Have a Calm and Happy Thanksgiving with Pets and a Special Earth Heart Offer!

The holidays can be a joyful time for visiting with family and friends, but they also can be a stressful time for your pets.

Whether you're traveling or staying home, we sniffed out this helpful and timely offer from Earth Heart, maker of all-natural products that use aromatherapy and pure essential oils to help keep you and your pet happy and healthy this holiday season.

The offer

Earth Heart is offering their own version of Black Friday, Shop Small Saturday AND Cyber Monday! Receive one FREE product with your online order during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, November 23-27, 2011.  Order one or more Earth Heart products, and in ‘special instructions’ or ‘note to seller’ at check out, enter ‘DL Thanks 2011’ and be sure to include the product name you wish to receive FREE with your order. 

A look at Earth Heart products

(You can order each product from these links below)

• Canine Calm helps dogs relax during stressful situations
• Travel Calm is a safe and healthy solution for travel shy dogs
• Guard Well helps dogs find relief from environmental irritants
• Buzz Guard can help improve your dog's comfort during outdoor activities

If you'd like to learn more about how other folks have used Earth Heart product, there are plenty of helpful reviews here.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving and Cosmo says, 'whatever you do, stay calm!"

Cosmo calmly packs a few essentials before jetting off for the holidays!

Look Who's in Fido Friendly This Month!

This month's issue of Fido Friendly magazine is extra special! It's the celebration of the mag's 50th anniversary issue AND Cosmo and I are featured in it! See the image below. These photos were taking during our trip to Italy... guess what lake Cosmo is enjoying!! Answer below the image...



Cosmo is sitting in front of the beautiful Lake Como. So speaking of beauties at Lake Como... who do you think is more handsome -- Cosmo Havanese or George Clooney?!!!

For more weekend fun, let's head over to the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop!

Giveaway: SturdiBag Pet Carrier

Cosmo waits for the rest of his bags at baggage claim

We're particularly excited about this giveaway since it's Cosmo's favorite way to travel.  Cosmo's traveled across the country and to Italy in his large SturdiBag, so we are thrilled to announce that SturdiProducts has provided us with one large SturdiBag to give away during our Birthday Week celebration.

We love the SturdiBag because it's lightweight and flexible enough to easily slide under an airplane seat. Measuring 12x12x18, it also provides Cosmo with the maximum amount of room allowed by Delta, the airline we travel most often.

If you want to know more about preparing for a long plane flight, we wrote about it here and we've also offered these tips for getting your pet comfortable with your travel bag before you embark on any trip.

Look closely to see Cosmo smiling in his SturdiBag!

Cosmo's bag slides easily under an airplane seat.

How to win your very own SturdiBag

To enter our SturdiBag giveaway, just leave a comment on this blog post stating why you'd like to win a SturdiBag. If you're planning a trip somewhere, let us know... we'd love to hear about your adventures!

If your comment doesn't link to something with your email address, please be sure to leave that too, so we can contact you if you win.

Contest is open to enter until midnight ET on Monday, August 1. The winner will be picked at random and announced on this blog on Thursday, August 4.

If you'd like to travel in the style Cosmo is accustomed to, then hurry up and enter to win your own SturdiBag pet carrier!

Happy travels!

Travel to Italy with your dog: Arriving in Rome, dog-friendly hotel and an outing to Piazza del Popolo

In the United States, dog people often long for a bit of Italy, where you can take your dog most anywhere. So when we embarked on our journey to Italy with Cosmo, we were excited to see all the sights, enjoy the food and shopping, and not have to leave Cosmo behind! 

     

 

We flew non-stop from Atlanta to Rome and arrived  at 7:30 a.m. in the morning after flying all night.  Cosmo traveled in his SturdiBag under the seat in cabin and slept the entire way! Above, he shakes off the sleep, does a few downward dogs and he's ready to go!

Going through customs in Rome was a breeze. We showed passports, got our bags and were outside the airport in less than 30 minutes. We had all the required international paperwork for pet travel, but didn't need to show anything on this end. Outside the airport in Rome, above, Cosmo is ready to chase some Italian squirrels! I'm ready for a nap.

           

We stayed at the pet-friendly InterContinental De La Ville Roma. The hotel is beautiful, the staff super friendly, and it is conveniently located at the top of the Spanish Steps.

