Taking a dog or cat or another animal with you on the road has its good points and its bad points. On the good side, pets can take the edge off an otherwise lonely trip. On the bad side, their needs require some planning. Some things you’ll want to think about before brining a pet along for the ride are food and water, exercise, exposure and truck shops.

Food and Water

These may seem obvious, but if you’re traveling in a tractor trailer truck, making sure you have pet food and fresh water can sometimes be challenging. Many of the larger grocery chains like Wal-Mart and Target have truck access or even truck parking and carry quality brands of pet foods as well as bottled water at lower prices. If you run out of food, you’ll find that most truck stops do carry dog and cat food, but they don’t have much in terms of choices. If you run out of bottled water, you can buy that at the truck stop as well. If you prefer to use the free water at the pumps on the fuel island, make sure the water is potable, meaning that it’s safe for drinking and washing. There should be signs if the water is non-potable but you may want to ask if you are unsure.

Exercise

Any trucker can tell you that being cooped up in a truck all day is no fun. Cats and other non-canine pets are tougher to exercise than dogs are, but many pet shops have small space play solutions. Truck stops and rest areas often have designated pet areas where they want you to walk your dogs in order to keep the rest of the grassy areas free of pet droppings. When you’re walking your dog, keep an eye where you’re stepping for just that reason.

Exposure

If you leave your pet in the truck when you go inside, keep in mind that it can get hot in the summer and cold in the winter when the truck is off. The greenhouse affect isn’t as drastic in a truck as it is in a car- meaning your sleeper doesn’t heat up as quickly as a car would- but a shut down truck isn’t the place for a pet for long. Anti-idling laws around the country don’t make exceptions for pets.

Truck Shops

Most truck repair shops and dealerships make allowances for pets. Either they will allow you to leave your pets in the truck while they work on your truck or they have a driver’s lounge where you can keep your pets with you. Some shops, however, won’t allow pets on the premises. You’ll want to call ahead to make sure your pet won’t get kicked out.

The Pet Sitting business is booming internationally. In the
United States alone there are upwards of 63.2 million individuals who own a pet, or two. Reports tell us that in America there are roughly 64 million dogs and 76 million cats in households. These numbers support why the Pet Sitting Business is on an upward swing. It is fast becoming one of the best small business ventures that an individual can undertake. The Pet Sitting business has been ear marked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor as a small business industry that will thrive with the coming years, with Pet Sitting services located throughout the states.

Pet owners world wide are breathing a sigh of relief that they
have this option for their pet when they travel. In the past
when an individual would travel for business, or a family would
vacation, they would rely on grandparents or relatives to see to the needs of their pets. This is no longer an option for many people. Family’s don’t always remain in the same community. Statistics show that it is common for parents and siblings to live hundreds of miles apart. Once the family option for pet sitting evaporated, people turned to their neighbors. This was soon found to be a bad option for both the neighbor and pet owner. Neighbors felt used, and the traveller felt as if they were putting the neighbor out by asking the favor.

Some individuals tried to travel with their pets. They assumed
that it would be best for their pet to not be separated from
them. These good intentioned pet owners soon realized the folly of their ideals when they discovered that drinking water in some areas weren’t up to par, leash laws were different in each area, and the chances of finding a lost pet in a strange area were minimal. Extended car travel is not good for a pet, either. Animals can quickly become dehydrated and agitated when left in a locked car while the family is inside a restaurant, or mall. The chances that a pet could possibly get hit by an automobile rise every time a pet is taken into a public area, such as parking lots or the city. Pets do not like being kept in a crate in a hotel. They do not like being muzzled for barking or for snipping at strangers. Pets just generally do not like being away from home.

Air travel is not pleasant for a pet, either. The cargo holds on airplanes have erratic temperatures. There is no heat, and there is no air conditioning. The sounds in these cargo areas also frighten animals and make them skittish and nervous. Some pets even require medication prior to flight. Taking your pet on a plane should only be considered under extreme circumstances.

Pet owners soon realized that while they were comforted by the
presence of their pet on a trip, the pet was out of its comfort
zone and did not behave like its usual self. The route of kenneling a pet was soon taken and though it saved the day in a
tight pinch, pet owners tended to know from the start that this
was not a good option for their pet. Their pets were kept in
small quarters. They were only allowed out a couple of times a
day for a few minutes to do their business. Being crowded in an
area with other barking and whining animals would leave a pet out of sorts for days after their owner came home.

Options were limited for a traveling pet owner. Some people gave up and simply refused to have an animal if they were going to have to be away all the time. That was until the Pet Sitting business made its arrival into the small business industry.

True animal lovers were the first to recognize the need for the
Petting Sitting business. They were the ones who took it the
hardest when they were forced to see what their pets went through when they were forced to travel with their owners, or how they behaved after being picked up from a kennel after a week or more away from home. Truthfully, these individuals could not enjoy their trips for worry. These were individuals who hung a stocking for their pet at Christmas, and made them a birthday cake on the pets special day each year. These people saw the need and they stepped out on a limb. They started a Pet Sitting service. Word spread like wildfire and pet owners world wide started seeking these services in their own area.

The rapid growth and success of a Pet Sitting business come when the business owner realizes that it is a business. A love for animals is the foundation, but smart business sense is what will keep you operating. There is only a minimal amount of cost in starting up a Pet Sitting service. That is a major plus for anyone thinking seriously about going into this animal care
business. A budget should be laid out to meet the costs of the
outgoing business. Do not ever under estimate these expenses.
It is better to over estimate than to cut yourself short. Set
goals for six months, one year, three years and five years.
Try to stick to your plan to achieve these goals.

