How do you deal with your tiny force to be reckoned with – by training him, of course! Luckily, you don’t have to do this on your own. You and Thor can enlist the help of a trainer to make the training process easier. If this idea doesn’t strike you as appealing, it might be a good idea to get a training DVD seminar instead. Tackling puppy training on your own, especially if you are first time puppy owner – but even if you’re a pro – is not recommended.

Trainer
So what are the advantages of hiring a trainer over going by a book or DVD? Well, the single greatest advantage that a trainer will give you is adaptability. He or she will be able to adapt their training to your little Thor. Just like people, dogs are individuals with different personalities, strengths, and weaknesses when it comes to learning. A good trainer will be able to pick up on these and use them to your advantage during training, making the whole process a lot smoother for all parties involved.

Though this advantage may seem to outweigh any disadvantage working with a trainer may carry, this is not the case. Trainers can be pricy, and sometimes have their own way of doing things that may not mesh with how you want to bring Thor up. In addition, working with both a trainer and an owner may be confusing or stressful for your four-legged friend.

Also, there are good and bad dog trainers, as is the case in any profession – research will be your best friend in the process of finding the right trainer for you and Thor. Look for trainers with recommendations or high ratings, don’t just take the first one that comes along.

DVD Training
The greatest advantage to the do it yourself approach, a.k.a. the DIY, with the help of a training DVD is the flexibility that your training schedule can have. If you’re a busy person, scheduling something like a doctor’s appointment is difficult, nonetheless something more trivial like puppy training lessons. If you are working with your pup yourself, then training sessions can happen on your schedule when you have time. In addition, if your little Thor takes a little longer to learn a certain command or trick, you won’t end up paying more money for more lessons. A DVD is a one-time purchase, meaning it costs the same whether your Thor takes a few weeks or a few months to complete his training.

Unfortunately, in the case of DVD training, you lose the personalized, one-on-one attention that a trainer would give your furry little friend. In addition, if the training method endorsed by the DVD doesn’t fit with Thor’s learning style, then you’ve wasted your time and money.

When choosing the method of training that you will employ for your mighty little Thor, think over what is most important – timing or personalized attention. Paying for puppy lessons you constantly have to miss or reschedule won’t do you or Thor any good – no matter how much special attention he would receive there. Similarly, if you are a first time puppy owner with no clue at all how to train a puppy, doing so on your own time may sound appealing, but the odds that you will succeed without help are fairly slim. To ensure that Thor will receive the best training to turn him into the best pup he can be, you will need to be ready to put time and genuine effort into the process, from choosing your method to teaching him his last trick.

How do Anti-Bark Collars Work?
There are a few different types of bark-correcting collars on the market. The kind that most people think of is a shock collar. This device will deliver a little jolt of electricity to Bailey’s neck each time she barks at a certain volume. Some will produce different levels of shock depending on the loudness of the bark. A citronella bark collar will spray some nasty citronella in Bailey’s face when she barks. She won’t like it; dogs hate the smell. Finally, an ultrasonic collar emits a high-pitched sound in response to a bark. You won’t hear it, but Bailey will and she will find it very annoying.

Benefits of Using an Anti-Bark Collar
While just about any problem behavior that Bailey exhibits can be corrected by a professional dog trainer, it can be tempting to buy a collar instead. They are certainly less expensive than a trainer and they will produce the desired effect much more quickly. The annoyance of a shock, screech, or spray of citronella can correct barking pretty efficiently. When Bailey realizes that barking creates the thing she doesn’t like, she will be effectively trained to not bark. Whether using any of the collars is cruel is an individual decision. What is certain is that none of them harm dogs. The idea behind the devices is to get Bailey’s attention rather than to hurt her.

The Downside to Anti-Bark Collars
So why shouldn’t you use an anti-bark collar to correct Bailey? It’s not very nice. The type of training that is involved with these collars is called positive punishment. Don’t be fooled by the word positive. This means that something Bailey does not like is introduced to punish her and to deter her unwanted behavior. While effective, it’s not a very pleasant experience for her. Most contemporary dog trainers use techniques that are described as positive reinforcement. That means giving Bailey something she likes to reward her and to encourage her good behaviors. It is a much nicer way of training and can be used to solve any problem. It may not be as fast, but positive reinforcement is just as effective, if not more so, than an anti-bark collar.

