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My mutt has gone on several road trips, but I have never flown with him. I have never been in a situation that required me to fly Ace, and so far when I’ve traveled long distances, I have either driven with my dog or left him home. I know at times it is unavoidable and flying a dog across country or internationally is the only option. If I ever have to do that, I will do my research in advance and still worry how my dog is being treated while down below with the baggage and out of my sight. I guess it would be like boarding your dog somewhere, you just never know how your dog is doing. Chances are she is fine, but you are never sure.

At times I wish my dog were small enough to be a carry-on. I see little dogs at the airport traveling with their owners, and I am very jealous.

So, have any of you flown with your dogs? Was it a good experience?

Email your dog-related question to me at Lindsay@thatmutt.com, and I’ll post it for others to answer.

(Image from flickr.com)

Saturday I am dropping Ace off at a boarding kennel for the first time. The hardest part for me is not leaving him at the kennel but knowing the mutt won’t be coming along on our outdoor adventure. Josh and I are going on a bike trip. We’ll be going too far for Ace to keep up, and it would be too hot for him even if he could keep up.

I wrote a post before on 10 questions to ask before boarding your dog. Boarding a dog is not for everyone. It probably isn’t worth it if you are going to feel guilty and worry about your dog the whole time you are gone. But if you’re like me and don’t have anyone to watch your dog while you are away, boarding is the only other option besides never leaving town.

Ace is a lucky dog and gets to tag along almost everywhere. I’ve taken him on dozens of road trips over the last year. I knew when I got a dog that I wanted him to take part in as much of my traveling as possible, but I also knew I would have to board him from time to time. I chose a kennel that is right for Ace by touring it and asking the right questions first.

Once you’ve chosen a kennel, here are 10 ways to make the boarding experience easier for you, your dog and the kennel staff:

1. Tour the kennel ahead of time.
When I leave for a trip, I am usually rushed and behind schedule. I don’t want to tour the kennel and have second guesses about it on the morning I drop my dog off. That is why I took time to tour some kennels in advance and choose the best one. There are bad kennels out there, but there are also really good kennels and everything in between. Find the one that is right for your dog by taking the time to schedule a tour.

2. Make sure the kennel staff is aware of your dog’s special needs.
I will inform the staff that Ace has a sensitive stomach and not to worry if he throws up. Writing out a short list might be helpful if your dog is on medication or has allergies. Don’t go overboard. They don’t need to know that your dog eats at exactly 7:40 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. and gets 3 biscuits two times a day with peanut butter and a slice of cheese. But they do need to know if your dog has seizures, is food aggressive or is scared of thunder.

3. Feel free to bring your dog’s food.
A good kennel will encourage this because dogs have sensitive stomachs and might get sick if they suddenly eat a different brand of food. I will bring enough of Ace’s food in a sealed container with a little extra in case I am gone an extra day. I won’t bring in a whole 40-pound bag for the staff to lug around.

4. Bring a special toy or blanket.
I will bring Ace’s blanket for him to sleep on while I am away. It is reasonable to bring something like a bed, toy or blanket from home that might make your dog feel more comfortable. I am bringing a blanket instead of Ace’s dog bed just in case he gets bored and destroys it or gets it muddy after playing outside. But I’m not getting out of control and bringing 15 different items for the staff to keep track of. Ace will be busy watching and playing with all the other dogs anyway.

5. Leave a phone number where you can be reached.
I will give the staff my cell phone number and also a friend’s number in case I am out of cell phone range and they need to contact someone locally. I want the staff to be able to contact me or someone who knows Ace if there is an emergency or if they have a question about my dog.

6. Respect the kennel’s pick-up and drop-off hours.
I also don’t expect the kennel staff to make special arrangements for me so I can drop my dog off or pick him up after they are closed. I won’t show up unannounced to pick my dog up early. Instead I will call and let the staff know so Ace will be ready when I get there. I won’t arrive late, either. There are other clients coming in and the kennel might not have extra room for my dog.

7. Make the departure quick.
There is no sense in making the goodbye more stressful than it needs to be. It will only make it worse for Ace if I am anxious or excited because he will pick up on my energy and think there is a reason to be anxious. If I am calm, my dog will be calm. It’s best to just quietly hand the leash over and be done with it.

8. Don’t worry if your dog is tired when he comes home.
If my dog comes home tired, I know it’s because he has been busy watching and playing with dogs all day. Once he’s home is the time to catch up on sleep because he won’t have to keep his eye on 20 other dogs. When my mutt returns from a trip at my parents’ house, he crashes for at least 24 hours. It is also common for a dog to eat less while staying at a kennel, so I wouldn’t be too worried if Ace lost a pound or two. I would be worried, however, if he came home sick, really dirty or lethargic for more than two days.

