| Brookline Labrador Retriever Rescue Helping Labs Find Their Fur-Ever Homes |
| February 2008 |
help calm them for the ride. Oh, and pack lots of towels for “clean up”! Also, make sure the dogs get a nice long walk or playtime
before hopping in the car. I’m sure you and your dogs will be happier if they spend a good chunk of the ride sleeping! You know what
they say, “a tired dog is a good dog”. I don’t know who “they” are, but they do say that!
So now you’re ready to cruise down the highway… tunes blaring on the radio, you and pups singing along… “Who let the dogs out?
WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF!” Remember to keep your eyes open for those rest stops. The pups will need to pee and stretch their
legs just like you. It’s a good idea to take along a jug of water for them, too. We all know the water tastes different as you go from one
state to the next. I’ve heard you humans complain about it so don’t think we dogs don’t notice. No point in upsetting their bellies over
something as simple as water. I know how you humans feel about barfing!
When you get to North Carolina, keep in mind that we canines are creatures of habit. You know, wake up, go potty, eat breakfast, go
potty, snooze on the couch, bark at the mailman, chew on a bone, snooze on the chair, chase the ball, eat dinner, go potty, go to bed. I’
m sure you’ve probably noticed we have a routine. And unlike you humans who like to fly by the seat of your pants, we don’t like anyone
messing up our routines. Maybe it’s because we don’t wear pants. Hee-hee. I think it’s just because we’re dogs - dependable,
faithful, and consistent. You always know what you’ll get with us. So when you get to your new home, try to keep as much of the old
routine as possible so your dogs don’t get too stressed out. And make sure you teach them about the new stuff – like where the potty
area is and what door will get them there. We dogs are really smart, but we’re not mind readers! Believe me, we have more important
things to do than worry about what’s going on in our human’s head. Remember…eat breakfast, snooze on the couch, chew on a
bone…we’re very busy! Anyway, when you get to the new house, unpack some of your dogs’ stuff – like beds, bowls, and toys – right
away and try to put things where they are used to finding them. If they are used to finding water in the kitchen, don’t make them go
searching for that big white bowl in the bathroom. That water is always colder, though….
Make sure your dogs have ID tags with your new address and phone numbers right away. Tags with your cell phone number are even
better just in case anyone gets lost on the trip down. That way whoever is with your dog can call you and help you find your way back.
What? You assumed it was the dog that got lost?! Silly people! Also, make sure you have recent pictures of the dogs with you and not
packed in the bottom of a box under your socks and underwear! You’ll want those pictures handy if one of the dogs decides to explore
the new neighborhood unsupervised. I’d suggest that your dogs carry a recent picture of you, too….but that takes us back to the no
pants thing. No pants, no pockets….makes it hard to carry things! If your dogs are micro chipped or tattooed, make sure you call the
registry right away to update your address and phone number.
Be sure to check out your new house and yard to make sure it is pet friendly. Get down to your dogs’ level to see what they see and
might get into. Even if you don’t find anything, your dogs will get a kick out of watching you crawl around on all fours! Hee-hee!
I’ve moved a few times in my life so I know that it can be a crazy and stressful thing. But just remember to focus on the important
things – like YOUR DOGS! Spend time with them. Take them for a walk around the neighborhood and, for goodness sake, let them
sniff! You have no idea how many new smells there will be. That’s a big thing for us dogs, ya know! Introduce them to the neighbors.
It will be helpful for the neighbors to know where they belong in case your dogs decide to play Lewis and Clark!
Thanks for writing, Thom and Pam! I hope you and the puppers have a great trip and a cool life in North Carolina. Send me a postcard!
Anyone else have a question? The Great Sparkdini has the answer! Drop me a line at AskSparky@verizon.net.
Until next time…
Hugs and Sloppy Kisses,
Sparky
before hopping in the car. I’m sure you and your dogs will be happier if they spend a good chunk of the ride sleeping! You know what
they say, “a tired dog is a good dog”. I don’t know who “they” are, but they do say that!
So now you’re ready to cruise down the highway… tunes blaring on the radio, you and pups singing along… “Who let the dogs out?
WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF!” Remember to keep your eyes open for those rest stops. The pups will need to pee and stretch their
legs just like you. It’s a good idea to take along a jug of water for them, too. We all know the water tastes different as you go from one
state to the next. I’ve heard you humans complain about it so don’t think we dogs don’t notice. No point in upsetting their bellies over
something as simple as water. I know how you humans feel about barfing!
