Traveling with your pets sometimes means you need to get a little more creative. Discovering that your dog gets motion sickness in the car and STILL finding a way to take him with you on vacation puts you in line for an award in my book. Today Nadia Jones, a blogger at online college shares her family’s experience with their car-sick pup, Milo.

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When summertime rolled around, my parents would start to plan the next trip through the beauties of the American landscape. We loved going on road trips across the country, and we loved taking Milo, our miniature schnauzer, with us. My parents were “dog people” for as long as I can remember, imparting the passion for canines on me when I was still very young. Milo was, I think, the best dog our family had ever had: he was quiet and courteous around strangers and friends, never temperamental, and always loving to whoever would pet him.

Image Credit: pamperedpuppy.com

Unlike most miniature schnauzers I’ve come across in my day, Milo never yelped at passing dogs or nipped at unsuspecting people; he just played it cool. My parents had him groomed in such a way that it looked like he had a huge beard growing around his mouth. Combine his beard and his salt and pepper hair, and it’s easy to understand why he was dubbed “The General” amongst our family and friends.

He was a doll … well, a doll that looked like a general.

There was just one problem with Milo: he didn’t travel well. Whenever we’d set out on a road trip to a faraway town or distant camping ground, Milo would do the typical dog thing – look out the window, all excited to get going – and before long was sick.

We’d have to pull over and clean up the mess while trying to stay calm so Milo wouldn’t feel like he’d done something wrong. My parents were always very clear not to make Milo feel like he was being punished for something he couldn’t control. The car sickness came and went sporadically, and sometimes he’d be fine for an entire daylong ride!

When it happened though, I felt bad for Milo and would ask my parents to try to solve the problem. We didn’t want to leave Milo at home while we went on vacation, but we didn’t want to make him sick either. It was a tough situation, and one that could really put a damper on a trip, but we didn’t know what to do to help him.

Pets deserve vacations, too!

Fortunately, it wasn’t long until my mom figured out the problem. She had spoken to a friend about Milo, and the friend had suggested that Milo might be sensitive to motion in the car – especially when he looked out the windows. She suggested covering the windows in backseat so Milo couldn’t see out, and that might reduce his chances of getting sick.

It worked like charm!

Not only did it work, but it gave me an excuse to build little forts in the backseat where Milo and I could pass the time as we drove to our vacation spot. I’d start the fort by covering the two backseat windows with blankets, and then I’d build a little canopy with another blanket. Add in a few pillows, and the two of us had a real piece of work going on! I constructed crazy scenarios for me and Milo in the fort, the kinds of things you can only dream up when you’re a kid. I remember building forts with Milo as some of the happiest moments of summer. Not only did I get to spend some quality time with my favorite mini schnauzer … I also knew he was feeling better than before. Those were the days!

This is a guest post by Nadia Jones who blogs at online college about education, college, student, teacher, money saving, movie related topics. You can reach her at nadia.jones5 @ gmail.com.

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It seems to be common knowledge that rotating our dogs’ food would be a good idea … and yet I don’t. I consider myself a responsible pet parent, but Ty and Buster have been eating Force from The Honest Kitchen for more than two years. The thing is, I’ve never heard a reason that made sense to me. Of course there is a possibility that the boys’ food could suddenly become unavailable, but I deemed it unlikely and figured I’d cross that bridge if I ever got to it.

What caught my attention was the explanation. We all know that pet food manufacturers rely on different combinations of ingredients to provide the nutrition your pet needs. When looking for antioxidants, for example, they might decide between spinach and cranberries. Once they nail down the formula they don’t change it.

The thing is, not all growing seasons are alike – some years will be great for cranberries and other years won’t. In a bad year, the cranberries won’t provide as much benefit as they would in a good year … and if you’re counting only on those cranberries as your pet’s only source of antioxidants, it could be a problem.

But, if you’re rotating between a food that uses cranberries and a food that uses spinach for it’s antioxidants, your pet will be better off. And this logic extends to every ingredient in your pet’s food! It doesn’t matter if it’s bananas, sweet potatoes or pumpkin … the nutritional value is not constant.

