How to Fly with a Pet

Yesterday, we shipped off little Jetty (litter name-Liam) to his forever home. His new family absolutely loves him and he is a great match for their lifestyle. Then that made me think most people don’t know how to fly with their pets; so I decided to write this little article in hopes of helping y’all out.

How to Fly with a Pet

• Decide if your pet will fly under the seat in front of you, in baggage, or as cargo. For a pet to fly under the seat, they must be in an airline approved kennel and must be able to stand up and turn around in the kennel. To fly in baggage, the pet and kennel must not exceed 100 lbs. Pets and kennels weighing over 100 lbs. fly as cargo.
• Call your airline to book a space for your pet. Typically, airlines will allow only two pets in the cabin on each flight, so call well in advance.
• Visit your veterinarian within 10 days of flying to obtain a certificate stating that your pet is healthy and able to fly. Also, discuss feeding the day of the flight and the option of tranquilizers.
• Label the kennel thoroughly before flying with your pet. Include signs to indicate which way is up. Place your name and information as well as your pet’s name on the kennel. Be sure that there are signs saying, “Live Animal.” Place a picture of your pet on the top of the kennel.
• Put reflectors on the kennel.
• Arrive at the airport one or two hours before take-off and check in at the counter.
• Wait as long as possible checking your pet into baggage. During this time you should exercise your pet and allow them to go potty one last time.
• Check your pet in and then immediately go to your boarding area to watch your pet loaded on the plane.
• If you decide to have your pet fly cargo (which is how we ship our dogs) make sure the kennel fits airline requirements and is big enough for your pet. It is better to go too big than too small, as the airline will not ship a dog in a too small kennel. We ship our Australian Labradoodle Delta DASH cargo.

Tips & Warnings

•  Try to schedule a direct flight if possible. This will reduce the amount of time your pet spends waiting.
•  Get your pet used to the kennel. Encourage them to sit in the kennel by putting treats or water in the kennel. Provide praise when they go into their kennel. You want them to feel safe in their kennel.
•  Place bedding on floor of the kennel and leave your pet with something special like a familiar toy.
•  You may want to freeze the water to put in the kennel.
•  Consider alternate arrangements if you think flying with your pet may be too stressful.
•  Never give your pet tranquilizers unless the administration is under the supervision of a veterinarian.
•  Do not place your pet in baggage when it is warm outside. Some airlines refuse to place pets in cargo from May to September. To avoid heat, travel in the early morning.
•  Avoid taking your pet out of the plane in the cabin even if they are crying. They may become spooked and frantic.
•  Don’t book a ticket with Southwest Airlines as they prohibit animals from flying.

The Doggie Olympics

We are in the middle of the 2012 Summer Olympics and it makes some of us wonder if there is anything like that for dog lovers. Well here is a wonderful little article about the Doggie Olympics from Kim Boatman of the Dog Daily.

The Doggie Olympics

By Kim Boatman

From The Dog Daily

The Olympic athlete in your family may be the one you pet in bed every night. Your dog can be an Olympian, even without years of preparation and dedication. Serious dog Olympians will compete in the 15th ECF European Championship in England this fall. But canine games across this country offer something for everyone.
“It was never meant to be a real serious competition. It’s all fun,” says Anne Solis, a spokeswoman for the Doggie Olympics, sponsored by the Larimer Animal People Partnership.
This event began 16 years ago as a way for owners to bond with their dogs. Here’s a look at this and other similar competitions:

Doggie Olympics, Fort Collins, Colo.
Organizers offer 14 different games in four divisions: competitive, fun, junior handler (for owners 15 and younger), and senior dog (for dogs older than 10). Participants register in advance if they want to be eligible for medals. Some 150 dogs compete, but many more dog lovers and their dogs show up to cheer on the competitors, laugh at their antics and cruise vendor booths, says Solis.

Among the more popular events is the hot dog retrieve, in which dogs race to retrieve a hot dog from a bucket of water and return it to their owners. It’s OK if the hot dog comes back either “internally or externally,” says Solis. The Monday morning obstacle course is a crowd-pleaser, as owners coach their dogs through a course that mimics the routine of getting a kid ready for school, including the struggle to put a T-shirt on the dog.

The event also offers demonstrations of up-and-coming dog sports — another way to encourage dog owners to spend time with their dogs. The Doggie Olympics occasionally draw participants from as far away as South Dakota and Wyoming.

