tips for pet owners

Finding housing for pet owners can be a challenge.  Here are a few tips I have learned after traveling for 5 years:
1)  train your dogs to make a good impression with the owners - sit, stay, come, and NO barking!
2)  if they do NOT allow pets, offer to pay a LARGE pet deposit...as long as it is fully refundable, this makes them feel confident in you and your pet
3)  offer to pay the full rent up front, this reduces their credit risk and gives them further confidence in you as a pet owner

I have been traveling for 5 years with two large dogs.  My housing options have been greatly expanded by renting several places that normally do NOT allow pets.  You have to be able to convince people that you and your pet are trustworthy....and then back up the talk with a deposit that makes them feel comfortable.  Please let me know if you have other tips.

This absolutely totally works and has for us the past 3 places we lived!!! Great advice!

Off the "pet deposit" note.....

What do you do to keep your pets entertained/stimulated while you are at work?

I had traveled "solo" for a while and wanted a familiar face wherever I went, so I decided  to get a dog. As an outdoors lover I wanted a "hearty" dog that could "hold his own" when we went out hiking and geocaching so I decided on a Boxer. The first puppy issue I ran into after potty-training was those sad eyes he gave me when I went to work. I just hated the idea of keeping him in the kennel box till I got home. He was too immature and undertrained at this age to give him "run of the place", so I bought a "baby-gate" to put across the entrance of the kitchen and let him stay there when I was gone. I would leave the TV on animal planet (not sure why... He could be a sci-fi fan for all I knew), I would also leave a couple of toys and treats out for him. The treats were gone before I could ever leave out the door....

My question was.. How do I keep him stimulated while I'm gone?

A friend finally recommended a pet product that was my saving grace (a bit of an investment but worth every penny!). They have an item called the "KongTime toy dispenser". It is a WONDERFUL item when owners must be away for more than a few hours.  Its shaped like a "flying saucer" and has 4 pockets in which you can put treats toys or a combination. Once loaded you can set it to dispense 1 pocket every hour or two hours for an 8 hour period. I would place it up on the edge of the counter. Every 2 hours it would "beep", rotate a quarter-turn, and drop out a couple of dog-treats and a toy onto the kitchen floor. This seemed to keep him very happy and entertained until I got home. My puppy is now all grown, trained, and no longer confined to the kitchen, and I still use this toy dispenser. He LOVES it. 

I highly recommend this product to any traveler that has a cat or dog. Google it for more info...        KongTime Toy Dispenser

Great post, Kevin!

I have NEVER heard of that toy!  That is genius!  I am so glad your boxer is doing well!

http://www.healthypets.com/kongtimelrg.html   

The KongTime toy dispenser.....  (I did not price shop websites. I just found a link to show it for anyone that is interested)

  

  

  

  

I have so far left my pets home with family members (who are staying at my house)   I like the idea of brining them with me sometime, but am worried because I have Pomeranians, who are known for barking. One doesn't so much.  The other barks really quite a lot.  How do you train them not to bark? I wonder if it  might be because it is HIS territory, and maybe he would bark less if he were on the road, but I can't imagine him not being at least a little noisy.
Any advice?  I'be seen a "stop barking" product on a tv infomercia, but I don't put much faith in those.  If anyone has actual experience that would be great.

I think small dogs tend to have more attitude.  It's a common joke.  I think that owners let them get away with being loud or aggressive simply because they are so small.  Everyone laughs at them and thinks it's "cute" when they get tough.  People are never afraid of them.  If a dog weighing 80 pounds acted the same way, they would be locked up, or given up for adoption, or fenced all the time, etc.  They would not enjoy the same freedom. 

I have had several experiences training small dogs (when pet sitting for friends).  It takes me about 4 days to break the barking habit.  But, when they return to their owners, the habit starts again.  This is usually because the owners put up with it.  They think, "it's annoying but not dangerous, so let 's just ignore it".  The problem is: when your dog constantly barks....they are NOT at peace and are NOT well-adjusted.  They are anxious and nervous.  NOT happy campers!

The good news: it's VERY easy to break the habit (and who wants to travel alone?  Don't you want your friend with you!)  It only takes consistency.  Every time he barks give him a sharp and loud "NO".  You might be saying "NO" every 12 seconds for a few days, but eventually he should understand.  Don't let them bark when you enter the house.  Don't let them bark when the doorbell rings.  Don't let them bark at anything.   If you start to let it slide and he gets away with it a few times, then you are defeating the purpose. 

Dogs are simple creatures....they don't understand "sometimes" or "maybe".  They only understand absolute "yes" and "no".  So be consistent, be in charge, be the pack leader, command respect.  When you do this, your dog will feel more well-adjusted and will gain more freedom.

By the way, I have traveled for 6 years with two dogs.  They have learned to be flexible.  I have never had a complaint.  Never paid for pet damage.  And the dogs are calm and relaxed.  Hope it helps....let me know how it goes!

I have also never heard of the Kong toy dispenser but I am going to look it up right now....as we have 2 dogs that stay at home during the day. I have experimented ALOT with filling the large Kongs with a mixture of stuff and freezing it overnite.....like apples and peanut butter or carrots and yogurt, oatmeal, rice, chicken....whatever....it keeps them busy for a while....sometimes my smaller dog will still have some that she is working on when i get home from work....and the Kongs go right in the dishwasher so it is easy clean up. We also take the pop-up/fold up kennels with us that are kind of like tents...they zip up....you an get them at walmart....these work out great as well....just for traveling in general....very compact.  The dogs seem to adjust to the "travel lifestyle" really quickly....its nice.

I have been concerned about our pets. We have 3 labs and have asked for information on workamping in some areas with NO response. I believe it is me telling them I have the 3 labs. Not usually a barking dog but I have one that when she gets excited will bark. Right now am looking into some sound device that will admit a high pitch sound to stop. Guess we will have to figure it out as we go along. The large deposit is a good idea.
Thanks for the info

We just added a third dog to our family....a rescue chocolate lab.  Now we REALLY have to be creative with housing.  We are considering buying an RV so we don't have to continue to deal with this issue.

I just purchased an ultrasonic handheld remote type device. I actually got it for running and cycling as it says it will keep dogs from approaching you. It emits a really high pitched sound that only the dogs can hear. In the meantime, I think I will try it on my miniature schnauzer who is a relentless barker at times and see how she responds and if it works. Will post an update if it works. I got it on Amazon for $10....so even if it doesn;t work at least it didn't cost me an arm and a leg.

Some training schools advise spray bottles (of water) to d/c certain behaviors-but you have to be right there and timely with your intervention!
when they bark etc. You say "no" and mist them at the same time. After a few of these, they "get it".  But again, you have to be consistant and respond immediately.