🦃 Sit and Stay: 2023 Thanksgiving Edition

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Training when you need it, where you need it!

One-on-one dog training is the most effective means to address severe behavioral problems like anxiety, house training, and leash reactivity

However, in-home training with a professional dog trainer can be expensive, and finding a time that works for everyone can be difficult. Virtual Leash offers the same benefits as in-home dog training with a lower price tag and more flexibility.

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year, and many of us will be visiting loved ones with the family pet in tow. In this issue of Sit & Stay, we discuss ways to make a long drive safer and more enjoyable for everyone — including Fido.

There are plenty of variables to consider when taking your dog on a road trip. How many people are coming with you? Is your dog used to riding in the car? What does he usually need to feel calm? Where will he stay when you arrive?

We offer tips to relieve some of this stress below.

Note: If you’re traveling via airplane, check out this list by Hill’s Pet Nutrition for tips on traveling by land and air.

Sit & Stay Pro Tip - Traveling With Your Dog

The most important thing you can do to ensure your road trip runs smoothly is to plan ahead. Below are a few things to consider before taking off on November 23rd.

• Review basic obedience commands (and good leash behavior) a week or two before packing your dog into the car. This helps ensure you and your pup are on the same page, and he’ll be more likely to listen to you around strangers and in unfamiliar places.

• Make a packing list. You wouldn’t want to forget your favorite pillow, and your dog will enjoy the comfort of home, too. A list made in advance helps ensure you’ve bought enough food (and treats!) for the trip and that you don’t forget something important, like a familiar place for them to sleep or water for the drive.

• Speak with your vet before the trip. Your dog may need vaccines to travel (especially if he’ll be around other pets) or a prescription for medication if he’s prone to anxiety.

• Know the laws of the state you’re traveling to. While it’s always recommended to restrain your dog with a seatbelt, safety harness, or crate (for your and your pet’s safety), some states have strict laws in place. That means failure to comply could result in a fine.

• Plan frequent stops. When traveling, we (humans) can hold our bladders for hours and survive on Red Bull. Don’t expect this level of travel dedication from your dog. Allow ample time to keep him on his regular feeding and bathroom schedule.

The goal of traveling with your dog should be to make the trip as stress-free as possible. Having a plan ensures everyone — including your dog — arrives in one piece and is ready to feast this Thanksgiving.

Poll

Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

In an effort to help keep our pups safe, Sit & Stay will now feature dog food and supplement recalls and advisories in each issue, sourced from the FDA website.

Here are the new recalls and advisories announced for November 2023:

• Mid America Pet Food

• TFP Nutrition

Important Note: The above recalls include multiple brands of pet food that may have been tainted with salmonella. Click on the links to see the full list.

Poll Results

We asked if you think service dogs really help veterans, and the majority of you believe yes, they do. Some of you even shared how you’ve witnessed the good a service dog can do firsthand.

Thank you for sharing your stories, and thank you, veterans, for your service. 🪖

The Smile Section

Thanks to our reader who sent in this sweet story about her Boxer, Shelby! (Note: This is not a photo a Shelby, but it’s so cute we had to include it!)

“My boxer, Shelby, was jumping up and down next to my backyard deck. Hopping like a rabbit. Finally, I found out what was exciting her. It was a lizard that could run fast and jump onto the deck! She was stumped! Not an insect. Smaller than a squirrel. Now, every time she goes out, she looks for that crazy, fast lizard! If she only had a net.”

If you have a story that can make us smile, send it to [email protected].

Vet Recommendations: Thanksgiving Food Safety Infographic

For a more in-depth look at how to keep your pup safe this Thanksgiving, read this article from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Treats

• 🩺 Viral Vet: Check out Dr Hunter Finn, who is making waves with helpful vet advice to his 2.1 million followers on Tik Tok

• 😆 Dog dad plays with Corgi and “has to save his life”: This dog dad wrestles with his Corgi on the bed, at which point the Corgi lays still on his side until his dad gives him fake defibrillator treatment.

Want your dog to be featured?

We’d love to!

Think your dog can make us smile? Submit a pic to [email protected] for a chance to see your pet in our Smile Section!