“We start in March, and it takes a lot of hours from a lot of volunteers to pull it off,” says Solis. This year’s Olympics take place on Sept. 23.

North Carolina State University’s Dog Olympics
Each fall, North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine holds the Dog Olympics in Raleigh, N.C., to raise funds for local rescue groups. “It’s become a great community event,” says spokesman David Green. “We encourage people to bring their dogs even if they don’t compete.”

Whether your dog is a star athlete or a lap-sitter, the Dog Olympics offer the potential for stardom. Competitions include a Frisbee toss, a high jump, an owner/dog look-a-like contest, and Best Trick and Longest Tail awards. The Olympic Village provides booths where veterinary students can share information with dog owners. “We make it an opportunity to do some teaching,” says Green.

The school sets the schedule for the Olympics once it knows the football schedule. Simply search for “N.C. State” and “Dog Olympics” online this summer to learn the date and more information.

 Woofstock Dog Festival
Looking for some fun dog competitions near you? Dog festivals also often offer games. At the Woofstock Dog Festival in Roanoke, Va., there are no Olympic rings or medals, but plenty of opportunities for competition for you and your dog. This year’s festival was held June 2.

Games include stupid pet tricks, pet/parent look-alike contests, bobbing for hot dogs and a lucky duck game, in which dogs pick squeaky ducks for prizes. Of course, the duck itself is prize enough for plenty of dogs, says Waynette Anderson, president and owner of Sponsor Hounds, which sponsors the event.

“It’s all just fun games,” says Anderson, who adds that dogs can either directly participate or just sit in their owners’ laps and enjoy the day.

In general, you can expect a relaxed attitude and plenty of “Atta-boys” and “Atta-girls” at dog Olympic-style games across the country. “To me, it’s my happiest day of the year,” says Anderson. “I’m very inspired by dogs.”

Forever Homes-Norman (Brogan)

This is a letter from one of our clients who received one of the puppies from Canadoodle Sable’s Kodiak and our very own Lady Fiona Clancy’s litter. Norman arrived at their house on June 20, 2012, and they absolutely fell in love with him. Norman currently has a siblings available-Aiden. Check out our “Available Puppies” page for more details. Below the letter are some pictures of Norman from week 1 at our home to week 9 at their home. We are so proud of how well Norman is doing and what a testament he is to this amazing breed. We are so happy to hear about Norman’s speciality training and what an impact he has made.

July 9, 2012

Dear Clancy Family,

 

This is a just a note to let you know how well Norman is adjusting to his new home! If dogs could talk, we are pretty sure he’d tell you hit he the “adoption” jackpot. He gets more attention, has more toys, blankies, and treats than most babies…I am just sure of it!

 

Words really cannot express our sheer joy with Norman. It’s really odd to even hear myself say this because my husband and I are not “dog” people, in fact, we are not “animal” people. For 15 years, we’ve been adamant in telling our children that they could not have a dog. Mainly because my husband has allergies and I am a neat freak about our house. These two major obstacles have become non-issues since we have acquired Norman. He is hypoallergenic and non-shedding! What a bonus!

 

We decided to give in to children’s request after finding your ClancyAussieDoodle page on Facebook and speaking with you. We loved how you made yourself available to answer all of questions and concerns over the course of several months. We were impressed at how seriously you took your job as a breeder and how many questions you asked us to ensure that Norman would be a good fit with our family.  It is beyond obvious that you love what you do…your passion is evident.

 

You see, we don’t even consider Norman a dog…lol…he has so many human characteristics, it’s uncanny. He loves people…the more he’s around…the happier he is. He doesn’t bark(as long as he is not alone), he is well on his way to being potty trained (at just 10 weeks old) and he’s doing amazing in obedience school. In fact, our trainer, has repeatedly commented on how well-behaved Norman is. He mentioned that he’s never seen a Doodle quite like Norman – he said all the Doodles he’s ever worked with were happy but very hyper and had trouble obeying rules. We find just the opposite with Norman. He adapts well to all environments and clearly understands the word, “no”.

 

He’s so much fun and easy to train! We have taught him how to ring a bell when he needs to potty, how to stand jump up on a platform for a treat, how to stand on his back two legs and hop for a treat, and jump through a hula hoop! We are now working on teaching him how to walk on a balance beam…no joke! He loves being active and has no problems keeping up on our daily family walk of 2-3 miles!