The deterrents used in collars are not physically harmful to dogs. Imagine you got a light slap in the face every time you said a certain word. That might give you an idea of what Bailey would be in for. A slap doesn’t cause you harm or injury, but it is unpleasant and could have psychological effects. If Bailey is getting shocked or sprayed on a regular basis, she could become timid and shy. In fact, she may even develop other undesirable behaviors like jumping, peeing in the house, or hiding as a result of the anti-bark collar.

Whether you use an anti-bark collar to help Bailey become a quieter dog is a personal choice. There are many experts and veterinarians who promote their use. On the other hand there are plenty of trainers and animal rights groups that believe they represent cruelty. Consider the pros and cons carefully and decide what will work best for and for Bailey.

Some naturalists will point out that raw meat is the way carnivores have always eaten in the wild. Indeed, man is the only animal who cooks his food. However, dogs are so far removed from their wild wolf ancestors that many do not last long in the wild and much of that is due to disease and parasites gained from their food sources. Most wild animals lead short and violent lives but we enjoy seeing our canine friends live long, happy and full lives free from strife and worry. The ‘wild card’, as it were, is not the best played hand when it comes to the argument of raw and cooked but there are plenty of other excellent points to consider.

Almost any time you apply heat to something the structure of it changes; heat alters compositions, often destroying the original product. In the case of food – any food – heat breaks down the natural proteins and damages nutrients, if not outright annihilates them depending on the extent to which the food is exposed to heat source. Heat also kills the pathogens and parasites that might be found in foods, especially meat. Not cooking meat increases the likelihood that such undesirables as salmonella and E.coli are more readily contracted. High heat has the power to alter certain fats and essential acids into undesirable, even carcinogenic, by-products. On the other hand, lightly cooking meats leaves a large amount of the desirable stuff intact while also destroying most bacteria and pathogens.

Raw foods have the benefit of all amino acids, proteins and nutrients kept intact but a dog cannot digest grains unless they are well cooked, which removes them as a carbohydrate source in their raw form. Vegetables also need to be cooked to a degree for a dog to benefit from any nutrients to be found within; else his digestive track is too short to break them down. On top of that, dogs have the teeth of the carnivores meaning they are designed to rip and tear flesh, not gnaw on plants. They also lack digestive enzymes in their saliva needed for breaking down plant matter. Cooking is a form of pre-digestion and the case of non-meat matter, it vastly benefits the canine and ends in less waste. Pureeing vegetables is a viable alternative to cooking.

Both schools of thought have their pros and cons, but some may prefer to look at it from a completely different view: that of highly-processed versus fresh. By its nature, the dry kibble offered in bags sees quite a bit of processing and it is best to think of ‘processed’ more along the lines of ‘a process by which the end product is farther and farther removed from its original state’. Many experts are now connecting processed foods with obesity and degenerative diseases more and more in both humans and domesticated animals as processed foods are both cooked and jammed full of foreign chemicals like preservatives. The steps a dog (or cat) food company goes through to create its kibble will not be discussed here but it may cause some alarm in more sensitive pet owners. While kibble is not known to have been the death of dogs and pets are actually living longer these days, there are better alternatives for delivering balanced nutrition and wholesome meals.

In then end it does not actually seem to matter if a dog eats raw meat or cooked meat but if raw is your choice, take pains to ensure it is suitable for human consumption. Do not feed your dog anything you would not eat or feed to another human. Do not serve Duke raw pork and be very careful with the chicken. Keep meats refrigerated, leaving them out only long enough to reach room temperature before feeding but avoid leaving the meat out for long where it has time to grow bacteria. Keep easily splintered bones, like pork and chicken, out of Duke’s reach. A dog will not get everything he needs from meat alone, so talk to your vet about supplements or cook him up some grains and veggies. Just remember that the less processed food is, the better it is for both you and Duke.

Trainability
If you want your Andy to be famous, he must not only be well trained, but he also must be trainable. This does not mean smart, and this does not only mean obedient, but it means that he must have the capacity for learning and retaining new commands.
On a film set, in a stage show, or during a photo shoot, he will need to learn commands, and he will need to be able to take them from other people besides you. Though you will inevitably be his handler before he gets big, he may have a director, an assistant handler, or a human actor that he has to listen to.

