In This Chapter
You, the proud parent, will want your Poodle with you at all times, which is great (unless you’re in the shower or at work). But, as I show you in this chapter, you need to know some things before you go traveling with your best buddy by land, air, or sea — like when it’s better for everyone if your Poodle stays home!
Checking Out Your Traveling Options
By car
– For maximum safety of dogs and humans, dogs shouldn’t ride loose in any vehicle. A sturdy crate is the safest place for a dog in a vehicle. A crate keeps the dog from being thrown around in case of an accident, and it offers some protection if the car is seriously damaged. Emergency response workers can safely remove a dog in a crate from a wrecked vehicle, but they may be unwilling to handle a loose, injured, and frightened one.
If your car doesn’t have room for a crate, the next best protection is a harness specifically designed for canine car safety. Be sure that it’s correctly sized for your Poodle and correctly and snugly fastened to the car’s seat belt system. (See Chapter Choosing the Best Poodle for You for more about crates and harnesses.)
Warning!
– Never, ever leave your dog in a hot car unattended. Even with the windows open, a car in the sun can easily reach an unsafe interior temperature for your dog, and dogs have a harder time keeping cool than people do. Even if you park in the shade, you must remember that the shade will move. A nice, cool spot at 10 a.m. can be in direct sun by noon, and even 75 degree weather can overheat your car.
– You need to stop every three or four hours to let her stretch her legs and take a potty break. A puppy may need more frequent stops, as may an older dog. Base the time between stops on your home schedule. If your old girl needs to go out every two hours, stop your car that often, too.
If you have your dog in a crate with a water dish, replenish the water at these stops. If you have her riding on the seat in a harness, offer her a drink when you stop. Whether on the seat or in a crate, make sure she isn’t receiving direct sunlight.
– If you’re visiting a state or national park, your dog may be allowed, but make sure you know the rules before taking your dog with you on your adventures. Most parks insist that your dog remain on a lead, and you still need to pick up after your dog. And, although the idea of hiking with your dog seems appealing, make sure your dog is up to the hike. Dogs, like people, need to be in condition for long hikes. Carry water for both you and your pet, and pay attention to whether your dog is getting too warm or too tired; if your dog is panting heavily, slowing down, or wanting to sit or lie down, she has had enough. You should also check your dog’s feet occasionally to make sure they aren’t cut and bruised from the rocks. Use a flea-and-tick preventative, too; ticks are carriers of several serious diseases (see Chapter Considering Common Poodle Conditions for more information).
By air
Remember
No matter where your Poodle rides, you can’t just show up at the airport with your crate and a smile. Some airlines limit the number of animals allowed on a flight, and most airlines refuse to fly a dog in baggage if the temperature at any stop will be over 85 or under 45 degrees Fahrenheit. All airlines are different, and the rules change frequently, so make sure you get all the information you need well before your planned flight. Also, get a confirmed reservation for your Poodle and keep it with your own ticket while traveling.
Warning!
Never tranquilize your Poodle before a flight. A tranquilizer can depress breathing. If the airline delays your flight and your dog gets overheated, she may not be able to pant properly to cool off.
Cabin traveling
Ahoy! Enjoying the water safely with your PoodlePoodles and water go together like, well, Poodles and water. The Poodle is a water dog, and that water-loving gene is still a part of today’s Poodle. Just because your Poodle loves water, though, doesn’t mean she can go without supervision and guidance to safely enjoy it. Introduce your Poodle to water in a safe environment. Start in a quiet, shallow body of water and have her swim back and forth between two people until she becomes comfortable. If you have a swimming pool with a shallow end, great. If not, stay in the water with your dog and gently support her until she starts to swim. Make sure she can get out of the pool on her own. If the pool has a shallow end with steps, show her where the steps are. If it has a ladder, find out if she can climb it. Some dogs can, but others can’t. If your dog can’t, install a ramp with a non-skid surface. Here are some more tips and ways to avoid rocking the boat:
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Warning!
Some airlines allow dogs only in the cargo section of the plane (never in the cabin), so before you purchase that special carrier, make sure that the airline you choose permits pets in the cabin.
