Recently I posted an article on tips for traveling with your dog(s) over the holidays.

Whether traveling by land or air, the American Humane Society provided us with helpful information on ways to minimize stress for your pet.

Today’s focus is on what happens when you arrive at your destination, how to be the perfect doggy guest. If you have family or friends who are kind enough to invite the entire family, four-legged buddies included, it’s important to make sure you prepare for your stay.

To get help on this subject I went to the owner of a dog friendly B&B, I figure she’s seen it all.  Martha who owns Ponder Cove, a beautiful B&B in the North Carolina mountains, was kind enough to give me a few minutes of her time to share some great tips.

So, let’s get shakin’ and make this a very successful holiday season. I will attempt to lay out the perfect formula to make you the best house guest ever with Bowser in tow.

1) Make sure Bowser gets a bath. He will shed less while being a guest and he certainly will smell better.

2) Make sure you pack Bowser’s much needed supplies in an appropriate box. I own the big Rubbermaid tubs that I buy from Target. Mine are the size of my dog crates. So, when we arrive it is stored on top of the crate. A tidy guest makes a happy host.

3) Make sure you have the much needed supplies.

a) Blanket or sheet to cover bed if Bowser is a bed buddy.

b) Food.

c) Bottled water. (It can be from your tap but it will prevent stomach problems if your dog is sensitive and used to your tap water)

d) Water bowl. Hosts hate being asked for kitchen bowls. It is just not sanitary.

e) If you use canned food…bring the can opener.

f) Place mat for water and food bowls.

4) Make sure you take the crate if he is crate trained. He or she will settle much better on arrival in his own bedroom versus a strange house.

5) Make sure Bowser is comfortable in the car before the journey. Give him plenty of room. Take along his favorite blanket and allow him to settle in nicely.

Martha has six more helpful tips, and a funny story of how she was once a guest with her dogs and broke every rule possible.  Grab your leash and run on over to Ponder Cove to check out the rest of the list and what not to do when you’re a guest.

If any Dogsters have a funny guest story give me a bark.

It’s hard to believe but the holiday season is officially here. A lot of people will be traveling by car to their destination, many with the family dog.  While some pets enjoy riding in the family car, others find it stressful.

The American Humane Society has provided us with a great list of tips, whether traveling by car or air, to help minimize stress.  Making this an enjoyable trip for both the two and four legged family members.

General Tips for Safe Travel With Pets:

Properly identify pets with ID tags and microchips — Make sure your pets have ID and current rabies tags and are microchipped. To be extra cautious, give your pet an extra tag with the address and phone number of where you will be staying for the duration of the trip, in case they get lost after you arrive.

Train pets to travel in their crates — Whether you’re heading to your holiday destination by plane, train or automobile, getting your pets used to their crates will make the entire traveling experience less stressful. Even when not at home, pets still view their crates as a safe haven from stressful situations.

With a crate, size does matter — Crates should be large enough for pets to stand and turn around in comfortably. Remember to keep water inside the crate or allow for breaks every 3 hours where your pet can drink and stretch. Stainless steel water containers that hook onto wire crates are easy to use and clean up well.

Never leave your pets unattended – Just as you would never leave a child unattended, never leave your pet alone in a car.

Bring their health records– Many of us can’t remember the last time we got a tetanus shot, let alone remember all the shots and medications our pets have had. Take your pet’s health records just in case he needs to see a veterinarian during your trip. Be sure to check with your veterinarian to see if they would recommend heartworm prevention or treatment for fleas or ticks for the area you are traveling.

Air Travel:

To fly or not to fly – As a rule, puppies and kittens, sick animals, animals in heat, and frail or pregnant animals should not travel by air. Animals that are “pug-nosed,” like pugs, boxers and Persian cats, should not fly in the cargo area of a plane. You should also plan ahead because many airlines have restrictions regarding pets and because your pet may need a health certificate to fly.

Tranquilizing pets is not recommended — Sedatives are not encouraged when flying because it’s difficult to monitor the animal’s breathing, which can be impaired by the combination of sedatives and high altitude.

Boarding is an option — If your animal is too large to fly in the cabin with you, staying at a boarding kennel may be a safer choice. Or you could hire a licensed pet sitter to take care of your pet in the comfort of its own home.

Car Travel:

Try to keep pets on the same “schedule” — Stop when you would normally let your animals out at home and at feeding times.

Plan lodging ahead — Research your route, make reservations and carry a list of pet-friendly lodging along the way. Also, ask for a room on the ground floor so it is easier to walk your pet. Don’t let your pet stay in the car.

Be prepared for emergencies or delays — Keep pet dishes in your car, as well as extra water and pet food, in case of car trouble or bad weather.

The American Humane Association wishes everybody safe and happy travels this holiday season. For more information about American Humane, go to www.americanhumane.org.

