Flying your pet to Europe using a military rotator (MAC) flight

You have heard me blog about flying pets overseas and the prep involved.  But earlier this year, I had a reader contact me about flying overseas on a military rotator flight with their doggie and what did I know about that.  I didn't admit I was a total neophyte, nor did I give her any information she could use about pets and military flights.....honestly, I didn't think pets could even fly on MAC flights, PCS or no PCS.  Glad I kept my mouth shut, because thanks to Lee, she got back to me as promised with how the experience went for her and her cute little pug. Here is Reggie's story and how you can use the military to fly your pet to Germany.

As promised, I wanted to get back to you about our experience flying our dog overseas to Germany via the Patriot Express (the AMC Rotator).  We left BWI airport the night Sunday, 10 July, and arrived at Ramstein AB at noon on Monday, 11 July.  We're now settled in at our new duty location and I'm relieved to say everything went well!  However, there are a few things I would recommend to others preparing to PCS overseas with a pet:

* Plan ahead - way ahead.  As I wrote to you before, my husband scheduled our flight on the Patriot Express roughly 10 weeks prior to our PCS date, and we got the very last pet slot on the plane.  I believe there are ten pet slots per rotator flight (not counting pets that can travel in cabin under the seat), and during heavy PCS seasons (like summer), they book out quickly.  So once you get orders, one of your first priorities should be working with TMO (or your branch's counterpart) to initiate your reservation and request a pet slot.

* If you are taking the Patriot Express during heat or cold with a snub-nosed dog (pug, boston terrier, etc.) consider alternatives to connecting flights.  If time allows and the distance is not too great, consider driving or taking a train.  We PCSed from the panhandle of Florida which is very hot and humid in July.  Our dog, Reggie, is a nine year old pug, and we could not find any commercial carrier in our area that would be willing to transport him.  Most have an embargo on snub-nosed breeds during summer months and extreme cold temperatures, and some carriers no longer take any dogs at all in the summer.  The Patriot Express does not have these embargoes, as the pets are in a climate controlled area, but getting Reggie to BWI was becoming very problematic.  However, since we have family nearby, we opted to drive up and stay with family along the way, and then we shipped our car directly from the Port of Baltimore.  It was a lot of time in the car, but it was much easier than the hassle of flying him in the summer.

* Go through a military veterinary clinic if at all possible for your International Health Certificate (the one you can get up to four months out) and your Health Certificate (the one you must get within 10 days of flight).  If a military veterinarian signs off on the forms, you are exempt from getting the USDA stamps on your documentation, which saves a lot of time and hassle.  However, when you make your appointment, be sure to confirm there is an active duty veterinarian on site who can sign the form.  Because whenwe left our AFB in Florida greater than ten days before our flight out, we had to get Reggie seen by a military vet en route.  Four weeks before we left, I called several military installations in the Baltimore/Washington area, thinking they could see him - but they couldn't.  Most did not have an active duty veterinarian on site (they are frequently deployed during times of combat to serve as public health officers), and those that did had very limited clinic days/hours.  Fortunately, I was able to get him in at the Shaw AFB vet clinic, and although it meant four hours round trip in the car, it was still faster and easier than taking him to a civilian vet and dealing with the USDA stamp process.

* Make sure all signatures are in a color other than black.  Military veterinarians generally know this, but civilian vets might not.  After I obtained the International Health Certificate, I had to go back to my civilian vet and get a new rabies certificate and immunization record because they were signed in black ink.  Had I known, I could have requested this from the start and saved myself a trip. (Note from LLMW, I did not know this....something I need to follow up on).

* Make sure your pet's microchip number is on your rabies certificate and immunization record.  It does not have to be printed on the paperwork - you can hand-write it in if necessary (I did, without any problems).

