The holiday season can be a fun and hectic time for the whole family, and just like young children, your pets will feel the effects of all the excitement. Cooking, shopping, relatives visiting and traveling will disrupt your pets comfortable routine. He will need to have his place, whether it be a crate or a room out of the way, where he can feel safe and secure. Remember, not all your guests will like dogs and your dog may not like all your guests! If your dog is going to be able to mingle with family and friends, ask them not to feed your dog any treats. Rich, spicy food, chocolate and fatty foods, can all cause gastric upset.

All the pretty ornaments and decorations can be very tempting for your dog, either to play with, chew on or eat. Keep live greens and plants off the floor and out of reach. It may be a good idea to tie your tree down so it cannot be tipped over. One year we had a 13 foot tall tree and while we were out, our Lab knocked it over…what a mess! Use unbreakable ornaments on the lower branches of your tree and avoid using tinsel or garland where your dog can reach it. Of course the best solution is to train your dog to stay away from the tree, but it may just be too tempting for even the most angelic of pooches.

If you have children opening presents with lots of parts, make sure they keep all the pieces together and off the floor. There are any number of toys or even socks and gloves that your dog can ingest. The last thing you want to do on your holiday is make a trip to the emergency vet. Another potential danger is your dog escaping out the door as guests are arriving or leaving. Be aware if your pup is likely to make a run for it and keep him safely secured.

If you are going to travel with your best furry friend, make arrangements well in advance. Have a copy of your dogs vaccination record and make sure he has a collar with a tag listing your name and phone number. Bring his bed or blanket and favorite toys. The best way for your dog to travel buy car is in a harness or in his crate. You should have his crate with your so he can sleep there or just hang out there if he needs quiet time. If you are not staying with family, there are now many hotel chains that are pet friendly. Look online and call ahead to find out the specifics. Do not plan to sedate or medicate your dog for travel unless your veterinarian recommends it.

Air travel with your pet has become easier, especially if you have a small dog that can travel in the cabin under your seat. Again, check with the airline for their rules and restrictions. Remember no one wants to hear your dog barking all the way to grandmothers house. If your dog needs to fly cargo, your flight plan will need to be made based on the airlines live cargo restrictions. Call ahead or look online for the airlines information on flying your pet in cargo. We have sent puppies to different parts of the country and have never had a problem. The airline we use is extremely capable and well organized and take good care of the pups. Size restrictions on the crate as well as temperature restrictions can impact your flight plans.

With some extra care and planning ahead, your holiday season can be safe and enjoyable for the whole family, four-legged members included.

Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to http://petvitamins4u.com or to http://theroadhousedobes.com for further information

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol

Joseph Sabol

Have your kids been harassing you for months to get a puppy? You may be gradually warming up to that idea and now that Christmas is coming up soon, you might be thinking: why not give the kids a cute little puppy on December 25th. If you have been considering the idea of giving a puppy to your kids for Christmas, please read this article very carefully.

First, the Holiday Season is probably the worst time to get a dog. A puppy needs a routine and we all know how crazy our schedule is during that time of the year. Remember that you’ll have to get up once or twice in the middle of the night to get your puppy outside to do his business. So, if you’re already tired from shopping, cooking and the office parties, not having full night sleeps won’t help!

A dog is not a toy that you throw away once the magic of the first couple of months is gone. A dog should be considered an integral part of the family exactly as your kids are. You don’t give your kids up for adoption if they break your favorite vase, so a dog shouldn’t end up at the shelter if he chews on your favorite pair of slippers. In fact, if your puppy destroys anything in the house, you should bang YOUR head on the wall…. A puppy has to be supervised and needs safe toys to chew on.

Another thing you have to plan before getting a puppy is the costs associated with it. Getting a puppy requires you to get a crate, toys, food, bowls, leash, collar, etc. Furthermore, your puppy will need a vet checkup, his annual shots, etc. Also, as we talked earlier, if you don’t want to lose both your dog and your slippers, you will have to train your cute little puppy. Put on your list of things to do for your dog a puppy socialization and/or an obedience class.

You also have to plan what you are going to do with your dog when you go on vacations. Will you bring your dog with you, ask a friend or family member to babysit or have him stayed at a good kennel? You’d be amazed by the number of dogs who end up at the humane society because the owners decide to leave the country for a couple of weeks and don’t want to pay $20 a day in kennel fees.

If you think that a dog belongs in the garage or tied to a chain in your backyard, please DO NOT get a puppy. Dogs are social creatures that absolutely need the interaction with their pack: you. They need to be with you, to live with you, to play with you, to feel protected by you. In other words, they want to be in the house with you. And for that dog to be a well-behaved pet inside the house, he has to be housetrained. Consequently, housetraining your puppy will be your first job as a new dog owner.

If after reading this article, you know that a puppy would be a great addition to your family. You don’t mind at all spending the time and money required to train and live with a well-behaved and happy dog, then I would be more than pleased to help you with your first job.

Nathalie Lafleur

The holiday season can be a fun and hectic time for the whole family, and just like young children, your pets will feel the effects of all the excitement. Cooking, shopping, relatives visiting and traveling will disrupt your pets comfortable routine. He will need to have his place, whether it be a crate or a room out of the way, where he can feel safe and secure. Remember, not all your guests will like dogs and your dog may not like all your guests! If your dog is going to be able to mingle with family and friends, ask them not to feed your dog any treats. Rich, spicy food, chocolate and fatty foods, can all cause gastric upset.

All the pretty ornaments and decorations can be very tempting for your dog, either to play with, chew on or eat. Keep live greens and plants off the floor and out of reach. It may be a good idea to tie your tree down so it cannot be tipped over. One year we had a 13 foot tall tree and while we were out, our Lab knocked it over…what a mess! Use unbreakable ornaments on the lower branches of your tree and avoid using tinsel or garland where your dog can reach it. Of course the best solution is to train your dog to stay away from the tree, but it may just be too tempting for even the most angelic of pooches.

If you have children opening presents with lots of parts, make sure they keep all the pieces together and off the floor. There are any number of toys or even socks and gloves that your dog can ingest. The last thing you want to do on your holiday is make a trip to the emergency vet. Another potential danger is your dog escaping out the door as guests are arriving or leaving. Be aware if your pup is likely to make a run for it and keep him safely secured.

If you are going to travel with your best furry friend, make arrangements well in advance. Have a copy of your dogs vaccination record and make sure he has a collar with a tag listing your name and phone number. Bring his bed or blanket and favorite toys. The best way for your dog to travel buy car is in a harness or in his crate. You should have his crate with your so he can sleep there or just hang out there if he needs quiet time. If you are not staying with family, there are now many hotel chains that are pet friendly. Look online and call ahead to find out the specifics. Do not plan to sedate or medicate your dog for travel unless your veterinarian recommends it.

Air travel with your pet has become easier, especially if you have a small dog that can travel in the cabin under your seat. Again, check with the airline for their rules and restrictions. Remember no one wants to hear your dog barking all the way to grandmothers house. If your dog needs to fly cargo, your flight plan will need to be made based on the airlines live cargo restrictions. Call ahead or look online for the airlines information on flying your pet in cargo. We have sent puppies to different parts of the country and have never had a problem. The airline we use is extremely capable and well organized and take good care of the pups. Size restrictions on the crate as well as temperature restrictions can impact your flight plans.

With some extra care and planning ahead, your holiday season can be safe and enjoyable for the whole family, four-legged members included.

Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to http://petvitamins4u.com or to http://theroadhousedobes.com for further information

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol

Joseph Sabol