Prepare Your Dog for the Warmer Season

It's starting to get warmer out and your dogs will start to lose their winter coat soon. It is essential to properly prepare them for this warmer weather. Thanks to the folks at the examiner.com we can provide you with tips for preparing your friends for the new season. Read full article here or preview below.

"Tips on grooming and preparing your dog for the warmer season"

BY: Susan Lee

Wherever you live across the country, you are anticipating the beauty of spring and the onset of warmer weather. Along with those changes comes the increase of insects and parasites which can be a real annoyance when it comes to your dogs. For their health and protection, you will want to take the necessary steps to prevent any parasitic infestation that could affect your dog. The friendly staff at your local Rockford area Petsmart or Petco as listed below (or one closest to your home) can help you with all your grooming and parasitic needs to help your dog through the warmer season.

And although bathing and grooming your pet is a year-round responsibility, you and the dogs will be spending more time outdoors when weather permits. In early spring, it is advisable that you bring your dog in for a heartworm test, which is a blood test, in order to begin a heartworm preventative program. Chewable heartworm tablets are administered once monthly although you can opt for the six-month Pro-Hart vaccination if your dog is less than eight years old.

Some more advanced heartworm medications also work to prevent fleas and ticks; otherwise, liquid flea and tick preventatives are available in tube form which is applied at the neck area between the shoulder blades on your dog. Your veterinarian can best advise you on the most effective flea, tick and heartworm preventative medications.

Read full article here.

Sochi Dogs Still Need to be Rescued

Interested in adopting a dog? The Olympic torch has officially been extinguished, but stray dogs are still out there. Thanks to the folks at The Examiner we can learn more about what can be done for these helpless pups. Preview the article below or read the full article here.

"Olympic flames extinquished but Sochi stray dogs still need to be rescued"

Although the flames of the Sochi Olympic torch have been extinguished, the stray dogs of the city are still in dire need of rescue. Stepping up for her first two rescue pooches from Sochi on Saturday, was actress Katherine Heigl and her mother who joined up with Ali Fedotowsky, an Olympic news correspondent, reported Celebrity Yahoo.com as they waited at LAX for two rescued puppies to arrive.

Fedotowsky, a former Bachelorette contestant, visited the most popular shelter on the outskirts of Sochi called Povodog, funded by billionaire Oleg Deripaska, who admits he may even adopt one of the strays in the near future as soon as his children choose their perfect new pooch.

Read full article here.

An Unlikely Group

At K9 Resorts, we pride ourselves in being able to accommodate any sized dog with equal love and care, from Great Danes to Chihuahuas. We thought we had seen it all until we came across this video on YouTube of one of the most diverse groups of pets we've ever seen. Sure, a large breed and small breed are not so uncommon in a house. Five dogs? Sure, a little more uncommon, but still not an unheard of mix. Even adding an aloof cat to the group is understandable. Throw in a duck who responds to his name just as alertly as the canines, and suddenly, we're speechless.

Check out this video from Erica Griffith who writes about her pets:

Macho - 8 Year old Toy Xolo

Rex - 11 Year old terrier something

Maya - 7-10 Year old Intermediate Xolo

Dave - 3 Year old standard size Xolo

Bella - 1.5 Year old Harlequin Great Dane

George - 1 Year old female Moscovy Duck

Twiggy - 5 year old Cat

If you are thinking about adding a pet (or another pet) to your family, please look into adoption from either a shelter or a reputable rescue group. You can find lots of animals and rescue groups that will fit exactly what you're looking for at petfinder.com That's what I did :)

Franchisee Spotlight: Bill Ippolito

Bill Ippolito is a New Jersey native with a background in medicine. Having been a physician assistant for the past 10 years, Bill has now transitioned into the corporate world, where he has decided to open a K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Bill is lifelong dog owner and new a dad.  

How did you learn about the brand?

My girlfriend’s (Larisa Citsay- who will be helping me run the business) brother is friends with Jason and Steven Parker, the co-founders of K-9 Resorts.  Their entrepreneurial accomplishments at such a young age really inspired me to invest in opening my own K-9 Resorts.

What was appealing to you about joining a franchise system?

I am currently a physician assistant, so the business world is somewhat new to me. I knew as a franchisee owner, I would get great help with the process and have instant support on day one and well into the future. 

What makes your business different?

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel is a very well organized and clean facility. Cleanliness is very important for pet owners. K-9 Resorts doesn’t have a distinct pet odor, is incredibly clean and runs efficiently. It is the perfect option for people who need a safe, comfortable place to leave their pets. K-9 Resorts is also a very young franchise, and I am very confident that it will be successful. I thought it would be best to get in early and help them grow.

I have also been a physician assistant for the past 10 years and decided to do something I was truly passionate about.  The career change is an exciting adventure.

What are your expansion or development plans?

Once we open this location, I would love to be able to open a second location in the near future. I am confident in success of this business.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?

