Tips For Traveling With Your Four Legged Friends

Traveling with your pet

     

Toothbrush? Check. Wallet? Check. Furry, four-legged companion? Maybe yes, maybe no. Bringing your dog or cat with you when you travel isn’t as straightforward as packing up a suitcase. But with a little advance planning, you can make the experience a positive one for both you and your pet.

Should your pet travel with you?

Before you hustle Fluffy or Fido out the door with you, ask yourself if bringing your pet on a trip is the best idea for him or her. Start by answering these questions:

• Will my pet be welcome at my destination?
• Will my pet enjoy the trip?
• Is my pet in good health?

Rut-row! If you answered "No" to any of those questions, it would be best to choose either a sitter or boarding service instead of traveling with your pet. If you board your dog or cat, make reservations well in advance, especially for major holidays. The Humane Society of the United States recommends that owners leave their feline friends at home whenever possible, as cats tend to be most comfortable in familiar surroundings.


Car travel and pets

If you answered "Yes" to all three questions above and plan to travel by car, start by getting your pet used to short rides. In advance of your trip, take short drives each day and gradually increase the length of each ride. Does your pooch act like cars are for the dogs? If he can’t adjust to a short ride, avoid taking your pet on a longer car trip.

If your pet adjusts well to car rides, follow these tips for keeping her or him safe and comfortable on longer trips:

• Before you leave. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with an ID tag. Don’t feed your pet for at least three hours before leaving on a trip. If you have a dog, take him for a walk just before you start the drive so he’ll be more comfortable as the drive gets underway.
• Food. Feed your pet shortly after you arrive at your destination or when you have stopped for the day.
• Water. During stops, provide fresh drinking water for your pet.
• Carriers. If you car has enough space, use a carrier; it’s the safest way for your pet to travel. Never put the carrier on the sunny side of the car, where your pet may become overheated. For everyone’s safety, cats should always be transported in carriers.
• Dog harnesses. If a carrier is too doggone difficult, try using a restraining  harness for your dog. They come in different sizes to fit all breeds. Just make sure it’s made to work as both a leash and car restraint.
• Safety. Always put your dog on a leash before letting him out of the car. If you walk your pet on busy streets at night, wear reflective strips on your clothing and put a reflective collar on your dog for visibility and protection. Cat harnesses with leashes allow you to take your kitty out of the car without a carrier. Get your cat used to the harness well before your trip though, as many cats don’t take to them naturally.

Leaving pets unattended in cars. If you travel during hot months, don’t leave your pet in the car. 
Temperatures inside a car can climb dramatically, quickly topping outdoor temperatures even if a window is left cracked open. Animals left in hot cars can suffer heatstroke and much worse.

Air travel with pets

It’s not uncommon for dogs and cats to travel by air but it does require owners to do more advanced planning. It can also involve greater risk for pets’ health and safety, which is why The Humane Society recommends leaving pets at home or boarding them whenever possible.

Traveling with your pet

     

Toothbrush? Check. Wallet? Check. Furry, four-legged companion? Maybe yes, maybe no. Bringing your dog or cat with you when you travel isn’t as straightforward as packing up a suitcase. But with a little advance planning, you can make the experience a positive one for both you and your pet.

Should your pet travel with you?

Before you hustle Fluffy or Fido out the door with you, ask yourself if bringing your pet on a trip is the best idea for him or her. Start by answering these questions:

• Will my pet be welcome at my destination?
• Will my pet enjoy the trip?
• Is my pet in good health?

Rut-row! If you answered "No" to any of those questions, it would be best to choose either a sitter or boarding service instead of traveling with your pet. If you board your dog or cat, make reservations well in advance, especially for major holidays. The Humane Society of the United States recommends that owners leave their feline friends at home whenever possible, as cats tend to be most comfortable in familiar surroundings.

Car travel and pets

If you answered "Yes" to all three questions above and plan to travel by car, start by getting your pet used to short rides. In advance of your trip, take short drives each day and gradually increase the length of each ride. Does your pooch act like cars are for the dogs? If he can’t adjust to a short ride, avoid taking your pet on a longer car trip.

If your pet adjusts well to car rides, follow these tips for keeping her or him safe and comfortable on longer trips:

• Before you leave. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with an ID tag. Don’t feed your pet for at least three hours before leaving on a trip. If you have a dog, take him for a walk just before you start the drive so he’ll be more comfortable as the drive gets underway.
• Food. Feed your pet shortly after you arrive at your destination or when you have stopped for the day.
• Water. During stops, provide fresh drinking water for your pet.
• Carriers. If you car has enough space, use a carrier; it’s the safest way for your pet to travel. Never put the carrier on the sunny side of the car, where your pet may become overheated. For everyone’s safety, cats should always be transported in carriers.
• Dog harnesses. If a carrier is too doggone difficult, try using a restraining  harness for your dog. They come in different sizes to fit all breeds. Just make sure it’s made to work as both a leash and car restraint.
• Safety. Always put your dog on a leash before letting him out of the car. If you walk your pet on busy streets at night, wear reflective strips on your clothing and put a reflective collar on your dog for visibility and protection. Cat harnesses with leashes allow you to take your kitty out of the car without a carrier. Get your cat used to the harness well before your trip though, as many cats don’t take to them naturally.
• Leaving pets unattended in cars. If you travel during hot months, don’t leave your pet in the car. Temperatures inside a car can climb dramatically, quickly topping outdoor temperatures even if a window is left cracked open. Animals left in hot cars can suffer heatstroke and much worse.
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Air travel with pets

It’s not uncommon for dogs and cats to travel by air but it does require owners to do more advanced planning. It can also involve greater risk for pets’ health and safety, which is why The Humane Society recommends leaving pets at home or boarding them whenever possible.

