PetLvr.com - [The Blog]

By John Vanderbeck

Most dogs love to go on an adventure, and traveling with their owners makes it even more fun for everyone! It is in their nature to explore new places and meet new people. However, often traveling with your dog can be difficult. There is the problem of housing and transportation for the dog first and foremost, but even once you get past that issue others arise such as dealing with your dogs mess on the trip and more.

Many people feel that taking their dog with them is just too much of a hassle. This article is about convincing you otherwise, however if you just feel it would be easier to travel without your dog then into kennel or pet handler services while you are away. Hiring the services of a professional pet handler to care for your dog while you are away is often the best choice for your dog, but is also more costly then a kennel. Should you choose to go with a kennel then do some research first to find one that is clean and comfortable, and is run by people who truly care about the animals in the kennel. Some kennels will even allow you to bring extras like your dogs sleeping mat, a toy or two, and his or her own food. Whichever route you take, you will need to ensure your dog is current on all shots and immunizations as this is required for any kennel admission.

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A sense of home can be felt in the soft, cotton of a blanket and even in the cozy embrace of a teddy bear. So even though you might have to move to a new home, there can still be a sense of the old, familiar home. Incorporating items like this into your move can help alleviate some of the stress that your pet will experience during the transition. Unfortunately, you cannot verbally explain to your pet what is going on, but you can try to explain it to them by using memorable scents and providing them with food, water, shelter and, of course, love.

When it comes to cats, it can be challenging to make an outdoor cat an indoor cat. The difficult part is keeping them indoors, because they will sneak and try to find a way to return to the outdoors. However, you can try to teach your cat to walk on a harness until it becomes familiar with the new neighborhood. If it’s too dangerous to let your cat roam free in your new neighborhood, consider allowing your cat to venture out onto the balcony or enjoy the view and fresh air from the window. Keep food and water or treats on the balcony to encourage the cat to stay put. Netting or a fence can prevent the cat from jumping off of the balcony. Leaping from high places can result in severe injury and even death, which is why it’s also important to double-check the strength of the screens in your windows and doors.

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There are two things our pet dogs Maxxie and Sophie love to do with us .. (okay, maybe there are a few more things than this list :D)

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Happy Canada Day Everybody!

I’m out at the beach now .. and wanted to show you all my *New!* Doggie Trailer!

I was sooooooooo proud of myself last summer, when I bought a used baby trailer and converted it into a doggy trailer! Looking back, I am glad I did that and it really worked out. You see, at the cottage, my wife likes to jog about 12 km each morning around Victoria Beach and if I don’t get out there too, I never get any exercise! But, if we leave the dogs in the cottage, all they do is bark waiting for us to come back … not too good at 7am-9am in the mornings! Also, Sophie can’t keep up for more than a few miles and then wants to just stop in mid-tracks in the middle of the road … and, Maxxie has the spinal Canine Degenerative Disc Disease (CDDD) and he isn’t as agile on his back feet as he used to be!

And, the trailer was okay - but, a little stuffy. It was better for Maxxie if we left the roof open, so he could get some air. I had to put Sophie in the front basket But, she was cute as a button (and fit the basket) and loved the attention she would get as people would pass by. But, if a dog came out from a driveway and started barking, Maxxie would try to jump out of the doggie trailer, to meet a new friend! That sounds okay, but I had trouble making a good conversion of the front of the baby trailer into a good wall of the doggie trailer. You see (from the pictures below) … where the baby’s feet used to stretch out of the trailer .. I added some nylon material and stretch nylon string to hold it in place. If Maxxie just looked out of there, that nylon wall would come down, and if it was muddy or raining .. slosh from the back tire of my bike would go right in his face!

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By Amy P

Preparing for a trip can be a very stressful time. Especially when you have decided to take the family dog along. Here are just some of the things to consider before taking that road trip - How long is the trip? What dog items should you bring? What hotels accepts pets? What if your dog has a medical emergency?

So you are planning a vacation and you have decided to take your dog with you. Great idea! However, you have a small problem. You have never taken your dog on a road trip with you before. So, now what? Luckily other people have done this and are willing to share some great tips on how to travel with your dog. I have traveled numerous times with my dog Jake. He’s a pro now! Every dog is different. Some dogs can make a trip pleasurable while some can make it a very bad experience. There are a couple of things that you should consider before you take your dog on a road trip with you.

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By Beth Williams

Millions of Americans are expected to hit the roads this summer, headed for vacation destinations around the country, and many of those travelers will be accompanied by their beloved pets.

For many a road trip is a fun, even relaxing, experience away from the stresses of everyday life. But, for pets who aren’t used to traveling in the car, a road trip could cause unnecessary stress. Fortunately, you can ensure both you and your pet’s trip is stress free by following a few simple rules.

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By Audrey Frederick

If you are thinking of popping your dog in the car and heading out on a vacation journey, stop for a moment, and back up.

Taking a vacation with your dog is do-able, however, it takes a little planning.

There are many places you can go with your dog and really have a great time, but first you need to start planning before your leave.

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Eight Reasons Your Dog Should Wear a Pet Auto Seat Belt when Traveling in the Car

By Dawn Ross

Does your dog love to travel in the car with you? You and your family wear seat belts when riding in the car. Does your pet? If you have not considered it, here are eight important reasons why your dog should wear a pet auto seat belt:

1. The dog won’t be able to distract the person driving the car. Distractions an be very dangerous to the driver. Some dogs are naturally well-behaved in the vehicle but many dogs have to be trained car-riding decorum. Why not train them in the pet auto seat belt instead?

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Hiking With Your Dog

By Eileen ONeill

With Spring just a couple of days away, thoughts of Hiking in our local parks certainly comes to mind. It has been a long cold winter for most of the upper US States and Canada. We all feel the need to get back to nature and enjoy the sunshine.

Hiking can be a wonderful preventative for any number of physical and behavioral disorders. One in every three dogs is overweight and running up trails and leaping through streams is great exercise to help keep pounds off. Hiking can also relieve boredom in a dog’s routine and calm dogs prone to destructive habits. Hiking with our dogs help strengthen the overall bond between K-9 and owner. The health benefits our whole family as well as our pets.

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Pet Relocation - Tips For International Pet Moving

By Kevin O’Brien

Five Tips for Safe and Humane International Pet Relocation

Owning or adopting a pet should be for life, regardless of what corner of the world your career or other circumstances happen to send you. When planning an international move transporting your beloved pet is only part of a long, daunting list of preparations that have to be made. Many people feel forced to find new homes for their animals rather than subject them to a traumatic transportation - however there are steps that can be taken to ensure the journey is as easy as possible on your companion.

1. Contact the local consulate of the destination country: The first step in planning an international trip with a pet should be to contact the consulate of the destination country for your pet’s importation requirements. Some countries require a lengthy quarantine; others have more rigid standards and some only accept pets at certain airports within that country. The most important thing to remember is just like human travel, pets also need additional documentation in order to enter its desired country. Each country is different, as they all require their own documentation when accepting pets.

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