However, it’s a good idea to research any daycare facility you plan on using. Not all doggy daycare centers are created equal.

First of all, make sure the facility is just that – a building designated for one specific purpose – and not someone’s house. While someone can run a successful doggy day care out of their house, this is the exception and not the rule. There are certain limitations and restrictions that must be applied when many dogs are put together, and this can be difficult to accomplish without a lot of space.

Think about it. Would you want a bouncy Labrador Retriever playing with your Chihuahua puppy? Probably not. Not that the lab would mean any harm, but he might accidentally hurt a smaller dog. Make sure your dog is only allowed to play with dogs of similar size and temperament.

Now, a Jack Russell terrier is pretty small but he would probably do OK with the bigger dogs. It all depends. A knowledgeable staff would know how to handle this properly.

Also, make sure you take your dog to a facility that only accepts “dog friendly” dogs. This may seem like a no brainier but many places will accept any dog just to get the money. There should be some kind of socialization test your dog has to go through before being accepted.

Do not take your dog to any doggy daycare center that does not require all dogs to be current on vaccines and fecal examinations.

Find out what kind of activities your dog will be participating in. Will he just be standing around or is there some kind of interaction with the staff? Some dogs would rather play with people than other dogs.

Go and check out the place in person. Does it look like a safe environment? Do the dogs seem relaxed or stressed out? Are they allowed to take a time-out and nap?

Does the staff know what to do if a dog fight occurs? Have they been trained to recognize the signs of animal aggression? What kind of animal experience does that staff have?

What’s the policy if your dog hurts another dog and vice versa? Do you have to pay for any medical bills or is that the responsibility of the daycare? Ask questions!

Doggy care should be a positive experience for both you and your pooch. A little research can go a long way!

Before joining any training class, observe one of them in person. Do the dogs and the owners seem to be working together and making progress? Would you be at ease using the methods used? Does the teacher offer alternate ways to solve problems? Not every method works for all dogs.

Do not work with a trainer that uses physical punishment to train your dog. A good dog trainer should not be demonstrating how to scruff your dog or force him into a submissive position (this is called “alpha rolling”). If you don’t feel at ease with any of the training methods being used, trust your inner judgment and move on.

Methods such as “choke chains” can work well when training your dog, but I prefer a different approach. I’ve come to the conclusion that my dogs learn more quickly when I reinforce their behavior with a reward when they do something correctly, as opposed to punishing them when they do wrong.

Are the dog trainers you are interested in using keeping up with the latest research and developments in animal behavior? Or are they using the same training techniques they learned 20 years ago? Once again, experience matters but you have to make sure that the trainer you are working with hasn’t just been doing the same thing for 20 years without adopting any new approaches or techniques. Check to make sure the trainer or instructor is a member of educational organizations like the Association of Pet Dog Trainers or is making an effort to get ongoing training from other sources.

A few dog trainers offer very personalized service and will come to your home. In-home dog training isn’t cheap, but training a dog in their own environment is very effective. This can be extremely valuable if you can do it.

Some trainers offer a service where they will train your dog for you. All you do is drop your dog off, and they do the rest. I think this approach is less than desirable because the dog’s owner really isn’t learning anything this way. I also can’t understand how this would deliver a consistent message to the dog. You also never know what methods they use with your dog while you’re away, either. If you’re going to spend the money, I believe it’s better to hire a dog trainer to come to your home.

Ultimately, choosing a boarding facility is a decision that must be made carefully. Unless you know someone or have excellent referrals already, it’s hard to know where to go. The best scenario is a place where you know your pet will be well taken care of and content. Since many house pets don’t do well in strange surroundings, finding a place that will meet their needs and keep them reasonably happy is especially challenging.

Before you consider using a given facility, go visit and get a feel for it in person. You should not skip this step. Is the facility clean? Is there an unusually foul odor in the air? Do the pets staying there appear to be happy and healthy? Are they kept in sanitary cages?

Do not board your pet at any facility that does not require current vaccinations. This should include a worm check.