* Check - and double check - your pet's documentation before you leave the clinic.  I cannot stress this enough - if there are any errors with the paperwork, your pet can be refused on the flight.  When I obtained our health certificate, I noticed that the batch number of the rabies vaccine was incorrectly entered, and date of the certificate was in MM/DD/YY format but my dog's birthdate was in DD/MM/YY format.  I pointed this out and requested that they reprint the certificate with the correct batch number and write out both dates (i.e., 5 July 2011 and 10 November 2001) in order to cut down on any confusion.  I know the clerk thought I was being anal-retentive and wasn't too happy with me, but these are the kind of small errors that can cause a real problem later.

* Bring multiple copies of your pet's documentation (health certificates, rabies certificate, immunization record, etc.).  I had to give a copy to the agent at BWI as well as the German customs officer at Ramstein AB, and a copy was taped to Reggie's crate.  Had we had connecting flights, I'm sure each carrier would have needed copies as well.  By having multiple copies with me, it saved time (agents didn't have to make copies) and I was able to keep the originals with me at all times.

* Get your pet a properly-sized crate in advance and let your him/her use it.  There are strict rules about crates for international flights (size, ventilation, etc.), so measure your pet carefully to make sure you get the right size.  (I used the following site for information on measurements and crate requirements.  I'm not endorsing them as a vendor, as I didn't buy my crate from them, but the info is helpful.)  Consider having your pet sleep in the crate for a week or two prior to the flight, so s/he can get used to it.  Flying is stressful for pets, so getting them used to their crate means they will at least have a familiar place to stay during the flight.  You may also want to include something like an old shirt or blanket that you've used and that smells like you - this may also be comforting for them.  We also bought a clip-on fan to help with ventilation, since Reggie is a pug.  I don't know if it helped him, but it reduced MY anxiety knowing he had it!  :)

There's a nice brochure about the Patriot Express at this web site:  (click on "Patriot Express Brochure"), and one about shipping your pet here.  I would definitely recommend reviewing these prior to the flight.

Throughout the process, I told my friends and family that getting Reggie to Germany was more complicated and time-consuming than it was for my children - and I wasn't really joking either.  However, if you start early and are proactive and organized, it makes for smooth traveling later.  I hope your readers find this information helpful, and as always, thanks for the service you provide us military spouses.  Were it not for your blog, I would not have been nearly as well prepared for our move, and I am so grateful I discovered it!

Thank you Lee for taking the time to report back on your experience!  If any of my other readers would like to share any experiences, pet or otherwise, just let me know!  My goal is always to share information here, whether it comes from me or one of our fellow readers!

Cats and the Foil

The stupid cat....sometimes I just want to strangle him.  I opened my wallocker today (yes, we get issued those ugly Army wallockers overseas), took out a shirt, and it was COVERED in litter.  Come to find out, the little rat has been sneaking in there...okay, so I left the door open a few times....and making himself a cozy nest!  Yuck!!!!!  It doesn't help that the litter box is only about 20 feet from there....I wondered why a few kernels of litter would always be on the floor just outside the door....now I know why!!!!!!  After a week, I can now leave the door wide open, and he doesn't go in there at all....know how I trained him?

First, a little about our cat.  He is messy.  He does his litterbox thing and goes out....there's the first tracking of litter....then he goes back in and scratches, scratches and then scratches some more....I swear sometimes he is in there for 3 or 4 minutes scratching!!!!  I notice he is doing this more and more often as he gets older...reminds me of an old man with bad eyesight....so, there goes the second track of litter, which is now so entrenched between his toes, that he leaves a longer-than-usual-trail.  Even though our special cat litter carpet catches a whole heckuva lot of it....it's not enough, hence the trail.  You should see the obstacle course I set up, to make him walk the long way around the master bathtub...but that's fodder for another story.

I have found that most cats detest aluminum foil.  Our cat will not go near it....and after some online research, neither will alot of other cats.  So, if your cat is misbehaving, or if you want to train him to stay off of something, put a layer of tinfoil down.  I had to do this in my kids' sock drawers, my husband's underwear drawer and on a little pretty endtable I didn't want him on.  Before long, with or without the foil, he stayed off, and I kind of forgot about it....til now.

