You’ve decided to take your dog on a trip with you and want to be sure it goes well. Here are some reminders and advice to make the trip as safe and fun as possible.

Before you are ready to travel, take your dog on a number of car rides to ensure he is used to traveling and to give you an idea of how he will do.
Make these trips fun so your dog associates it with a positive experience. Remember a short trip is different from a long journey. On a long trip your dog will get bored more easily and want to lay down so be sure your vehicle can accommodate that.

Getting a doggie car seat or being able to put your dog in a crate while in your vehicle is a good idea. A sudden stop could result in serious injury for him even if nothing happens to you. Just slamming on the brakes one time could be a very bad experience for your dog. Also, have a plan for if you should have car trouble while on the road. If these type of issues make you nervous you may want to consider leaving your dog at a boarding kennel instead. This might allow you one less worry when you travel knowing your pet is safe and sound and around people who really care about your dogs welfare.

Be sure your dog’s vaccinations are all current, which they always should be, as well as giving him a flea and tick control treatment. These insects may not be a problem where you live but they may be wherever you are going. Bring along his vet records that show when his vaccinations were done as well as any vet care he has received.

A collar with a tag showing his name, address and phone number is helpful. A rabies tag on his collar is not sufficient proof of vaccination because they do not have any identifying information and those tags can easily be moved from dog to dog by just attaching it to another collar.
If he isn’t already, you may want to get him a microchip just in case. Many lost dogs have been recovered from a microchip.

Prepare a doggie suitcase just for him. You will need bottled water, his food and treats, his collar and a leash and any medication he is taking. A retractable leash might be helpful since he will probably not be able to run loose when you stop for a rest. Add in one or two of his favorite toys and be sure to bring some baggies or plastic bags for poop scooping.

Look up the city you are traveling to and identify one or two veterinarians. Map out their address to make things easier in case of an emergency.
You should also identify one or two boarding kennels in the area where you will be staying. You may want to do something for an entire day or overnight and not have a suitable place for you dog to stay so planning for a just-in-case beforehand will save you some work.

When planning your travel keep in mind a trip with your dog may take longer. You will need to make more frequent stops for potty breaks, to allow your dog to stretch his legs and get a little exercise, and have some water.

Another thing to keep in mind is that even the best house-trained dog might have accidents in a strange house or motel room. He will be somewhere he isn’t comfortable with and it isn’t at all uncommon for dogs to have “accidents” while in a strange location.

If you are going to visit and stay with a friend or family member you need to find out if there will be other dogs around. This can be a big problem. Other dogs may not be as well-trained as yours or may not be as friendly . Remember, your dog will be encroaching on this other dogs home and there could be “territorial” issues. Never take someone at their word that their dog is friendly and won’t bother your dog. Whenever you introduce your dog to a strange dog, always make sure both dogs are on a leash. This is very important. The dogs will want to sniff each other in the rear and you should allow this as this is how they identify each other. If one dog begins to stiffen up or display any fear or nervousness immediately separate the dogs. This is a classic type of behavior that leads to one dog attacking the other. Importantly, just because two dogs get along at the first meeting does not mean everything will be ok. Any number of things could change how they interact. You will need to watch your dog very closely during the entire time of your stay. Never, ever just “let the dogs work it out.” Fearful, suspicious, dominant breeds as well as certain other breeds may not mix well.

If you are sure you will be taking your dog with you, then plan carefully and completely. It can be fun to have your dog along if you plan well and take the necessary precautions.

Where Pets Feel At Home

It’s time to go on vacation, or a business trip, or leave home for some reason and you can’t take your favorite friend(s) with you. You have decided to let a boarding kennel take care of your dog while you are away.

If you need to find a quality boarding kennel ask your vet or friends who have boarded a dog for a referral. A quality boarding kennel, sometimes referred to as a pet hotel, will usually have real customer testimonials on their website. In addition, be sure to read the kennels web site to learn more about them. Kennels offer a variety of services and some charge for each service as an add-on, such as administering medications, a bath for your dog, fee’s for picking up or dropping off after a certain time of day, etc. Be sure to compare the services offered in addition to the daily boarding rate.

Also, choose a dog kennel where the owners live on site. Most kennels are small businesses and the owners usually live on the property. If you have the chance ask them if you can visit and take a tour of their facility. This will give you an opportunity to get a feel for the owners and see where your dog will be staying.

