Animal Cottage

Animal Cottage Animal Cottage provides pet boarding and lodging, daycare, bathing, and dog training in Hayward, WI.

☀️🐾 Baxter is soaking up every minute of summer here at Animal Cottage! Whether he’s running around the yard, exploring,...
06/19/2026

☀️🐾 Baxter is soaking up every minute of summer here at Animal Cottage! Whether he’s running around the yard, exploring, or just enjoying the sunshine, this happy pup knows how to make the most of a beautiful day. 😎🌿

Baxter’s playful personality and endless enthusiasm always bring a smile to our faces. We love watching him enjoy all the sights, smells, and adventures that summer has to offer!

☀️🐾 Our June Newsletter is Here! 🐾☀️Summer is officially underway, and we’re excited to share this month’s Animal Cottag...
06/16/2026

☀️🐾 Our June Newsletter is Here! 🐾☀️

Summer is officially underway, and we’re excited to share this month’s Animal Cottage newsletter with you! Inside, you’ll find Northwoods pet safety tips, summer enrichment ideas, a tasty Chicken & Blueberry Bites recipe, pet parent hacks, a fun DIY keepsake craft, and reminders to help keep your pets safe during the warm months ahead.

Be sure to check out our Pet of the Month, Max! 🐶💛 This adorable 7-month-old English Lab stole our hearts with his playful personality, impressive manners, and love of fetch.

Whether you’re heading to the lake, enjoying a campground weekend, or simply soaking up the sunshine with your furry friends, we hope you find something helpful and fun inside.

Happy Summer from all of us at Animal Cottage! 🌻🐾🦋

🐕🐈☀️🌲💙

Let’s hear it for our sweet girl Lily 💕 This 7-year-old Poodle Pointer stayed with us for the very first time, and she c...
06/15/2026

Let’s hear it for our sweet girl Lily 💕 This 7-year-old Poodle Pointer stayed with us for the very first time, and she completely stole our hearts!

Lily is such a perfect mix of playful, happy, energetic, and affectionate 💖 She loved exploring, showing off her curious little hunter instincts, and then coming right over for all the love—belly rubs, ear scratches, and cuddles were definitely her favorite 🥰

🦆 Fun Breed Fact:
Poodle Pointers are incredibly intelligent and were bred for hunting, which means they’re naturally athletic, curious, and love to explore their surroundings. They’re known for being loyal companions who bond closely with their people—just like our girl Lily!

💗 A Little About Lily’s Journey:
Lily is living with kidney disease, and she is truly such a strong and resilient pup. Kidney disease in dogs means their kidneys don’t filter waste as efficiently, so they often need extra support like proper hydration, specialized diets, and close monitoring.

Here at Animal Cottage, we take that extra care seriously 🐾💕
We made sure Lily stayed comfortable, kept up with her routine, had plenty of fresh water, and received all the love and attention she deserved. And honestly—you would never guess she’s dealing with anything, because she was full of life, joy, and tail wags the entire time ✨

Lily is a beautiful reminder that with the right care and a whole lot of love, dogs can continue to live happy, playful, and fulfilling lives 💛

We absolutely adored having her stay with us and cannot wait to see her again!

Drop some love for Lily in the comments! ⬇️💕🐾

06/13/2026

🎆 Fourth of July Boarding Availability! 🇺🇸🐾

Still making holiday plans? We currently have just 5 kennels available for the Fourth of July weekend!

If you’re planning to travel, be sure to reserve your pet’s stay soon before we fill up. Reservations can be requested through our website or by giving us a call.

📞 (715) 634-8712
📧 [email protected]

We can’t wait to celebrate with your furry family members! ❤️🐶🐱

🐾💕 Cuddle time with Liza & Lorna 💕🐾These two sweet girls were caught sharing the most adorable moment—snuggled up close,...
06/10/2026

🐾💕 Cuddle time with Liza & Lorna 💕🐾
These two sweet girls were caught sharing the most adorable moment—snuggled up close, completely content just being by each other’s side. 🥹🐶
Liza and Lorna are the definition of a perfect duo. Their bond is so special, and you can see just how much comfort they bring one another in moments like this. Whether they’re playing or resting, they always seem happiest when they’re together. 💖
There’s something so heartwarming about seeing them curled up like this—pure love, pure trust, and pure sweetness all in one picture. Moments like these remind us just how special our furry friends are. 🐾✨
Honestly… does it get any cuter than this? 💕

🐾✨ Pet of the Week: Mika ✨🐾Everyone meet Mika, our adorable 4-month-old Estrela Mountain Dog puppy! 🤎 This sweet girl is...
06/08/2026

🐾✨ Pet of the Week: Mika ✨🐾

Everyone meet Mika, our adorable 4-month-old Estrela Mountain Dog puppy! 🤎 This sweet girl is staying with us for the very first time alongside her housemate, Odie, and she has already stolen everyone’s hearts here at Animal Cottage! 🥰

Mika is FULL of life, excitement, and puppy energy! ⚡🐶 She absolutely loves playing with Odie and keeps her on her toes the entire time. She’s super playful and goofy, always bouncing around and occasionally trying to give Odie little playful puppy nibbles. 😂💕

Stuffed animals are definitely one of her favorite things ever! 🧸 She loves carrying them around and showing them off proudly. Mika is also one of the sweetest girls you’ll meet, always ready for attention, cuddles, and love. 💗

One thing we noticed right away… this girl NEVER stops moving! 🤣 Trying to get pictures of Mika is basically a full workout because she’s always zooming around having the time of her life. 📸💨

Fun fact about Estrela Mountain Dogs 🐕✨
This beautiful breed comes from the mountains of Portugal and was originally bred to guard livestock! They’re known for being incredibly loyal, intelligent, protective, and gentle with their families. They also have amazingly soft, thick fur made for colder weather — and we can confirm Mika’s fur is SO unbelievably soft! ☁️🤎

We are so happy to have Mika staying with us for her first visit and can’t wait for more adventures with this playful girl! 🐾💕

Big smiles, wagging tails, and a whole lot of love 🐾This sweet pup is living their best life at Animal Cottage—soaking u...
06/05/2026

Big smiles, wagging tails, and a whole lot of love 🐾
This sweet pup is living their best life at Animal Cottage—soaking up the sunshine and enjoying every moment of playtime!

