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1. What should I know before boarding my dog? How should I prepare?
2. How can I make car travel easy for me and my dog?

What should I know before boarding my dog? How should I prepare?

While you can rest assured that your dog will be in the safest possible setting at The Green Leaf Pet Resort and Hotel, boarding can be a stressful time for your dog. Here are a few things you can do to make the best of your dog’s transition between home and boarding:

• Dietary consistency is important. You should provide enough of your dog’s particular food for the entire time he’s boarded.
• If your dog has any dietary restrictions or medications, you should write them down and make sure his caregivers know.
• Does your dog have any favorite toys? Let us know so that we can either supply them (for a fee) or you can send them along. Generally, though, if it’s expensive or irreplaceable, we recommend leaving it at home to avoid damage or loss.
• Continuity of experience is generally the best way to keep a dog happy. If your pooch is used to a bedtime snack each night, gets walked on a very specific schedule, or is accustomed to any special accommodations, just let your dog’s caregiving staff know.

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How can I make car travel easy for me and my dog?

For the same reasons that any car passenger should always have a seat belt on, you should never allow your dog to roam freely throughout the car when you're on the road. There are several options for safely restraining Rover.

For small dogs, the best bet is a crate. In case of any turbulence, the safest place for it is on the floor of your car, or in the very back if you have a minivan or station wagon with an open trunk. For larger dogs, you can opt for a harness that attaches to the seat belt. Generally, the further back, the better as far as safety is concerned.

If neither of those options is immediately available to you, be sure to reduce your dog’s mobility to the safest place in the car possible: the back seat, or, in the case of minivans, station wagons and SUVs, the rear cabin.
Never put your dog in the front seat unrestrained. Not only is this the least safe position in the event of an accident, your dog could actually cause the accident by distracting you.

Lastly, resist the temptation to let Rover hang his head out of the window. A crack lets him take in the scents, but any more that that and serious injury could result from oncoming traffic and debris. Oh, and we hope it goes without saying that your dog should never be in the rear bed of a pickup truck. Ever.

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