 

Our plans are to continue obedience school for the next 6-12 months so we can get him certified as an AKC  STAR puppy, then on to hopefully earning the AKC Good Canine  Award.  Finally, we hope to get him certified as a therapy dog so we can take him to visit sick kids and the elderly at nursing homes and assisted living facilities! Our trainer says, Norman is well on his way to achieving all these goals!

Thank you from the bottom of our happy hearts! Norman has been such a blessing to our family. He is amazing because you are an amazing breeder. Please do not hesitate to give our name as a referral!

 

Most Sincerely,

Michelle and Joel Tjelmeland

Owners of tjelmeland.com, e-websmart.com and founders of www.ciafonline.org 217-498-1073

 

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Jackson Hole, WY-4th of July Fireworks Cancelled

Jackson Hole Fire/EMS staffers announced Monday that they won’t allow public fireworks displays at Teton Village or Snow King Mountain to celebrate Fourth of July.

Chief Willy Watsabaugh said the fire danger for the area is too high to allow the Independence Day events. He said the fireworks displays likely would divert too many firefighters from other areas of the valley.

“When we look at the risk analysis on this, it makes sense to stop this now,” he said early Monday evening.

He said he didn’t see a good alternative that would allow the displays to proceed.

Watsabaugh delayed his decision for much of Monday, deflecting questions from town and county officials throughout the day until he received additional test results about potential fire activity. Private fireworks are prohibited throughout the county, but the ban on the public events was uncertain.

Watsabaugh received some tests results late Monday afternoon that showed that Snow King is in the 97th percentile when looking at how likely it is for a large fire to spread in the area, he said. The test he cited measures the likelihood of combustion, moisture content and historical data for dead and downed fuels.

“We are in very high fire danger,” he said.

The decision comes as state and local government officials ramp up efforts to prevent fires, issuing new restrictions and trying to set money aside to pay for potential firefighting efforts.

Town and county officials Monday approved a partial fire closure, which carries with it new restrictions. It was set to take effect at 6 a.m. today.

Under the closure, residents are not allowed to:

• Build campfires within 25 feet of any structure or brush or tree-covered area unless it’s in an established campfire grate or ring;

• Operate a chain saw without an approved spark-arresting device, a chemically pressurized fire extinguisher and one round-point shovel at hand;

• Openly burn trash, grass, brush or tree cuttings or construction debris;

• Use a welder or torch or other types of open-flame device unless they are in a cleared area that is at least 10 feet in diameter and a chemically pressurized fire extinguisher is at hand;

• Use explosive devices that require fuse blasting caps, tracer bullets, rockets or model aircraft that use propellant-type engines.

Additionally, residents aren’t allowed to smoke unless they are within a developed recreation site, an enclosed vehicle or building or are in an area at least three feet in diameter that has been cleared of any flammable material.

Watsabaugh said the high fire danger in Teton County is coming earlier in the year than it historically has. County staff estimated that the fire risk is two to three weeks earlier than in years past.

He said he couldn’t recall ever having to ban fireworks displays because of fire danger.

Bridger-Teton National Forest and Grand Teton National Park officials already approved partial fire closures. On Monday, Gov. Matt Mead issued a statement urging residents across the state not to use fireworks and open fires.

Mead sent letters to every county in the state, asking that they impose fire restrictions.

The Fire/EMS department currently has four firefighters in Big Piney. They drove an engine to the area last week and have been helping battle the Fontenelle Fire.

Two firefighters have been at the site since last week. Other firefighters from Jackson have rotated in to help out.

“We’re just trying to keep a watchful eye here,” Watsabaugh said. “We don’t want to have a lot of our resources away from the area.”

For information about fire restrictions, residents can call 866-221-6441 or visit www.tetonwyo.org/fire.

For more articles and information about the Jackson Hole area check out this link to the Jackson Hole News & Guide http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/

The First Day of Summer

The Northern Hemisphere welcomes the first day of summer on June 20 or June 21 depending on your location.