Personable, and Other-animal-able for That Matter
Andy being able to take commands from others leads us to our next point – he must be personable, pretty unconditionally. He needs to be able to get along with kids, adults, groups, and other animals too. In other words, he needs to play well with others, even and especially if they are strangers. One bite, one nip can put him out of show business permanently.

Physical Perfection (Or Quirkiness)
Just like a human actor or model, you dog should be fairly physically attractive – weird to say, right? – to make it in the biz. This is not just being cute, or fluffy, this mean being a prime specimen of their breed in peak physical shape… or it should be quirky looking in some way. Eyes too big, tongue too long, too many wrinkles, and so on, as long as the quirk is cute.

Craigslist, Youtube, and the Want Ads
If you plan on making your dog a star, you will do a lot of work – just as much, if not more than if you planned on making yourself or your child a star. You will need to social media your dog all over the Internet. He will need a Facebook, a Twitter, a flickr, and a myspace as well as a youtube and a vimeo. He may as well be LinkedIn while you’re at it.

In addition, you should have work to put on said websites, meaning that you need to peruse craigslist, the want ads, and also, pet contests through pet food brands, pet stores, and so forth to find work for you pet. Many photographers do something called “TFP,” which means time for prints. Find photographers who will work this way (rather than you having to pay them) to get high quality images of Andy on a budget.
If your dog Andy is ever going to get big time famous, he will eventually pick up an agent and a handler, a prep team, and so on. This is where the view from the top comes in. The sad truth about an animal like Lassie or Rin Tin Tin is that they belong to showbiz, and to America. If Andy were to “get famous,” and “make it big,” he may not even really be your pet anymore.

All that being said, there is a happy medium that can be found between super stardom and complete mediocrity – not that there is anything wrong with that. If your dog is well behaved enough to have you as a handler, he can be a local celebrity of sorts. He can be the dog that the community theatre relies on for their canine roles. He can be the pooch that students put in their films during film school. The most important thing is that your dog will always be a star to you, and honestly, that is probably enough for him.

First of all, how old is older? The old “seven dog years to one human year” is ok as a general rule of thumb, with some adjusting for size and breed. The size of a dog’s heart doesn’t change that much compared to the size of the rest of the body so that means a toy breed, such as a toy poodle or papillon, might have a heart that is large for its body, compared to a Great Dane or Newfoundland, whose heart would be comparatively small for its body. This means the same size pump pumping blood around a small network of blood vessels versus a large network of blood vessels is working harder in the larger dog’s body and thus might wear out more quickly. That is why larger dogs often have a shorter life expectancy than smaller dogs.

Physical Changes
Might it surprise you to know that the physical changes most immediately noticeable with a healthy dog is the same as with humans? Yes, the unwanted, yet unavoidable gray hair that you are plucking right now is the same one that indicates a dog’s increase in age. Dogs do go gray, just like humans, and the first place you might see some graying is around the eyes and on the muzzle. Just as is the same case with humans, genetics will determine how young or old a dog is when graying starts and how much of the face and body turns gray. Sometimes a dog as young as two or three will develop some gray, but seven or eight years old is a more common age for gray to develop.

Let’s Start With the Head
Cataracts are another early aging sign in dogs. Cataracts are a very common eye ailment in which a filmy covering grows on the outside of the eye. This does impact sight and once the “sheath” is fully covering the eye, it can be addressed surgically with great success. Similarly, many dogs experience diminished hearing and eventually go deaf as they age. It is not uncommon for dogs to lose their sense of smell or have it decrease with age. Teeth and gums need additional attention and may need additional care in older dogs. Plaque may build up and teeth can rot or break.

Oh, My Aching Bones
Arthritis is another extremely common physical symptom of aging in dogs. Arthritis can affect any joint, but knees, shoulders and hips are very common sites for this condition to manifest. The main symptom an owner might notice is pain and stiffness upon getting up and hesitancy to be as active as in the past.

Did You Think You’re the Only One Capable of Weight Gain and Incontinence?
Metabolic changes mean that weight gain is common in older dogs. Obesity can result from the combination of a slowing of the metabolism plus trouble moving around due to arthritis, which then places more strain on the already painful joints.

Spayed female dogs are at increased risk for developing incontinence and changes in toileting habits are common as dogs age. Constipation can become a problem, as everything slows down a bit.

I’m Feeling a Bit Verklempt Lately!
Imagine how you’d feel if everything started to hurt a little more than usual, and you had trouble seeing, hearing or smelling and you peed on yourself sometimes. You might get a little touchy! Often temperament and behavior changes as dogs age. Willie may become less tolerant of young dogs or children and “cranky” even with those he loves.

