Socialization and good manners are a process, not an event. The more you practice...the better things get. Sweet from @yldraleigh

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! We hope you have a great day!

Just a reminder for weekend boarding drop offs...we will be open from 8-10am tomorrow and closed Sunday. The boarding dogs will still have the same schedule as always :)

The AT&T tech just left, our phones are operational again! Time to put the pups down for some sleep.

Phone Problems

Hi You Lucky Customers! We have had some customers tell us they have tried to call this afternoon and couldn't get through...we are having some issues with our phone line and are working on the problem. If anyone needs to get in touch with us please use our email hotdog@youluckydograleigh.com

We are sorry for the inconvenience and it will be fixed ASAP:)

Thank you!

@YLDRaleigh: What a beautiful Carolina day! The pups are helping us rake up the last of the leaves and enjoying the sun!

miss water dog has run herself silly this morning!

Catching up!

Hi Everyone! Sorry the weekend photos are a little late...my Dad showed up with meatball subs when I put the dogs down for dinner on Sunday and meatball subs trump blogging:) Thanks for dinner, Dad!

We had a special surprise this weekend! A visit from pack member Piper!!! He moved to Charlotte recently, but popped in to see us for the weekend while his family was in Raleigh. He was so happy to be here...he couldn't stop smiling!

Piper

Chance

Tiny Sheltie Blaze LOVED Domino!

Domi

Winston

Winston again!

Cammie, Piper and Sunny Doodle

Sunny was very happy to see Piper

Sunny loves having his picture taken!

Sweet Belle dancing for the camera

Sugaree!

Maggie Puggle, Philly, Chance and I are going out for our night time star gazing! Have a good night everyone! xoxo, Mindy

"I used to look at [my dog] Smokey and think, 'If you were a little smarter you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to.'"
- Fred Jung

Heffer's visit with Santa

Merry Tuesday Everyone! We decorated the lobby for the holidays this morning (well, Mike did, I just held the thumb tacks) and were very excited to receive this photo of Heffer's visit with Santa! Heffer is a very sweet girl. I wonder what she asked Santa for this year?

Thanks for the pic, Paula! :)

Tweet from @YLDRaleigh

@YLDRaleigh: Add basic manners (sit, down, wait etc) to your daily walks. Your dog will start to listen better in more situations if you're consistent

YLD Staff Reccommended Reading List!

Hi DogBlog Readers!

I hope everyone is staying warm this morning! We have had the pack outside in the bottom play yard this morning and they are loving it. We were very excited this morning when our beloved pack member Teddy arrived wearing his new snow suit...he looks like a stuffed animal! Thank you to the moms of both Emma G and Cammie Husky for the treats yesterday and today! We are the luckiest staff ever to have such sweet customers:)

Speaking of the YLD staff, I thought it would be fun to post some staff reading recommendations. I think between all of us we have probably read every dog book in existence! If any of you have any dog book recommendations that you would like to share, feel free to email me the name with a paragraph about what you liked about the book. I would love to do a blog post on books suggested by customers! (yldmindy@gmail.com)

Can you guess which staff member chose Cujo as their recommended reading? It was Jim. He says the book is a good reminder on why you should keep your dog on leash and keep it's vaccinations up to date. Thanks, Jim!

Janine chose Victoria Stilwell's "It's Me or the Dog". According to Victoria's website this book "is the ultimate guide to understanding your dog and building a balanced relationship based on trust and respect". Some of the topics that are covered are house training, play time, diet, canine communication and basic obedience.

Staff member Katie was very excited about "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia B. McConnell, PH.D. The author is an Animal Behaviorist as well as a trainer and in this book she explores human behavior in comparison to dog behavior, and how we can improve our relationships with dogs by training ourselves to "think dog" instead of trying to humanize our pups.
Mike's favorite training book is "The Dog Listener" by Jan Fennell. This is in my opinion the easiest dog training book to read and understand. It explains how to work and use your dog's brain in a positive and efficient way. This is a great starting point for problem solving, new dogs and especially first time dog owners.
My all time favorite dog book is of course a grooming book, and that wouldn't be very interesting to most people, so my second choice is "A Photographic Guide to Canine Body Language". The title is pretty self explanatory, there are tons of photos of dogs in different situations and the author describes what they are saying through expressions and body postures. The YLD staff is lucky enough to get to observe these "conversations" dogs have with each other each day. I think everyone with a dog should have a look at this book!
Thanks for checking out the blog! xoxo, Mindy

Teddy in his new snow suit!

@YLDRaleigh: Body language and positive energy are more valuable to a dog than words. What are you communicating?

Lola joins her brothers at YLD for the first time today!

All dogs were bred with a purpose. Research and try to incorporate your dogs talents into your daily life for a happier pup. Tweet from @YLDRaleigh

@YLDRaleigh: All dogs were bred with a purpose. Research and try to incorporate your dogs talents into your daily life for a happier pup

Lola, Jace and Juno

Furry bookends

Welcome Amelia!