Now, my dad's cat...is a Siamese.  I think that says it all.  This loud and obnoxious cat (although sweet) will jump in a pan of water set out on a counter he is not supposed to jump onto.  Obviously, he jumps right on the aluminum foil too....and stare at you defiantly.  That may be a Siamese thing....I don't know.  So if you have a Siamese, this may not work.

Give it a try, and let me know how it works out?  What other unusual products have you used to keep your pets away from something you don't want them on or in?

Pets & the Military (plus Shipping vs.Sending Your Pet as Cargo)

my baby...

Being in the military these days means moving around.  Depending on where your military spouse is in his career, that could mean every year, every two years, three years or six years and everything in between.  There are a few what we call "homesteaders"...I am always amazed at what a husband will do for his German wife, as I have seen senior NCOs in Germany for close to eight years...but that is obviously not the norm!  Many military folks have pets....we include ourselves in that club.  There's just something about having a furry critter as a member of your household.  At some point, there comes the dilemna on how to get your pet from point A to point B.  What if you have more than one pet?  What if you have a pet that weighs close to 200 pounds or how about 1,000 pounds!  What are ya gonna do every time you move?

I profess not to know all the answers.  I can only speak from experience and also from what people I know have experienced.  Here are some things to consider:

• How does your pet handle change?  Riding in a car (if small enough)?  How about flying in a situation where you can't drive (like overseas or Hawaii)?  At some point, you will have at least one overseas tour.
• Are you committed enough to your pet to spend the extra money needed to be a petowner who moves a lot?  Every overseas trip you are looking at $300-1,000 PER PET per flight.  Horses are going to cost you more and will go as cargo.  I've heard of folks taking their horses to Hawaii and even to Germany, so it can be done...but be prepared for big expenses (horses are expensive anyway....I had one in high school...they eat a lot, and you can't keep them in your house).  The good thing about horses is that many stateside posts do have their own stables, but then again, some have long waiting lists and special requirements (more immunizations and such) to get in.  Some airlines will also limit the size of pets traveling as baggage.  I've heard 100 lbs, but our German Shepherd was just over that, and he was fine with United Airlines.  I've also heard 150 lbs.  Just check with the airline you are flying, and I am going to recommend United and Lufthansa again as the BEST choices for travel with pets.
• Know that on post housing has a TWO PET PER DWELLING rule.  This has not always been enforced in the past, but I am seeing it enforced more and more these days to the point of people having to adopt out their pets or else risk getting kicked out of housing.
• What food does your pet eat?  Stateside, it won't be a problem as you can go wherever to get your pet's food.  Overseas, the commissary and PX have limited fare, and it might not be what your pet normallly eats.  Ordering through the mail may be too expensive.  I've been told time and time again not to change your dog's diet, especially as they get older  I lost my dog in large part because of this I believe.  I am STILL not over the guilt.
• Pet expenses overseas will be higher.  On post military vets cannot always see your pet unfortunately, especially when you really need care.  Many only offer routine check ups and vaccinations and nothing else.  You'll have to be prepared to deal with vets off post, in a foreign country and who may or may not speak English.

I also wanted to touch on a few points of taking your pet overseas, or rather HOW you'll get your pet overseas.  I know there is one airline stateside (Pet Airways) that just recently started doing JUST pets.  You won't find them going overseas though, so you have two choices.  You'll either take them with you on your flight (underneath your seat or in the baggage hold as checked baggage, depending on their size and how many other pets are already registered on the flight) OR you'll ship them air freight/cargo.  I unfortunately do not know the process for shipping horses, so you'll have to look elsewhere for that.  Here are some things to consider for cats and dogs (you won't be able to take your bird with you, plus I have heard from other bird owners that even if it were allowed, birds would get too stressed out and likely become ill or die...ugghhh):

