| Travel time is upon us. When we start | | | | with lids so that we may stack them and store |
| packing up the items we want to take, we have | | | | other items around them. You need a feeding |
| to be sure to think about the dogs. Our dogs | | | | dish. If you have a dog that will only eat |
| are part of the family and go with us.Just | | | | from his own bowl, be sure to pack it. Many |
| like children, dogs should be safely | | | | dogs are not that fussy, and you may use |
| restrained in a vehicle while traveling. We | | | | collapsible travel bowls. They pack easily |
| found a leash that has one end that clicks in | | | | and do not require a lot of space.Just in |
| to the seatbelt. The other end has the usual | | | | case your dog encounters an upset tummy and |
| clip and fastens to the harness. We prefer a | | | | has loose stool, throw in a can of pumpkin. |
| harness to using the collars for riding. If | | | | This helps tighten things back up and seems |
| there are any sudden stops, the dogs are | | | | to be soothing to the digestive track. Our |
| safely restrained without risk of damage to | | | | veterinarian also told us that in an |
| their necks.If you travel in an SUV or | | | | emergency, a reduced portion of Immodium AD |
| station wagon, you can get barrier screens to | | | | is acceptable. Be sure to check with your |
| put between the dogs and the passenger seats | | | | own veterinarian about dosage size if you |
| of the vehicle. These help to keep the | | | | have this in your pet pack.Remember the |
| canine family member from being thrown | | | | leashes. Most travel areas require that we |
| forward in the event of an accident.Some of | | | | keep our canine companions on leash. I |
| our friends have vans and actually are able | | | | prefer the braided leather leashes that are |
| to load up the travel kennels like those made | | | | easier on my hands. These are available from |
| by Vari Kennel. Their dogs are used to | | | | many sources. The leash works well with dogs |
| loading up in the kennels and settle right | | | | that are trained and walk easily on leash. |
| down for a long ride. They have their own | | | | Because the leash is leather it seems to |
| crate beds and other accessories to make | | | | improve with use just like a baseball |
| traveling quite comfortable.Besides | | | | glove.We find that it is a good idea to take |
| determining how the dogs will ride, we need | | | | along calming remedies to handle the stress |
| to pack up supplies for the dogs just as we | | | | of travel. Most times our dogs are fine, but |
| do for ourselves. We suggest that you | | | | once in a while, a little calming is needed. |
| prepare for most any event.Be sure you have | | | | For these times, there are wonderful herbal |
| the water bowl or bottle. If your dog is not | | | | supplements and even special aromatherapy for |
| too fussy about having his own water bowl, | | | | dog products that work. We found one |
| there are wonderful collapsible travel bowls | | | | aromatic mist that we used on one trip |
| on the market.We recommend that you carry | | | | transporting greyhounds fresh from the tracks |
| water from home so that your dog does not | | | | to new homes. These dogs did not know us or |
| have to adjust to new water which may cause | | | | each other, and the mist was just the thing |
| loose stools. Pack enough water to get you | | | | to relax and aid them in getting along |
| through your trip if possible. Should you | | | | together. Sprayed lightly in the air twice, |
| run out, bottled water from the stores may be | | | | the dogs sniffed and seemed to calm a bit. |
| useful and should not cause problems. As with | | | | About half an hour later, I sprayed once |
| most things in life, water has its own scent | | | | more. The dogs settled in and slept for our |
| to our dogs. They will know the difference, | | | | four-hour leg of the trip. After using this |
| but the bottled water may not upset their | | | | special, essential-oils based product, I can |
| digestive systems.How do you want to carry | | | | safely say that I believe in aromatherapy for |
| the dog food? We like to put it in buckets | | | | dogs. |