Another option is a pet sitter and there are some good one’s. However, if they have a family emergency or get sick or have car problems who will take care of your pet? And can you be sure they will be there when they say they will?

Some kennels allow many dogs to be together and interact in a “play yard”.
This is something you will need to think about. While this may sound fun for your dog, keep in mind that some dogs are friendly and may do fine is this environment, others are nervous, some might be timid and some get a little too excited. Nervous, timid or overly excited dogs can cause another dog to react in an aggressive manner towards it. An outbreak of aggression can occur in the blink of an eye before an employee has a chance to react.
Even dogs that have behaved well with their owner at a dog park may act differently in a kennel situation without their owner present.
Should a fight break out, even if kennel employees react immediately, significant injury, with the associated emergency vet bills, can occur. It is a risk and one only you can decide if it’s worth taking.

If you have a dog that may be aggressive to other dogs or to people, or is timid, be sure and tell them when you call to make a reservation. This isn’t something you want them to discover after you have dropped of the dog and left. Some boarding kennels will not accept certain breeds and some will not accept aggressive dogs or dogs with certain behaviors.

Some kennels are better equipped to deal with these kinds of dogs and the one’s that are will also be experienced and better suited for taking care of this type of dog.

If the kennel allows it, and they should, be sure to bring your dogs’ food. An abrupt change in diet can cause diarrhea and intestinal upset so you don’t want your pet to have to eat whatever the kennel provides. Also, be sure to tell them if your dog takes any medications at the time you make the reservation.

Some kennels will allow you to bring your pets bed or a favorite toy as well.

Keep in mind all kennels will require your pet to be up-to-date on vaccinations, which they really should be at all times anyway. They will also want your pet to be current with a flea and tick control product. It doesn’t matter if yours is an “inside” dog. All dogs go outside even if for short periods and a flea or tick can get aboard and hitch a ride. Most kennels will insist on this product being used because they cannot risk any dog bringing in fleas or ticks to their kennel, so it’s in your best interest if the kennel requires this treatment in order to protect your dog. If they don’t require this you may want to consider another option.

When considering which flea and tick product to use when boarding your pet be sure to get one that treats for both fleas AND ticks. Unfortunately, vets sometimes suggest a product that only treats for fleas.

Some boarding kennels provide grooming and nail trimming also, so this can be a good time to get that done while they are there. Again, be sure to request this when you make your reservation so they can schedule it.

When you arrive at the boarding kennel to drop off your dog, say goodbye to your dog outside before you go in. Once you check in, let the kennel employee take the dog and you should not make a big fuss about it. Dogs will sense if you are upset so try to be your normal self. This isn’t the time to hug and kiss and even cry while the kennel help is trying to take the dog into the kennel, it only makes it more difficult for everyone, especially your dog. Your pet will interpret this behavior as a message from YOU that he SHOULD be upset, worried and afraid. He will take his cue from you about whether he is going to like this new place and have fun there.

Be sure the kennel has an emergency contact number just in case they need to reach you or someone who knows you and give them any special instructions.

Boarding your dog is often more difficult for the humans than it is the dog. The dog will adjust quickly and be curious about their new surroundings, new people and new dogs. Dogs are curious animals and most of them are friendly and like to meet new people and other dogs.

People that own and work in boarding kennels do so because they love dogs. They love meeting new dogs and getting to spend time with them. As long as you have researched the kennel and have received good reports from others, or read positive reviews about them, you don’t need to worry about your friend.

Your dog will definitely remember you, even if it’s a long stay, and be excited and happy to see you when you return.

When you pick up your dog and the kennel brings the dog to you don’t make a big fuss or talk in a high-pitched voice or show a lot of excitement. Wait until you get home or outside to do that. Give your dog a little time to calm down and relax.

It is normal for your dog to be more tired than usual when you get home. They had a lot of excitement while you were gone and a routine that was different from what they were used to. Don’t be surprised if they sleep more than usual for 2-3 days after you get back home.

Remember, holidays and during the summer are popular vacation and travel times and they are busy times for boarding kennels so be sure to plan well in advance if you will need their services.

A boarding kennel or pet hotel can be a fun, positive experience for your dog and allow you to have a worry-free vacation or business trip.