Some veterinarians offer pet boarding services as part of their everyday business. One thing may surprise you, though. A veterinary hospital may be a poor choice for boarding your pet, unless they have a separate staff and facility just for performing this service.

Consider this. If you were a cat or dog, how would you feel hanging out in a human hospital for a few days? Hospitals are what they are. They are places for sick and recovering pets. Your pet is not likely to have much fun staying in a veterinary hospital while you are gone, nor are they likely to get the attention and exercise they need.

Most vet clinics are not well equipped to offer boarding services. The staff in those facilities is usually focused on taking care of sick pets, and those awaiting or going through surgery. Odds are, if your pet is boarding at such a facility, he will be attended to only after all the “patients” have been taken care of. Veterinary hospitals are not usually staffed around the clock, so your pet may be spending a lot of time alone without attention or exercise. In addition, he may be kept in close proximity to sick animals, which is not a good situation. That said, some vets do offer separate facilities for boarding that are adequate – just do your homework and check things out in person first.

While you are visiting a potential pet boarding facility, see if the animals are monitored and kept safe and secure while exercising or playing outdoors. They should not be left in any confined area without supervision for extended periods of time. Observe all fencing and make sure it looks secure, with no holes or “easy to dig out” places at the bottom.

If you are boarding a cat, they should be contained in an area that is separated well from the dogs. Few things can stress out a normal cat worse than around the clock barking and howling!

If you will be boarding a dog, be certain to find out how he will be cared for. How often will he be fed? Will he have regular outdoor play time? Will they give him his own healthy dog food that you bring from home?

A good idea is to ask your veterinarian if they can recommend a good local pet boarding facility. They will usually know all the pros and cons of the ones in your area. Just take time to visit in person any kennel or other facility you are considering for your pet. It wouldn’t hurt to take your pet along, too, to see how they react to the surroundings.

One last thing to consider when visiting and evaluating a boarding facility – watch the staff and see how they interact with the animals. To do this job well, one must love animals and have a tremendous amount of patience with them. Not everyone is gifted with this ability. If the people working directly with the pets are impatient and unfriendly with them while you’re there, think of how they must act when you leave.

Deciding on a place to leave your pets is an important decision. Keep all these things in mind when you make your choice.

You should look for particular characteristics when selecting a veterinary hospital. Location is an important consideration. However, don’t choose to go to XYZ Animal Hospital just because it’s closer to your home than any other. By traveling a few extra miles you could discover a hospital where both you and your pet feel more comfortable. You could even save a few dollars!

You might have seen guidelines about how to pick out the right “doctor” for your pet. It IS crucial to feel comfortable with your pet’s veterinarian. All the same, what might be of even greater importance is how you get along with the hospital staff. It goes without saying, these are the folks that you and your pet will be working with 80% of the time.

Be certain to learn as much as you can about the staff. Do they hire licensed or certified veterinary technicians? These people, a great deal like registered nurses, will be helping treat your pet more than any other person at the hospital. It is important that they are both in the know and well educated. Some veterinary hospitals attempt to save money by employing untrained workers and training them “on the job.” Regrettably there is no law at this point that requires the person administering your pet’s anesthesia or drawing its blood to have any specific schooling or certification. Not good!

You will be able to start your hunt for a new veterinary hospital merely by looking in the Yellow Pages or on the Internet. There will surely be a lot of choices under “veterinarians.” Check the ads and see if any stand out to you. Frequently they will have a listing of services, office hours, doctors names, and so forth. If they publish a web site be sure to visit it!

A lot of veterinary hospitals offer extended hours. This can be a big thing – particularly if you are dealing with a pet that has a habitual disease or a condition that requires regular check-ups and prescription medicine refills. A few hospitals also offer 24-hour care and emergency services on-site while others will send you to other facilities, even during normal business hours. Be certain to inquire about emergency services when looking for an animal hospital so you can be ready in case something unforeseen occurs.

