Dogs are on the go with us these days.  Wherever we go, our dogs go with us, too.  Whether we’re traveling across the country or just going to the vet, dogs spend a lot of time in our vehicles.  Here are some tips for safe driving with your dog.

1.  Use a crate or harness for your dog when he’s traveling with you.  Whether you have a large dog or a small dog, it’s much safer for your dog to be in a crate or safely harnessed in your car.  Just as you are safer wearing a seatbelt when you ride in your car, your dog is safer when he is protected by a crate or harness. If you have an accident a dog in a crate will not be thrown through the window.  If the crate is thrown around the vehicle your dog will have more protection.  If the crate is thrown from the car, your dog won’t be loose on the road.  Pet harnesses also provide some degree of protection in case of an accident.

2.  Don’t let a small dog ride in your lap.  If your dog slides down he can interfere with your use of the gas pedal and brakes.  A dog in your lap can interfere with you when you’re steering. Driving with a dog in your lap is very dangerous.

3.  When you travel with your dog in your vehicle make sure that he is wearing a collar with up to date contact identification.  Your contact information should also include your vet’s address or someone who can take care of your dog in case of an accident.  If you are in an accident you want people to be able to identify your dog immediately.

If you are taken to the hospital your dog would be separated from you.  Anyone responding to the scene would need to be able to contact your dog’s ID information and speak to someone who could take care of your dog while you are being treated.  Most veterinarians can take care of a dog for a few days while an owner is laid up.  If you’re in the hospital longer than that other arrangements can be made, such as having a friend take your dog.  So, make sure that your dog’s ID and contact information is up to date.

4.  When you’re driving with your dog you should take along a water bowl and some water from home or bottled water.  You never know when your dog may get thirsty when you’re out together.  It’s good to have a water bowl for your dog that stays in the car at all times so it’s always there when you travel.

If you are going to be gone for more than just a few hours you should plan accordingly.  Take your dog’s food, feed dish, bedding, favorite toys and other indispensable items for overnight trips.

5.  Keep a copy of your dog’s vaccination records in your glove box.  Your dog should be wearing his rabies tag and other local tags on his collar when you travel.  It’s always possible that law enforcement or some other organization could ask to see proof that your dog is up-to-date on his shots.  Most states require that your dog be current on his vaccinations when entering their state.  This information is rarely asked for, but it can be requested if you are stopped by the police, for instance.

If you keep these tips in mind then driving with your dog you can have many safe and happy driving experiences on the road together.

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Sooner or later most of us will encounter a bad pet neighbor.  Maybe it’s someone with a dog that barks all night.  Maybe it’s someone who doesn’t like dogs or who hassles you about your own dog for some reason.  But if you have pets you’ll probably have to deal with someone like this sooner or later.  Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make the situation better.

If you have a neighbor who actually mistreats his own pets in some way and there is real cruelty involved, then you will need to contact your local animal control.  However, you need to be very certain of your facts before you contact animal control, especially if you have pets yourself.  Keeping and taking care of pets can be somewhat subjective.  We don’t all see eye to eye about how to do things.  If you believe that dogs should live indoors and sleep on the bed and your neighbor believes dogs should live outdoors that doesn’t mean he’s treating his dogs cruelly.  If you are concerned then you should go ahead and contact animal control to look into matters but be aware that your neighbor may hold a grudge.  He could even retaliate.  Animal control will abide by the legal statutes in your state, not by the comfort levels of your neighbor’s pets.  So, consider carefully before you involve animal control.  Many neighborhood relationships have escalated and turned bad because one neighbor called animal control on another.  Be sure that there is real abuse involved first.  Some dog breeds, such as Salukis or Afghan Hounds, for instance, are supposed to be very slim dogs.  People have been reported for keeping them underweight when the dogs were actually being properly cared for.

In some cases you can talk to a neighbor if you are concerned about their pets.  Remember to be polite and nonjudgmental.  Listen to what your neighbor says.  It’s often a good idea to document your conversation in case you need to refer to it later.  It’s important to keep in mind how you would feel if a neighbor approached you about your pets and act accordingly.  Be tactful.

In some cases a neighbor may need temporary help with pets.  If a person is elderly or experiencing some illness they may be grateful if you offer to assist them in caring for pets.  There may be problems in the family or your neighbor may have to be away from home a great deal temporarily.  You can find out by having a polite conversation and asking if you can be of assistance.  That’s a much better approach than automatically calling animal control.