We love seeing our guests this happy 💙

Why Dogs Love the Same Toy… Until Another Dog Wants ItIf you’ve ever watched a group of dogs during playtime, you’ve pro...
06/03/2026

Why Dogs Love the Same Toy… Until Another Dog Wants It

If you’ve ever watched a group of dogs during playtime, you’ve probably seen it happen: a pile of toys sits untouched, yet the moment one dog picks a favorite, suddenly that exact toy becomes the most valuable thing in the world. It’s not that the other toys aren’t just as fun—it’s that something has changed. The toy now has meaning. Dogs are naturally social animals, and their interest is often influenced by what others are doing. When one dog shows excitement over a toy, it instantly becomes more appealing to the others. It’s part curiosity, part competition, and part “that must be the best one!”
There’s also a playful strategy at work. Dogs often engage in a bit of friendly “toy stealing” as a way to interact and keep the game going. It’s not usually about possession—it’s about participation. The chase, the tug, the back-and-forth of who has the toy is where the real fun lies. You’ll notice that even when a dog loses the toy, they don’t seem too upset—they’re already plotting how to get it back! This kind of play helps dogs build social skills, burn energy, and strengthen bonds with each other. So next time you see two dogs going after the same toy, just know—it’s less about the toy itself and more about the joy of the game.

🌟🐾 Pet of the Week: Freddy! 🐾🌟Meet Freddy, our adorable 6-month-old domestic shorthaired cat who recently had his very f...
06/01/2026

🌟🐾 Pet of the Week: Freddy! 🐾🌟

Meet Freddy, our adorable 6-month-old domestic shorthaired cat who recently had his very first stay with us 🐱💛

From the moment he arrived, Freddy stole all of our hearts with his sweet, cuddly personality. He loves being close to people and isn’t shy about soaking up all the attention he can get! Whether he’s curling up for snuggles or watching the world go by from his cozy spot, he brings such a calm and loving presence.

But don’t let his cuddly side fool you—Freddy is also full of fun! He had an absolute blast playing, exploring, and showing off his lively, curious personality. Everything is an adventure to him, and it’s so fun to watch him bounce around and enjoy himself 🐾✨

One of our favorite things about Freddy is his loud, sweet purr—it’s nonstop and lets you know just how happy he is. It’s impossible not to smile when you’re around him!

Freddy made such a great first impression during his stay, and we absolutely loved getting to know him. We can’t wait to have him back for more snuggles, playtime, and purrs 💕🐾

🐾 The Secret Language of Dog PlayEver watch dogs play and wonder…“Are they fighting?”“Why did he sneeze?”“Was that growl...
05/29/2026

🐾 The Secret Language of Dog Play
Ever watch dogs play and wonder…
“Are they fighting?”
“Why did he sneeze?”
“Was that growling okay?”
The truth is — dogs have an entire language during play, and once you know what to look for, it’s amazing to watch!
Here are a few things your dog might be “saying” during playtime:
🎾 The Play Bow
Front legs down, back end up, tail wagging.
This is basically your dog saying:
“Everything I’m about to do is just for fun!”
Even if they growl, bark, or pounce afterward, the play bow sets the tone. It’s their way of making sure everyone knows it’s a game.
🤧 The Play Sneezing
Ever notice dogs sneeze while they’re wrestling?
Those little “achoo!” bursts are often calming signals. It’s like they’re saying:
“Relax, I’m just playing!”
You’ll see this especially when play starts getting fast or noisy.
🐶 The “Bouncy” Movement
Play is loose and wiggly.
Real aggression is stiff and tense.
During healthy play you’ll notice:
Big exaggerated movements
Loose tails
Role reversals (one dog chases, then switches)
Quick pauses before starting again
Those pauses are important — they’re check-ins that say,
“You still good?”
🧸 The Toy Thief
Why do some dogs steal toys on purpose?
It’s often social! They’re inviting interaction.
Stealing a toy can mean:
“Chase me!”
or
“Let’s make this interesting.”
It’s less about the toy and more about the relationship.
🐕 The Play Growl
Play growls sound dramatic — but they’re usually paired with loose bodies and wagging tails.
A true warning growl feels different:
Still body
Hard eye contact
No bouncing
The body language tells the real story.
💛 Why This Matters
Understanding play language helps us:
Feel more confident watching dogs interact
Step in only when needed
Recognize healthy social skills
Appreciate just how smart and emotionally aware dogs really are
Dogs aren’t just running around — they’re communicating constantly.
Next time you see a play bow or hear a little sneeze during wrestling, you’ll know…
They’re not being wild.
They’re having a conversation. 🐾

Address

16403 Timber Lawn Road
Hayward, WI
54843

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 11am
4pm - 7pm
Tuesday 8am - 11am
4pm - 7pm
Wednesday 8am - 11am
4pm - 7pm
Thursday 8am - 11am
4pm - 7pm
Friday 8am - 11am
4pm - 7pm
Saturday 8am - 11am
Sunday 4pm - 7pm

Telephone

+17156348712

Website

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