Cosmo was treated like a celebrity -- with hearty greetings and pats --  every time he entered the lobby of the InterContinental De La Ville. After checking in, we hit the town to see the sights and search for some much-needed cappuccino!

First stop, just a few steps from the front of the hotel we walked down the Spanish Steps to Piazza Di Spagna.  Above, we stopped for a photo opp in front of the Barcaccia Fountain. At the bottom of the steps to the right, you can see a corner of the Casina Rossa, where the poet John Keats spent the end of his life.  At the top of the stairs is the 16th-century Church of Trinita dei Monti. From here we walked down Via del Corso to the Piazza del Popolo.

So much to see... and eat! Along the way, we stopped for a scoop of warm chestnuts. These vendors are on almost every corner!

At Piazza del Popolo, we stopped at the Canova Cafe for cappuccino and brioche! Ahhh, nothing like Italian cappuccino! 

Cosmo sat at the table and enjoyed the people, and dog, watching in the piazza ... and, the sound of the bells from the twin churches that flank either side of the Via del Corso. Built in the Neo classical style, the churches Santa Maria di Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Marcoli were designed by Carlo Rainaldi in 1658. Listen...

On a  beautiful Sunday morning in December, there were plenty of people out strolling through the Piazza del Popolo, enjoying the sunshine and soaking up the centuries of history. The obelisk at the center of the piazza was originally erected at the Circus Maximus to commemorate the conquest of Egypt by Augustus in 10 BC. It was moved to Piazza del Popolo  by Pope Sixtus V in 1589. Cosmo takes a sunbath and we listen to the cellist playing next to the obelisk in the center of the square. Take a look and enjoy!

Next we headed to the west end of the piazza, below, where the steps lead up to Pincio Hill and the entrance to Parco Della Villa Borghese, a wonderful park for a dog walk!

Next post: A walk through Borghese Park and lunch in the Park at Casina Valadier!

Wordless Wednesday: Italian style

Cosmo soaks up the history in front of the Duomo in Milan, Italy

We had a GREAT time with Cosmo in Rome and Milan last week. More stories and photos coming once I sort out all the pictures!


Buon Anno! 

Pet Blogger Hop and Happy Holidays!

Whether you're staying close to home or traveling on a great adventure, Cosmo and I wish you happy holidays and a Merry Christmas! Just be sure to pack something special for your furry pals!

Cosmo makes sure all his essentials are packed!

Now, let's go to the hop!

How to Prepare Your Dog for a Long Plane Flight

To pee or not to pee that is the question...

Cosmo has traveled in-cabin on many flights of various lengths -- from two to nearly 10 hours. A little advance planning ensures Cosmo stays comfortable and stress-free throughout the entire trip. And while he's never had to relieve himself en route, we do have a strategy in place in case he does!

We think it 'tis nobler to be prepared, so here you go... our tips for giving you and your dog peace of mind on a long airplane trip. 

Our Seven Tips to "Peedom From Worry on a Long Flight"

Cosmo heads through airport security with his
carrier and small carry on filled with the
essentials -- treats, leash, bowl, pee pads,
poo bags. The light blue pad under the
 fleece in his carrier is a Dry Fur pad.

Cosmo takes a break in the dog park at
Atlanta Hartsfield Airport. This is a great
spot to take your dog before a flight,
during a layover or upon returning from a trip.