I love dogs. I grew up with a yellow lab and now I have a 5 year old Rottweiler. I am also a new dad! I have a 9 month old son, who consumes a lot of my time. I also enjoy exercising, sports and cars.  

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.

K-9 Resorts Featured on Pet Life Radio

K-9 Resorts was recently featured on Pet Life Radio’s Six Figure Dog Business in a segment titled, "America's Youngest Franchisers Share Their Secrets".

In the segment designed for current and prospective pet business owners, founders Jason and Steven Parker spoke about their story, what marketing and business development initiatives they have used to become successful, and the opportunity in the pet care industry.

Click HERE to listen to the full segment or begin reading the synopsis below:

America's Youngest Franchisers Share Their Secrets

You read that correctly.  America's youngest franchisers are in the pet industry....and they are blowing up.  Steven and Jason Parker of K-9 Resorts have been franchising their award winning pet hotels for only two years and territories are being gobbled up.  People looking to get into the pet care industry realize these brothers have figured out a system for bringing in the revenue, taking care of customers, and running a successful company.

In this episode these brothers are going to share three of their biggest marketing strategies that have helped propel them to such big success at such a young age.  What's best is that most of what they share is not being done in the pet industry.  If you want to learn from some industry leaders and put some distance in between you and your competitors then this is the show for you.

Dress Up Your Pet!

K-9 Resorts is proud to bring you the Dress Up Your Pet Facebook contest. We are asking you to submit all those great photos of your adorable puppies all dressed up. Once the submission period is over you can rally your friends and family to vote for your photo for the chance to win a $150 Visa gift card. The submission with the most votes by January 20th will be announced the winner, it's that easy! So break out those cute little costumes and start snapping pictures!

Submit your entry here!

15 Homemade Holiday Pet Treats!

The Holiday season is upon us! As you prepare to start your shopping and spreading of holiday cheer, don't forget to treat your furry friends. What better way to show your puppy with love then by treating them to some special holiday snacks. We came across this great article by the examiner that shares some wonderful holiday treats you can use to pamper your pup. So keep the holiday cheer flowing and let shower your pup with these tasty delights!

15 Homemade Holiday Pet Treats: ‘Bone-afide’ Christmas Recipes for Fido & Fluffy

By: Jace Shoemaker-Galloway

With the holidays right around the corner, many people are scouring the crowded stores in hopes of finding those last-minute gifts, busy wrapping presents and/or preparing for that big holiday meal. But in the hustle-and0bustle of a busy and hectic holiday season, many folks overlook other valued members of the family – our furry, four-legged friends.

Whether your family consists of a Fluffy or a Fido, it’s important to remember our beloved pets during the holidays too! And you don’t need to spend a fortune either. Why not whip up a batch of homemade pet treats that are safe to eat and guaranteed to be tail-waggin’ “bone-afide” hits? Grab a few of your favorite holiday cookie cutters and you are on your way to being the cat's meow and the top dog in your house!

While the holidays can hold additional hazards and dangers for our furry friends such as tinsel, certain table scraps and poisonous plants, it is important to remember certain ingredients humans consume can cause serious illness or can be deadly to pets!

Recipes for Homemade Holiday Doggy Treats

• Gourmutt Holiday Peanut Butter Treats – This simple recipe sounds dog-gone good! You’ll need molasses, natural peanut butter and oil! There is also another recipe for Christmas Carob Mint Dog Cookies too!

Click here to read the entire article, and see the full list!

K-9 Resorts featured on CNBC.com

K-9 Resorts was featured on CNBC.com in an article titled “10 Unusual Franchise Opportunities,” which ran on Thursday, June 21, 2012. The slideshow features how K-9 was started and the various amenities. Click here for the article or read it below.

10 Unusual Franchise Opportunities

K-9 Resorts
Number of franchises: 3
Fee: $35,000
Year started franchising: 2011
Visit the website

Jason Parker, owner of K-9 Resorts, began his business with his brother Stephen as a dog-walking business back in 1999. By 2005, the siblings had opened their first luxury hotel for dogs in New Jersey. The cage-free environment includes private rooms for dogs with plasma TVs (tuned to Animal Planet), high-end dog food and a window in every room.

“People want the best for their dogs,” said Parker. “They want to go away knowing their pet is safe, healthy and happy. So we offer the Ritz Carlton of dog hotels."

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel Signs Third Franchisee in New Jersey

New Jersey native makes bold career change and teams up with K-9 Resorts to pursue his true passion for dogs

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel, the nation’s emerging pet facility franchise, has signed its third franchisee since its franchise launch in early 2011. New Jersey native, Bill Ippolito, will become a first-time business owner as he plans to open the brand’s third location in Monmouth County, New Jersey.

“Bill’s decision to change his career and pursue his true passion for dogs is exactly the type of entrepreneur we want to help launch our franchise system,” said K-9 Resorts’ Co-Founder and CEO Steven Parker. “We are thrilled to now be the go-to luxury pet facility in Monmouth County, and look to be a community leader in the area for many years to come.”

