Embrace Pet Community blog

Disney Resort for Pets

We've been talking about travel with pets, while over at BlogPaws they just linked to a NY Times Article about the new Disney resort suites for pets: 

"Starting Aug. 27, while you and your family are cheering on Mickey and friends in the morning parade, your dog or cat can watch television on a raised bed in one of the V.I.P. suites ($69 to $76 a night) and your dog can attend day camp in one of the two 1,100-square-foot “camp rooms” that open onto a yard or frolic in the 1,300-square-foot water park." read on...

Sounds like Goofy and Pluto won't be the only dogs in the Magic Kingdom for much longer.  What do you think?  Would you be more inclined to travel to Disney if you could keep your pet nearby?

Checklist for Boarding Your Pet

Have you ever boarded a pet?  Were you surprised by the amount of effort it took?  Or did you think it was surprisingly simple to leave your pet with strangers?

Here are some helpful tips for things to remember when boarding your pet:

• Plan early if possible.  The best facilities can book up way in advance on holidays.  It may be wise to get signed on with a boarding facility before you actually need it, in the event that you need to leave town in an emergency.
• Make sure that your pet meets their vaccination requirements.  If they do not have requirements, it would be wise to talk with your vet about their recommendations before your pet's stay.
• Consider cage-free versus kennels.  Kennels may be best for dogs that are easily overwhelmed or elderly, but cage-free might be better for more energetic or socially motivated dogs.
• How many pets stay at the facility?  Do you feel that the staff can give adequate care to the number of pets staying there?
• Talk to the staff about their policies.  Do they walk dogs outside, or do they go to the bathroom indoors?  What sort of training do caretakers have?  Do pets have any playtime with people or animals?  It might help you have a better understanding of the experience your pet might have.
• Be sure to take your pet's food and medications, along with your contact info and vet info.
• Talk to the staff about bringing bedding or toys, but remember to leave anything that your pet might chew up and swallow at home.
• It's ok to call and check up on your pet.  Kennels expect it.  Many places also offer routine photo updates or webcams so you can peek in on them when you want.

Contest: Post Cards from Pets

It's summertime, and we at Embrace Pet Insurance keep hearing all these stories about camping, kayaking, and traveling with pets.  What a great way to enjoy the summer and bond with your pet.  Whether you're enjoying a national park, visiting the grand canyon, or enjoying a cottage on the shore, you'll have more fun when you share the experience with your best friend.

As an added luxury for your travels, Martha Stewart Pets is sponsoring our Post Cards from Pets photo contest!  One lucky pet will win a leather collar and leash, and this super cool 3-piece bowl set!

How To Enter:

E-mail us your best photo of your pet traveling, and be sure to tell us where the photo was taken!  We'll post your digital "post card" to our Facebook, and you'll be entered into our random drawing.

One entry per person.  U.S. Entrants only.  Embrace staff not eligible to win.  Entries must be e-mailed to lj@embracepetinsurance.com to qualify.  Contest ends at midnight on July 26, 2010.  Winner will be contacted by e-mail for their mailing address for prize fulfillment by sponsor.

Related:

Embrace Pet Insurance
Win a Cyber Shot digital Camera
Martha Stewart Pet Massager Brush & Squeak Toys

  

Part 2: Traveling Without Your Fourlegged companion

One of the biggest obstacles for me to book a vacation is what to do with the dogs.  My neighbors are gracious enough to check in on them. (Though I can't bear to ask the neighbor that got stuck cleaning up 5 days of UTI pee puddles while we were in Florida last year.) I feel reluctant to take them up on it all the time, for fear of taking them for granted.  Making plans to pay them a stipend or arrange trade always works better though.

Leaving your pets is a bit more complicated when they are sick or elderly, since you need to worry about medications or careful monitoring.  In those cases, you may want to consider boarding at the vet or a facility with trained staff.  But then, do you go for kennels or cage free? 

More often than ever before, people are hiring pet sitters.  The services vary, and some sitters come to your home for visits, stay overnight, or board your pet in their home.  Carrie posted another great Examiner piece about how to find a good pet sitter, and what you should expect while you're away.

The upsides to in-home care include your pet staying in their own home, while other folks might prefer the pet to go into the sitters home where they might get more time and attention.

What do you think?  Have you ever had a pet sitter?  Did you enjoy the service?

