the state of Georgia.

If you read my food posts or own one or more of my touchscreen cookbooks or a-la-carte recipe ensembles you know how keen I am on knowing what goes into your food, and keeping it natural, safe and preservative free. And I’m all about making it easy for busy people to enjoy yummy and healthy food, too. So when I learned about In Town Healthy Hound I was thrilled to find a resource to help busy people do the same for their pets. And here’s another way they help—they deliver! Drop in this weekend and give your dog a treat. Check out their delivery system while you’re there!

And if you don't live in Atlanta, check out In Town's website so you can find the criteria to search for a similar resource near to you.

Enjoy the weekend full of holidays for you and your dog!

Photo Courtesy of Bark Atlanta