Outdoor Vacation – Taking A Beach Trip

Author: Brian J Schmitz
Source: ezinearticles.com

Tip 1. Dogs and pets in general have a tendency to become sick when they travel, regardless if they ride by car, plane or bus. This type of feeling can diminish over time, depending on how often your pet travels. Just as humans developed a tolerance, so will your pet.However, if your pet consistently experiences sickness, simply contact your veterinarian, talk about your concern and ask that your vet prescribe a sedative motion sickness pill. You and your pet will travel more comfortably.

Tip 2. If you plan on shipping your dog for any reason, you need to contact the airline, bus line, railway or ship line you plan on using prior to the departure date to insure that you have all your ducks-in-a-row. This will save you a big headache in the beginning. In most cases these companies will supply their own crates to buy or rent.

I suggest that you purchase your own crate that is certified for this type of travel. This way you can insure that your pet is well protected instead of relying on someone else. The peace of mind is well worth the cost. In choosing a suitable crate make sure there is adequate room to allow your pet the luxury of turning around and ample room to stand up and lie down.

Remember to also allow room for food and water. Here again I suggest that you look into purchasing water containers that attach to the crate to avoid spillage. Most importantly is to print a tag and attach it to the crate and your pet’s collar with the following information:
Your your pet’s name.
Your complete name and the name of second contact person.
Your complete address.
Your contact phone number and a second contact phone number.
Your Pet’s Final Destination.
Quite often these tags can be accidently torn off the cage, which makes it extremely important that you have a back-up attached to the collar. Also add any type of instructions you feel important for the shipping company to be aware of such as the commands your pet understands. This is your pet, not theirs!Tip 3. If you plan on traveling by train or ship, your pet maybe able to stay with you in a private room or sleeper car as long as they are kept in a crate on on leash. Some rail lines will require a muzzle to stay among the passenger section. Generally, your pet will have to travel in the baggage car. You will be allowed to check on your pet during the travel time. Once again, check with the rail or ship line to find out what the rules are.

Tip 4. Plan on staying in a motel? Verify they accept pets. Above all, do not sneak your pet into the room. You will just ruin this type of stay for the rest of us. There are hundreds of major chain motels and hotels that will accommodate well-behaved pets. There is normally an additional charge but the extra dollar amount is very little.

Final Tip. Last of all, regardless of how you choose to travel, insure that you have a well behaved and well adjusted pet. Not only will you feel better during and after your trip, your fellow travelers will also thank you in the end.

A properly trained pet who understands the limitations you have set forth will be a pleasure to travel with.

Brian Schmitz is a longtime pet owner, trainer and breeder. As the co-owner of http://www.stayandsit.com, a website designed for pet owners, the author has developed the site to generally aid owners in the correct way to implement new and advanced dog training techniques.

If your interested in learning more, or simply just grabbing page after page of valuable dog training information, then take a look at the website. http://www.stayandsit.com.

Remember, Never Set Your Dog Up To Fail!

Author: Bob Hunsicker
Source: ezinearticles.com

It’s only a matter of time before you’ll want to take your new bestfriend – who you trained to be sociable and obedient – on some road trips.Maybe to the park, to a little league game, to a 5K run, a camping trip, wherever.Since an ounce of prevention is worth far more than a bucket seat full of doggie vomit, you would be well-advised to take precautionary steps to prepare your buddy for his first family road trip.

Before you subject your rescue dog to something that may be strange to him or maybe something he experienced before and didn’t fair well, begin prep work well in advance.Conditioning your dog is the best method forpreventing fear, hyperactivity and motion sickness.

As you work on your obedience training, dedicate some time to get him acclimated to the car’s ambience.From the get-go, start using a verbal command for getting him into and out of the car.”Okay” works well.This will prevent him from leaving the car prematurely and perhaps even stop him from entering a stranger’s car.Make sure to sit him in the back seat (where he’ll be expected to ride), with you in the front seat since you’re the one with the license.Start with the engine off.Do this a couple times each day.Have some doggie treats and speak to him softly to show him the car is a good place to be.Use plenty of praise to reinforce calm behavior.

Eventually try it with the engine idling.Same routine.Hopefully I don’t need to remind you to have the car parked in the open spaces, not in the garage.

After several days with both of you sitting in the car with the engine idling – bonding and singing some oldies along with the radio -it should be time to hit the road.But, the first jaunts should be limited to a trip down the driveway and back up again.Make this your new routine for several more days.Ignore the stares from your neighbors. Always talking gently to reassure your friend that all’s well.After each successful driveway mini-trip, reward with a treat.

Next, leave the driveway.Venture slowly around the block.Talking softly and praising.

Then go a half mile…a mile, then two.As long as your dog is calm and behaving well, keep making the next trip a little longer.Should he make a move to come up front or hide away on the floor, resort to your successful obedience training and firmly say “sit” and “stay”.

