Are you hitting the road with Pup?  Make it fun & safe:  Dogs should definitely ride inside!

When it comes to traveling with Fido, everyone has their personal preferences regarding seating arrangements & gear.  Whatever setup you choose, it should fit a simple criteria:  Pup should be secure in the back seat, so she can relax & not be a distraction to the driver.  We’ve heard horror stories about pets riding freely in front seats or on laps.  One that comes to mind happened to a client of ours who was driving with her little dog loose in the front passenger seat.  She had to hit the brakes to avoid rear-ending a car that stopped suddenly in front of her.  The abrupt stop propelled her dog under the brake pedal.  As a result, she did hit the car in front of her.  Thankfully, she & her dog are fine.  But a valuable lesson was learned.

What system & gear should you choose?  That depends upon your dog’s preference & size.  In general, if being able to see outside of the car relaxes Pup, consider a barrier between the front & back seats, a doggie car seat, or a tether system.  If the view out the window makes Pup anxious, let her ride in a crate.  Here are a few of our favorite products for canine car trips:

• Car seat & harness (for little dogs) – Make sure it’s the right height for your dog and that it can be belted into the back seat.  Of course, it should also include an attachment for your dog’s harness.  By the way, many of the items in our list are harness-based.  So get Pup a comfy, padded harness, and help her acclimate to it on walks or supervised @ home.  That way she can relax while wearing it in the car.  For small dogs, we like soft neoprene harnesses, like Puppia or Cloud.  (The Cloud harness is shown in the video, below.)  Our Rusty showed off his car seat, which admittedly was a worthwhile splurge.  We chose it for its height, soft sides (chin rests), and the cover’s wash-ability.
• Harness & tether (for larger dogs) – As mentioned above, get a padded one and acclimate Pup to it ahead of time.  We like the Bergan seatbelt harness (tether included).  If Pup already has a comfy harness, tether her to a seatbelt with the Ultimate Seat Leash.  It fastens to any seat belt & adjusts from 16″ to 24″.
• Front seat barriers - To keep Pup in the back seat if she’s not tethered.  The Screen Barrier covers more space between front seats & is “claw-proof”.  The Kurgo barrier also allows Pup to see through it.  These options are pricier, but they’re well-made.  If Pup relaxes best when she can see through the barrier, then these are for you.  If Pup doesn’t mind a barrier that blocks her vision, consider the more affordable Kyjen Outward Hound barrier.
• Backseat slings or hammocks – Want a safe alternative to tethering?  These seat covers prevent Pup from falling onto the floor behind the front seat.  They also double as a front seat barrier.  Here’s a nice example.  Know that there are many types in all price ranges available.  Bonus:  Slings protect your car from fur & muddy paws!
• Seat extenders – These only prevent Pup from falling onto the floor behind the front seat.  They do enlarge the backseat to accommodate a larger dog.  You’ll need another system to restrict Pup’s movement, though.  Here’s an inflatable version.
• Overhead backseat cables  – This system also requires a harness/tether setup, but Pup can roam the back seat.  Just make sure Pup can easily sit & lie down when she’s tethered.  The Kurgo Automobile Zip-Line includes a tether & a harness.
• Cargo barriers – These grates essentially turn the back of your SUV or van into a crate, so that the backseat is available for humans.

Let’s take a break here and check out the Cloud harness (mentioned above).  Our Rusty loves his!  Watch Jess Rollins & her adorable pooch, Bingo, demo it for you:

OK – Back to the gear.  What if Pup likes to feel the wind in her fur?

We strongly discourage folks from allowing their dogs to ride with their heads outside car windows.  Yes, it’s cute.  That is until Pup gets something in her eye or escapes from the car – just to name a few of the things that can go wrong.  Window screens let the breeze in while keeping Pup safely inside.  On the high end (design, durability & cost) is the BreezeGuard.  On the low end (cheaper & less durable) is the window vent.  If you must allow Pup to hang out the window, protect her eyes…. we love Doggles!