In other cases you may have a pet neighbor who has dogs with some behavior problems.  They may bark all night or the dogs may be allowed to run loose.  Again, talking, without anger, may be the best solution.  If talking doesn’t work, before you blow a gasket, you should ask yourself if your own dogs or kids ever do anything annoying in the neighborhood.  Do neighbors have to put up with your dogs barking sometimes?  Do your kids ever break a window?  Do you have a teenager who plays the drums every evening?  Do you leave your garbage cans sitting on the side of the street for days?  Chances are that your own family may do some things that annoy other neighbors.  Neighborhoods are usually a give and take so before you decide to hire a hitman for your bad pet neighbor, it’s a good idea to examine your own foibles first.  Tolerance is often a good idea.  As a last resort you can contact animal control about your neighbor’s barking dogs, but it should probably be a last resort.

If you have a bad pet neighbor who complains about everything your own pets do you may need to try some patience.  The law is usually on the side of the person making the complaint.  It’s very hard to prove that your dog did not bark and you can’t ask the dog.  You’ll need to keep your pets well contained and make sure they don’t bark excessively.  If you do receive a visit from animal control make sure your pets have their proper licenses and tags and that they’re up-to-date on their vaccinations.  All you can do is explain the situation and try to follow the rules as far as your neighbor’s complaint.

It’s always a good idea to do a little self-examination and ask yourself what kind of pet neighbor you are.  Do you find yourself complaining about your neighbors a lot?  Are you or your pets causing problems in the neighborhood?  Do your neighbors make complaints about you?

As with most things, being a good pet neighbor and having good pet neighbors depends a great deal on good communication.  Keep those lines of communication open with your neighbors and you can all benefit, especially your pets.

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You may have heard the expression “fighting like cats and dogs” but the truth is that many cats and dogs live together quite amicably in the same home.

According to a study in Israel, about two-thirds of cats and dogs do get along when they share the same home.  About one-fourth of cats and dogs who live in the same home were indifferent to each other.  And the remaining 10 percent of cats and dogs did not get along well at all.

According to the researchers who performed the study, they theorized that cats and dogs may not get along sometimes because the two species have different body language.  But, the researchers noted, cats and dogs seemed to be able to overcome the differences and learn to understand each other.

For best results in shared households, introduce cats and dogs together when both animals are young.  It’s usually best if the cat or kitten is present in the home first, preferably if the kitten is less than six months old.  Dogs do best when meeting cats for the first time when the dog is less than a year old.

If you have a kitten or cat established in your home it will be easier to bring in a young puppy or dog.  This will allow the cat, who is often smaller, to establish him or herself with confidence.

For first meetings it’s often a good idea to introduce a cat and dog to each other with the two animals in pet carriers.  This allows you to have full control of the situation.  No one gets hurt.  If there is growling or hissing it can be kept at a safe distance.  You can quickly remove one of the animals if necessary.

Restrict the new animal to just a room or two for the first few days while the pet that’s already in residence begins to get to know the new animal.  You may wish to put up baby gates for certain rooms to set up some boundaries.  This can allow a cat to have some rooms that are strictly off-limits to the dog or puppy.

Take your time.  There should not be any rush to bring the two animals together.  They will get to know each other in their own time.  You should supervise all of their interactions and be ready to intervene quickly if necessary.

Remember that the original pet can feel all of the same jealousies and resentments about having a new pet in the house as when you bring in any new pet — whether it’s a new puppy when you already have a dog, or even when you bring home a new baby.  Jealousy is jealousy.  So go slowly and offer many reassurances to your older pet.

Even after a dog and cat become friends in your home keep in mind that your dog may not distinguish that other cats are off-limits.  He or she may still have the desire to chase cats if given the chance.  For some dogs chasing cats can be a predatory instinct so exercise caution.  Don’t assume that your dog is now cat-friendly to all cats.

About the Author: Marianne Hepp is a trainer and owner of Naples Canine in Naples, Florida.   She blogs here at AskMarianneAboutDogs.com .