Bill Ippolito has been a physicians assistant for the past 10 years, and while he enjoyed his career in medicine, Bill felt it was time for a change. A lifelong dog owner, Bill has always had a strong connection to the pet care industry. Inspired by the entrepreneurial success of Steve and Jason Parker, the co-founders of K-9 Resorts, Bill decided to invest early in the franchise. Despite the brother’s young age, Bill was impressed by their professionalism, customer service and passion for pet care.

Over the years, Bill had experienced many other pet care facilities that did not make safety, care and customer service priority. When deciding to open a pet care business, K-9 Resorts was the first choice that came to mind because of the high-quality daycare experience each pet receives, and the incredible trust Steven and Jason have built with each customer. Bill saw a high demand for these types of services in the Monmouth County area and approached the Parker brothers about opening a franchise.

“As a lifetime dog owner, I understand the need to have a safe, clean and trustworthy place to leave a pet,” said Bill Ippolito. “I share the same values as Steven and Jason and ultimately have similar visions and goals. I am not only excited about becoming a first-time business owner but also helping build K9 from the ground up. This brand has incredible potential and I can’t wait to be a part of its future.”

“Our goal is to build K-9 Resorts into the nation’s largest pet care franchise company, but do so, staying true to our mission of being No. 1 in quality,” said Jason Parker. “We believe we’ve got our business down to a proven system that works, and can’t wait to teach our secrets to our first franchisees.”

Based in Fanwood, NJ, K-9 Resorts is expanding throughout the region and plans to open six locations this year alone throughout the state. Targeting areas where time-strapped pet owners are looking for a way to keep their pooch occupied during the day, K-9 Resorts has aggressive growth plans in greater New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut region.

K-9 Resorts Hosts First Facebook Photo Contest

Where does your dog like to lounge? That was the question that K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel wanted to know about from their Facebook fans in their first Facebook contest earlier this year. Over 20 fans submitted photos of their dog taking it easy in their beds, or even by the fireplace.

Taking the top prize of a $100 K-9 Resorts gift certificate was Facebook fan Lynn Sorf, whose dog Ruby Sue loves sprawling out in her owner's lap.

Currently, K-9 Resorts is looking for fans to vote on finalists in their Most Mischievous Dog Contest, running until the end of March.

K-9 Resorts featured on TheStreet.com

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel was recently featured on TheStreet.com in an article titled "An NFL Panther Runs the Pet Care Field." In a story on the rise in doggy daycares and pet care facilities, K-9 Resorts was included because they are a company in this industry growing and finding success. The piece also gives a brief overview of the business and inception story, and includes a quote from Steven Parker about how they expect to be the best and number one in quality within the industry. Click here to read the full article or read K-9 Resorts' section below.

And NFL Panther Runs the Pet Care Field

By Laurie Kulikowski

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel is also looking to expand its doggy day care business. The company was founded in 2005 by two brothers, Steven and Jason Parker, who had experience in the dog-walking and pet-sitting business in New Jersey but decided to combine those operations and expand in the quickly growing business of luxury dog day care. Last year they started to franchise their operations.

(Read more)

K-9 Resorts featured in Huffington Post

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel was featured in an article on Huffington Post (formerly AOL Small Business) titled, “Dog Businesses Find Success Even During Tough Times: Made in the USA.” The article features Steven and Jason Parker, who not only inspired the entire article but shared their entrepreneur story and the successes they have found in the dog care industry. Click here to read the article, or begin reading below.


Dog Businesses Find Success Even During Tough Times: Made In The USA

by Geoff Williams

Like many kids, when Jason and Steven Parker were teenagers, they wanted a dog. And like many parents, theirs said no. So they came up with the next best thing to spend some time with man's best friend -- they started their own pet-sitting business.

The brothers, now 24 and 27, kept it going through college and eventually sold it for six figures. After they graduated, they went on to start K9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel.

(Continue reading...)

K-9 Resorts featured on TheStreet.com

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel was featured on TheStreet.com in an article titled, “When Customers Become Franchisees,” that ran online on Monday, October 31, 2011. This article was based on an interview with franchisee Andy Lubalin and co-founder, chairman, and CEO Steven Parker. Steven spoke about the development of the concept and how the franchise intends to grow throughout the Northeast. In addition, Andy Lubalin offered great praise about how the customer service and cleanliness of the K-9 operation, along with the solid business model, were the main reasons that he and his wife decided to invest into this concept. Click here to read the article, or begin reading below.

When Customers Become Franchisees
By Laurie Kulikowski

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel was founded by two brothers in the dog-walking and pet-sitting business in New Jersey who decided to combine the operations -- then to expand a quickly successful business through the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area.

"We always knew wanted several stores," co-owner Steven Parker says.

They decided franchising was the best way to do that and officially became a franchised operation this year.

(Continue reading...)