TRAVEL TIPS Making Dog Days Away More Fun (NAPSA)—For many American families, travel without the family dog would not be a howling success. Recent figures released by the Travel Industry Association of America indicate that 29.1 million people vacation with pets. Dogs constitute nearly 80 percent of that number. The vast majority of people traveling with pets (86 percent) do so by car, truck or RV. These people should bear in mind, however, that traveling can be exhilarating, confusing, overwhelming or even frightening for dogs. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Guide for Traveling with Pets, “Planning and preparation are necessary when traveling with family pets. In unfamiliar surroundings, your pet’s appetite, energy, and disposition may change.” Here are a few tips to improve a trip with your pooch: * Investigate accommodations in advance. Many hotels, rental condominiums and campgrounds do not accept pets. Guide books and hotel directories include accommodations that are pet-friendly and spell out what fees, deposits or restrictions are involved. * Dog-paddle before you swim. Take weekend trips with the dog before heading cross-country for two weeks. A car-sick dog is nobody’s friend, so a couple of practice trips can be insightful. * Take responsibility for your pet. Keep it on a leash. Remember the dog is immersed in strange surroundings that may causeit to react differently than it usually would. Alwaysclean up after your dog. * Don’t abuse family ties. Don’t just assume that your extended Advance planning is key to smooth travel with a dog. family loves your dog as passionately as you do. Always ask in advance whether your dog is welcome. To alleviate concerns from your host, bring the dog’s kennel or dog bed along. One thing that may help is a new product that was designed to help dogs sleep better—whether on the road or at home. The compact, portable Aero Paws inflatable dog bed, recently introduced by Aero Products International, is available in different sizes for small, medium and large dogs, and deflates to a compact size for traveling. * Go easy on the people food. Stick with the dog’s regular dog food and avoid the unpleasantness of your pet’s upset stomach. There are wonderful areas all over the country that are richer when explored with a dog. If your plans mean that the dog will be alone in a hotel room day after day, however, leave him at home with a friend. You'll both be happier. For more information on the Aero Paws Dog Beds, visit the Web site at www.thinkaero.com.