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Dogs’ eating their own poop (or coprophagia) isn’t as common as some people believe.  Contrary to popular belief, it is not normal dog behavior.  Healthy dogs fed a good diet don’t usually eat dog feces.  They may be interested in feces from other animals (cats in particular) but it’s not a healthy sign if your dog is eating his own feces.  Dogs eat their own feces and feces from other dogs for several reasons:

1.    Starvation

2.    A lack of required nutrients in his diet

3.    Poor nutrition from poor food

4.    Anxiety, boredom or loneliness.  Psychological problems can cause a dog to experiment and taste things.

5.    Mother dogs do clean up after their puppies.  This is normal dog behavior.  However they only clean up after the pups as long as they are nursing.  They stop cleaning up after the pups when they begin eating solid foods.

6.    Pups will taste feces (and anything else).  They are exploring the world.  It’s usually something they only do for a short time.

There are some things you can do to discourage your dog from eating poop.

1.    A vet visit is a good idea to rule out any underlying health problems.

2.    Make sure you are feeding your dog a good food so he’s getting good nutrition in adequate amounts.

3.    Clean up your yard often so there won’t be any “deposits” lying around to tempt your dog.

4.    You may need to walk you dog on a leash so you can pick up after him as soon as he potties and give him the “Leave it” command so he won’t bother the feces.

5.    Products like Forbid, meat tenderizer or MSG have been used successfully to discourage dogs from eating their own poop.  They make the poop taste bad to your dog (if you can imagine that).

6.    Do not let your dog have access to cat litter boxes.  These litter boxes will keep him coming back for more and make it impossible to break his habit.

7.    Make sure that your dog is getting lots of time with you and lots of playtime and exercise.  Keeping your dog busy and occupied doing enjoyable things can help keep his mind off less agreeable habits.

About the Author: Marianne Hepp is a trainer and owner of Naples Canine in Naples, Florida.   She blogs here at AskMarianneAboutDogs.com .

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Picking the perfect dog is often a difficult thing to do.  Even so, the effort is well worth it because when you find one that is just right you’ll have a friend for life.   On the other hand, picking a pet that is the wrong fit can make life hard for everyone.

There are many things to consider when choosing a pet.  Some of the requirements are age, temperament, breed, and history.  Beyond those criteria you also need to think about how you live.  This might mean considering other pets in the home as well as the frequency of your travel.  If there are children involved it is especially important to consider the dog that is right for them.

Another thing to think about is whether or not you can afford a dog.  There are certain breeds that are more costly over the long run than others.  If money is tight, you might want to consider whether you should get a dog in the first place.

Also, consult your family.  If everyone in the household is going to have to live with this animal and care for it you must make sure they agree with the decision.  This means evaluating the size of the animal and the breed everyone likes best.

If you’re going to want an adult dog be sure your follow these guidelines:
•    The dog behaves well around children
•    The dog gets along well with the pets you already have
•    The dog is healthy
•    The dog is friendly to family as well as guests
•    The dog has a good history
•    The dog fits in well with your current lifestyle

If you’re going to want a puppy be sure to follow these guidelines:
•    The parents of the puppy are healthy
•    The facility where the puppy was born and kept is clean and professional
•    The siblings of the puppy are active and explore their surroundings
•    The adults in the kennel are friendly
•    The puppy has clear eyes
•    The facility owners have references
•    The facility owners have a lot of experience
•    There is a return policy
•    The puppy comes with records of all vaccinations and health issues

If the dog or puppy does not meet these guidelines you’ll have to make a tough decision.  You might want to look at other kennels and find a different dog.  If you’re not hunting around in kennels you can also check animal shelters.  Sometimes that’s the best road to take because you’ll be saving a life as well.

This certainly is not an exhaustive list of things you need to think about, but it can still give you a good head start.  Good luck in choosing your pet!

About the Author: Marianne Hepp is a trainer and owner of Naples Canine in Naples, Florida.   She blogs here at AskMarianneAboutDogs.com .

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Dogs can mean a lot of different things when they lick.  Believe it or not, licking is a form of communication for dogs, as well as something dogs use for grooming and eating.  So it can serve multiple purposes.  That makes it complicated and a little hard to figure out at times.

