Road Trip for Rover

  

  

Plan ahead by making a list of all the items you will need well in advance so that you can relax and have fun with your dog(s). Before leaving make sure that your dog(s) will be welcome at your destination(s). Find pet friendly motels and camping grounds on-line before hand and make reservations. Check this web site out. Dog Friendly Places  Make sure your dog is welcome if you are going to a friend's house. If you plan on going to a lot of places that your dog will not be allowed such as amusement parks, national monuments, museums then don't bring Rover. Make plans to have him properly taken care of by friends or family or professionally by a pet sitter or kennel. See Robin MacFarlane's article  Tips on overnight boarding and care for your pet

A crate is the safest way to travel with your dog. It also can be used at your destination to make your dog feel safe and comfortable. Other options are using a dog barrier that separates the dog from you and allows some freedom but keeps him from flying forward if you have an accident. There are car seats for small dogs and seat belt harnesses if you don't have a crate or barrier. For more info on car safety for dogs go to my article Car Safety for Dogs 

  

Make sure you have proper ID tags and Microchip your dog. A cell phone on the tag is best so that you can be contacted while traveling. You can also use temporary tags written in waterproof pen and changed with each new location you travel to.

  

For the complete article Click Here

  

  

Baby is a seven year old Weimaraner rescue.  She was placed with Northern California Weimaraner Rescue (NCWR) in December 2008; the result of a family displaced by the housing crisis. 

  

She came into the rescue with some health and training issues.  She was a big barker and was extremely territorial around "her" house.  Given the chance, she would take on any car, truck, bus, dog, or person that came into close proximity of her house.   She was twice placed through NCWR and returned.  She was likewise hard on foster homes.  We were her third foster home and after a few weeks with us and another attempt to place her in an apartment environment we decided to adopt her to stop the cycle.  That was in July of 2009.

  

We attempted to work with her for about a year and made little progress; finally deciding to obtain professional help.  The Dog Squad was already well known to the NCWR organization because of an earlier intervention.   We made the contact and with Dog Squad's help we've been able to alter the undesirable behavior to where Baby now sets an example for other dogs.

 

Early into our fostering of Baby it was clear she also had some exceptionally "good" qualities.  To her people......she was one of the most loving animals we've ever known.  She loves to be petted and will sit calmly next to you for hours.  This along with her amazingly soft fur made her a natural for a Therapy pet program.

  

We went online and found "Therapy Pets" of Oakland.  We made the contact, went through the evaluation process and now Baby and I are certified as a Therapy Dog Team.  As a Therapy Dog Team we may be asked to visit hospitals, advanced care and rehabilitation facilities and a relative new program at some Library's involving children reading to the therapy dog.  This is to be our way of giving back to the community.

  

Bill Merkel and Baby

  

From left to right, Max and Murphy, Doug and Lady, Phil and Allie, Brandusa and Rasty, John and Olga, Tim and JoJo, Rod and Amber, Jeanelle and Dixie, Yvonne and Jeter. Missing from photo Rachel and Dougie.

  

The class ran for 6 weeks and everyone worked hard and accomplished a lot. Congratulations to all for a job well done! A video of the class will be coming soon. Check the web in about a week. Off Leash Video. I will probably run another Off Leash Class in the Fall. Watch for the announcement.