So, when the time came to order more dog food, we decided to start mixing things up. Last year the boys did a taste-test of ALL of The Honest Kitchen’s flavors, so we know there isn’t a single one they won’t eat. We decided on a case of Love and a case of Embark. Like Force, both of these formulas are grain-free and the wonderful part is that I’ve been able to switch between them – cold turkey – without upsetting Buster’s sensitive stomach! Our living arrangements don’t allow us to cook for the dogs, but I feel like this is the next best option.

What do you think? Do you rotate your pet’s food – and why or why not?

Disclosure: The Honest Kitchen is a sponsor of GoPetFriendly.com, much to the droolight of Ty and Buster. The opinions expressed here are my honest assessment of the product based on my personal experience using it.

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Welcome to our weekly photo challenge, where we post a pet travel picture … and you guess the dog friendly destination!

Last Week’s Winner

Thanks to everyone who played, and congratulations to Chad B. of Saint Paul, MN – he won last week’s challenge for correctly identifying this location as Independence Pass in Colorado. We hope you enjoy your “Travels with Ty & Buster” calendar, Chad!

This Week’s Photo Challenge

Now it’s your turn to win. If you know where the photo below was taken, submit your answer in the entry form. If you’re stumped try checking some of our older posts – there’s a good chance the photo appeared previously on the blog.

For the winner …

Each week we randomly select one winner from the correct entries to receive a “Travels with Ty & Buster” 18-month wall calendar.

And the photo is …

Do you know where this photo was taken? It’s one of the snowiest places in the world and our first hike on glaciers.

Contest Entry

The Fine Print

This week’s contest closes on Wednesday, May 16th at 11:59 pm EST. This contest is open to US and Canadian residents over the age of 18, except were prohibited. All correct submissions will be assigned a number and the winner will be selected using www.randomizer.org. Winners will be notified by email, announced on our Facebook page, and mentioned in next week’s Friday Photo Challenge. The decision of the judges is final. The winner has 3 days to claim the prize. If the prize is not claimed by the winner within 3 days, an alternate winner will be chosen from the pool of correct entries. The winner of the prize is responsible for any and all applicable taxes on the prize. Employees and relatives of GoPetFriendly.com are not eligible to win.

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Back in March we told you about United Airlines’ new policy that discriminated against certain breeds of dogs. Today, we are happy to report that United has revised their policy.

The official new policy states that United will accept the following breeds of dogs, or mixes of these breeds, once they have reached either six months of age or 20 pounds in weight (whichever comes first) only in a reinforced crate meeting International Air Transport Association (IATA) Container Requirement #82.

Determination of breed, age or weight will be confirmed by the animal’s Health Certificate, which is to be dated within 10 days of transport. Additionally, United reserves the right to refuse any animal that displays aggression or viciousness.

Breeds include:

American Staffordshire Terriers
Ca de Bou
Cane Corso
Dogo Argentino
Fila Brasileiro
Perro de Presa Canario
Pit Bull Terriers
Presa Canario
Tosa (or Tosa Ken)

IATA Container Requirement #82 states that the container or crate must be constructed of wood, metal, synthetic materials, weld mesh or wire mesh. Additional design principles regarding frame, sides, floor, roof and doors also apply. No portion of the crate may be plastic. The crate door must be made of heavy wire mesh, metal or reinforced wood and should have a secure means of fastening that cannot be opened accidentally.

United’s change of heart seems to be the result of public outcry that classified the ban as “canine profiling.” One of the first people affected, Jessie Huart started a Change.org petition when her 10-year-old pit bull was banned from United’s flights. The petition received more than 45,000 signatures and Huart says, “I am thrilled that United listened to their customers and over 45,000 petition signers and changed their pet restriction policy. This change is a victory for responsible dog owners everywhere at a time when many are facing breed discrimination.”

As for the condition that these breeds travel in more secure carriers, Huart says, “All dogs, regardless of breed, should be able to fly safely. The new requirement of reinforced crates improves the safety of the dogs and is something United should consider extending to all large dogs.”