* The cutie above, Sophie Bean, is packed and ready for her holiday travel.

It’s hard to believe, but the holiday season is fast approaching. For those that spend the holidays out of town it’s time to start making travel plans.

Unfortunately,  it isn’t  always possible to take your fluff ball with you. Many will use their vet’s or a specialized facility, like Must Love Dogs*,  for boarding.

For those that aren’t comfortable with either of those choices there is an alternative.  You could hire a pet sitter to come to your home.

A pet sitter will spend quality time with your pet, provide exercise, and know how to tell if veterinary attention is needed. Some pet sitters also offer additional services, such as getting your mail/newspapers and watering plants.

The problem is knowing  what to look for when hiring a pet sitter, since anyone can call themselves one. To help out I got the following advice from the folks at The Humane Society.

Why hire a pet sitter?

A pet sitter-a professional, qualified individual paid to care for your pet-offers both you and your pet many benefits.

Your pet gets:

* the environment he knows best.

* his regular diet and routine.

* relief from traveling to and staying in an unfamiliar place with other animals (such as a boarding kennel).

* attention while you’re away.

You get:

* happier friends and neighbors, who aren’t burdened with caring for your pet.

* the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your pet is being cared for by a professional.

* someone to bring in your newspaper and mail so potential burglars don’t know you’re away.

* someone who will come to your home so you don’t have to drive your pet to a boarding kennel.

* other services provided by most pet sitters, such as plant watering and pet grooming.

Find out where to find a pet sitter,  what to look for, and what you can do to help the sitter by visiting The Humane Society site.

* Kenzie’s mom Christine works at Must Loves Dogs and highly recommends it to anyone in the Marietta, GA area.  Plus, Kenzie gives it two big paws up.

We want to thank all the Dogsters who entered our  “Calling All Dawg’s” contest.

Ponder had a very hard time making a decision because he received so many great entries.

After taking time to ponder over all the great answers he made his choice and the winner is…. Agadore Spartacus and his mom, Donna.

Me and my mom would be your BESTEST GUESTS! Mom got me, a standard poodle, 5 years ago. Then she rescued Beaner, an abused pit bull. Now she has Magic- she is fostering her til her daddy comes home from being deployed. So here’s WHY we’d make the bestest guests- I need some ALONE time with mom. It used to be just me and her, and now I have to share her! I don’t mind helping out, but it has REALLY cut into my SPECIAL time- walkies, hikes, trips to get toys and such.

I know that Mom is busy, but if we won this, she’d take the time to give me a weekend ALL MY OWN!

PLEASE I NEED A WEEKEND AWAY !

Thanks muchly-
Agadore Spartacus, Standard Poodle Extraordinaire

Ponder shares his residence with Dollie Mae and Buck ,  both of which just showed up on Ponder’s doorstep one day; hungry, lonely and cold.   Like Agadore,  he made room in his home for these two less fortunates.   Maybe he choose Agadore Spartacus because he knows the importance of alone time with mom.

Ponder, and his gracious mom Martha, wanted to show their appreciation to all those who took the time to enter but didn’t win.  They are offering a $50 gift certificate to be used toward a visit at beautiful  Ponder Cove.

If you are interested all you need to do is email Martha, martha@pondercove.com, to find out all the details (inc. rates, dates, and restrictions).

In Berlin (GE),  if you hear someone complaining the bus service is going to the dogs you’ll be surprised to learn it actually is.  There is a doggy day care, located in Beelitz, that offers a shuttle service for their furry clients.  If you’re too busy in the morning to drop your little furball off, don’t worry, the bus from the Pfoetchenhotel (Paw Hotel) will provide pick-up.

Six dogs boarded the bus aimed at helping working pet-owners on its first full day in operation on Monday, at a cost of 15 euros ($22) per passenger, the operators said.

If you think this is like the old yellow school bus you rode when you were a child you’re in for a big surpise.  The air-conditioned bus with cabins for the dogs comes complete with blankets and music. “The owners were really enthusiastic,” a spokeswoman for the Pfoetchenhotel (Paw Hotel) said.

Once at their destination, they can play, eat or relax in special hotel rooms before embarking on their trip home. The bus can take up to 20 dogs and runs 5 days a week.

Forget the dogs…where can I sign up?

If you live in Massachusetts you probably already know there are an abundance of hiking trails.  The problem is that not all trails for humans are necessarily good for our furry friends.

If you want to find the best dog friendly hiking trails check out Best Hikes with Dogs: Boston & Beyond by Jenna Ringelheim, the only book devoted entirely to hiking with dogs.  The book has a great mix of urban and rural trails with trail descriptions that detail leash laws, directions, maps, distance (hike’s total mileage), and elevation levels.  It covers trails for active and senior dogs so no pup will feel left out.

