TRAVELING WITH MY PACK - Some New Lessons

I feel I am a fairly experienced traveler. I haven't flown in a year or two, but in general, I'm a good researcher, good planner, good packer, good go-with-the-flow-er, and I think my dogs are up for any adventure we might come upon in our travels. Since adding Foster Dog to our family, we've learned he is an excellent traveler and loves to be a part of any trip in the car. I've also increased my understanding of Breed Specific Laws (BSL) in North America, and I'm having to learn how to keep Foster safe and not break any laws that will have him taken away from me. It's serious.




A Breed Specific Law (BSL) is a type of dangerous dog law. It is defined as any ordinance or policy that pertains to a specific dog breed or breeds, but does not affect any others. BSLs were invented to regulate pit bulls and eliminate dog fighting. How "Pit Bull" is defined varies across North America, and can be confusing to dog owners. For example, Ontario, Canada defines Pit Bull as:

1. Pit Bull Terrier
2. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
3. American Staffordshire Terrier
4. American Pit Bull Terrier
5. A dog that has an appearance and physical characteristics substantially similar to any of those dogs.

If a person is found with a dog described as this, and is not "grandfathered" allowed to have it, or is participating in a specific dog show without advance permission, the dog can be confiscated and destroyed. If you have DNA proof that the dog is not a "Pit Bull," that evidence can be presented at a hearing.




I am not going to criticize or defend dangerous dog laws, animal control officers, good dog owners, bad dog owners, good dog breeders or bad dog breeders. BSLs are a controversial topic with nearly everyone having a strong opinion. I have my own, and you can ask me about it if you'd like, but here, I am going to tell you about how I'm planning to travel with my Foster who is a mix of 9 breeds whose DNA test shows he is 6% Staffordshire Bull Terrier and 5% American Staffordshire Terrier. Everyone who sees him, even if he or she doesn't want to say it, thinks he's a Pit Bull. I'm not sure what 11% makes him, but I am sure he is mine, and I will protect him by training him to be an ambassador for whatever breed anyone thinks he is. In some states, that won't be enough.


I do not minimize the life, and often appearance-changing, experiences people have
from being attacked by any dog. These sweet photos of Foster are not meant to make anyone believe all dogs are safe. I do hope these photos illustrate that a deeply loved, diligently trained, family, mix of 9 breeds, dog can be identified as a Pit Bull, confiscated and destroyed, for being in the car with me.

I am taking My Pack to Florida this year and we are driving. I've never been to Savannah, Georgia and I'd like to stop there for the night and take a walking tour of the city in the morning before heading out for another day of driving. Upon reserving a room at what appears to be an absolutely adorable Bed & Breakfast in Downtown Savannah, I told the innkeeper that I have two dogs. She never asked me the size nor the breed of either of them, but told me we would have our own gated entrance into the courtyard for the comfort of my dogs, and that I would be in nearly sight distance of the largest greenspace in Savannah if I wanted to walk my dogs. She also sent me information on dog friendly restaurants in walking distance from the Inn. So sweet.

After doing some research on walking tours in Savannah, I sent an e-mail to the company I thought I'd like to walk with asking if I could bring both of my dogs on their walking tour. The response was "You are welcome to bring your leashed, well-behaved dogs on our tour. Savannah in general, and our walking tours especially, are very dog friendly." Another sweet experience.




As we mapped out our route, I realized we would be driving through some BSL states and decided I needed to do some additional research on individual state's tourist policies. Some counties, villages, cities, etc. have different laws than others. Some apply to residents only, such as residents of the county are not allowed to own a Pit Bull, but a person can drive through the county with no issue. Some areas are less accommodating, and there are no exceptions made for tourists or state residents traveling through the county. I discovered we could encounter an issue in a few locations and started to feel a bit stressed. Though there is no reported enforcement, some states have a BSL with no exceptions: If you have a dog an officer (police, sheriff, animal control) identifies as a Pit Bull, the officer can confiscate your dog, and is authorized to have it killed. Those areas are serious about not having any kind of Pit Bull in their jurisdiction.