Dogs can also develop dementia and senility and show signs of disorientation and forgetfulness. In severe cases, incontinence can result, as the dog has actually forgotten where he or she is and “thinks” s/he is outside.

What to Do with Your Best Friend?
Common sense “ain’t too common” but here, common sense prevails. Responsible dog owners should manage older dogs with the same sensitivity to your dog’s special needs as you did when the dog was a puppy and a young adult. Exercise is still important but should be scaled back a little. Shorter more frequent walks are probably best, and hard exercise sessions should be shortened. Consider providing more opportunities to swim if your dog will swim, as this is excellent exercise for elder dogs.

Also consider trying supplements. Discuss this with your vet: some vets do recommend glucosamine and chondroitin for arthritis symptoms and fatty acid supplements for skin and coat. Some vets recommend anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers for arthritis and other conditions, but having a definite diagnosis and veterinary advice before spending any money on supplements is a wise move.

Older dogs can be a challenge, but they have much to give back. Enjoy your senior dog and remember: every phase of life has pros and cons and special joys.

Jacob
Take Jacob. Jacob is a loving, happy lab who was given to a shelter when his owners had to move to a place that wouldn’t take pets. He has not been abused or neglected, but he poses a different challenge to anyone who may want to adopt him. He’s 3 ½ years old. While this fact may not seem particularly important – beyond the time honored adage that, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” (which in the case of training is actually a fallacy) – there are other issues with adopting a dog who is past his puppy years.

Neutering
If you find yourself in the position of adopting Jacob, who has unfortunately not been neutered, you have a few options. You can still get him neutered, but prime neutering time is between 6 and 18 months old. Neutering him after that means a higher risk and longer healing time. It is more likely that you will have to deal with Jacob not being neutered by discouraging the bad behaviors that it can cause – i.e. territory “marking,” humping, roaming and aggression toward other male dogs. These are behaviors that can be successfully subdued with a bit of hard work and a lot of patience.

Training
Though Jacob is likely to come with the basics, like potty training and hand training (no biting), he may or may not know things like sit, stay, heel and come. It is likely that he will have been assessed for compatibility with humans and other animals, which means you will have an idea of whether he is a good fit for your home. If there are any bad behaviors Jacob picked up – i.e. digging, scratching and chewing furniture and carpets – they will be really hard to get rid of. But contrary to popular opinion about training and dogs, a dog is never too old to be trained. In fact, providing structure for Jacob is your best chance to provide him with a loving and stable home.

Personality
Being older or younger will only affect Jacob’s personality in minor ways. Older dogs tend to have lost some of the hyperactive, destructive, frustrating qualities of puppyhood and often have some of the sweetest, mellowest of temperaments. This doesn’t mean they won’t be playful and run around with you. It means, sometimes, that older dogs will take a bit longer to bond with you, especially breeds famous for being a “one person” type.

Health
Older dogs like Jacob, even at age 3 ½ and certainly when they get older, can have some health problems not common in puppies. These can be severe pre-existing conditions like diabetes or gum disease, or small things like fleas or skin issues, which are likely to be in treatment from the shelter. Some conditions, especially if they weren’t properly treated prior to his finding his way to the shelter, will be more difficult to treat. One common misconception is that it is not worth adopting an older dog because they will die sooner than a puppy and the loss will be too hard.

Losing a dog is always hard, whether they joined your family old or young. Puppies can occasionally die very your from rare diseases, and a dog you adopt at age 7 may live 10 more years.

Jacob presents a unique set of challenges, because he, like any dog you may potentially adopt, is a unique personality, situation and animal. Don’t let some of the cons of his age deter you from adopting him. Jacob will be a great dog at age 1, 3 ½, 7, or at whatever age he may be when you adopt him.

Determining Obesity
So how do you know if Matthew is fat? Obesity means that your dog is 30% greater than the normal weight for that breed. You can look up the breed standard for him and check what he should weigh. But the best way to know for sure is to take a trip to the vet. Your vet can weigh him accurately and can tell you if he needs to lose weight and if so, how much. A good rule of thumb is that if you can no longer see his ribs and hipbones, he’s overweight. But a vet can determine to what extent.