Licking begins in the whelping box, along with most of the behaviors that your dog displays.  A mother dog licks her pups to stimulate them when they’re first born.  Licking encourages their circulation, it rouses them, it removes the membrane covering them when they’re first born, and it stimulates them to nurse.  Later on the mother will lick them to encourage their bowel movements and to wash them.  Of course, to someone observing a mother taking care of her pups, all of this probably looks like maternal love!  And it may be, but it still serves many purposes.

As they get older, puppies will lick their mothers (and other adult dogs) around the lips to try to stimulate them to regurgitate partially digested food for them.  This is quite normal for wolves and wild dogs, but our domesticated dogs can do it, too.  This behavior — licking a mother figure around the face — may be retained later in life.  Perhaps this is the reason why dogs try to lick people around the face?  In some cases this could be true.

As communication, puppies will lick around the faces of their elders to show their submission.  A dog may also lick their owner’s face for this same purpose.

Dogs also engage in licking behavior out of nervousness or because of feelings of anxiety.  Licking may help to relieve the nervousness.  A dog may lick as a way to try to appease someone higher in the “pack” and the pack may include their owner.  If your dog is nervous or anxious, or fears that he has made you angry, he may try to lick around your face as a way to make up with you.

Dogs can also lick people as a way of getting attention.  Like other behaviors, licking can be learned and become a habit if you reinforce it.  For instance, if your dog licks you and you think it’s cute, you may laugh or pet your dog.  This will encourage your dog to lick you again in the future because he’s getting positive attention (or any attention) for performing this behavior.  If your dog is very socially bold he may become very pushy about this behavior and try to lick your face whenever he feels like it.  It can be difficult to break this habit once it gets started.

Some dogs can lick things compulsively.  This licking is usually directed at their own grooming but it can also include things such as woodwork or furniture.  In some cases it may also include the owner.  Dogs may lick toes, feet, hands and faces in a compulsive way.  You may need to talk to your veterinarian about medication to help with these compulsions and you will need to work on changing your dog’s behavior.

Dogs may lick someone’s face for a lot of different reasons depending on the individual dog.  If you want the behavior to stop, try to figure out what’s motivating your dog.  Is he nervous?  Is the licking a habit?  Is he trying to get attention?  Once you know why your dog is licking you, then you can work on what to do about the behavior.

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Dog parks are not for everyone and certainly not for every dog.  Many of my clients enjoy taking their dogs to the dog park for interaction with other dogs.

Dogs are pack animals and accordingly, enjoy running and playing with other dogs. If they are available in your area, dog parks are a great place where your dog can run off leash and socialize with other dogs. Not only do they please your furry companion, but you can feel like a good owner in knowing that your dog is getting their social needs met.

Even though dogs are allowed to be off leash, they must still, obviously, be supervised by their owners. The dog park environment seems relaxed and in the dog’s favor, but you still have the potential to maintain teaching your dog to be obedient. Many dog park guests simply sit on the bench and wait for their dog to wear themselves out so they can leave. Doing this is neglecting your responsibility to your position as your dog’s master and teacher.

In such an atmosphere, there is the potential for your dog to cause problems that you might not notice if you allow yourself to disconnect from your animal while they are at play. To prevent such skirmishes and to remind your animal that they are still to obey you, take the time to do the following steps the next time you are out at the dog park. Making sure your animal is still listening and obedient, even while excited and at play, will ensure their safety and fun while out.

1.    Practice periodically leashing your dog and removing him from the fenced area. Go over a few basic commands he is used to, such as sit or stay, and reward him before returning him to playing. This technique reminds your animal that obeying you is still important, even when he is having tons of fun or is distracted.

2.    When dogs are loose and at play, dominance aggression is sometimes an inevitable occurrence. Social canine aggression can lead to dangerous tiffs in which your dog, or someone else’s dog, could get injured. You can minimize the potential for aggression cropping up by reminding your dog and nearby dominant dogs that you are in control of him. Do this by calling to your animal by name while they are at play, having him come to you and petting him before allowing him to return to the other dogs.

3.    Be careful to keep a close watch on your dog and to dissolve or remove him from bad situations with negative behavior. Red flags include tense or aggressive body language, mounting, intense staring, snarling or nipping. While in a pack, as is the case in dog parks, dominant dogs have a tendency to single out submissive ones. If your dog lies on their back, tucks in their tail or begins to urinate, make sure to remove him immediately, as this is a sign of being overwhelmed by stress and fear.