Extreme Cuteness!

Good Morning Dog Blog Readers!

I hope everyone is having a nice relaxing weekend after the Thanksgiving rush! We are here at YLD! Before I get to our weekend pack photos I would like to share something extremely CUTE with all of you. Kenan the Cockapoo puppy is a new pack member. He just started attending school in November and the staff fell in love with him right away! I was so excited to groom him for the first time last week and that night he had his Christmas picture taken. It is so cute I just had to share. I think Kenan's Mom or Dad (whomever was the photographer) should come take Christmas pictures of ALL the YLD dogs! What do you think??

Kenan!

If anyone else has Christmas photos of their pups they would like to share please feel free to either email them to me (yldmindy@gmail.com) OR bring them in and I will hang them in the lobby!!! I love to display pictures of the babies:) Thanks!

Now for the weekend pack photos.

Sweet Lillie Marie

Ludlow and Lola, or Ludlola, were boarding at the same time again...they were in heaven!

A greeting bow from Jessica Golden

Kisses from Sprocket to Gizmo!

Beethoven, I love you!

Sunshine Bulldog LOVED Lola Puppy so much...they played for a very long time, and after awhile Beethoven and Ludlow started to play too!

Another super cute Cockapoo Maggie S.

You are my sunshine, my only Sunshine Bulldog

Lexie Doodle is ALWAYS ready to play!!!

Charley just wanted to snuggle.

Gizmo has beautiful eyes...thanks to Gizmo's Mom and Dad for bringing us breakfast on Friday!

Ludlow and Lola

A cute smile from Summer, who gave the lab puppies a run for their money on Saturday afternoon!

Beautiful Abby Chow

Have a great week everyone!!!! xoxo, Mindy

Holiday Hours

To better help everyone prepare for the holiday boarding, our hours will be:

Saturday, December 24th, 8am-10am
Sunday, December 25th, Closed
Saturday, December 31st, 8am-10am
Sunday, January 1st, 3pm-5pm

Thank you and Happy Friday!

Ready for nap!

DOTM continued!

Happy Friday Everyone!! We would like you to meet our second Dog of the Month for December, Charlie Cocker!!! He is always happy, he looks like a Teddy Bear and is the biggest sweetheart ever!

Charlie, how did you meet your Mom and Dad?

- Well my parents have two different stories. Mom’s story is that she did

plenty of research and found a great breeder that bred me for my peaceful

temperament and my extreme cuteness. Dad’s story is that I introduced

myself to him by laying my chin on his foot and taking a quick siesta.

What made you decide to come to You Lucky Dog?

- I wasn’t even a year old and my parents wanted me to play during the

day instead of relaxing at home chewing furniture. My parent’s wanted to

make sure I was safe and well looked after so they had a friend who used

to bring her dog to daycare and YLD came highly recommended by her.

After my first couple days at daycare, it was obvious that I fit well with my

new pack of friends, human and canine.

What is special about YLD that keeps you coming back?

- The care and love expressed by YLD staff is amazing, making me feel

relaxed and happy. But really I like sitting at the foot of my human friends

watching the play before I jump in and get into hi-jinx.

- I have also found a great place for a day at the spa. I used to be anxious

about getting my haircut, but now that Mindy is around I love getting my

spa fix right at daycare. I get to play and get dirty then have an afternoon

bath and primp session. I even play-bow at Mindy on the grooming table

because I love her.

What is my favorite toy?

- My squeaky ball! I also love my Kong food ball and my stuffed bear. My

parents will throw the ball all around the house then I find it and squeak it

to let them know I want a more challenging hunt. Sometimes they fill my

food ball with kibble and when done I pick up my squeak ball and make

it squeak and then whimper. I just don’t understand why food doesn’t fall

out of the squeaky tennis ball? Don’t all balls drop food?

What is your favorite non-daycare place to visit?

- Any park or trail with Mommy and Daddy! Over the summer we go for

walks/runs through the forest where it is cooler than city streets. The

parents even will stop and let me frolic in water to keep my cool and

hydrated during the heat.

What is a treat you cannot resist?

- The parents give me chicken flavored rawhides to chew, but really my

favorite requires some stalking and tracking. When nobody is looking I

will bury my head in the hamper and pull out used socks! While Mom and

Dad are worried about the other socks in the hamper, I will then sneak into

the bathroom grab the toilet paper and SPRINT making a lovely trail of

paper all over upstairs.

What job would you have if you were a human?

- I would be a belly rub trainer! I would charge other humans money to

learn how to give expert belly rubs to their pups. Then again if someone

wanted a free consultation I would be flexible and offer myself as a test

subject.

Do you have any top secret nicknames at home?

- Daddy calls me “You little sh__!” (just kidding!), Little One, Sweet One,

Carlito, Charleston, Charles, Barkey, Chuck, Little Baby, Little Hairy Baby,

Little Hairy Big Baby, Little Stinky Baby, Little Naughy Baby, Handsome

Fighter (neighbor calls me this), Pumpkin and all sorts of Pumpkin based

names as well as other combinations of all names above.

