Dog's Powerful Healing Effects

Dogs are great companies, but have been known to be more than just that. Watch this powerful story from the folks at ABC News about how this dog saved two soldiers lives. Preview article below or watch full video and story here.

One Dog’s Powerful Healing Effects on Two Wounded Veterans

ABC News’ Kelly Hagan and Sabrina Peduto report:

Justin Lansford and his longtime girlfriend, Carol Balmes, love doting on their golden retriever, Gabe. But there is much more to this four-legged friend than meets the eye.

“The less I use my wheelchair, the more I need his help in smaller tasks and the more he is there,” Lansford, a U.S. Army veteran, told ABC News’ Lara Spencer. “It has been very comforting to know that.”

Lansford, of Silver Spring, Md., was severely injured during deployment when he was struck by an improvised explosive device.

“I was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and we were in eastern Afghanistan in early 2012,” he said. “We struck an IED and it flipped my truck completely. I had bilaterally severed femurs which resulted in the amputation of my left leg.”

While recovering at Walter Reade National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Lansford was introduced to Gabe through the Warrior Canine Connection, a nonprofit that pairs support dogs with wounded troops.

See full story here.

"Fanwood's K-9 Resorts EmBARKs Upon a Big 2014"

Check out this article secured in The Alternative Press on Thursday, March 13th, 2014 about the history of K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel and their plans for the future. Preview the article below or read full story here.

"Fanwood's K-9 Resorts EmBARKs Upon a Big 2014"

BY: John Mooney

FANWOOD, NJ - K-9 Resorts, Fanwood’s luxury hotel for dogs, is emBARKing a bold growth plan for 2014.


The company, which specializes in overnight boarding (from one night to two months), is adding franchise locations from Boston to Virginia in the near future. Pet owners turn to K-9 when they go on business trips or leisure travel and when they plan home construction projects. The company also offers “doggie daycare” that includes play groups so that pets can expend energy, exercise and socialize in a cage-free environment.

“Dogs are social animals that need exercise and stimulation. Doggie Daycare is the best way to provide both,” says co-founder Jason Parker, who started the business with his older brother, Steven. “It is important for puppies to socialize. People want their dogs to be social. It’s critical for them to start at a young age.”

Read full story here.

Keep Your Dog Busy

Have your dogs started to get antsy for green grass and the warmer weather? Thanks to the folks at Gizmodo we are able to provide you with the 6 best toys to keep your dog really busy. This will keep them out of your hair for a little while just in time for it to get nice out! Preview the article below or read the full article here.

"The 6 Best Toys to Keep Your Dog Really Busy"

BY: ANNA JANE GROSSMAN

The Kong

The granddaddy of all work-to-eat toys, the Kong is a chew toy made of nearly indestructible rubber. It was originally based on a part of a Volkswagen bus' suspension device that the creator's German Shepherd found particularly irresistible. Kongs can be stuffed with a wide variety of yummies. Kong sells especially shaped treats and different things you can squeeze inside, but you can stuff it with whatever your dogs' weakness might be: cream cheese, Cheez Whiz, wet dog food, peanut butter, liverwurst, frozen blueberries, hamburger meat. Yummers.

There used to be a great product that operated on a timer and dispensed Kongs at intervals, so you could stuff four of them and then leave for the day and your dog would get them doled out at neat intervals. The product was discontinued a few years ago, but you can occasionally find a used one on Ebay, and they're well worth the $100 or so that they usually sell for. Search the ‘Bay for Dogopolis KongTime Automatic Dog Toy Dispenser.

Find the rest of the toys here.

Treat your pet like they are top dog!

At all of our location we treat your pet like they are top dog! Thanks to our friends at abc news you can read below about this years top dog taking home the bragging rights for the 138th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

"Meet America’s Top Dog, Sky the Wire Fox Terrier"

BY: Dan Good

Sky is America’s top dog.

The wire fox terrier won best in show at the 138th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday.

The 5-year-old female — whose full name is “GCh. AfterAll Painting the Sky” — beat a field that included a standard poodle, a Portuguese water dog and a bloodhound.

This was a record 14th time that a wire fox terrier has won at the nation’s top dog show.

“They were bred to look for trouble so they’re always on their toes out there,” Westminster Kennel Club Director of Communications and longtime WKC Dog Show TV co-host David Frei said of the terrier breed. “It’s their world and we’re just living in it and I think that gives them a little extra edge in the show ring.”

Read full article here.

Keep Pets Safe in the Extreme Cold

Don't take your dog out into the elements without being educated! Read these 6 tips for the extreme cold and how to keep your friends safe as we move towards the end of winter. Read full article here or begin below.

