Bring out the best in your dog by learning to be a benevolent leader.
With positive training methods, we offer one-on-one manners training or group classes for you and your dog. Learn how to talk “dog” by understanding the visual signals between you and your dog. Teach your dog basic obedience so you both can enjoy each other more.

Whether you choose group or private training or agility work, commit to building your relationship based on positive reinforcement rather than fear or punishment.

Etiquette School runs daily for 2 weeks. Group classes run once a week for 6 weeks.
Please call or email us for session scheduling and registration. info@oldetownepetresort.com

To reserve a day or boarding service, please click here!

Our Webcam lets our owners keep an eye on their dogs! Really: You can see your pet and our staff at any time.

Step 1) To update page content:
Once logged in you’ll be looking at the Dashboard. On the left hand side there will be a button that says “Pages”. Clicking on that will bring up a list of the pages currently on the website.  Rolling over the page titles with your mouse will bring up four options: Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View

Click on “Edit” for the page you would like to update.
You will now be viewing a window of page copy.

Once you are done editing the copy you can either press “Preview Changes” on the right hand of the screen, or if you’re happy with the changes you can press “Update” for them to take effect.

There are 2 tabs at the top right of the content editing window, “Visual” and “HTML“. Clicking on the “Visual” tab will display a WYSIWYG editor while selecting “HTML” will display the hypertext markup for the page. The WYSIWYG editor is a popular one for editing WordPress content, however, it’s not without it’s flaws. Most noticeable is spacing.

General rules that apply to spacing are as follows:

• Hitting “Enter” on the keyboard will create a paragraph break.
• Hitting “Shift + Enter” on the keyboard will create a line-break.
• On occasion you may need a larger space to separate content. If that is the case then you may need to hit “Enter” and then add a non-breaking space (indicated in the WYSIWYG editor as a Enter symbol that has been crossed out. Alternatively it’s HTML counterpart is “ “).

Step 2) To insert an image into the page content:
Follow Step 1 to get to the page content you would like to add the image to.  Select where in the copy you would like the image to be place. Once you have the location, click on the first small button to the right of “Upload/Insert” which is located top left of the editing window, above the tool bar. If you hover your mouse over the button it will say “Add an Image”.

Clicking on the button will bring up a window that will allow you to choose the image you would like to add and from what source. Once you have selected the image, it will upload to your page and additional information will be presented. From here you can give the image a title, insert a caption that will appear under the image, choose whether or not the image links to a full size version, as well as its alignment and size. Once you have finished click the button that says “Insert into Post”.  Do not click the button that says “Save all Changes”.

Once you have clicked “Insert into Post”, you will be taken back to the content editing screen. From here you can either preview changes or update the page as in Step 1.

Step 3) To insert a link into the page content:
Select what text you would like to convert to a link by highlighting it. In the WYSIWYG editor, click on the button that looks like a chain “Insert/edit link“. You will be presented with a window where you are prompted to type in the URL of the page you would like to link to. After doing so, click on the checkbox “Open link in a new window/tab” then click the “Add link” button.

Step 4) Heading tag styles:
Heading styles are provided below. For some reason the WYSIWYG editor does not assign a heading tag to only the text outlined but to a whole section of copy. Heading styles may need to be typed in using the “HTML” tab. The HTML heading styles are provided below as well as an example of what they look like. Some headings have specific spacing styles applied to them.

<h1>

Heading 1 tag style

</h1>

<h2>

Heading 2 tag style

</h2>

<h3>

Heading 3 tag style

</h3>

<h4>

Heading 4 tag style

</h4>

<h5>

Heading 5 tag style

</h5>

Step 5) Managing the Gallery
At the bottom left hand of the screen is where you can access the Gallery as well as its options. To add an image, click on “Add Gallery / Images”. You will be re-directed to an “Upload Images” screen. From here, press “Browse” and select the image you would like to add to the Gallery. Once that is complete, where it says “Choose gallery”, select either “1 – Springfield” or “2 – Dulles”.  Once that is complete, press the “Upload Images” button.

To delete or change the titles of the images in the Gallery, press the “Manage Gallery” button. Once that is pressed you will be taken to a screen where you can choose which Gallery you would like to manage. Click on the Gallery that says either “OTPR – Springfield” or “OTPR – Dulles” located underneath “Title”.

To change the order of images in the Gallery, follow the above step to get to the “Manage Gallery” page and then press the button labeled “Sort gallery” located above the first thumbnail and to the left of “Save Changes”. You will be taken to a screen where you can drag and drop the images into the order you would like them to be displayed.  Once you are happy with the order, press “Update Sort Order”. You can then go back to the Manage Gallery page or exit.

Step 6) Embedding videos from YouTube
Login to your YouTube account then select “Videos” from the “My Account” drop down. You will be taken to a page with all of your uploaded videos. Click on the name of the video you would like to embed in WordPress. Once the video page comes up, click on the “Share” button. A window with some more information will appear. Click on the button that says “Embed”. Another small window will open containing some code that looks like the following:

<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/kGaT5b_H_Yg” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Copy this code by selecting it and pressing “Ctrl C” on your keyboard.