Check back next week, when I post the story of Lyger and Tahlula's recent stay at the Doggie Spa!

Part 1: Traveling with Pets

It wasn't until BlogPaws East in April that I really thought about what it takes to travel with a pet in tow.  I met Ronnie and Rex from Bella's Pain Relief, and realized that Rex had made the trip all the way from New Jersey to Ohio, and then camped out in the hotel while Rhona worked the conference.  Fortunately, Ronnie had the foresight to hire a dog sitter to visit with Rex in the hotel room while she was out and about, so Rex wouldn't feel anxious in a strange room.

Embracer Carrie posted an article at Examiner last month, with 5 helpful points that you might not have considered before you travel with your cat or dog in tow:

1.  Book a pet friendly hotel.  Dogfriendly.com has a terrific list of pet friendly hotels, complete with a list of any additional charges or stipulations that may be required for bringing your fuzzy family member along for each hotel. Dogfriendly.com also lists campgrounds and RV parks that welcome pets.

2. Plan pet-friendly activities for your family and your pet.  Many beaches and parks allow dogs, but you will need to check ahead of time to be sure your four-legged companion is welcome.  Dogfriendly.com has a list of beaches, parks, stores, even outdoor restaurants that welcome your pets. 

(Read the rest here.)

I was recently pondering a roadtrip with Lyger- about 8 hours from Cleveland to Philly to attend a conference.  I thought it seemed like it might be an American adventure, a bonding experience for a girl and her dog.  But, It would have been long days for me, and longer days for an anxious dog, so I opted against it.

What sorts of tips do you have for people that might be planning to travel with their pets?

Official Take Your Dog to work Day

Start packing a lunch for your dog, because tomorrow is Take Your Dog to Work day!  Pet Sitters International is hosting a fun photo contest, and offering an action pack for people and businesses setting up a dog friendly workplace.

Embrace has a pet friendly policy for dogs and cats.  It's fairly informal, we just coordinate who is coming a day before, so that we don't mix cats and dogs, or have too many furry friends at once. 

In honor of the day, upload your pet at work photo to our Facebook!  We want to see them enjoying all the perks of a pet friendly workplace!

Happy Father's Day

Sunday is Father's day, and we like to celebrate all of you Father's with two-legged and four-legged kids.

I'd like to send a happy father's day greeting to my Dad, from all of his kids, human and feline.  (Shouldn't it also come from his canine grandchildren?)  Thanks Dad, for all the smiles and support you give us all year round! 

P.S.Your cat Daisy would also like to thank you for maintaining her swimming pool-the one you call a fish tank.

We'd like you to post your pet dad stories, greetings and Father's Day wishes to the special dad in your life.  Whether he's your doggie's daddy or feline's father, give him a shout out in out comments section.  On Monday we'll randomly draw one of the comments to win a free food sample from Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul! 

For more info on our contest sponsor, visit them on Facebook and Twitter.

One entry per person.  U.S. Entrants only.  Contest ends at 12:AM June 21, 2010.  Winner will be contacted by e-mail for their mailing address.

Related posts:
Mystery Mixed Breed Heritage Maker giveaway
Waterdog Photo Contest

Pet Photography-a Life Saver

Today's guest post comes from Holly Hospel, Pet Photographer.  Check out Holly's AMAZING work at Lupine Lens.

Many people don't realize until it is too late that they don't have a quality picture of their beloved companion.  Pictures serve as a way to celebrate our furry family members, but also can be a real life saver if a pet goes missing.  It is much easier to ask people if they have seen Fluffy, if they have a picture that accompanies that request.  Shelters and other rescue organizations also appreciate a photo as way to identify a lost animal and facilitate a happy reunion.

One such photo helped an owner claim their pet in the face of someone else who said the pet was theirs!  The person who had the photo could prove prior ownership and the other person was forced to return the pet.  While this is an unusual circumstance, it does highlight how a good photo of your furry family member can help reunite the two of you. 

  Of course, the best part of having your pet photographed is the joy of celebrating your pet. They are precious in all phases of their life. From puppy to adult to dignified elder, photos preserve the moment and the memories.  Our pet pass on far too quickly. Capturing your pet in photos in all stages of their lives is one way to make their memories last forever. 