"6 Pet Safety Tips for the Extreme Cold"

By: Joanna Prisco

As much of the country continue to endure snow, sleet and ice, it's important to remember that four-legged friends require special care when the temperature drops.

Dr. George Melillo, Northeast regional medical director for Banfield Pet Hospital, which operates 800 locations throughout the U.S., shared with ABC News his tips for taking care of pets in extreme cold.

Keep a Cap on Playtime Even if Fido loves running through the fluffy piles of snow, extended exposure to the cold can be damaging to a pet's health. "It is recommended not to leave pets outside when the temperature drops below freezing," said Melillo. "Pets that are left outside for too long can suffer from hypothermia and frostbite."

Not only that, but extremities, such as ear tips, paws and the end of the tail are particularly susceptible to cold injuries, he said. For this reason, limit the time your pet spends in the cold. To determine how long is too long, keep a close eye on your dog to make sure they look comfortable. "Some dogs can stay outside longer than others," said Melillo. "For example, breeds such as Malamutes fare much better in cold weather than Chihuahuas."

Don't Go Shaving "Dogs with longer coats will be warmer in winter, so it is advised not to shave a dog's coat down to the skin," Melillo told ABC News. So no matter now cute Buffy looks when freshly shorn, it's best to wait until spring.

Read full article here. 

Runners: The Dog Breeds For You

Do you live a active and healthy lifestyle? Thanks to our friends at Outside magazine we are able to get a better understanding of which kind of dog would be best for us. Read below to find out the best dog breeds for runners and ones that will be able to keep up. Read full article here or begin below.

"The 10 Best Dog Breeds for Runners"

10. Alaskan Malamute

The Alaskan Malamute has a thick coat and was bred to carry loads over long distances, so it is a great endurance runner and good for those who live in colder climates. With their hardy build and intelligence, Malamutes will gladly tough out less-than-ideal conditions by your side.

9. Dalmatian
Dalmatians can keep pace with horses. Which means they can keep pace with you. These large and lean dogs were classically employed to run ahead of firefighting carriages and clear the way, but they’re just as happy running through the park. Great if you’re looking for a more protective breed to accompany your long-distance jogs.

Read full article here.

Good Health in Cold Weather

It is vital to keep your pet active, but more importantly we need to take into consideration the steps to properly keep them in good health when the temperatures drop. This article from NPR provides some great tips as to how to do so. Read full article here or preview below. 

"Cold Weather Tips To Keep Your Pets In Good Health"

by SCOTT HENSLEY


Here I sit shivering, wishing I were a dog or cat to get through this cold snap.

A built-in fur coat, no commute and maybe some quality time by the fireplace. What could go wrong?

Quite a few things, it turns out.

The friendly animal lovers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's Ryan Hospital report seeing a few wintery problems for pets in the ER over the last few days. Some you might not have expected.

"One thing that we saw this weekend was rabbits who were in a basement during the cold weather," Dr. Deborah C. Mandell tells Shots. The rabbits were sick with a life-threatening condition called gastrointestinal stasis. Their intestines stopped working. Exposure to cold can trigger the problem, says Mandell, an emergency and critical care vet. The rabbits did fine after they were gently warmed.

Read full article here. 

"Forty-six fascinating ideas that raised 1/2 billion dollars"

The producers of CNBC’s “Power Pitch” posted a year-in-review video featuring highlights of the last year on Thursday, December 26th. View the video here!

"Forty-six fascinating ideas that raised 1/2 billion dollars"

By: Erin Barry

This year, Power Pitch featured 53 founders from 46 start-ups—all with the courage to step up and deliver a 60-second pitch to experts and potential investors. They faced tough questions (and judgments) from some of the biggest names in venture capital, social media, fashion and food.

We’ve had a blast producing this series and look forward to featuring more in 2014.Thanks to all the founders and panelists for participating, and to all our viewers! And a huge thanks to all of our startups for sharing their big ideas:

You can view the entire highlight video here.

“K-9 Resorts Plans Luxury 'Dog Hotel' in Madison”

Below is the article featured in Madison Patch Journal surrounding the new K-9 Resorts location opening in Madison, NJ. Read full article here or begin below.

“K-9 Resorts Plans Luxury 'Dog Hotel' in Madison”

BY: Jake Remlay


A K-9 Resorts franchise plans to open on Prospect Street in Madison.

The business offers luxury, cage-free boarding, and doggie daycare, K-9 resorts co-founder Jason Parker said. Dogs are given a temperament test, and then are able to play in a large playroom throughout the day.

