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Is Your Dog’s Name Skipper?

July 29th, 2010

Bolt, guest commentator, fun-loving Yorkie-Poo, friend to Bo and Jess:  Well, it seems my humans just returned from a weeklong Caribbean cruise but did not bother to bring me along.  Did they not know that boating with dogs can be a blast?  In fact, most dogs enjoy the experience.  While a commercial cruise line is probably not the best place for a pet, you do have the option of going sailing on a much smaller craft and taking your beloved four-legged companion along for the ride.

If your summer vacation plans include setting sail and enjoying life on the water, and your dog is begging to come along, there are a few things you can do to prepare him for the adventure.

If your dog has never experienced a marina before, bring him to it before you set sail so that he can get used to the sights, sounds, and smells associated with it.  Introduce your dog to life on board a boat gradually.  Let him get onto the boat while it is docked.  He will want to sniff around.  Be aware that when you do head out to sea, the sound of the motor may initially frighten him.

Be sure to call ahead to determine if your planned stops along your route allow pets.  Be sure to have at least one strong leash aboard the boat and have a special hook on the boat just for that leash.  That way, you won’t have to scramble to find it when you do dock.

Make sure your dog has proper ID on him, and this includes your phone number, the marina address, and slip number. You should also carry along with you proof of your dog’s vaccinations.

Make sure your dog has a life vest and is wearing it.  Put it on him before getting onto the boat.  While most dogs can swim, if your pet falls overboard, the sheer shock of the experience alone can send him into a panic and he might not be able to swim as well, becoming fatigued as he fights the stress of it all.  Besides, if your dog does fall over or jumps off the boat, the bright orange color of the vest will make it easy to spot him.

Be sure to have a couple of blankets and/or towels for your dog to rest on.  The surfaces of boats can get very hot while out in the sun.  Also, allow your dog access to the cabin area of the boat so he can momentarily escape from the heat outside.

Be sure to have ample food and water on board.  If your dog is one who wants to go for a swim, be sure to offer him plenty of fresh water before he hits the waves, as drinking excess sea water can make him sick to his tummy.

Another good investment for your time on the high seas with your dog is to get a doggie potty.  Place this somewhere on board to allow him access to take care of business.  The last thing you want to do after your fun day at sea is to clean up his waste products all over the place!  Ew!

And, if you have a pampered pet such as myself, be sure to throw in some stylish shades, a wide-brimmed hat, some cool tunes, a straw for my beverage, and a few mouth-watering snacks served on a silver platter.

Now that I have come out of my dream, if I just get a fun day on the water wtih my favorite humans, I don’t care of my snack is served on a paper plate!  I just want to have fun!  Let’s go, Gilligan!

(Information for this post was found at the wisegeek.com web site, offering tips for baoting with dogs.)

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Life’s a Beach!

July 27th, 2010

Jessie, the sun-worshipping, beach-loving canine:  Ah!  The summer sun is just begging me to relax on the beach and work on my golden glow. Believe it or n0t, the beaches are not just the playgrounds of humans.  Lots of dogs enjoy a day at the beach….the cozy feel of the sand beneath our paws…the enticing ocean water….it is pure heaven!

However, before you head to your local beach, be sure to find out if (1) it is pet-friendly and (2) if your pet can run leash-free or if there is a leash law. You can access DogFriendly.com for information on these matters.

Once you have determined those factors, it is a good idea to understand certain dog etiquette for the beach:

**Keep your dog on a leash at all times when a leash law is in effect.

**If you dog decides to take care of business while on the beach, please make sure to clean up the mess and properly dispose of it.

**Your dog is not in a Presidential Parade.  Please do not meet and greet with other beach-goers or dogs unless invited to do so. 

**If  you are in an official off-leash area, you better make sure your dog is well-behaved and able to listen to all of your commands.  Otherwise, keep the leash on your pet.

**When using an off-leash area, you still have to pay attention to your dog.

In short, just be a responsible pet owner, like you would anywhere else.  Although it sounds tempting to me, don’t encourage your pet to go snorkeling or to ride some cool waves on a surf board.  Why?  Well, we don’t want them to pee in the water now, do we?

Well, the sun is beckoning me to come out and catch some rays.  May every day with your pet be a blessful day at the beach!

(Information for this post was found at DogFriendly.com)

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Does Your Pet Need a Pit Stop?

July 25th, 2010

When traveling, we occasionally need a pit stop, but what options does your pet have when waiting at the airport for your flight?

With the number of pet owners that travel with their pets on the rise, many airports are adding pet relief areas or lounges to give pets the opportunity for bathroom breaks and a little exercise.  The pet areas were originally developed to assist travelers with service dogs, convenient relief areas weren’t required until the department published changes last year to the Air Carrier Access Act, which spells out travel rights for people who have physical disabilities.