Animal hospitals attending only to cats are also increasing in popularity. These alternative hospitals might be worth checking into particularly if you have a cat with special needs or one that is not good around other people. No barking and aggravating dogs to be concerned with!

If a hospital only employs one doctor, chances are the office hours will be very limited. Nonetheless, many people value the familiarity a one-doctor hospital can offer. You also have assurance that when something goes wrong with your pet you will always have the same doctor. This consistency can be comforting. On the other hand, having only one doctor on staff also means a reduced number of services tendered. Also, what happens when the doctor is out of the office or goes on vacation? Or travels to a conference? Does the office close down until he returns?

When looking into multi-doctor practices find out if any of the veterinarians have any particular interests. Numerous general practice veterinarians study a particular area of medicine such as orthopedics, dermatology, deportment, or acupuncture but may not really have a “specialization” accreditation for that field. This might potentially save you a lot of money and a visit to a specialist should your pet ever need help in any of those areas.

Often, the most effective way to learn about veterinary hospitals in your region is to just ask people you know. Where do your friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors go? Have they had any good or bad experiences that they can relate? Ask them about things like staff retention. Are the same workers there for the long term? Are there new hires working almost every time they visit? This can be a big RED FLAG. If people don’t like being there it must not be a positive working environment. Look for a veterinary hospital that has had the same staff for a long time. You and your pet will enjoy working with the same people year after year.

Be certain to check out any hospital you plan on taking your pet to in person. How does the hospital staff interact with the clients and pets? How does the staff work with each other? Does the receptionist handle phone calls politely and cheerfully? You can also request a tour. While there ask for a list of prices and brochures to take home and review later. You will frequently get a gut feeling just by spending a few minutes in the lobby. Do not be afraid or hesitate to ask questions! Pet care should be taken very seriously.

These days, pet sitting is a flourishing business. Our society as a whole is more mobile than ever, which creates great opportunity for this business. A lot of folks choose for one reason or another that they wish to get in volved in pet sitting. Even so, as soon as they find out what work it requires they back off a bit. Bottom line – you need to come up with a person who has been in this business for a long time.

There are advertisements for pet sitters all over. You can find them in the Yellow Pages, online, and placed on bulletin boards in pet stores. A good idea is to ask your friends, family, acquaintances, and your veterinarian for a few recommendations.

You will without doubt want to talk to some potential pet sitters (in your home and in person) before employing any of them. It is particularly important for your pet to have a chance to meet any possible pet sitters and see what their reaction is to them.

Ask the tough questions. Ask the pet sitter why you ought to hire them and not someone else. They will in all probability say, “Because I LOVE animals!!” This is a reasonable answer, but my four year old niece also loves animals. I don’t think you would trust her to watch over your pet while you are away.

You need to find out what sort of background and experience this individual has with animals. Do they understand how to pick out signs of sickness? Do they know the right steps to take in case of an emergency? Having an affection for animals is an admirable trait but it really requires more skills and experience than that alone.

Before you hire anyone, obtain a listing of references and get in touch with other individuals that have employed the pet sitter you are thinking about hiring. In addition, make certain the pet sitter is insured and bonded. This protects you and your home against any possible harm or theft while you are absent. Anybody you employ should be a member of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.

There are quite a few companies that keep a few pet sitters on staff. Make certain that you and your pet get together with the sitter who will actually be staying in your home. When you are getting pricing, be certain you understand exactly what all is included.

Some questions you should ask before hiring a pet sitter include:

How many times will they visit your pet each day?

Do those visits include walks, playtime, giving medications, and performing other services such as cleaning up “accidents”?

There are some pet sitters who will stay in your home overnight while you are gone.

Discovering an honest and dependable pet sitter you can trust can be very reassuring. It’s nice to know both your home and your pet are in the hands of someone who cares and will do a good job.

For more infomation about preparing to leave your pet and choosing the right pet sitter, visit the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.

Take into consideration your pet’s health needs before you begin your journey.  It’s important to your pet’s health and safety to make plans ahead of time so your entire family can enjoy a great vacation experience.

