Heel, Ye! Heel Ye! February is Dog Training Education Month

1 Dental disease is the most common major health problem of cats and dogs today, with an estimated 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats suffering from some degree of gum disease by the age of 3. Yet it’s something most pet parents do very little to ward off. Help get the word out about preventative actions during National Pet Dental Health Month while sharing what products and services you offer.

2 The Super Bowl is as much a test of a business’s advertising acumen as it is a sporting event. Most Valuable This or That, offers to return the cost of a purchase if a certain point spread is breached, Souper Bowl charity drives … It goes without saying your pet mascots should be kitted up for the big game. Make sure you’re ready, too. America will be watching.

2 OK, here we go again (and again, and again …). It’s Groundhog Day, and that celebrated if unreliable meteorologist Punxsutawney Phil will emerge today to predict if winter might meet an early end. The unspoken truth of this 134-year-old tradition is to think as if you were living in backwoods Pennsylvania in 1886, and your nearest neighbor is 12 miles away and there’s 2 feet of snow on the ground … you’d be looking for any excuse to have a party or a promotion. Perhaps something like, “It’s Groundhog Day. Specials at 2015 prices!”

10 The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show gets under way at Madison Square Garden, offering the perfect peg for a “pupperware” party. Team up with a local jeweler to bring together your high-end pet owners with some of the jeweler’s best-in-class pet jewelry.

14 Participation in Valentine’s Day has been steadily declining for years, with a few exceptions, one of which is people who consider their pet to be a love of their life. Pet-related gift buying is expected to get close to $1 billion this year, which buys a lot of heart-shaped treats. ($7 seems to be the sweet spot for pet gift purchases on V-Day, according to the National Retail Federation).

21 “To do two things at once is to do neither.” So said Publilius Syrus about 100 years before Jesus Christ was born. If the ancient Romans understood that, you’d think we’d have a better grasp on it now. On SINGLE TASKING DAY, choose one important task to complete. That other “urgent” stuff will take care of itself.

22 Fire hydrants, squirrels and telephone poles … the things that interest your dog are likely to be different than what’s on your mind as you wander your neighborhood. But that’s the great thing about a stroll with Fido. You both get exercise and the chance to ponder random objects and random thoughts. On Walking the Dog Day, invite customers to join you, too. Few things are as beneficial as a daily walk.

23 This year, go big on INTERNATIONAL DOG BISCUIT APPRECIATION DAY. Get in touch with vendors to arrange a wide selection of dog biscuits that your customers’ pets can sample. Laying on some wine and cheese for customers to sample probably wouldn’t hurt either. What’s better than hanging out with like-minded people in a pet store?

29 LEAP YEAR DAY only comes every four years, so jump on this sweet little marketing op. Offer discounts to those leaplings (pet or human) who have the fortune or misfortune to have been born on this calendar anomaly. Get out your frog- or rabbit-oriented promotions and enjoy the bounce in sales from this extra selling day. Hoppy Hour, anyone?