These pet areas are often outside but within walking distance of the terminal.  A few airports such as Dulles International in Washington DC have indoor pet areas within its security zone, in addition to three relief areas outside. Engineers designed them after studying other dog parks. They contain ventilation and wall-mounted water-distribution systems for cleaning.

If you’re planning to take your pet with you on a flight, you can check petfriendlytravel.com to see if your destination or layover point has a pet relief area, and where it’s located in relation to the airport terminal.

Bon voyage!

Some information for this post from USAToday.com

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Fido, Your Agent is Calling

July 22nd, 2010

According to recent data from The Humane Society, approximately 70% of American homes now have a pet in residence.  Pet transportation services have sprung up to address needs of pet owners that relocate or travel for extended periods to distant locations.

To help pet owners navigate the pet transportation maze, pet travel agents can assist with arranging all aspects of the pet’s travel including boarding, ground/air transport, required health documentation and vet treatments that may be needed prior to travel.  Although pet travel agents have been around for 30 years, the service is now becoming more popular due to the increase in pet ownership.

Costs for pet travel service can vary depending on the agency, size and number of pets, and destination.  In some cases the agent may be able to get better rates through contracts with the airlines and can pass the savings along to their customers.

If you are looking for a pet travel agent or pet relocation company, check to see if they are a member of the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association International (IPATA).  There are many companies claiming to offer this pet service, but members of IPATA adhere to a strict code of ethics.

Do a comparison of companies and choose the one that works the best for you, that way the travel experience will be a positive one for you and your pet.

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Cat Craving a Spa Day?

July 18th, 2010

Many of us like to relax and treat ourselves to a spa day every once in a while.  Did you know there are many resorts across the country that provide the “spa experience” for cats that like to travel?  Statistics from the Travel Industry Association of America indicate 15% of the pets traveling are felines.  If your feline is one that likes to get away for some R&R once in a while, check out these hotel/resorts:

  • Firesky Resort, Scottsdale, AZ.  This facility offers in-room spa services, a “Finicky Feline Pampering Kit”, Yappy Hour, catnip toy, and a map of nearby pet-friendly restaurants and grooming services.  They also offer a Guppy Love program where they provide a fish for your kitty to watch.
  • Soho Grand, New York, NY.  They provide kitty room service, litter boxes, kennels, leashes, beds and even pet toothbrushes and toothpaste!
  • W Hotels, New Orleans, LA.  Pet turndown service including a special treat.  Additional services include in-room pet massages, home baked treats, Evian water, special videos, pet coats for rainy days, pet tags, custom pet beds, birthday cakes and pet first aid kits.
  • James Hotel, Chicago, IL.  Upon check-in you receive a Pet Travel Kit (includes house pet menu, pet spa service menu, special treats, catnip toy, ped bed, food and water bowls with floor mat, and turndown service with truffle.  Room service pet specials include poached salmon, salmon and tuna tartar with creme fraiche and after dinner mints.  They also offer paw-dicures, grooming, pet taxi service and aromatherapy spa services.
  • Palace Hotel, San Francisco, CA.  Services include designer pet beds, specialized “heavenly pet bed” duvets and even plush robes.
  • Loews Portofino Bay Resort, Orlando, FL.  Offers a special pet room service menu.  The pet package offers a “Pet Welcome” amenity complete with kitty bowls, place mats and treats, scratch pole, pet video, pet bed, leashes and collars.

Go ahead and take that spa vacation, don’t forget your feline friend!

Some information obtained from Petsweekly.com

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Pets and Car Sickness

July 16th, 2010

Bo here, the cool cat with all the answers! While many pets jump at the chance to get in the car and go for a ride to some exciting destination (other than to the vet’s office!), there are those four-legged friends of ours who suffer from motion sickness.  Not fun.  However, did you know that in most cases, motion sickness is stress related and actually not motion related? A pet who continues to suffer from car sickness may be associating that ride in the car with a trip to the vet or being taken away from their home for the first time or even being taken to a kennel.  Those are not fond memories, are they?  As such, a ride in the car can provoke unpleasant memories leading to the physical trauma that results in vomiting.

To allow your pet to associate car travel with good times, find a place about 10-15 minutes away from home, like a park.  Find someone else to go along for the ride in the car with you to distract your pet.  Once at the park, get out and have fun.  Toss a Frisbee, play fetch.  The quality of the time spent there is better than the quantity. Once back home, playfully remind the pet of how much fun you just had and make a fuss over him.  Offer him a treat, too.  Do this routine as often as possible, and before you know it, your pet will probably be behind the wheel of your car with the keys in his mouth.