• Taking a dog or cat on the plane with you will be cheaper than shipping them separately.  Read my other blog article about taking your pet with you when you fly.  Do have an alternate plan if you travel in the dead of winter or heat of the summer as many airlines do have regulations that won't ship pets when the air temperatures reach a certain level (either too hot or too cold).
• For shipping your pet air cargo or freight, there are a few companies that do all the work for you.  I don't have any personal experience with any of them, but I have heard from a few people who have used them, that the cost you are quoted or what you pay them may not be the total cost you dish out.  There may be additional fees involved, so budget for that possibility.
• At least in Belgium, at Brussels Airport, expect to pay anywhere from 200-600 euro EXTRA when picking up your pet from the cargo area of the airport.  This fee covers the final vet check (the airlines are covering themselves liability-wise; you can't get out of this vet check) and for someone to take your dog through customs...and of course their "boarding fee" while this is all being done...you cannot get around the fees.  In Frankfurt, Germany, there are also similar fees.  Be prepared and come with cash when you have to pick up your pet.  What you pay the pet shipping company may not be your total cost...always ask for the details, cause that's where it's all at!
• Keep in mind that it may be an all day affair to pick up your pet.  They may say your pet arrives on such and such day, but expect to wait til late morning or mid-day to actually take your pet home.  Sometimes the process takes this long.
• Don't plan any traveling around or anything after bringing your pet to their new home.  They have had a major disruption and need to have time to get adjusted to their new life!
• If you do decide to change their food, please do it gradually.

Do you have any tips to add about pets and the military or moving with pets?

For Pet Owners Only

It is with an absolutely heavy heart I write this today.  I can't even post a photo.....I've been putting this off for two weeks but feel I need to get the information out there to other pet owners, in case you are as oblivious and unaware as I was....Why?  Because my German Shephard has always been healthy and never had any issues.  After five hours....he was dead....just like that....my best friend....and here I am in a foreign country and not speaking the language.  Here's how to be better prepared than I was, and if I can just save one pet, it'll give me a modicum of "feel good" on this depressing day.

My dog's problems started the day we moved into our new home.  He had been getting the food from the kennel rather than his regular food....our first mistake.  Do NOT change your dog's food, especially older dogs, as it messes with their digestive system!  The combination of the stress of moving and changing his diet so quickly contributed greatly to my beloved animal succumbing to bloat.  It killed him quickly and before I could figure out what was even happening to him.  Of course, things like this always happen at night, where you feel all alone in the first place.

Living here in the SHAPE community, you are out in the country with not a lot of 24 hour veterinarian care.  Please stop by the Army vets on Daumerie Kaserne (across from Chievres) to get a listing of local vets who also speak English.  There are a few. 

Second, know what to do after hours.

Third, and hopefully, you won't get to this point, but if your pet dies, know that there is an absolutely wonderful pet crematorium out towards Charleroi, about 30 minutes away.  It is called Cremanima Respect SA in Sombreffe.  All the local vets should be familiar with them.  Cremanima can make arrangements to pick up your pet as well, and they do cremations from the size of a hamster to a horse and charge according to weight.  We drove our dog there, dropped him off, where they kept him refrigerated until the day of his scheduled cremation.  Large dogs and horses need to be done later in the day because of their size, and we did have to wait a few days to fit him into the schedule.

After arrival, we were led to the area with the ovens, where they set up a nice spot with candles, country white washed furniture and your dog on a gurney.....with rose petals scattered around, bunches of roses and your pet wrapped lovingly in a nice paper blanket.  I was touched at how they took the time to make our dog look like he was only sleeping.  We had time to say good-bye and pet him...which was gut wrenching to say the least.  I had no idea an animal could have such an effect on us, but I realized he was truly a member of our family.

After some time, the staff, who speak English, ask if you want to stay while they move him into the oven.  We chose to stay.  They wheel the gurney over to the open door.  The oven is already on, and carefully, they move the body inside.  They immediately shut the door and then fire up the controls.  You hear a whoosh and a bit of smoke escapes the door and the process begins.

