Here it is July, and we have reached the midpoint of summer vacation season.  As pet owners, we love our dogs and hate the thought of being apart from them while the family travels.  Many families incorporate their pets needs, right along with the other family members desires, when planning a family getaway. 

Road trips can be a fantastic source of fun, recreation, and education, for the entire clan, including Rover.  Most camping facilities accommodate our four-legged family members, and more and more hotels are happy to serve your dog, as well.  If staying at a hotel or motel, you may have restrictions on the size of animal they accept.  And, be prepared to pay an extra fee, or a larger deposit.

For those of you planning to get away even further from home, you may, or may not want to bring Fido along.  Airline restrictions are…well…strict, when it comes to your pet’s travel.  Plus, there are dangers to subjecting your pet to air travel.

For dogs larger than a hamster (ok, I exaggerate a little), they are required to fly in the cargo hold.  This can be an anxiety provoking experience, for even the most well adjusted, and calm animal.  Sedatives are not recommended (and some airlines prohibit their use), because the changes in temperature and elevation, can cause your animal, when sedated, to become disoriented and disabled.   And, in the extreme, can lead to deaths.

Dogs in Cargo Hold

The ASPCA and The Human Society, do not recommend air travel for pets, and airplane travel for some breeds, can be deadly.  This is most prevalent in brachycephalic animals (short-snouted breeds).  Many carriers do not even allow these breeds to travel with them.  Please refer to Trips with pets for more information.

In addition to the stress of a cargo hold, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100.00 (JetBlue) to $250.00 (United) for your pet.  If your pet is small enough to be in the plane with you, that’ll cost you an extra $100.00 – $200.00, depending on airline.  These are base prices, and can increase with dog’s size.

Even if money is no worry, and your pet is not short-snouted, problems arise with dogs in cargo holds.  The most famous story of dog air travel gone wrong, is the escape (and permanent loss) of Vivi, the Westminster Dog Show winning Whippet.  While every airline has statistics of pets lost, Continental Airlines has, by far, the worst record for delivering your pets safely.

Rufus the Boxer

Instead of stressing your pet (and yourself), with the worry of safe air travel, your pet would most certainly be safer and happier with a professional pet sitter.  If your dog is a homebody (or agoraphobic!), you may choose to have a sitter come to your home twice a day, or opt for a live-in pet sitter while you travel.  If Fido is more of a social being, boarding, in an open environment (not caged), is ideal.  Whatever your needs, there is a pet sitter in your area that can meet your needs.

Do you have any travel adventures with the airlines?  We’d love to hear them.  Happy Traveling.

On Sunday, we had a very traumatic experience at my house.  One of my boarders attacked another dog and wouldn’t let go.  In my five years of boarding dogs, I’ve never seen a dog fight that vicious and last that long.  Let me tell you, it was very freighting.   The two dogs in question were a Yellow Lab and an American Bulldog – both females.

Cocoa Bean the American Bulldog

Guess which one was the aggressor?  The Yellow Lab.  Bailey was an otherwise sweet,  obedient lab that according to her owner has never showed aggression before.  For some reason, she didn’t like Cocoa Bean.

Needless to say, this incident was very traumatic for me and my family and of course the owners of both dogs.  It’s not easy to learn that your dog attacked a dog and it’s difficult to see your dog with puncture wounds and abrasions.  Don’t worry, I took her to the vet and she is doing just fine.

This incident drives home the point that it isn’t the breed, but how the dogs relate to each other.   Who knows why Cocoa Bean brought out this behavior in Bailey.  We all love our dogs like they were part of the family, but we must always remember that they are animals with animal instincts.

Usually when there’s a scuffle between two dogs, I can break it up with vocal commands or squirting water in their face, but this time was different.  I tried everything to get the dog off, but nothing helped, so I have to admit, I was at a loss.

So, I thought I’d do some research and find out what I could have done in this situation and pass that information along to you.

How to break up a dog fight

Of course it’s always best to avoid them getting into a fight in the first place.  Their body language plays a big part in deciphering their behavior.

According to Cherie Langlois, here’s some clues to know when a fight might break out:

“A hard, unwavering, targeted stare.
Dominance posturing, such as mounting.
Stiff body movements.
Extreme body language: the tail held stiffly up or down, lips pulled tight against the teeth”.

I can say from experience that Bailey did exhibit this kind of behavior.  I’ve seen this behavior before and nothing ever came from it.  One piece of advice –  please don’t antagonize the dogs – STAY CALM and try to diffuse the situation calmly.  They’re already on a trigger hair at this point and you don’t want to make it worse.  If a fight does break out, please do not try to pull them apart by their collars.  Don’t put your hands anywhere near their mouths.  You will most likely get bit yourself!

If they are already fighting, you can try:

Bailey the Yellow Lab

Spraying water in their faces

Some has said that Citronella Spray helps.  It’s a safer alternative to Pepper Spray.