After a good walk, Cosmo is ready for
nap time in his travel carrier

Cosmo's "in the bag" during a trip
earlier this year

1. Have the right stuff. The last time we traveled to Italy we purchased the small size Dry Fur pads and placed one underneath the pad in Cosmo's carrier. It's supposed to absorb all wetness and keep pets completely comfortable and dry in the event of an "accident." Cosmo's never had an accident in his bag, but we've kept it in place for extra assurance. Two pads come in a pack so you can replace the pad if one gets soiled.
2. Bring some pee pads in your carry on. On our last long trip, I put a couple of these  Wee-Wee Pads in my bag with the idea that if Cosmo seemed stressed, I'd take him to the bathroom on the airplane and spread one of these on the floor. Cosmo already was familiar with pee pads -- an important point -- because we used these when we lived in a condo. He's never needed them on any of our trips, but I still take these, just in case.
3. Take it easy on food and water. Your dog has probably gone around nine hours or more at night without going to the bathroom, right? So a nine-or-so-hour flight is not an unreasonable amount of time to expect a healthy dog to stay dry.  I do make sure Cosmo doesn't have gobs of treats the day before we travel. And for a long International flight, l I feed him a light meal at least six hours before flying. I also go VERY light on the water once we get inside the six-hour window. Maybe a few sips... or some people use ice cubes. I don't want to dehydrate him, but I do want him to be comfortable. Pets need to have a health certificate and all other sorts of paperwork from your vet for International travel, so you will want to make sure your pet is healthy and in good shape for this type of trip. 
4. Get to the airport extra early.  Delta is recommending we arrive three hours ahead of time for an International flight. This actually works to our advantage. We can check in, and then have plenty of time to let Cosmo sniff around the dog park at Atlanta Hartsfield Airport. I also make sure Cosmo has time for some activity or a walk before we leave the house. That way he's ready for a nice, long nap.
5. Sedatives? We don't use them. Cosmo is very relaxed and has no issues with curling up and sleeping in his bag. If you have concerns, check with your vet. 
6. Success for us is "in the bag." I've heard people talk about taking their dogs out of their carriers once they are on the airplane. I decided to try to open the bag "just a little bit" one time, and like a genie in a bottle, Cosmo wooshed out of the tiny opening and magically appeared in my lap in like .00001 seconds. The flight attendant yelled at us, and it was torture trying to wedge the wiggly fur ball back in the bag at a 90-degree angle. (Most airlines have regulations that require you to keep your pet secured in a carrier, anyway.) So once Cosmo is in the bag, he stays there until we get to our destination. He's never made a peep, and like I said, he sleeps the entire way.  If you're comfortable with the situation, likely your pet will catch your vibe and feel comfortable too.
7. Get comfortable with your carrier. Cosmo travels in a large SturdiBag, which measures 12x12x18, the maximum dimension allowed by Delta for a soft-sided bag. We like it because it's light, durable and easy to smoosh under the seat. Do make sure your pet is comfortable and familiar with the bag before travel. We wrote all about travel bag comfort here. 

A few other resources

• We consulted PetTravel.com many times before our first trip to Italy. We also bought our SturdiBag here. 
• Fido Friendly magazine and blog has loads of useful travel tips. 
• I recently learned about DreamofItaly.com travel newsletter and blog from editor/publisher Kathy McCabe. 
• Dog Jaunt has tons of travel info about taking your dog on a plane and other great tips especially for small dog owners.
• GoPetFriendly.com and blog offers great tips to travel like a pro with your pet across the U.S. and Canada.

Most importantly, know thy dog!  Cosmo is very social and handles travel quite easily, in part due to his nature and in part due to preparation and endless training!


Now, it's time to get packing! 

Cosmo's big green bone has traveled round
the world with us! 

Travel to Italy With Your Dog: International Paperwork Preparation

Cosmo enjoys his visit to an Italian pasticceria
during our last trip

A few years ago Cosmo and I traveled abroad for the first time. It took a lot of research and planning to ensure we had all the correct paperwork done ahead of time so that our trip could be worry free.

Now, we’re about to head off again -- this time to Rome and Milan! The planning has been easier this time, since we already know what to expect. But there are still a number of things that need to be done before traveling internationally.

Traveling to Italy with a Dog

We collected lots of information from our vet, the airlines (we are flying Delta), the Italian Embassy in the United States,  APHIS/USDA and the CDC. Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning a trip from the U.S. to Italy.

• Check with APHIS about international animal export regulations. You can locate your local APHIS veterinary service office here. For Italy travel, we needed to obtain a bilingual certificate filled out and signed by our vet. Then we sent the certificate to our local APHIS office where it received the required stamp from USDA/APHIS. The “Certifico Veterinario” must include your dog’s microchip number and rabies information and be completed within four months of travel. 
• Contact the Italian Embassy in the U.S., which tells you pretty much the same things... that you need a bilingual certificate with rabies and microchip information. You can find the bilingual certificate on the embassy site here or on the APHIS site. 
• Check with the CDC about bringing your dog back to the U.S. Here’s the link, but it basically says that you’ll need proof of rabies vaccination. We got our Certificate of Vaccination from our vet. 
• Visit the vet. Our vet filled out all the paperwork and gave Cosmo the required health examination which resulted in one final piece of paperwork.  The health certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of transport. 

International paperwork checklist

That sounds like an awful lot to do, but for us it all boiled down to two trips to the vet, one phone call and paperwork sent to USDA/APHIS, and some time spent looking at these links online to make sure nothing had changed since we last traveled to Italy.