They then led us to a small waiting room with couches and loving memorials all over the walls with photos, collars, poems and plaques from pets who have passed on.  You are welcome to bring your mementos.  We chose to bring our dog's toy and put it beside him as we said our good-byes.  They also have memorial books you can write in and did see a few entries from other Americans....some of the memorials had photos pasted inside or pressed rose petals....all were lovingly handwritten, sometimes by more than one family member.

Again, since our dog was larger, it took one and a half hours for his cycle to be completed.  They asked if we wanted to take part in the shoveling...we chose not to, although I can see where it may be therapeutic.  We then waited while they transferred some of his ashes to a small urn, which we will take with us until we move to our forever retirement home.  The rest of his ashes, they placed in a cookie tin, which we plan to scatter in a memorable place here in Europe.

I just can't bring myself to write his name....so I will end here...my poor baby...I never would've thought that I would lose him so soon...he was only eight years old.  I unfortunately beat myself up about the possibility that I might have been able to save him, had I gotten him emergency medical care right when his symptoms first started.  If you have a big dog, please be familiar with this second largest killer of dogs.

I'll be taking a few days off...but will be back soon.

No Waiting Outside for Dogs in Germany

Our dog absolutely loves it over here. In fact, I think he believes he's even more of a person than what he thought back home. Whenever we go out on the economy, he gets to go along. It's no wonder we see dogs everywhere. Did you know it's illegal to leave a dog alone at home for even just a few hours and God forbid you ever tie up your dog outside?! That would warrant a visit by the Polizei!

And with that, here is my incomplete list of where I've seen dogs and their owners in my journey throughout Germany, where I probably normally would not expect to see a doggie in a similar place in the US:

• the local mall - yes, doggie shops with me in the stores, and then when we take a break at the cafe, he lies at my feet
• any good restaurant - all good doggies are allowed here...no begging and stay under the table
• the hardware store
• the clothing store
• the Rothenburg Crime Museum - yes, I was surprised to see one here too
• the subway and the train - yep, they're allowed, at least in Germany
• many, many small B&Bs and hotels - the only place that wouldn't allow our dog was the American Edelweiss Resort in Garmisch
• the flowershop

Where have you see dogs in Germany?

Moving and Flying with Pets

This is my last bit of advice concerning moving with pets. I've done it...I've analyzed it, and I've beat it to death and will end it here. Be sure to read my other posts on moving and pets. I had a bit of a steep learning curve, as my first big move with pets was by plane and overseas, but I am happy to say we all made it okay and in one piece.

Here are...hopefully...my final thoughts:

• If you are moving overseas and need a valid 10 day pet health certificate, I encourage you to use a military vet. Not only is the check-up and paperwork free, but military vets are more familiar with the procedures. I think ours mentioned something about our paperwork having to go thru the USDA or some other entity, and if we use a civilian vet, we'd have to fax paperwork, and my husband immediately said...those are too many moving parts. A friend of ours was missing one signature on her paperwork and ended up having to leave her dogs at Frankfurt International Airport for EIGHT hours (and having to pay kennel costs), while she tried to figure it all out.

• Use piddle pads inside the bottom of the crate. I know your doggie is a good doggie, so is mine. But you know how Murphy can strike whenever you least expect it. I had one friend whose dog got really sick, and luckily the pad absorbed most of it. Another, the dog got stuck in the crate on the tarmac because of delays and just couldn't hold it anymore. Newspapers just don't cut it...do your pet a favor and just put the piddle pad (puppy training pads) underneath your pet's regular bed or mat.

• If you are flying, pick the shortest flight route. We drove from Florida to Virginia, visited relatives there, dropped of our van to be shipped through Baltimore and flew out of Dulles. This gave us a direct flight to Frankfurt, Germany. You want to avoid any flights where you have to change planes. More chance for things to go wrong, and your pets to be stuck on the hot....or cold...tarmac and potentially left behind or put on the wrong plane. Less moving parts again my husband would say.
  