The astronomical beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere is marked by the June solstice. Depending on the year, the day that marks the official start of summer can be June 20 or June 21. The following is a list of exact dates and times for upcoming and previous summer solstices:

• June 20, 2008 at 7:59 pm EDT
• June 21, 2009 at 1:45 am EDT
• June 21, 2010 at 7:28 am EDT
• June 21, 2011 at 1:16 pm EDT
• June 20, 2012 at 7:09 pm EDT
• June 21, 2013 at 1:04 am EDT
• June 21, 2014 at 6:51 am EDT

Now I know that I need not post for the exact day, and it is not because I am lazy. It is simply because it completely blew my mind. I had planned to do a post about the beginning of Summer but when the day arrived I completely forgot until now. So here it is, my post about the first day of Summer.

Dogs and the Summer Season

The intense summer heat is certainly nothing to keep cool about, especially when it comes to man’s furry best friend. We humans aren’t the only ones to complain about the scorching sun. Dogs, too, need comfort from the harshness of the tropical climate, sometimes even more than humans.

Attention, all pet owners! Protect your beloved pooches from heat stroke by keeping in mind these simple tips from Dog Whisperer Caesar Milan.

Tip #1: Schedule walks wisely

Heat varies at different times of the day. When taking dogs out for walks, keep in mind that the coolest times of the day are usually in the morning or at night. The summer heat is not the only thing dogs battle against, but the hot asphalt that can burn their paws as well. Dogs release heat through their paws so allow dogs to wander in grassy areas rather than on cemented roads.

Caesar shares that doggie boots are an effective way to protect dogs’ paws. While dog shoes are uncommon in the Philippines, pet owners must be sensitive in checking for discomforts or irritation dogs may experience with their paws.

Tip #2: Keep dehydration in check

Dogs, unlike humans, cannot sweat; and a tell-tale sign of sunstroke is excessive drooling. A dehydrated dog will become weak and sluggish with bloodshot eyes. If the skin is lifted, it takes longer than usual to go back to its normal position.

An effective way to keep dogs hydrated is to carry around water bottles whenever taking them out for walks. Be aware that dogs absorb heat differently; dogs with dark coats and dogs with more fat and body mass absorb more.

EYES HAVE IT. They cannot talk, but their eyes can communicate what they need. Photo of Frodo by Christian Panganiban.

Tip #3: Let them swim, let them be

Be creative with ways to keep your dog cool. Small kiddie pools or basins are effective ways to lower their temperature. When spraying dogs with water, concentrate on their paws and their belly, keeping in mind that dogs cool from the bottom up.

Summer is a season of fun under the sun, and what better way to celebrate it than to splash around in the ocean. Try taking dogs out for a swim once in a while. Not only is it an effective heat repellent, but a great bonding activity as well.

By instinct, dogs dig up holes in the ground to find a cool place to lie down. Allow them to exercise their animal nature while letting them have fun in the process. Discover a shady area where your dogs can dig.

Tip #4: Not in cars, please

Leaving dogs in a parked car is a no-no. A car’s interior collects more heat than the outside environment. Moreover, dogs are prone to claustrophobia and may get overly excited by passers-by, thus increasing the risk of dehydration.

The summer heat is not something to be dreaded if one knows the proper way to handle it.

NATURE’S PET. We’re used to seeing them in the hiking and walking around town here in Jackson Hole, but dogs are very much nature’s children, too. Let them walk and run on cool grass and they will love you for it. Photo by Roopak R Nair.

Travelling buddies

Summertime is vacation time, and when choosing to bring along dogs, there are several things to keep in mind in order to make the journey hassle free, not only for pets, but for the owners as well. Web MD shares several tips to make your dog’s journey as fun as the destination.

Much like how motion sickness is more commonly experienced by children, puppies and young dogs are more susceptible to vomiting and nausea. This is usually linked to the puppies’ undeveloped ear structures used for balance. Most dogs outgrow this however; it is not unlikely that a dog will associate traveling with vomiting. It is then important to make the ride as comfortable as possible.

MOMMY, YOU THERE? Dogs see us as their protectors. And as their owners, we are responsible for protecting them. Photo of Frodo by Christian Panganiban.

Signs of dog motion sickness are inactivity, slowness, uneasiness, yawning, excessive drooling, and vomiting to name a few. Make sure your dog is facing forward, preventing it from sticking its head out the window. Lowering the windows by a portion will also help balance the pressure from the outside and the inside. Another effective trick is lowering the dog’s food intake before the trip and giving small treats (best if sugary) right before the voyage. Like in humans, this will lessen and prevent the feeling of nausea.

The most important thing to remember is to know your dog and find personal ways to make the trip easy and enjoyable.