I haven't made it through each state's BSLs, but I have read that any issue reported has been complaint based, and individually evaluated, with a majority of people being issued a warning to not let their dogs out of the car in that jurisdiction. I pray we don't have to pee very badly in some states along the way. Mapping a route to avoid BSL states was suggested more than once. We're not planning on adjusting our trip to that extent, but we have discussed a few accommodations.

In the states with the most widespread and confiscation BSLs, we plan to not stop unless absolutely necessary. When necessary to stop, we are going to stop at Rest Areas only and go into the truck, trailer, RV area where there should be less people watching. We bring our own food whenever we travel, so we won't need to leave our dogs in the car unattended to enter a restaurant. As it gets dark outside, there should be less issues with stopping. Both of our dogs are black and less visible at night.

With preparation and awareness, I assume we're going to have a smooth trip to Florida and a smooth trip home. Foster has taught us an entirely new way to be prepared. While I'm sad to have these new lessons, I'm thankful to Foster for increasing our awareness.

TRAVELING WITH MY PACK - Bin Packing

Luna is ready to go!


When I pack for the dogs, I usually need two shallow bins. One for food and supplement things and one for gear. I like shallow bins because I don't have to dig too deeply to find what I need. It seems like everything we have is dark. I think it hides the dirt...

The Food Type Bin:


I like to have a rug to put the dogs' food and water bowls onto. Luna in particular is such a messy eater and drinker. I make packets of food for breakfast and dinner. It just makes it easy and I only have to bring the amount of food we need. I pack a few extra packets to be prepared and because some days we're really active and the dogs will need a few more calories. I know not everyone has figured out how many calories her dogs need and measures out food accordingly, but I do. It's not because I'm an eating disordered person and have that playing out in controlling what and how much my dogs eat. It is because "even moderately overweight dogs (are) at greater risk for earlier morbidity and a shortened lifespan." (Kealy RD, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002; 220:1315-1320.) Also, blood and joint disorders are limited when food is measured and caloric needs are properly met. (Kealy RD, Olsson S-E, Monti KL, et al. Effects of limited food consumption on the incidence of hip dysplasia in growing dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc1992;201:857–863). So I measure.

Because how we travel together is by car, I like to leave a few things out of the bin so there is even easier access when we stop at a rest area. I don't provide Diet Mountain Dew for my dogs to drink, but I do put water into a cleaned 2-liter bottle! Luna doesn't like "Rest Area Water" for some reason, and she really doesn't drink much on the road, but Foster likes to have a drink during a stop, and providing their stomachs with water they are familiar with - we have a well - is just another way to make traveling easier on them.

I also have treats, bowls, towels and baby wipes. Have you ever walked your dog around the "Dog Run" area of a Rest Area? Uucchh. Sooooooo many people do not pick up after their dogs. I like to be prepared with baby wipes in case my dogs, or please-let-it-not-be-me, step into something icky.


The Gear Bin: Backpacks and toys and jackets and just stuff we need for being outside.


It's good to be prepared, and things fit better and better as we use up the food packets. I don't remember everything fitting into one bin, but if I had to do it, I'm confident I could find a way. It's better to have room for my dogs than to go anywhere without them!

TRAVELING WITH MY PACK - The List

Luna's Perch in the car


I have a list of things I like to pack for my dogs when we take a trip together. It is seasonal, but generally has the same things on it for any time of year. Here is the list I made for a big road trip to Colorado in early Fall:


•Luna's needs:
>First Aid Kit supplies: include Benadryl, rubber gloves, tweezers, matches, thermometer, buffered aspirin, Deramaxx, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil
>Tick protection: Tea tree oil spray
>Food packets
>Lots of treats
>Otomax
>Eye drops
>Supplements
>2 bags marshmallows
>Collars
>Recharge set up for flasher
>Seat belt harness
>Service Dog Vest
>Leashes
>Backpack for Me
>Poop bags
>Plastic grocery bags
>Bowls
>Rug
>Small towels
>Big towel
>Toys
>Gulpies
>Bed
>Orange fleece
>Blanket
>Carabiner
>Pepper spray



And the car is packed up!
I often use a Rubbermaid bin for the dogs' things.
A suitcase works well too - usually the carry-on size - but Rubbermaid bins stack so nicely.