• Check airlines pet flying policies and prices. Even though the military arranges your flight, if you are going overseas, check beforehand, which airport is closest to your destination and which airlines are most pet friendly. Consistently, I heard plugs for United and Lufthansa. We flew United in the middle of a hot summer and the pets were fine, because all of United's planes are temperature controlled. Many of the others are not and have restrictions on when you can fly pets. Also check those prices. A friend was charged what must've been the cargo freight fee for her two medium sized dogs...yep, over $2,000. We were only charged $310 for a cat and a large 100 lb dog (with a 50 lb grande size kennel). That broke down into the cat flying for $105 and the dog for $205 one way.

• Visit the airline's pet travel webpage. Each airline has a page...or group of pages on their requirements for pet air travel. If you can't find it in writing, then ask about it. For example, I called the airline to make sure this super giant dogcrate would fit on the plane. The reservationist was actually able to look up the airplane type and what size crates would fit. Not all planes fit all size crates, and if you are stuck on a plane that is too small, you risk the chance of having to ship your pet air freight which equals $$$$$$.....or leaving your pet behind.
  

• Make sure your pet's travel information is in your PNR. As soon as you get your reservation, call the airline and make sure your pets and what crate models you have, are noted in your record. Planes can only take a certain number of pets per plane, and you don't want any mistakes on crate sizes vs plane cargo hold space. Most airlines only allow two pets per passenger cabin (more in the cargo hold), so make sure that is noted as well if that's what you plan to do. I knew someone who showed up at the airport and was denied boarding her pet because two other passengers had their pets noted in their records. Because of some kind of oversight, her kitty was not. This brings me to my next point.

• Have back up arrangements for your pet. Things can go wrong at the airport or with your family or with your schedule. I knew someone who last year had a dog and crate who were five pounds over the limit, and they would not allow the dog to board. She was also traveling with a little dog and four kids! Since she had planned ahead, she was able to give the dog to a friend...who was helping them at the airport at check in...and made arrangements for her to ship the dog at a later date...after he was put on a little diet.
  

• Put something in the crate that smells like you. In the week before we moved, I put a washcloth for each pet on our pillows. Right before we flew, they each got one. I honestly think this had a calming effect on both of them. When I first saw the cat, he had it burrowed all around him.

• If you have a litter box trained cat, plan for your sponsor or someone on the receiving end to have a litterbox and litter ready for you. My husband didn't...think he was too embarrassed. We got to Frankfurt airport, and the poor cat refused to go to the bathroom at the airport on a plot of grass or at our first highway rest stop. Of course, the dog had no issues with this. After a three hour drive to our destination, my husband had to run and buy the goods, brought the stuff to the hotel and the cat....it was truly a sight to see...jumped in there and must've scratched for a full minute, eyes wide, meowing to no end....before finally going....poor thing. I don't think he's ever not gone in a litterbox and probably never will!

• Tape a cheap leash and a photo of your pet to the top of its crate. You never know when there might be delays and a sympathetic airline employee might take out your pet. Also, if your pet somehow escapes, they will at least know what he looks like.

• Tape a ziploc bag of one food portion to the top of the crate. I chose not to feed my pets...so they wouldn't have to go to the bathroom. They won't totally starve by missing one meal. But let's say there are major delays. You don't want your pets going too long without food.
  
  Do you have any tips to share?

Had to Return a Dog Crate for the Third Time

Always the bargain shopper am I. My 105 lb German Shepherd hasn't needed a crate for four years...he's such a good doggie. I knew I couldn't buy him a seat on the plane to Germany, so I started hunting for a good, solid crate. Dumb me started looking at price first. Do you know there are crates all over the internet? My first purchase was a Furrari pet crate, in their Giant size. It's the biggest that brand comes in...he'll fit then. You should've seen him in there after I closed the door....once I finally did get the door closed. His feet were hanging over the end when he was lying down and when he did sit up, he was hunched over and made a face like he does when he gets into something he maybe shouldn't. It's a good thing I ordered that one from Petco.

