When traveling with your dog-vehicle safety and avoiding accidents is number 1!

1. Always make sure your dog has a dog car harness or a crate to travel with. This helps the dog from moving all around your vehicle and keeps both you and the dog safe. In the event of an accident or even a fast stop, keeping your dog confined prevents them from becoming a projectile in your car. Laila always knows she gets to go somewhere when I put her Easy Rider car harness on.

2. Try not to feed your dog a big meal before you travel. This avoids car sickness and accidents. Also, have clean up supplies handy such as: paper towels and clean up bags. In addition, bring bottled water. Your dog could get an upset stomach from water that they are not used to.

3. Your dogs identification is important! Laila has a mircochip and rarely wears a collar, but I know 100 % that Laila would never take off without me. Make sure your dog is mircochiped or has some kind of identification on their collar, just in case they were to get lost. 

4. I know its cute and funny at times, but letting your dog have their head out the vehicle window may lead to ear and lung infections, and some dogs may be injured by passing objects.

5. Never leave a pet alone in an unattended vehicle! Even for a short amount of time. Dogs can become territorial, can overheat, or a bystander could call the police and potentially have your dog taken away from you.

6. If you are traveling across state boarders make sure to have proof of rabies.  Also make sure you know and understand the laws of that state. For example:  Certain counties may not allow certain breeds or they may require more vaccination records. 

What are the essentials you need to bring when you travel with your dog?

Laila’s regular traveling kit includes: Collar, leash, 2 dog dishes, dog food, water, toys, bed or blanket, seat belt, jacket (winter), life jacket (summer), poop bags, and nail trimmer. I would also recommend bringing: training collar, flexi leash, tie out, and protective foot wear.

What is the proper etiquette for letting your dog out and going for walks?

1. Find your things you need- leash or flexi leash, training collar or regular collar, and poop pickup bags.

2. Always have your dog sit and wait to put the leash on. Do not put the leash on if your dog is going nuts to go outside. That leads to bad behavior!

3. The dog should sit and wait at the door before you go throght the door. Laila knows to sit, wait and look at me before we “BOTH” go outside together.

4. During our walk Laila’s job is to walk next to me on busy roads or areas where I don’t want her running around. As long as Laila stays next to me during that certain part of our walk, her reward is her “release” word to run and be free on the trail. Remember: Always make sure you know the rules of the trail- not all parks allow off leash walking. In addition, have control of  your dog at all times and be respectful of other people out walking!

5. If you do allow your dog off leash, make sure you ALWAYS have a come when called! A come when called can save your dog’s life! When you encounter other people or people with dogs on the trail, don’t be “that” dog owner that cannot control their dog. If you do not trust your dog off leash, NEVER let them off leash! Only when you trust them off leash during training can you trust them off leash outside.

Having a Happy, Well Balanced Dog ™ makes travelling much more enjoyable for both you and your pet!

First, I always make sure Laila is clean and smells good- then she gets more attention from all the guests! I also love the compliments I get on how good she smells and how nice her coat feels. My tip on bathing: Always use DOG shampoo and conditioner.  In addition, using a zoom groom, to massage the shampoo and conditioner into the skin, works the best to get extra dead hair off and a softer coat. This year, Laila was lucky enough to get a cool collar wrap for Christmas that was her Christmas outfit for all the guests! My tip on accessories for your dog: Be careful! Make sure it is safe and comfortable for your dog to wear. 

Second, have a game plan. For instance, I knew as soon as the guests arrived my dog, Laila, will be the greeting the guests first. I made sure she wasn’t overly jumpy or excited. In addition, I also called her to come and had her sit next to me. Then, once the guests were settled in, she was allowed to greet them again. My tips on guests arriving: Try to work on a down/stay or go to your bed. If you’re not sure whether your dog will follow your orders, put a leash on your dog. You will have complete control of your dog by not allowing them to  jump or rudely greet your guests.

Third, dinner time. Who loves a dog begging?? Not many! Laila went in my room for some down time. By putting her away, I didn’t have to worry about her begging. In addition, my guests enjoyed their food without worrying about the drooling dog next to them. My tips on dinner time: The best solution is to put the dog away, whether that is in a closed room or a kennel. If you don’t want to put your dog away, try working on your down/stay or go to your bed. Rule of thumb: If you’re constantly reminding your dog to stay in place, the exercise may be too big of a distraction. You may want to reconsider and put your dog away. Then work on down/stay and go to your bed with less distraction. Remember always set your dog up to succeed!!

Having a Happy, Well Balanced Dog ™ makes a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

To certify Laila as a Therapy dog, I have to complete a mandatory TDI(Therapy Dogs International) Annual Health Records Form. (On Left)

ALL health requirements must be met; otherwise Laila cannot be registered with TDI. The following annual health records have to be done: Check-Up, Rabies, Core Vaccinations (distemper,Hepatitis, Parvovirus), Fecal Exam, and Heartworm.

I made an appointment for Laila to see the Vet. At my vet appointment a year ago, my vet mentioned that her distemper was way overdue and if I wasn’t willing to give her the shot that they would recommend doing a titer. She went into a big long discussion about how important the distemper shot is and the likelihood of Laila getting Parvovirus. Prior to going to the vet’s office this year, I had been hearing and learning about the risks and complications of overvaccinating your dog. Because of this, I chose to skip the $45 shot and get the $125 titer instead. The titer measures the bloodwork to see if she needed to be reboostered for distemper. I truly feel that although vets have a lot of good information I want have the option of deciding for myself whether or not my dog needs to be vaccinated.

When we arrived at the Vet’s office, Laila sat very nice on the scale. She weighed 69.10lbs! She has lost some weight and is now at a healthier weight and proportionate to her body structure. Then, we waited in the room-which seems forever until the Vet came in to do a check-up on Laila. Laila did a great job and the Vet had no concerns. After seeing Laila they complimented her demeanor and said that they understood why I wanted her to be a Therapy Dog.

They also asked if I brushed my dog’s teeth, to which I replied, “NOPE!  She is on Raw Food.”  The vet looked puzzled and said, “Barf Diet?” and I said, “No, just raw food.”

Then it was onto the blood work which they had to draw to get sent to the lab to see if Laila’s Distemper needed to be boostered again. Now remember: the last time Laila had a distemper shot was July 2008! Her records showed she needed one July 2009, 2010, 2011 and coming up in 2012. I was kinda nervous thinking, “Great what if her titer comes back and I still needed a Distemper shot anyway?” But I am still sticking with my gut that the recent reports are true and we OVER vaccinate our dogs.

About two weeks later the Vet calls and says that Laila’s titer came back. She stated that anything under 32 would need to be boostered again.  Laila was at a 128! (See Below)