Still need to see dogs free in cars?  Watch this video.  It’s 5-minutes of cuteness:  Dogs riding in cars, heads hanging out windows, in slo-mo.  These dogs are doing it, so your pooch doesn’t have to!

Related posts:

• “It’s a spring thing!” – Includes links to our fave pet travel blogs to help you plan trips with Fido.
• “Summer’s here!” – One of our best lists of tips & ideas for family activities that include pets.
• “Have a great holiday weekend!” – Important summer tips, including links to our recommended local resources (day cares, pet walkers, pet sitters) & a nice video on camping with pets.

Are you catching us between posts?  Visit us on our Facebook page.

We update it daily with all the latest & best in recalls & other pet-related news; behavior/training tips; & entertainment.  Join us there to laugh & learn.  Stop by & share how you & your pets are traveling in style &  enjoying the sun.  We’d love to see your ideas, pictures & videos.  Happy trails!

© 2012 Critter Consulting

We cat-ified our site by adding even more helpful resources for cat lovers!

The latest addition is our article, “You CAN train your cat!“  In it, we describe what cat training involves, and how it differs from dog training.  When we help folks with their cats, we’re usually changing undesired behaviors that result from Kitty being stressed.  You can certainly teach your cat commands, as you would a dog.  But with cats we’re most often guided by a few key, cat-centric questions :  How can we make you happy?  What message are you conveying with your behavior?  How can we bridge the communication gap between you & your humans, so they can see things from your perspective and have the patience to make the changes you need?  And, voila! -  We develop a personalized behavior modification plan based on a detailed history & personality profile of Kitty.

Are your home & routine cat-friendly?  Read our articles for tips on cat-ifying your feline’s life:

• “Let’s Play!“
• “Crazy for Catnip?“

Have fun with it, and you’ll see wonderful changes in your favorite feline!  Be proactive whenever possible.  If you cat-ify, Kitty’s less likely to stress.  But if problems arise, don’t wait for undesired behaviors to become bad habits.  (With cats, that can happen quickly, as with house soiling and cat-cat aggression, for example.)  Don’t hesitate to contact us for help with your cats & dogs, of any age, for any issue.

It looks like Simon could cat-ify his feline’s life a bit, too.  Some environmental enrichment (interactive play sessions, cat shelves & perches with views, food puzzles, treat hunts, etc.) would be purr-fect for Simon’s Cat!

And a Happy Easter to everyone from us & our favorite porcupine, Teddy!

Related posts:

• “Spring spirit”
• “It’s a spring thing!”
• “Crazy for catnip?”
  
• “Resolution rescue!”

Are you catching us between posts?  Visit us on our Facebook page.

We update it daily with all the latest & best in pet-related news; behavior/training tips; & entertainment.  Join us there to laugh & learn.  Stop by & share how you’re welcoming spring with your pets.  We’d love to see your ideas, pictures & videos.  Let’s celebrate together!

© 2012 Critter Consulting

You’re not alone.  It’s a love-hate thing.

Did you know there are alternatives?  If you seek them out proactively, you’ll be prepared when your pet suddenly needs them.  Most of the options we list below are easily available in pet stores & online.  Some have additional uses in life with pets.  For example, if you have a secure deck with vertical railings, the Cloud Collar can prevent Pup from chasing toys through railings & off the deck.  Regardless of your product choice or use, your pet should only wear them when supervised, for safety’s sake.

• Cloud Collar – Easier for pets to play & eat in.  Peripheral vision is good, but access to crates may be thwarted.
• EZ Soft Collar -  For small dogs & cats.  Softness means it’s easier to sleep & maybe eat in.  Still obstructs peripheral vision.
• Comfy Cone – For cats & dogs of all sizes.
• Clear E-collar – Edges are padded for your pets’ comfort, and to minimize impact on items (or humans).  Peripheral vision is a bit better.  Otherwise, it’s the classic “cone”.
• BiteNot collar – For dogs & cats.  (We suspect this would be hard for most cats to acclimate to.)  Makes eating, playing & getting into crates/cars easy.  Peripheral vision isn’t affected.