Part of the Family Kennels
“Where Pet’s Feel At Home”

So, you think you want to breed your dog?

Some people want to do it because they love their dog so much and they want another just like it. Some think it’s an easy way to make some money. Others think they will create a “new breed”. Some think it would be a lovely, educational experience for their children.

I have been showing and breeding for over 25 years. I like to tell people that breeding dogs, like marriage, is not to be entered into lightly.

First, I’d like to address keeping intact (not spayed or neutered) animals. It’s a well known statistic that most dog bites to humans are from an un-neutered male dog. An intact male dog is like a bull in a pasture. Handy to have if you need him for breeding but can be a real pain in the butt to live with. Intact males mark their territory. It doesn’t matter if they are house broken. They don’t see marking and going potty as the same event at all. Even when going potty, they always save some for marking. It’s why, when walking a male, he can pee on so many interesting verticle things, fire hydrants, trees, posts, etc. Then there is the fact that a male dog can smell a bitch in season from over a mile away, literally. A common complaint of people with young male dogs :
“I don’t understand, he was doing so well with housebreaking and training! Now, at 10 months, he’s peeing in the house, chewing things up, digging out of the yard!” etc. It’s because he can smell a bitch in season somewhere and all that testosterone coursing through his veins makes getting to her “job ONE”. If he can’t get to her, he’ll take out his frustration on you or other pets or your house. Neutered males are much more calm and happy to just be your companion as “job one”.

Intact (not spayed) bitches are an even bigger challenge. First of all, it’s critical that she not be allowed to get pregnant until reaching maturity which is at two years of age. Yes, they can come in season at 6 months, but just like young girls starting to cycle at 12 or 13, their body is just starting to get ready. Their body is not yet mature enough to handle a pregnancy and nursing. The other problem with intact bitches, besides having to handle the bleeding and mood swings every six months, is that every time a bitch goes into season her cervix dilates and she is at risk of getting pyometra. This is a uterine infection that can have very few symptoms but can be very deadly, very quickly. It’s why experienced breeders spay their bitches just as soon as they are done with their last litter.

Is your dog WORTHY of being bred?

Just because they have papers or are AKC registered, that has absolutely NO bearing on the quality of or the health of the individual dog or what genetic health defects they could potentially pass to their offspring. AKC is to dogs, as the DMV is to cars. They simply keep records. An AKC registered dog simply means the parents were registered. This is not to cast any blame on AKC. It is simply not their job.

Responsible breeding is in the hands of each breeder. We that show dogs do so to prove their merit as the breed they represent. It’s easy to think the dog in your home, that you love, is gorgeous. That, however, is frequently what professional or responsible breeders refer to as ” kennel blindness”. We go to dog shows to see how our dogs stack up compared to others in the breed and whether they can win against others of quality. We do this enough times under knowledgeable judges to earn that coveted championship. Even then, the “right” to breed isn’t guaranteed.

What health concerns does your breed have and are you certain that this individual dog neither has them, nor is carrying the genes for them? ALL dogs, both purebred and mutt, have defective genes. As do humans. It’s up to the responsible breeder to do the health clearances for what needs to be prevented in their breed, as well as doing careful pedigree research when choosing potential mates, so as not to produce puppies with hereditary health defects. Sometimes, this means getting OFA certification on hips, so as not to produce pups with hip dysplasia. Just because your dog isn’t lame, doesn’t mean they don’t have or aren’t carrying the gene for hip dysplasia. Sometimes, it means getting their heart certified. You have to know what hereditary problems are a concern in your chosen breed.

Remember, most states now have puppy “lemon laws” and they can come back to you not only for a refund of the full purchase price but also for vet bills incurred. Before even considering breeding, you should have your dog looked at by someone in your breed that shows dogs and have them evaluated. Many inexperienced people don’t realize that their dog has slightly crooked legs, an off-bite, luxating patellas, or a host of other things that could make them a fine pet but an unsuitable breeding specimen.

If you aren’t willing to put in the time and spend the money to breed a quality, healthy purebred dog, you shouldn’t do it at all. There are plenty of mutts and even purebreds at the pound that need rescuing. Even if they ARE a good representative of the breed and have health clearances, breeding to get a clone of what you have now is a truly unrealistic expectation. Even in breeding purebreds, all the puppies in every litter are different. Look at your own children, if you have them. They have the same two parents, but they sure are different, aren’t they? Breeding your dog to another dog would bring in even more genetic diversity than siblings have, which often isn’t a good thing. If you want a dog much like what you have, go back to the breeder and see if you can get a pup from a repeat breeding or similar line.

