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Jul 04
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Dog Care: Traveling With Your Dog 2
Jun 16
Traveling With Your Dog dog, Traveling With Your Dog 12 Comments
If you are travelling by air, bus, train, subway, taxi, or any other method of transportation that involves public interaction, be prepared for a few hurdles. As loving and gentle as your pet may be, dogs are not always viewed kindly by public travelling services. Transporting your dog by airplane is a simple matter, provided that you call your airline ahead of time for exact requirements. Call at least two weeks ahead of time, as you may be asked to submit vaccine information, medical records, etc., by a specified deadline. Travelling with your dog by taxi or other public transportation may be difficult. For in-town travelling on your vacation, renting a car is recommended if your own car is not available.
Travelling by train with your dog may not be possible. Most train services will not accept animals that are not service dogs. If you are permitted to bring your dog with you onto publicly accessible transportation (in other words, anything other than your personal car or a rental car), please keep the comfort of other passengers in mind. Many pet owners make the mistake of thinking that their dogs seem as wonderful to others as they are to them. This is not at all true, however, so remember to give other passengers their space by keeping your dog in yours.
Canine Car Safety
Most dog owners choose to travel by means of a personal car when they are including a dog in their plans. Many pet stores offer products that can ensure your pet’s safety on your trip. Before you and your dog head off on your big day, plan to have the following items:
- A sturdy crate
- Leash
- Water bowl
- Food bowl
- Water bottles
- Prepackaged food
- First aid kit containing hydrogen peroxide, insect bite wipes, sterile gloves, gauze, medical
- Tape and a thermometer
- Your vet’s phone number
- Numbers for vets along the planned route
Numbers and addresses for emergency animal hospitals along the way (try to locate information for one animal hospital per every 100-200 miles, if possible. Have your dog’s crate securely fastened to the backseat with travel straps, which can also be purchased from a pet store. You may also choose to use a canine seat belt, however the lack of mobility that these products offer can make extended travelling uncomfortable for your pet.
Dog Care: Traveling With Your Dog -1
Jun 16
Traveling With Your Dog Traveling With Your Dog 2 Comments
Many dog owners enjoy having their furry companions at their side during their travels. While providing great company, traveling with your pet also keeps boarding hassles from becoming an issue. You can rest assured that your pet is receiving the best in care and attention if he never has to leave your side. Traveling with a dog, however, can quickly become a troublesome experience if the proper precautions are not taken.
A few simple preparations made beforehand can make your traveling experience much more enjoyable. Some key points to keep in mind:
- Keep your dog safely secured at all times
- Always schedule frequent bathroom and exercise breaks no more than three hours apart
- Make sure that your pet’s traveling space is roomy and well ventilated
Basic Traveling Preparations
Regardless of your chosen mode of transportation, there are several steps that you can take to make your pet more comfortable on your trip, as well as to put your mind at ease. Take into consideration any problems that may arise and plan ahead. Take the following steps to ensure that your pet is kept safe at all times should any complications or separations occur:
- Have a copy of your pet’s medical records with you and attached to your dog’s crate
- Have all of your pet’s vaccinations updated before traveling, as exposure to new environments can cause health issues for him
- Have a first aid kit for your dog on hand whenever possible (first aid kits are not likely to be allowed as carry-on luggage, however it would be wise to keep one in your car)
- Have your dog implanted with a microchip before leaving home. This is a quick and easy procedure
- Have your dog’s name, your name, and your contact information printed on both your dog’s tag and custom printed on his collar
- These are very inexpensive precautions that can make a tremendous difference should an emergency arise
Traveling with your dog can be a rewarding experience. Dogs need and thrive upon new experiences and adventure, and a leisurely trip that is well planned can be a great boost to your dog’s health and happiness. Taking a few precautions and thinking ahead can greatly enhance the fun that both you and your pet have.
Dog Care: Qualities Of A Healthy Dog
Jun 16
Dog Care breed, dog, Dog Care 2 Comments
The word “health” encompasses quite a few areas of your dog’s life. While he may be healthy in one area, he may suffer in another. When considering your dog’s overall wellness level, examine the following:
- Eyes, Ears, and Nose
- Oral Health
- Stamina, Weight and Eating Habits
- Coat
- Temperature and Heartbeat Patterns
- Emotional and Mental Health
A deficiency in one of these areas can cause problems later on in any of the other areas. Therefore, no one factor outweighs the other in importance. While regular checkups with your dog’s vet are a must, there are steps you can take to help maintain your pet’s health between visits.
