In This Chapter
- Hitting the road with your Beagle
- Flying with your dog
- Leaving your dog at home
- Finding a boarding kennel
This chapter answers those
questions — or, more accurately, helps you find answers that are best for you,
your Beagle, and the circumstances in which you find yourself traveling.
Taking Your Beagle with You
Does the thought of leaving your
Snoopy-dog behind when you go away on vacation induce more than just a pang of
sadness? Does the idea of traveling with your little hound elicit feelings of
excitement? Perhaps, then, you should give in to your feelings and take your
Beagle with you when you head out of town.
Notice, though, that I say perhaps.
Not every trip you take is one that your Beagle should take as well. It’s
crucial to consider whether the trip will be as much fun for your Beagle as it
will be for you.
For example, if your planned
sojourn involves tooling around all day while your dog cools his heels in a
hotel room (even at a petfriendly hotel), you may want to reconsider. Even if
you contain
your Beagle in a crate, and even
if he doesn’t bark from sheer loneliness, he most certainly won’t be as happy
as he would be if he were either in his own home or at a place where he can
play and have a good time.
On the other hand, if you’re
going someplace where you can hang around with your Beagle most of the time and
can keep him safely crated during the few occasions when he can’t be with you,
bringing your little hound along may be a good idea.
Remember
Your Beagle’s welfare must be your first consideration when you’re trying to decide whether to bring him with you when you travel. I guarantee that if he’s not happy on your trip, you won’t be happy either.
Riding in cars (and trucks) with Beagles
Your Beagle’s most frequent form
of transportation is likely to be in a car — after all, that’s probably how you
get around most often. But just as you need to take certain precautions to keep
yourself safe while motoring down the highway, so must you protect your little
hound while he’s along for the ride.
The most important step you can
take to keep your dog safe in the car is to secure him in the back seat with
either a doggy seat belt or in a crate that’s buckled into the back seat. A
Beagle who’s allowed free rein of the back seat could be in serious trouble in
the event of a sudden stop or an accident. He could fall off the seat and break
a leg, or even become a projectile that lands in the front seat with you.
Figure 13-1 shows a Beagle safely buckled into the back seat of a car using a
doggy seat belt.
Doggy seat belts are available at
just about any pet superstore, such as Petco or PetsMart. The devices come with
detailed directions on how to use them, but they’re not that tough to work with
after you and your dog become accustomed to them. Most doggy seat belts consist
of a piece of nylon fabric that extends down the length of the dog’s chest, two
nylon straps that surround the dog’s body, and a loop that extends from the
back. First, you secure the straps around the dog, and then you run a seat belt
through the loop. Voilà! Your dog is safe and secure.
Warning!
Do not place your Beagle in a seat that has an airbag. If the airbag deploys, your dog could be seriously injured or even killed. Keep your Beagle out of the front seat altogether — and if your car has side airbags in the back seat, place him in the center of the back seat.
Figure 13-1: Buckle up
your Beagle to keep him safe in your car.
If your vehicle of choice is an
SUV or pickup truck, your Beagle still belongs in a seat away from the airbag.
And under no circumstances should you let your dog ride in the truck bed or
cargo area of your vehicle.
No matter where your Beagle sits,
though, make sure that his entire body is in the car. That means keep the
windows rolled up, or otherwise restrain him so his head’s not hanging out the window.
He may like feeling the wind blowing through his ears, but the price for that
enjoyment could be dust or other irritants getting into his eyes.
Of course, car safety consists of
much more than securing your dog with a seat belt. Other considerations include
weather and whether to leave your dog alone in the car.
Warning!
Don’t leave a dog in a car if the outdoor temperature is above 70 degrees. The temperature inside the car can climb to well over 100 degrees in a just a few minutes — even if you open the windows and park the car in the shade — resulting in heatstroke, which can be fatal. If you must go someplace where you can’t bring your Beagle and the weather is balmy, leave your dog at home! Frankly, leaving your dog alone in a car is never a good idea.