You think it would be a wonderful experience for your children?
Really? What happens when pups are born malformed or die shortly after birth? What happens when the bitch needs an emergency c-section at 3am? Breeding is not for the faint of heart and should not be done for the entertainment or education of children. There are plenty books and videos for that. Puppies are a huge investment of time, money and energy, especially if you breed a large breed.

Before you enter into breeding, here are a few questions to ask yourself.

Is your dog in excellent health?
Do you have the time and room to care for 6-12 large puppies?
Do you have the proper kennel facilities to care for them and keep them for however long it takes to find proper homes?
Are you prepared to interview prospective buyers to find out if they are the right kind of person and if they have a suitable lifestyle and living arrangements for your puppies?
Will you refuse to sell your pups to someone who doesn’t pass your screening?
Are you in a position to take them back if their owners can’t keep them, even 5-10 years from now?
Do you plan to get all the puppies their first series of puppy shots and a health exam before they are sold as is the law in many states?
If the mom or puppies get sick, do you have the financial capabilities to have them treated by a vet?
Can you keep the pups indefinitely if you have a problem finding a good home for all of them?

If you answered no to any of the above questions, breeding is not right for your family. The last thing any responsible breeder wants to do is add to the shelter population.

Do you think you’ll create a new and wonderful breed? Think again! It takes many, many generations of careful selective breeding to actually “create” a breed. Slapping two dogs together doesn’t create a breed, it creates a mutt. One fallacy is that you will be avoiding the hereditary problems in each of those breeds. Not so!! You will be adding the problems from BOTH breeds to the mix.

The man that started goldendoodles said on his death bed it was the greatest regret of his life. What people don’t realize is that unless you spend many, many generations, breeding in what you want and out what you don’t, all you have is a mishmosh of traits. Some goldendoodle pups will have golden hair, some will have poodle hair, some will have BOTH! Poodles don’t have as much of a problem with hip dysplasia but the lab could give that to the pups. Labs don’t have sebaceous adenitis but the poodle could give that to the pups. Some may require on-going professional grooming, some not.

I am not against doing cross-breeding. I just think you need to be educated and still do the pertinent health testing on the prospective parents. More importantly, you need to be honest with your puppy buyers about what a crap shoot it is with regard to what traits they can expect those puppies to have. If you’re just doing a cross because they are cute and there is a demand, like cockapoos or whatever, while you still have to do your health clearances, I can see the desire to do that. If you are looking for a hypoallergenic dog that doesn’t shed, anything crossed with something that DOES shed is not a good plan. Just choose a non-shedding purebred, like poodles, airedales or kerry blues.

The other thing to consider when doing crosses is size. If you cross a large male to a small female, you can wind up with a bitch in real trouble with fetuses too large for her to carry.

All in all, breeding should never be entered into lightly. Be prepared to invest a great deal of time, energy and money to do it right or do everyone, especially the unwanted dogs at the pound a favor ……don’t do it.

Part of the Family Kennels

Allergies in dogs has become an all too frequent malady. While they can become allergic to most anything, just like us, there are some things you can do to help your pet avoid food allergies.

Ian Billingshurst, veterinary author of “Give Your Dog A Bone” advises “balance, over time, through variety”.

It’s important to remember that whether it’s a chihuahua or an irish wolfhound, ALL dogs still have the same dentition and digestive systems as wolves. Dogs are carvivores! The vast majority of their diet should be meat and bone. Let me repeat this all to often ignored fact….Dogs Are Carnivores!! They need meat!! While they WILL eat just about anything, the scientific term for this is “obligate omnivore”, that simply means if they can’t get the meat and bone they prefer and should have, they will eat whatever they can to survive. Barely surviving, however, is not a great plan. You could survive on pop tarts and candy, but you don’t have to be a dietician to know that is not a good idea. I repeat, dogs are carnivores. They need meat. They also, like us, need variety.