Australian Labradoodle Colors

Here I am giving you the different Labradoodle Colors that Breeders have developed. There are 5 main colors in the Australian Labradoodle bloodline: Black, Silver, Chocolate, Cream, and Red.

Black Labradoodles

With the black labradoodle color, the dog is Jet Black all over.

Silver Labradoodles

Silver Labradoodles are born Black. Some Silver Labradoodles can be born with silver between their foot pads and an experienced breeder will spot this when the puppies are quite young.

Others may not develop any silver until around 8 or 9 weeks old, in the form of spectacles around their eyes.

The Silvers go through stages of brown, through to grey charcoal, with the silver coming up their legs, spreading to their hocks and tails and eventually their whole body.

The really good Silvers will go through a blueish stage and end up pure platinum.

Chocolate Labradoodles

All browns are born Chocolate. Cafes develop golden coat around their muzzles at between 6 and 12 weeks of age.

Most Chocolates end up Cafe, although some true Chocolates can appear to be Cafe due to sun burning which produces beautiful golden highlights through their coats.

If the coat is parted, the true Chocolate color can still be seen at the roots, whereas the Cafe will pale in color right through to the roots.

Cream Labradoodles

Creams vary from pale milky cream right through to rich Apricot Creams who are cream on body but have dark apricot ears.

Some will have reddish tinges through the coat as well. Some pale with age, and others deepen. First signs of deepening occur along the backline of the dog, on the muzzle and on the hocks and top of tail.

Red Labradoodle

Highly prized, Reds are not easy to breed and are still comparatively rare (even in the Poodle). Some breeders will mistake Apricots for Red, but the true Red is the color of an Irish Red Setter.

Extremely beautiful, difficult to breed, and highly sought after. Most Reds will fade to some extent over time, so should be a very rich color when young.

As you can see Labradoodle Colors are available in a very wide selection.

Just go ahead and pick, all are adorable, loving companions that are hypo-allergenic and non-shedding.

Your Dog’s Life-Ages and Stages

Puppies – Birth to Three Weeks of Age

Photo courtesy of Setterluvr

Born after approximately sixty days gestation, a puppy’s eyes and ears are sealed shut, and his strongest sense is touch. Warmth is essential, since he can not regulate his body temperature and his nervous system hasn’t matured yet. At about two weeks of age, possibly earlier, his eyes will open, although he still can not see well, and bright light hurts his eyes.

Puppies – Three to Five Weeks of Age

Photos courtesy of Setterluvr

Once your puppy starts to become more alert, he’ll begin exploring his surroundings more. He’s still a weak and round little thing, so much of his wandering is done by rolling and crawling.

Puppies – Five to Twelve Weeks

Photo courtesy of Setterluvr

A critical period of time, puppies five weeks old are exploring their surroundings more, wrestling with their littermates and learning from each other the boundaries of acceptable behaviour.  At eight to twelve weeks, a puppy might be sent off to a new home, separating him from his littermates.

Toddlerhood – Three to Seven Months

Photo courtesy of Paolo

Teething, an obscene amount of energy followed by sudden crashes into napping mode, and rough play all characterize this stage of puppyhood. By now your puppy should know the basics: sit, lie down, and off. Puppies start to lose their milk teeth at this stage, so don’t panic if you see a trace of blood on your puppy’s chew toys. Be sure and provide plenty of acceptable things to gnaw on though, and now is the perfect age to start reinforcing good “trade” and “redirection” habits, as your puppy may find your shoes more tasty than a plastic teether. It’s also time to start a good dental schedule, with appropriate doggy toothbrushes and pastes (not human toothpaste).

The Adolescent Dog

Photo courtesy of Robin

Dubbed by experienced dog owners as the “question period” of your dog’s life (as in “why on earth did I think I wanted a dog?!”) – at approximately eight months to eighteen months, dogs go through a teenage-like rebelliousness. He now has most of his full-size, and an energy-level that has him bouncing off walls and over furniture, and suddenly he seems to testing every boundary you ever set.

Young Adult

Photo courtesy of Sinead Dillon

He’s now past all that puppy craziness and should be well settled into adulthood. His routine should be established, with fairly regular times to eat, work, and play, with rest and relaxation always a favoured option as well. The continuous “need” to be played with has settled and your dog is now content to be a companion in all things.

