CAUTION: DOG ON BOARD!

FOR MORE PICTURES OF BULLET THE BLACK LAB, CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW:

1. Sniffing already!, 2. Let sleeping dog lie.., 3. Joey's sleeping too!, 4. Bullet & Joey the toadzilla, 5. Boring Joey, 6. When Joey dares..., 7. Bullet wins! Paws down!, 8. Joey strikes again!, 9. Blur: that's why Bullet!, 10. Strings attached, 11. Tug of war, 12. Teething troubles, 13. With its pet, Joey, 14. Playmates, 15. Playmates-II, 16. Oh My Dog!

Finally, we have a pet to take care when diving out of town. In fact, the decision to get a pet has been hanging fire for long. "Where do we keep it when going for movies?" "How about visiting in-laws in Lucknow?" Blah, blah, blah and blah. In fact, when we got Bullet (see pic), it was late in the evening. The kid was hungry and the friend who managed the deal (BTW, he too got a pair of labs the next morning), wanted to celebrate. Cafe Coffee Day guys were sweet enough to allow Bullet with us. Maybe, it was his size or whatever. But right now, I'm more concerned about driving and how to manage Bullet on board. Here are some tips I've compiled from here and there. I promise to do a biggr piece when I actually travel with Bullet in tow!

1. Before leaving home, especially if you haven't had your dog for long, take her on a test drive. Unlike what you think, not all dogs are good travellers. Some get extremely anxious; others suffer from car sickness. Dogs like that are better left behind with someone responsible caring for them.

2. If your dog, like most, loves to ride in the car, great. Invest in a safety seat, restraint, or carrier to keep her extra secure.

3. Pack water and a plastic drinking bowl and allow her frequent stops to drink and relieve herself.

4. Bring dog food and treats from home.

5. Keep her on the leash at all times.

6. Don't allow her to stick her head out the window. She could fall out, be hit by debris, or get something in her eye. You don't want to spend any of your vacation time and loot in a strange veterinarian's office.

7. Never leave her alone in a locked car in heat or severe cold. The hotter it is, and the longer you are gone, the more likely she will suffer terribly and perish in this situation.

CERTAIN THINGS YOU MUST CARRY ON BOARD: His own blanket, or cuddly toy - A little comfort from home goes a long way, even if Mom and Dad are sitting in the front seat. Anxiety and stress can do funny (and smelly) things to a dog, like diarrhoea, and nausea. Not pleasant to drive with.
Spare leash and collar And keep it handy. Not only good for the dog, but a spare leash can used for many things, including tying a splint in place if somebody breaks a bone. And if you put two six foot leashes together, you'll have a twelve foot lead should you need to secure your dog to anything, for any length of time.
First Aid Kit Something every vehicle should have, regardless of pets or children. In an emergency, you never what you will need, keep a fully stocked first aid kit in your vehicle at all times, since accidents can happen at any time.
Veterinary records Simply because you never know when you might need them. They'll prove invaluable if you end up having to rush your pooch to the local veterinarian's office for whatever reason.