TRAVELING WITH MY PACK

If you were born into my family, one of your lifetime assignments is to travel. You are required to experience life in other states, countries and continents. As far as assignments go, I think this is an Excellent one! The greatest challenge in this lifetime job for me is that I cannot always bring my dogs. Wherever I go, whether it be to run errands or to walk El Camino, I want my dogs with me. To do this, I feel I need to plan for their every possible need. To some, I may be seen as a worrier, an over-planner, but to me, I am a thoughtful caretaker, and My Pack and I are always ready for any adventure.

This week, I will share my lists, my suitcases, and some of our adventures. Traveling with My Pack is a gift, and I wrap it up very carefully so that we can rip it open with zeal on the road.



Foster Dog Loves a Road Trip

AN EDUCATION - Dog Breeds, Dog Care, Dogs Dogs Dogs Dogs

I have many many books on how to care for dogs, how to care for your senior dog, how to cook for your dog, and I have many many books on dog breeds, dog encyclopedias, and even a dog "bible." I love each one of these even if each one has information the others do. It's fun to look at the pictures and dream of the dogs I have had and the ones that will be my family in the future. Here is a tiny collection of my "Dog Books."




"Planet Dog: A Doglopedia," by Sandra and Harry Choron
2005

This book is packed, I mean Packed, with quotes about dogs, lists about dogs, lists of dog care information, tips about being a dog owner, and tons and tons of fun and useful trivia. It's just fun.

Some fun bits from "Planet Dog."

"A dog's whiskers are touch-sensitive hairs called vibrissae. They are found on the muzzle, above the eyes, and below the jaws and can actually sense tiny changes in airflow."

"A List of The 10 Gassiest Dogs"
1. German Shepherd Dog
2. Mixed Breed
3. Labrador Retriever
4. Boxer
5. Doberman Pinscher
6. Poodle
7. Cocker Spaniel
8. Rottweiler
9. Beagle
10. Dalmatian

"Highlights of the Iditarod" gets 3 whole pages.

"If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."
- Unknown


"Dogs 24/7: Extraordinary Photographs of Wonderful Dogs," created by Rick Smolan and David Elliot Cohen
2005

187 pages of photographs of dogs being dogs. Going to the vet, being in their yards, working, and sleeping. It's just a beautiful book, and each photo can start a conversation.


"The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Dogs, Dog Breeds & Dog Care," by Dr. Peter Larkin and Mike Stockman
1997

A concise compilation of not just dog breeds in the Hound, Sporting, Utility (Non-Sporting), Terrier, Working and Toy groups, but of information on choosing the right dog for you and how to feed, train and care for it. The pictures are really good of each breed presented and it's fun to have a little bit of information on a lot of different dogs.


"The Original Dog Bible: The Definitive Source For All Things Dog," edited by Kristin Mehus-Rice
2005

A huge book with sections describing Dog Genetics and Development, Dogs in Religion and Folklore, Dogs and the Law, Activities You Can Do With Your Dog, Diagnostic Tests and Techniques, Socializing and Training Your Dog, and many many many other topics. It also has 207 pages devoted to various dog breeds.

When the kids in my life were younger, we looked at this book nearly every day. We read about different dogs we'd seen during the day and guessed about their breed make-up. We talked about what dogs we'd had and what dogs we might like to have and what would be a perfect mix of dog. It inspired many wonderful conversations. Plus, when neighbors' dogs were diagnosed with an illness, we'd look it up for them and they could read what the prognosis and treatments might be. We were the hub of dog information because our Dog Bible was always at the ready.

I don't look to the Dog Bible as frequently as I've needed to in the past, but I love knowing it's available on the shelf, and when a new edition is published, I have a feeling some kids I know will be wrapping it up as a present for me!