The Senior Years

From seven years of age and older, larger dogs are considered to be in their senior years, despite their utter defiance of such a title. You now have a laid-back, mellow companion, as content to hang out with you on the sofa for the afternoon as he is to romp the morning away in a field or hike a mile or two.

The Twilight Years

Photo courtesy of Carl Sagerquist

He’s now your couch companion, content to just while away the hours in restful contemplation or short and sedate walks. Your best friend is an elderly dog now, and it’s also time to start considering the inevitable.

Dogs Rockin’ St, Patrick’s Day Outfits

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up fast, (it is tomorrow) and you know what that means? You’ll soon be crawling through pubs, plumping up your beer belly and pinching everyone not wearing green. Even if you’ve already got your costume planned out, (our family will be wearing our costumes on the ski slopes tomorrow in Jackson Hole, WY) chances are your pooch is feeling left out.

If you’re running out of ideas of how to dress up your best friend on four legs, just take a look at these 17 dogs already prepped for St. Patrick’s Day. Maybe they’ll inspire some creativity… plus they look super cute with their little shamrocks.

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chidorian, Flickr

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sylvar, Flickr

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Irish Philadelphia Photo Essay, Flickr

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geraldbrazell, Flickr

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avatar-1, Flickr

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Peter Macdiarmid, Getty Images

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Tim Boyle, Getty Images

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David Hardenberg, Getty Images

Remodeling for Pets

Creating a Custom Home Design with Pets in Mind

Pet owners have always made simple home improvements to accommodate their pets, such as installing a dog or cat door. More recently, pet owners are taking it a step further and remodeling for their pets. This can go somewhat over-board, but if you decide that this is what you want to do, it can be a lot of fun.

For instance, Pam, who wanted to keep her dogs clean without messing up her bathroom or making frequent trips to the groomer, had a custom-built pet shower installed in her laundry room. Now her dogs can roll in their yard to their hearts content, and everyone’s happy. The pet shower is less scary to the dogs because they can step in and out of it. And it’s also easy to use because the dogs don’t need be lifted into a tub or onto a groomer’s table.

Enter Tony’s sleek, contemporary custom-built kitchen and you’ll notice that among the other home design features, there is a built-in niche under a cabinet for his cat, Clea’s food and water bowls. The bowls and the mat they sit on complement the style of the room. The niche puts the bowls out of the path of the owners’ feet and makes the cat’s dining area an integrated part of the kitchen.

Custom Designs from Pet Owners

Debbie, who will always have cats in her life, has a home that is well-designed for all their pleasures. Within her kitchen, is a miniature cat kitchen, where her kitties dine, created with vintage tin doll toys. Her enclosed sun porch has climbing trees and cushy beds in the windows. Outside the window are bird and squirrel feeders, for her cats’ entertainment.

If you’re not ready for a complete redesign, you can add simple elements that will make your home design more pet-friendly. Sometimes it just takes watching your pets and seeing what they need.

Vicky’s dog, Abby, a Jack Russell Terrier likes to be on the lookout. The back windows are low enough for Abby to see out, but the front windows were out of her reach. Rather than make Abby jump like crazy to see out, they built a perch at window level, and covered it in faux sheepskin to coordinate with the drapes. Now Abby can keep an eye on any suspicious activity in either yard, without scratching up the windowsill.

Design with your dog’s or cat’s needs and comforts in mind, and you’ll both have a nicer place to live.

Custom Home Designs Can Conceal or Feature Your Pet’s Amenities

As these home remodeling examples show, blending your pets’ amenities into your home design can help conceal their function. Other homeowners choose to highlight the pet aspects of their home design. Bob Walker, author of The Cats’ House, remodeled his home so that his many cats can run on wood planks overhead, from room to room. The runs themselves create a beautiful, colorful design element throughout his home.

Sevvonco, a custom builder in Palatine, Illinois has carried out several home remodeling requests from pet owners over the past few years. They built a special room for a homeowner’s cats. It had beds that were made out of large slide-out drawers and a cabinet with doors that slid out and open like a TV armoire. The litter area is inside the unit with its own motion-activated exhaust fan system. Thus, the room appeared to be designed and furnished for humans, but the cabinetry held all the necessities and niceties for the kitties.

Does it make sense to build or remodel your home for your pets?

