PLAN AHEAD: Call ahead for hotels, sites and tours to confirm their policies regarding dogs (Remember that rules do change without notice, so what you read yesterday may not be the policy today!) 

LOCAL GROOMERS: When traveling to a site that does not allow dogs, call local groomers. This can be a safe and productive by-product of a visit. Most groomers allow a 9:00 – 5:00 stay, so it’s a great way to "kill 2 birds with one stone" when you want to visit a particular area but can’t take your four- legged family member along during that particular time!

For example, we’ve opted to do this for a 5 hour stopover; the groomer works well for this length of time; remember, however, that it is important not to "overgroom"; if done too frequently, it is not good for the coat or the skin!

DOG SITTING: For day visits to amusement parks or just times when it is impossible to visit or to walk "your" Tawny for an extended period of time, call ahead and make arrangements with the following types of pet services in the area that you will be traveling to:

• Kennels
• Animal hospitals
• Professional dog sitters
• Local ASPCA
• Chamber of Commerce
• Theme Park kennels (most big parks have them!)

Note : Most places will allow day visits for a special fee if scheduled in advance; outside the New York Metropolitan area fees are usually anywhere from $11 - $25

BANDANAS: A great psychological message to send to the non-dog public that your pet is friendly and outgoing! 

CLEANUP: Remember that you are an ambassador for all of us dog-owners, so cleanup after your dog; be considerate at all times! A suggestion – use paper plates! We place them under Tawny to make removal easier; it may seem strange, but it’s very effective!

DOG BOOKS: There are specialty books for:

• Hotels, motels
• Bed & breakfasts
• Inns
• Beaches
• Parks

There are tons of them out there! AAA offers free books to members (by area) of hotels and motels that allow dogs. Another good source is a publication called "Dog Gone", which comes out bi-monthly, and offers all types of suggestions of the best places to stay and visit with your friend. Don’t forget that, whatever sources you use, be diligent and plan ahead. Remember : never "assume"; policies do change!

Usually, the best hotels allow dogs! For future reference, read about Boston, New York, Montreal and other major cities to check out the finest "dog" hotels. You won’t be disappointed!

Ramada Inns, Holiday Inns and Best Westerns are good moderately priced chains that often have accommodations which are pet friendly (especially in the larger cities and major resorts where the chain has several locations; often one or more will allow pets).

RESTAURANTS: A moment about restaurants and how to keep your pet within eyesight and safe.

Most restaurants, if scouted properly, can accommodate an outside place for your pet when the weather is comfortable enough. Your friend needs to be harnassed in an area that is away from traffic and within your clear view.

The ideal situation is a restaurant which has outdoor seating, where you can simply leave your dog next to you or very near you while dining. If the restaurant does not have this type of seating, it is imperative that you have a window seat and quick access to an exit should the need arise.

Also, if you need to leave your pet in the car while grabbing a quick bite (especially when traveling), be sure that you leave the windows open and that you are, again, seated near a window and have full view of the car. Remember, never leave your pet in the car when the weather is very warm, always leave the car windows open slightly and have water available for the dog to drink while in the car!

EQUIPMENT TO BRING WHEN TRAVELING: Here are some pointers regarding what the well-traveled pet will need to make his/her trip with you more enjoyable :

• Coated wire or bungee cords
• Longer wire cord (at least 10 feet) to give your dog freedom of movement if he/she needs to be tied up
• Water bowl; either use a small plastic or metal dish but the best thing is a fabric and vinyl bowl that can be collapsed and folded up (about $12-$15)
• Paper plates and paper towels for waste removal
• Chew toys
• Crate, if so inclined, especially when the dog is young; this gives your pet a feeling of security no matter where you take him/her (always a familiar surrounding); as your pet becomes older, the need may not be as great (Tawny was crate trained, but now that she is much older, the need for the crate is not there); this will vary greatly depending on the dog!!

Another suggestion (even though it is not really equipment) is that if you must leave your pet in the hotel room for a period of time, leave the T.V. on; try to pick a station that has constant talking such as CNN, the Weather Channel or one of the on-air shopping channels; this is something that works great for us!