It is a common fallacy, all to often perpetuated by vets, who are typically taught nutrition in college by a representative of Purina or Hill’s, the makers of science diet, that you should find one food and stick to it for the life of the dog. WRONG!!! If you want to CAUSE an allergy, expose the body to something again and again until the immune system finally screams “ENOUGH”, in the form of an allergy.

While you should gradually introduce a new food, over a week or so, it is important to constantly change the protein source. There are hundreds of brands of food with top quality ingredients these days. If this bag was based on chicken, make the next one fish, the following one lamb, etc. There are also protein sources that are things we wouldn’t find in the grocery store, like venison, rabbit, duck etc. Like the wolf, the dog should get something different on a regular basis.

The quality of the food is also crucial. Just like the old dog food commercial used to say “meat costs more than cereal”. If the food says chicken, then that should be the FIRST ingredient listed. Remember, the ingredients are listed in the order of concentration. You will never see a pack of wolves grazing in a field of corn or wheat. While some dogs do fine with these added fillers, they will never be as healthy as if their food was based on meat, poultry or fish. You will notice that many of the top shelf foods even brag that there is NO grain. Soy and wheat should also be avoided as these are common allergens for dogs. If the ingredient says “meat” it can be any source of “meat” including road kill. yes, you read that right. “Meat” and “Animal” ingredients typically come from rendering plants. They can be any animal in any degree of decay or disease. Any food with these words should be avoided. If it says chicken, it has to be chicken. The government doesn’t care what we feed our dogs, only that the labels be honest.

Spend the extra money on top quality dog food with real meat, fish or poultry as the FIRST ingredient. Rotate the source of protein on a regular basis. Don’t be afraid to feed healthy table scraps…..no cooked bones, skin or fat, please, just what is left on your plate. Don’t be afraid to feed eggs, canned fish and yogurt. Just remember that when adding anything extra do their meal, decrease the amount of kibble so as not to over-feed.

If your pet is already suffering from allergies, rather than continued shots of prednisone and itching meds, which only treat symptoms, not the actual problem, try a food allergy diet. Select a completely unique protein source food. Something they have never had before, like venison, duck or salmon. It will take at least two months to get all the other stuff out of their system and for this to be of any value whatsoever.

It is CRITICAL that they take nothing by mouth but THIS food and water. If they eat even a tiny corner of your toast and happen to be suffering from a wheat allergy, you will be back at square one for another two months. If after two months on this food, you see improvement in their skin and itching, you have your answer. If not, try another protein source. It does take time and committment but you will spend far less money on quality food than you are spending at the vet to constantly treat the symptoms and will be rewarded with a healthier, happier member of your family.

Are you Over-Feeding Your Dog?

Most people do, unfortunately. To keep your dog healthy, maintain its proper weight.

Here you can find the proper weight range for any breed:

http://www.petobesityprevention.com/ideal-weight-ranges/

Looking at your dog from above there should be a slight indentation at the end of the rib cage.

When looking from the side, there should be what is called a “tuck up”, which is their bottom line and should angle up towards the hips, after their ribs. If it is a straight line across the bottom, they are over weight.

You should be able to easily feel ribs on the side, but they should not be readily visible.

A common mistake people make is following the weight guidelines on a bag of dog food.

If your big dog weighs 85 lbs but should weight 65-75, when you look at the food feeding guidelines don’t use the amount it says for an 85 lb dog, use the amount it says for a 65 lb dog. Feed based on what they SHOULD weigh, not what they do weigh. That said, most dog foods have far too much listed on their guidelines. They want you to use as much of their product as possible!

Keep in mind if your dog should get 2 cups of food per day and you feed
2 – 2 1/2 cups per day, plus treats, plus a few table scraps, well, you can see where this is going. Those treats and table scraps really add up, so if you are going to give those then cut back on the amount of food you feed.

Like people, dogs have different metabolisms. If they weigh too much, they need less food, a low-calorie, low-fat formula and more exercise. If they weigh too little, they need more food of a higher caloric content. Also, an active dog who receives a lot of exercise may be able eat more than a dog who lays around the house all day without adding weight.

If your dog is overweight and you put him on a diet, don’t expect to lose all the weight quickly. If you change to a different food, introduce it gradually but still only in the amount needed for what the target weight should be. Besides using a low-calorie, low-fat food, reduce the number of treats and table scraps your dog gets. Like us, it’s easy to forget just how many calories we are getting in a day from multiple treats and snacks.