At least the return process was easy. I had originally done some googling and found a coupon code for 20% off, so I wasn't worried at all that shipping was non-refundable. I printed off the return form and took it to my local Petco, no questions asked. Now for Round 2.

I decided to stick with Petco. Petsmart didn't have the really big crates at all. I ended up calling Petco's 1-800 number and actually talked to someone knowledgeable about crates who just happened to have a big dog herself. The next purchase was a run-of-the-mill Varikennel. Their Giant size was really giant, not like that European-sounding crate I had just returned...why can't all this be standardized? Crate #2 arrives, and it was truly Giant. It's a good thing I have a minivan...you can forget getting that thing in a car. Everyone fit and everyone was happy.

Then my dad visited, an ex-airline employee. He said, let's check what the airline says on its site. I said I had already been there. Well, somehow he found a page I hadn't found. We went down the list...yep, yep, got all that, good to go...uh oh...international flights, that's us. The kennel must have ventilation on four sides. I ran to the crate and counted, then re-counted again...and then one more time, because I didn't want to believe it....only three sides...no airholes in the back. God da**....I screwed up again! My dad called a friend to verify, and yep, that's right. So now what? Petco didn't have any other choices, and neither did Petsmart.

We trolled around the internet and found Dog.com...wow, lots of crates. There was a 700 series Sky Kennel ...it looks just like the Varikennel...wait, it is the Varikennel with extra airholes in the back. It's a new upgraded kennel that meets international requirements. We called the airline back and asked if this would even fit on our particular plane, a Boeing 767? After being on hold, the guy came back and said is this a series 700 kennel? Yes! Yes! He said when he checked the configuration for the aircraft, this particular kennel was actually listed as the largest size crate they will take...and oh, it's called an extra-extra large by the airlines. Again, no standardation. I had friend of a friend email me that day from Germany, lamenting how their friend had to send their two Great Danes via airfreight, cause no airline would take them, at the tune of $1500....ouch. So, I dutifully had the airline rep note it in the record that we had a Series 700 and to expect it on the plane. I don't know if that will help, but we felt we had to do something to ensure our big doggie some kind of spot. I also asked my dad if he was prepared to keep Argos, should some baggage snafu happen at the airport. They are new best friends as of now.

What do we do now along with the usual worrying when you have all these moving parts during a move?....we keep our fingers crossed til hit time...we assume that the cat will be okay in a smaller version of the crate. I'll let you know how it goes from the other side. If you have any lessons learned you can share about traveling with pets, please do post a note.

Teach your dog to do "his business" on command!

Did you know you can teach your dog how to do his "thing" on command? This especially comes in handy when you are in a hurry or freezing your buns off this winter and want to get back indoors. Let me warn you that this exercise is boring and uneventful but the rewards will be priceless as your neighbors watch you tell your dog to do his business and he immediately does and you move along to the next activity!

This is easiest to teach a puppy, but it works with an adult dog too (it just takes longer). When you take your puppy outside to the "designated business area", keep repeating "do your business"...yes, over and over again. Do this EVERY TIME you take him outside...it takes a few weeks of this repetition before you notice that he is actually doing it because you told him to!

With an adult dog, repeat "do your business" as he is squatting and doing his thing. After about a month of this, say "do your business" BEFORE he squats. If he follows along, then you know he's learned it. If not, then he is a little show (which is okay) but means you have to go back to the beginning. Be patient.

My dog is now four years old and does it when he is told. If you want them to do both duties, repeat it again after the first squat and they'll keep squatting as long as you say "do your business". Always follow up with "good dog" and make a fuss over them...now if I could only teach my cat to use the toilet...

Photo by (c) FreeFoto.com