Helping the carsick canine
Although most dogs love to go for rides in cars,
a few find the experience to be nauseating — literally. If your Beagle turns
out to be one of these unhappy pooches, you may be able to help him. Here are
some ideas:
- Run him on empty. The dog who tosses his cookies when he’s in the car may do better if he’s got no cookies to toss. Try not to feed your Beagle for six hours or so before you hit the road. - Desensitize him. Try just sitting in the car with your dog and running the engine for a few minutes at a time over the course of a few days to get him used to being in the car. After he can handle that, graduate to short rides and work up to longer trips. - Freshen the air. Opening the windows a little bit can give your dog the fresh air he needs to quell his queasiness. - Give him some meds. For many pets, a little bit of dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) given an hour or so before a trip can allay carsickness — although it may also make him drowsy. Consult your vet about the proper dosage. - Offer some flower power. Some Beagles benefit from being given a few drops of Bach Rescue Remedy, a natural flower essence, several hours before a trip. These and other flower essences are available from health-food stores. |
Leavin’ on a jet plane
So you want to go someplace far,
far away — too far to drive. Hopping on a plane seems to be the best way to get
there. And you’re wondering whether you can take your beloved Beagle with you.
Maybe you can — but that doesn’t
mean that you should.
Air travel can be incredibly
stressful for Beagles and other pets. For one thing, unless your pet is small
enough to fit in a carrier that can be stowed under the seat in front of you,
your four-legged friend has to ride with the rest of the baggage. The noise,
the absence of familiar surroundings — not to mention the absence of familiar
people — do not make for a relaxed traveling environment for your dog.
For that reason, I recommend not
traveling by air with your Beagle unless you absolutely have to. Either choose
a vacation site that’s within easy driving distance, suck it up and drive the
longer distance that you’d planned to fly, or leave your dog at home.
That said, however, a time may
come when you have to ship your Beagle by air — for example, if you’re moving
overseas and want to bring your little hound with you. If that’s your
situation, keep the following suggestions in mind:
- Start planning early. A prudent owner plans her Beagle’s trip well in advance — say, six months before departure. That’s because most countries require owners to show that pets are healthy enough to cross their borders. Some countries merely require current rabies’ vaccinations, while others demand that the owner complete numerous forms and ertifications before allowing a dog to enter. Still other countries require hat entering pets be quarantined in a commercial kennel for days, weeks, or even months before allowing them to join their owners. Find out, too, how long these certifications last. By starting the planning process early, you’ll have plenty of time to fulfill the requirements of your destination, and also get the flight and/or kennel space that you need.
- Do your homework. As soon as possible, find out the animal transport regulations of the place you’re moving to. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) maintains listings of U.S. and foreign countries’ animal transport regulations at www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/pettravel.html. The same site also includes some tips for traveling by air with pets. For information on airlines’ requirements — particularly with respect to crates and carriers — contact individual carriers.
- Get help from your vet. Your veterinarian can help you obtain any health certificates you need for your Beagle and can also suggest ways to make him feel more comfortable while traveling.
- Limit stops. Book the most direct flight possible, even if it costs more than a flight with one or more layovers. The fewer stops you make, the fewer chances you have that something will go wrong during the trip.
- Call a pro. Professional animal transporters can maximize your Beagle’s chances of arriving safely at your destination, and minimize the hassles that arise when you try to arrange such transportation yourself. For a list of professional animal transporters, contact the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association International Inc. The organization’s Web site, www.ipata.com, has a searchable database that enables you to locate an animal transporting company in your area.
Picking pet-friendly lodging
No matter how you and your Beagle
travel, you need to a place to stay after you reach your destination. These
days, though, finding Beagle-friendly accommodations isn’t all that difficult.
That’s because the hospitality business has seen the light when it comes to
welcoming man’s (and woman’s) best friend. Many establishments that once barred
the door to canine guests now realize that putting up those dogs can lead to
big bucks and return visits from the dogs’ grateful owners. As a result, more
hotels, motels, and even bed-and-breakfasts are rolling out the red carpet for
you and your Beagle than ever before.
So how do you find these
pet-friendly lodgings? Start by picking up some guidebooks and magazines aimed
at the dog-owning traveler. Such publications abound in this era of bringing
the canine member of the family along with everyone else. Among the magazines
and Web sites available are Fido Friendly (a one-year subscription to
the print magazine is $12; more info at www.fidofriendly.com);
Pets on the Go ($15 per year for premium membership; more info at www.petsonthego.com); and Dog Friendly (a
free e-mail newsletter you can order at www.dogfriendly.com).