Why are we posting this info now?  It’s allergy season for pets, too.  Skin irritations lead to self-harm (licking, chewing & scratching).  Or, you may be welcoming a puppy or kitten into your home this spring.  Plan on neutering/spaying him/her.  If your pet insists on fussing over the healing area & isn’t easily distracted from it, your vet may recommend a cone.  We hope these products help reduce your pets’ stress and speed their recovery!

Try as you may to keep Fluffy & Fido comfy in this gear, there will be an adjustment period for them.  Watch how clicker training can help them acclimate without fear.  Don’t have a clicker?  Use a praise word like, “Good!” or “Yes!” to mark Pup’s approaches to the cone.

Try not to laugh too hard @ them, as their dignity is in jeopardy.    Watch as Lucy navigates steps in her cone-of-shame:

Related posts:

• “Spring spirit”
• “It’s a spring thing!”
• “Crazy for catnip?”
• “Resolution rescue!”

Are you catching us between posts?  Visit us on our Facebook page.

We update it daily with all the latest & best in pet-related news; behavior/training tips; & entertainment.  Join us there to laugh & learn.  Stop by & share how you’re welcoming spring with your pets.  We’d love to see your ideas, pictures & videos.  Let’s celebrate together!

© 2012 Critter Consulting

This post is purely for fun because it’s our favorite season.

We think the happy little dogs in our video collection capture the joy of spring perfectly.

 Woohoo, woofs & wags!

The cutest happy-dance ever, Boston terrier style:

How much happiness can a squeaky toy create?  Ask Andy!

This canine classic puts a smile on our faces every time.  Happy spring!

Related posts:

• “It’s a spring thing!”
• “Crazy for catnip?”
• “Resolution rescue!”

Are you catching us between posts?  Visit us on our Facebook page.

We update it daily with all the latest & best in pet-related news; behavior/training tips; & entertainment.  Join us there to laugh & learn.  Stop by & share how you’re welcoming spring with your pets.  We’d love to see your ideas, pictures & videos.  Let’s celebrate together!

© 2012 Critter Consulting

Catnip’s wonderful effects are often undervalued and overlooked.

Our clients are frequently surprised when we recommend catnip as part of a plan to resolve their feline behavior problems.  If used appropriately, catnip can help Kitty deal with emotional states that are at the root of unwanted behaviors.  Perhaps you & your cat can benefit from the effects of catnip, too.

Is your cat crazy for catnip?  Find out how to make the most of it in our article.  If you’ve got spring fever & a green thumb, start some catnip in your garden.  Your cats will love you for it!

We’re still laughing @ this highly anthropomorphized video.  Enjoy!

How about a touch of the Irish for Kitty?  We love this DIY clover catnip toy.  Suggestions: Make more than one; follow the instructions in our article for keeping catnip toys fresh; and …. block the space under your fridge!

Are you catching us between posts? Visit us on our Facebook page.

We update it daily with all the latest & best in pet-related news; behavior/training tips; & entertainment.  Join us there to laugh & learn.  Stop by & share how you’re welcoming spring with your pets.  We’d love to see your ideas, pictures & videos.  Let’s celebrate together!

© 2012 Critter Consulting

We love to help pet guardians see the world from their pets’ points-of-view.

Let’s talk dogs here.  Humans often claim that their dog’s behavior “came out of the blue” or happened “for no reason”, “without warning”.  That’s rarely true.  Dogs speak volumes through their primary mode of communication:  body language.  We’re just not “listening”.  The more you practice observing Pup, the more you’ll really see the subtitles of her social communication skills.  A truly keen observer of dogs knows that each time you look, you see more.  We cherish the “ah-ha” moments that arise as we help clients see & decipher what their pets have been saying to them all along.  It’s a beautiful thing, because guardian & dog can continue to improve their relationship with a new understanding of each other.  It’s amazing how quickly dogs respond to their person’s new-found “bilingual” skills ….. Almost as though they’re saying, “What took you so long?!”

