In order to have a comfortable and enjoyable time when traveling with your dog, you need to prepare certain things ahead of time. You need to be ready in case of an emergency or any unpredictable situation that may occur. So keep in mind the following 13 items and make sure that you have them ready and available before you go on that road trip with your dog.

1. A dog crate or den with a small blanket inside for your dog’s safety and comfort, or a seatbelt harness if you prefer to have him stay on the seat.

2. An adequate supply of dog food to last for the entire trip. Make sure to bring enough extra food, especially if your dog is a fussy eater.

3. At least three gallons of extra water for your dog. If you are going to a different country, keep in mind that the water there may be different from the water you have at home. Since your dog may be sensitive to the differences in the water which could make him sick, be sure that you carry enough water to last for the entire trip.

I was walking outside to open the front gate in front of my complex and saw two guys training a beautiful large German Shepherd dog, in front of my neighbor’s house.

They were both professional dog trainers that my neighbor had apparently hired to come by and train his dog when he’s at work.

I introduced myself and proceeded to watch.

See, the funny thing about many dog trainers is that they have an ego, and their ego often prevents them from accepting help from people who haven’t already demonstrated superior skill. Perhaps not a bad policy.

But whatever.

Anyway… the first fellow was standing and talking with me, and out of the corner of my eye I was watching the second fellow work with the dog.

They’d taught the dog to hold a “down-stay.” But the problem was, they hadn’t successfully taught the dog what “come” means, and that it’s okay to get up from the “down-stay” when the handler calls you to come.

The problem was, the second fellow was calling the dog to come, and while he was doing it, he was inadvertently bending forward and clapping his hands. And then he’d move a little closer to the dog—all the while bending forward.

Like most dog owners, you probably take your dog with you on weekend excursions and trips to the country. When it comes time to take a longer vacation, however, we always face the dilemma of what to do with Fido.

Traveling with your pup is not always practical, especially if you are flying somewhere. However, there are ways to make dog travel easier and more convenient — it just requires a bit of planning.

The best way of traveling with your dog is to go by car or recreational vehicle. You can make as many stops as needed and your dog has the space to stretch out. Dog travel by plane is a little bit more complicated but it is not impossible.

If you are planning on flying somewhere with your dog, she will probably have to go in the cargo hold. This can be stressful for dogs, as the cargo hold is noisy and cold. Most airlines will not allow you to take your dog with you during winter weather — it is simply too cold for a dog!

These are great for giving herbs to animals reluctant to eat the herb when it is mixed with their food. Also, you know exactly how much of the herb the animal is getting. I especially like these for giving herbal worm formulas to kids (young goats) and dogs becasue most of the time they love them and beg for more which makes it so easy to administer.

Herbal Dosage Balls For Livestock

Mix together:

* 1/2 cup (8 Tablespoons) powdered or finely crushed herb
* 1/4 cup (4 Tablespoons) powdered Slippery Elm Bark (Slippery elm acts as a binding agent to hold the herb mixture together.)

Add:

* 1/4 cup Honey or Molasses

With your fingers (or in a food processor), mix and kneed into a dough. Break into 16 even pieces, shape into balls and then roll the balls in a little bit of Slippery Elm powder just to coat. Each ball equals a 1/2 Tablespoon dose.

Offer an herbal dosage ball to the animal first, and he may eat it right out of your hand. If he won’t, shove it in his mouth. Often, the animal realizes the balls taste good and want more. If he spits it out, just shove further back in the mouth next time. (For goat kids, or other smaller animals, I break the balls into smaller pieces to administer.)

For most people who own pets, these furry friends are more family, than simple pets. For this reason, we see a growing number of people who take their pets on vacation. While this makes things more fun for the owner and the animal, it also comes with a new set of challenges. The best option is excellent planning so you and your pet are comfortable and safe while having a great time.

One of the greatest challenges of traveling with pets is trying to locate a hotel that accommodates. Even though we see the problem lessening, you will still find many hotels that do not welcome pets. This means you end up staying in a hotel other than what you would prefer just for the sake of the animal. Therefore, we suggest as you plan your next vacation, check with the Convention and Visitors Bureau for the state you will travel to, which can provide you with a list of pet friendly hotels. Now, even when you receive this list, you should call ahead to make sure there are no surprises and that you understand any additional charges that may apply.

