Choose a Dog

Archive for the ‘Dog Holidays’ Category

If you plan on taking a vacation and you have a dog it is important to find a dog boarding facility for your dog.  There are many ways to look for the proper facility for your dog to ensure it is happy while you are away and they take proper care of your animal.You’ll want to consider things such as where you’re dog will sleep, the cleanliness and safety of the facility, the demeanor of the caretakers, and more.

When you take a vacation the best thing you can do for your dog is to put it up in a boarding facility.A pet should never be left alone for any extended time.Too often, pet owners will simply tie up their pet in the backyard with food and water and leave town.  What will your dog do when it steps on the bowl and dumps the water it has for the week or gets tangled in the chain on the tree and chokes?  Someone needs to take care of your animal.  The worst thing you can do is leave town and leave your dog at home alone.

There are a wide variety of different types of facilities used for dog boarding. There are wonderful facilities for dog boarding in Ann Arbor.  Some people provide dog boarding in the home and they may have spaces in their backyard for your dog to run and sleep.  If you have an indoor animal you want to ensure your dog is going to be provided something it is comfortable in.An owner’s vacation shouldn’t end up being a traumatic experience for a dog.A pet deserves a safe and healthy environment while you’re away. 

You’ll want to check out the specific area where your dog will live and spend most of its time.Ask about the daily schedule for the guest dogs. How do they spend their time.  Is the area the dog is provided to sleep in a safe place for your animal?Is the space also comfortable and large enough for your pet?  You should be sure that your animal is not put in a kennel and kept there for the entire duration of your vacation.  It is very common for boarding facilities that do not properly take care of animals to keep them in an area too small for exercise and unacceptable.  Always verify that the area your animal will be in offers plenty of space for it to get enough exercise on a daily basis and one that is satisfying to your liking.

You’ll want to visit the prospecitve facility before leaving your dog their the first time.Just talking to the facility over the phone is not enough to ensure its a safe and healthy place for your pet.  Always verify what you are told over the phone. A good option is to test out the facility with a day or two of dog day care. You want to be sure the boarding facility you place your dog in while you are away is acceptable and they will take proper care of your animal.

It’s a sure bet that you’re either a ‘dog’ person or a ‘cat’ person; if you’re a dog person and you have a dog, then you love to take it everywhere you go. However did you know if you're travelling in a car with your dog, then they are at just as much risk in an accident as you are? If you aren’t too concerned about that, then think about this: a dog roaming around loose in a car can cause an accident if the driver is distracted, or if their driving is impeded. If Bingo wants a pat and you’re negotiating a tricky intersection, or you decide a tummy rub is necessary at the next set of lights, then you could create an accident, or fail to get out of one. Bingo, like a child, should be strapped safely in a seat.

A dog harness is critical if you want to avoid an accident, and injury to either yourself or your dog. Think of it as a dog safety belt, which will (in the unfortunate event of an accident) stop your beloved canine from being thrown around the vehicle and becoming hurt – or hurting you. Any loose item in a car can become a projectile and again, if you don’t care too much if Bingo is hurt, then consider the fact that you could be.

A dog travel harness is available in different sizes, and it is important that you select the right one in order for it to fit correctly. If it’s too loose, the dog may slip through in an impact – too tight and it could cause injury and defeat the purpose for which it was intended. Furthermore, you don’t want a harness that will rub when the car is in motion. This could cause friction burns and blisters. Padding in the right places, and the right kind of padding, is essential. It’s worth spending a little more on a harness that will fit correctly and be snug (but not too much so) and offer protection even while simply driving from point A to point B.

The last point worth noting is that the harness should have a swivel fitting so that the dog can either sit up or lie down in the car. A good harness will allow the dog to turn around and not become entangled, or cause the belt to shorten. Positioned correctly, a harness will also mean your windows stay clean – no more doggy drool coating the insides of your car!

Dog travel safety should be one of the things you consider when you buy a puppy. For many reasons, a dog harness, available from all good pet supplies stores, is a vital piece of equipment in the car of any dog owner.