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Driving around gives you a lot of time to think, and sometimes the thinking leads to interesting conversations in the cab of our Winnebago. One such confab took place last week as we were motoring from Pennsylvania to Rhode Island, kicking off our summer tour of New England. Envisioning our surroundings for the next few months, Rod said he expects to be quite comfortable in New England because its characteristics resonate with who he is.

Harkening back to their Puritan origins, Rod attributes New Englanders with a deeply engrained work ethic and an appreciation of structure. He expects this to translate into straight lines, precisely laid – whether they be streets, picket fences, or church steeples.  He anticipates a serious, stoic, straight-shooting atmosphere … perhaps leaning a bit toward the rigid … and thinks that he’ll fit right in.

Whoa! I’d never thought of things in that way. Of course, uncovering the personality of a place is central to what we do … but contemplating how my personal characteristics and traits could be embodied in a place had never occurred to me. It got me thinking …

… and I thought about Prescott, Arizona. The town’s formal square seems to correspond to the accountant that resides at the core of my being. However, the saloons around the square definitely say something about my rebellious, fun-loving side.

The collection of Victorian homes speaks to my almost subconscious pull toward the proper, while the town’s very existence in what was the “wild west” reflect my daring, defiant, and determined (to the point of stubborness) aspects.

Finally, the self-designation as “Everybody’s Hometown” points to the friendliness that Prescott and I share.

The funny thing is, I never would have said the I was more comfortable in Prescott than any of the other places we’ve visited. In fact, the place Rod and I have enjoyed most is Austin, Texas –  a laid-back, unassuming, free-thinking experiment in pet friendliness. I imagine that’s because in our heads we are New England and Prescott … but in our hearts we are Austin.

Now I’m curious – which pet friendly destination are you? Which do you wish you were?

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Just for the record, we’re not really bourbon drinkers – but when you find yourself in bourbon country, touring the distilleries has a certain appeal. Not to mention the bourbon balls … those delightful little chocolate-covered confections that took hold of Rod’s heart and refused to let go. For those of you who are unfamiliar, bourbon is made in Kentucky, in the pastoral area south of Louisville and east to Lexington. Six of the distilleries form the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and having your “passport” stamped at all six will get you a free t-shirt! (Ours are on the way.)

Bernheim Forest

Always on the look-out for things the dogs will enjoy, our first stop in bourbon country was Bernheim Forest – thanks to a suggestion we got on our Facebook page. This 14,000 acre arboretum, forest, and nature preserve was founded in 1929 by Isaac Wolfe Bernheim, a German immigrant and successful brewer whose whiskey distillery business established the I.W. Harper brand. The Frederick Law Olmsted landscape architecture firm started work on designing the park in 1931 and it opened in 1950. Divided into two areas  - the arboretum and the natural area – the park now offers more than 35 miles of pet friendly hiking trails, and Ty and Buster were more than happy to explore.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Touring all six bourbon distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail isn’t something you’d want to do in a day. Spread over about 70 miles, each of the distilleries offers an approximately one-hour tour, and they’re generally open from around 9 or 10am until around 3 or 3:30 in the afternoon. Tucked away on little back roads, their locations encourage a leisurely pace and we spread our visits over three days. Pets are not invited to join you on the tours, for reasons that will become obvious momentarily. However, we were invited to walk the dogs around the grounds at the distilleries we visited. (Leaving your pet in a vehicle can be deadly – especially in the hot, humid Kentucky summers. Be sure to take proper precautions to protect your pet, or take along a buddy who will alternate pet-sitting and touring with you.)

Jim Beam

The Jim Beam distillery makes the #1 selling bourbon in the world, and the tour provides the history of the seven generations of the Beam family that have crafted this well-known whiskey.

Statue of master distiller, Booker Noe, with his dog Dot

On your way into the distillery, just across from the post office, there is a parking area with access to a beautiful, paved hike and bike path. It’s the perfect place for your dogs to stretch their legs!

Woodford Reserve Distillery

Our tour of Woodford gave us a good understanding of the bourbon-making process. At this small distillery, they treat you like family and show you every step in the process. One of the things we learned is that as bourbon ages, alcohol evaporates and it’s the alcohol vapor that turns the buildings and the trees so black. During prohibition the authorities would look for this tell-tale sign when hunting down moonshiners.