Wanna go by the book? Check out
these tomes: Traveling with Your Pet — The AAA PetBook: 8th Edition by
the American Automobile Club (AAA); Pets on the Go: The Definitive Pet
Accommodation and Vacation Guide by Dawn and Robert Habgood (Dawbert
Press); and Fodor’s Road Guide USA: Where to Stay with Your Pet, 1st Edition
by Andrea Arden (Fodor’s).
Warning!
After you identify a place to stay, however, don’t just breeze into the reception area with your Beagle in tow. Call first to make sure an establishment’s pet-friendly policy remains in effect; to learn the rules for staying with a pet at the facility; and to find out in advance whether the facility requires a pet deposit and/or an extra fee for nonhuman guests (many do).
Packing your Beagle’s suitcase
Just as you pack your own
suitcase when you travel, so should you pack one for your Snoopy-dog. Of
course, the suitcase need not literally be a suitcase; a tote bag or old
backpack is just as good. Whatever you choose, though, plan on bringing the
following:
- Your Beagle’s crate: That way he’ll have a cozy, familiar place to stay when you’re not in the room — and you’ll prevent the room from being damaged. In fact, many hotels require that dogs be crated when owners aren’t in the room with them.
- Dog food: A trip is no time to change your Beagle’s diet. Pack enough of his regular food to keep his tummy comfy for the duration of the trip — or know whether you can buy his food in the area where you’re traveling. And don’t forget his treats!
- A couple of toys: Pack your dog’s two or three favorite toys along with all of his other gear. He’ll enjoy being able to play with familiar objects, especially when he’s in unfamiliar surroundings.
- Collar and leash: Duh! Don’t leave home without these!
- Immunization record: If your dog becomes sick on the road and needs a veterinarian’s care, you’ll need to furnish proof of immunizations. Your vet can provide this record easily.
- Something with your scent: A T-shirt or other object with your scent on it can provide considerable comfort to your Beagle when he’s left alone.
- Plastic bags: Be a good dog owner: Bring a bunch of plastic bags so you can clean up your Beagle’s bathroom deposits.
Going visiting?
Just because you’re visiting your parents, your
cousin Judy, or your best friend from high school, don’t assume that your
Beagle is as welcome as you are. Not everyone is thrilled with the prospect
of hosting a canine guest — and as the human guest, you need to respect this
perspective, no matter how incomprehensible it is to you. Always, always ask
your host or hostess whether your Beagle is welcome in his or her home. If
the answer is yes, pack your Beagle’s bag just as you would if you were staying
in a hotel — and show the same consideration for a host’s property that you would
at a five-star commercial establishment. And if the answer is no — well, make
other arrangements for your dog, or stay home with him.
|
Leaving Your Beagle Home
Sometimes bringing your Beagle
with you isn’t a good idea. Maybe you’re flying, or maybe you won’t be able to
spend much time with your Snoopy-dog while you’re on the road, or perhaps your
little hound isn’t welcome at your destination. Whatever the reason, you need
to find someplace else for your four-legged friend to stay while you’re away.
One option may be your home.
The friend option
If you have a dog-loving friend,
consider asking her to stay in your home as a housesitter/Beagle companion
while you’re gone. That way, you know that your home won’t be left vacant while
you’re gone, and you can relax knowing that your Beagle has some company. This
is a great option to consider if you’re going to be away for more than a couple
of days. Make sure, though, that your friend has the info she needs to take
proper care of your Beagle; the section “What your pet sitter needs to know”
suggests what to tell your friend.
Picking a pet sitter
If you’ll only be away for two or
three days, a professional pet sitter who visits your home two or three times a
day may be just who you need to keep your Beagle happy and set your mind at
rest while you’re away.
How do you find this lifesaver?
Start by asking your veterinarian. He may be able to refer you to a trustworthy
individual or company. Failing that, you can consult one or both of the
following pet-sitting organizations: the National Association of Professional Pet
Sitters (www.petsitters.org) or Pet
Sitters International (www.petsit.com).
Both organizations’ Web sites allow you to search by zipcode for a pet-sitting
company or individual who’s located near you. When you contact a person or
company, find out the following:
- Has the person who will come to your home had a criminal background check? You want to be sure that whoever comes into your home to take care of your beloved Beagle has no criminal history, particularly of animal abuse. If the company or person can’t or won’t provide this information, walk away.