9. Call and check on your dog, but don’t be a nuisance.
I probably won’t call and check on Ace at all while I am gone, because I will only be gone two days. But calling once or twice during your trip to check on your dog is fine and probably a good idea. Just don’t be that obsessive mom or dad who calls every day or more than once a day! Trust that the staff members are doing a good job. Remember, they are all dog lovers too!

10. Thank the staff for a job well done.
Tip the person who walks your dog out to you. Tip the person who bathed him. Send a thank you or even just say thank you and mean it. Showing any kind of gratitude can go a long way. Remember, these people are taking care of your dog. You want them to feel appreciated so they will continue to do a good job. A tray of cookies wouldn’t hurt, either. Who wouldn’t give extra attention to the dog who’s mom or dad brings goodies every time he stays?

What have your experiences been like after boarding your dog?

Don’t forget to write a caption for my photo caption contest and win 2,000 Entrecredits and a thatmutt.com collar. You have through Sunday!

(Image from 24pawsranch.com)

My mutt has done his fair share of traveling in the last year. That means he has spent plenty of time in the car. Here are some tips for taking road trips with your dog.

1. Train your dog to exit the car on your terms.
All dogs are excited to travel and get out of the car and play as soon as possible. To prevent Ace from jumping out of the car and taking off the second I open the door, I trained him to wait until I say “OK.” I open the door and tell him to wait. Then I can put his leash on and situate my stuff before he jumps out. If your dog jumps out before you are ready, put her back in and tell her to wait. She will get the idea that she can’t get out until you are ready and she is calm. Ace also enters the car to the command “load up.”

2. Train your dog to stay in one spot.
My mutt knows his spot is the back seat. It’s annoying and dangerous to have a dog walking around the car, constantly switching seats, so I picked the back seat for Ace to ride every time. I make sure to always let him in and out through one of the back doors. That way he never has a reason to crawl into the front.

3.  Invest in a collapsible kennel.
Before I discovered the collapsible kennel, I was actually trying to fit a Vari-Kennel in my Grand Am by taking it apart every time. Not only did this waste time, but the kennel barely fit in my car. The collapsible kennel, on the other hand, folds down to about 2 inches high and three feet long. It takes five seconds to fold it up or put together. It is just as sturdy and as big as the plastic Vari-Kennel once it’s set up. It makes traveling so much easier.

4. Exercise your dog before a long car ride.
Ace’s behavior in the car depends a lot on whether he’s had a walk shortly before our trip. If we have a five-hour drive ahead of us, I try to walk or run with him for a good half hour before we go. Of course, this isn’t always doable. When he doesn’t get a run in before our trip, he is more likely to cry in the car, which really tests my patience. Once we reach our destination, his behavior will vary, depending on the amount of exercise he’s had. It never hurts to walk Ace again once we reach wherever we are going.

5. Keep a blanket or towel on the seat.
I never have a clean car, but keeping a towel across the back seat where Ace sits helps at least a little with the muddy paws and dog hair. I just switch towels every two weeks or so. Plus, Ace likes to sleep on a towel or blanket. Some dogs will be more comfortable and less stressed if they have something familiar to sleep on while traveling, such as their usual dog bed or blanket.

6. Bring a favorite toy along.
I always keep at least one tennis ball in the car. That way if I have a few minutes here or there during the trip, I can let Ace out to chase a ball. This tires him out temporarily and gives him a chance to get out, stretch and run around.

7. Bring a supply of chew toys.
Dogs get bored in the car just like we do. I try to give Ace a rawhide during a long car trip. He also likes Kong toys, Nylabones or just hollow bones filled with peanut butter. If he has something to do every few hours in the car, he will be more content.

8. Bring enough food, dog bags and water.
It seems like I never have enough dog bags, so I try to keep a supply of at least three extras in the car. I also keep a dog bowl for Ace to drink from, extra bottled water and food.

9. Remember to check the weather.
It seems so obvious not to leave your dog in a hot car, yet every year pets die from hyperthermia. I absolutely never leave my dog in a hot car for even ten minutes. I would rather leave him in a cold car than a hot car. But in the winter, I bring a blanket along for Ace to curl up in if he will be waiting in the car at all.

10. Visit pet-friendly rest-stops.
Rest-stops in general usually have a pet area. This is much better than trying to let your dog out on a tiny patch of grass at a gas station or a McDonald’s. Some rest-stops even have walking paths and dog water fountains.