Dog Boarding and Doggie Daycare in "Real Homes"

Wag Watchers offers excellent care for your pup while you are away. Dog boarding in "Real Homes" has become a popular alternative to commercial dog kennels and boarding facilities. Our trained and experienced pet hosts and pet sitters welcome your beloved dog into their homes and care for it as if it were their own.

Wag Watches pet hosts either work from home or are retired so they can care for your furry friend day and night. Each pet host has a 1 to 4 guest maximum at each of our locations. We are committed to offering personal attention to your pet in our homes while you are away!

Our priority is your dog's happiness and well being.Your dog is not confined to a crate or cage surrounded by the noise and chaos of a commercial kennel or exposed to kennel diseases but has free run of the pet host's home, unless you specify differently. We strive to follow your dog's own routine and habits, including long walks, games of fetch, and cuddling on the sofa.

Wag Watchers strive to make your dog feel at home and dedicated to providing professional and personalized care for pampered pooches in a variety of locations in Florida: Bradenton, Boca Grande, Cape Coral, Celabration, Ellenton, Englewood, Fort Myers, Kissimmee, Longboat Key, North Port, Orlando, Osprey, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Rotonda, Siesta Key, Sarasota, Tampa Bay and Venice. In New Jersey: Belmar, Brick, Manchester, Point Pleasant, Spring Lake, Wall and Whitting.

Go Take a Walk

Often times dog owners underestimate the importance of a walk for their pet. In the hustle and bustle of day to day life, owners think a quick romp in the yard is enough. While that play time is fun, walks are essential.

A proper 30 minute walk at least twice a day is one of the best things you can do for your pooch. Walks help your relationship with your dog, who looks to you for leadership. Properly walking your dog on a lead commands respect and helps to lessen behavioral issues.

The health benefits of a good walk for you and your dog are evident. The exercise will keep your dog lean and agile, and help with joint issues. A good walk also helps to calm a hyper active dog.

If possible a dog should be walked for 30 minutes before breakfast, at lunch and after dinner.

Wag Watchers has a great dog walker program, so if you need help walking your pooch, give us a call, we are always happy to help!

Four Pet Dental Facts to Chew On

1. Eighty percent of humans brush their teeth at least twice a day, but very few pet owners brush their pet's teeth at all.

2. Signs of periodontal gum disease include the yellow and brown buildup of tarter around the gum line, inflammation and bad breath.

3. One of the most common dental problems is broken or chipped teeth, some of which is caused by aggressively chewing on hard objects. Senior dogs are more prone to this problem.

4. More than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3, and that's a big deal in dog and cat years.

Make sure to show your dog how much you appreciate them by not sending them to a kennel. Leave your dog with one of our amazing WagWatchers.com pet hosts when you’re out of town! We promise he’ll have a vacation he’ll remember forever.

Find a real home for your dog to stay while you are away OR find out how to become a Wag Watchers pet host.

Browse to see what areas we cover in Florida and New Jersey to find a pet care provider in your area or call us at 1-866-749-1551

For Power Chewers, Try an Elk Antler

If you have a prodigious chewer among your canine companions, and even if you don't, consider giving your dog naturally shed deer or elk antlers. Look for antlers that are processed as little as possible - cleaned without toxic chemicals, cut into appropriate sizes, and packaged.

Most dogs love antlers, which are hard enough to clean their teeth and gums, but soft enough to be safe chew toys. Please choose an appropriate size antler for your dog.

As with all chew toys, take the antler away when it gets so small that your dog might swallow it.

Make sure to show your dog how much you appreciate them by not sending them to a kennel. Leave your dog with one of our amazing WagWatchers.com pet hosts when you’re out of town! We promise he’ll have a vacation he’ll remember forever.

Find a real home for your dog to stay while you are away OR find out how to become a Wag Watchers pet host.

Browse to see what areas we cover in Florida and New Jersey to find a pet care provider in your area or call us at 1-866-749-1551

Celebration of Pets

Hi Everyone,

Wag Watchers is going to be at the Celebration of Pets in Sarasota, FL at booth #149 on Saturday, March 2 between 10am and 6pm. 

Come on out and meet all of us. We will have a lot of coupons and cool stuff to give away!!!

Safety Tips for Dogs During Thanksgiving

According to PetRelocation.com, 63 percent of pet owners travel at least 50 miles with their pets over the holidays. The Travel Industry Association of America says 78 percent of the pets taken on vacation are dogs, with cats coming in second at 15 percent. Traveling with my dogs is a frequent occurrence in my life, but for some it’s a holiday event. There are many things you can do to make your travels with Fido more enjoyable for the four and two leggeds in your family.

Crates and Harnesses in the Car
The ASPCA reports that unrestrained pets are responsible for more than 30,000 accidents every year. Some states require pets to be buckled up or crated in the car. Personally, I am a big fan of crate training and my dogs ride in secured crates in my car on a daily basis. I can barely contain them from hopping in. (We also play “crate games” for agility practice.) If your dog isn’t crate trained or there is a lack of room for one, a dog car safety harness seat belt will also do.

Schedules:
Dogs love routine and often show signs of discomfort when their routine is interrupted. I know it can be fun to hang out longer in your pajamas and visit with family during the holidays. But, if you usually walk Fido at 7 am every morning, keeping him to that routine will keep him settled when you come back and want to visit more with family. I think Fido will be okay with you getting back into your pj’s after his walk.

Turkey and other delightful smells:

A dog’s sense of smell is their primary sense. It is estimated to be 100,000 times better than a human’s. (For more on how dog’s smell, read Canine Senses: How Dogs Smell by Canine Science.) You can only imagine how good that turkey smells to your dog. 

Time to Call Wag Watchers

Time to call Wag Watchers for your fall and winter pet sitting needs!