Section: Taking Your Pet on Vacation

Planning to take your dog along on vacation? Remember that how you and your pet behave will determine whether or not you are invited back. Your behavior may also have an effect on other travelers. Keeping a hotel pet-friendly relies on proper etiquette when away from home. Many previous pet-loving hotels have closed their doors to our animal companions due to the misbehavior of others.

Etiquette Tips for Vacation

It goes without saying that all vacationing pets must be well-trained. If your dog tends to have accidents when he's nervous or barks when left alone, do everyone a favor and reconsider taking him on vacation.

Never arrive with an unannounced pet - even if you think your visit worked out fine at this same hotel last year. Things may have changed in a year and the hotel may no longer accept pets.

Make sure your pet has reliable identification. Tags are not enough. Tattoos or microchips are more secure. Carry veterinary records and a recent color photo of your pet - just in case.

Pack a doggy bag. Bring along your pet's favorite toys and blanket. Include grooming tools and a dependable lint remover to limit nervous shedding. If you're not sure that your pet's regular food is available at your destination, bring it with you.

Always keep your dog on a leash when you leave the hotel room. Free roaming pets can create much havoc and may result in a need to find alternative hotel arrangements.

Be very careful when leaving the hotel room. In mere seconds, your precious but frazzled baby can dash out the door and disappear.

Bring your own food and water dishes and don't let food sit out uneaten. This attracts insects that can cause problems for the hotel owners after you are gone.

Clean up after your dog during walks.

Barking and scratching are unacceptable. Before you travel, make sure your dog can be quiet if left alone for any period of time.

Pets that have a tendency to bite would be better left at home unless it's a vacation that does not include hotel stays.

Remember, if you leave your dog in the hotel room while you visit the city, the maid will need to have access to the room. Either confine your pet to a carrier or make special arrangements to clean the room.

Section: Traveling with your Pet

As more people see pets as family members, more of us are traveling with our furry children. However, managing interstate travel and vacations with pet-friendly accommodations can get a little tricky.

Even trickier though are the mounds of paperwork involved in traveling with a pet between countries. Pet crazy folks that can't imagine a long trip or a move to another country without their pets should find a pet travel agent. Even those looking for a simple trip but not wanting to deal with the hassle of organizing a pet-friendly itinerary could save time and headaches with an agent helping.

So what does a pet travel agent do? The amount of paperwork and planning involved in shuttling a furry friend across borders is staggering. Customs agents can demand signatures from your vet, vaccine records and even blood samples. Different airlines also have different rules and regulations that must be followed. One mistake and your traveling pooch or feline gets left behind. A pet travel agent manages all these details so you don't have to fuss over whether or not you have all your ducks in a row.

Gale Young, president of the 200-member Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association International says that the pet travel industry is growing by 20 percent per year. Thousands of pets travel by plane every year and Young notes that, "When you use a professional pet shipper, you know they are doing things by the book, that things are being done the right way." If you have a big trip planned paying a pet travel agent can definitely be worth the extra money. It doesn't come cheap though. Hiring a pet travel agency for domestic door-to-door service can be as much as $1,500 an animal. For pet crazy folks though, just about any price is worth it to have their best pal with them.

Barbara DeBry of Puppy Travel in Utah runs a full-service Pet Travel Agency (www.puppytravel.com) and has many stories of pet owners stuck in the airport with a pet that cannot board the plane. If you're in the Philippines with your best doggie pal and they won't put him on the plane with you to get back to the United States, what would you do? Panic, of course, but having someone like Barbara lined up to help you with any situation that arises can alleviate a lot of the pressure.

If you have a big trip or relocation planned, a pet travel agent might just be your new best friend. They can shop around for you, prepare a budget, provide with a checklist of what you will need and also stand by for moral support. You can even request pick up and delivery service from some agents. Chances are whatever you need your pet-loving agent can help you get it. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and travel!

Section: Dog Camp

If your idea of the perfect vacation is spending time with your dog then you should take a look at one of the newest ways to vacation: dog camps. Dog camps give you the opportunity to spend time not only with your pooch, but with folks who think that being dog crazy is the only way to be. You and your favorite canine are likely to make some new friends as well as have the time of your life.

Camp Gone to the Dogs

http://www.camp-gone-tothe-dogs.com/

In Vermont, Camp Gone to the Dogs offers the opportunity to spend a week in the summer or in the fall with your favorite canine. You can spend a part of your summer in Marlboro Vermont where there's an on-site pond for canine swimming pleasure. There is a tremendous variety of activities to try out with your pooch. Consider herding, hunting, and breed handling as well as teaching obedience classes positively. You can choose to shack up on-site at a cabin or for more comfort and privacy check-in to one of the local dog-friendly hotels. If you are interest in competition or obedience training with your dog, their summer session may be perfect for you. The camp is limited to 200 participants.

Camp Gone to the Dogs also offers two fall sessions in Stowe, Vermont. These happen at the Moutaineer Inn, an upscale facility on 8 acres. It's a smaller group and slightly more relaxed with less daily activities, but many local attractions. If you're more interested in spending some down time with your dog, you may want to check it out.

The Dog's Camp
www.thedogscamp.com

If you're serious about positive motivational training, The Dog's Camp might be a fun place to spend some quality training time with your best friend. The week long camp in September takes place in North Carolina. Activities include agility, conformation, flyball, herding, search and rescue, tracking and more. There are eight hours of classes and discussions available every day. The goal is to not only have fun, but to have plenty of great information and experiences to take home for continued training. Think of all that great bonding time!