Verse yourself in canine-speak.  Review our post, “Are You a Close Talker?“.  It’s packed with video illustrations of polite interactions between canines.  In the post, we translate lessons learned from these dog-dog interactions into guidelines for how humans should approach (or not approach) dogs.  When you’re done, we’ll meet you back here with a current-event illustration of human-dog communication gone very wrong…..

If you follow us on Facebook, you know we covered in detail the case of the news anchor, Kyle Dyer, who was bitten on her face by a dog – on live TV.  The dog, Max, was setup by his unaware humans to feel defensive.  The encounter was too stressful too soon after his near-death rescue from icy water just 16 hours earlier.  He was “trapped” on a leash in a tight space in a new-to-him (& likely scary) environment.  The other oh-so-obvious-now lesson learned:  Never, repeat NEVER, kiss a strange dog on the face.  Watch the original footage here.  (You’ll only see Max during the bite, we promise.  Our heart goes out to Kyle, who, as you’ll see in the 3rd video, is healing nicely, physically & emotionally.  Max is OK, too, home with his family.)

Did you see the warnings?  This bite did not come out of the blue, or happen for no reason – as Ms. Dyer said on The Today Show last week.  Watch Michael Baugh’s excellent analysis & slow-motion video (again, dog only) of all the body language Max used to “say” that he was extremely uncomfortable just before the bite.  When we watched the original interview video @ normal speed, we could see it coming.  But this description & slo-mo video make it clear to all that Max was doing his best to inhibit himself pre-bite, signalling his fear & discomfort for awhile.  Having said that, we do agree with The Whole Dog Journal’s Facebook comment on the bite itself:  “That’s what ‘zero bite inhibition‘ looks like, folks, and why you WANT your puppy to learn good bite inhibition.”

Finally, here’s the follow-up interview with Kyle Dyer.  We commend her honest self-assessment & bravery in discussing her role in the bite.  She didn’t have the benefit of hind-sight & slo-mo video, so she didn’t know she was threatening Max.  We wish her a speedy & full recovery.

We hope, through Ms. Dyer’s experience, this blog, our Facebook page, and our work with clients, to further educate folks on dog body language, proper human-dog interactions, & scenarios to avoid.  Help us spread the word!

© 2012 Critter Consulting

Psssst…. Can you feel it?  Spring’s just around the corner!

We just had to share this spring-fever-inspired, pet-friendly list of ideas to welcome our fave season:

• Keep Kitty fit & entertained, whether she’s outdoor enjoying the delightful weather, or she’s indoor-only.  Check out our post:  “Let’s Play!”
• Spring brings puppies & kittens!  If you’re considering adopting a pet of any age, ask us for help, proactively.  We’ll guide you in choosing the right pet for you & your family.  If you just adopted a pet (of any age), we’ll help the transition go smoothly for all, including resident pets.  Watch the lovely video, “To everyone who loves dogs“, from our post on the spirit of adoption.  Start training now to enjoy the rest of your year with a happy, well-mannered furry family member!
• Our past spring posts are packed with sweet videos & helpful seasonal safety tips.  We’ve covered gardening with pets, Easter safety tips, spring cleaning, avoiding tick bites, flea prevention, skunk season,  & swimming dogs.  Whew!
• ‘Tis the season for road trips!  Visit three of our fave pet-travel blogs:  Dog Jaunt is for folks traveling with small dogs.  DogTrekker finds the “best places in Northern California for you and your pup to stay, eat, hike, swim and play”.  Go Pet Friendly personalizes your trip according to your destination, number of people, and number/type/size of pets.  Use their road trip planner to locate pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, camping & activities along your route.  Brilliant!

Speaking of road trips, we took an epic one up the northern CA coast for some R&R with our pal, Rusty.  (He blogged about it.)  Enjoy this adorable, spring-like scene that we encountered along the way.  Warning:  Our spring fever is contagious!

Are you catching us between posts? Visit us on our Facebook page.