Other suggestions to consider when traveling by car to avoid the motion sickness trap:

*It is best to not feed your pet six to eight hours prior to a road trip.  An empty stomach means that your pet will be less likely to vomit.  You can, however, offer him some water.

*Some pets feel comfortable with a small meal in their bellies and this actually helps them from feeling sick.  Just put a little food in their tank and that might help!

*Frequent rest breaks are important. Every couple of hours, stop to take a quick walk with your pet.  Both of you will appreciate the opportunity to stretch your legs. Be sure to offer him some water, too.

*Since there is less movement up front in the car, let your pet ride up there with you instead of in the back.  However, make sure your pet is properly secured with a harness or small kennel that buckles into the seat.  However, if you car has dual air bags, those could harm your pet in the event they deploy.  Consider that fact.

*Crack the windows a bit.  Fresh air always helps, but don’t open the window so wide that your pet could escape or get its head way out.  Also, when your pet is near a window, this gives him the opportunity to look outside and see the scenery, another great distraction from the motion sickness dilemma.

Well, that is my muse for today.  I hope this information helps.  I am off to do some doughnuts in the parking lot with our dog Jessie in the back seat.  I want to see how well she handles a “real” ride in the car!  In fact, I think she just finished eating breakfast.  (Hollering down the hall, dangling the car keys:  Oh, Jessie!  Wanna go for a spin?)

(Some of this information was found at the Pet Travel web site, which boasts great information for those who travel with their pets.)

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“And a roll-away for my dog, please!”

July 13th, 2010

Jessie the dog, travel enthusiast extraordinaire: Okay.  So, you have your car packed and ready to go.  Scruffy is excited to venture somewhere beyond the confines of his back yard.  It’s summer time, and the vacation clock has started!  You have a two-day drive in front of you to get to the beach, but it will be worth it.  However, you have an overnight stay en route to your destination.  Do you know which hotel chains are pet friendly and will eagerly welcome your four-legged companion?

I have taken the liberty of researching the web to find a list of hotels that are happy to see you arrive with your cute little dog or cat in tow.  Below is the list.  Simply “Google” your hotel of choice online to see if they have a facility in the area of your choice, and you and Scruffy can be sleepy soundly by this evening, ready to hit the road again tomorrow!  Sand and surf!  Here we come! (Bo the cat comes running excitedly into the room at this point, screaming, “Sharks!  Shark attack! Sharks!  Help me!”)

Jessie, seemingly unfazed: Well, as I was saying, the list is below for your convenience.  As for your choice of beaches, you are on your own, at least for this blog post.  In all honesty, the “shark” that Bo claims to have just seen was probably a small, harmless fish or some child’s pool toy.  Carry on…

Pet Friendly Hotel Chains in the US:

Best Western

Candlewood

Clarion Hotel

Comfort Inn & Suites

Courtyard by Marriott

Crowne Plaza

Doubletree

Econo Lodge

Embassy Suites

Fairfield Inn by Marriott

Hampton Inns

Hilton

Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express

Homeswood Suites

Hotel Indigo

JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts

La Quinta Inn & Suites

MainStay Suites

Marriott Hotels & Resorts

Motel 6

Quality Inn & Suites

Renaissance Hotels & Resorts

Residence Inn by Marriott

Rodeway Inn & Suites

Sleep Inn & Suites

Springhill Suites by Marriott

Staybirdge Suites

Studio 6

Suburban Extended Stay

TownPlace Suites by Marriott

The experts at Joy of Living Pet Sitters hope you have a wonderful vacation with your pets!  Isn’t life great when you can just stick your head out the window and let your ears flap around, the wind in your hair and the …GOOD GOSH!  What the heck was that?  Oh…just another bug.  I have to remember to keep my mouth closed when Miss Karen accelerates!

Happy travels!

(I got this list from the Trips with Pets web site!)

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Is Your Pet a Jet-Setter?

July 11th, 2010

Do you have a pet that aspires to be a jet setter?  If you want to fly with your pet, check out this list of pet friendly airlines from Petfinder.com:

  • Continental. Has a PetSafe program has a 24-hour Live Animal Desk that tracks the pets from origin to destination. Travelers using PetSafe can even earn miles. The airline also allows small cats, dogs, pet rabbits and household birds to be carried in the cabin on most domestic flights for $125 each way.  Small dogs, cats and rabbits are permitted to ride in the cabin
  • JetBlue Airways. For no additional cost, JetBlue provides a pet carrier bag tag, 300 TrueBlue points each way, a welcome e-mail and a free pet-travel guide. Small cats and dogs are allowed in cabin. In-cabin rates are $100 each way.
  • Airtran . It’s currently the least-expensive airline to fly with your small pet: just $69 each way. Small dogs, cats and birds are allowed to fly in-cabin
  • American Airlines. While they only allow a limited number of pets in the cabin (two in First Class and five in Coach), they ask pet parents to make special notes for their animal companions flying in cargo and promise to abide by all requests.  Small dogs and cats are permitted to ride in cabin.  The charge for pets riding in-cabin is $100.
  • United Airlines. They accept small cats, dogs and birds in the cabin; rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs as checked baggage and other animals including parrots, cockatiels and ferrets in United Cargo. (Shipping by cargo is for items, like some pets, that you can’t check as baggage. Your pet may or may not be on the aircraft with you.) Have a short-nosed dog that you can’t bring in the cabin? Check your date of flight; some breeds (including Boston Terrier, Boxer, English or French Bulldog, Shar Pei, Pug) and mixes are not allowed in cargo or as checked baggage from June 1 through September 30 of each year.  Fee for in-cabin pets is $125.

Airline policies regarding travel with pets are subject to change, check pettravel.com to get updated information before flying the skies with your pet.  Bon voyage!

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Fly the Friendly Skies with Fido!

July 9th, 2010

Are you getting rid to fly the friendly skies with your pet this summer?  Plan ahead!  Make sure you know which airlines allow for pet travel and be aware of the requirements for pet kennels.  If you are planning to use that old cardboard box with cut-out air holes in it, plan on walking or driving to your destination.  The airlines have strict policies, but you can still, in most cases, enjoy a journey amongst the clouds with Fido or FiFi in tow.

Air travel can be a traumatic experience for your pet, what with the cheap airline food and cramped leg room and all.  Seriously! You have to be prepared.  Some airlines actually do not allow pets to travel on board or in the cargo hold at all.  Be sure to check with your airline first before you book your flight.

For domestic flights, be sure to notify your airline way in advance of your intentions to bring your pet as in many cases, there is a limited amount of room for pets to be transported, even on the largest of aircrafts.

If you are using more than one airline, check the rules for each one and inquire if there are separate fees for each one or if one fee applies to all airlines used.  If you have a carry-on kennel for a smaller pet, the airlines that do allow this might charge a fee comparable to that if your pet was being transported beneath in the cargo area.

Kennels that are over nine or ten inches in height are typically meant for the cargo area.  For carry-on, the kennels must be no greater than nine or ten inches so that they can fit under the seat in frotn of you. (“Scooby Doo on the plane!  Scooby Doo on the plane!” – For those of you unfamiliar with this, go to You Tube and search for Miss Swan episodes from Mad TV…the Scooby Doo on the plane one is hilarious!)

If you are able to bring your pet aboard as a carry on, your pet will have to remain confined to the kennel for the duration of the flight.  In other words, your charming lap dog cannot join you for the in-flight festivities!

Soft-shelled kennels are meant for carry-on use.  They are gaining in popularity because they usually come with shoulder straps, which allow for easier carrying of the kennel.  Or, if you happen to have three teenage boys like the writer of this post today does, then there’s your answer as to how you will carry the kennel from the airplane to your next destination!

Make sure your seat back and tray tables are up and enjoy the flight!  May your in-flight movie entertainment be “101 Dalmatians!”

(Thanks to the About.com web site for some of this information!)

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Road trip with pet in tow!

July 5th, 2010

Jessie, the world-traveler (or so she thinks!): If you are considering taking your lovable pet on a summer vacation in the car, be sure to take a few moments to get your car ready.  You can’t just put the cat or the dog in the car and take off down the road!  Be sure to create a place in the car where your pet can not only ride safely but have an opportunity to look out the window.  Your pet should be close enough that you can reach out and pet him or her occasionally.  However, it is not advisable to travel with your pet sitting on your lap!

Make sure your pet has access to its water and perhaps to a comfy towel or small bed so that he or she feels at home.  Be sure to use a pet restraint device to keep them safe.  You need a seat belt!  So does your pet!

If you are traveling with your cat, find a place for the kitty litter.  Putting it behind the front seat is a great spot, but be sure to place a piece of plastic underneath it first, or just lay it on top of an empty trash bag.

For the most part, your pet will probably sleep for most of the trip, unless he or she is like Bo (the craziest cat ever!) here and enjoys rocking out to some groovy tunes. (Insert eye roll here on Jessie’s part!).

You will want to stop every two to three hours to let your dog take care of its business and stretch its legs.

Check back later this week for more exciting tips on traveling with your pets!  I prefer to go First Class, so my standards are somewhat higher than most!

(Some info here was obtained at the Date My Pet web site.)

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