Once you have copied the code, follow Step 1 to update the page content. This time you’ll need to make sure your in HTML edit mode instead of Visual. Click the “HTML” tab that is located at the top right of the editing window. Locate within the copy where you would like the video to be place and paste “Ctrl V” the code. You can now press either the “Preview Changes” or “Update” button to complete the video embedding process. You may find that the video may be too large. If that’s the case, go back to the location where you pasted the code and change the <iframewidth=”*”  height=”*”> parameters until satisfied.

Step 7) Updating the NEWS section
To update the NEWS section, login to WordPress and follow Step 1 to navigate to the NEWS page.  Updating will be a simple cut and paste procedure. From within the “HTML” tab, select (highlight) the first entry on the NEWS page, example:

<h4>September 2011</h4>
<span style=”color: #4b2346;”><strong>September 21, 2011</strong></span>
<strong>Featured  on Channel 7 News</strong>
Cathy Bennett considers her two goldendoodles, Leo and Harley, family. She brings “the boys” to the lap of luxury at Olde Towne Pet Resort in Springfield three times a week. They go for a dip in the pool, get massages, a grooming every Friday and play with other pooches in a pen filled with bacon flavored bubbles. <a title=”Channel 7 News” href=”http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/09/dog-owners-spend-as-much-as-274k-for-lifespan-of-a-pure-breed-study-says-66853.html” target=”_blank”>read more</a>
<img src=”http://www.oldetownepetresort.com/wp-content/themes/otpr/images/separator.png” alt=”" />

Then copy the entry “Ctrl-C”.  Paste “Ctrl-V” the copied entry above the first entry on the page thus creating a new NEWS entry. Change the sections indicated in red with the new information.

<h4>NEW MONTH</h4>
<span style=”color: #4b2346;”><strong>NEW DATE</strong></span>
<strong>NEWS ITEM HEADLINE</strong>
New news item intro paragraph or desired copy. <a title=”TITLE OF NEWS ITEM” href=”http://www.link-to-website-or-pdf” target=”_blank”>read more</a>
<img src=”http://www.oldetownepetresort.com/wp-content/themes/otpr/images/separator.png” alt=”" />

If a Press Release PDF is what would be linked to instead of a URL, click on the “Add Media” button at the top left of the editing window and to the right of “Upload/Insert”. Select from your computer the PDF file that you would like to upload. Once selected, the file will upload and you will be presented with a new page which will allow you to insert the link to the PDF into the page using the “Insert into Post” button.

Once you are done editing the copy you can either press “Preview Changes” on the right hand of the screen, or if you’re happy with the changes you can press “Update” for them to take effect.

Contact: Keith Nahigian
Telephone: 703.567.6996
Email: keith@nahigianstrategies.com

Olde Towne Pet Resort, The Ultimate Pet Care Company Opens Flagship Facility in Washington, D.C.

ALEXANDRIA, VA – November 14, 2002 – Olde Towne Pet Resort is a seven million dollar, state-of-the-art facility for canine and feline animals. The largest in the nation, this flagship resort takes pet care to an extraordinary new level. Olde Towne Pet Resort’s 27,000 square-foot, indoor facility includes an indoor track, a hydrotherapy pool, and spacious suites. Also available are bathing, grooming, massage therapy, doggie day care, cat care, and an in-house boutique selling rare pet accessories.

“This facility will revolutionize the pet care industry,” said Mark Fried, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Olde Towne Pet Resort. “It has everything your pet could want – all under one roof! You will want to tour this facility* to believe it.” Chairman Fried goes on to explain, “The American lifestyle has changed over the past decade. People are working longer hours and traveling for business during the week. The Olde Towne Pet Resort is filling a great need in the Washington, D.C. area.”

The estimated $31 billion dollar pet care industry has sprouted up almost overnight, according to the American Pet Products and Manufacturing Association. Olde Towne Pet Resort wants to capitalize on this growing trend and has begun scouting for new locations.

Other impressive features at Olde Towne Pet Resort include:

• Security – double redundant doors throughout the indoor facility, and perimeter fencing firmly planted 12 inches underground.
• Cleanliness – an air system recirculating fresh air every four to six minutes, in addition to the separate in-house commercial-grade laundry service for dogs and cats, and a high pressure cleaning system.
• Specialties – an indoor track, a hydrotherapy pool, full outdoor agility course, 24-hour supervision, and doggie day care cameras for owners to view their pets online.
• Building features -Zenith Gallery art décor, special epoxy-tile, automated water bowls and TV and VCR capabilities in luxury suites producing a cozy feel for dogs and cats.