Good trips to the dog park can be a great experience for both you and your dog. Remember a tired dog is a happy dog and playing at the park can give your dog the much needed exercise he needs.

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Dogs are known as man’s best friend.  If you want to keep your best friend around and healthy for a long time to come you need to put him on the right diet.  If your dog is on the wrong diet he may suffer from certain medical problems.

Some of these medical problems include allergies, diabetes, heart failure, kidney disease, and urinary tract infections.  You can’t just feed your dog scraps from the table and expect him to be healthy.  Medical research has shown us what is best for their food.

The first thing to realize is that dogs can eat certain meat and vegetable table scraps.  Never give them things like chocolate, broccoli, and alcohol.  These are unhealthy and dangerous for dogs.

Beyond that, dry food is better for your dog than the watery types of dog food.  The main reason for this is because the wet dog foods are generally loaded with preservatives.  Any food you do choose should have plenty of minerals, vitamins, carbs, and protein.  In fact, carbohydrates are so important that you should be sure they make up 50% of your dog’s daily diet.

There are some dogs that have special considerations above and beyond other dogs.  Diabetic dogs need more protein and less carbs, for instance.  Dogs with allergies need modified protein such as Omega 3 and Omega 6.  Additionally, if your dog has stones in his bladder you need to feed him a diet low in protein and make sure he is getting enough antibiotics.

If your dog is obese you should consider giving them two-thirds the amount of food you have been serving. Also, cut down meals to just three times per day.  Increasing their fiber intake is a great way to aid in digestion and increase weight loss.  Of course, this should be dependent on what their veterinarian recommends.

No matter what condition your dog has, it’s best to visit a trained specialist.  They will be able to refer you to proper treatment guidelines.  This can make the difference between making great diet decisions and poor ones.

Since you’re a concerned pet owner you want to do what is best for your pet.  The trouble is that what you think is best might not be.  There is no reason for your dog to suffer because all you need to do is a little research.  Taking the time to investigate can save your furriest friend from feeling discomfort, pain, or dying.

About the Author: Marianne Hepp is a trainer and owner of Naples Canine in Naples, Florida.   She blogs here at AskMarianneAboutDogs.com .

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Puppies are cute, affectionate, loving and silly. They’re fun to play with and cuddle with. What could be better than one puppy except two, right?

Maybe.

Puppies may be all of these great things, but remember, puppies are tons of responsibility. For all the work you’ll have to do to housebreak one puppy, you’ll have to do it all twice as much. For all the money you spend on food, toys, treats and supplies, you’ll have to spend double. For all the love, attention, work and time you put into one puppy, you’ll have to put in two times that amount.

Now, if you’re an experienced pet owner and have handled having two young dogs in the past before, you may already know all the work involved and are willing to do it. In that case, good luck and have fun. However, most of us have never had to bring up two puppies at the same time. That being the case, most of us can’t fully realize the kind of effort that goes into raising two dogs simultaneously. Remember this before you commit to two new family members.

One problem that is often brought up about rearing two puppies at the same time is that they get closer with each other than they will with you. If a puppy has another dog to be his companion, he doesn’t need the human partnership most pets crave. Additionally, once he passes a certain point without that human bond, he will never bond as close with his master as he could have if he were forced to at an early age.

An obvious problem with this is that oftentimes companion dogs will pay more attention to the other dog than they will to their humans. This can make the two dogs a lot harder to control, to train and to housebreak. Dogs are pack animals and once you have more than one dog, you have a pack. Packs are self-involved and hard to handle. They can also be dangerous in early years, as a pack order must be established and may or may not come easily. Fights can happen, intimidation, abuse from one dog to the other. Remember than all of these complications are very real possibilities that may occur from raising two puppies at once.

A common reason people have for wanting to get two puppies is that they want one to keep the other company. They overlook all the work that will go into raising two babies (as that is essentially what puppies are) at once and decide that one needs another. Remember that your dog will get plenty of company from you if you are devoting enough time and attention to it and if you still feel that your dog needs a companion, it is much easy and better idea to wait until your first puppy is a year of age, past housebreaking and training, to adopt another. That way, you’ll be positive that you can accept the responsibility of being a two dog household.

About the Author: Marianne Hepp is a trainer and owner of Naples Canine in Naples, Florida.   She blogs here at AskMarianneAboutDogs.com .

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