Eight tips for traveling with older dogs

As everyone here knows, I hit the road last month with my dogs Kyrie and Rawley, to spend the summer in Michigan. Our 2,400 mile trip wasn’t without its challenges, many of them due to the fact that Kyrie, at 12 years old, is not handling stress the way she used to.

In my column today for SFGate.com, I talk about the lessons I learned from our trip, and what dog-owners can do to make travel easier on senior pets:

1. Listen to your dog

The biggest mistake I made was thinking I could set a schedule to exercise, feed, walk and give water to my dogs during our five-day journey across the country.

For example, I had planned to walk Kyrie every two hours, to help keep her from getting stiff in the car. This turned out to be a terrible idea, as she would no sooner get comfy in the back of the car than I was waking her up and dragging her out to stand in a grassy rest area while big rigs whizzed by on the Interstate.

She’d look at me as if to say, “Are you out of your mind? Can I go back to sleep now?”

By the end of the second day, I was keeping a close eye on her restlessness level. If she seemed uncomfortable, we stopped. If she was sleeping happily, we drove.

2. Keep things as familiar as possible

Old dogs do not get over stress as easily as young ones do, and things that Kyrie got over in an hour in her puppyhood can set her back for days now.

That’s why it’s important to bring your dog’s familiar bedding, blankets, food, bowls, treats and toys on your trip, as they help him feel safe, and reduce stress.

Every night when we got to the hotel, I left Kyrie and Rawley in the car with my friend Dawn, who’d come along for the ride and to give me a hand with the dogs. I would make the trek back and forth to the car, lugging dog beds, bowls, food and blankets. It was all worth it, though, to see Kyrie trot into the strange room, take a nice, long drink from her water bowl, then settle down on her orthopedic dog bed with a little sigh.

3. Protect their joints

Eight or 10 hours in a car isn’t good for anyone’s joints, as I learned every time I got out of the car at a gas station. So it’s a good idea to provide memory or orthopedic foam bedding for your senior dog while traveling, instead of a simple dog travel mat.

Like me, Kyrie was extremely stiff when she got out of the car at night, and I’d walk her slowly around the hotel grounds until she’d loosened up a little. This let her settle down more comfortably once we got into our room.

Kyrie spent most of the night on the same memory foam bed that was in the car, but she also got on the bed with me for an hour or two every night. This was a problem because jumping up and down was hard on her — especially down, when she’d usually give a little cry on impact.

I realized that being on the bed was important to her; it kept her close to the most familiar thing of all in her life, me, which she seemed to find comforting. So if I had it to do over again, I’d bring some kind of portable ramp or stairs to help her get up and down safely.

Photo: Kyrie on my hotel room bed. I have no idea which state we were in, LOL!

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Adults kids, older parents, and gift puppies

Last night’s basic obedience class at Kindred Spirits was the third week in the schedule.

In the previous two weeks, the dogs and owners had been introduced to training skills such as sit, down, stay, watch me, and loose leash walking. Most of the dogs and their owners were showing progress and I was hearing lots of “Yeah! Good job!”

However, one woman was having problems. In speaking with her while we were taking attendance, she said the dog is fine at home but distracted everywhere else. I explained what was going on there, that it was normal, and with practice and maturity her adolescent dog would get better.

But I had a suspicion that something more was going on she wasn’t fessing up to, so I asked my partners at Kindred Spirits, Kate and Petra, to keep an eye on her as I taught the class. Soon, Kate pulled the woman and her dog to the side of class for several minutes.

After class, Kate said the dog, an Australian Cattle Dog, was a gift from her adult son. The woman had not wanted a dog, and she said even if she did, she wouldn’t have chosen a puppy. Additionally, she would not have chosen a cattle dog. Now she’s unhappy with the situation, unhappy with her son, and unhappy with the dog. Not a good combination.

Kate told her that obviously we couldn’t change the situation, but if she wanted to place the dog, we’d help her get in touch with cattle dog rescue. Meanwhile, Kate said “You’re unhappy with the dog and showing your displeasure very clearly, but this situation isn’t his fault!”

This happens far too often. We start two to four new classes a month at KS, and in every class there there are at least one if not two older students who have been given a puppy by an adult child. In the vast majority of the cases the parent did not want a dog, was not given any say as to the breed, and often the breed and/or age of the dog wasn’t appropriate. That just sets the entire situation to fail. How sad for everyone.

Last summer, we had an elderly woman. She told us she was in her late 80s, and her 60 year-old son gave her a Golden Retriever puppy. She would have been happy with an older adult Golden, she said, but not a puppy. Before she came to see us, the puppy had already knocked her down several times, and the last time she was hurt. We told her the best thing she could do at that point was call her son and tell him to come get the dog.

My Mom did get a puppy after my Dad passed away. She debated with herself – puppy versus adult dog – and decided she was still active enough to handle a puppy. She also took the time to research breeds. I answered questions when she asked, but she made her own decision and decided that a Cocker mix puppy would suit her well. It has! Ginger has been great company for Mom.

In many cases, though, I think a dog who is past the puppy and adolescent stage would be a wiser choice, especially if the older owner is having some mobility or health issues. Sometimes, too many people remain stuck in the mindset that only a puppy will do.

I also understand why the adult kids might think that Mom (or Dad) might ‘need’ a dog especially if the parent is living alone. The dog is companionship —  loving and affectionate, tough, security, exercise, and social interaction. I know I’m happy that Mom has a dog in the house with her.

But in my humble opinion, the parent needs a say in the decision. He or she needs to be able to say ‘no’ without fear of hurting the adult child’s feelings. The parent also needs to be able to have a say in the breed or mixtures thereof; the size, the personality, the temperament, and the age of the dog. The best scenario would be if the adult child offers to buy the dog and pay future veterinary needs (and if needed, food and toys and other expenses) and let the parent choose her own dog.

Photo credit: Archer as a puppy, Liz Palika.

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Old dogs, new year: A well-loved older dog is beautiful

January 4, 2011

There’s something special about older dogs — and they deserve special treatment, too. Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori have words of praise for canine senior citizens, and tips to help them make the most out of their golden years, in this week’s Pet Connection newspaper feature:

People flip over puppies, but to me, a well-loved older dog is one of the most beautiful creatures on earth. An older dog has a nobleness about him, a look in the eyes that speaks of years of the special love that only a pet can give — trusting, nonjudgmental and unwaveringly true.

Your dog’s health as he ages is not entirely in your control, but you can have a real impact on his attitude. Your dog doesn’t know he’s getting older. His gray hairs concern him not, nor does he worry about the other visible effects of time — the thickening of his body, the thinning of his limbs. He doesn’t count the number of times he can fetch a ball before tiring and compare that to his performance when he was a young dog in his prime.

A dog lives in the now. Just as he doesn’t reflect on his past, he can’t imagine his future. Your dog takes his cues from you. When you’re upbeat, encouraging and loving, he’ll be at his best, no matter his age.

This time can be a special one for both of you, and it’s up to you to make the most of it.

Get tips on how to do just that here.

Roaming days are over for more pet cats, say Dr. Becker and Mikkel Becker:

Keeping cats from roaming continues to gain in popularity, with 64 percent of cat owners telling the American Pet Products Association that their pets are not allowed outside. Safety is the main advantage for cats: Indoor cats are protected from infectious disease, from being hit by cars, attacked by other animals or trapped by neighbors who don’t want cats on their properties. Despite the advantages, there are some downsides: Indoor cats are prone to boredom and obesity-related health-problems, although both of these can be avoided by providing an enriched environment to engage the animal.

Read this week’s entire Pet Connection here!

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