Camp Winnaribbun
www.campw.com

Camp Winnaribnun takes place in Lake Tahoe, located at Stateline in Nevada. There are tons of activities available here as well including agility, obedience, herding, tracking, and massage therapy. There's lost of fun and frivolous activities as well such as costume contests, campfires and craft projects. You can make dog collars, tie-dyed t-shirts and all kind of creative accessories for you and your dog. Consider going hiking as well. Dogs that are well-socialized are allowed to take off-leash nature walks. All 33 acres of the camp area goes to the dogs in a peaceful setting that may be your perfect getaway.

These are just a short list of the possibilities for dog camps. New camps are popping up all over the country and why not! Isn't a week alone with your dog, playing, relaxing and putting life's stresses aside the best sort of vacation?

Section: Pets and Family

Is your pet part of your family? Do you refer to yourself as your pet's mom or dad? Pets that are loved and valued as a child are lucky pets.

It is becoming more common for pets to be a valued member of a household, rather than a replaceable possession. While there is still far too much of it, it is less acceptable for a dog to live tied to a tree or a cat to live wandering the streets, fending for itself. This trend is being replaced by pets regarded as children, living in a loving home with their own warm bed, nutritious meals, and much spoiling!

Signs that your pet is a furry child:

1. You always carry a picture of your pet in your wallet, and you show it off often.

2. When buying a vehicle, you specifically shop for one that will comfortably accommodate your dog.

3. Your pet has his or her own stocking and gifts under the Christmas tree.

4. Before going out in the cold, you dress your dog in the proper gear.

5. There is a seatbelt or car seat in your vehicle for your pet.

6. You always keep dog biscuits in your purse.

7. When cleaning out your pockets before doing laundry, you find doggie doo bags.

8. The plant life in your home includes cat nip and pet grass.

9. Your pet has birthday parties.

10. A common form of decor in your home is the cat tree.

11. Instead of the kennel, your pet goes to Grandma's house.

12. Your cat drinks from your milk glass, and instead of getting new milk, you just drink after him or her.

13. On the way to and from work, you stop at the doggie daycare.
14. Your pet has health insurance.

15. There are arrangements in your will for you pet.

16. You have been known to take your pet to the mall in a stroller or a papoose.

17. Your friends threw you a shower when you got your puppy or kitten.

18. You've called off work because your pet is ill.

19. Spending quality time with your pet everyday is a priority.

20. Kisses from your pet are not gross, they're welcomed.
Treating your pet with the respect you would give a child is not only fun, it is important. Pets are living beings just as much as kids are. They feel, think (some more than others!), love, and need like kids. Having a child should be taken very seriously, and so should getting a pet. Both are responsibilities. Both need medical care, shelter, proper diet, and your time and affection. Both are lifelong commitments.

Of course, there are many aspects of pet-raising that are easier than raising a child. Pets don't go to college. They don't absolutely need a babysitter while you're at work. They potty-train much quicker than kids. Pets don't get speeding tickets. They don't throw temper tantrums at the movie theater. And at the end of a long day, what is more soothing - a wagging, fluffy tail or a puzzling, algebra equation?

 

Dogs have a tendency by nature to get involved in many situations where they might get hurt, cut, or even break bones. They are very impetuous animals and without the reasoning skills that people have so you are going to have to help guide them and keep the dog out of harm's way.

Keep the dog on a leash when you are outside to avoid him from getting hit by a car or a bus. If this were to happen there is very little chance of the dog surviving such a terrible accident. Keeping your dog on a leash will also prevent nasty bites and cuts by getting into a fight with another dog.

Even the home can be a dangerous place for a dog to be in. Kitchens should be closed off whenever you are cooking. Just imagine how much damage to a dog's face can occur if they reach their paws up to a pot of water boiling on the stove and spills it on their skin. And large dogs are not the only danger in the kitchen. Small pets can also get seriously hurt but running through your legs and causing you to trip over them or drop something on the dog.

What is your dog gets hurt or sick, is there any first aid information available? Yes there is. First let's talk about heatstroke. Dogs quickly overheat in hot weather because they are so active. If your dog does get heatstroke then do not immediately dowse the dog with cold water. This could shock your pet. Lower the dog's body temperature slowly with cool water and ice packs to the back of the neck and to the head. Also, get immediate vet assistance.

Your dog may experience a burn of sorts to its body. This can be caused by a fire, cooking oil, or by boiling water from the kitchen. You should cool the burns with cold water. Apply a cold compress and call the vet as soon as possible.

Although there are many more types of injuries that can happen to your dog we will end today's article by helping you treat a dog that is choking. Since dogs are always biting things and using their mouths to play with toys then it is easy to see that they could choke easily.

Symptoms of choking that the dog might display are violent head shaking, gagging, or even foaming at the mouth. The dog's gums may turn gray or even blue due to a lack of oxygen before he collapses. Try to remove the object if you can see it but be very careful that your dog does not bite you in the process. A small choking dog can be picked up and shaken as well to further help dislodge the object that is choking him. If you have a large dog then it is possible to give him sharp taps on the back of the neck between the shoulders. If this all fails to remove anything from his mouth or throat then call the vet immediately!

This is just a short list. Having on hand a pet care book with a section on first aid is invaluable. You can order one from PetCo through my web site.

Every newsletter has at least two recipes for you to enjoy making and feeding you precious fur-baby.  I hope you enjoy these as well as my babies do.