Moving - Understanding Your Dog's Stress When Moving Into A New House (Part 1)

Are you planning to move to a new house soon or actually in the middle of a move right now? Uprooting your entire life and planting it somewhere else can be one of the most stressful times a person can go through. And if you think it's tough for you, consider how tense and confusing this can be for your dog or puppy.

Dogs are creatures that thrive on routine living. They become extremely comfortable and self confident once they get used to the same day to day activities that repeat themselves. This includes waking up at the same time each morning, the same feeding times, knowing when you're coming home from work, and above all, dogs become accustomed to expecting the same atmosphere in their home.

Moving can completely eradicate your dog's entire routine expectations. Between you and the rest of the family packing up everything in the home, shipping items, coming and going, constantly traveling back and forth in and out of the house, all of this is enough to drive a dog crazy, especially when you have a young puppy.

When Good Dogs Go Bad Due To Stress

Even the best trained dogs can become so stressed and anxious from a moving experience that they may revert back to their old puppy behavior in order to cope with the stress that they are going through. This behavior may include hyperactivity, urinating inside the house, unexpected jumping and barking, and even some nipping and biting has occurred on rare occasions.

It Is Perfectly Normal Behavior

There is good reason for this bad behavior from a puppy who does not realize what is going on around them during a busy move. You have basically taken everything that they know and learned and turned everything upside down.

Think about the last time you were upset and nervous, what were your vices? What did you do that helped you cope with the situation which might not have been the best of your character? Now consider the fact that this is a dog we are talking about and so his bad behavior is understandable. He is stressed and confused.

Avoid Scolding Or Punishing Your Dog

I completely understand it if your first response to your pet's behavior is to yell and punish him. You are also probably stressed with financial matters, having your old home cleaned, ensuring that all of your stuff gets to the new home okay, etc. but when it comes to your dog and dealing with his "vices" towards the situation, be patient and understanding so that your dog will feel safer during the busy transition during the move.

Air Travel - Don't Let Your Dog Be A Statistic

An alarming number of dogs and other pets become injured, lost, or even die on board an airplane when traveling. Compared to the number of successful animals transported from one location to another via the airlines, this number is low, however, it only takes one incident to change your life forever when your dog becomes seriously injured or dies because of a lack of preparation on your part.

We already mentioned about the most important precautionary measure to take for the safety of your dog, which is simply to take him to the vet for a complete checkup to avoid complicating a pre-existing medical condition. Please add the following additional tips to your list:

Select The Quickest Airline Route

Researching for the flight that will make the trip for your dog go by the fastest is easy, but one that many dog owners do not think about. Take some time and research all of the options available and ask the airline which flight time is the fastest.

Additionally, avoid flights that do not fly directly to your destination. It does not happen often, but some dogs get transferred to the wrong airplane, arrive in a totally different location than the intended destination, and worse yet - never make it back to its owner.

Choose Flight Times During The Morning Or Evening

As far as comfortability for your dog go, do your best to select a flight that is either during the early morning hours or early evening time. These are the best times during the day in which your dog will experience the most comfortable of temperatures. Avoid flying your pet during extreme weather climates that are too hot or too cold. Remember, he will be stuffed down in the cargo area.

Puppies Are Advised To Fly With You In The Cabin Instead Of The Cargo Area

It may seem like common sense to advise this tip, but it does happen at times where puppies are loaded in a crate and do not handle the flight very well. Always fly your puppy with you in the cabin area so that you can keep the dog comfortable with small treats and affection.

A puppy's early weeks (and months) are a very crucial time in its life. Everything that the dog experiences becomes downloaded into its memory. It's called socialization and a traumatizing flight that keeps a puppy in a constant state of shock and anxiety for hours on end may have disastrous results that could last a lifetime for the pup.

Travel - 10 Tips When Traveling The Friendly Skies With Your Dog

If you are traveling by air, try not to take your dog with with you unless there is no other option. And before buying your airline tickets, you will need to call the airline and find out their current rules and regulations regarding pet travel accommodations. As for general rules regarding pet travels, federal regulations state that your dog should be no less than 8 weeks old and have been weaned for no less than 5 days before the day of the flight.

If you have a smaller dog (under 15 pounds), he may be able to fit inside a crate or carry-on luggage designed for pets which can fit under the passenger seat. But if you have a large dog, he will have to be put inside the cargo of the plane. The inside of the cargo has no heat and no air-conditioning. This can be very uncomfortable and scary for your dogs. There have been cases of dogs that have died inside the cargo from overheating due to delayed flights.

Below is a list of additional precautions you should apply when traveling by air with your dog:

1. When traveling with your dog, always book a direct, non-stop flight. Avoid plane transfers when possible.

2. On the day before you leave, confirm your flight schedule to make sure that there have been no changes.

3. On the day of your flight, give your dog a walk before leaving for the airport.

4. Talk to your vet about feeding instructions. The vet will likely recommend that, for your dog's comfort, he should be on an empty stomach during the flight. The vet will also give you instructions on proper feeding during the flight. This will vary depending on your dog's age, size, his regular diet, and the length of the flight.

5. To prevent dehydration, make sure that he gets enough water and that it is accessible to him during the flight.

6. Get to the airport early.

7. If you absolutely have to place him in an airline-approved crate, make sure that he gets his potty time right before he goes inside the crate. To make your dog feel more secure, you should put him in his crate, and not have the airline staff do it for you.

8. Stay with your dog as long as possible before the flight and personally take him to the gate.

9. Upon boarding the plane, inform the flight attendant that your dog is inside the cargo.

10. When you get to your destination, the first thing you should do is go to the baggage area right away and pick up your dog.