Inspect the Eyes, Ears and Nose Regularly
Signs of poor eye and ear health in dogs are very easy to detect. Eyes may have a clear discharge in small amounts from time to time, however this is normal. Abnormal eye characteristics include yellow discharge, inflammation, swelling, or excessive watering. To avoid eye infections, keep foreign items, such as stray eyelashes, dust, and normal discharge away from the inner eye by removing daily with a moist cotton ball. These basic criteria also apply to the ears. Simply check the ears at least once a week for redness, swelling, or excessive wax. Clean them often by wiping down just the outside area (never the inside) with warm water or mineral oil.
You may also wish to trim excess hair that is inside of the ear to clear the hearing passage. Do so with a small pair of trimming scissors, being careful to keep your dog calm during the process. Contrary to what most dog owners believe, a wet nose on a dog does not necessarily mean that he is healthy. On that note, a dry nose is not automatically a cause for alarm either. However, if you notice that your pet’s nose is dry most of the time, you may wish to contact his vet. A better indication of your dog’s nasal health is the color and texture of the mucous membrane. If the mucous coming from your dog’s nose is anything other than clear and relatively light (colored, thick, bubbly, etc), contact your veterinarian for further instructions. This may be a sign of infection.
Brittany
Jun 15
The Brittany is a happy, lively, intelligent breed that enjoys hunting and working, and even enjoys working with other dogs. Affectionate and independent, the Brittany can make a good family dog. Because of its manageable size, the Brittany is a popular choice as a companion dog among hunters. The Brittany typically stands between 17 and 21 inches in height (43 to 53 centimetres) and weighs 30 to 40 pounds (14 to 18 kilograms).
Brittanys are most commonly white with orange patches, but they may also be liver and white, black and white, liver tri-color, or black tri-color, in either a clear or roan pattern. Black is not an acceptable color under the guidelines of the American Kennel Club or the Canadian Kennel Club, but it otherwise considered acceptable in the rest of the world.
The coat of the Brittany is dense, of moderate length, and can be either flat or wavy. Slight feathering can appear on the ears and legs, but dense feathering is not desirable and can impede the dog’s ability to work. The Brittany is sweet in nature and notably easy to train. Some say that a stern look is all that is needed to scold a misbehaving Brittany. Care must be used not to be overly harsh with these dogs so as to break the animal’s spirit. They are highly sensitive and eager to please.
These dogs are energetic and must be exercised, physically and mentally, on a daily basis. If not, they can become destructive as they try to entertain themselves. Brittanys are good with children if introduced to them at an early age. Because of their exuberance, care must be taken that the dog does not knock small children over. They share a love of human and animal companionship alike, and enjoy being part of a multiple dog family.
Things Your Puppy Will Love – 2
Jun 15
Rewards for Your Good Puppy!
And don’t forget, your puppy will need treats for rewards, and toys to play with! Rewards and play time are important parts of puppy’s training, and of course, throughout his life!
Toys Are Good for the Soul
Buy a variety of toys: balls to toss, pull toys to play tug of war, and a few fuzzy toys for him to have in his crate as surrogate littermates. The toys should be tough enough to withstand your puppy’s chewing and tugging. Don’t buy any with small eyes or other parts that they could choke on. And the ones with the squeakers, take the squeaker out, or preferably, buy the toys that you have the option of putting the squeaker in it. Many puppies have swallowed the squeaker and had to go to the emergency clinic for surgery!
You can play with your puppy with toss toys or pull toys after he urinates or defecates; or get him “stirred up” if he won’t go right away outside. A little rough play and stimulation always helps get him moving! Playtime can also be seen as a reward for a “job well done”.
Oh Yum! Treats!
And, treats. Treats, treats and more treats! Every time your puppy goes outside and doesn’t have an accident inside the house, it gets a treat. Through this loving, positive reward, it reinforces how he did good! And he’ll remember that! Your treats can be natural ones too: carrots, apple slices, bananas. If you reward your puppy with natural food from the beginning, he’ll learn to want them versus some of the processed treats not good for their teeth or health.
Things Your Puppy Will Love – 1
Jun 15
A Comfy Bed to Snuggle Up In
You’ll need a bed for your puppy’s crate. Buy two so you have a spare on hand when you need to wash the other bed (make sure it’s washable!). Don’t buy one with a foam insert as you don’t want the urine from an accident to get into the foam; it can’t be washed out! And depending on your breed, make sure it’s a well-sewn and made bed! Some dogs think they’re beds are toys, or “nest” in them by scratching and bunching them up. A good bed to buy is one of the fleece beds with a roll side. It’s comfortable, washable and gives a little side support for puppy’s head to lay on.
A Harness and Lead: Time for A Walk!