There is no maximum amount of time dogs can stay there, and some dogs have stayed for months at a time. Dogs can stay in private rooms with outdoor windows and TVs tuned to Animal Planet, Parker said.

The building at 22 Prospect Street in Madison, a former St. Hubert's location, is being outfitted with top-of-the-line ventilation systems and improved noise control.

The Madison location will be the fourth K-9 Resort. Other locations are in Fanwood, Fairfield and Middletown. Nine more franchises are in development, he said.

Read full article here. 

Tips to Finding Your Dog a New Friend

Adding another dog to the house can be a great thing for your current dog. However, it’s important to realize that there are some adjustments that need to be made in order for this companionship to be successful. Thanks to our friends at the ASPCA we have some tips as to how to introduce a new dog into the home. Read the article here or begin below.

"Introducing Your Dog to a New Dog"

By: ASPCA

As of 2007–2008, there were nearly 75 million pet dogs in the United States, living in nearly 45 million U.S. homes. Although the majority of dog guardians (63%) own just one dog, 25% own two, and 12% own three or more. So if you’ve decided to get a second or third dog, you’re in good company!

Adding another dog to your household can bring you and your current dog more fun and companionship. However, it’s important to realize that your current dog, might feel similar to how you might feel if your parents picked your friends and then told you to share your toys with them. In the long run, things will probably work out fabulously, but in the beginning it’s a very smart idea to take a few extra steps to make everyone feel good about the new arrangement. This article provides some guidelines for making smooth and safe introductions and ensuring that your dogs’ relationship gets off to a great start.

Maximizing the potential for a great relationship between your new dog and your current dog is a two-step process. It involves the actual introduction and then management of the new dog in your home. We’ll start with introductions and then give you guidelines for helping your dogs through the initial transition weeks of being together in your home.

Read full article here.

A Healthy Dog is a Happy Dog

A healthy dog is a happy dog. Our friends at Purina have some suggestions as to how to keep your dog healthy all year long. Read the full article here or begin below.

"How can I keep my dog healthy?"

By: Purina

KEEPING YOUR DOG HEALTHY

Your dog can help keep you happy and healthy, and we know you want to return the favor. What is the best food for your dog? How often should you exercise him? The diet and activity requirements for dogs differ between breeds. Knowing the unique needs of your dog is the first step toward maintaining his health.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT DOG FOOD

Select a dog food that is designed for your dog’s health. Take his size, weight, breed and age into consideration when searching for the perfect food.

ADEQUATE EXERCISE

There’s no substitute for a nice long walk. Many dogs require regular exercise in order to stay healthy and in shape. Learning about the activity level of your dog can help you better understand how much exercise he needs. Purina Pro Plan created an app that can help you do that.

Read full article here.

"Dog Lovers Start Luxury Hotel For Your Pooch."

K-9 Resorts was featured on CNBC Power Pitch in a segment titled, "Dog lovers start luxury hotel for your pooch." Watch full video segment and read article here or begin below.

"Dog Lovers Start Luxury Hotel For Your Pooch." 

By: Joanna Weinstein 

Brothers Steven and Jason Parker are on a mission to create the ultimate five-star hotel experience but their accommodations are very exclusive … only dogs can check in!

“We wanted to get into the luxury pet care business because there's two things in life we love and that is dogs and owning our own business,” K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel co-founder Steven Parker told CNBC.

We gave the Parker brothers just 60 seconds to pitch their award-winning pet care facility. Will their idea get five-star approval from our panelists? Watch the video and see if K-9 Resortshas what it takes to succeed in the dog-eat-dog start-up world.

More than just puppy love

The Parker brothers are not newcomers to the business world. At just 12 and 14 years old, instead of riding bikes after school, they were running a dog walking business.

“Jason and I always loved dogs growing up and our parents weren't really big dog people so we wanted to find a way to prove that we were responsible enough to care for dogs,” Steven Parker told CNBC.

Watch video and finish article here!

Prepping Those Pups For The Colder Months

The cold air and snow brings on many concerns for us this winter, but what does it mean for your dog? It is important to take the necessary precautions in order to properly prepare your pup for the winter months. Thanks to our friends at the American Kennel Club you can learn about the necessary measures that need to be taken in order to protect your furry friend. Read full article here or begin below.

"WINTER CARE FOR CANINES"

By: American Kennel club

Winter's cold air brings many concerns for responsible dog owners. Keep the following precautions in mind:

•Don't leave your dog outside in the cold for long periods of time. Wind chill makes days colder than actual temperature readings. Be attentive to your dog's body temperature, and limit its time outdoors.