Cattle Prods and Shock Collars, however this can put them in more of a fight mode and try to attack the prod or think that the other dog is hurting them and want to fight more.  You can condition them to the collars and prods, but not in the middle of a fight.  Work with them beforehand.

The most effective and safe way to stop a fight requires  two people:  Leerburg Training explains it this way,  “Each person grabs the back feet of one of the dogs. The dogs back feet are then picked up like a wheelbarrow. With the legs up, both dogs are then pulled apart.

Once the dog fight is broken up and the dogs pulled apart , it is critical that the people do not release the dogs or the dog fight will begin again. The two people need to start turning in a circle, or slowly swinging the dogs in a circle while they back away from the other dog. This stops the dog from curling and coming back and biting the person holding their legs.

By circling the dog has to sidestep with its front feet or it will fall on its chin. As long as you slowly continue to back and circle, the dog cannot do any damage to you. To insure that the fight will not begin all over again when you release the dogs, one of the dogs needs to be dragged into an enclosure (i.e. a kennel, the garage, another room) before the dog is released. If you do not do this, the dogs will often charge back and start fighting again or if you release the dog to quickly the dog will turn and attack the person who had his feet.”

Do you have effective ways of breaking up a dog fight?  I’d love to hear your stories.

Every year before my dog Nikki went deaf, she would freak out when the fireworks started popping on the 4th of July.  She’d shake, whimper and pant.  It sounds like a 1950’s dance, but to her, it was no dance or laughing matter.  Dogs can become extremely stressed and frightened when the fireworks start and may exhibit strange behaviors.   My brother in laws dog used to go into the garage and hide under the truck and just whimper until it was over.

Taking precautions can go a long way to help  calm your pets.  Here’s a few tips to help make the 4th of July a safe, fun day for you and your pets.

If at all possible, stay at home. Make them comfy with their favorite dog bed or blanket with plenty of water preferably in the quietest room in the house.  I’m fortunate to live in an area where they still allow us to buy fireworks.  Our neighborhood goes out to our cul-de-sac to light the fireworks which is great because I can go in and check on the dogs to make sure they’re OK.

If you can’t stay home, put them in their crate with a nice bone to chew on or favorite treat.  If you don’t use a crate, keep them inside the home and close the doggie door.  Dogs, when frightened, will chew through anything to escape.  If you have to leave them outside, make sure your fences and gates are secure and there’s no possibility of escape.  In the case that they do escape, please have their  microchip information updated and they have their collar on with all identification.

Put on classical music or a CD especially made to calm dogs.  Animal Music Therapy CD’s are designed to relieve animal stress.

Try alternative holistic remedies such as our natural Spot Organics Chill Essential Oil that’s specifically made to calm dogs in all kinds of situations.  Also, the Lettuce Flower Essences from Spirit in Nature can be used as a calming effect.

Leave the radio or TV on.  If they fireworks are far away, the sound will help to drown out the noise.

Do you have any remedies that have helped to calm your pet when the fireworks start?  I’d love to hear your stories.

Wishing you all a safe, fun 4th of July celebration!

As my late dog Nikki started to age, it really made me appreciate the time I had with her and just how much I loved her.  There’s something about a senior dog that just makes my heart grow 3 sizes larger just like the Grinch.  They seem to occupy a special place in my heart like no other.

After his heart grew

From the arthritic limp to the sad eyes that are turning white due to cataracts, they bring out the best in me.  Though they may be slower and can’t hear very well, my memories float back to just how feisty she was, or the times I came through the door and she jumped up and down like I was the most awesome person in the world.

Or  the time we took her to the snow and the ice was sticking to her legs, but she just kept running and having a great time.  And all those times when she looked at me with so much love and devotion that I swear I could see into her soul.

It’s these kinds of memories that make me want to give back as much as she gave me.  If I wasn’t boarding dogs, I’d love to foster senior dogs and care for them until they go over the Rainbow Bridge (Get your tissues handy.) It would take a lot of strength to see them pass, and I applaud those wonderful people that care for senior dogs every day.  They are the best of us.

Next time you find yourself wanting to add a new dog to your family, please consider a senior dog.  Click on Senior Dog Rescues to find information and a rescue group near you.

Since they tend to have more medical problems, you can avoid unnecessary Veterinarian bills by feeding them holistic pet food as nutrition is the key to keeping them healthy and happy for years to come.  

My dog Nikki in her last years

Of course you have to be prepared for what medically comes with an older dog such as:

Arthritis

Cataracts or losing their site

Loss of hearing

Graying and coat may become dull

Muscle mass loss

Slowing down,

and other medical conditions.

However, the good far outweigh the bad.  You just needs a little more patience and a whole lot of love.

Please view this video from the Petfinder Foundation to see all the wonderful qualities senior dogs have and they are just waiting for you to take them into your heart!