If you’ve looked her over and it’s quite obvious that little Buffi is grossly overweight, you may be asking yourself, how did this happen? As with people, excess pounds generally come from too much food and not enough exercise. If Buffi doesn’t get her daily play time and if you tend to fill up her food bowl as soon as it is empty, mystery solved.

Health Risks and Costs
Overfeeding your dog or cat can be very costly. First, there are health problems to consider. Extra weight can lead to diabetes, which may require daily insulin shots. Arthritis is also a big health issue with overweight dogs, which will require medication, often injected, and potentially surgery. As with humans, high blood pressure is a serious result of obesity, which also means medication. Another serious one is Kidney failure, which may lead to dialysis or surgery. The cost of caring for a pet with any of these issues can add up quickly! Even just a daily pill can be expensive. According to the Veterinary Pet Insurance Company, in 2010, customers claimed $25 million for obesity-related conditions. Other pet insurance companies say that their top claims each year come from treatments needed for overweight animals. In addition to medical costs, overweight pets consume a lot of food. Especially with large breeds, pet food costs can also skyrocket.

Once you have recognized what has happened to little Matthew, it is time to make a change. But, don’t close up your wallet just yete, this will cost money too. First, you need to find out just how much to feed him. Your vet can tell you that as well as the type of food he will need. In fact, most brands, especially store bought ones, suggeset you feed Buffi and Matthew more than is recommended.

Indeed, there are diet foods for pets, and they are pricier than regular foods. You will also need to get Matthew and Buffi some exercise. That could be accomplished with a daily walk for a dog. Treadmills are now made specifically for dogs and you can even purchase a Tread Wheel from GoPet in a variety of sizes. The Tread Wheel is essentially an oversized hamster wheel, which ranges in price from $375 to $970. If you can afford it, it would release you from the need to walk Matthew outside or to play with Buffi and her toys. But then again, you didn’t get a dog just to watch him or her spin around or get on a treadmill, now did you? No! You got a dog to play catch with, run around your back yard and have loads of fun with!

The bottom line is that by allowing your pet to get overweight, you can seriously compromise his health. Besides the monetary costs, his life will be shorter and his quality of life significantly diminished, which really isn’t fair. So, perhaps it’s time to start measuring the kibble and to go out for a walk. Chances are, you can both use it.

Many breed clubs create a rescue organization to help find homes for dogs that come upon hard times. Sometimes lost or stray, sometimes turned in by owners, almost always bred by irresponsible breeders who aren’t reputable who are unable or unwilling to take the dog back, these dogs find their way into shelters, and may be at risk of euthanasia purely due to lack of space. Rescuing these dogs, sometimes from the absolute brink of death, is the goal. But how does that happen and what are the components of a rescue? Read on to find out!

The Relationships
The devil is in the details, as the saying goes, and in rescue, the details are relationships. Rescue coordinators cultivate relationships like farmers cultivate crops, always on the lookout for a new volunteer to help out with one of the many tasks rescue requires.

Relationships begin with the administration and staff at the local shelters and the animal control officer. These people are key, as they are often the first to hear of a dog in a shelter. Volunteers are needed to visit shelters to assess the dogs, first to determine if they really are appropriate for breed rescue, and then to determine what type of foster home might be needed. Developing and maintaining relationships with volunteers who have both the time and the experienced eye for these assessments is an important task for coordinators.

Foster homes are also needed, but once a dog is placed in a foster home. Typically the rescue organization remains involved, continuing to assess the dog, provide for any special needs and address any health issues. While in foster care dogs are often vaccinated, spayed and microchipped. This means creating and maintaining relationships with foster families, veterinarians and quite possibly trainers.

As dogs get ready for adoption, a whole new set of relationships needs tending: reaching out to potential adoptive families through a host of online and face to face methods. Potential adopters can be a nervous bunch, and may need a lot of information and reassurance as they seek to find the right dog for them.

The Challenges
There are no shortage of challenges to breed rescue: the road from shelter to forever home is full of pot holes and switchbacks, often leading to dead ends. While some of the challenges are obvious: too many dogs in rescue and too few volunteers, some of the problems noted by ABMC’s Florida coordinator might not be anticipated.

Good samaritans, seeking to participate in rescue, flood the coordinators’ inboxes with notifications of dogs listed on websites such as Petfinder or Craigslist. Most rescue groups are not able to purchase dogs and simply lack the manpower to chase down every lead. These helpful folks, while well intentioned, create a time and energy drain for coordinators already overloaded.

