K9 Nosework Seminar

WOOFS! is pleased to host a K9 Nosework seminar by Jacy Kelley (Canine Copilots) on Sunday, January 22, 2017. Topic is Container Mysteries: "This full day workshop is geared towards those that are trialing and having struggles with containers, distractions, or anything else that can cause problems."

Meet the Daycare Team: December 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

WOOFS! has an awesome staff. So who are these people who choose to spend their days with the dogs? This month we are featuring Joella!

Upcoming Community Events: December 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

Check out some fun dog-related events in our area!

Thanksgiving Drive 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

WOOFS! is holding our 3rd annual Thanksgiving Pet Care Drive to benefit the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. Donation bins will be at Ballston and Shirlington Campuses throughout the month of November.Requested donation items include:

Meet the Daycare Team: November 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

WOOFS! has an awesome staff. So who are these people who choose to spend their days with the dogs? This month we are featuring Marcus D.

WOOFS! Winter Workshops

Join trainers Erica Pytlovany and Jennifer Thomas at our Ballston Campus for some workshops this winter!

Upcoming Community Events: October 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

Check out some fun dog-related events in our area!

Meet the Daycare Team: October 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

WOOFS! has an awesome staff. So who are these people who choose to spend their days with the dogs? This month we are featuring Carrie.

Free Workshops at Your Dog's Friend

WOOFS! owner Laura Sharkey and senior trainer Erica Pytlovany are scheduled for talks this fall at Your Dog's Friend in Rockville Maryland.  Come on out -- we'd see some of our familiar, friendly faces!

Meet the Daycare Team: September 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

WOOFS! has an awesome staff. So who are these people who choose to spend their days with the dogs?This month we are featuring Dwight. 

Upcoming Community Events: August 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

8/6: Woofstock DC
8/13: Canine Cruises on the Potomac
8/14: Animal Welfare Institute's Walk for the Animals
8/14: Summer Pet Olympics
8/27: Wags N' Whiskers    **Stop by the WOOFS! booth at Wags N' Whiskers!**

Anxiety and Arousal

By Laura Sharkey
Originally published on ArlNow.com

I’ve been having a lot of conversations with people about their dogs getting into trouble. Not little trouble like chewing up a shoe or stealing a sandwich. That’s easy stuff.  I’m talking about big trouble. Like biting the neighbor’s dog while on a walk or biting a friend who is over for a visit. The thing that most of these incidents had in common is a very high level of anxiety and arousal that precipitated the bites. So how does anxiety and arousal affect our dogs and what can we do about it?

Meet the Daycare Team: August 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

WOOFS! has an awesome staff. So who are these people who choose to spend their days with the dogs? This month we are featuring Susan.

Meet the Daycare Team: July 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

WOOFS! has an awesome staff. So who are these people who choose to spend their days with the dogs? This month we are featuring Alexis.

Upcoming Community Events: July 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

Check out some fun dog-related events in our area!

Boarding Your Dog

By Laura Sharkey
Originally Published on ArlNow.com

As school comes to a close for the year it’s time for summer vacations. Where to go? What to do? And who is going to take care of the dog?

Meet the Daycare Team: June 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

WOOFS! has an awesome staff. So who are these people who choose to spend their days with the dogs? This month we are featuring Flavio.

Upcoming Community Events: June 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

Check out some fun dog-related events in our area!

Puppy Olympics, and the Importance of Early Socialization

By Laura Sharkey

The Puppy Olympics are almost here! 

8 weeks ago, on April 1st 2016, our foster dog Harlie gave birth to 11 tiny puppies. WOOFS! has fostered many pregnant moms and their puppies over the past 13 years, but this time we decided to do something different. We assigned each puppy a WOOFS! trainer. Each trainer was responsible for their pups early socialization and training. The results of these efforts will be on display at the Puppy Olympics on June 3rd. The puppies will be 9 weeks old.

Meet the Daycare Team: May 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

WOOFS! has an awesome staff. So who are these people who choose to spend their days with the dogs? This month we are featuring Preston.

