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***Store Policy***
All pets MUST be on a leash on in a carrier when visiting the store.
We will not be responsible for an animal running away or any injuries that may occur if your pet is running free.
We occasionally have a dogs tied in the back yard, or wildlife visiting the yard.
Please be careful and respect our rules.
Also, while your pet is more than welcome to come visit the store, please watch them and be aware that if he/she pees on product you can consider it sold to you.
Thank you!
Hours of Operation
Monday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Closed Major Holidays
Want a memory of your loving pet? Help support a local artist!
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Pet Care Tips
TICKS
If you and your pet have been in any grass do a thorough inspection.
For yourself, it will be on your clothing, around your ankles, inside your pantlegs, socks, shoes usually.
For your pet (dogs and cats!) check between the toes, along the legs, the belly/chest and then the body, look in the ears, on the eyes, inside the mouth - inspect the roof of the mouth, cheeks, gums, lips, tongue.
What do you do if you find one?
If you find one (or more) don't panic!
Grab a cotton ball or cotton pad and soak it in dish soap, hold it over the tick for a couple minutes and gently try to remove the tick pushing from the head down towards the body (of the tick) trying to make sure to get the stinger out. If it doesn't work after a couple minutes, try again.
DON'T just try to pick it off, you risk leaving the stinger in which can cause a nasty infection and rash.
If you can remove the tick intact maybe put it into a jar and label where you found it and let the health unit know so they can monitor the activity of the ticks.
Of course, prevention is the best option - a good quality flea/tick treatment will help prevent any ticks from having a chance to survive a bite and will also help with mosquitoes and black flies (Advantix, Revolution, etc.)
Get out and enjoy our short but buggy summer season but be careful!
You and a New Pet
So, you have decided to get a new pet, wonderful! But here are a few things to think about when deciding on a new pet:
Training:
Kittens - a kitten needs to be taught to use a litter box. Usually, the mom cat will train the kittens to use it if the breeder keeps the litter clean and the mom is a faithful user of the box. BUT not all moms teach the babies to use a box so that falls on your shoulders.
- At first you have to use the non-clumping litter because kittens haven't learned to not step in waste, and the clumping litter will get caught in their feet and when the kitten cleans itself it can ingest the litter, and it can cause a blockage in their system.
- Show the kitten where the box is and let them explore, if they make a mess elsewhere clean it up and put it in the box and show the kitten where it is, eventually it will take the hint (or just figure that it's human slave is going to pick up after it, can go either way).
- Kittens need to be taught not to go on counters. This is an almost endless job but when you get a kitten you can pretty much figure it is going to be on your counter when you are not home even if you have trained it to stay off when you are home (using a spray bottle is the best way I have found, some say aluminum wrap will also stop them). You might want to get into the habit of sterilizing your counters before using them to prep food because you honestly can't be sure who has put their dirty little paws on there.
- Teach the kitten to not lunge for the door every time it opens, again the spray bottle is a good training method. Many cats just get to the point of not even bothering with outside if they are strictly indoor cats.
Puppies - training is not just teaching a new pup how to fetch a ball. Training a puppy is hard work and takes months but in the end is very much worth the effort.
- House training will take a lot of determination and effort on your part. You have to take the pup out first thing in the morning most likely before you can do your business because their little bladder isn't easy to control. Having a small fenced in area for them to use safely is a good way to let you both take care of business first thing in the morning. Always take them out 20 - 30 minutes after they eat because they will need to go. Always take them out after excitement of play or visitors, they will piddle otherwise. Plan on taking them out every couple hours during the day to teach them that is the routine, as they get older you can put more time in between until they are able to hold it for longer periods of time. Pick up water after supper so they are not tempted to drink a lot before bed, try to keep their excitement down so they are settled and easier to get to sleep. Walk them before bed so they can water every tree and post along the way to give them a longer chance to sleep.
- At first puppies will not want to sleep alone, you took them from a litter where they slept in a puppy pile and are used to having warm bodies all around. You can give your new pup a couple furry stuffies to keep them company. You can use an old-fashioned clock that ticks for noise or just use an app on your phone on low of a heartbeat so it mimics another being. Be prepared, you probably won't get much sleep the first few nights.