Baggage traveling
– You need an airline-approved crate. Contact your airline’s customer service to get the details. If your airline allows, you should consider a plastic or wooden crate because metal crates tend to hold more heat.
– Consider covering the bottom of the crate with absorbent materials. Stress and the unfamiliar can mean an accident for even the most well housetrained pet. Shredded newspaper topped with a piece of synthetic fleece is a good choice, or you can utilize the special pads used in housetraining (see Chapter Keeping Your Poodle Clean and Attractive for details). Many brands have an absorbent core that helps to keep your Poodle clean and dry should she have an accident. However, if your dog tends to chew on bedding, especially when she’s stressed, leave out the absorbent pad.
Tip
Don’t feed your Poodle for at least 12 hours before the flight. This doesn’t guarantee a clean crate at the end of the journey, but it helps.
– Tape your name, address, and phone number to the top of the crate. If you have a different number and address for your destination, include that information as well. Cover the label with clear tape to protect it from rain.
– Tape an envelope to the crate that contains your Poodle’s health records, including a copy of her rabies certificate. Cover the envelope with clear tape.
– Freeze water in a bowl that you can fasten to the inside of the crate; this prevents the water from spilling when the airline workers load the crate into the plane, and it provides small amounts of water as the ice melts. You may also want to tape a bag of your dog’s food to the crate.
– Fasten a bungee cord over the door to keep it closed in case the crate is dropped or bumped.
Tip
Try to plan a nonstop flight to limit the chance that your dog will be lost en route.
Taking Care of Other Trip Details
Packing it in
Remember
Whether you travel by air or by car, by land or by sea, your Poodle needs her own luggage. But what should you include? The following list gives you a rundown of materials to pack:
– Make sure you have any medications your dog may need while you’re away from home. Also think about whether you’ll need a flea-and-tick preventative at your destination. If you’re flying, pack everything in your carry-on in case your luggage is lost or delayed.
– Take a small first-aid kit. It doesn’t have to be elaborate — just some antibiotic cream, gauze pads, and baby aspirin. (See Chapter Staying Prepared with First-Aid Basics for more details about first-aid kits.)
– Pack enough food for the entire trip, even if you think your Poodle’s brand of kibble should be available everywhere. The food may be available, but stores discontinue items all the time, and you don’t want to spend your vacation visiting supermarkets in search of your brand of dog food. Heck, even if a store has your brand, the packaging may be wrong. If you have a Toy Poodle, for example, and the only size bag a store carries is 40 pounds, you’ll wish you’d packed your own.
– Carry water for your Poodle. A change in water may cause digestive upset, which isn’t a wonderful addition to a vacation. If you’re taking a short trip, you can carry all you need, but for a longer trip, you can try topping off the water jug at each stop, gradually replacing the water from home with “trip water.” Another alternative is to buy and carry bottled water.
– Pack a set of food and water dishes or a stack of paper plates. You can put the dog’s food on the plate and then throw it away, eliminating the need to wash dishes.
– Take a spare blanket and some extra towels, as well as a roll of paper towels in case of an accident.
– Carry plastic bags for picking up at rest stops. If you prefer a scoop, buy a plastic beach shovel. It’s easy to pack and carry, and you can pop it into a plastic bag until you can clean it.
– If your dog has a favorite toy, take it along. Travel is stressful, and being able to curl up with a teddy bear can help the stress. This advice may not be a bad idea for the people on the trip as well!
– Carry a crate. If your dog is traveling in a crate, you’re all set. If she rides in the car in a harness, consider a lightweight, folding crate for your motel room. The crate prevents damage to the room and keeps your dog from escaping if the room door is opened.
– If you plan to stay in a motel room, carry a small piece of plastic sheeting to put under the crate and dishes to catch spills. And, if you let your dog jump up on the bed (like me!), consider carrying a couple of sheets to cover the beds. Motels don’t launder bedspreads after every guest’s stay, and the plastic sheets keep the spreads clear of Poodle paw prints. If you don’t want to carry your own sheet, ask housekeeping for one.