The ABMC coordinator notes that all the coordinators in her organization have full time jobs, and she admits a little sheepishly, “we all have a lot of dogs.” She talks of burn out and says that most coordinators have at least six dogs of their own, and take in fosters regularly. Sara is currently housing twelve dogs, most of them unable to be adopted due to medical problems. Many of the foster homes that have an established track record teeter on the edge of burn out too, often stretched thin financially and logistically.

Special problems, for example, the use of certain dogs as vanity pets or status symbols further stress the rescue system. After pit bulls were banned in Miami-Dade County, Belgian Malinois became the dog of choice for drug dealers and other criminals. Thus in addition to strays, runaways and owner turn-ins, dogs also enter the rescue system after being confiscated in drug raids or cruelty cases.

The Rewards
“Every time I make the link, and a dog goes to the right forever home, I feel it.” Sara goes on to express, “The bond between humans and dogs is ancient and profound. Each time I help a dog and a person make that connection, I know it’s worth it.”

“I do meet great people all the time, and I get to interact with a lot of beautiful dogs, but the hours are long and they kind of add up. The bottom line for me is that I love helping the dogs and the people get matched up. The stories I get to hear, two, three, sometimes four or five years later, about how magical a dog has been for a family – that’s what makes it all worth it.”

Get Involved
If long hours and no pay sounds just right to you, get involved! Contact your local shelter for starters and consider volunteering right in your own community. As the expression goes, “Think Globally, Act Locally.”

Prior to the year 2000, he would have been euthanized, rather than brought home, but thankfully, a new law was passed that allowed Charlie to come back to the states retired, living as a civilian dog. Less fortunately, many retired Military Dogs end up in shelters, only to be euthanized anyway. Indeed you are likely thinking this is unfair, because Charlie has saved so many lives, and deserves to have a good one himself. And you are correct. Don’t despair, there are things you can do to support our canine members of Military who have served their country faithfully and proudly.

Retired Military Dogs as Therapy Dogs
Charlie could come home and become part of several programs that pair up retired Military Dogs with returning soldiers with PTSD. Charlie would provide therapy, companionship, and security to his new owner, therefore helping him or her heal.

These programs are particularly effective because there would be a sense of camaraderie between the dogs and his new owner who is also a Vet like Charlie. Old soldiers who were brothers in arms can become brothers in healing and in life. Charlie would be a comrade to his new owner; they would have seen the same battles and felt the same losses during combat. Charlie and his newfound best friend would stumble together through the difficulty of returning from war, and eventually, teach each other how to live again.

If you are a veteran, you can sign up for one of these programs and adopt your very own Charlie. While those who aren’t Vets are restricted from being able to adopt a retired military dog, you can always volunteer your time or donations to the organizations that make it possible. One such organization, called “Operation Baghdad Pup,” even works to pair up dogs and soldiers while they are still abroad so that they can return home together having already bonded. Their motto is, “No buddy gets left behind.”

PTSD Dogs
Some dogs, like soldiers have a hard time coming home and adapting to civilian life. In fact, there are 25 to 30 dogs returning from war who are officially diagnosed with PTSD each year and receive treatment. Those who receive treatment are expected to return to active duty once they are healed. One quarter return to their same job and one quarter to a different one. One quarter are considered retired and sent to live in new homes. One quarter continue treatment. It is unknown at this time what happens to dogs whose treatment is unsuccessful.

There are also plenty of dogs who have PTSD symptoms but, like people, can go undiagnosed. This may be the case for poor Charlie – and this is the risk of adopting a retired Military Dog.

Adopting a Retired Military Dog
Obviously, the ultimate thing you can do help Charlie, the unsung hero, is to adopt him. It is your obligation of course, to make sure you are doing so responsibly. There is always a commitment made when you adopt a pet. You need to be prepared financially and emotionally. This is true even more so if you want to adopt Charlie.

You will need to be prepared to meet the special needs that he may have. Many returning Military Dogs don’t like to go in doorways. Some tend to chew their fur during thunder storms. Some even need expensive stress reducing medications. If you want to adopt Charlie, you are doing him a great service, but only if you do it right.

It is likely that he has lost enough of his comrades – canine and human alike. It would be detrimental to him to another one come into his life just to leave it.