A few tips for finding a good pet photographer:

1) Some animals are afraid of strangers and a big black eye (the camera) staring at them.  Does the photographer have experience setting the dog at ease?  It is one thing to like dogs and cats, it is another thing entirely to work with them and make them comfortable.  Think of your own photo experiences.  Don't you generally like the images of yourself where you look relaxed, natural and at ease, rather than a forced pose?

2) Outdoor photo shoots are often where the animal is going to be happiest and therefore lend themselves to the best animal photography.  Studios can feel foreign and scary to a dog; like the Vet's office.  Does the photographer have experience taking outdoor fast action shoots?

3) Know what you want;  Action shots?  Tight in portraits? Family shots?  and communicate what you like.  Better yet, bring examples.

4) My clients sometimes are very worried about how "untrained" their dog is and therefore are afraid of how their dog will "behave" during the photo shoot.  The dog will pick up on this tension in the owner,  so one of the best things to do, is to relax yourself.  Have Fun!  A good pet photographer will welcome your enthusiasm and the pet's.  They will direct it, like a film director and you will get great shots!

Holly is an Indianapolis based photographer that specializes in candid, outdoor, action photography of your four-legged family members. In addition to being good with a lens, she has a natural affinity for animals and understands how to put them at ease in front of a camera.

Contact her at 317 823 7051 or email her at Holly (at) LupineLens.com

Mystery Mixed Breed Giveaway: Lyger!

You know him, you love him...but what is he??  Lyger is a 10 year old mix, found on the street (literally) in Cleveland, Ohio.  I won't guess as to what my sweet boy is mixed with-you get to have that fun!

We've administered a DNA test from Wisdom Panel, and will find out the results soon.  In the meantime, check out the video and photos below, and try to determine what breed mix Lyger is.  Enter your comments below to guess. and the closest guess will win a Heritage Makers bracelet, courtesy of The Pet Book Lady!  So you can treasure your own pet photos in this amazing keepsake bracelet!

Hint: You can view the full list of 170+ breeds detected by Wisdom Panel tests here.  The test includes dominant breed, intermediate breed, and even minor breed genes found, so it's better to be specific about which breeds you think are present.

Mystery Mix Lyger from Lea Maxwell on Vimeo.

Contest Ends 6/21/2010.  One entry per person.  Embrace Pet Insurance staff and families not eligible to win.  Winners will be notified by 6/30/2010 or as soon as DNA results are available.  If multiple guesses are correct, we'll enter those guesses into a random drawing.

Related Posts:

Ozzie DNA contest
Heritage Makers Bracelet
WaterDog Giveaway

Guest Post: Paul Mann, founder of Fetch! Pet Care

Today we've got a guest post from Fetch! Pet Care founder, Paul Mann.  He's got some tips and tricks to help you with your pet's separation anxiety:

 

Top Five Signs You’re Too Into Your Pet:

1.    Your Christmas card spotlights your cats — not the kids.

2.    You formally invited your coworkers to your dog’s annual birthday bash. 

3.    You pick accessories to match the pet hair stuck on your shirt or pants.

4.    You know your neighbors solely by their pets’ name. 

5.    Your screensaver at work is a picture of your pet.

Tips to Reduce Separation Anxiety

· When on business or personal travel, leaving your pet behind can be difficult. Consider in-home pet care versus boarding or kenneling. In-home pet sitters can help maintain normal activities and allow your pet to be nurtured in familiar, safe surroundings.

· All pet sitters are not created equal. Diligently check all of the company’s references – at least three should be voluntarily provided.  It’s important to ensure that the pet sitting company is fully bonded and insured.

· Prior to leaving, make sure your pet has plenty to play with.  A new bone or toy will distract your pet from your absence and take their mind off your departure.

· Leave your pet with an item of your clothing that has your scent to they can remember you and be comforted while you are away.

· Make sure that you assemble a list of emergency contacts with your veterinarian’s phone number.  If your pet has any health issues, inform the sitter of this properly prior to your departure.

 

Fetch! Pet Care was founded in 2002 after Paul Mann, now Fetch! Pet Care CEO.  Today, Fetch! Pet Care is the nation's largest and most trusted provider of professional pet sitting and dog walking services, serving thousands of pets and pet parents from coast to coast.

Today's photos feature Vincent, a beautiful and bright Golden Retriever from San Francisco, CA