- Do you have references? Get at least three, and call them. Make sure, too, that these references are clients, not personal friends of the pet sitter. Ask the client how long the pet sitter cared for the pet and how he or she views the experience.
- Do you offer a service contract? A savvy sitter will specify in writing the services that he or she will perform while you’re away. Make sure you see a service contract and agree to the terms before you depart.
- What’s your backup plan? If the sitter becomes ill or otherwise can’t visit your home, what will happen to your Beagle? This question is especially important if you’re interviewing an individual rather than a company — although in both instances, they should give you a detailed backup plan ensuring that your dog will be cared for no matter what happens.
- Can you come for a visit? An understanding sitter will realize that your Beagle needs to meet his substitute caregiver before you employ her. That way, you can see how the sitter interacts with your dog, and the sitter can see the layout of your home and ask any specific questions she may have.
What your pet sitter needs to know
If you want your Beagle to have
optimum care from a pet sitter or housesitter, you need to provide the sitter
with detailed information about your trip and your dog’s needs. Here’s the
written information you should provide when you give her your key:
- Location of all supplies: Make sure your sitter knows where you keep your Beagle’s food, leash, collar, toys, medications, and anything else she’ll need to care for your four-legged friend.
- Your itinerary: Give your sitter information on when you’re leaving, when you’ll return, and a phone number to reach you.
- Contact information: Your sitter should have the telephone number of your regular veterinarian and, if available, an emergency veterinary clinic.
Boarding Your Beagle
A little help from a friend
My family and I recently took a
Caribbean cruise — obviously, an excursion upon which our dog could not join
us. But we had no worries. We took our beloved Allie to stay with someone who
was thrilled to spend time with our girl: her breeder. If you bought your Beagle
from a reputable breeder who lives near you, you may be able to do the same
thing. In other instances, we’ve taken our dogs to stay with dog-loving friends
of ours. Every time we’ve exercised these options, we’ve enjoyed our vacations
more, knowing that our dogs were having nice vacations, too.
Tip
A friend is much more likely to agree to take care of your dog while you’re away if you make clear your eagerness to return the favor!
Make sure that anyone who cares
for your Beagle is an experienced owner and is someone your dog knows and
trusts. A few practice sessions — say, a few afternoons or even an overnight
stay at your breeder’s or friend’s home — can help put your dog at ease and can
help you and your friend deal with any questions that may arise.
Finding a boarding kennel
If you don’t have a friend who
can care for your Beagle, you can pay to have experts take care of him. Plenty
of places specialize in boarding dogs, and the offerings range from somewhat
spartan to positively luxurious.
On the spartan-but-still-OK side
may be your own vet. Many veterinary clinics offer boarding services for their
clients. The staff will feed your dog, let him exercise in a kennel run, and
check on him periodically. You may also be able to arrange to have him groomed during
his stay. The big plus to this option is that it’s probably the cheapest; the
possible minus is that your dog won’t be living in the lap of luxury.
At the other end of the spectrum
are what can only be called dog resorts. If Zagat’s, Michelin, or the American
Automobile Association (AAA) rated boarding kennels, these facilities would
draw the maximum number of diamonds, stars, or other rating symbols available. One
such resort in my area of northern Virginia offers swimming,
In between these two extremes, of
course, are facilities that contain some luxuries, but not a lot, and are
moderate in price.
Depending on your budget and
other preferences, you can start your search for a kennel by asking your vet
whether his clinic boards dogs. Another option is to log onto the Web site of
the American Boarding Kennels Association at www.abka.com. There you’ll find a
searchable database that will locate kennels near you.
Be sure to pay a visit to the
kennel — preferably unannounced — before you agree to board your Beagle there.
Leave your Beagle home so you can concentrate on checking for the following:
- Cleanliness: The facility should be clean, with little or no odor. Doggy accidents should not be in evidence.
- Security: The facility should be escape-proof. Make sure that the outdoor areas have high fences around them and that the staff keeps the dogs on leash in any public areas, such as the reception area.
- Attentiveness: Those who interact with your dog should love your dog, or show a liking for the canine species in general.
- 24/7 presence: If possible, board your dog at a facility that is staffed by people around the clock.
More information on finding and
checking out a kennel is available from the American Boarding Kennel
Association Web site.
by Susan McCullough
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