Dog Travel - Prepping Your Dog For An Overnight Visit To A Friend's House

Often during travel times, such as the holidays, we have no choice but to take our puppy or adult dog with us and stay overnight at a friend or family's house. This overnight visit can prove to be a ton of fun or quite the opposite, and unnerving disaster. Of course this situation can go either way which totally depends on how you handle it.

For starters, do your best to pack all of the items necessary in which your dog may need. Some overnight stays with pets in another person's home can be quite troublesome when important doggy items are left behind. For example, it is imperative that you bring a crate that properly fits the size of your dog. Be sure to take along plenty of dog treats as well as his standard food for feeding times.

Bringing a doggy bed is also an integral part of making your dog feel comfortable while sleeping in a strange place. It will also make your host feel more comfortable knowing that your dog or puppy will not be shedding and slobbering all over the furniture when he sleeps.

Chew toys are also a good idea to carry along when traveling with your dog and staying at a friend's house. Remember that everything in the new location will be up for grabs to your dog's mouth. In your home, rules have been established and your dog or puppy knows what to chew and what not chew. The last thing you want to see happen is your friend or family's expensive couch being torn up by your dog. Having chew toys along will give him an alternative and save you and your host a large headache!

Does the home you are staying at have children?

Kids are not nearly as cautious as we would like them to be. When you arrive at your destination and they have small children in the house, be sure to introduce your dog to the family as carefully as possible.

Even though your pet is probably very tame around other people and loves children, these kids may be overly excited and startle the dog. Such surprises could lead to aggressive behavior and possibly nipping or biting. If you suspect that your dog will have aggressive behavior then the best thing to do is take him to a kennel or leave him at home to be watched by pet sitter.

i am wondering what dog breed is the best to travel with. I am not talking about in a car or plane exclusively. I mean in every sense. everything from traversing in a plane, car, back of a truck, boats, or walking for miles on end. Also their ability to protect in some way is helplful. The temperature tolerance is a concern as well since I will be traveling the world and plan to visit both cold and hot climates. AND the dog need to be of average of higher competentcy. If you have the experience in dogs enough so to make a good guess on which breed is mostnidel for the demands please tell me , I would be most grateful.
I have some breed in mind already, tell me if they are any good or not and why

canaandog
beagle
harrier
brittany
bull terrier
basenji
english springer spaniel
white german sheperd
FYI I do understand the concept that all dogs should be recongized as dogs and not by breed, but i also know that some dogs are just plain better to do some tasks than others

Travel - Basic Dog Travel Tips When Taking A Vacation With Your Canine Friend

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.

4. A water bowl, particularly one that is heavy enough to prevent spilling so that it can be used inside a moving vehicle. An alternative to this is to teach your dog how to drink out of a water bottle.

5. A first-aid kit specifically made for your dog.

6. A buckle collar with a clear and legible ID tag as well as a tag and license that show his updated vaccination for rabies. This tag should be worn at all times.

7. Two - five chew toys.

8. Extra toys for him to play with, which will also help to keep him busy during the road trip.

9. An extra leash and extra collar.

10. Any vitamins or medication that he is currently taking such as heartworm pills or flea control.

11. Paper towels and plastic bags to clean up after his potty breaks.

12. His grooming kit, which includes a brush, flea comb, nail clippers, toothbrush, and other items that you regularly use during his grooming sessions.

13. Thick towels and large blankets in case he decides to jump in a river or run in a muddy ground when you stop the vehicle for breaks.

Dog Travel - Keeping Your Dog Safe When Traveling By Airplane

When you have to fly your dog by plane in order to travel to a new destination, the last thing most of us want is to stuff him in a box while he sits in the cargo area during the entire flight. Unfortunately, if you have no other choice but to use the airlines for your travel needs, your dog will have be placed in a crate for the flight.

Your job here is to make sure your dog or puppy is as comfortable as he possibly can be. Below are a few tips to help you prepare him for the flight:

1. You are going to have to invest in a USDA approved kennel that is designed for travel and should be custom fit to the size of your dog. Be sure that the kennel unit is stable and provides enough room for your dog or puppy to stand up in, as well as offers the ability for him to turn around if he needs to.

2. Never wait until the day of your flight to put your dog inside the kennel. Dogs do adapt easily, however, it is best to get him comfortable with the crate so that he will be a little more at ease. You can do this by having him sleep inside the kennel each night before your travel date. Three nights of this arrangement before the day of the flight is plenty of time.

3. If you know your flight will be longer than 10 to 12 hours, be sure to tape a small bag of dog food outside the crate, complete with feeding instructions.

4. For your own peace of mind and to avoid the small chance that your dog could miss his destination, write the destination of your flight on the top portion of the crate in big letters. Be sure to include your full name and address, as well as a phone number where you can be contacted.

5. It is best not to feed your dog within six hours of the flight. This will help reduce the chances of him having an accident and using the bathroom inside of the kennel.

6. In case your dog or puppy does happen to have a mess while flying, prep the kennel with a light layer of paper and bedding so that the urine and stools can be absorbed as best possible.

7. To avoid your dog from becoming dehydrated during the flight, place two bowls inside the kennel, one filled with a small amount of water, and the other filled with ice. The ice bowl will melt away bit by bit and provide plenty of fluids hours later.

8. Last but not least, if you have a very small dog like a chihuahua or a toy poodle, see if you can arrange to have a small crate to put your dog in that can fit underneath your seat. Do not wait until the last minute to talk with the airlines about this arrangement. Find out if boarding the flight with your small dog under your seat is possible as early as you can.

I finally got my dog in Oblivion, it used to fast travel with me and now it won't. Why not?