First, determine whether your pet will be a good traveler.  If he is prone to anxiety, stress and fear in new situations, it isn’t a good idea to take him along.  It’s possible that new and strange situations can injure your pet’s health.

If you’ve decided to travel by car, it should be easy to schedule regular stops for your animal to exercise (and relieve himself).

Make time for regular grooming if your pet has special needs.  Make sure he has a comfortable place to sleep in the vehicle so he can be comfortable during your journey.

If you plan on staying in motels, make reservations at pet-friendly motels or hotels.

If you’ve decided to travel by air, most US-based airlines allow dogs and cats on board.  Some offer services for other domestic or exotic pets.  It’s imperative that you check each airline’s guidelines prior to boarding the plan.  Airlines require carry-on pet carriers and kennels heading to the cargo area of the plane.  Requirements vary in size from one airline to the next.

Remember, you must make a reservation for pets traveling on board.  Most airlines have restrictions on how many pets can travel in the cabin on a single flight.  Book ahead to make sure your pet isn’t left behind.

In addition, make sure to ask your airline about the cost to fly your pet.  Fees can very based on whether you’ll be carrying your companion on board or checking him in as cargo.

Airlines also have age and health code requirements for all pets on board.  In order to fly your pet you must have a veterinary health certificate dated within 10 days of outbound travel for domestic flights and within two weeks for international travel.

A vaccination certificate is required for all adult pets.  Contact the airline ahead of time to ensure you fully understand their specific pet travel regulations so that you and your family can have an easy check-in and boarding experience.

You have health insurance to protect your family.  One thing to remember is that pet insurance, like medical insurance, almost never covers the entire bill.  You probably can accomplish the same thing by paying a small monthly premium to your savings account.

If your pet is generally healthy and has little cause to visit a vet beyond annual checkups, the amount you save is better served in your bank account.

There is a risk, of course if you run into unusually expensive veterinary needs. You may be exposed to a cruel choice between your pet’s health and well being and your personal finances.

The chances are that your pet will require medical treatment at some point, either as a result of an accident or for a long or short-term illness, and pet insurance allows you to concentrate on getting them well again, rather than worrying about how to pay for your pet’s treatment. Pet insurance provides you with this peace of mind.

If you’ve decided that pet insurance is a good idea for your pet, make sure you do your homework.  Make sure you research any copays involved, what exclusions are contained in your pet’s policy, and what are the unreimbursed costs involved.  You should be able to get free quotes from companies specializing in pet insurance.

But, make sure you get multiple quotes on pet insurance before you decided on a policy so you can make an educated choice and don’t get caught.

Pet insurance, like your medical insurance, has it’s fine-point pitfalls.

To protect themselves from predators, animals naturally hide their pain.  Your pet may be suffering even though he isn’t showing obvious signs.  Observing your pet’s behavior is vital his managing your pet’s health.

There are a number of things you can observe in your pet’s behavior that will give you warning signs that your pet’s health isn’t quite right.  Pain management has become an integral part of your pet’s overall health care.

If your pet shows abnormal chewing habits, he may have a dental disorder or a mouth tumor.  Additional signs include weight loss, bad breath, or excessive face rubbing.

Routine dental checkups are important to treat dental disorders and related mouth pain.

Good health is directly influenced by your  weight and eating habits.  Animals as well as humans carrying excess weight have an increased chance of physical illnesses and damage.  Weight gain due to lack of exercise also can be a signal of arthritis pain.  Joint disease is the most common cause of pain.  Pets that limp may be reluctant to go up or down stairs, exercise, or play.

Losing unnecessary pounds will help your overweight pet decrease pressure of sore joints and reduce pain.

The lack of verbal expression does not mean that your pet is not experiencing pain. Minor behavioral changes can be cause for alarm. Being aware of your pet’s normal habits can help you and your veterinarian assess and treat your pet’s pain.  Your veterinarian will be able to diagnose, treat, and manage pain.  If you observe any change in your pet’s behavior, be safe and make an appointment with your veterinarian.