A simple Internet search can put you in touch with organizations to assist you. However, you might be surprised to learn that sometimes Charlie is in your local shelter. Although surprising and sad, it is true. Charlie deserves a peaceful life as a civilian after all that he has done to keep his country safe. You can help to make that happen.

Amtrak
We can immediately rule out Amtrak, as it is not an option at all. Because of strict limitations imposed by the US Department of Agrigulture, Amtrak no longer allows either dogs or cats on trains. The exception to this is if your dog is a service animal – for the blind or otherwise a special need that requires you to have a guide accompany you everywhere. This leaves you with planes and cars. There are a lot of things to consider and plenty of preparations to make before your family can begin their adventurous journey. These preparations should start at least six months before you are due to leave.

Planes
A good place to start is with whatever airline with whom you have frequent flyer miles. Check their site for rules and regulations on travling with pets. With very few exceptions, most, if not all the airlines have similar rules. Take into consideration the time of the year that you will be travelling, as most airlines will not allow pets on board if the weather is too hot or cold. All, without exception require your pet, be it a cat or a dog, to have a recent health certificate. In most cases, this certificate may not be older than 7-10 days prior to your date of travel. Many will require an up-to-date rabies shot (within the last 11 months) and some will want you to have administered either Frontline or Advantage (for fleas and ticks) in the presense of the Vet, and have this documented. It is not unheard of to be held up trying to claim your dog or cat until you can show proof or suffer waiting for an onsite Vet to show up and administer this for you. Of course it takes hours to produce a Vet and so your best bet is to do this at the Vet’s office and document this on the health certificate.

Now that you have contacted the airline, scheduled your Vet visit for 7-10 days prior, what is next? Hopefully Bonzo has been using a crate since he was first brought home and either through some stroke of genius or luck, this is an airline approved crate and you needn’t buy a new one for him. If he hasn’t for some reason been crate trained, which is rather unusual for dogs, you will want to introduce him to this concept. The sooner you start the better. In most cases it takes approximately a week to crate train a dog – be it a puppy or a full grown one. The first few nights he will protest, whine and cry, but it is best for you to be diligent and get him used to it. Knowing that dogs are den animals, he will eventually take comfort in his crate. As such, you needn’t worry that his protests are an indication that he has or is about to soil his crate. It is important to ensure that this crate is large enough for Bonzo to stand up, move from back to front and lie down comfortably.

Prima Dona is likely used to being in a crate, given that it’s the only way you can get her to the Vet. As you already know, she doesn’t like it and will protest and do so as loudly as possible to ensure that every single person knows how unhappy she is. In most instances, the airline will allow her to sit in the cabin with you. To minimize her stress, hers and those of the passengers around you, ask your Vet about administering a kitty tranquilizer. Following these directions, your flight should be without incident and as stress free as possible.

Riding in Cars with Pets
In the same fashion that your dog is utterly obedient and uses his crate when instructed and your cat avoids all commands given to her as would any member of royalty, which makes plane travel with each very different experiences, so too will car travel with Bonzo and Prima Dona. Although you have to be concerned with Bonzo’s safety, which means ensuring he is properly harnessed in the car, Prima Dona will only step into that car if she is in a crate. While the car represents a joyful experience for Bonzo, one in which he can happily stick his tongue out the window and say hello to all his friends along the highway, Prima Dona will consider this a form of punishment you have inflicted on her. And what does anyone who is being tortured do to express their hatred toward the one who is torturing them? For every person Bonzo says hello to during your drive, Prima Dona will cry out to them in utter agony. It is her hope that some kind soul will save her and lock you in the goulag for inflicting this horrible indignity upon her. Depending upon how long your drive will be, whether it is a day, three days or longer, expect your drive to be a mixture of emotions experienced by each of your pets – elation for Bonzo, utter anguish for Prima Dona and in turn painful for you. So, how do you mitigate this?

There are two words for you: Kitty Tranquilizers! Just prior to your days’ long journey, ask your Vet for a prescription of kitty tranqs. You will in no way regret doing this. Prima Dona will be out of it during the ride and Bonzo and you can enjoy yours. The trick is to give it to her with her breakfast (on a full stomach) and within an hour she will be your complicit traveler – a combination of stoned and sleepy.

There you have it. With any luck, this article has given you enough information to make an informed decision about which form of travel is best for you as you move with your pets from one city to another. Good luck!