•Adequate shelter is a necessity. Keep your dog warm, dry and away from drafts. Tiles and uncarpeted areas may become extremely cold, so make sure to place blankets and pads on floors in these areas.

•Be extra careful when walking or playing with your dog near frozen lakes, rivers or ponds. Your dog could slip or jump in and get seriously injured.

•Groom your dog regularly. Your dog needs a well-groomed coat to keep properly insulated. Short- or coarse-haired dogs may get extra cold, so consider a sweater or coat. Long-haired dogs should have excess hair around the toes and foot pads trimmed to ease snow removal and cleaning. If you do the trimming, take care not to cut the pads or other delicate area of the foot.

Read full article here.

"Fanwood Luxury Canine Care Center Partners With Scotch Plains Police to Pamper Patrol Pooches"

Recently K-9 Resorts and Luxury Hotel was featured on mycentraljersey.com for their help in caring for the Scotch Plains K-9 unit.

"Fanwood luxury canine care center partners with Scotch Plains police to pamper patrol pooches"

BY: MARK SPIVEY

SCOTCH PLAINS- One of the unique features of the Scotch Plains Police Department K-9 unit is that when the officers go on vacation, their canine partners do, too.

It's not like Gamble, 6, and Ollie, 4, hop on a plane with their police handlers, Chris Aversa and Brian Cheney, though. They just travel around the corner to the K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel in neighboring Fanwood- a local business that has pulled out all the stops to offer financial and logistical support to one of a select few municipal K-9 units in Central Jersey.

Click here to read more.

Franchisee Spotlight: Andy and Darcie Lubalin

Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Andy Lubalin went to Penn State University earning a degree in economics, with a minor in business administration in 1995. He met his wife Darcie at college and they relocated back to New Jersey. He worked at Hertz Equipment Rental for two years. Andy then worked for 15 years as a consultant at CSC Corporation as a Software Developer, and ended up as a Business Manager assigned to a major brokerage firm. His job duties required a lot of travel, to the point where he would be gone weeks at a time and missed the first moments of his kids’ lives. 

Having known K-9 Resorts’ founders Steven and Jason Parker when they were neighborhood dog sitters back in the day, Andy’s passion led him to K-9 and is the first franchisee in the network. As the #1 rated pet care service in all of New Jersey, Andy couldn’t be happier. Andy and Darcie live about a mile from the original K-9 store and became owners because of their high admiration of the franchise and its genuine line of work.

How did you learn about the brand?

Andy: It’s been three years in the making. I knew I wanted to work with dogs when I was going through my career transition and came back to K-9 when I made the decision to make a change.  I signed in the summer of 2011 and it took a full year to find the best location when we found it in the summer of 2012.

Jason Parker: Andy is our first franchisee, so this is very much our first rodeo working out the kinks to find the right location. We went through a bit of a challenge at first, but found a really good location advisor. Working with Larry Barto has been great. We have 13 locations including this one. This will be the first franchise location, with the original corporate location opening in 2005.

Why did you choose an opportunity with K-9 Resorts?

I’ve known the Parkers since they were in high school. We moved into the area, and they were our dog walkers, so I had the history with them. Their level of customer service was through the roof, especially for kids that age. They understood the value of relationships so I always had a positive opinion of them.

Five years went by and I knew they had since opened K-9 Resorts but had yet to take a tour. After doing the tour, I went in to meet with them and knew it was the right fit for me. It was immaculate. I didn't smell anything, didn't hear anything. Plus, I feel we saw eye-to-eye on life and the big picture, so the corporate culture was the icing on the cake.

Describe the location and demographics of the area.

The location is in a high income, densely populated area with a high pet index. The national average is a score of 100, but in this area, it’s nearly 300. In addition, the location on Bloomfield Avenue happens to be next to the only 24-hour animal emergency hospital in the area.

Are you involved with any charities or do any community outreach with your business?

We just served as the largest sponsor for the Dress for Success's Ad Journal, an organization that helps women in difficult situations get back on their feet.

Jason: We reserve a certain portion of money per year for philanthropy and support in the community; that is something the brand as a whole believes in.

What challenges have you overcome to get where you are now?

There’s a certain stigma that boarding rooms are loud, smelly and dirty. On some level, this is true, so part of our job is to educate people on great places such as K-9 that do have state-of-the-art materials and are really clean.

How many employees will you have when you start out?

We will have four up-front and four in the back.

What are your expansion or development plans? What is your end goal with K-9 Resorts?

It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that we will expand. We have a location, but I can’t think about that until at least after this summer because I have to show this is going to be a money maker.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?

I have two kids so enjoy coaching my kids’ and being with my family. I enjoy playing sports myself.