You can give your dog less dog food and add in some no salt canned green beans for filler. Instead of dog treats, try some baby carrots for a treat.

More exercise will go a long weigh towards helping your dog lose weight. They should be walked daily for at least 30 minutes and the more play time they get the better. A dog that is exercised often will be a more well-behaved dog also. As the saying goes, “a tired dog is a good dog”.

You also want to be sure not to under-feed your dog. Like us, a healthy body weight makes for an overall healthier dog. If they are picky eaters, find a top shelf food that they like. Adding table scraps is fine. Just bear in mind that table scraps are what’s left on your plate. Cooked bones and cooked skin or fat should never be fed to any dog!

Over weight dogs will generally wind up suffering from a host of maladies, including breaking down of hips and joints, diabetes, lack of energy etc. Monitoring your dog’s weight will increase the number of happy, healthy years you will have with this special part of your family.

The first question many people ask when they consider whether to get a dog to become part of the family is should I get a rescue or a purebred?

Many feel that rescuing from the shelter is the option everyone should consider first. While it is a great idea to rescue a dog from possible euthanasia, there are several things to consider. When getting a mixed breed dog, if it’s still a pup, you may have no idea how big it’s going to get, how much it will shed or what it’s temperament will be like. It is a myth that you can tell how big a puppy will get by the size of his feet.

Older dogs should always be considered, as while puppies are invariably cute, it is really just a very, very short part of their life and by adopting an older dog you can usually skip the house breaking, teething and spaying or neutering. You will also know what size and coat type it has. That said, some older dogs at shelters come with their own “baggage”. They may have been abused or simply allowed to grow with no training, may have aggressive tendencies you aren’t aware of at first or no knowledge of rules, boundaries and limitations, as we are reminded by Cesar Milan, renowned Dog Whisperer. As he has shown many times, you really can teach an old dog new tricks.

If you have the time to properly overcome this sort of baggage…. and really, ANY dog of any breed, any age requires a genuine investment in training, you will be more than rewarded for your time by taking in an older dog from the shelter. We also find that many of the volunteers at the shelters, while having the best of intentions, have little knowledge of purebred dogs and it is quite common for people to adopt a dog and be told it is a type of breed that it is not.

The advantage of buying a purebred dog is that you will know exactly what you are getting with regard to size, temperament, coat type, shedding, grooming needs, etc. The most important thing to keep in mind when buying a purebred dog is NOT to buy from stores or the internet. Most people have heard of the horrors of so-called “puppy mills” and while most people would never intentionally buy a puppy from such a situation, they don’t realize that NO ethical breeder would ever sell puppies to a store. In fact, it is cause for dismissal from most purebred parent clubs, to which, most responsible breeders belong.

The internet has become a boon for these disreputable breeders, as they give the puppies a bath and a cute ribbon and people are fooled into thinking it is coming from a responsible breeder. A quality bred purebred dog is not cheap but ironically, you can almost always get a good one from a good breeder for less than those in a store. The ones on the internet are way cheaper for a reason. No health clearances are done on the parents, no championship titles to prove their merit in their breed, no long-term health guarantees and they can, quite simply, charge a lot less when they are breeding by the hundreds with little or no investment in their care and upkeep.

If a purebred is the right choice for your family, find a breeder that you can visit. If they show dogs, even better. Then you can be assured they are investing in producing the best representatives of the breed that are also healthy and of good temperament. Be prepared to be put on a waiting list for a quality puppy, as well as being asked to sign a spay/neuter contract, since most breeders try to protect their breeds from unethical or ill-informed breeding resulting in poor specimens of the breed as well as possibly introducing hereditary health concerns. Also, you will be asked a number of questions by the breeder so they can determine if you can provide the proper environment for the dog. If the seller doesn’t care about your lifestyle and the conditions under which the dog will live, this should tell you right there it is not a quality breeder or seller of dogs.

If you search the internet for your breed of choice, you should be able to find the local members of the national parent club for that breed. They can also point you in the right direction if you would like to rescue a purebred adult of that breed.

Whatever your decision about your new addition to your family, be sure to take your time, do your homework on what would work best for your situation and be prepared to put in the time to train your new dog and help them become a life long, loving part of your family.

Where Pets Feel At Home
Pet boarding and grooming in the Tampa area