Where is your favorite place to walk?

- I pretty much like all greenways and trails where I can pick up all the

wonderful smells that this world has. If there are ducks to bark at…well

that is just an added benefit.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

- Sunday! My parents don’t know how I know when Sundays come about

but this is my day to unwind. I like to go for morning jogs and then spend

the rest of the day cuddled up on the couch with the parents. In the

afternoon we all cook together and I sit poised ready to capitalize on all fell

food shrapnel except garlic (they say it is bad for me).

Is there anything else you would like to add?

- Me, no. My parents would like to say that YLD has been a key member of our

family. The comforting, loving environment really has improved their ability to be

great parents as well as improved my demeanor and sociability.

Thanks Charlie!!!!

December Dog of the Month Sally!

Good Morning and welcome to December!

The first of our dogs of the month is Miss Sally. She's a very sweet border collie mix that has been visiting us since 2008. She can tell time perfectly, loves cupcakes and knows how to get attention when ever she wants :)



1. Sally, How did you meet your Mom & Dad?

I was playing with my brothers at the Wake County Animal Control, and these two college students came in to look at puppies. Since I was the only female puppy there at the time I had an advantage. I was super cute & my Mom picked me. I was her anniversary present.

2. What mad you decide to come to You Lucky Dog?

I had fun playing and being with the other doggies when I came for my first bath. I have a sister, Molly, but she is a cat, so she is lazy. I also love the staff, they are great.

3. What is special about YLD that keeps you coming back?

I love the staff, and a break from laying in mom's office all day while she works. I also like to see my friends. And I like to get my hair done by Miss Mindy, she does it better than mom or dad.

4. What is your favorite toy?

My tennis ball or my squeaky giraffe

5. What is your favorite non-daycare place to visit?

Grandma's house! She takes me out to play every time I bark at her.

6. What is a treat you cannot resist?

BBQ, I stalk the kitchen while mommy is cooking waiting for her to drop some. Daddy is good at dropping it though.

7. What job would you have if you were a human?

Tennis player

8. Do you have any top secret nicknames at home?

Baby girl, or Poopadoo

9. Where is your favorite place to walk?

I love to go for runs around our neighborhood with mom.

10. What is your idea of a perfect day?

Sleeping late between mom & dad, snoodling, playing ball all day, and getting frosty paws.

11. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

I love my sister, Molly, even though she is a kitty. She is fun to play with, except when she chases me around the house. I like chasing her better, but we both love getting spoiled by grandma.

And my friends at YLD rock!

And we have a winner!

Macy gets the free day of daycare...Thanks for playing along Ryan!

Gobble Gobble

Hi Folks! Free day of daycare today for any pet parent who flaps their wings and sings "Gobble gobble gobble" in our lobby!!! :) Extra points if your dog is wearing a turkey costume!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from YLD! Jim and I started the day off before sunrise with a great pack. They all send hugs to their families :) Travel safe and thank you all! Have a great day!

Thanksgiving tips for your dog

With Thanksgiving just a few days away I wanted to toss out a few reminders and tips to make your days a bit easier.

-Go for a long walk before guests arrive. Stop frequently on your walk to practice sit, stay, down and other tricks. The added mental stimulation will help tire Fido out.

-Remind all of your guests not to feed anything to the dog. You never know what's going to upset Mitzy's tummy! Table scraps aren't the best for dogs anyway.

-If you have strangers coming over, it may be best to introduce Fido to everyone outside. This removes a considerable amount of tension from the situation. If that's not an option, He may do better in a bedroom or crate until people start to leave. Please remember, your house is your dog's den...they can be funny if they feel the need to protect their environment.

-Unfamiliar kids should never be left alone with your dog. Ever.

-Think trash. Its easier to empty the trash or keep it outside when you're not cooking or cleaning up. All those special treats wrapped in tin foil, plastic wrap etc could be a costly and dangerous oversight.

-Most importantly, Read your dog's body language! Pacing, panting, drooling, shaking off, "smiling", cowering, seeking small places, shivering, whining, or other out of the ordinary behaviors are signs of stress. Help Mitzy out by moving her to a safe zone away from the action. If these clear signals go unnoticed, an issue may be close to follow.

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Mike

Friday catch up...

Hi everyone,

Happy Veteran's Day! Thank you to all those that have served and their families for their support. We appreciate you!

The full moon definitely had the pack wound up and full of energy and play this week! Here's a few pics from this week....

Juno trying to get Abby to play

Spaulding and Hennah ready for nap

Summer and Mollie have been friends at YLD since 2008. They had a great time wrestling and playing this week!

Summer and Buckshot deciding what to do next...
Macy, Suzi, Molly and Lola must have run 27 miles together!

Buckshot hopes you all have a great weekend!