Upcoming Community Events: May 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

Check out some fun dog-related events in our area!

Walk for the Animals 2016

Come join us at one of two, yes TWO, wonderful Walks for the Animals to benefit the Animal Welfare Leagues of Arlington and Alexandria!  Both events are important fundraisers, and both dog-friendly events feature vendors, goodies, demonstrations, and kid-friendly activities.

Puppy Challenge #1: House Training

By Laura Sharkey
Originally Published on ArlNow.com

So you have a cute new puppy? Congratulations! But now what?

Puppies naturally bite, cry, poop and pee. Then we get them in the house and immediately want them NOT to bite, cry, poop or pee. It’s a pretty tall order for an 8 week old. So here are a few tips on how to gently mold your tiny new best friend into the awesome dog you know she can be.

Jane and Frankie Win Regional Championship

Congratulations to WOOFS! trainer Jane Saunders and her Papillion Frankie for their performance last weekend at the USDAA 2016 Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships!  Jane and Frankie won the Regional Championship for 8" Performance Masters Challenge Biathlon, came in 3rd place the 8" Performance Triathlon, and made it to the finals for all events. And on top of all of that, Frankie was top 10 for 2015 in both Standard and Snooker for Masters 12" dogs!  Way to go!

New! Puppy Prep School

By Laura Sharkey

You have GOT to meet Lucy.  Lucy is our first Puppy Prep School student and she is adorable. Lucy is an 8 week old mini dachshund who started Prep School on April 5th. I will be chronicling her progress here. We have a lot planned for this little girl.

We immediately started working on Lucy's crate training. Her owners reported some seriously pitiful crying when she was crated, including an episode of getting her teeth stuck on the crate bars which was terrifying for everyone. Our goal is to have her willingly crating without protest by the time she goes home so today we started to teach her to go into her crate on cue.

Spencer Smith Named Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner

WOOFS! daycare supervisor Spencer Smith has graduated with distinction and been named Certified Training Partners by the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior.

Upcoming Community Events: April 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

Check out some fun dog-related events in our area!

4/9: NOVADog's Pet Photography 101 Class

4/9-4/10: Humane Society of Loudon County's 50th Anniversary Fundraiser

4/16: K-9 Heroes Day & the Pooch Pursuit 5k

4/23: Washington Humane Society's Fashion For Paws 10th Annual Runway Show

4/23: NOVADOG's Pet Photography 201 Class

4/23-4/24: Dog Days Bloom Festival

4/27: CGC Exam at WOOFS! Ballston Campus

4/30: Washington Animal Rescue League's Pasta for Pets

Meet the Daycare Team: April 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

WOOFS! has an awesome staff. So who are these people who choose to spend their days with the dogs? This month we are featuring Andre.

Help for Dog Reactivity

By Laura Sharkey
Originally Published on ARLNow.com

A reactive dog is a dog that reacts to specific things in their environment by becoming highly aroused and in most cases, barking and lunging. These dogs can appear to be aggressive, dangerous and “out of control.”

Vet Visit Etiquette and Training

By Laura Sharkey
Originally Published on ARLNow.com

A few weeks ago, Clarendon Animal Care wrote a great article with tips for a great vet visit. You can read it here.

Meet the Daycare Team: March 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

WOOFS! has an awesome staff. So who are these people who choose to spend their days with the dogs? This month we are featuring Tiffany.

Meet the Daycare Team: February 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

WOOFS! has an awesome staff. So who are these people who choose to spend their days with the dogs? This month we are featuring Kyla.

Canine Scent Work

By Laura Sharkey
Originally published on ARLNow.com

How much do you rely on your sense of smell?

Happy Train Your Dog Month!

By Laura Sharkey
Originally published by ArlNow.com

January is National Train Your Dog Month. So if you have any room left on your resolutions list, perhaps you can add one more: train your dog for five minutes a day. Believe it or not, give minutes a day can actually make a difference.

Meet the Daycare Team: January 2016

By Cynthia Robertson

WOOFS! has an awesome staff. So who are these people who choose to spend their days with the dogs? This month we are featuring Monica.