When you get to North Carolina, keep in mind that we canines are creatures of habit. You know, wake up, go potty, eat breakfast, go
potty, snooze on the couch, bark at the mailman, chew on a bone, snooze on the chair, chase the ball, eat dinner, go potty, go to bed. I’
m sure you’ve probably noticed we have a routine. And unlike you humans who like to fly by the seat of your pants, we don’t like anyone
messing up our routines. Maybe it’s because we don’t wear pants. Hee-hee. I think it’s just because we’re dogs - dependable,
faithful, and consistent. You always know what you’ll get with us. So when you get to your new home, try to keep as much of the old
routine as possible so your dogs don’t get too stressed out. And make sure you teach them about the new stuff – like where the potty
area is and what door will get them there. We dogs are really smart, but we’re not mind readers! Believe me, we have more important
things to do than worry about what’s going on in our human’s head. Remember…eat breakfast, snooze on the couch, chew on a
bone…we’re very busy! Anyway, when you get to the new house, unpack some of your dogs’ stuff – like beds, bowls, and toys – right
away and try to put things where they are used to finding them. If they are used to finding water in the kitchen, don’t make them go
searching for that big white bowl in the bathroom. That water is always colder, though….
Make sure your dogs have ID tags with your new address and phone numbers right away. Tags with your cell phone number are even
better just in case anyone gets lost on the trip down. That way whoever is with your dog can call you and help you find your way back.
What? You assumed it was the dog that got lost?! Silly people! Also, make sure you have recent pictures of the dogs with you and not
packed in the bottom of a box under your socks and underwear! You’ll want those pictures handy if one of the dogs decides to explore
the new neighborhood unsupervised. I’d suggest that your dogs carry a recent picture of you, too….but that takes us back to the no
pants thing. No pants, no pockets….makes it hard to carry things! If your dogs are micro chipped or tattooed, make sure you call the
registry right away to update your address and phone number.
Be sure to check out your new house and yard to make sure it is pet friendly. Get down to your dogs’ level to see what they see and
might get into. Even if you don’t find anything, your dogs will get a kick out of watching you crawl around on all fours! Hee-hee!
I’ve moved a few times in my life so I know that it can be a crazy and stressful thing. But just remember to focus on the important
things – like YOUR DOGS! Spend time with them. Take them for a walk around the neighborhood and, for goodness sake, let them
sniff! You have no idea how many new smells there will be. That’s a big thing for us dogs, ya know! Introduce them to the neighbors.
It will be helpful for the neighbors to know where they belong in case your dogs decide to play Lewis and Clark!
Thanks for writing, Thom and Pam! I hope you and the puppers have a great trip and a cool life in North Carolina. Send me a postcard!
Anyone else have a question? The Great Sparkdini has the answer! Drop me a line at AskSparky@verizon.net.
Until next time…
Hugs and Sloppy Kisses,
Sparky
Hi Thom and Pam
You’ve come to the right place! In addition to being really smart – and really good looking – the
Great Sparkdini is also a seasoned traveler! I may not have gone as far as North Carolina, but
going to my first home, then to my way cool foster home, then to my awesome forever home, I’ve
racked up more than a few miles!
Okay, so the first thing you need to do is go out and buy one of those big RV’s. You know – the really
long kind that has room for a king size bed and a big screen TV. Then pick up a few good movies
and lots of yummy snacks. That’s what I call traveling in style! Hee-hee!
Okay, maybe the big RV is a bit much. But even if the dogs can’t stretch out and watch a movie on
the ride to North Carolina, you do want to make sure the ride is comfortable for them! There are a
few things you can do to help in that department. If your pups tend to get car sick, don’t feed them
for about four hours before you hit the road. Sorry puppers – it’s hard for me to recommend such a
thing for a fellow canine. But barfing in the car seems to get humans all bent out of shape. So it’s
best to avoid that. If your dogs get nervous and drool in the car, ask your vet about medications to
You’ve come to the right place! In addition to being really smart – and really good looking – the
Great Sparkdini is also a seasoned traveler! I may not have gone as far as North Carolina, but
going to my first home, then to my way cool foster home, then to my awesome forever home, I’ve
racked up more than a few miles!
Okay, so the first thing you need to do is go out and buy one of those big RV’s. You know – the really
long kind that has room for a king size bed and a big screen TV. Then pick up a few good movies
and lots of yummy snacks. That’s what I call traveling in style! Hee-hee!
Okay, maybe the big RV is a bit much. But even if the dogs can’t stretch out and watch a movie on
the ride to North Carolina, you do want to make sure the ride is comfortable for them! There are a
few things you can do to help in that department. If your pups tend to get car sick, don’t feed them
for about four hours before you hit the road. Sorry puppers – it’s hard for me to recommend such a
thing for a fellow canine. But barfing in the car seems to get humans all bent out of shape. So it’s
best to avoid that. If your dogs get nervous and drool in the car, ask your vet about medications to
Sparky-
We have a black lab (2yrs old) & her best buddy-a hound mix (3 years old). We are moving from
Pennsylvania to North Carolina soon & wonder if you have any tips to make their move more
comfortable. We've already fenced in the yard & installed a doggy-door-so we're ready in NC!
Thom & Pam
We have a black lab (2yrs old) & her best buddy-a hound mix (3 years old). We are moving from
Pennsylvania to North Carolina soon & wonder if you have any tips to make their move more
comfortable. We've already fenced in the yard & installed a doggy-door-so we're ready in NC!
Thom & Pam
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