You may think a person would have to be a bit eccentric to go to the expense of building or remodeling with their pets in mind. But if you consider that you create your home to suit yourself and your children, and even guests, it’s not a leap to build for your pets. If you are going to share your life with pets, it makes perfect sense to build or remodel your home, and create a custom design for their comfort and convenience as well as yours.

“We’re always going to have a cat,” Tony says about remodeling his loft condo space with provisions for Clea. “So we devoted this space for her feeding area.” It not only looks great, but it’s good for Clea – she no longer gets tripped over when she’s eating. Clea has other amenities – she can access her litter box through an 8” x 8” entrance built into the laundry room door. The door can stay closed, the litter area is secluded, and Clea gets her privacy.

If you will always have pets, you will always need to accommodate their eating, playing, sleeping, and going potty needs. Cats will always need things to climb on and dogs will need a bath from time to time. And nearly all pets like to have a little place that is their own, where they can go to and feel safe. Knowing all this, when you’re ready to remodel or build a new home, find yourself an architect or builder who has some experience in building for pets or who is creative in custom jobs. It will be well worth it for everyone you consider family.

Good Dog Travel

We love to take the dogs with us on trips. It can add a fun element to the trip, but it can also but somewhat of a hassle. So if you want to bring your dog along on your vacation travels, the best advice is to plan ahead.  Contact your destination and make sure your dog is welcome. Find a pet-friendly hotel, or even better, a whole pet-friendly city! Make sure all your dog’s vaccinations are up-to-date and that he is in good enough health to travel.

Smart Dog Travel – What to Pack

When your dog travels with you, bring his own bowls, leash, toys, crate, any medicines and grooming equipment. But you may also want to consider some other options to keep him safe and healthy: A recent color photo of your dog to help identify him if he gets lost and pet ID tags with your contact info at your destination or your cell phone number. You’ll need your dog’s health and rabies certificates (mandatory when traveling internationally.) And be sure to bring a supply of your dog’s regular food, because sudden dietary changes could upset his stomach.

Traveling By Car

Ah, the sights, the smells, the feel of one’s tongue as it flaps in the breeze at 55 miles per hour! Dogs can get pretty excited at the chance for a car trip. It’s best to have a crate or carrier in the back of your vehicle. If you don’t, make sure your dog is buckled up. Special harnesses are available for this—don’t use a leash! In a sudden stop, a leash could cause serious injury.

Do not feed your dog for at least three hours before leaving, and be sure to make frequent stops for potty breaks. You’ll also want to provide fresh drinking water—and maybe a reward for his being such a good dog traveler. For obvious reasons, never leave your dog sitting in the car with the windows up.

Dog Travel by Air

If you’re planning on flying, ask yourself if it makes sense to bring your dog. Will he enjoy himself? Would it be easier and more fun for him to stay with a friend or in a boarding facility?

If you fly, your dog can travel in one of three ways: in the cabin with you, as checked baggage, or as unaccompanied cargo. (Avoid the last option, if possible). Plan your trip with as few stops and transfers as possible, and avoid peak travel periods, because delays and stop-overs may be longer. The less time your pet spends cooped up, the better.

Check with your airline well in advance. Get all the doggy details so there are no surprises when you bring your dog to the airport. Here are some of the more common requirements for domestic flights:

• Reservations are mandatory, and you must check in at the ticket counter.
• Your dog must be at least eight weeks old.
• Most airlines require a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel.
• Expect a $100 charge for small to medium kennels, $200 for intermediate to extra-large.

Pet-friendly Hotels

Many hotel chains allow dogs, but only those weighing between 25 and 50 lbs. Some hotel chains are more pet-friendly and allow well-behaved dogs of all types as long as they are trained and appropriately restrained. You can expect to pay fees of $10 to $50 per pet, depending on the hotel.

There are also some Pet-Friendly, Dog-Loving Hotels & Inns that go above and beyond, providing helpful pet services and pampering. For example, Loews Hotels, (1-800-23-LOEWS begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-800-23-LOEWS     end_of_the_skype_highlighting) offers the “Loews Loves Pets” program, including special dog-walking routes, pet sitters, dog bedding, complimentary toys and treats, and even a pet room service menu. Kimpton Hotels (1-800-KIMPTON begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-800-KIMPTON     end_of_the_skype_highlighting) also offers pet packages, including dog food, walking services, chew toys, and bottled water.

Check out PetTravel.com for a comprehensive list of pet-friendly chains, or DogFriendly.com  for pet-friendly destinations and hotels.