If you plan to fly with your beloved critter, follow these guidelines to ensure the trip is as safe and comfortable as possible:

• No-fly breeds. Pets with "pushed in faces" like pugs, bulldogs and Persian cats have shorter nasal passages, which makes them more vulnerable to oxygen deprivation and heatstroke. For their safety, don’t ever fly with these types of animals. Not sure of your pet’s breed? Consult with your veterinarian to be sure.
• Choose the cabin. If your pet flies with you, bring him or her in the cabin with you if possible. Contact airlines before booking your flight to find out if they allow pets in the cabin as well as their requirements for carriers, animal immunizations and more.
• Cargo hold considerations. This area of the plane is pressurized and climate controlled for temperature but will not be as comfortable as the cabin. If your dog or cat must fly in the cargo hold, book a direct flight and always fly on the same flight as your pet. During the winter, try to fly in the middle of the day when it’s warmer. In summer, aim for early morning or evening flights, when temperatures are lower.
• Health and safety.Many airlines will require documentation from a veterinarian certifying that a pet is fit to fly. Even if it isn’t required, it’s a good idea to have your pet’s health checked before the flight. Don’t give your pet tranquilizers unless prescribed by your vet; make sure your vet knows the drug is for use on a plane ride. Finally, make sure your pet is wearing a collar and ID tag, and attach to your pet’s carrier not only your contact information but also your destination.

Got all that? Purr-fect. Remember that traveling with your pet is a lot like deciding where and when to take a vacation: It all depends on a number of circumstances. So even if you decide to travel with your pet (or not) on one occasion, it might make sense to do the opposite in the future. As a loving pet owner, looking at each case individually and making the best decision for your pet each time will also be the best thing for you.

11 Things You Should Never Say To Your Dog

11 Things You Should Never Say To Your Dog (They Have Feelings Too)...

11. “Just Leave Me Alone!”

First of all you need to be realistic. Dogs are social animals by nature. They crave attention from their owners. This is especially true when they have been left alone for long periods of time while their owner is at work, etc. Taking ten minutes to pet and play with your dog will mean all the difference in the world to them, and after they have had some attention they will more than likely go lay down on their own.

10. “I hate you.”

Studies show that dogs are responsive to our emotions. Saying negative things to your dog is not the proper way to train him or her. Make sure that you are using positive methods of training with your dog at all times. If you do decide you no longer like your pet, then it may be time to consider rehoming them to someone else

9. “Stop or else.”

Make veiled threats won’t do any good when it comes to training your dog. Just like children, pets can sense your frustration. If you want your dog to stop doing a particular action, sometimes you have to remove them from the situation. For example, if your dog is chewing on the sofa and you tell them to stop and they persist, you might consider firmly saying stop and when the behavior continues put the dog either outside or in their kennel for a short amount of time. This will teach them that there are consequences for the behavior. The younger a dog is, the longer it takes for a lesson to sink in. This is another area where an exercise in patience comes in very handy.

8. “Wait until Daddy or Mommy comes home.”

Passing the buck to someone else is only going to under mind your authority and teach your pet that what you say doesn’t matter. Not only that, but dogs have a very short attention span and waiting until later to handle an issue isn’t going to do any good because more than likely they will have forgotten that they even did something and won’t have a clue why the other person is punishing them.

7. “Good Job or Good Boy (Girl)”

This phrase can be so overused that your dog will think everything they does will get them this type of excited compliment. This phrase is often too indiscriminate or vague. If you are going to use this phrase, associate it with the behavior. For example, you could say “Good job, you went potty outside.” Typically, words like potty and outside will have meaning to your dog if they have been trained as such. Using positive reinforcement when they exhibit specific behaviors encourages them to keep doing that behavior.

6. “Hurry up.”

It is important to keep in mind that you are dealing with an animal that has a will of their own and they don’t have the first clue what “hurry” means.

5. “Stop that or I will spank you!”

You should never strike your dog. This sends an improper message and in some cases it can break their spirit. There are more positive ways to train your pets and to get them to exhibit well-mannered behaviors.

4. “_____ you know better than that!”

Most often pets don’t know better because they haven’t been properly trained. Even with the very best training, they can forget. Take time to exercise patience where your pets are concerned and offer gentle reminders so that they continue to learn in a positive way.

3. “Don’t Cry.”

Pets do get upset and they do cry, especially when they are unable to fully articulate their feelings. In addition to feeling sad, pets can also become frightened. It’s natural to want to protect your pets from these types of feelings. Dogs are emotional animals, and learning to properly respond to what your pet is feeling can truly help you build a better relationship with them.

2. “You are such a pain!”

You know it’s true what they say, having a dog is a lot like having a child. They take a great deal of patience and work. Therefore it stands to reason that sometimes, taking care of them can be a bit of a pain so to speak. Before becoming a pet owner, you should understand that and if you are already a pet owner, it is something you should just learn to come to terms with.

1. “Does __________ want a drink of wa-wa?”

Avoid this type of banter more commonly referred to as “baby talk” when communicating with your pets. Dogs learn by repetition. Eventually, they can learn that water means something to drink. If you use half-words or improper phrasing, more than likely you will only confuse them and your training will not be very successful.

"Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal. Difficult standards for people to live up to. "- Alfred A. Montapert