If all goes well, he’s probably ready to accompany you on your next outing.But, make sure you have him properly tagged, just in case there’s a slight breakdown in the obedience training you’ve worked so hard on.And don’t forget that leash, since you should always have him under control.Again, an ounce of prevention. Also, be sure to carry some water and a container in the car, especially when it’s hot.

Okay.What to do if no amount of pre-conditioning and desensitizing has made your pooch relax in the car.If all the while he just couldn’t overcome anxiety or hyperactivity or even vomiting while in the car, engine on or engine off, idling or moving, there is still hope.Remember, your rescue dog has a background that is most likely a mystery to you.If you are still heck-bent on taking him along with you, there are safe and very effective meds that your veterinarian can prescribe for those trips.

But first you’ll need to know if its motion sickness your dog is experiencing or hyperactivity.It’s easy to tell the difference.Motion sickness has pretty much the same effect on dogs as on people.He’ll be sitting quietly, drooling and looking a bit depressed.If this describes your dog’s behavior, he’ll need anti-motion sickness medication, which should allow you to take the pooch on your outings.

Hyperactivity and anxiety are just as easy to spot.Jumping around, panting, drooling, whining, attempting to jump up front are all signs.But not to despair.Your veterinarian can help with this scenario as well.There are a number of safe medications that will allow your dog to travel stress free. This will make for a safer trip for both of you.

Whatever it takes to get your good friend to join you on your excursions away from home will be well worth the quality time you’ll be spending together.Enjoy.

To be a responsible dog owner, I use two excellent resources – The D.I.Y. Dog Training Manual and the Dog Lover’s Membership Site.Learn more by visiting my site referenced below.

Bob Hunsicker is simply a dog lover, who strongly encourages all interested in bringing a dog into their home, to consider a rescue dog. They are truly creatures who deserve a second chance to become a loving, devoted member of a home.

Visit his blog at DogsRpeople2 and send him an email so you can get permission to submit posts (you’ll need a gmail email account from Google).

After evaluating dozens of resources for training older dogs, particularly rescue dogs, I recommend two that have provided me the knowledge to transform my third rescue dog into a wonderful family member. Visit my site to learn more about these two extremely effective training resources… http://www.squidoo.com/dogsRpeople2

Author: Kelly Marshall
Source: ezinearticles.com

Summer is the time for vacations, and that means that you are going to be traveling across the country. That being said, for many vacationers their dog counts as part of their vacationing party. Traveling with a pet has become more and more popular. Especially as smaller breeds of dogs gain popularity traveling with small dogs becomes more and more common. However, just because it is common does not necessarily make it easy.

When you are traveling with your little furry friend there are new things to think about and provisions to make. For someone who has never traveled with a dog before it can seem somewhat overwhelming. However, with a little bit of information you can certainly avoid any potential travel snafu’s that you might run into ahead of time.

In general, you will want to put some time into what can make your pets trip more comfortable, safe, and stress free. Your little dog is going to be excited at their new surrounding and experiences if not at least a little anxious. Much like you would plan for a child you need to plan out for your puppy’s comfort and entertainment. You will want to think about what pet products are essential for your journey. Additionally, be sure that you are taking into account possible weather conditions when you are purchasing your pet carrier. Lastly, but certainly most important, do not forget about the dog treats. Treats are an excellent way to help calm down your best friend.

When traveling by car you need to spend some time thinking about the safety of all of the passengers in the car. To let you dog simply run about the car can actually become quite a distraction for you as a driver, and can actually put your small dog at a fairly large safety risk. Your dog might become vocal and hyper at some of the things that you are passing by which can cause you to loose focus on the road opening up everyone in the car to a potential accident. Instead, you will want to be sure that you dog is secure in their set whether it is in a harness or a secured dog carrier. However, you must let your dog stretch their legs occasionally. Just as you start to feel cramped after being in the car so does you pet. Be sure that you both have an opportunity to stretch your legs throughout your trip.

Plane travel is a bit more restrictive. For many airline carriers there are specific rules and regulations that dictate what type of animals can travel, and what type of certification you will need. Additionally, there are some quarantine rules that affect international travel, so you should check with your individual carrier to be sure that you have fulfilled all requirements for your four legged friend.

Once you have made it to your destination you will need to deal with lodging. Unless you are staying with family and friends you are probably planning on staying in a hotel. Remember, not all hotels are pet friendly so be sure to check on that prior to your arrival. Additionally, find out what kind of fees and/or restrictions your hotel may have regarding your dogs stay. No matter what, you need to keep in mind that not everyone will welcome your dog as eagerly as you do, so it is your job to make them feel loved and comfortable on the journey!

This article was written by Kelly Marshall of Oh My Dog Supplies – the online leader in dog supplies, bringing you sturdy dog steps.