If you have ever tried to take a picture of your dog, you will realize how hard it is to capture the pups full personality and beauty in a photograph. Dogs aren’t human, and they don’t understand what we are doing when we try to take their photo. They may think that the camera is a toy and charge at you, instead of striking a pose. If you follow these tips, and take your cues from your pet, you can be assured of great photos of your pet.

Pets come in all colors. If your dog is dark, you will need to make sure that he doesn’t get lost in your photo due to a dark background. Dark animals photograph best with light colored or neutral backgrounds. You can use white, grey, or creamy beige backdrops. You should never take a photo of a Black Lab, or a German Shepherd, against a dark background. It conceals the true color of your dog, and the dark background can also conceal the true size, shape and proportions of your pet.

What are anal glands?

Anal glands, or anal sacs, are two small glands present in both dogs and cats situated just below and either side of the anal opening. These glands produce a substance that is secreted through ducts just inside the rectum when pressure is put on the glands- most commonly by the passing of feces. This substance has a strong odor which is very unpleasant to humans but was probably useful to animals, especially in times gone by, for marking their territory.

What can go wrong with anal glands?

In modern-day domestic pets, anal glands can often cause health problems. Sometimes the anal gland secretions are not released naturally and build up – leading to thickening of the secretion, clogging of the duct and sometimes even infection and abscesses. You may have seen your pet with his tail up, dragging his behind across the floor. This is an attempt to relieve the pressure and discomfort of impacted anal glands and is called scooting. Scooting can cause damage to the anus and indicates that your pet is having trouble with his anal glands and needs some type of intervention.

We all love our pets right? But the little critters can be messy at times and wreak havoc with the household fabrics. But I guess if we decide to have family pets, then we shouldn’t really complain about a little dog poop or puddle of cat urine from time to time.

The problem with house pets is that if the owners are out at work or school all day and the mess is done early morning, then it has all day to fester and soil thus making it one heck of a lot harder to clean than if it was caught fresh.

All stains, be they from animals, foods, or wherever, are much easier to remove when they are new. Most fresh stains are quite removable whereas all the scrubbing and rubbing in the world wont shift an old stubborn stain completely. Having said that, there are very few marks that cannot at the very least be improved with the right approach.

It’s surprising how many folks don’t know the basics of removing stains and spills. We’ve all seen Mum running in frantically from the kitchen with a bowl of lukewarm water and detergent as she thrusts herself to the ground and begins to scrub frantically at the fabric – STOP! This is how NOT to remove a stain.

Dog Travel How To Make The long Road Trip More Comfortable For Your Dog

Traveling with your puppy or dog can be a lot of fun. It’s a great way to bond with your pet while experiencing new places along the way. If your road trip is going to be a long one then you need to take a few extra steps to plan accordingly and ensure that you and your puppy get to your destination safe and happy. Here are a few suggestions that can help:

1. The last thing you want to do is have to clean up the nasty mess of diarrhea inside your car. And your puppy or dog can easily give you this headache when you do not stick to his regular feeding times and with his normal food. It is very easy to feed your dog inconsistently when you are making a long trip by car. However, it will be best for both of you if you bring along bags of his normal food and only feed him at the same time you would at home.

Dog is essentially a servant. His feelings toward his master are comradely and his manner familiar; he enjoys the master’s affection and regard. He will go to any length to please and protect his people. He can be taught any manner of service tasks and will go about them with enthusiasm. His aim is to please.

The cat is different. She serves no one, knowingly or willingly. Her one accomplishment — the hunting of mice, rats and other rodents — is self-taught. The man does not live who can claim to have trained a cat to perform a task for human benefit. There are no police cats, no watch cats, no sled cats. The cat does not even come when she’s called, unless it suits her.

Dogs are dependent upon humans. They seek humans for companionship, play and care. They enjoy the role of being part of the “pack” and will go to great lengths to keep that position.

Cats are also quite self-sufficient. You never have to entertain them. This is not to say that they cannot be entertained or that they themselves are not entertaining. It is just that their errands are many and their schedules full. Cats prefer going it alone, depending upon their own wit to survive.