Boarding your dog

What to look for when you look for a place to board your dog

When you look for a place to board your dogs it is not about how fancy or big their runs are it is about how calm your dog is while they are there. I have worked with dogs that had hit some major milestones in training and then get boarded at the vet for a weekend or a week and take giant steps backwards from all the stress and reactive barking happening at kennels.
We don't allow ANY barking. We aren't able to have a boarding facility at this time. On occasion we can take in a dog or two for a weekend but its not approved in the future we do hope to find a house to buy within the next year and to have a similar setup as here. Where we can offer full boarding that includes daily walks, play/socialization and training. A kennel should just be for rest and calm. Dogs need to learn how to be calm when left alone. If your dog can't be calm in a kennel how do you expect them to be calm in your house when left alone. Dogs don't have to love each other but they can coexist in close proximity. Someday... house hunting continues... 

Dogs should also get out at least 4 times a day for walks without charging extra.

If dogs are let out to play find out WHO is watching them and what qualifies them to watch and manage the dog interactions. How many dogs per person watching them? If there is only one person what happens if a dog gets hurt how do they deal with that if they are the only one on staff?

Ask to see the kennels and where the dogs are kept. Does it look and SMELL clean? Do the dogs look stressed? Are they ALL barking? If they are barking does the kennel staff do anything to tone them down or tune them out?

Is there someone on staff at night while the dogs are sleeping? 

What is their nearest vet? Which vet do they use? 

Personally we prefer a place that doesn't have an indoor and outdoor run, because if the dog is in an indoor run / kennel or crate and they are getting out enough they shouldn't need the outdoor run to potty in the way many kennels have them set up. 

How many times a day are kennels cleaned? 

How many times a day are water bowls cleaned?

The list goes on and on... But these are all things I would look at and ask. 

I am VERY picky if I leave my dog anywhere! You should be too!

And of course check YELP reviews. 

We personally prefer to have a petsitter come into our home to care for our pets. 

Locally we love Granite Bay Pet Sitting. 

Here is a short video of a fellow trainers kennel and it is quiet, calm and what your ideal kennel environment should look like: 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=773344226023454

Wait to feed the dog!

Quick training tip:
DON'T FEED WHEN YOUR DOG WANTS TO BE FED. If you get in the habit of feeding your dog every morning as soon as you get up many dogs start anticipating you getting up means that they get breakfast as a result lots of dogs over time will start trying to wake you up earlier to get fed earlier. I know of a number of dogs whose owners wake up at 4 or 5am to feed their dog then go back to bed. This is NOT necessary.
Instead:
Get up, start your day, Feed your dog on your time. Don't feed them at a set time every day so that they aren't expecting it at any particular time. My dogs get fed twice a day and every day is different. Some days they eat at  5am some days 7 or 8am. In the evening same plan... sometimes its 4 or 5pm sometimes its closer to 7pm. If you take your dog with you on a vacation or to a friends house it will be alot easier for you to enjoy your vacation or for the person taking care of your dog if they are ok with eating at any time and not demanding to be awake and fed at 5am.

With these tips your dog will still get fed but you can enjoy a morning to sleep in once in a while.

Bathroom for dogs - At aiport

Found this today and had to share after yesterdays post about Traveling with your dog

San Diego International Airport has a bathroom for dogs.

Found at : https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=547254332005862&set=a.218628804868418.56722.218621588202473&type=1&theater

Traveling with your dog

Health
Bring
doggy 1st aid kit
copy of shot records
Bring enough of your dogs food plus extra just incase
Don't panic if your dog won't poop for the 1st few days on a trip. It is normal for them to be mildly stressed by change in environment and routine.
Try to maintain as much of your pets routine as you can. Attention, Food, Play, Exercise.