Ground corn and other grains are cooked and allowed to ferment in these two-story open tubs – which is why pets cannot be allowed on the tours. Hair of the dog is something you drink the next day … not something the distillers want to find in the fermenting mash!

When the mash is finished fermenting, it’s pumped to the still … at Woodford, their stills are these unique creations made of copper.

After a double distillation, the bourbon-to-be is placed in new, charred oak barrels and aged in huge warehouses.

When the time is right (usually between 4 and 8 years) the barrels are tapped and the bourbon is bottled.

Maker’s Mark

The tour of Maker’s Mark was equally educational and just edged out Woodford as our favorite because of their gorgeous grounds.

Wild Turkey

The tour of the Wild Turkey distillery was impressive because of it’s size and level of automation. I should also mention that I’ve fallen in love with their American Honey – a honey and bourbon liqueur – which is delicious in Ginger Ale on warm days and toe-tingling when combined with hot tea on cold days. Plus, the boys were welcome to run to their heart’s content in the grassy area behind the tasting room … and we had fun taking pictures …

We found the tours at Four Roses and Heaven Hill to be less entertaining. Four Roses is just a quick walk through the distillery, which we’d seen plenty of by that point. They don’t barrel or age any of the bourbon on the site, so there wasn’t a lot to see. And, Heaven Hill’s distillery was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1996. They’ve since moved their production facility to Louisville, and opened a Bourbon Heritage Center on the old distillery grounds in 2004. The displays and diagrams they offer left a little to be desired after getting the hands-on experience at the other distilleries.

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Welcome to our weekly photo challenge, where we post a pet travel picture … and you guess the dog friendly destination!

Last Week’s Winner

This Week’s Photo Challenge

Now it’s your turn to win. If you know where the photo below was taken, submit your answer in the entry form. If you’re stumped try checking some of our older posts – there’s a good chance the photo appeared previously on the blog.

For the winner …

Each week we randomly select one winner from the correct entries to receive a “Travels with Ty & Buster” 18-month wall calendar.

And the photo is …

This photo was obviously taken along the Continental Divide … but where?

Contest Entry

The Fine Print

This week’s contest closes on Wednesday, May 9th at 11:59 pm EST. This contest is open to US and Canadian residents over the age of 18, except were prohibited. All correct submissions will be assigned a number and the winner will be selected using www.randomizer.org. Winners will be notified by email, announced on our Facebook page, and mentioned in next week’s Friday Photo Challenge. The decision of the judges is final. The winner has 3 days to claim the prize. If the prize is not claimed by the winner within 3 days, an alternate winner will be chosen from the pool of correct entries. The winner of the prize is responsible for any and all applicable taxes on the prize. Employees and relatives of GoPetFriendly.com are not eligible to win.

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This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance by Natasha French.

As an adult I extended my range, eventually acquiring (along with a family) cats, dogs, a couple of horses and a pony. There have been times when I’ve felt that all I do is service their needs – and work to pay their food bills. Now, however, I can apparently take comfort from the fact that they may be helping to extend my life.

Getting out of a warm bed before dawn on a frosty morning to take the dog out might be the last thing you want to do, but it has twin benefits: that blast of fresh air will wake you up, and the exercise will burn calories … helpful if you’ll soon be slumped in front of a computer screen, sipping a latte and nibbling on that calorific pain au chocolat.

The benefits they’ve discovered include stress relief, a generally improved sense of well-being and alleviation of loneliness. And there’s always the possibility that you could make new friends while out walking – remember 101 Dalmatians?

The good news doesn’t stop with dogs. Cat owners benefit from lower blood pressure and cholesterol, an improved immune system, better cardiac health and other advantages associated with the lowering of stress levels.

I certainly don’t need a doctor to tell me that cuddling my cat is psychologically beneficial – but it’s scientific fact that a purring cat is a wonderful comfort in times of anxiety and depression. According to a study carried out by the Mental Health Foundation in conjunction with Cat’s Protection, it’s all comes down to the relaxing vibrations of a cat’s purr.

