Travel Tips for your 4-Legged Family

When getting ready for vacation, you are faced with the dilemma of taking your furry family member or leaving her behind. There are many things to consider when making this decision. How long is the trip? Are the accommodations at your destination pet friendly? Is your dog too young, too old, or not well enough for travel? Would your dog or cat be happier at home or boarded?

If you decide to go without her, there are many good choices of pet sitters or boarding facilities. Some pet sitters come to your home and a few offer overnight visits. Other pet sitters accommodate your companion at their home, some specializing in small or large breeds. There are several animal day care and boarding facilities, some that offer more of a pet resort with luxurious suites and fun play activities. Your dog or cat can have his or her own vacation while you are traveling. You may want to tour several of these places long before your trip because they tend to fill up over the summer and holiday periods. You will also need to ensure that your companion is current on vaccinations and provide a list of emergency contact information (your itinerary, a friend or family member, and your veterinarian).

If you choose to take your animal companion with you on vacation this summer, be sure to plan ahead so you have all the gear needed for her comfort and care. You will need to have a way to secure your companion during travel (either an appropriate sized crate or a harness and car strap or both, so that you have options ). You will need to take bedding, plenty of her food (so you don’t have to hunt it down on the other end), plenty of water, a travel bowl, any medications if needed, some familiar toys or chews, and a first aid kit. If your dog or cat is a bit uneasy during travel, there are supplements available for calming.

As always, during the hot summer days, NEVER leave your animal companion in the car. Temperatures, even in the 70’s, can become deadly in less than 5 minutes. Cracking the windows isn’t enough and leaving the windows down is asking for trouble. You want to have a safe and fun trip for yourself and your pets.

Happy Tails!

Jordan – a Weimeraner with elegance and wisdom
Belle – a German Shepherd black beauty with grace and love
Cody – a German Shepherd with lifetime achievements, but gone so young
O.B. – the talkative cat who loved to be outdoors or by your side
Sadie – a sweet and golden soul with charm and resilience
Bowie – a precious Lab who tried so hard and is forever thankful

Training Tip:
Make it fun!!!!! Whether you are training your puppy, working toward a title, or teaching an old dog a new trick, you need to make it fun for the dog. It is best to use a “high value treat”, one that you only use when you are training, such as canned chicken or freeze-dried liver (easier to keep in your pocket). They will work harder for it and stay more focused. Pay attention to your dog’s body language. When they are done - they are done. Once you have two or three successful attempts, then stop and do something else for a while. Always end on a positive note, that way they will want to come back to it. You not only help them build cellular memory of the achievement, it reduces frustration for both of you. My motto is, if you have completed something effectively a few times and want to try it “just one more time” – don’t! Stop while it is still fresh in your mind (and your body), as a success.

Quote
"Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog’s face he gets mad at you? But when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window." - Steve Bluestone

"In the middle of a world that had always been a bit mad, the cat walks with confidence." - Roseanne Amberson

Casper was a loose neighborhood dog that was taken in by a couple who became smitten with her. They tried to find the owners, but to no avail ended up with this sweet, energetic beauty. She got along with their Lab but just had more energy than they could support. With an upcoming move they were uncertain if they would be able to take her to the new place (with no fence and both parents working longer hours).

With frustrations mounting they decided to give it one last shot. Calling for training was the best thing they could have done. She was not as high energy as I expected, and certainly not as much as some other dogs I have seen. With a few positive training tips, a bit of TTouch for calming and focus, and some appropriate toys for entertainment, Casper is on her way to their new home and becoming a “settled” family member. A little bit of training can go a long way!

Theo is a big baby and a love bug, giving kisses on demand. His size can be very intimidating, but he is all bark and no bite. He has great house manners and is very gentle at taking food from your hands. Theo’s issue is that he has hip displaysia. With his size he needs surgery to correct it – see the fundraising event listed below (Big Dog Agility). You may check out Theo or any of his peers at Mastiff Hope www.mastiffhope.org, whose mission is to find forever homes for the Big Dogs. N2paws offers discounted services to help Theo with post-surgery recovery and make a smooth transition to his new home.

Upcoming Events for N2paws & other fun stuff

July 19 – Low Cost Vaccination clinic, Belton, MO
July 26 – Grand Opening Woofs Play & Stay, Merriam, KS
(N2paws Doga & TTouch demos – 6465 E. Frontage Rd.)
Jul 27 – Big Dog Agility, Fund Raiser, Overland Park, KS (Tails R Waggin, hosted by Personable Pets & Sympawtico Dog Training)
August 9-10 – Pet Adoption Expo, Metropolitan Community College Exhibit Hall (1775 Universal Ave., KCMO)
August 21 – Intro to Doga, Mission, KS
Aug 23 - Intro to Doga, Mission KS
September 7 – TTouch for Dogs workshop, Belton, MO

Announcements

For those with animals that are aging, arthritic, or dealing with a joint injury, N2paws now offers HyaFlex. It is a sodium hyaluronate oral solution that can be added to food, water or treats once a day. It is a natural compound in the body, and works by binding to water, lubricating joints, and transporting nutrients. To learn more visit hyaflex.com or contact pat@n2paws.com.

If you would like to learn more about TTouch, you may contact N2paws by email: pat@n2paws.com or 816-522-7005, for a private session, group workshop or a public speaking engagement for your club or organization. Also, visit our website www.n2paws.com, for interesting links and current workshop schedule.

You may contact Pat for any questions:

Email: pat@n2paws.com
Phone: 816-522-7005