Crate
Keeps your dog confined in a hotel room if you want to go out for dinner
Keeps them contained and calm in the car
What kind of crate depends on your dog. For more information on sizing and type of crate

ID
What if your dog somehow gets away from you?
Make sure that your dogs collar/leash/harness fits well and that there is no chance of them slipping out of the collar.
Also make sure you have a sturdy leash that isn't 1/2 chewed through.
Make sure your dog wears a collar with tags and make sure the tags have your CELL on it. Your dog wearing tags wont do you any good if you arent home.
Microchip is always recommended as well.
Carry a recent photo of your dog with you. If your dog gets away and you need helping finding him having a photo will be helpful.

Car
Crate your dog in the car it keeps them safe and you sane.

Exercise/Play with your dog before putting them in the car for a cartrip.
Do not allow the dog of any size to ride on your lap up front. They are at the most risk for injury from the airbag from riding up front.
If your dog is not comfortable see our article on Trouble in the car

Lodging (Hotel/Motel)
Try to find out in advance which places allow dogs. Lots of them may not allow dogs at all, have size or breed restrictions.
If your dog can stay with you PLEASE respect other guests, staff and property.
When you check in ask the management where you should walk your dog to potty them. Make sure to pick up after your dog.
Keep your dog as quiet as possible.
Don't leave your dog alone if at all possible, many dogs with bark or destroy things in a strange place.
Remember: One bad experience with a dog guest may prompt the hotel to refuse to allow any dogs in the future. Try to be polite and leave everything as it was.

Airline Travel
Health certificates are required
Crate required - each airline has different requirements
Try to get non-stop flight. Pets can get lost or mixed up just as other luggage can.

Ritter in an xpen on his 1st camping trip to Bodega Bay. At
night he was in the tent with me but during the day or in the evening
not having to worry about him and he could just hang out with us
was wonderful. 

Camping and RV trips
Having an xpen can be a life saver. This is a place you can put the dog when you feed them or just to give them a contained area to hang out with you.

Training before you go on your trip

"Wait"

Practice entering and exiting the car. Your dog should "Wait" until you release them to jump out. They should not be bolting out the car door as soon as there is a crack of the door open.

Crate Training.
 Take your dog and their crate to some friends houses that might be unfamiliar to the dog and crate them in a back room or garage while you have dinner. Get them used to being crated in other places other than home so that it wont be as scary or weird when you crate them for a short period of time in the hotel room.

"Hurry Up" / "Better Go" / "Go potty"
If your dog will go potty on command it will make life so much easier when you stop to let your dog out for a bathroom break than wasting 10-20min. walking around with them begging them to do something.
Also ensure your dog is used to going potty on leash. Lots of dogs get used to going in their own yard off leash and then refuse to go on leash. Taking the time to teach them to potty on leash is worth it instead of dealing with the headache on a trip.

Basic Manners
Walking on a loose leash, sit, down, come. Not jumping on people. etc.

Trouble in the Car?

Whether your dog just needs more exposure getting used to the car or your dog is afraid to get in the car or maybe your dog gets carsick all the time. Some dogs get motion sickness but very few more often than not the dog just isn't comfortable and is stressed and nervous causing them to throw up.

These are all great things to practice:

I start with making positive associations with the car. Take the dog out to the car and feed him/her their breakfast and dinner in the car then get right back out and go on about your day. Good things happen in the car. Encourage your dog to jump into the car on their own and give treats once they are in. 

Once your dog looks forward to going to and getting in the car start taking your dog for short fun car rides.

Demonstrate of the wrong way for your dog to ride in the car.
DJ should not be on moms lap.

Take your dog down the street to the park to play ball. Take your dog to go see their best doggie friend on the other side of town. 

Make sure that your dog rides INSIDE the car. Dogs should never be tied down or loose in the back of a pickup truck. If your dog is in the back of a pickup truck use a crate and tie it down but still be careful of the heat. 

The safest place for your dog is lying down in the foot boards of the passengers seat if he will stay there. If not then its best they are in the back or in a crate in the car. 

If your dog gets carsick don't feed them at least 1-2hrs before they get in the car. 

As much as your dog might want to stick his head out of the window it can lead to eye injuries and isn't good for their eyes in general. I will roll mine down a little enough for the nose.

Do NOT leave your dog alone in the car in the sun for any reason for any amount of time unless you are leaving the air conditioning on for them.