AN EDUCATION - Cesar Millan

CESAR'S WAY: THE NATURAL, EVERYDAY GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING & CORRECTING COMMON DOG PROBLEMS, Cesar Millan
2006

I love Cesar Millan. I love him. I love him. I love him. In some circles, I am very alone. I don't care. I love him.

I used to have two copies of "Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide To Understanding & Correcting Common Dog Problems." I now only have one. I don't remember who borrowed the other, but I can understand a desire to keep it forever. It is a book that enhanced my life in such a bright, loving way, I cannot express my thankfulness.




The people who find it an insult to be called "a dog whisperer" (Mr. Millan's long-running television show, now on NatGeo Wild, is called 'The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan.'), have reasons usually centered around what they believe to be Millan's 'antiquated' concept of "Pack Leader" and using physical touch and "leash pops" to communicate with dogs. I can understand the detractors' concerns, but I feel they are highlighting a small portion of Millan's techniques. When I read "Cesar's Way," I recognized my pre-teen and teenage self walking through the woods on the nearly 7 acre island on which I grew up. I am no Dog Whisperer, but the relationship I had with my dog Woof, was rooted in the Pack Leader concept. I didn't know that then. I was just teaching my dog, who lived outside year-round, to not swim across the canal unless I told him he could, and to not cross the bridge over the canal without me. Woof was the best behaved dog anyone had met - that's what anyone who met him said - and I think it was due to our respect of each other. Woof respected me and wanted to do what I wanted, and I respected Woof and his needs, adored him to no end, and had to teach him how to be safe out on those 7 acres surrounded by water. I was following Cesar - who credits Mother Nature and his grandfather as his greatest teachers - and I didn't even know it!

How I interpret Cesar Millan's philosophy is that my dogs are a mirror. If I am a confident, secure person and reflect that in all areas of my life, my dogs will reflect that back to me with their own confidence and security. If we live in balance - physically and emotionally - we will live together in balance. As I remind my dogs of the rules, boundaries and limitations in our life together, they will remind me if I go out of balance. Their "faults" are my faults and together, we can inspire balance in each other.

Cesar's formula for a content and balanced dog is simple: Exercise, Discipline, and Affection, in that order. Cesar describes himself in this way, "I rehabilitate dogs. I train people." It is people who need to make changes and their dogs will follow. "Cesar's Way" touched me by placing the responsibility of dog behavior where I believe it should be, on the humans. Of course our dogs are their own unique selves, but it is we humans who have invited dogs into our daily lives. While dogs definitely benefit from being in our lives through ease of food and shelter, many have been denied their natural animal needs. "Cesar's Way" highlights the needs of a dog and helps define the world through your dog's eyes.

One of my favorite quotes of Cesar's is, "You don't always get the dog you want. You get the dog you need." Whatever 'issues' our dogs may have, they are a reflection of us, and helping our dog resolve his or her issue actually helps us resolve that same issue in our lives. Dogs are so great.

Some quotes from "Cesar's Way"

Page 206:
"The walk is first to bond the two of you and show your leadership, second, for exercise, and third, for your dog to explore."

Page 215:
"Nature doesn't view discipline as a negative thing. Discipline is DNA. Discipline is survival."

Page 218:
"When you try to correct your dog out of anger, you are usually more out of control than your dog is. You are fulfilling your own needs, not the animal's - who will sense your unstable energy and often escalate the unwanted behavior."

Page 231:
"A dog's life is fulfilled if it can live comfortably in a pack, feeling safe and secure under the guidance of its pack leader. A dog is fulfilled if it has frequent primal exercise and, in some way, feels that it is working for food and water. A dog is fulfilled when it trusts its pack leader to set consistent rules and boundaries for it to live by. Dogs love routine, ritual, and consistency. They also love new experiences and the chance to explore - especially when they feel they have a reliable bond with their pack leaders."

Page 269:
"...we need dogs more than they need us."


I love him and I have the full Cesar Collection.



I'll buy every book he ever writes!

AN EDUCATION - Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D.

