Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

What All Dog Owners Must Know Regarding Dog Travel

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A holiday with your dog can be a really fun time for both of you. But it requires foresight and a bit of planning to make it so.

To begin with you’ll have to research the requirements for taking a pet to the destinations you’re interesting in visiting. With some countries, like the UK, these make traveling with your dog a virtual impossibility unless you’re on the PETS scheme.

But all countries, even pet-friendly ones, have importation laws you’ll have to comply with.

Then there’s the accommodation issue. If you are planning on staying at a hotel or resort, you’ll want to find a pet-friendly one at your destination and book early.

The good news is that more and more hotels are accepting pets these days.

And then there are the travel arrangements. Traveling with a pet by air or rail can be quite a challenge, so use a specialized pet travel company to make the arrangements for you. This will ensure that you avoid costly, and possibly even tragic mistakes.

If however, you are going to be traveling by car you can make the arrangements yourself, and there are quite a few things you’ll have to take care of.

For starters, you’ll need a way of restraining your dog in the car, either a dog carrier, or a specialized doggy seat belt. This not only makes sense, but is a legal requirement in some countries.

Also remember that dogs dehydrate very easily. Have plenty of fresh water, and his water bowl at hand. And never leave your dog locked in a car in warm weather.

Also, remember to pack leashes, harnesses, collars, toys, dog bed and anything else your dog will need.You will also have to plan where you will overnight on your trip, and check out local accommodation that allows dogs. And while we’re on the subject of breaks, remember to make regular bathroom and leg stretching stops.

And there’s even more to be taken care of. When you are at your holiday destination, ensure that your dog wears an id tag with your local contact details, at all times. For international travel you will have to have your dog micro-chipped, but extra precautions are never a bad thing.

It’s also a good idea to have a photograph of your dog with you, just in case your dog becomes lost.

Find out where the local vet and animal emergency center are. In case of emergency you’ll need this information close at hand.

Obey all local animal regulations and laws. This will normally mean that you have to pick up after your dog, as well as keeping on a leash in public places. It is just good manners to do this anyway, even if the law doesn’t require it.

By now you’re probably wondering if all of this is worth the trouble. Well, ask yourself how much a trouble free, unforgettable trip with your dog is worth. The likely answer is, priceless!

To learn more about dog travel, dog care, dog training tips and other interesting dog information go to dogsanddogtraining.com

Your Dog Care Tips: Keep Your Dog Safe in Your Backyard

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Keep your dog safe in your backyard. All dogs suffer when it is too hot. Some are particularly vulnerable to heatstroke. If you are in a hot climate, make sure you have a shaded area or a porch where the dog can get out of the sun.

It is vital they have a secure source of fresh water; by secure we mean he can’t easily tip it over.

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Training Tips To Get Your Dog To Obey!

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Common sense is important when deciding whether it is safe to leave your dog outside: a short coated dog or a companion dog that is bred to spend his life indoors will not be able to tolerate being left outside in a cold climate. Your dog care tips include:

Securing Your Yard

It may not make sense to you that the same dog that is so happy to see you when you get home may want to find his way out of the back yard to freedom, but many dogs are lost each year because of this.

Most dogs do not have a good sense of the dangers cars represent. Once outside your yard, they may just follow interesting scents and be so focused on those they aren’t aware of approaching vehicles. They can also get frightened and run right into traffic. Many breeds are efficient diggers.

They can tunnel under a wooden fence with ease. A back gate that is not latched properly can also give your dog an escape route.

With smaller breeds, only a few inch gap between slats can be enough for them to squeeze through. Think of this in the positive way: your dog is not trying to escape from your house, he is perhaps trying to find you.

The first thing you need to do is check the perimeter of your yard for any gaps in the fence. One easy solution is to dig down six inches below ground and affix narrow gage wire fencing material to your existing fence. You can hold the fencing in place below ground by burying bricks, rocks or pavers.

This will make it more difficult for your dog to tunnel under, and have the added benefit or making it harder for rodents or snakes to get into your yard. You may also want to padlock your gate.

A strong dog may try to push open the gate, and some gates with loose latches can even be blown open by the wind. Keeping your fence in good repair is important.

If the dog can find a loose or weak slat to chew through, he will.

Safety Inside The Yard

Your beautiful back yard with the trees, flowers, grass and vegetable garden may seem like paradise to you, and your dog will certainly enjoy romping around back there, but there are safety considerations as well, and you will want to make sure your tender plants are protected from your dog.

Again, dogs love to dig. Some breeds, in fact, simply have to dig. For them, it is part of the joy of being alive. They don’t care if what they are digging up is a prized flower garden, or the spinach crop you have been carefully tending since early spring.

And a dog doesn’t at all mind taking a short cut through the flower beds trampling them as he goes. You may want to consider fencing off areas of your yard to protect your plants. This is particularly the case with frisky young pups.

As your dog grows you will be able to train him to stay out the flower or vegetable garden, but to a puppy, it all looks like a playground.

Your dog care tips will keep your dog safe in your backyard.

Find more about your dog care tips. Dee Power is the author of several nonfiction books and the novel “Over Time.” She is the proud companion of Rose, the Irish Setter, and Kate the English Springer Spaniel. Read Rose and Kate’s blog.

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