- Training your pup to walk on leash is going to be a challenge, you need to teach it to walk on a leash (many give trouble with a leash, if this happens just attach the leash to them and let them walk around with it in the house, eventually pick up the leash and walk with them and get them used to using it, them try them outside). They will pull, it is in their nature, but you have to keep them on a short leash to get them used to walking with you. When they pull give one little jerk (DO NOT PULL HARD AS YOU CAN CHOKE OR BREAK THE BONES IN THEIR NECK) and stop, they will stop with you, when they settle down start again and repeat this until they realize they need to walk with you. There are aids on the market to help with this - pinch collars when used properly will work like a miracle to train your dog to walk well, ask someone who has trained a dog using one how to do so safely. Martingale collars work great if your dog just needs a reminder and can remain on the dog as their permanent collar if so desired.
- Teaching your pup not to jump is another big job. Pups are cute when they jump but they grow up and many reach over 100 pounds and if that excited large dog decides to jump on someone that isn't prepared it can cause serious damage to the unsuspecting person. Get your dog to jump and use your knee in front of your other knee to stop him and give him a little "tap" on the nose and say DOWN in a sharp tone ... do this repeatedly until the dog learns (often this is achieved in 3 or 4 tries). It might have to be repeated for a few days but it will eventually teach the dog.
- Biting is another thing that the dog needs to be taught not to do. Most dogs will learn with easy correction (a tap and a sharp NO often work). Many are not so easy. Sometimes when a pup is biting you can just gently grab the lower jaw with your hand in the mouth and wrapped around the lower jaw (don't do it hard, you only want the dog to learn it isn't right, not hurt it!). The dog will try to close its mouth and won't be able to let it go and try again, if the dog bites again do it again. After a few times the dog is going to say nope, not happening. Persistence is the key.
- More advanced training is available through professionals, check your local area for someone that is trained to help you.
Feeding:
Most young animals will eat anything and everything. Most have no issue with the food they are fed and do well on whatever. HOWEVER, there are some that develop food sensitivities and those are a different matter. Start with cutting out one item at a time in their diet, often chicken and wheat are the issue so find a food with a different protein source than chicken, give it a month to see if the issue resolves. If it does go with alternate protein sources from chicken (lamb is a good alternate protein and most animals do well with it). If it is still an issue go for a grain free food and give it a month. If after all this your pet still have issues you may want to discuss it with your vet or pet professional and see what else you can try. Do not over feed, feed according to the guidelines on the bag. Always try to feed the best food you can afford with your budget - not everyone can afford the $125 a 22-pound bag food and that is ok, just try not to rely on the $25 a 40-pound bag food as it is usually full of fillers and preservatives. Rule of thumb to remember - first 5 ingredients is 80% of the food...do you want those first 5 ingredients to be wheat, rice, corn, byproducts and items that are hard to pronounce?
Vet Bills:
Yes, they are going to pop up quickly once you welcome a pet into your home and heart. You need to be prepared for them as they are not cheap. My rule was always to start putting a little bit away each month for the vet bills - vaccines, spay/neuter, emergencies. Most vet bills are going to be high, sorry to tell you that. You can expect a bill of at least $200 for the vaccines (8, 12, 16 weeks of age) and spay/neuter (6 to 9 months depending on breed) will range from $400 to $1200. You need to be prepared! There is help available through some programs, but they only cover a small portion, so you need to prepare and start saving now!
Doing your research before getting a new fur baby will help you make the best decisions in the future. A new fur baby can add a wonderful quality to your life and make your life more fulfilling. But it can go wrong so easily if you are not prepared. Good luck with your new addition.
About us:
We opened our doors in 2006, just a small family with a dream to help people when they want to travel or even just when they are working for the day and want to keep their dogs in a safe, secure environment.
Where they have interaction with other dogs and can socialize with people during the day.
A bonus the owner lives on site!
Open daily, except major holidays.
We offer 8 individual indoor/outdoor runs.
The doors are open at 8 am and remain open (weather permitting) until dark.
Dogs are in their own individual runs and can socialize with the dog next to them but are safe from any aggressive behavior, should any occur.
Looking to get your pet groomed?
We have a certified groomer on staff!
Wawa Animal Welfare Fund
The Wawa Animal Welfare Fund is a local animal assistance group that has come together to help owners that can't afford the vet care their pet needs.
The organization helps with 1/2 the cost of the vet visit, with a maximum of $200, whether it be a scheduled visit or an emergency visit.
We have colorful bandanas, bows made by Tracey Blackmore and keychain fobs made by Debbie Macdonnell, all homemade with love for sale. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these items go to helping our furry friends!
Check back often for new craft donations available for the fundraiser!
WAWA ANIMAL WELFARE FUND CAMPAIGN:
We are looking for "All Stars" to help us reach our goal of $5,000 for this year to help with vet costs for those who just can't afford them but are in need of a vet visit.
With ever $10 donation you get a star on our wall and your name goes in for one of the 2 thank you draws to be held December 13th 2025.
