Bo isn’t the only dog vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard, pups abound. You don’t need to be the First Dog to have a good time on this island.
Although you can’t bring dogs to the main beaches in the summer, you can usually find a quiet place for a secret swim. There’s also a new dog park where you can go enjoy an afternoon of fun with your pooch.
If you feel like shopping you can stop by the very popular Black Dog to get some fun tee shirts and Good Dog Goods to buy necessities for your pup.
One of the biggest draws on the island is the Black Dog, a general store full of branded merchandise, along with a bakery and a popular restaurant.
But now, with talk of the arrival of Bo, there’s some competition.
Hi again everybody – just wanted to pop in and let you know that travelers and bloggers Helen Fazio and her dog Raja are dishing out the tips on The Daily Dog Tip, the Dogster blog that serves up a juicy tidbit of canine information every weekday.
The pair have loads of great pet travel information and will be joining us every now and then as a guest tipster on both Dogster and Catster. Their first tip is live already and can be seen here.
More about Helen and her dog Raja:
Helen feels most comfortable in places where she doesn’t speak the language; she likes to do almost everything, except hunt and watch TV sports. Raja is a Shih Tzu. Directly descended from the Mongolian wolf, Raja is hardy and loves to roam with his pack. Tamed in the monasteries of Tibet, he takes the long view. Finished in the palaces of 16th century China, he is elegant. Rescued from China by the artistocrats of Europe, he is a ham. Make sure you check out their blog, which is here, and follow them on Twitter.
And here’s a video about Raja and the website!
The best way to get The Daily Dog Tip is via email, and if you sign up now, you won’t miss a single tip from our grrreat pet experts. Or to add the RSS feed to your reader, click here. Want it all? You can also get them via Twitter when you follow @dogster.
We’re halfway through the summer, but there’s still plenty of time to squeeze a trip in.
If you plan on traveling and taking your pet with you here’s some good information from the Animal Health Care Center newsletter.
Traveling with your pet can be rewarding but challenging if not enough preparation has been made. Planning will help your trip go smoother and should include acquiring any paperwork that is needed, consideration of the temperatures to be experienced and how to deal with them, and obtaining equipment that will make the trip easier.
It is a good idea to first consult with your veterinarian. Make sure your pet is current on all vaccinations. Ask your pet’s doctor about the region to which you will be traveling and whether there are any diseases that require additional vaccines, i.e. Lyme or Lepto, or other measures, i.e. heartworm preventative. It is important your pet have identification; make sure the tag on the collar is current and the printing is legible. Your veterinarian should also implant a microchip into your pet as a form of permanent identification because collars can be lost easily.
I was reading the AJC this morning and came across an article offering advice on places to vacation with your dog.
Towles Kintz shares five dog friendly locations to visit and have a little summer fun. He goes from the beach to the mountains, and a few places in between.
1) Washington, DC
Although monuments and great museums might first leap to mind when you think of the nation’s capital, the city and its Northern Virginia suburbs offer a surprising number of dog-friendly and dog-centric activities. Take a boat ride with your pooch to tour Alexandria’s seaport with Potomac Riverboat Co.’s Canine Cruises (dogs ride free), hike the Mount Vernon Trail, which runs between Alexandria and Mount Vernon, take a hike on Roosevelt Island. Dog-friendly bars and restaurants abound here.
Dog Treat: There are more than 20 off-leash dog parks in the area, and open-air monuments mean that families and their dogs can take in great tourist attractions together.
2) Orlando, FL.
Disney may have a corner on the market in Orlando, but the city has recently been applauded for its efforts to become more dog-friendly. The Winter Park area, which is home to a great off-leash dog park and Sam Snead’s, a restaurant made famous when Gov. Jeb Bush signed the doggy dining law, is particularly welcoming to pets, and there are plenty of hotels – and even some posh resorts – that now accommodate families traveling with their canine companions. Add to that Florida’s natural beauty and state parks (there are eight in the Orlando area), and you’ve got yourself one happy dog.
Dog Treat: Lots of dog-friendly outdoor dining and more than seven off-leash dog parks in the area.
When Lisa and I moved to Atlanta from Albany, NY we decided to drive because we couldn’t stand the thought of putting Bo on a plane. There was no way we would let him be stuck in the cold cargo area, terrified and alone.
Nope, instead we drove the nineteen hours with Bo and our cat Moose, who meowed for pretty much the entire ride. I was just reading about a brand new airline, Pet Airways, that has literally gone to the dogs. If they were around when we moved it’s something we definitely would have considered.
Pet Airways, which begins flights next month between five cities, is exactly what it sounds like: an airline just for pets. But before boa constrictor fans get any ideas, passengers are currently limited to dogs and cats.
Nobody flies in cargo on Pet Airways — it’s first class all the way for Fluffy and Buddy in the cabin of the airlines’ Beechcraft 1900. The plane normally seats 19 humans, but there are no seats for pets, just straps to hold animal carriers (supplied by the airline). The plane holds about 50 average-sized animals, two pilots and one pet attendant. Mind you, the pet need not be “average-sized.” Back in April, the Pet Airways people told me how thrilled they were to get their first reservation for a Great Dane.
I just got a bark about JetBlue’s new JetPaws(TM) program, featuring Travel Petiquette (TM) for your four-legged friends. Plus, you can get extra TrueBlue points for your pets.
NEW YORK, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Pet fur-iendly JetBlue Airway today unveils JetPaws(TM), an exclusive new in-cabin program designed to provide pet owners with helpful Travel Pettiquette guidelines, which outline the social graces of jetting with small dogs and cats. As part of the new program, customers will also receive two bonus award points for each flight through JetBlue’s TrueBlue customer loyalty program, helping two-legged customers earn free travel faster when traveling with Fido or Fluffy.
In addition, JetBlue also announces the creation of a unique, custom-made pet carrier and separate travel kit co-designed by Cindy Adams, celebrated New York Post columnist, ASPCA board member and founder of Jazzy Park Avenue Dog products. The carrier is now available for purchase online at ShopBlue for $45. The kit, which includes a pet blanket, rubber bone and travel dish, is also available online.
“With more than 80,000 pets traveling on JetBlue each year, the JetPaws program is designed to make traveling with pets smooth from start to finish, offering valuable TrueBlue points along the way,” said Kim Ruvolo, Brand Manager of JetBlue Airways. “We are excited to partner with New York City icon Cindy Adams, who brings her sense of style and fun to the design of our exclusive new pet carrier.”
To kickoff this new program JetBlue is having a pet look-alike photo contest with a very cool grand prize.
To celebrate the launch of JetPaws, today through December 30, 2008, the value airline is hosting the ‘JetBlue Pet Look-Alike’ photo contest on www.jetblue.com/jetpaws, where customers can find information on how to submit their favorite resemblance photo of them and their pet.
The grand prize winner will receive roundtrip travel for two to any of the airline’s 51 destinations, and four runner-ups will receive the JetPaws Pet Carrier and Pet Travel Kit.
Go run on over to the JetBlue website for more information on their new JetPaws (TM) program along with the full details on how to the enter the contest.
* The photo is courtesy JetBlue, it’s the new custom-made pet carrier by Cindy Williams.
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.
Don’t miss out on the chance to win the two night stay at dog friendly Ponder Cove bed and breakfast. Spend a fall weekend in Asheville, NC and enjoy the beautiful fall foliage. We’re down to the last 48 hours so start typing up your entry.
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 of the original post 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. Do yourself a favor and click on Poner’s link. Seriously, how could you not want to meet him?
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