We update it daily with all the latest & best in pet-related news & entertainment. Join us there to laugh & learn.  Stop by & share how you’re welcoming spring with your pets.  We’d love to see your ideas, pictures & videos.  Let’s celebrate together!

© 2012 Critter Consulting

Valentine’s Day has us thinking about all the animals we’ve loved. 

We’d like to share an article inspired by Charlie, the most amazing cat we’ve ever met.  He came to us as a sickly stray, and moved right into our home & hearts with pure grace.  Keep in mind that it was a full house with 2 other cats and a dog.  So perhaps “grace” is an understatement of the ease with which Charlie joined our family.  Anyway, we felt so blessed to have Charlie in our lives that we wrote about the joys of adopting an adult cat in this article.

And, as always, we’re so grateful to have our miniature poodle, Rusty, in our lives.  He’s another example of how wonderful it can be to adopt an adult pet.  He’s been blogging about it since he came to live with us.  Check out Rusty’s Dog Blog!

Visit your local shelter or rescue. Lots of loving dogs & cats are just waiting to charm their way into your home. We can help your adoptions go smoothly.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you & your pets (even the prickly ones!)

Are you catching us between posts?  Visit us on our Facebook page.

We update it daily with all the latest & best in pet-related news & entertainment.  Join us there to laugh & learn.  Plus, you’re welcome to post pics on our page of your adopted Valentines – anytime!

© 2012 Critter Consulting

Now’s the time of year when our good intentions start to fall by the wayside.

Allow us to re-inspire you with this post.   Instead of thinking about your goals as resolutions, consider them to be “lifestyle goals”.  We quit resolutions if we haven’t reached them by January 31.  Don’t give up!  Instead, gradually incorporate your goals into your life so they’re doable & fun.  Ask others to join you to hold you accountable.  For example, if one of your goals was to get moving, let your pet be your personal trainer.  One look @ that adorable face will remind you to get up & walk, run or play.  Just get going, and you’ll be rewarded with personal satisfaction, as well as all the wags & purrs you can stand!

A few fave articles, posts & pages to get you started (again) on the right paw:

• “Let’s Play!” – Feeling stressed?  Overwhelmed?  Got the blues?  If you can answer yes to any of these questions, then your cat probably can, too.  We have the solution for both of you:  Dust off those cat toys & get busy playing!  (Bonus:  A tired Kitty is less stressed & better behaved.)
• “7 Resolutions your pet can help you reach”
• “Resolutions for you & your dog” – Combine exercise & training to improve mind & body.  We can help you improve Pup’s leash manners & training to get you both going!
• “A new kind of resolution” – Don’t have a dog?  Why not volunteer with your local shelter or rescue as a dog walker?  Who knows, maybe you’ll meet your mutt match!  (Plus, we list lots of other ways you can feel good while making a difference.)
• Our toy recommendations – for your dog and your cat.
• “I workout!” – Our poodle pal, Rusty’s post is loaded with inspiration!

Most importantly, have fun!

And do it with a sense of humor!

© 2012 Critter Consulting

Want to get started on the right paw with your pet this year?  Why wait?  We’d love to hear from you!  We help people have happy, well mannered dogs & cats.  Got a  new puppy?  Or an older dog that needs to learn new tricks?  Is Kitty stressed?  We work with all ages, breeds, and issues via in-home consultations in Sonoma County.

As always, we’ll continue to inform & entertain via this site, our Facebook page, our newsletter, and Rusty’s Dog Blog.  After all, it’s much more fun to learn when you’re laughing.  So dig in & stay in touch.  Woofs & wags to you & your pets!

Related posts:

• A new kind of resolution – You can help others with a gift of giving!
• I workout! – Our fave intrepid poodle, Rusty, shows you how he stayed in shape thru the holidays in his latest video post.  No resolutions required!!
• That lovin’ feeling – Valentine’s Day ideas for pets & their people
• Better than chocolate & flowers – Novel gift ideas from the heart

© 2012 Critter Consulting