1st prize - Handmade Afghan (4'x6') donated by Tracy Blackmore
- 2 Wood burned photos donated by Roxanne Bernath
2nd prize -A Joanie Clement original painting of Wawa Lake donated by Joanie Clement
- A treat station donated by Tammy Dumoulin-Asselin at Superior Creations
- a pottery set of 3 containers donated by Cindy Chuipka-Jozin at Green Cabin Pottery
You can make your donation by popping into the store or etransfer to waggingtailskennelwawa@gmail.com and include a message with your name/number saying fundraiser donation
***We are a local, non-profit, non-charitable organization helping community members when they need it***
We are a
ONE STOP PET STORE:
We carry a large selection of high-quality Canadian dog and cat food brands such as Canadian Natural, Boreal, Nutrience, Lifetime, Oven Baked, 1st Choice, Royal Canin, and Summit with many options of grain/wheat/corn free foods in stock.
Why do we only carry Canadian brand foods?
We have found over the years that if a foreign food company has a recall, we are not notified of the recall until it appears in the news - that can be a week or more after the initial recall and how many dogs/cats have been affected in that time? By staying with Canadian brands and having good communication with the companies that we find out about any issues almost immediately and can notify our customers quickly.
We read the labels of food that we bring in, trying to find the best ingredients for your pet while trying to keep the cost of caring for your pet's nutrition within reason. Read the ingredient list on your pet food - the first 5 ingredients are essentially 80% of the makeup of the food...not all of the "expensive" food is top quality, and not all of the "cheaper" food is poor quality. This came across my news feed recently and makes for an interesting read, check out the first ingredients and see for yourself.The 11 Worst Dog Food Brands in America (msn.com)
Do you have a small animal that you are in need of supplies for? We carry food, treats, toys, bedding, etc. for your bird, hamster, gerbil, rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla. Don't forget the outside birds and chickens, we carry feeders and food for them as well.
Are you thinking of setting up an aquarium or have an existing one you need supplies or food for? We can help with that as well.
Stop in and check out the selection of food, toys, treats, bedding, accessories. If we don't have it please don't hesitate to ask if we can get it.
Have a pup or kitty birthday coming up and want to treat them? We can make birthday "cookies" and make trays with the cookies, a toy, a bandana or other accessory of your choice - ask us for rates.
Grooming Prices
We groom cats and dogs!
All prices are subject to change, depending on size, temperament, and condition of animal's fur and work needing to be done.
Final price will be determined by Groomer at the end of the service.
Grooming Services:
Nail Clipping - $10
Anal glands expressed - $10
Brush out, no bath - $20 to $50
Bath and dry, no cut - $40 to $85
Full Groom:
Includes fur cut, nail clipping, ear plucking/cleaning, anal glands expressed if necessary.
Small Dog (starts at) $60
Medium Dog (starts at) $80
Large Dog (starts at) $100
Cats (start at) $50
***Please bring a copy of your dog's latest vaccine records. We do require it be on file. You can bring a physical copy or you can send us a photo via our Facebook page or email.***
We are a small facility, only 8 indoor/outdoor runs.
Doors are open at 8 am and (weather permitting) stay open until dark so the dogs can run in and out as much as they like chasing squirrels, watching the birds, barking at one another - all in the safety of their own covered run.
Runs are 4'x5' inside with a rubberized floor for their comfort, 4'x8' outside (single pens) and 4'x8' inside and 8'x8' outside (double pens) with easy to sterilize concrete for them to do their business and just enjoy the sun.
Cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
We provide blankets (washed between guests), bowls (washed and sterilized between guests) all you need to provide is your dog and their food (to save possible food allergies).
Prices for boarding are as follows:
(all taxes extra)
1 dog $23/night
2 dogs $35/night in same run
Additional dogs (in same run as others) $10
(i.e.: 3 dogs in a double run are $45/night)
If you wish to have your dog walked during his/her visit we do have a walking service that we call on and the price for that is $10 for a half hour walk (weather permitting). Please ask for this service when booking.
The team from Wagging Tails Kennel were there to save my day and my vacation.
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They were wonderful. It is so nice to go away on vacation and not worry about our pet.
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The guys from Wagging Tails Kennel are true animal lovers!
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Felt very comfortable with Wagging Tails Kennel. Trusted them with my dog and would trust them again.
Wagging Tails Kennel is super dependable and responsible and takes great care of their customers.
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They did an amazing job. I will use them again for my next trip.
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171 Government Rd , Wawa, Ontario
+17058567750
waggingtailskennelwawa@gmail.com