The book also has some great tips on canine trail etiquette, hiking with dogs and their special needs, what to do when you meet other hikers, and unique skills for preparing your dog for the Massachusetts mainland and island terrain.

Win yourself a free copy of Best Hikes with Dogs: Boston & Beyond by simply leaving me a comment in the comment section on why you like hiking with your dog.  I will pick one winner at random on August 25th.  Happy trails to you.

Our very own Mr. Henry passed this article on to me, but not just because it’s an interesting article,  he happens to be  the handsome pup in the picture.  Henry, a 1-year-old West Highland White Terrier, was captured as he cools off at Capehart Dog Park in San Diego.  Way to go Mr. Henry!

The article, on off- leash dog park etiquette, has some great tips on being a responsible pet parent. All dog parks have official rules, like cleaning up after your pet and making sure their vacinations are current,  but there are also some unwritten rules.  The following are some things to keep in mind.

Five things you should never bring to the off-leash dog park:

Food: This applies to both the human and canine variety. Whether it’s Fido’s favorite treat or a quick lunch for you, bringing food into the dog park is one of the best ways to go from zero to anarchy in a matter of seconds. And don’t think you can hide those morsels in your pocket–with a sense of smell that is 100,000 times greater than that of a human, they’ll find it every time. After all, they don’t have bomb-sniffing humans, do they?

Your own toys: Of course, bringing your dog’s personal toys to the dog park is fine–as long as neither of you wants to see them again. The beauty of the dog park is the communal atmosphere, so expect to see plenty of sharing, but don’t expect to see Rover politely return Fluffy’s ball when it’s time for her to go home.

Small kids: A dog park may seem like an ideal place to let your two-legged charges run loose as well, but even the friendliest medium- to large-sized dog can knock a toddler to the ground with so much as an enthusiastic greeting, causing inevitable conflict between parent and pet owner. Kid parks outnumber dog parks by at least 100 to 1, so for everyone’s safety and peace of mind, keep at least one hand on your tots when they’re in canine territory.

A leash: Though a must in most situations, a leash should never enter the dog park attached to a dog. Rather than keeping your pooch safe, being tethered to a leash can make your furry friend a sitting duck, unable to get away from dominant or aggressive dogs. Last year in San Diego, a Chihuahua/Yorkie mix was killed at Dusty Rhodes Dog Park when its leash kept it from evading an aggressive Husky. While the leash was obviously not to blame for the incident, it left the small dog open to attack.

An attitude: Your love for Lassie may be unconditional, but that doesn’t mean she can do no wrong. Always keep an eye on your pup and be ready to intervene if playtime gets out of hand.

By following the rules–both written and implied–the dog park can be a great place for everyone who is lucky enough to be owned by a dog. Let the butt-sniffing begin!

I need a break. No, not a break off of a Kit Kat bar.  But a mini vacation. I know you’re probably looking for one too. Well, I’m here to help.  Here’s your chance to win a free, that’s right, free two night stay at a dog friendly bed & breakfast in Asheville, NC.

Bo recently found out that his good buddy, Ponder, runs a dog friendly B&B along with his family. I’m told his owners are only involved because somebody has to clean up after the guests. As Ponder says, “there isn’t a self respecting dog in the world that’s going clean sheets and do the windows. So I keep ‘em around.”

Well, Ponder has been looking to meet some of his dogster buddies, wet nose to wet nose, and has been gracious enough to offer the community a chance to win two nights’ free accommodations at his gorgeous bed and breakfast. Being a magnanimous owner, Ponder is also allowing parents to take part in this offer if accompanied by the winning dog.

Ponder Cove is located just 30 minutes from Asheville, NC. This dog friendly bed and breakfast country inn provides total seclusion, luxury accommodations and gourmet breakfasts.

To win Ponder Cove’s distinguished “How DAWGS Do Travel” Award it’s time to take keypad to paw and, in 100 words or less, write in the comments section below why you would be the best guest ever.

We want to hear about all your good manners and what you think makes the ultimate traveling “dawg”. The judging will be done by the Ponder Cove management team headed up by Ponder himself. 

The contest will run today through August 31s^t. Get those paws typing, this one is too good to pass up. Good luck!!

FYI: I’m told that comments about how Spanish Water Dogs are the best breed ever will not improve your chances.

I want to thank Laura Goldberg, Communications Consultant at  Petside.com, for sharing this fun article.

Petside has found the most pet friendly hotels in the nation! These locations offer the most amenities and the best service to their four-legged guests of any hotels in the US.

Where, oh where,  should me and my little dog go?

From Los Angeles to New York City, your pet can have a first-class experience away from home, no matter how far you travel.

So next time you vacation with your pet, check out these locations to ensure a great stay for you and your furry friend!

Happy trails!