About Olde Towne Pet Resort
Olde Towne Pet Resort is a luxurious, 27,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility holding up to 172 canine and 65 feline animals overnight, up to 50 dogs for doggie day care, and up to 120 grooming sessions per day. A full service resort, Olde Towne Pet Resort offers bathing, grooming, pool and massage therapy for injured pets, doggie day care, obedience training, an in-house retail boutique, and more. Call Keith Nahigian at 703-567-6996 for more information, or visit our Web site at www.oldetownepetresort.com.

* Media tours available upon request

New resort offers perks for pets

By Sarah Bruyn Jones
November 21, 2002

Cali Hall quietly sits on a plush cushioned bench after spending Saturday morning at the spa. The relaxing visit has prepared her for a busy day of shopping in Old Town Alexandria and visiting friends.

The 6-year-old border collie is one of the first customers at the upscale Olde Towne Pet Resort, which opened this month on Alban Road in Springfield.

“She’s just in bliss after that massage and grooming,” said Laura Mae, Cali’s nanny, as Cali drapes her head over the side of her seat in the lobby.

The 27,000-square-foot day spa and overnight hotel for cats and dogs offers state-of-the-art accommodations for pets. At a cost of $7 million, the two-level structure is the largest pet resort in the country.

“This facility will revolutionize the pet care industry,” said Mark Fried, who also owns Fried Cos. Inc., a Fairfax-based real estate development, construction, leasing and property management firm. “It has everything your pet could want–all under one roof.”

And he is not exaggerating. There is an indoor track, a hydrotherapy pool, luxury suites complete with televisions and picture windows and indoor bathroom accommodations. The walls are decorated with paintings on loan from the Zenith Gallery in Washington, D.C., which will be rotated in and out of the building on a regular basis.

The floors are tiled with a specially designed surface that prevents animals from slipping and is easily wiped clean should a pet have an accident.

“There is nothing in this building that can be damaged by a dog,” said Joe Renaldis, chief operations manager who oversaw the planning and construction of the facility.

Fried, along with Renaldis and others, spent months formulating a plan to ensure nothing was overlooked. The resort was conceived by Fried and Carlos Mejias, founder of the Olde Towne School for Dogs in Alexandria. Mejias serves as chief executive officer of the Olde Towne Pet Resort.

With temperatures locked in between 68 and 72 degrees, the building is considered ideal for pets. The temperature, coupled with a humidity level of 45 to 50 percent, may be a bit chilly for the staff, but for the pets it’s perfect, Renaldis said.

Even the air filtration system is state-of-the-art. By recirculating fresh air every four to six minutes, the stench often associated with a veterinary clinic or boarding kennel is eliminated. “That’s why if you stand still you can feel a constant slight breeze moving through,” explained Keith Nahigian, spokesman for the facility.

Even though Renaldis has never built a pet resort, he said, “I’ve built a lot of hotels. And this is just like a hotel.”

To understand the difference between a people and pet hotel, Renaldis traveled throughout the country touring pet care facilities. The research resulted in the decision to go “in the direction of having something for everyone,” he said.

The three types of kennels are attributed to that philosophy. Pet owners can choose between the 4-by-6-foot “classic suite,” priced at $35 a night, and the “five star luxury suite,” which includes a TV/VCR and a webcam–allowing owners to check in on their pets any time from an Internet site–for $55 a night. Some accommodations can add up to $75 a night if there are two dogs or adjoining suites.

While the facility can hold up to 65 felines in a separate boarding room, the spa is mainly geared for canines. Bathing, professional grooming, massage therapy and doggie day care are all part of the treatment reserved for dogs.

After holding an open house Nov. 9 and 10, the spa has drummed up quite a lot of business, and by last weekend no vacancies remained over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Although many owners opt to have their dogs receive extra treatment besides the walks and play time included in the overnight packages, the resort is also busy serving day-goers like Cali.

After prize-winning groomer Ronda Nottingham finishes with Cali, she moves on to a pair of bichon frises, first bathing them, then styling their fur into the traditional cut for the breed. Although the dogs struggle when the water is first turned on for the bath, they soon succumb to the pulsing hose head.

At the other end of the resort, Hercules and Maximus are testing the waters of the oblong pool, designed especially for dogs.

“This is their first time swimming,” said Reina Demanarig, who lives in Woodbridge with two Chihuahuas. “We always wanted them to learn to swim but a tub is too small and there isn’t a pool nearby.”

After a 30-minute session of swimming up and down the 25-foot-long pool in specially designed life jackets, the 1-year-old dogs are worn out and ready for a nap. By swimming in the pool, the dogs are moving their legs at full speed, enabling a high-energy workout session, Renaldis said.

Even though the pool was one of the final additions to the plan, Renaldis said it has turned out to be well received by dog owners and pet clubs–some are even asking to rent it out for pool parties.

Whether pets use the facilities for an hour or stay a week, the response seems to be the same as owners check out in the lobby: “We’ll be back.”