Having a pet is good for children, too. British scientists who studied 78 inner-city primary schools in England found children with dogs were more active than those without. These children stayed fit and their long-term risk of obesity and diabetes was reduced.

Psychologists also say having pets can help children to develop a sense of empathy and responsibility. This is something that’s undoubtedly been true of my children, who have nursed many sick animals, wild and domestic.

Perhaps I scored lower in the empathy stakes early on, though: Needless to say, it was my mother who got lumbered with mucking all my childhood pets out – something she did with fortitude, even though she didn’t particularly care for white mice and she was terrified of snakes. Particularly when mine escaped and my father found it in their bed!

Whether they are sick or well, lazing by the fire or – like Snodgrass – escaping, it’s important to remember to make sure your favorite animals are covered by animal insurance.

Disclosure: Sponsored posts are written by others and may highlight products or services that we have not tried ourselves. Publishing a sponsored post does not imply we endorse the product, service, or company. For more information, please see our disclosures.

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Kimpton has always been a sucker for our cuddly, furry friends and now they’re searching for the nation’s most adorable pets. Their second annual Paw-parazzi Pet Photo Contest runs through May 31, 2012, and you can submit photos of your pets for a chance to win prizes. Every two weeks, the five photos with the most “Like” votes will win top prizes from Kimpton’s pet partners including JetBlue, Olive Green Dog, Polka Dog Bakery, FIDO Friendly Magazine, Quaker Pet Group and Republic of Paws.

To enter the contest, all you need to do is submit your pet’s photos … then, it’s up to the public. The contest will consist of four rounds of two weeks each. At the end of each round, the five finalists with the most votes will be announced. When the four rounds are completed, expert judges from Animal Radio will select one grand prize photo from the 20 pet finalists to win the “Ultimate hosPETality Getaway,” which includes:

• Complimentary three-night stay at any Kimpton hotel
• Two round-trip tickets on JetBlue for human passengers
• $100 gift certificate to use at any Kimpton restaurant or for in-room dining
• In-room spa treatments for two people
• The Ultimate Legacy Pet Carrier from Quaker Pet Group and Republic of Paws
• In-room use of Kimpton pet amenities such as pet bed, bowls and treats

Get more information about Kimpton’s hosPETality program, its partners, and for a detailed description of prizes, eligibility, entry instructions, rules and information about the Paw-parazzi Pet Photo Contest, click here.

Planning a pet friendly trip of your own? We’ll make it easy:
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Welcome to our weekly photo challenge, where we post a pet travel picture … and you guess the dog friendly destination!

Last Week’s Winner

Thanks to everyone who played, and congratulations to Hazel B. of Columbia, MO – she won last week’s challenge for correctly identifying this location as the Rodney Strong Vineyard in Healdsburg, CA. We hope you enjoy your “Travels with Ty & Buster” calendar, Hazel!

This Week’s Photo Challenge

Now it’s your turn to win. If you know where the photo below was taken, submit your answer in the entry form. If you’re stumped try checking some of our older posts – there’s a good chance the photo appeared previously on the blog.

For the winner …

Each week we randomly select one winner from the correct entries to receive a “Travels with Ty & Buster” 18-month wall calendar.

And the photo is …

Do you know where this photo was taken? It’s one of our favorite national forests!

Contest Entry

The Fine Print

This week’s contest closes on Wednesday, May 2nd at 11:59 pm EST. This contest is open to US and Canadian residents over the age of 18, except were prohibited. All correct submissions will be assigned a number and the winner will be selected using www.randomizer.org. Winners will be notified by email, announced on our Facebook page, and mentioned in next week’s Friday Photo Challenge. The decision of the judges is final. The winner has 3 days to claim the prize. If the prize is not claimed by the winner within 3 days, an alternate winner will be chosen from the pool of correct entries. The winner of the prize is responsible for any and all applicable taxes on the prize. Employees and relatives of GoPetFriendly.com are not eligible to win.

Planning a pet friendly trip of your own? We’ll make it easy:
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