You’ll have to purchase a collar and harness that fits your puppy snuggly, but not too tight. As your puppy grows, you’ll need to reinvest in a collar and harness that fits him as an adult. But do invest in a good lead that you’ll use throughout his life! Don’t purchase one of the smaller leads that are for puppies; you can still use a heavier lead to train him how to walk with. And that way you only buy one lead during his life!
Setting Up Puppy’s Housebreaking Area
As part of housebreaking, you’ll learn later in the book to select and set up one area in your house as your puppy’s area to be paper trained. So you can set up that area, you’ll need to purchase:
- Piddle pads
- Newspapers
- An “X” pen
Piddle Pads to Attract Puppy
Purchase a package of puppy pads to use as part of his housebreaking. You’ll use a pad to mark his “main spot” where you want him to urinate and defecate as you paper train him. Later you’ll learn the steps in housebreaking, and part of it is you’ll get down to just one piece of paper, but a piddle pad at that point will be good to use. Piddle pads are also good to sit on furniture so puppy doesn’t soil the chair or sofa or bed when he jumps up on it. And also are good to put in his crate under his bed so it makes cleaning up any messes quick and easy.
Remember good old newspapers! They come in handy to put on the floor. You can sign up for a four-month subscription so you have plenty of papers on hand while you’re housebreaking your puppy. X pen is an exercise pen. This is portable, and can be formed into a square or circle to use as a fenced off area where you can put some papers down, and your pup in it.
Bringing Puppy Home
Jun 15
Don’t wait to purchase your “puppy items” the same day you get your puppy! You want to buy everything beforehand, and have it all set up. Kinda like a baby’s nursery – which in essence it is! Except it’s his new “den” which he’ll learn to be his safe haven, place to sleep and also where he needs to “go to the bathroom” while you’re training him. There are several items you need to purchase for your puppy that he’ll use throughout his adult life, and also for training purposes. They include:
- Crate (one that he can grow into and be roomy enough for his adult size)
- Bed (a washable bed! In fact, it’s good to have two beds … one as a spare when you’re washing the other bed.)
- Harness, collar and lead (the collar and lead will need to be changed as the puppy grows, but invest in a good lead that you can use later into his adult years)
A Roomy Crate: His New Den
Remember, your puppy left a warm, comfortable den that housed his mother and littermates. Now he needs a new den, which will be his crate. You’ll need to purchase a crate that is right for your puppy’s size as an adult. This will give him enough room to “grow into” the crate and use it all of his life. It should be big enough for your puppy – and later on adult dog – to stand up and move around.
Also purchase an attachable water bottle or bowl so when he’s crated (which you’ll learn about later in the book) he has access to water. Also get a food bowl that attaches to the crate’s wire door just in case you will travel with your dog and use his crate in the car or other vehicle.
Dog Care: Take Care Of your Special Pals
Jun 15
It’s important to remember that if your old or special needs dog has to go, he has to GO! If he alerts you he needs to go out, move! He won’t be able to wait very long. If they’re arthritic or partially paralyzed, you’ll need to watch them since they may not be able to get to the door or to you to give you the high sign that it’s time to go out. There are things you can do to help out your senior or special needs dog so they don’t feel bad if they have accidents. And if they do, don’t scold them. Remember: sometimes they can’t control it or they just can’t wait.
Tips to Help Out
There are some things you can do to help your senior or special needs dog out. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for them to get outside. Here are a few things that can help your dog stay comfortable and not have too many accidents:
Put a comfy bed with a piddle pad in their crate. You can switch it out and wash the bed, or toss the pads. Place piddle pads near the crate or the dog’s bed. That will allow them to go on the pad and not just have an accident on the floor or rug. Keep everything in one area to allow for easy and quick access: crate, bowl, pads. Buy “dog panties” that a sanitary napkin fits in. For dogs without tails, you can get them with suspenders. Get at least two pairs so you have one to wash in between uses
Watch your dog’s diet
Talk to your vet about the problems and see what can be changed to help out. Most of the time carbohydrates are cut down, and lean protein is fed. Many of the treats dogs eat nowadays are full of chemicals which can lead to bladder or kidney stone formation, or make their urine acidic. If you’re dog is too arthritic to walk on his leash, take him to a little grassy area and let him “take care of business” in one area. It’s best to still get some exercise, short walks or a little play time, to keep your dog moving and mobile. Inactivity is worse especially for arthritic dogs.
Talk to a holistic vet about herbs and other supplements that could be used to help with underlying problem. There are various herbs that help with inflammation, clean out the bladder or kidneys, etc. Acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments are also good for arthritics and sick dogs. And massage will help stretch the muscles and tendons on those sore arthritic muscles. What’s important is your dog’s quality of life. As long as he’s eating, happy and wants to be loved, then keep carrying him outside putting piddle pants on him and feeding him a strict diet.
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