You should research other Pet Sitting services in your area.
Find out what their strengths and their weaknesses may be.
Learn what the going rate for Pet Sitting is in your area. Be
competitive in your rates. Just because you may be doing what
you love is no reason to do it for pennies. On the other hand,
no one is going to pay your Pet Sitting business a small fortune, either.

You have to be a people person. The reason you get into the Pet
Sitting business may stem from being an animal lover, but if you are not warm and friendly with people you can forget about your Pet Sitting business getting off the ground. Pet owners are particular about whom they let care for their pets. If they sense that you are uncomfortable around them, they will be wary of you. Try to develop your people skills if you lack self-confidence in that area. You don’t want your shyness to keep you from doing what you love. You don’t want to come off as a phoney, but maintaining eye contact and being able to carry a conversation with the pet owner without looking at your shoes will go a long way.

You should go out to the home and get acquainted with each pet
and design a list of duties that the client is wanting you to
perform while they are gone. The pet owner will familiarize you as to the habits, character and personality of each pet. You should know what they like to play with and what special
nicknames they have. You should also ask the pet owner for clues about their pet, or signs you should watch for in case of
illness. Some dogs may lay around and sleep all day. Others may not settle for a moment. You should know what to expect from each pet in the home. If they are not doing their usual
activities that should throw up a red flag to you. You should
make sure that the client gives you all the information on the
pets in the home. You will need history of illnesses,
vaccination records, veterinary information, as well as a place
to contact the pet owner if needed. It is important that you are given a key by the client and that you are not expected to
retrieve it from a hiding place. A possible thief could be
watching the home and may see you getting it and replacing it.
That is a disaster waiting to happen.

Besides walking the dog, feeding the bird, tending to the cat,
and playing with the pets, a client sometimes will want a Pet
Sitting service to do other things. The Pet Sitting business can offer many services for the traveler, besides pet care. The first one being home security. You can pick up the mail,
newspaper, water the potted plants, and do a thorough walk
through of the home to make sure that everything is as it should be for your client. Simply opening the curtains on one visit and closing them on the next will give the home a lived in look. These services are in addition to pet sitting. The possibilities are endless as to what a Pet Sitting service can offer the
client.

The Pet Sitting business is booming. Everyone is happy. The
small business owner gets to do what he loves for a living . . . being around animals. The traveler can enjoy their trip knowing that all is well on the home front. The pets get to stay in their own home, around their own things, eating their own food, and they get to go out and play like they usually would on their regular routine.

Copyright 2005, Ian White

Author: Ian White
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera Times

Spring is just around the corner. While planning your vacation you not only need to consider where you are going and how you will get there, but also what you will do with your pet. If you decide to travel by car and plan on taking your pet with you, there are a few things you should consider. Preparations will need to be made before traveling and certain factors will need to be taken into account while traveling.

Before Traveling With Your Pet

Before you travel with your pet, the most important thing you should do is consult your pets veterinarian. Make sure your pet is healthy enough to go on a road trip. Take any health problems your pet may have into account and make sure that the trip will not aggravate these health issues. You will also want to consider your pets temperament. A dog with a nervous tendency, for example, may not enjoy a long ride in the car. Health problems can occur if a nervous dog is exposed to stress for long periods. If you are unsure how your pet will handle a car ride, take them with you on several small local trips, such as to the park or the pet store. This will not only get them used to a car ride but it will also help them associate it with something fun. Just remember not to take your pet with you where they will have to be left alone in the car.

If the road trip requires overnight stops, check with the hotels or motels you will be staying at to make sure that your pet is welcome. Be sure you pack all the necessary items your pet will need such as food and water, leashes, comfortable bedding, medication, and a first-aid kit. Also be sure to carry your vets information with you and see if they can provide you with a 24 hour emergency number. You will also want to make sure your pet is wearing their ID tags and that the information on the tags is legible. Carry a photo of your pet for in case your pet gets loose and lost.

While Traveling With Your Pet

Make sure your pet has a comfortable place for them to rest while on the trip. Carriers or dog car safety seats can be quite comfortable. A simple blanket or dog bed will also be sufficient. Never let your pet travel in the back of an open pickup bed. Always make sure you pet is safely restrained. Dog car seat belts allow your dog to sit or lay down comfortably. And they will also keep your dog from interfering while you drive. Do not allow your dog to stick their head out the window while on the road. A tiny speck of flying debris can do a lot of damage to your pet. You can keep the window partially open in order to provide ventilation. Your dog will still be able to enjoy the new scents from an open window without having to put their head out.

Be sure bring plenty of water for your pet and be sure to make several pit stops. Many rest areas have places designated especially for your pet. During these rest stops, evaluate your pets health. Make sure they are not stressed or car sick. If you see any signs of distress or illness, contact your veterinarian immediately.

You and your vet know your dog better than anyone. If there is any doubt about whether your pet can handle the trip, seriously consider leaving your pet behind with a friend or at a quality pet boarding facility. If you are reasonably certain that your dog will enjoy the road trip but it turns out that they do not, be prepared to make longer pit stops. Your vacation will be much more pleasurable if you take your pets health and safety into consideration.

Author: Dawn Ross
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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