Here’s the paperwork we’ll be bringing:

• Certificato Veterinario -- USDA-certified bilingual certificate completed by our vet within four months of travel (includes microchip and rabies vaccine information)
• Health Certificate -- completed by our vet within 10 days of travel
• Rabies Certificate of Vaccination -- provided by our vet

Other things to note

When traveling by air, you also need the check with the airline for its specific requirements. Before we booked our trip on Delta, we called the airline to ensure there was pet space available in cabin and then we reserved that space. Dog Jaunt, one of our favorite blogs for small-dog travel info, includes this handy list of airline policies for international in-cabin pet travel. You should still check with your airline to make sure you know the most current policies. 

When traveling with a pet, you also need to allow a little extra time at the airport for check-in. Delta is recommending we get to the airport three hours ahead of time for international travel with a pet. 

You can read more about preparing your dog for in-cabin travel here. Cosmo enjoys traveling in his large, soft-sided SturdiBag. Its 12x12 x18 measurement is the largest allowed by Delta for in-cabin travel.

Buon viaggio e arrivederci!

Holiday travel update: pets, air travel and pat downs

A few of you have asked about current travel conditions, with increased airport security and all. And I'm happy to report we didn't have any difficulties at the airport yesterday.

Cosmo here, that's me in the bag!

We checked in as usual at Delta's counter for pet check-in at the Atlanta airport. Cosmo travels in his bag in cabin with me, but you still have to reserve your pet space on the plane and check in at ticketing.


Security also was same as usual. Did they give Cosmo a pat down? The answer is NO! I took him out of his carrier and carried him through security.  The ONLY difference was when we got our bags on the other side of the security x-ray machine, I was asked to put Cosmo back in his carrier right there. I wasn't allowed to carry him to a nearby table, but this was no big deal.

I'm cozy in my carrier under the seat

The flight was uneventful.

Approaching Chicago along Lake Michigan
on the north side of the city.

It was a beautiful day for flying. 

I'm ready to hop in a cab and head to Grandma's!

We arrived in Chicago without any issues at all. There's still the chance for a random body scan or pat down, but for us it was travel as usual

My big green bone goes EVERYWHERE with me!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pet travel tips this holiday: Travel bag comfort for you and your pet!

Cosmo and I will be leaving on a jet plane this week, heading out to spend Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends, just like thousands of others this holiday!    According to a survey by PetRelocation.com, 63 percent of pet owner says they travel at least 50 miles with their pets during the holidays.  Cosmo's a travel pro at this point, but we put some time into making sure he'd be a well-behaved traveler right from the very start. One of the first things you can do is to make sure you and your pet are comfortable with your travel bag. Here's a few tips to get started! 

1. Play bag games!  When we got our bag, we put it out in the living room and let Cosmo sniff it and get familiar with it. We gave him treats when he touched the bag, and then gave him treats when he got in the bag. Now he knows the command "Go Bag" means that when he gets in and gets comfortable, treats and good things will be coming his way.
2. Carry the bag around the house before your trip! Play the bag game with treats, zip up the bag -- with your pet in it -- and make a few laps around the room. Unzip it with a "Good Dog!" ... and more treats.
3. Keep a small bag of treats handy at the airport. When you go through security, you'll take your pet out of the bag and carry him through with you. The bag will go through the x-ray screening with your other carry-on items. I typically take Cosmo and our bags to a table on the other end of security and play a little game to put him back in the bag. He gets more treats which of course makes him very, very happy! It takes less than a minute to do all this -- you don't want to draw TOO much attention, but folks typically do stop to talk to us. So be sure to schedule a little extra time when traveling with a pet! 
4. Stay calm, yourself! There's something to be said about the saying that dogs can feel your nerves at the other end of the leash. If you're a nervous Nelly, your pet may sense your emotions and have a hard time relaxing too. The more you play bag games and "practice traveling," the more comfortable you BOTH will feel! You might even take a few trial runs by taking your pet and travel bag around the block a few times in the car.
5. And finally, make sure YOU are comfortable with your travel bag. We use the large SturdiBag because it measures the maximum size (12x12x18) allowed by the airline we fly, it's light and flexible enough to place under the seat with ease. Be sure to check pet carrier requirements with the airline you fly. 

For more travel tips, we like Fido Friendly's "Holiday Road Warrior Survivor Guide."

Thanksgiving turkey, here we come! Happy travels!