And if you need to wipe off muddy toes, use your own towels, not the motel’s! Carry paper towels so you can throw them away; baby wipes also are a good way to clean Poodle paws.
Carrying the proper ID
Staying at a Poodle-friendly place
Tip
The AAA guide, Traveling with Your Pet, 8th Edition, lists thousands of places that do accept dogs, so that publication is a good place to start. The guide can’t list every Poodle-friendly place, though, so if you don’t see your favorite hotel, give the establishment a call to find out about its policy. Even if the guide lists the hotel, policies can change, so you should always call ahead.
Remember
No matter where you stay, pop your Poodle into a crate if you go out and leave her behind. Even the best-trained dog may decide to gnaw on a chair leg or eat a bit of bedspread if you leave her alone in strange place. Turn the television or radio on low to help soothe your dog and to mask any strange noises that come from outside.
Leaving Your Poodle at Home
Boarding your Poodle
Tip
If you leave your dog in a kennel, consider tagging your dog with the kennel phone number. Good boarding kennels are very safe and secure, but accidents can happen. Your home telephone number works well if your Poodle is staying at home with a pet sitter (see the later section “Picking a pet sitter” for more details).
Observing and selecting a kennel
Remember
Here are a few important considerations as you select a kennel:
– Many kennels have large play areas for groups of dogs. Ask prospective kennels how they determine if the dogs are friendly and how they supervise the areas. If you don’t want your dog to play with others, tell the operator before you leave your dog.
– If your Poodle is on medication, ask if the kennels are willing to treat her. Some kennels charge extra for this service.
– Find out what shots the kennels require. Most kennels require proof of rabies vaccination, as well as distemper, parvovirus, and bordetella (or “kennel cough” — an airborne virus that can travel rapidly through a kennel). If you don’t vaccinate yearly but use a titer test (a blood test that shows the level of protection against a specific disease), ask whether this report is acceptable. See Chapter Taking Basic Care of Your Poodle’s Health for more about vaccinations.
– Most kennel operators ask for the name and number of your veterinarian. If they don’t ask, make sure you give it to them. Find out how they treat medical emergencies and whether they have veterinarians they use, should yours be unavailable. If the veterinarian of the kennel you choose is closer than yours, you may want to give permission to use its veterinarian if time is a factor.
– Find out if the kennel has some kind of grooming facility. The kennel may be able to give your Poodle a bath before you pick her up. If the operator doesn’t feel comfortable bathing and drying a Poodle, you may be able to request that a kennel operator take your Poodle to her own groomer just before pickup. It’s also convenient to have the kennel take care of small tasks like nail clipping if you feel comfortable with this.
Making your pooch’s stay as comfortable as possible
– Even if you don’t have a trip planned in the immediate future, consider boarding your dog for a night or two. The younger a dog is, the better she will adapt to boarding, and this will get her used to being away from home. Because you’ll be picking her up soon, you let her know that when she’s at the kennel, you haven’t abandoned her. She also gets to know the kennel staff, so when she goes for a longer stay, she already has friends.
– You may want to have your Poodle’s crate or bed put into the run. If you vote for a bed, use an old blanket or some towels. A dog who wouldn’t think of tasting her bed at home may decide to shred it at the kennel.
Picking a pet sitter
Tip
Your sitter has a great responsibility, so you want to make sure the person is responsible (and affordable). But how can you find the good help you seek? One great place to find a pet sitter is on the Web. Check out these sites:
– Pet Sitters International (www.petsit.com)
– National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (www.petsitters.org)
– Pet Sitters Associates, LLC (www.petsitllc.com)
Warning!
You may think that a neighbor is a good choice, but you shouldn’t choose a neighbor just because of the “neighbor” status. The teenager next door may love dogs, but is she responsible? Can you trust her to remember your dog’s needs? A neighbor may be cheaper, but cheaper isn’t necessarily better. Consider your sitter’s experience, and don’t be afraid to ask for references.
Tip
Let your veterinarian know if you’re hiring a pet sitter and that you authorize the caregiver to seek medical care if needed. Make arrangements to pay for any bills incurred so that no question arises over who pays the bill.
by Susan M.Ewing