THE OTHER END OF THE LEASH: WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO AROUND DOGS
Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D.
2002

When I read "The Other End of The Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs," I felt like I had met someone who understood my dogs, me, and the importance of our relationships. Patricia McConnell writes as a formally educated Animal Behaviorist, and real-life educated dog owner and dog trainer. Through her writing, she shows her smarts, and she shows her insecurities and mistakes. I love her.

I read this book 9 years ago, so this isn't an actual book review; none of the entries in this week's topic will be. Some authors have touched my heart while they've taught me, and they've inspired me to learn more. Even after 9 years, I feel Patricia McConnell's writing still teaches and inspires me.

These are some of the passages I highlighted while reading "The Other End of the Leash." I hope they reflect why I admire the author so much.


Page 4:
"...dogs are more aware of our subtle movements that we are of our own...it's very much to our own advantage to pay more attention to how we move around our dogs, and how they move around us, because whether we mean to or not, we're always communicating with our bodies. Sure it'd be a good thing if we knew what we were saying."

Page 41:
"Happy, well-trained dogs understand a wealth of information from the sounds that their humans make...But if you analyze our behavior carefully, sometimes I think it's a miracle that our dogs understand us at all."

Page 55:
"Professional animal trainers, who should know as well as anyone how to use sound to communicate to their animals, distinguish themselves from dog owners in one consistent way. They are able to separate their own emotional states from the sounds that they make, making sounds that elicit the response that they want rather than sounds that represent how they are feeling inside."

Page 102:
"...dogs and people both 'self-handicap' and are pretty good at moderating their power if they're playing with someone weaker and smaller than they are. A dog's ability to control the pressure of his jaws, even in an excited frenzy, is truly amazing. But still, mistakes can and do happen, and they can be so serious that it just doesn't seem worth the risk."

Page 119-120:
"Perhaps we, too, reach out to dogs not just to calm them, but to keep their distress from distressing us. But touch doesn't always calm the ones who receive it, not if they are pumped-up and agitated...dogs are as varied as people in how they like to be touched."

Page 148-149:
"Aggression is not a necessary component of dominance...A hierarchical social system allows individuals to resolve conflicts without having to fight. Any individual who truly has a lot of social status has enough power that he or she doesn't need to use force."

Page 165:
"If you have a young, healthy dog, especially one who sleeps in a crate all day long, then either get yourself outside and exercise with your dog or find someone else to do it for you. I say this because a large number of the behavioral problems that I see have their origin in boredom."

Page 166:
"If you want your dog to stop pestering you, then give him what he needs before he has to pester you for it."

Page 170:
"Teaching manners to dogs at the door has become controversial in the world of dog training. Who goes out the door first is significant in human social interactions, and some people think that it is for dogs, too, while other trainers and behaviorists don't. We do know that doorways are significant to humans: we tend to let those whom we hold in high regard go through them first. My own guess, having heard hundreds of clients describe dogfights at doorways, is that there is some social relevance to dogs. What I am sure about is that doorways are another situation in which dogs can either learn to manage their excitement or let their emotions get the best of them."

Page 177:
"Dogs seem to love people who are quiet, cool, and collected and prefer sitting beside them over sitting beside others. We humans, too, are attracted to those rare individuals who have a dignified and quiet sense of power about them."

Page 181:
You may get obedience out of a dog by threatening him, but mostly you're going to get a dog who is afraid of you. Far too often, you'll get a dog who learns to defend himself by getting aggressive back. Aggression leads to more aggression, and many of the dog bites that I see were made in self-defense."

Page 193:
"So much of whether a human and a dog get along, and whether the dog is perceived as being 'obedient,' is based on how their individual natures combine."

Page 212:
"...love isn't always enough. Every dog is different, and that means that, just as with people, every dog needs an environment that brings out the best in her."

Page 213:
"I've come to believe that when an animal comes into our lives, our responsibility is to use our resources and intelligence to provide him with as good a life as possible. The trick is to learn enough about the dog to know what he needs to be really happy and to get our own ego out of the way."